The Secretary of State to
Minister Rockhill.
Department of State,
Washington
,
June 30,
1906
.
No. 157.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch
from the consul-general at Shanghai, inclosing a copy of a letter to be
addressed by the senior consul of the consular body at Shanghai to the
dean of the diplomatic corps at Peking, protesting against the
restrictions threatened by the Chinese on the natural growth of the
foreign settlement at Shanghai toward the north and east. I also inclose
a copy of the department’s answer, approving the proposed letter.
You will support the request of the consular body unless you see some
serious objection.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Consul-General Rodgers to the Assistant
Secretary of State.
American Consulate General,
Shanghai, China
,
May
25, 1906
.
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith a
copy of a letter I have drafted for transmission by the senior
consul of the consular body of Shanghai to the dean of the
diplomatic corps at Peking. This subject of the proposed limitation
of the foreign settlement in Shanghai and its environs is one of the
most important questions between the foreigners and Chinese, and
unless there is some amicable determination in the immediate future,
it will furnish the incentive for trouble which will be
far-reaching. In addition to the information contained in the
inclosure, I may add that each day proves the absolute necessity of
an extension of the settlement toward the east—the region which will
be indicated for freight and cargo traffic when the Whangpoo
improvement work is completed. The excessive values of land along
the present water front and in the residential district, known as
the western section, enforce the conclusion that the natural growth
of Shanghai, which can not fail to be great, must be in the
direction in which the Chinese authorities are now preparing to act.
From Shanghai to Woosung is only 8 miles or thereabouts by the
railroad, and eventually all of the territory between the railroad
and the river will be settled by the population needed to transact
the coming business of this important port.
It is to be hoped therefore that some mutually satisfactory
arrangement can be devised at Peking which will not only avoid the
dispute and trouble impending but will also settle for all time such
questions affecting the future of Shanghai. A letter similar to this
has been forwarded to the American minister at Peking.
I have the honor, etc.,
[Subinclosure.]
Letter from senior consul at
Shanghai to dean of diplomatic
corps, Peking.
Sir: I have the honor, on behalf of the
consular body, to invite the attention of yourself and your
colleagues of the diplomatic corps to a question which seems to be
of the greatest moment to all foreign interests in Shanghai and its
environs. The matter stated as briefly as possible is as
follows:
To the north of Hongkew (the so-called American concession of old) is
the district of Paoshan, into which by consent of Liu Kung Ye, late
viceroy of the Liang Kiang Provinces, and Yuan, former taotai of
Shanghai, as was evidenced [Page 298]
by proclamation, foreigners were allowed to extend roads, to build
foreign dwellings on lands rented in perpetuity, and effect other
improvements. These residents along North Honan and North Szechuen
roads particularly, being beyond the settlement limit of Range road,
volunteered—Chinese as well as foreigners—to contribute money to the
international municipal council in lieu of taxes, and in
consideration of this policy obtained water, electric light, and gas
service, and police and fire protection. By request the houses have
been numbered, and the district has been treated as though a part of
the settlement, without objection on the part of the Chinese. But of
late the Chinese authorities have seen fit to protest against this
natural extension of the city’s growth and have given notice that
there shall be no further encroachment under any species of
municipal control. Furthermore it is announced that the Pao-shan
district lying north of the line of Range road and west of Honan and
Szechuen roads—being the section immediately adjacent to the
Shanghai-Woosung-Nanking Railway line and station—is to be created a
Chinese municipality and subject only to such jurisdiction as may be
imposed by those appointed to govern it. While such procedure, which
is entirely similar to that under which the Chinese Bund section
adjoining the French concession on the south was created, may be
entirely within the right of the Chinese, we feel it our duty to
point out the ultimate effect upon the coming great development of
Shanghai. The residential district of which the North Szechuen road
is the main artery, under such limitations as will be prescribed by
the Chinese hereafter can extend but little farther than the rifle
range, and by a simple amplification of the Chinese programme their
prospective municipality can block all egress to the north and
prevent extension eastward along the north line of the present
settlement limits. This would mean that the growth of the city
between the water front of the Whangpoo and the Woosung Railway line
would be curtailed, and as a final result there would be absolute
confinement of the settlement to the present area.
Such a future for the Shanghai of the present is not desired by the
responsible Chinese classes, who now appreciate the benefit and
utility of modern innovations and who are not only content but also
eager to reside in sections under foreign control. The increase in
population, as is evidenced by the recent census and by daily
current observation, warrants proper extension of the settlement,
and any restriction will work a hardship and do irreparable injury
which will react upon the interests of all people. The settlement
area is already crowded, the values of land have increased
enormously, and apparently the only outlet for the city’s natural
and logical growth is toward the north and east, the sections which
apparently the Chinese authorities are now determined to close
against any species of foreign supervision.
We earnestly urge the consideration of this matter by the diplomatic
body and hope that some arrangement or understanding can be reached
by which Shanghai can be allowed to attain its manifest destiny—that
of being a still greater treaty port, in which Chinese and
foreigners can reside under a system of government mutually
satisfactory to those whose best interests are involved.
I have the honor, etc.,
———— ———,
Consul-General for Belgium and
Senior Consul.
[Inclosure 2.]
The Assistant Secretary of
State to Consul-General Rodgers.
Department of State,
Washington
,
June 29,
1906
.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your dispatch, No. 160, of the 25th of May last, inclosing copy of a
letter to be addressed by the senior consul of the consular body at
Shanghai to the dean of the diplomatic corps at Peking, protesting
against the restrictions threatened by the Chinese on the natural
growth of the foreign settlement at Shanghai toward the north and
east.
This proposed letter has the approval of the department, and the
American minister at Peking will be instructed to support the
request of the consular body unless he sees some serious
objection.
I am, etc.,
Robert Bacon, Assistant Secretary.