1925-09-23 — Page 3

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JUDICIAL ENQUIRY IN S SHANGHAI.

SIR HENRY GOLLAN, LEAVING BY THE "PRESIDENT MADISON."

HOME CRITICISM REGARDING DELAY

OPENING PROCEEDINGS,

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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1925

THE CHINA QUESTION.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF JAPANESE

INTELLECTUALS,

CONDITIONS IN WEI HAI WEI

O..G'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

When regard is had to the present In view of the far-reaching effects which uncertain conditions the financial position the forthcoming special Customs Confer of the Territory may be regarded as satis- saco in Chins is exported to produce upon factory, but the figures given cannot, Japan economically and otherwise, a upin has been pointed out in previous reports, ber of members of the Upper House, be accepted na indicative of the normal business men cd scholars, have organised finances of Wei Hai Wei for expenditure society called the To A Kenkyukai on a much enhanced scale must be in- (Society for the Study of Far Easterncurred if the Territory remains "under Problems) to study all phases of the British Administration, states the annual Chinese problem. The special committee report of the Officer Administering the of the new organisation includes: among

Government.

ita members such distinguished persons as Count Oki, Baron Fujimura, Afr. Inoue Jannosuke, Mr. Ito Yonejiro and Dr. decision been taken out of their hands Yamada Saburo. The first general meet Sir Edwin continues: Mr. Mackay ring of the Society was held at the Peers marks: "The Shanghai Municipal Coun- Club on September 8th, when matters

Sir Heary Gollan, the Chief Justice af Hongkong, who has been appointed British representative upon the Judicial Enquiry which is to be bold in Shanghai into the incidents of May 30th, is leaving for the North by the President Madison on September 30th. The American re- prosentative on the enquiry, Mr. E.. Finlay Johnson, a Judge in Manila. will also travel to Shanghai on the same boat. It is not yet decided when the enquiry will open.

Then has been a good deal of criticism an the Home papers regarding the delay in holding this enquiry and it has been suggested that British interests have tharshy been seriously prejudiced.

THE SHANGHAT COUNCIL. Mr. E. F. Mackay, writing to The Times on the subject in answer to a letter

from Sir Edwin Stockton, sajai---

No Grant-in-Aid from Imperial funds has been necessary since 1981 to 1922 and none will be required to carry on through the present financial year.

.

"The platoon of the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) under the command of

cil courted the fallest possible inquiry" relating to the Chinese Customs actiLieutenant Elrington, C., was relieved

"

It is precisely this request for an inquiry Foxtraterritoriality were discussed. The

in September by a further platoon of the which has been so, disastrous to our in- conclusions reached on the occasion were terests, I have suggested that this dis- later made public. The views of the same regiment under the commsad of Lieutenant G. W. Gibson. In order to püte could have been settled long since Society on the Customs problem are a

discourage the ingress from Chinesa soil if everybody had not been stadding so follows:-- much on bis dignity. I have never sug- If I have given, Sir Edwin Stockton or

1.-The mats issue at the special Cus-of robber bands and arined deserters, the troops have, at my request, "made toms Conference is to consider and adopt muyone else the impression that considers gested that time will heal the wound.

frequent tours throughout the length and tion for the Shanghai Municipal Council's This is what I have always contended it measures necessary for the fulfilment of

breadth of the Territory, and I am glad position was paramount in my mand, I would not do. I am afraid the apologists the conditions, including the abolition of

to record that no untoward incident oc- have failed to make my views clear. The for the judicial inquiry are finding them-likin, as provided for in the treaties of

curred during the year. Shanghai Municipal Council are the de-selves pushed by the logic of eireurs 100% and 1000 The Japanese Government

fendants in the case, and I said I was ware, they courted the fullest possible in- pary. It was the action of their e ;ployees-which has caused all the trouble, and the question is, were these employers justified in the action they took? Your Shanghai Correspondent, telegraphing on "the 16th inst., conârms that the affair ef May 30th constitutes an individunt item, and were this item out of the way, the strike leaders would be deprived of an enormously potent wenpoo, and that until it is settled it constitutes an obstacle blocking every avenue to the restoration

f peace and good, feeling.

I asked that the Council's action should da subject to examination by an impartial tribunal, but only with the more import sat object of securing a resumption of tade, the loss of which I pointed out was becoming more serious to British and Chinese alike every day, and I added that it was vital to push ahead with the in patry without any more vexatious delay I have a letter before.me from a well- -educated Chinamon in Shanghai, who took

Locours at Trinity, Cambridge.

writes: ---

Je

J

+

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tances into the position of realising this we are sacrificing our trade largely to save the face of the Municipal Council As one vitally interested in the Lane shire cotton industry I deprecate any such policy.

