the scheme, and forwarded a Report on the subject for the consideration of the Viceroy and the Soochow Governor. He has now further addressed the Senior Consul on the subject of the Council's work in this district, and informed the Viceroy that he has done so.
The particular difficulty which the native authorities are experiencing is the fact that the road along the north bank of the Soochow Creek, between the Settlement boundary and the Sinza stone bridge, is owned and policed by the Council. The native press have on more than one occasion alluded to the Taotai's desire to regain control of this road.
Municipal Council, Secretary's Office, May 30, 1906.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
(Initialled)
W. E. L.
Report from Taotai Hsü Nai-ping to the Viceroy, with reference to building Roads in the Northern Districts. (Translation.)
I RECEIVED your despatch on the subject of a "self-opened" Settlement at Shanghae in the northern district, in which you observe that, since the foundation of the Settlement, Chinese residents and merchants are increasing day by day and month by month, and that the independent building of roads is an absolute necessity, on receipt of which I was, beyond expression, impressed by your Excellency's extreme determination in the protection of merchants and in opposition to encroachments upon authority. After my arrival in Shanghae I held conferences, in obedience to your orders, with the promoted Taotai Yuan, and arrived at the conclusion that surveys should be made as an initial step to forming a Settlement. It has now been decided that the procedure in the purchase of land should follow the system in use in the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Company—i.e., that wherever any quantity of land within the boundaries has been surveyed and registered, Chinese merchants alone may engage in selling transactions with reference thereto, and foreign merchants shall not be permitted to have Chinese title-deeds made; this is by way of showing them the limit, and thus putting a stop to their longings. Yuan Taotai had, moreover, an interview with Chien Taotai, and gave instructions to the effect that the local conditions should be the subject of an accurate report as a basis for consideration, and, according to Chien Taotai's statements, the merchant classes, since their power is but slight, were willing to let the matter revert to official management.
It appears to me, after further consideration of the circumstances, that the advantages which will accrue from the independent opening of roads in the locality in question will be very great, and that there are three reasons against delay which I submit for your Excellency's consideration.
The first refers to clear demarcation of the Settlement, I find that Nos. 10, 11, and 12 districts north of the Sinza Creek are directly adjacent and opposite the American Settlement, and are only separated from the English Settlement by a creek. For many years the foreign Settlement has been extending daily, and there is need now for precaution against their invasion one step across the line. Rumour has it that, in the locality in question, the Municipal Council has recently commissioned persons to cross the boundary and collect taxes, and that the weak, not daring to resist, submit to their oppression and exactions, while the strong would raise opposition, and there is likely to be further trouble. At the present juncture the formation of roads will be, as it were, the laying of a foundation; the boundary, moreover, will be distinct, so we may almost assume that cunning schemes of encroachment will be nipped. This is one of the reasons why there should be no delay.
A further reason is accord with popular sentiment. The residents in the Settlement are many in number, rents are in the ascendant, and living daily becomes more arduous, much to the general concern; added to this is the fact that recently the police have been appropriating power and raising trouble. The resident population constantly suffer oppression and restraint, and though they are far from submitting thereto—constrained by the fact that there is no other place to which they can migrate—they keep silence, as a whole, in patience and tranquillity. On a former occasion a merchant with official rank, named Chu Ch'eng-kuei, collected funds for the formation of a General Exchange Company, and petitioned asking for permission to build roads and establish a market, and thus preserve the public peace. Both merchants and people were delighted beyond all hope, but two years have elapsed without any progress having been made, and the people were disappointed in their expectations. If roads were opened immediately at the present juncture, and official funds were appropriated for the purpose, then the officials and the people will be of one mind, for better or worse, and the whole population profess that this will be to their joy and to their advantage. This matter will be the starting point of our unity with the merchant classes and of opposition to foreign influence. So much for the second point against delay.
694
The third reason concerns the trade of the place in question. I find that, according to the petition of the above-named merchant, there are about 3,000 mow of land, there are no big roads, the people are for the most part very poor, householders are few in number, and the roadways are all grass-grown. When, however, the foreign stone bridge has been built connecting with the southern bank, there will be every convenience for traffic. Moreover, the Shanghae-Nanking Railway station is within this area, goods and passengers will congregate there, and there is ground for the conclusion that commerce will increase daily. If roads are now formed, and if a commencement is made from the area where shops are already situated, then regulations as to all important points in connection with road-making and so forth can be selected, and gradual progress can be made without fear of obstruction to extension. As soon as we have obtained the overflow advantages of the foreign Settlement, the place will become prosperous and busy at once.
This is the third reason against delay.
