Evening star., 1927-04-18
FOREIGN COUNCIL
HITS CANTONESE
Chinese See Conflict With
Attitudes of Home
Governments.
BY THOMAS F. MuLARp.

By Cable to The Star and the New York World
SHANGHAI, April IS.--E,vidence ac.
cumulates that the weight of foreign
influence In China has swung positive
~ against the Kuomintang on all
points. this bias being shown especial
ly by the Municipal Council in charge
OF the international settlement at
Shanghai
i Owing to its peculiar status and all.
most nnbridled power this council
eSerts great influence and by it's ae.
tons can commit foreign governments.
and almost decide their policies III the
present crisis
An Englishman here remarked rs.
Gently that there are two Brftigh
policies in China now; namely, those
of Downing street in London and those
of the Shanghai Municipal Council
which are diametrically opposed. The
Times hear about London's policy,
but nave contact with the policy of
the local council which embodies the
standpat foreign attitude about pend
ing issues. ."fAt
Cannot Reconcile Attitudes.
That witty comment contains deep
truth which explains the Chinese
suspicion of the real motives and pur-
poses Of the British and other govern.
ments. They cannot reconcile what
they have heard from London and
other capitals with what they have
seen and heard in Shanghai. The
chief spokesman of the municipal
council and the local foreign press
have never been fully clear to the
Shanghai Chinese.
The annual ratepayers' meeting last
week therefore held the interest of the
Chlnese, who were anxious to see what
action would be taken toward allowing
Chinese representation on the council,
The taxpayers meeting proved mega
tive, the most Weighty discussion being
as to whether the Municipal Orchestra
should be maintained. The only ac-
ton on q Chinese question was
resolution to admit the Chinese to the
public parks. This resolution was
adopted with the provision that it
would not be effective until normal
conditions obtain, and then only with
the favorable vote of a referendum
The matter of Chinese membership
on the council was not dealt with. The
occasion of the meeting was made
significant by a statement by the
chairman that the councils powers
were unique and independent: that the
council had authority to take action
for the safety Of the settlement with
out waiting for higher warrant
Extension of Gordon Seen.
This referred to the councils action
in sending troops and extending the
lines outside the treaty limits Of the
settlement. 1t is believed that the
intimate purpose of the council is to
extend the defensive Gordon to include
adjoining Chinese towns.
The significance of these conditions
to the people of America is that the
| policy of the United States Govern
| ment toward China may be reversed
and reshaped by the Municipal Council
| here, composed of five Britons, two
Japanese and two Americans selec-
| tuated and actuated by a small busi-
ness and property oligarchy.
/ understand that a powerful in
| fluence is working now to induce
| Washington to consent to the crea-
| tion here of what is termed a uni
| fed military command. The i'm
lmediate effect of that plan would be
to put the American forces at Shang-
| hal under command of the British
| general who is ranking officer at
present
In that case it would be possible
without previous knowledge and con-
| Continued on Page 2, Column A.