Advertisements on Municipal Properties. Western District. Soldiers' Cemetery. 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1241-1255). 

Commissioner of Public Health to Acting Secretary. "Soldiers' Cemetery - Erection of Unsightly Hoardings." Shanghai, May 28, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1242).

I enclose copy of a report forwarded by the Superintendent of Cemeteries concerning the erection of advertisement hoardings alonsige the boundary wall of the above Cemetery. 
This is a most undesirable action and I am of the opinion that it also constitutes an encroachment on the Council's rights. 
Before the matter is bourght to the notice of the responsible Chinese Authorities, I would suggest that it be referred, for report, to the Public Works Department.  

Report by the Superintendent of Cemeteries to Commissioner of Public Health. Shanghai, May 27, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1243-1244).

I beg to respectfully report that the Oriental Advertising Agency, Avenue Edward VII, erected two advertising boards, 20' x 10' approximately, yesterday afternoon in front of the Soldier's Cemestery on either side of entrace, and I am informed they are erecting eight more which will entirely obliterate the frontage leaving only then entrance free. Apart from the ugliness, and also disrespect to the dead this will prove detrimental to the boundary wall as the stanchions are touching the top part of the wall. 
The Gardener in charge of Cemetery states when he remonstrated with them on entering Cemetery to erect ladders to fix advertising boards, they were insulting and resued to listen to him, saying they had authority and they had paid for it. They furthermore insisted on leaving two ladders and three baulks of wood in Cemetery. 
I interviewed the Manager of this Company and he informed me they had permision from the Chinese Authorities to use the frontage for advertising purpose. When I mentioned the stanchions supporting the advertising (p.2/2) boards were touching the cop of Cemetery, he said we can move them away a little. In the event of a high wind or typhoon htese advertising boards are liable to be blown over when considerable damage will be done. 
This Cemetery contains the remains of 305 Solidiers who died in the early strenuous years of the history of the Settlement 1862-1865 during the Foreign Defence of Shanghai against the Taiping rebels. (...) 
(Signed) Harold V. Starling, Superintendent Municipal Cemeteries. 

Commissioner of Public Works to Acting Secretary. "Soliders' Cemetery - Erection of  Hoardings". Shanghai, May 31, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1245).

This Cemetery holds the remains of British soldiers. The wall referred to was erected by the Council in 1907/8 at a cost of approximately Tls. 3.800. I suggest the matter be referred to His Majesty's Consul-General.
 
Letter from Chairman to H.B.M. Consul-General.  Shanghai, June 2, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1246-1247).

I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a report by the Superintendent Municipal Cemeteries concerning the erection of advertisement hoardings alongside the boundary wall of the "Soliders" Cemetery" situated at No. 218 Boulevard des Deux Républiques (Native City). 
Apart from the desecration of this burial ground involved by the erection of these unsightly hoardings, the council desires to lodge a protest against the encroachment on its rights over this property, and have the honour, accordingly, to solicit your good offices in making the necessary representations to the Chinese Authorities in this matter. (...) 
(Signed) Chairman.

Report by Commissioner of Public Works to Commissioner of Police. Shanghai, June 17, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1249).

With reference to your enquiry, I beg to inform you that the Council does not possess any actual document of title, but in the "History of Shanghai" Vol. II page 255, the following appears in reference thereto: "The land was given by the Chinese Government but the Consulate had no record of the title deed which was probably destroyed in the fire of 1870". 
It is probable that the land was given to His Majesty's Consultar representative, and not to the Council but the Council seems to have maintained the cemestery since at least as far as back as 1876. 
The hoardings do not consitute an encroachment as they are erected upon the public footpath within a few inches of the coping of the wall, but if it should be decided to open up an additional entrance or entraces, it would be necessary to remove portions of the hoardings. 

Letter to Chairman from  H.B.M. Consul-General. Shanghai, July 5, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1250).

With reference to your letter of June 25th, and previous correspondence concerning the erection of advertisement hoardings alongside the Boundary Wall of the Soliders' Cemetery, I have the honour to forward herewith for your information copy in translation, of a letter which I addressed to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs on the subject. 
I have received no reply from the Commissioner as yet, but he informs me verbally that he has taken up the matter with the Chinese department of Public Works. 
Mr Crawshaw, the manager of the Oriental Advertising Agency has been told by this office that the hoardings must come down and I trust that the matter will be satisfactorily settled within a few days. 

Copy of letter to (Chinese) Commissioner for Foreign Affairs from H.B.M. Consul-General. Shanghai, July 5, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1251-1252).

