March 25, 1899.]
through the means of diplomacy, unsupported by the determination of force. (Applause.) The Chinese authorities apparently found it necessary to admit the principle of Settlement extension, but in making the admissions they out down the area of the claimed extension in such a way as, on that point alone, to render continuation of negotiatious impossible. But apart from the restriction of area, we now learn that the terms now to be attached to any exten. sion were such as to absolutely prove the in- sincerity of the Chinese in the whole matter. It is these terms that I am about to read to you. They are headed: "A Proposition of Eight Articles for the Extension of the Settle- ment"-I quote them as I have them and am The first not responsible for the diction. article is :-
1.
This time, after the extension of the Settle- ment, the rights of the Chinese residents within the same shall be equal to those of the resideuts of other nationalities, with no difference what-
ever, and Chinese ought to vote on the occasion
of nomination of Conncillors." (Laughter)
A very pleasing regulation so far us Chineso are concerned, and no doubt they would supply ns with a very nice Chinese Conncil, which would of course save the foreign devils a lot of trouble. (Laughter.)
Art.
2. Warrants from Chinese authorities for apprehension of Chinese, such Chinese not concerning the interests of foreigners, will not be taken to the Seuior Consul for endorsement, and will be dealt with per original regulation of
the Mixed Court,"
That is to say that in the Settlements the yamén ranners of the Chinese authorities can' do as they please.
Art. 3.- Public buildings belonging to the Chinese Gorerument situated within the ex- tended Settlement ought to be governed ac- cording to their established regulations: foreig⋅ ners will not interfere with such government."
There is a smell of the Ningpo Josshouse about this, and such a regulation would no doubt produce other smells and nuisances.
Art. 4. After the present extension of the Settlement the area will be larger than the original Settlement "-which is no doubt true thereafter all nations, without exception. will be included within this cosmopolitan Set. tlement; no further extension will be asked for."
The cosmopolitan idea is no doubt all right, and the matter of "uo further extension" will no doubt have the special attention of at least one uationality from its own particular poiut of interest.
Art. 5. Formerly when China consented to grant a Settlement to Japan in Shanghai and other places, it was specified in the treaty about a differential duty on foreign and native goods and establishment of manufactories, the present extension of Settlement, making the same cosmopolitan, the duty ought to remain as per previous original treaty."
I do not know what that means, but it seems to savour of likin, and to be a sort of general shot at industrial enterprises in the extended Settlement. We have been shot at enough, goodne-s knows, in our industrial enterprises in the present Settlement.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
mercies of the Chinese, Gentlemen, if this wasn't a very serious meeting I would ask you ❘ to laugh. (Laughter.)
Art. 8.- Rivers and creeks belonging to the Chinese Governmant, Chinese burial grounds, and buildings situated within the boundaries of the extended Settlement, to be regulated as per delimitation of the Hongkew boundaries which took place in the 19th year of Kuang Hsu,"
Gentlemen, I have had the document from which I am quoting in my hands for so short a time that I have been unable to read up what took place in the 19th year of Kuang Hsü, but if my memory does not deceive me it was in that year that the then American Consul General completed the arrangements for the extension of the American Settlement, which work he did for the general benefit of the Settlements, but he did it working alone as American Consul, and he was not interfered with by other Cousuls. And this gives me a point, which is that the only difference betwee: the work then and the work that W13 are urging forward to-day, is that whereas he carried through his work on behalf of the country which he repre- seated, wo are to-day urging similar action joutly as Augio-Americans in the interests
of the two settlements which bear our name,
(Applause) Gentlemen, it seems, I repeat, most appropriate that we who are the representatives
of those who made these Settlements, and whose name they bear, should, us an Anglo-American combination, take up this question on our
GAV LI
account, and in the words of the resolution which I am about to read, urge upou our respective Governments that immediate, united, and vigo rous action be take.. in order to bring to a sutis- factory conclusion a matter which vitally affects the interests of the community. Let it be un derstood by everybody both inside and outside this meeting that we are not asking for any spécial privileges for ourselves, but that what the efforts of our Governments may gain will be of equal advantage to all nationalities alike. Our German friends have shown themselves so completely at one with us in this matter, tirat. I am sure that tuey will heartily support our movement, and I only regret that it has not been possible to invite them to join us in this mest. iug of our two Associatious. Tue resolution that I have to propose is :—
[1]
That in view of the present deadlock in the matter of the Extension of the General Settle. mouts at Shanghai, this meeting arges the necessity of immediate, united, and vigorous action on the part of the Governments of Great Britain and the United States, in order to obtain a definite solution of a question vitally affecting the interests of this community."