Such are the three points. With your Excellency at the head of the movement the people will be in readiness; as the gain will be spontaneous, progress will certainly be rapid. It is most necessary that a Bureau of Works should be established and given a common seal, and that its operations should begin at once, so that such matters as the construction of roads, inauguration of a police force, the collection of taxes and so forth may be expedited. The necessary working Regulations should be drawn up by the staff of the Bureau as soon as it has been established. Besides reporting conjointly with the Shanghae Taotai on the subject, the writer hereby submits the general circumstances and conditions of the district for your information, consideration, and approval.
Sir,
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
M. Siffert to M. Baroli.
Shanghae, May 29, 1906.
I HAVE the honour, on behalf of the Consular Body, to invite the attention of yourself and your colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps to a question which seems to be of the greatest moment to all foreign interests in Shanghae and its environs, matter stated as briefly as possible is as follows:—
The To the north of Hongkew (the so-called American Concession of old) is the district of Paoshan, into which by consent of Liu Kun-yi, late Viceroy of the Liang-Kiang Provinces, and Yuan, former Taotai of Shanghae, as was evidenced by proclamation, foreigners were allowed to extend roads, to build foreign dwellings on land rented in perpetuity, and effect other improvements. These residents along North Honan and North Szechuan Roads particularly, being beyond the Settlement limit of Range Road, volunteered—Chinese as well as foreigners—to contribute money to the International Municipal Council in lieu of taxes, and in consideration of this policy obtained water, electric light and gas services, and police and fire protection. By request the houses have been numbered, and the district has been treated as though a part of the Settlement without objection on the part of the Chinese, but of late the Chinese authorities have seen fit to protest against this natural extension of the city's growth, and have given notice that there shall be no further encroachment under any species of municipal control. Furthermore, it is announced that the Paoshan district lying north of the line of Range Road and west of Honan and Szechuan Roads, being the section immediately adjoining to the Shanghae-Wusung-Nanking Railway line and station, is to be created a Chinese municipality, and subject only to such jurisdiction as may be imposed by those appointed to govern it. While such procedure, which is entirely similar to that under which the Chinese Bund section adjoining the French Concession on the south was created, may be entirely within the right of the Chinese, we feel it our duty to point the ultimate effect upon the coming great development of Shanghae.
The residential district, of which the North Szechuan Road is the main artery, under such limitations as will be prescribed by the Chinese hereafter, can extend but little farther than the rifle range, and by a simple amplification of the Chinese pro-
4
the scheme, and forwarded a Report on the subject for the consideration of the Viceroy and the Soochow Governor. He has now further addressed the Senior Consul on the subject of the Council's work in this district, and informed the Viceroy that he has done so.
The particular difficulty which the native authorities are experiencing is the fact that the road along the north bank of the Soochow Creek, between the Settlement boundary and the Sinza stone bridge, is owned and policed by the Council. The native press have on more than one occasion alluded to the Taotai's desire to regain control of
this road.
Municipal Council, Secretary's Office, May 30, 1906.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
(Initialled)
W. E. L.
Report from Tastai Hsü Nai-ping to the Viceroy, with reference to building Roads in the
Northern Districts. (Translation.)
I RECEIVED your despatch on the subject of a "self-opened" Settlement at Shanghae in the northern district, in which you observe that, since the foundation of the Settlement, Chinese residents and merchants are increasing day by day and month by month, and that the independent building of roads is an absolute necessity, on receipt of which I was, beyond expression, impressed by your Excellency's extreme determination in the protection of merchants and in opposition to encroachments upon authority. After my arrival in Shanghae I held conferences, in obedience to your orders, with the promoted Taotai Yuan, and arrived at the conclusion that surveys should be made as an initial step to forming a Settlement. It has now been decided that the procedure in the purchase of land should follow the system in use in the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Company-e., that wherever any quantity of land within the boundaries has been surveyed and registered, Chinese merchants alone may engage in selling transactions with reference thereto, and foreign merchants shall not be permitted to have Chinese title-deeds made; this is by way of showing them the limit, and thus putting a stow to their longings. Yuan Taotai had, moreover, an interview with Chien Taotai, and gave instructions to the effect that the local conditions should be the subject of an accurate report as a basis for consideration, and, according to Chien Taotai's statements, the merchant classes, since their power is but slight, were willing to let the matter revert to official management.
It appears to me, after further consideration of the circumstances, that the advantages which will accrue from the independent opening of roads in the locality in question will be very great, and that there are three reasons against delay which I submit for your Excellency's consideration.
