The Boxer movement is causing trouble, and foreign troops are advancing from the north, while rumors are rampant in the southern provinces. Some say the foreign troops intend to attack the Yangtze River and assault the Wusong Fort; others claim that the Boxers plan to lead people south to burn, kill, and loot in Shanghai. With so many different claims, the people of Shanghai are in a state of panic, feeling on edge, and rumors even suggest that the Chinese army plans to attack the concessions on a specific day.
Foreigners are very concerned and have increased their vigilance in the concessions to prevent any potential trouble. Hubei Governor Zhang Zhidong and Jiangsu Governor Liu Kunyi believe that if war breaks out again in the south, ordinary folks will definitely bear the brunt, and since foreigners are suspicious, mutual distrust could easily lead to trouble. At that time, foreigners proposed to jointly defend Shanghai, so they repeatedly telegraphed the Qing court. The court dispatched an observer, along with a senior official sent by the Jiangsu Governor and another observer from Shanghai, to brief the consuls from various countries in Shanghai, emphasizing mutual non-aggression and signing an agreement for mutual protection.
The ports along the Yangtze River and in Suzhou and Hangzhou operated according to the agreement. Only then did the south stabilize. This isn't something just anyone could pull off; without the decisiveness and capability of these two, such a result would not have been possible! Foreigners place special importance on this matter because Shanghai gathers the most industries from various countries. Specifically, the regulations for mutual protection in Shanghai are as follows:
1. Each country will patrol and protect its own people and industries within the concessions; foreign churches and congregations outside the concessions shall be patrolled and protected by Chinese officials. In case of an emergency, they should notify each other and tackle the situation together.
2. Regardless of whether it is inside or outside the concessions, if any troublemakers are causing disturbances, robbing, or injuring people, they must be apprehended together and handed over to local officials for severe punishment.
3. Currently, due to disruptions in cargo transport, many small craftsmen are unable to find work. It's suggested that the Public Works Bureau in the concessions build more roads, and the city should also clear the waterways. The district magistrate should pick some strong workers to act as security guards. By providing idle individuals with tasks, disturbances can be prevented.
4. The costs for road construction and recruiting security personnel will be discussed and funded jointly by Chinese and foreign officials and merchants.
The economy of Shanghai mainly relies on money houses, and the operation of money houses cannot be separated from interbank borrowing. If banks do not conduct borrowing normally, or if they are too urgent in collecting debts upon maturity, if a run on the money market occurs, business will definitely be hindered. When the market is in turmoil, people will be anxious. The presidents of both domestic and foreign banks and the directors of money houses should coordinate and assist each other to overcome difficulties together, ensuring that money houses can sustain themselves.
Currency should be used as usual; it only requires local authorities and consulates to issue a notice stating that banks do not accept silver dollars and can exchange silver dollars for cash at a fixed rate, to be paid by the money houses.
All theaters in the concession should operate as usual and not stop performances to prevent causing public unrest.
The fire prevention system in the concession is very well established; the area outside the concession, known as Pudong, should also follow suit and prepare more firefighting equipment. In case of a fire, nearby residents should remain calm; on one hand, the fire brigade should rush to extinguish the fire, and on the other hand, patrol officers and soldiers should be deployed in shifts to maintain order effectively, and a notice should be issued in advance.
The patrol in the concession should bolster its personnel, with patrol officers rotating day and night in the streets and alleys. In the city's outskirts and southern Pudong, patrol officers should also be increased, with more officers dispatched to patrol in shifts.
It is necessary to identify the entry and exit routes surrounding the concession and the border areas within the concession; the Public Works Bureau should assign more officers to patrol the main roads, deciding how many officers to assign to each location, and build patrol houses to be stationed year-round, monitoring the borders. If groups of people are found approaching the concession to cause trouble, a warning should be sounded to alert the Public Works Bureau to dispatch officers to apprehend them. In the border areas outside the concession, Chinese authorities should station troops to secure the area, preventing groups of troublemakers from entering the concession.