Mr. F. E. Haskell (President of the American Association of China)-Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in seconding the resolution pro posed by the Chairman of the Chiua Associa tion and I am sure that our Association fully endorses the resolution. I cau add but little to his remarks; the facts are all as stated by him. It may be thought that it is somewhat unfair to the policies of the governments to for: ward such ' resolution to the various authorities, but I think that, considering the apathy that has been shown by both our govern- ments in the affairs of the Far East in the pist Art. 6." In matter of taxation within the that we are quite justified in doing so, and I Settlement, when such taxation concerns Chi- hope you will support it. The Chinese authori- nese, the question will be treated us per English ties have recognised the principle of Settlement Consul General Breuan's dispatch, i.e.. to be Extension by offering a certain area which is put in force after satisfactory arrangements not considered by the Consuls to be adequate with the Chinese anthorities. In matters of 'to what should be granted, but they still accom. prohibition or approval by Chinese authorities,ping them with conditions which would nullify ouce obtained sanction of the Consuls, the Municipal Council will not put objection."
That apparently means that no taxation of Chinese can be made without the approval of the Chinese authorities, but really the matter is so mixed up that I can with confidence leare it to Mr. Cousal Breuau, whose name is men. tioned in connection with it.
the benefits we are asking. Bayond this, as the Chairman of the China Association has told you, a few years ago, the extension of the Hongkew Settlement was granted without any couditions beyond what existed previonsly. Most of us have experienced the tactics of the Chinese, either in their official or commercial capacity, which are procrastination, haggling. and raising new issues to tire out the foreigner. In this matter I hope the latter will not be fired out, and that it will be made plain to the Chinese that there are certain rights and certain things which they will have to concede, and that they cannot bar all progress.
We are only asking for what will benefit then equally That is to say that the policing of ox with us, and I hope the resolution will be Settlement roads is to be left to the tender'carried. (Applause.)
Art. 7.—" After the present extension of the Settlement the Municipal police stationed with- out the boundaries will be recalled; the Chinese authorities will place their police to take charge and keep the boundaries clear, each exercising its power."
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it seems
251
Mr. F. Anderson—Mr. Chairman aud gentle- men, on behalf of the Municipal Council I would merely like to say that the terms which Mr. Dudgeon has read out to us to-day have been heard by us for the first time. They have not been communicated to us, and I am quite sure when they are, I am expressing the unanimous opinion of the Council when I say of that they will be received with feelings amusement, if not of indignation. If this is the result of three and a-half years' negotiations to me to be quite clear that the Chinese are treating the matter in a spirit of mockery. They would not treat any one of the Great Powers in this spirit and the fact that they have done so to the Consular Body representing all the Great Powers appears to me to argue that either they think the Consuls are not in earnest in the demands which they have made, or that there are so great dissensions among them that they can treat it in this spirit with impunity. I therefore think that the action which the proposer of the resolution, Mr. Dudgeon, and Mr. Haskell laid before us to-day, namely, that the negotiatious should now be pre-sed not by the Consular Body as a whole, but by the two nationalities whose names the Settlements bear, and any others who are willing to cooperate with them, is the most likely to lead to success. (Hear, hear)
The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously,
Mr. C. Thorue-You have just heard it ex- pressed by Mr. Anderson that it will probably be of very little use if this is merely referred to the Cousular Body. It therefore shows the necessity of bringing forward another resolu tion, which I have now the pleasure of moving: ---" That the resolution now passed be commu nicated by wire both to London and Washing- ton, and to our respective Ministers in Peking,' We hope this may produce a different result from what it has doue hitherto.
Mr. A. W. Danforth seconded, and the resol- ution was carried nem. con.
Mr. Dudgeon having mentioned that this concluded the business, a vote of thanks to him as Chairman was carried by acclamation, and the meeting dispersed.-N. C. Daily News.
IN URRESTING LAUNCH AT
SHANGHAI,
An interesting ceremony was performed on the 14th March at the dock of Messrs. S. C Farnham and Co., I., Hongkew, when the first vessel locally built under the German flag large and enthusiastic concourse, was successfully launched in the presence of a The Bremen,
the new tender built to the order of the Nord- Deutscher Lloyd, is an admirable specimen of the Company's work, and the fact that H.R.H. Prince Heury of Prussia had signified his in. tention of being present rendered the function aditionally auspicious. Entirely built of steel, the Bremen is intended to act as a lender for tue North-German Lloyd Mail Steamers.
It was five minutes past three when the Prince arrived accompanied by Dr. Knappe, H.I.G.M. Consul-General, the large and in- fluential gathering incluling the directors of the constracting company, an offiials or the local agency of the Noel-Deutscher Lloyd together with the leading members of the termau community and quite a large assem blage of invited gusts. The duty of christen- ing had boon delegated to Mrs. Korff, wife of the popular maunger of Messrs. Melchera & Co., a.d this she discharged in the most graceful manner. The launch was effected stern fore. most, and from the stem, about which a small platform had been erected, depended, draped in the national colours, the fateful bottle. All being ready Mrs. Korff set the structure gliding into the river, prefacing the ceremony with the following appropriate lines :—
Den Namen Bremen don trauten Klang - Führ ihn in Euren, führe ibn laug, Wecke der Heimath trustend Gedenken In denen die zigotid die Schritte lanken,
In's Unbekanute!
Und sei ein Prophet von kommenden
Glück
Fur die, so beseligt kehren zurück Zum Heimathlande !
Win die stolzen Schiffe auf weiter Finth. Deine der groszen Sache gut
i
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