The first refers to clear demarcation of the Settlement, I find that Nos. 10, 11, and 12 districts north of the Sinza Creek are directly adjacent and opposite the American Settlement, and are only separated from the English Settlement by a creek. For many years the foreign Settlement has been extending daily, and there is need now for precaution against their invasion one step across the line. Rumour has it that, in the locality in question, the Municipal Council has recently commissioned persons to cross the boundary and collect taxes, and that the weak, not daring to resist, submit to their oppresion and exactions, while the strong would raise opposition, and there is likely to be further trouble. At the present juncture the formation of roads will be, as it were, the laying of a foundation; the boundary, moreover, will be distinct, so we may almost assume that cunning schemes of encroachment will be nipped. This is one of the reasons why there should be no delay.
A further reason is accord with popular sentiment. The residents in the Settle- ment are many in number, rents are in the ascendant, and living daily becomes more arduous, much to the general concern; added to this is the fact that recently the police have been appropriating power and raising trouble. The resident population constantly suffer oppression and restraint, and though they are far from submitting thereto-constrained by the fact that there is no other place to which they can migrate--they keep silence, as a whole, in patience and tranquillity. On a former occasion a merchant with official rank, named Chu Ch'eng-kuei, collected funds for the formation of a General Exchange Company, and petitioned asking for permission to build roads and establish a market. and thus preserve the public peace. Both merchants and people were delighted beyond
all hope, but two years have elapsed without any progress having been made, and the people were disappointed in their expectations. If roads were opened immediately at the present juncture, and official funds were appropriated for the purpose, then the officials and the people will be of one mind, for better or worse, and the whole population profess that this will be to their joy and to their advantage. This matter will be the starting point of our unity with the merchant classes and of opposition to foreign influence. So much for the second point against delay.
694
The third reason concerns the trade of the place in question. I find that, according to the petition of the above-named merchant, there are about 3,000 mow of land, there are no big roads, the people are for the most part very poor, householders are few in number, and the roadways are all grass-grown. When, however, the foreign stone bridge has been built connecting with the southern bank, there will be every convenience for traffic. Moreover, the Shanghae--Nanking Railway station is within this area, goods and passengers will congregate there, and there is ground for the conclusion that commerce will increase daily. If roads are now formed, and if a commencement is made from the area where shops are already situated, then regulations as to all important points in connection with road-making and so forth can be selected, and gradual progress can be Imade without fear of obstruction to extension. As soon as we have obtained the over- flow advantages of the foreign Settlement, the place will become prosperous and busy at
'This is the third reason against delay,
once,
Such are the three points. With your Excellency at the head of the movement the people will be all readiness; as the gain will be spontaneous, progress will certainly be rapid. It is most necessary that a Bureau of Works should be established and given a common seal, and that its operations should begin at once, so that such matters as the construction of roads, inauguration of a police force, the collection of taxes and so forth may be expedited. The necessary working Regulations should be drawn up by the staff of the Bureau as soon as it has been established. Besides reporting conjointly with the Shanghae Taotai on the subject, the writer hereby submits the general circumstances and conditions of the district for your information, consideration, and approval.
Sir,
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
M. Siffert to M. Baroli.
Shanghae, May 29, 1906. 1 HAVE the honour, on behalf of the Consular Body, to invite the attention of yourself and your colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps to a question which seems to be of the greatest moment to all foreign interests in Shanghae and its environs, matter stated as briefly as possible is as follows :----
The
To the north of Hongkew (the so-called American Concession of old) is the district of Paoshan, into which by consent of Liu Kun-yi, late Viceroy of the Liang- Kiang Provinces, and Yuan, former Taotai of Shanghae, as was evidenced by proclamation, foreigners were allowed to extend roads, to build foreign dwellings on land rented in perpetuity, and effect other improvements. These residents along North Honan and North Szechuan Roads particularly, being beyond the Settlement limit of Range Road, volunteered-Chinese as well as foreigners-to contribute money to the International Municipal Council in lieu of taxes, and in consideration of this policy obtained water, electric light and gas services, and police and fire protection. By request the houses have been numbered, and the district has been treated as though a part of the Settlement without objection on the part of the Chinese, but of late the Chinese authorities have seen fit to protest against this natural extension of the city's growth, and have given notice that there shall be no further encroachment under any species of nunicipal control. Furthermore, it is announced that the Paosban district lying north of the line of Range Road and west of Honan and Szechuan Roads, being the section immediately adjoining to the Shanghae-Wusung-Nanking Railway line and station, is to be created a Chinese municipality, and subject only to such jurisdiction as may be imposed by those appointed to govern it. While such procedure, which is entirely similar to that under which the Chinese Bund section adjoining the French Concession on the south was created, may be entirely within the right of the Chinese, we feel it our duty to point the ultimate effect upon the coming great development of Shaughne.
The residential district, of which the North Szechuan Road is the main artery, under such limitations as will be prescribed by the Chinese hereafter, can extend but little farther than the rifle range, and by a simple amplification of the Chinese pro-
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