Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-01
LANDLORDS WILL NOT RENT
Business Men and Gentry Combine
to Compel Restrictions.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TROUBLE
No Abatement in the Demand for
Calling Proposed Body To-
gether.
By Edward Young.
sponience Of The Star.

| Foreign Correspondence Of The star
SHANGHAI, August 8. 1910.
new phase of the anti-foreign
movement In China has emerged at
| Hangshau. At a recent meeting Of the
| gentry and prominent residents Of that
city regulations were drawn up, which,
II is proposed. should in future govern
the renting of property by foreigners.
| The practical effect of this action.
which is held to constitute a fragrant
encroachment on treaty rights. is to
make it virtually impossible for for
eigners henceforth to rent property in
| Hangchau, if not throughout. the whole
province of Chekiang. Apparently the
movement had its origin in trivial
quarrel with the Japanese shopkeepers
| some months ago, as consequence OF
which the Japanese shops were closed
| and their owners were compelled to
| remove outside the city. Encouraged
by this success. the local gentry and
business men proceeded to interfere
with the leasing of property to mis-
sions. against which a protest was
| lodged with the governor.
The latest proposals restrict the right
of foreigners to rent houses to
l. Those employed by the Chinese
2. Teachers employed in the govern
| ment schools or industrial establish
ments and mechanics.
| 8. Consuls of every country and their
assistants.
| A. Missionaries of all nationalfties
and missionary physicians. They must,
| however, bring passports, showing that
they are engaged in benevolent and not
| lucrative occupations.
Native Landlords Fearful.
Even in these cases the safeguards.
restrictions and penalties prescribed
are so numerous that the best fnten-
toned Chinese landlord might well be
excused for deciding to dispense with
the trouble and risk attached to letting
his premises to a foreign tenant. 1t
might be imagined that ii would be
| q simple matter to put an end to this
crusade by appealing TO the responsible
authorities. But evidently the local
officials stand in some awe OF the agi-
tators, whose power is attested by the
servile tone adopted toward them by
the governments representatives.
This. indeed. seems to be the crux OF
the matter. In an Illuminating article
on the subject the North China Herald
remarks that far more serious than
the disabilities imposed on foreign ten
ants, or the lavish threats or punish
ment to be meted out to native land
lords on violation of any Of the numer-
Gus rules. threats which are obvious
| y designed to brighten Chinese own
ers of property from any dealings with
foreigners. is the indirect evidence at
forded Of the uprising OF new and
irresponsible force with which Chinese
officials and foreigners alike have now
to reckon. Again and again through
out the regulations we find mention
| of the Hangchau Chamber OF Com
merce as the arbiter Of all negotiations
between landlord and tenant. To this
body all agreements must be sent for
preliminary approval and stamping.
All disputes must, in the first place. be
reported to the chamber. which will in
turn memorabilia the police. And.
| finally it is with the chamber OF COM
merce that all questions Of punishment
| or recommendation for punishment
shall rest.
In other words. between the for
| eign tenant and the officials with
whom he or his nations representative
should properly deal. new organiza-
tion has come into existence. whose
mere within is to be sufficient to upset
all existing contracts. and with whom
the foreign representatives will have
| all the greater difficulty in coping In
| that apart from its vague non-Ofhcial
status the officials themselves are
palpably afraid Of withstanding list be-
hests."
Chinese National Assembly.
There is no abatement in the agitation
for the immediate summoning Of the
Iprnpocod Chinese national accop,lolv