701.0093 D
34/187 bis
The Italian Minister in China (Cerruti), Senior Minister, to the American Chargé
(Mayer)95
Peking, June 26,
1925.
Circular No. 187 bis
Subject: Events at Shanghai
The Senior minister has the honor to circulate herewith a note concerning
the events at Shanghai which was addressed to him by the Waichiaopu June
24.
[Enclosure—Translation96]
The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Shen)
to the Italian Minister in China
(Cerruti),
Senior Minister
Mr. Minister: With reference to the killing
of Chinese by the police of the International Settlement of
Shanghai, the Chinese delegation presented 13 points for discussion
at Shanghai with the delegation
[Page 671]
which was sent by the Ministers. Unfortunately
they could not reach a settlement.
As it has now been decided to transfer the negotiations to Peking, I
have the honor to submit to Your Excellency the proposals formulated
by the Chinese delegation at Shanghai, as well as the views of the
Chinese Government, on the subject of the revision of the treaties
which is considered hereafter to be absolutely necessary. The 13
demands mentioned above are as follows:
- 1.
- Abolition of all extraordinary military measures.
- 2.
- Release of all Chinese who have been arrested in connection
with this affair and reopening of all schools closed or occupied
in the International Settlement.
- 3.
- Punishment of those to blame, who, pending their trial (on
very grave charges), should be immediately suspended from their
duties.
- 4.
- Indemnity to the victims (dead and wounded) and to the
laborers, merchants, and students who have suffered loss as a
result of this affair.
- 5.
- Formal apologies.
- 6.
- Restitution of the Mixed Court to the Chinese
Government.
- 7.
- The Chinese employed in the factories and homes of foreigners,
seamen, and workers who have struck because of the agitation
produced by the incident shall be reinstated without reduction
of pay for the period of the strike.
- 8.
- Liberal treatment for laborers, i. e., no punishment shall be
inflicted if they wish to abstain from work.
- 9.
- Regarding the status of the International Settlement:
- (a)
- The Chinese shall participate in the Municipal Council
and rate payers’ meetings. The rate payers will choose
their representatives in proportion to the amount of the
taxes paid by them. In voting they will have the same
rights and privileges as the foreign voters.
- (b)
- In determining the right to vote, examination shall be
made to see whether properties actually belong to the
titleholder, or whether he is simply an agent or
representative. Only the actual owner will have the
right to vote and if the property is held by an agent it
is the real owner who will vote.
- 10.
- The Municipality shall not construct roads outside of the
International Settlement; those which are already so constructed
shall be ceded back unconditionally to the Chinese Government,
which will have the control of them.
- 11.
- The regulations concerning the press, the rights of wharfage,
and the stock exchanges should be repealed.
- 12.
- Chinese in the International Settlement shall have freedom of
speech, of assembly, and of the press.
- 13.
- The Secretary of the Municipal Council, Benbow-Rowe, shall be
dismissed.
These 13 demands represent only a part of the questions which must be
settled in connection with the Shanghai incident. The Chinese
Government is of the opinion that in order to assure definitely
[Page 672]
friendly relations between
China and the foreign powers and a permanent peace, all the unequal
treaties which have been concluded in the past must be revised. For
this purpose I have had the honor to address to Your Excellency
today a note which you will receive at the same time and which
explains the reasons for this demand.98
I beg Your Excellency to be good enough to communicate this note to
the interested ministers and hope that negotiations thereon will be
opened as soon as possible in order to arrive at a prompt
settlement, which is my most heartfelt desire.
I avail [etc.]