BRITISH SOLICITUDE FOR CHINESE.

."

should, therefore, study the matter care- fully and thoroughly with a view to on- suring a quick fulfilment of these condi

tions.

2-The Japanese Government should give favourable consideration to China's demand for Customs autonomy, provided

ADDITIONAL POLICE POSTS."" Alarmed by the serious increase of every part of the province of Shantung lawlessness and brigaadage throughout

other than the Territory of Wei Hai Wei, the Chinese Civil Governor last year issued instructions. each district magistrate directing him to take a census of the inhabitants within his jurisdiction

to

fuller information of, and "so place re

The following letter from the late Birit obtains sure guarantees for the aboli-in order that the authorities might obtain John Jordas appeared in The Times oftion of likin and the domestic duty on August 24th-

Mr. Mackay is undoubtedly right in insisting that the delay in bolding a judicial inquiry into the Shanghai affair is seriously prejudicing British interests in China, and I agree with his Chinese correspondent that it is for the Judge to say whether an employee of the Municipal Council is right or wrong in shooting Chinese in the course of his duty. But is it necessary to have a tribunal of four or five Judges of different nationalities to try the case? So far as the British employees are concerned, there would seem to be no reason why their case should not be tried by H.B.M. Supreme Court at Shanghai.

merchandise.

B

3-The Japanese Government should demand from China sure guarantees for the abolition of economic barriers against freedom of domestic commerce, and the exportation of goods abroad, when the abolition of likin is decided upon.

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strictive measures on, the movements and activity of bad and suspicious characters. As an outcome of his investigations the Magistrate of the Jung Ch'eng district, which adjoins the eastern border of this Territory, informed this Government that he proposed to establish a police post on the Chinese side of the village of Tu Chia, through which the Wei Hai Wei border line runs, and invitéd the Gov- 4-With regard to the control of the arment to take similar action on the British side. The village in question be- Customs administration, the Japanese ing a well-known sanctuary of fugitives Government should give China as large from Chinese justice, a British police measure of freedom as cireumstances post was in June last placed there is socordance with the Magistrate's request. permit. It should also confer with China At the same time, as a further precau and the Powers on the question of in- tion against the ingress of robber banda troducing a proper reform in the matter into the Territory, an additional police of control so as to ensure fair and just of Pao Hain and Hsiao Yen Tan. To post was established at the border villages

administration, in view of the actual state obtain men for the service of the three. of the trade returns of the Powers. new posts it was hecessary to reduce the number of police on duty at the head- A somewhat similar case occurred at EXTRATERRITORIALITY.

quarters in Port Edward and at the larger Canton in the early eighties. A British

On the matter of extraterritoriality, the stations along the border, with the result Customs exployee, named Page, shot policy of the new Society is :--

that the force is at present insufficient. Chinese in the execution of Eis duty. I-The Japanese Government should work. "No spare men are available to fill in strength to cope successfully with the The British Consul telegraphed the facts quickly confer with China and the Powers vacancies caused by sickness, resignations, to the Judge of the Supreme Court at in regard to the organisation of a coal-etc., and the weakness of the cordon Shanghai, and was instructed to hold a judicial system of China, in accordance anxiety to the Government. To meet the mittee to inquire into the laws and along the frontier is a cause of grave preliminary inquiry at which I was to act with the resolution adopted at the situation an increase in the number of as prosecutor. The accused was committ-Washington Conference concerning the police has been inserted in the That view is embedded in the minds ed for trial by the Judge of the Supreme

traterritoriality in China.

Estimates of the coming year. of the Chinese, and because the police Court, who came to Canton for the pur- anan în charge of the firing party was pose. The Chinese local authorities and British they hold "that nation to book, the Chinese Government offered the most For the sake of Chinese and British alike, determined opposition to the proceedings sincerely hope that the inquiry will be throughout, and claimed that the accused delayed not a day longer than is absolute was exempt from British jurisdiction for ly necessary, because an impartial judg-an act committed in his capacity as the pient is wanted by hoth, and if there has servant of the Chinese Government. The been fault, compensation will, no doubt, trial, which occupied several days and be generously awarded. If Sir Edwin cost the Crown some thousands of pounds, Blockton's idea is that our diplomatists ended in the acquittal of Page, for whose ewa arrange a settlement in Peking, or defence the leading counsel in Hongkong skat time will heal the wound, I do not had been engaged by the Chinese Cov agree with him. The wound in this case ernment.

