6
7.
J'approuve le projet de la lettre. Quant à l'approbation du contre-projet, je demanderai des instructions.
A. VAN CITTERS.
Id.
Id.
(Signé)
(Signé)
C. BAROLI.
(Sigué)
J. G. COOLIDGE,
Inclosure ō in No. 1.
Municipal Council and Others to Baron Czikann.
Sir,
Shanghai, December 14, 1904. WE, the Undersigned, representing respectively the Municipal Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the British, German, American, and Japanese Associations of Shanghae, after careful consideration of certain recent proposals for the Whangpoo River Conservancy laid before his Excellency the Nanking Viceroy by Sir Robert Bredon, K.C.M.G., Deputy Inspector-General of the Imperial Maritime Customs, desire to unite in addressing you on the subject and generally to support these proposals. A copy of a Memorandum communicated to ourselves by Sir Robert Bredon is herewith inclosed for your information and that of the Diplomatic Body.
The experience of the past three years would appear to justify the view that the arrangements for river conservancy work recorded in the Peking Protocol of September We consider that an 1901 may be regarded as unworkable under existing conditions. alternative scheme, embodying conditions more acceptable to the Chinese Government and recognizing the latter's sovereign rights, has become advisable, if the advantage For this reason secured in principle by the Protocol is not to become a dead letter. we now desire, as representatives of the most important interests involved, to support generally the scheme outlined in the inclosed Memorandum, which we have therefore the honour to commend to the favourable consideration of the Diplomatic Body, expressing at the same time the hope that some such measures as are here suggested may in the near future be adopted and carried into execution, so that the important work of the conservancy of the river at Shanghae may no longer be delayed.
We have, &c.
[llere follow signatures of representatives of the Municipal Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the British, German, American, and "Japanese Associations of Shanghae.]
(Confidential.)
Inclosure 6 in No. 1.
Memorandum by Sir R. Bredon.
THE conservancy proposals of the former Viceroy Wei having been presented recently by the Board to the Foreign Ministers, one of them, apparently with the approval of bis Government, and with the concurrence of at least some of his colleagues, replied to the Board. In his answering despatch he indicated that the principles of Viceroy Wei's proposals were acceptable, but, as was to be expected, saw the necessity of their being more explicit in detail. He therefore practically made a new proposal, but entirely in accord with Viceroy Wei's original five Articles. The Minister's proposal consisted of twelve, and he gave it to be understood that if the Board accepted them, the Protocol scheme could be placed in obeyance, and a new Convention made to take its place.
The first ten of the Minister's Articles may be said to be wholly unobjectionable from the point of view of all unprejudiced people, foreign and Chinese. They provide that the necessary work for improving the condition of the river should be done entirely at Chinese expense, under the superintendence of the Taotai and Customs; that work should be done promptly, economically and efficiently; that a fair arbitration
scheme should be established to fix prices of appropriated or newly-made land; that Chinese harbour control should be continued as at present, and the Chinese authority maintained in harbour and quarantine questions.
The last two Articles are intended to provide a firm guarantee that the money will be found and the work done, but they are so firm that the Chinese consider them harsh, and it is said that they have refused to accept them, or at any rate that they are unwilling to do so.
The D.I.G., in conversation with the Taotai on the subject as presented by this Minister's despateb, pointed out:
1. That a fresh start on new and more promising lines than the Protocol ones seemed now possible through the medium of a new Convention.
2. That what that new Convention would require would be (a) a guarantee that the work would be promptly done, and (b) security that the funds would be forthcoming.
3. That riparian owners were now making demands for a definite delineation of their particular riparian frontage-a by no means unreasonable claim-and that the harbour authorities were quite as reasonably refusing to permit what appeared to them an excessive demand until satisfied that it would fall in appropriately with, and not be an embarrassment to, the carrying out of the more complete scheme of con- servancy from Wasung outer bar to the arsenal (or further), which it is realized is necessary. Even the Protocol was based on the idea that the question of Whangpoo conservancy should be taken up as a broad, general proposition. Though it might be divided into suitable parts or sections, it was clearly never intended that it should be cut into pieces first, and that they later should be patched together into what might be an imperfect and incongruous whole. It is only fair that riparian owners should not be kept indefinitely waiting for a firm decision as to where their frontage line must be, and that, therefore, the necessity of having the general scheine proposed at once and its lines laid down was an actually present one.
The D.I.G., in view of the early visit of the Viceroy-and feeling that he would surely be approached on the subject by some one-thought it well to discuss the matter with the Taotai, and having done so, that they should lay before the Viceroy the actual position, and suggest how it might be fairly faced with due regard to all the legitimate interests involved.
All schemes demand first and foremost that a definite plan of action by a competent engineer should be called, and everything, including the demands of riparian proprietors, points to its being essential that no time be lost. The D.I.G. therefore suggested that M. de Rijke be invited to come to Shanghae at once to study the subject with the Customs people, and of course to hear what any one who has anything interesting or useful to say may say. His study being complete he should make a report and develop and draw out a detailed scheme of work to be done. The D.I.G. did not hesitate to express his belief that there was no engineer whose name had ever come up in this condition, and who was now available, who more fully commanded the respect and confidence of the Shanghae public. His selection and appointment by the Chinese themselves, solely on his professional character, and his early connection with the matter should be sufficient to allay any suspicion that this appointment was due to any outside infinence, or that it was made for and sound business reasons.
any but There is no reason why the Chinese should not invite him of their own motion, and there is every reason to think that his opinion and plan would be as generally acceptable as any likely to be found.
pure
The Taotai seems to have gathered from the remarks of various Consuls that they had engineers to suggest when men were required, but as their names have not been put before the public no appreciation of their professional status can be formed. M de Rijke is a well-known and trusted man whose opinion the riparian owners have themselves sought, in full confidence that the one they would get would be a sound
one,
As to the question of guaranteeing the money, what the D.I.G. suggested was that at once, from the beginning of next year, there should be paid monthly to the Customs at Shanghae one-twelfth of the annual sum promised for the work (460,000 taels per annum). By the time the engineers were prepared to begin work, probably a whole year's payment would have been made, and there would be a sum in hand at the start sufficient to provide any materials and plant, or to meet authorized payments on contracts for the first year. By the time the work of the first year had been got well in hand the funds for the second would have accumulated to provide for its expenditure, and so on, annually.
(1892 1-3]
D
468
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