Writing of China on May 9th we dealt with a
summary of the first volume of Mr. Justice Feetham's Report to the Shanghai Municipal Council. That can now be obtained in England for 5s., from Messrs. Pook and Co., 68 Fenchurch Street. It gives the best and fullest account of the history and present condition of the City and the Foreign Settlement. Volume 2 is now in print at Shang- hai and The Times of Wednesday gave us a summary of the recommendations contained in it. Everyone who follows current events in China will be relieved to llnd Mr. Justice Feetham's firm opinion that this is not a moment for " rendition " or for rendition accompanied by any revocable charter. He sympathizes with the Chinese over the anomaly inherent in extra-territoriality, and says that foreigners must recognize and admit that it is an anomaly due to end soon. He is confident that co- operation on both sides during the period of transition is both possible and necessary. Any agreement must guarantee security for the physical protection of the Settlement and for the rule of law which rightly appears to vital. Our diplomatic negotiations with Nanking have gone ahead rather hastily and conceive a Shanghai completely handed over in ten years. The Feetham Report may convince both sides that it is to their interest to maintain permanent stability at Shanghai without commitment to any date at which no man can say to-day that China will be ready to guarantee that stability.
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