Letter from Detective Chief Inspector to Captain Superintendent. Shanghai, July 2, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2662).

Summonses have been applied for against the Sin Wan Pao (新聞報 Xinwenbao) the Tien Dau Pao (天道報 Tian dabao) and the Sun Pao (申報 Shenbao) for printing and publishing a certain obscene and improper advertisement rough translation of which is attached.

[Rough translation of an indecent advertisement in Sin Wan Pao and Tien Dau pao dated 19/6/10, attached to the report of the Detective Chief Inspector to Captain Superintendent]. Shanghai, June 29, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2663-2664).

The pills named "Bia Yen Chih Ping Siu Mei Kwong Chi Yuen" (i.e. a kind of medicine pills for the birth of children) are greatly different from other medicines of a smilar kind. The undersigned have to point out the differences in order that you may know which kind of medicines he must take at least 3 maces. After that his penis will suddenly rise up and his semen will flow as easily as water rushes from a pipe. On the contrary if one uses the above mentioned pills 3 times a day = 2 pills one time weighing about several le () i.e. 1/10 of a candareen) he will not feel the slighest effect of the medicine during the whole day because the pill has its own work in strengthening the blood and semen of the whole body. But when the time comes, the user of the pills must put a special kind of medicine called "Nga Du Ya" on it (the penis) and it will immediately become stronger and stronger and the intercourse last longer and longer. It is difficult to describe the happiness of those who use the medicine. Women who have never given birth to a son and who have such an intercourse as mentioned above will certainly become pregnant. A hundred times you use the pills. A hundred times your will succeed. Its effect is unequalled. Those who have no sons please try the pills and they will soon know that these pills (p.2/2) are most important for the production of a son. Sale price - small bottle together with a special kind of medicine named "Nga Du Ya" $ 2.50 - large bottle ($5.00) To be sold by Wu Dah Dispensary 13th alleyway Shen Chi alleyway - American Concession. 

Detective Chief Inspector to Captain Superintendent 

To the information of the Watch Committee. The Mixed Court are actively in accord with Police proceedings against local papers in publishing indecet advertisements. Mr. J.C. Ferguson telephoned he regret that the Sin Wan Pao should have tr…. 

Captain Superintendent of Police to Acting Secretary. Report of his telephone conversation with J.C. Ferguson (Manager of the Xinwenbao). Shanghai, July 4, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2668-2669).

In reference to the conversation between ourselves this morning concerning the objectionable advertisements which appeared recently in the Sin Wan Pao [Xinwenbao], I would state that when a year or two ago, my attention was called by Co. Bruce to a similar occurrence I expressed to him my thanks for having called attention to it and explained to him the difficulty which we have in being sure to exclude such advertisements. At the same time I requested him to call our attention to any such occurrences in future, if they came under the observation of his translator, and that we would stop them at once, as it is not our desire to have such advertisements published at any price. I gave instructions at the time that all advertisements for patent medicines should be carefully scrutinised before acceptance and as a result we continually turn away this class of advertisements. I greatly regret that during my absence, one has slipped in. It would only have been necessary to call the attention of the Secretary of the Company, Mr. J. Morgan, or even of the Editor, to the matter, and the advertisement would have been promptly discontinued. It cannot be thought by the Council that Mr. J.D. Clark as Managing Director or myself acting in his stead approve or desire in the least such advertisements; and after having expressed the wish that the police would co-operate with us in seeing that such objectionable advertisements should not appear, I was greatly surprised on my return two days ago, that, without further warning the police proposed to take legal action. I am sure that neither your self nor the Council would desire to place Mr. Clark or me in the position of favouring such advertisements by proceeding against the Company which we represent. May we not rather hop for co-operation from the council in doing our best to conduct a respectable Chinese paper?

Acting Secretary to Watch Committee. "Lewd Advertisements". Shanghai, July 4, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2667).

Lewd Advertisements. In 1908 attention was drawn to this matter and all the concerned at the time received a warning. In 1909 the National Herald [Shenzhou ribao 神州日報]  again offended and received a warning. Translation of selections made at the time is attached. This time action has originated from the British Assessor Mr. Prat, who personnaly drew Police attention thereto. The Sin Wan Pao [Xinwenbao] has not been the worst offender. As it is under foreign control it would be reasonable to accept an insurance as a sufficient guarantee of good conduct for the future withtout recourse to the publicity of Court. Mr Ferguson's remarks are reasonable. As the newspaper has been useful to the Council in the past thi assurance and if necessary a small money security from the native in charge of this department, would be enough to justif stying proceedings. The Council's purpose in taking proceedings is to make sure that these advertisements will cease. Thus there is no objection to reasonable preference in favour of one respectable paper, of more responsible management than the others, which has lapsed accidentally. In the case of the other two purely native managed papers it may be said that nothing short of action in the Mixed Court will have any effect.

Acting Secretary to Captain Superintendent of Police. "Native Advertisements." Shanghai, July 6, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2670).

The Council has decided that all proceedings against the Sin Wan Pao shall be stayer for the present. The other two cases should take their course at once. In respect to the Advertising Manager of the Sin Wan Pao, the Police at the Court should first thing this morning request an adjournment for further investigations and if the reason is asked the reply should be that the Sin Wan Pao is a British Company and that one question which has arisen is as to procedure.

