SAFETY IN SHANGHAI

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 9

SAFETY IN SHANGHAI

CONSULAR DECLARATION

TO GHEEESE PARTY^LEADERS

(United Press Association.—Copyright) " ; (Received:26th February, 10 a.m.)- ' ■ •• -; SHANGHAI, 25 th February; '■ :: The Senior Consul in the Interaati.on- ■;'• ••.;■ al. Settlement has issued the fpilAwiiig^ ■ • declaration, adopted! by the diplomatic' fi[\ body:—"ln the light' 6f -the^military■'! :'■;'"■ events.which are at present.taking piace' J: !' in the region of Shanghai, and which:'":,"' may at any moment have serious_conse r -: /. quenees for the safety of life and' pro- •" ' perty of their respective nationals,' ag"" was apparent from the bombardment of " •22nd February, the interested .dip'lo- v" matie representatives feel compelled to' ' recallithat the International Settlement/.*,.----on Shanghai, like other Concessions-in --• China, was established by: virtue o fre-;'" • gular agreements, with the Chinese G6y-:? ernmentin order to iinake it possible JoP lc foreigners to reside there freely • ani•■• carry on their trade. In the' course of- '■'"' the party strike, of which:that legion-■"'■ has been the scene, the' r authorities ia^ :i the International Settlement have serui' 1"----pulpusly abstained from any aet-fav— ■- ouring any of tlie conflicting/parties involved, and, despite'the (Hfi^tties o£ .. the situation, they ; "are. mflintainihVln ) • that respect the strict Neutrality, impos- " ed upon them by the nature~of the State affaii-3 thus established." : '

The interested diplomatic representatives are thus warranted in, expectin<* on the part of the .Chinese authorities the observance of the same rule of conduct, and they look to-the heads-of-the armies!involved to: .take all measures necessary 1 to; avoid'• jbdeidents which would constrain the foreign auth: orities.themselves:to take measures-in-dispensable for ensuring the safety of persons and pioperty of their nationals. ''

A similar declaration has been issued by the French Minister regarding the French Concession. It adds that >he French authorities are determined to .take measures which the situation may render indispensable.