Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-03-25

extension of the Anglo American set
Elements at Shanghai. which have long
outgrown their original limits The de-
mund made on this ground involves no
territorial pretensions, since the pur-
chasers of and within these settlements
are left free to register their titles with
their own consuls. The identity OF
American and British interests at
Shanghai has already been recognized,
and the British protest against further
concessions to France has been viSor-
ously seconded by the minister of the
United States at Pekin, and now by
Germany. That is IL demonstration Of
the promptness with which joint action
is likely to be taken when lo-Ameri-
can German interests in China are as
sailed, which is not likely to be lost
either on France or on the power with
out whose adhesion French aggression
in China would present but little dam
Ger.
The extension of territory demanded
by the French in Shanghai was war
rantcd neither by the extent of heir
trade nor the number of their residents.
AT the date of the last census. out of
5ll4 foreigners in Shanghai. only 430
We're in the French settlement. Out of
3.SS1 900 tons of shipping entered at
Shanghai in 1897, only l14,C03 tons were
French. u DIRE treati s with China.
| made over half a century ago, there were
! three so-ralled foreign settlements
British, American and French-marked
off for the residence of foreign mer-
chants. At one time there was Il dis
position manifested to administer them
in equal lines. The French authorities
! Withdrew, in 1868 from the general
| scheme of administra ton which had
! been agreed upon by the three consuls in
| 1854; and published. in 1868. ii code of
regulations which gives the consul some
thing like gubernaturial power. The
fusion of the British and American set
| tlements had, in the meantime been COM
| rlptc. They formed. and continue to
| form. one municipality, administered by
| a single composite council. W hose mem
bers are elected annually by the votes
| of property owners and ratepayers upon
the nature Of whose qualification the res
| idents have agreed. Other powers have
| gradually come upon the scene. Aus
| tria, Germany. Holland, Italy. Japan,
| Norway and Sweden, Portugal. Russia
| Spain. Switzerland and even Peru have
made treaties with China in the inter-
vening years, but all have sought and
| found hospitality within the great cos
| mopnlitan settlements officially desig-
mated as Anglo American The French
| alone have stood aloof, keeping in their
| own hands the administration of the
territory originally assigned TO them
rms altlluue OF lSolatioh is ac-
coh'lai'ieu u! certain prete"Sio's "hlch
are All 'he more i'ti'a'''is because thefe
are no sunsla't''l interests 10 JUSTIFY
them. III Is the ffehch theofy that
thelr cohsui general mas lhe so'e power
to give utlcs TO property W'thin the
| frehcn se'''e'h'h'' y siiiiiiar cia'ii'
made 30 years ago was "ItharaWh on
the protest OF the consul OF the United
States IL is now oeihs realllrned IN
uncompromiSins terms ana II mtely
ish settlement hoialhg property IN the
F'rench settlement under res'ster IN the
lirltish cohs"ia'e' shouid 'ah' out lreSh
| titles IN 'r!ihS 10 assert lhe pflhclpie
| or territorial sovereignty over thelr SET
tlenent AT shanghai 'he rehch came
| ih'o toh'es. i'9' 'u'S VIZ" " Ha'iNe
associa'ioh hHo" II as tiie NihsPo 'uiiu'
Inc oppor'u''''! WIS Pfoi',i"'y seiZed
| 10 oeliaH" s''"' eN'e"9'oh Vi tIie
rre"''h Setl.th'tn'' "a vi" '"p''hsd''o 'ot
.ne Insult "i''' '''e iio' 'ip''e"
me Iac' 'h"' any coi'pensa,'oh is
""e 1t IL rom '''e , '''.'i' !" 'nc '''''ese
| soluto laWiesshcsS oil the demands 10
"hich 'he Nh'''eS government mas W SUP
M M'''. ~ -, 'ne ~, 80 wy. ~,
:, ,,,,,e u,,a,,, ,,.,,,,,,, -,
nnco assumed International interest
when they we're known to include the
oession of Pootung on he opposite bank