Joseph Haas to the Austro-Hungarian consul, Chevalier de Boleslawski, August 15, 1878

Dispatch from the acting Taotai, Cha, to the Austro-Hungarian consul, Chevalier de Boleslawski.

Cha, &c., makes the following communication:

On the 13th day of the 7th moon, the 4th year of Kuang hsii (August 11, 1878), I had the honor to receive from the superintendent of trade for the southern ports, His Excellency Sheu, the decision upon my report, which I made according to orders received with regard to the regulations for the conversation of the harbor of Shanghai, and to the deliberations which took place concerning the limits of the Huang-pu for the jurisdiction of the harbor-master.

According to this decision received, the very first important matter is the firm maintainance of the old limits.

In the careful translation of the definement of the foreign settlements of Shanghai the southern limit goes just to the end of the French, and the northern limit just to the end of the American settlement, a fact known to both Chinese and foreigners.

The meaning of the second paragraph of the inspector-general, Mr. Hart’s, proposed regulations is, that the harbor-master’s jurisdiction goes over that part of the river which is within the settlements, and nothing is contained therein of the part south of the bridge of the 16th tithing; also nothing of Woosung; this is quite clear.

What is moreover therein contained about the part of the river opposite of the city wall, of the Chinese custom-house, of the suburbs, and the foreign settlement, as well the part of the Hongkew Creek between the settlements, point specially out the limits of the eastern and western shores of the Huang-pu. The Huang-pu River, within the settlements, has on its western shore the district city, the foreign customhouse, and the Hongkew Creek; on its eastern shore, only open country and villages.

To the south and north the limits are clearly defined by those of the foreign settlements, and it is unnecessary to lose more words about it.

Moreover, in the same paragraph the foreign settlements are twice mentioned, and their meaning is very clear. The passage, “to that part of the Hongkew Creek,” denotes also, clearly, that thereby the part of the river between the settlements is meant, therefore the jurisdiction cannot go beyond the settlements.

Generally speaking, the western boundary of the settlements ends at the bridge of the Hongkew Village, which for this reason is also generally comprised among the limits of the harbor.

Now the consular body desire to have extended the limits towards the south and north for together several tens of li, which, however, does really not agree with the regulations of the foreign settlements.

Moreover, in the first paragraph of the regulations for anchorage of the second year of Tung Chih there is contained, “that the places for anchorage have been fixed within the settlements,” and this refers to the old regulations of the settlements; it is therefore evident that beyond the settlements no foreign ships can anchor, load or discharge cargo; such places could not have been assigned to this purpose by the harbor-master.

The Taotai by not assigning the south of the settlements to the jurisdiction of the harbor-master did very properly. He agreed, however, on the other side, that the north of the settlements should be extended over 20 li, and this was not correct; he ought to have ascertained the old limits of the settlements in the south and north, and thereupon deliberate the question, and act with correctness.

As soon as the matter is deliberated and fixed, the harbor-master has to draw up an accurate plan of the limits of the river under his jurisdiction, that it may be placed in record for further references.

According to these instructions it has to be acted properly and further reports to be made.

These the contents of the dispatch received from the superintendent of trade which the Taotai already communicated to the commissioner of customs, that he may thereupon order the harbor-master to act accordingly.

I feel myself in duty bound to communicate the same to your honor, and beg of you to further communicate it to the whole consular body, that they may act accordingly.