Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-09-23
FUTURE OF SHANGHAI

OaDlG QlSpdICnCS ICpCI lAdI PeAh
will demand an exclusive concession
of large area in Shanghai upon con-
clusion of present hOstilities. 1t the
Nationalist government succeeds in
defeating Japan, however, it is like
ly to move for immediate rendition
Of all foreign concessions at Shang-
hal and elsewhere in China.
Three cities make up the city OF
Shanghai. They are the Interna-
tional Settlement, the French Con-
cession, and the Chinese City. Each
has it's own government and each eX
ercises administration within its
boundaries. The foreign settlements
trace back to the treaties negotiated
with China by Great Britain, France,
and the United States between lo42
and 1874. Subsequent treaties add
ed to the privileges of foreigners
and recent treaties have taken some
away, but the basis OF all foreign
concessions and settlements in China
is found in the treaties which de-
clared the five ports of Annoy, Can
ton, Foochow, Ningpo and Shanghai
open to foreign residence and trade
nearly century ago.
The British and American conces-
sions were Joined in 1858 to form
the present International Settle
ment. which is open also to the res
idence OF other foreigners on equal
terms. The French have maintain
ed separate concession since lo49
largely under the control OF the
French consul general.
The present area of the Interna-
tional Settlement is 83 square miles,
including $1,000 feet of the Whang
boo waterfront 1t has over 1,16O,-
900 residents, most of whom are ar
Chinese. The last census (1935)
showed a total of about $4,000 for,
eign residents. OF these, 2O,242
were Japanese, 6,595 British, and
l2.O17 Americans. Forty-three othe,
nationalities were enumerated. The
French concession contains 3.g
square miles, with 479,294 Chinese
and $4,000 foreign residents. 1t has
only $500 feet of waterfront.
The International Settlement is
governed by the Shanghai Municipal
Council Historically, British bust.
ness has dominated in Shanghai ano
five of the members Of the Shanghai
Council have always been British
| Since the World war, except fol
short periods, two seats have always
been filled by Japanese and two by
American members. In 1928 three
Chinese were added to the Council
and this number was increased IL
1880 to five, bringing the total num-
Der of counsellOrs to IA. The ad.
mission of Chinese to the Council
was believed to mark definite turn
| ing point in the history of the Set
tlement. Provided normal develop
| ment continued, it was said that II
would be only question OF time un'
til the Settlement would cease to be
governed by the foreign minority
\ ;y.<~ ho Lay dc nf
Chinese majority.
Japanese residents sought an in.
crease in their representation IL
1885, but only two of the thre+
Japanese nationals nominated FOL
Council seats were elected This re-
suit was brought about by combi
nation against the japanese Of 9th
er foreign interests at Shanghai.
| From the time of it's establish
| ment, down to 1882, the Interna
tional Settlement maintained a posi-
| ton of neutrality throughout China:
interminable civil wars. Its neu
trality was respected in the Slno
| japanese war of 1894-95, and wa:
maintained in other foreign wars
| except the World war in which
| China was a participant.
| In 1928, however, Japanese troops
used the Hongkew area OF the set
| tlement, which had been assigned t
| them for defense against possible at
tacks by Chinese Nationalists, as
base of offensive operations agalns
| the 10th Route Army outside tn
] Settlement. 1t was rumored at tn
| time that the japanese were aiming
| to take over a part of the city as al
| exclusive concession, but as far al
| is known no demand for such con
| cession was made upon the Chimes
| government.
When the Nationalist army wa:
| moving toward Shanghai 10 year
ago Chang Kai-shek, it's general
| issimo, said:
| '1t is just as much a part OF tn!
| revolutionary movement to abOl1Sl
| fnroion cnncassinns az it is to Stam]