Sarely when an employee of the Conn cil killed nine people in the course of his daty, it is for the Judge to say whether he is right or wrong. The Shanghai Municipal Council has no right to give the verdiet. The Chinese cannot be shot down like dogs.

is cancerous, and must be cleaned out I cite the above case to show the extra before it will heal." I have had many ex ordinary solicitude which the British periences of strikes in China, and I know authorities in China have always shown that the only satisfactory way to come in cases involving Chinese life, and to to a settlement is to do so on the spot, suggest that, if the British Supreme with just and generoun proposals.

Court can assert jurisdiction over a "SAVING FACE

British subject in the employ of the Sir Edwin Stockton, in The fines of Chinese Government, it can equally do August 25th, asks Mr. Edward Mackay so in the case of British subjects in the whether it is correct that, the Municipal employ of the Shanghai Municipal Coun-. Council in Shanghai could have, in their cil And I feel aure, with Mr. Mackay, opinion and in the opinion of Shanghai that the Municipal Council courts the esidents generally, settled the trouble fullest possible inquiry into the action arising out of the shootings had not the of its employees.

-The Japanese Government should

CONDUCT OF POLICE. ** consent to the abolition "of extraterri- toriality; provided, China acquiesces in' The conduct of the police during the reforms in public and private laws such past year has been somewhat, unsatis- as are recommended by the above-men-factory. Out of a total strength of 194, sidence and in the bestowal of the right officer were dismissed on conviction of tioned committee, and also on mixed re-six constables and one non-Commissioned

of landownership on aliens.

serious offences; 11 constables were in for faed

minor offcaces. On the question of the Shanghai Settle. addition merit, the Society urges the Japanese This undesirable state of affairs is in Government to help China to carry out part attributable to unrest occasioned by her legitimate and reasonable claims in the approach rendition, as the fear regard to her participation in the that the present force may after rendition Municipal Council of Shanghai and control be disbanded by the incoming Chinese of the Mixed Court.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHINA.

-To put the national finances on a secure basis.

â—To maintain public peace and order. 4-To guarantee the safety of foreign lives and property.

-To adopt pertinent measures against unjust and improper anti-alien move

ments.

Administration has tempted some mem- bers of the force, to endeavour to exploit the public while they are get dressed in a little brief authority.

The Society, at the same time, makes the following recommendations to the

But the main reason for the deteriora Chinese Government and peopit, as those tion in the morale of the police is beyond they should act up to if they desire to all question the lack of adequate foreign see their demands for the recovery of supervision. It will be remembered that China's sovereign rigida accepted quickly the Government staff was in 1923 dras- To establish at once a Government tially reduced as a preliminary to the based on a united China.

return of the Territory to China. The British police inspectors are consequently at present under strength; those inspec- tors who yet remain in the service of the Government are, moreover, seriously bampered in the execution of their duties by the necessity of carrying on the work of Cosgrnment posts left. vacant on grounds of economy. During the past 18 COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES.

months it has at no time been possible for the administration to recommend the One resolution adopted by the Society engagement of the inspectors required to at the same meeting refers to compensa- bring the staff to normal strength, and tion for damages. It reads:——

despite every effort made by the Ter- "With regard to the losses directly in- ritorial. Police Inspector and other officers General La says that during recent flicted upon Japanese lives and property to visit outlying posta as frequently as years, a bad social custom of the West in the anti-alien outrages at Shanghai possible, it follows that the men in these has become prevalent in China with the and elsewhere, the Tapanese Government posta do, of necessity possess more result that many young men and women should file a strong protest with the Chin freedom and are thereby more exposed to contracted marriages themselves without ore Government and also demand sure femptation than was ever the case in the the previous consent of their parente As guarantees against the repetition of such past history of the administration. In addition to his combating Com-free matrimony is deterimental to ancient, incidents. On the other hand, as to the The general health of the population, munion in Chikli, General Li Ching Lin Chinese doctrine, all profemors and stud-demands preferred by the Chinese Cov both native and foreign, remains good. entai will be dismissed and punished ernment for damages in connection with During the summer months there was s without merdy if they dare to practise the incidents at Bhanghai, Canton, etc., small epidemic of rubeols and also of in which Chinese citizens suffered losses, whooping cough amongst visitors, but it in future.

The people of Tientsin are also warned the Japanese Government should endeav, both diseases were of a mild form and against free matrimony of their child- our to meet them justly and properly, set the epidemies quickly subsided. No case ren, otherwise the parents will be helding in conjunction with the other Gov- of cholera, plague or small-peg War responsible by the authoritim

eruments concerned,“

BAN ON FREE MARRIAGES.

GEN. LI CHING LIN ENFORCES ANCIENT CHINESE CUSTOM.

I

has imbed a new order strictly prohibit ing free marriages between male and female students of the various Govora. sment Universities and Collegos, states the Artatio News Servica

notified.

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