Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-07
BY REGINALD SWEETLAND.

SHANGHAI, China.-Described as a
malignant danger spot" liable to sud
den outbursts, Shanghai is one of the
Few cities of the world whose foreign
residents, Americans and others. have
mad to form themselves into volunteer
defense units.
The city is practically an autonomous
group OF foreign interests knit together
by the common desire for trade and
at times for self-preservation. prac-
tically speaking, 1t is unaffected BY the
lnstabilities Of Chinese governments, by
the fortunes OF aspiring war lords or
leaders.
In times Of civil war-and such ex-
ampleS are Observation-Disclosures over
every Chinese city is the fear of the
looter: In times past Chinese troops,
victorious or defeated, have taken ad-
vantage OF their prerogative to despoil
tnelr prizes In lieu OF regular pay.
Shanghai, the commercial center Of
Asia: and with vested interests going
up into the hundreds Of millions OF
dollars, would be rich prize for anv
war lord and his rabble armies were
SUCH a contingency not guarded against.
Inc American tourist who sees
shanghai as a modern city of consider
able Splendor does not realize these
things. He has heard only that in 1927
the principal powers had something
Ike 10000 regular troops stationed in
Shanghai to preserve order and to
protect the lives of Americans, British,
french, japanese and other foreigners:
that the water front, or bund, was lined
with few dozen warships, cruisers.
destroyers and gunboatS, and that hum
dredS OF foreigners living in the interior
OF China were compelled to evacuaee
their homes and stations and seek
refuge in Shanghai, which was sur
rounded by barricades and barbed wire
entanglementS.
A knowledge Of these things is es-
Sential to an understanding Of the
Shanghai problem and to an under
standing OF why Shanghai is to come
into prominence in the next few months
in any discussion of China's foreign re-
lations. A historical and even geo
graphical perspective is essential for
an appreciation of Shanghai's unique
status.
Shanghai came into existence through
the terms Of the treaty Of Marking in
1872, by which "His Majesty the En-
peror of China agrees that British (this
was later changed to include all foreign
subjects, with their families and estab-
llSnmentS, shall be allowed to reside
for the purpose of carrying on their
mercantile pursuits without molestatio.l
or restraint at the cities and towns OF
Canton, Annoy, Foochowfoo, Ningpo and
Shanghai"
The city was founded on the muddy
fats Of the Whangpoo, a twisting and
dangerous stream, which today is made
navigable for ocean-going liners, and
which empties itself Into the Yangtze
River.
Founded then IN 1pAo M ,,ro,Jsioy,
was made as to what sort of local gov
eminent should prevail over the areas
thus set aside for the foreign settle
ment. And as the population grew, for
Chinese were not excluded from resi-
dence within the foreign areas, so did
the need grow for some sort of rnu-
ricipal administration.
Three years later, therefore, were
drawn UP the set Of land regulations,
which were issued by the consuls of the
foreign powers, though not in all in
stances approved by the Chinese Local
authorities.
The land regulations Of 1s45 were