893.102 S/234: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 16—10:35 a.m.]
Following telegram has been sent to the Legation:
April 16, 6 p.m. The Shanghai Municipal Council presented a resolution to the annual ratepayers’ meeting today proposing the increase in the Chinese members of the Council from 3 to 5. The resolution was vigorously opposed by MacDonald, a prominent British ratepayer. Prominent among his reasons for opposing the resolution was the fact that the resolution had been proposed by the Council under pressure. The chairman stated that no influence whatsoever was used toward the Council and that the resolution represented the views of the foreign members of the Council. When the vote was reached the resolution was defeated by a large majority. Repeated to the Department.