Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-05
BY REGINALD SWEETLAND.


SHANGHAI, China.-Shanghai, the
city without a soul. is becoming self
conscious. In the realization that it is
unique among the cities of the world, it
has placed its finger upon the heart of
its own complaint.
Described sometimes as the Paris of
the Far East, it is also referred to as a
malignant danger spot, liable to sud-
den outburst, with results both far
reaching and deplorable." 1t is grow
ing self-conscious because it is appre-
ciating the fact that it cannot forever
enjoy its present status. While it knows
full well the disease from which it is
suffering, it is not sure of the remedy,
for such remedies as have been Sug-
gested it refuses to take.
Those who will ultimately decide the
future status of this city are in Wash
ington, London, Paris, Toxic, Marking,
not to mention a score of others. For
Shanghai is an international metropo-
lis, resting upon a most peculiar legal
basis, and the strings which bind
Shanghai together lead into the impor-
tant capitals of the world.
Because Shanghai is in China, but is
not ruled by China or the Chinese, the
problem exists; and as lorg as the
problem remains unSolved, ard with the
present state of Nationalist feeling eX-
isting In China, just so long will Shang-
hal continue to occasion uneasineSS.
These facts should not be read as
sensational. They have been true for a
number of years and will probably re-
main true for some little time to come.
That there are today something near to
5000 foreign troops and Marines
quartered in the city attests to nothing
more than a recognition of this feeling
of uneasineSS.
Speaking briefly and in general terms
Shanghai is governed by a municipal
council, the members of which are
elected annually, and include three
Chinese. This council, in theory, bows
to the consular body, which, in turn, is
composed of conSulS of the nations
which have consular representatives in
China. The consular body is topped by
the diplomatic corps. which is composed
of the Ministers of those nations having
have only their own governments to
answer to.
How different in status then Shang-
hal is from any other city in China is
obvious. The largest city in China, it
is not governed by Chinese, even though
it has a population of roughly million
Chinese. How this came about and its
justification through the years is rec
ord which is essential to all who are in
tereSted in China'S attempt to clean
house and place herself upon a sub
stantial basis with the foreign powers.
The American visitor, looking Shang-,
hal over, is impressed with the size of
the city. He sees that with its environs
it has close to 100000 residents, that
it covers a large area, that it is built
upon the banks of a muddy stream
called the Whangpoo and stands about
Is miles of the famous Yangtze- kiang.
Speaking in broad terms, Shanghai
is the commercial, manufacturing and
banking center of the Far East. In
shipping it ranks within the first six
ports of the world. To take a typical
day, on october 25, as many as "a YES
sells entered the harbor and % departed
These carried the flags of IL nations,
and while they included river and
coastal vessels, they also included the
heavy tonnage of oceangoing steamers
and freighters.
4 4 4 4
Shanghai is also the mission center
of China, and, upholding its name of
the Paris of the Far East, the amuSe-
ment center of Asia. Within the for
uncontrolled area there are IA movie
theaters catering to foreigners and
showing American, British, French,