It has recently come to my knowledge that large advertisement hoardingshave been erected alongside the boundary wall outside the British Soldiers Cemetery in the Boulevard des deux Republiques by the Oriental Advertising Agency. 
The Manager of the Oriental Advertising Agency was requested to call at this office and in reply to enquiries he explained that the gound had been lessed to him by the Onest Advertising Agency and the he had been told that the ground was the controle of the French Municipal Council. He had accordingly written to the Council and received a reply to the effect that the ground was outside SEttlement limits. A permit for the erection of hoardings had been issued however by the Chinese Department of chinese Works and he had entered into a contract with the Honest Advertising Agency. He stated that at the time he was unaware that the matter concerned the British Soldiers Cemetery in any way and he did not therefore report the matter to this Consulate but he was now willing to cancel the contract at the end of this month. (The contract and permit were both produced). 
Although the ground in question is outside the Settlement limits, the erection of these wooden hoardings close to the Soliders Cemestery constitutes an act of desecration, as I feel sure you will agree.
The action of the Public works Department in issuing this permit withtout consideration of the facts is most improper and I must ask you to write to the Department directing them to cancel the permit and making it clear that in future no other hoardings must be erected or any other act of secration be allowed in connection with the Soliders' Cemetery. 

Letter to H.B.M. Consul-General from Council Chairman. Shanghai, July 7, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1253).  

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 5 relative to the Council's representations to your goodself on the subject of the erection of advertisement hoardings alongside the boundary wall of the "Soldiers' Cemetery" situated at No.218 Boulevard des Deux Républiques (Native City) and to thank you for your good offices in this matter.  

Extract from Municipal Gazette. "Soldiers' Cemetery. Removal of Advertisement Hoardings.", dated February 18, 1927. Shanghai, July 18, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1255).

Soldiers' Cemetery. Removal of Advertisement Hoardings. Repeated representations have been made from time to time by the British Consul-General to the Chinese Authorities concerned regarding the removal of advertisement hoardings alongside the boundary wall of the Soldiers' Cemetery (Boulevard des Deux Républiques). As indicated in the appended correspondence, these representations have now been successful: (See Below)

Letter from Chairman (Council Chamber), to H.B.M. Consul-General (Extract from Municipal Gazette - Soldiers' Cemetery dated February 18, 1927). Shanghai, September 1, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1255).

I have the honour to refer to the correspondence which has pased between your goodself and the Council, concerning the erection of advertisement hoardings alonside the boundary wall of the "Soldiers' Cemetery" situated at No. 218 Boulevard des Deux Républiques (Native City). 
I have the honour to inform you that recent inspection of this site revelas that no action has yet been taken towards the removal of these hoardings and to request that you may be good enough to renew your representation to the Chinese Authorities in this matter. 
 
Letter from Acting Consul-General to Chairman (Council Chamber) (Extract from Municipal Gazette - Soldiers' Cemetery dated February 18, 1927). Shanghai, September 3, 1926. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1255).

With reference to your letter of September 1 in connection with the erection of advertisement hoardings alonside the boundary wall of the "Soldiers' Cemetery", I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Consul-General has made frequent representations to the Chinese authorities onccerned to regard to this matter. 
Your letter under acknowledgement will be brought to the notice of Sir Sidney Barton so soon as he returns to Shanghai. 

Letter from Acting Consul-General to Chairman (Council Chamber) (Extract from Municipal Gazette - Soldiers' Cemetery dated February 18, 1927). Shanghai, January 21, 1927. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1255). 

With reference to your letter of September 1 last, and previous correspondence regarding the erection of advertisement hoardings alonside the boundary wall of the "Soldiers' Cemetery", I have the honour to state that I am now informed that the Oriental Advertising Agency and the Chinese Company owning the site have adreed tot cancel their contract and that the former company will be able to remove all the hoardings before the end of the current month.  

Letter from Chairman (Council Chamber), to Acting Consul (Extract from Municipal Gazette - Soldiers' Cemetery dated February 18, 1927). Shanghai, January 31, 1927. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3251 (1255).

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 21 stating that the Oriental Advertising Agency and the Chinese Company owning the site adjacent to the "Soldiers' Cemetery"  had agreed to cancel their contract, and that the former Company would be able to remove all the hoardings from the vicinity of the Cemetery before the end of this month. 
In reply thereto I ave the honour to convey to your an exrpression of the Council's thanks for your food offices in this connexion, as a result of which the passive opposition of the offending parties has at length been overcome.