Acting Secretary to Captain Superintendent of Police. "Native Newspapers." Shanghai, July 7, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2671).

The Council wishes all action to be stayed in this matter. If any of the summonses have been served, an attempt should be made to obtain authority for their withdrawal from the Mixed Court, and if this cannot be effected and a hearing is found unavoidable, it need only be stated that the Council does not wish to press the prosecution, having issued strict warning to the concerned. Copies of the Council's official letters to these newspapers will be sent to you in due course.  

Secretary to Captain Superintendent of Police. "Lewd Advertisements." Shanghai, July 9, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2665).

These seem to be increasing again in the native press and the following in yesterday's issues call I think for intervention. I do not remember which papers have already been warned but I think any that do not stop should be prosecuted. Shunpao : Canton Peng Shou Tang, Honana Road, near the Yang King Pang ; Sinwanpao: Ta-lung drug-shop Foochow Road at the tope of Wang Ping Ka. Chung Wai Jih Pao: Lien Yun Great Deug-shop Hankow Road behind the Tangeng Theatre. 

Acting Secretary to Sin Wan Pao. Shanghai, July 15, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2673).

A certain lewd advertisement which appeared in your newspaper on June 29 in respect to a native medicine has, as ou aware been the subject of recent Police action initiated at the instance of the Mixed Court authorities.The attention of the managers and editors of native newspapers has frequently been drawn to the strong Police objections to advertisements of this kind, but the Council, in any case reluctant to bring such a matter into the publicity involved by public prosecution has taken cognisance of assurances which have been given at least in one case this advertisement was published withtout the knowledge of the management and in... of the expressed intention to avoid this offence in the future the Police were instructed to endeavour to order withdrawal of the prosecutions. This has recently been successfully brought about and the Council is of opinion that it will suffice on this occasion to record its formal warning that for the future the first offece of the kind will result in immediate prosecution of the offending newspaper. 

Sin Wan Pao to Acting Secretary. Shanghai, July 16, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2674).

In reply to your letter of July 15, concerning a certain advertisement which recently appeared in this paper, I note that the proposed prosecution on the part of the Council has been withdrawn. On a previous occasion I assured the Police authorities that this paper was most anxious to avoid the publication of objectionable advertisements and solicited co-operation in suppressing them. I greatly regret taht during my absence from town an advertisement appeared which would not have been permieted if it had come under my notice. I do not think that in future there will be any recurrence of such publications as strict orders have been given to the Business Manager and Advertising Agent to refuse all such advertisements.

Shunpao (Chinese Daily News) to Acting Secretary. Shanghai, July 18, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2675-2676).

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of yours communication of 15th instant in regard to certain advertisement for sale of native medicine which appeared in my newspaper on 29th June last (1910). In reply I have to inform you that the advertisement in question was received and inserted in the usual course of business, notice about same was only taken on the Fokien calling our attention. 
It is the business of a newspaper to insert advertisements received from the public, and we have done so since our paper was established 38 years ago, keeping up in the same line as all the other newspaper, and as the advertisers always insert in their advertisement their hong names and address I presume it would be much easier and more correct for the Police to stop the sale of objectionable medicines of any other articles direct at such hongs and order than to withdraw their advertisements, instead of asking the newspaper to stop [p.2/2] such insertions which some times is not easy for the newspaper office to do. We have, since our establishement been always willing to render assistance either to the Council of the Poilce, and we do expect their assistance also whenever necessary. 

Acting Secretary to Shunpao (Chinese Daily News). Shanghai, July 19, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2677).

The Council regret that the terms of your reply to its letter of July 15 indicate so cleary that the action recently commenced against your newspaper should preferably have been pressed to a conclusion. It contains incorrect statements of which it is necessary to record a contradiction. It is not the business of the newspaper to insert advertisements received from the public when these advertisements are of such wording that their publication constitued an offence agaisnt public decency. It is not more correct to stop the sale of the medicines in question. Such assistance from the Police as may be expected for the future in respect to these advertisements will be confined to immediate action in the Mixed Court.  

Acting Secretary to Watch Committee. "Native Press Advertisements." Shanghai, July 19, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2678).

Replies from the Sin-wan-pao [Xinwenbao] and Shen Pao [Shenbao]. As foreseen the attitude of the Sin-wan-pao is reasonable, but that of the paper under native management is very unsatisfactory. I propose to reply to the Shen Pao in the terms of the attached draft, so that there will be no room for misunderstanding when the next case arises.

Extracts from advertisements of Quack Remedies in the National Herald dated July 28, 1910 (The Seal Medicine). Shanghai, July 28, 1910. SMA (SMC), U1-2-651 (2666).

A few extracts from advertisements of Quack Remedies appearing in the National Herald July 28 and other newspapers chosen preparatory to full translation, in order to show their character: "The Seal Medicine for strenghtening the male principle. We guarantee that the male principle will be strong and be hold at the fight although taking several women in a night the more it fights the stronger it is. Gensing and Seals Testicles Pills (Various virtues expatiated upon propagation of species etc) specially curing the male principle when it is weak, thin semen, cold semen, flowing immeditely at the beginning of intercourse, or when at the time, it (i.e. the penis) does not rise, or having risen will not release the semen, etc etc. The virtuous medicine for quick stoppage of losses. When the semen flows wihout dreams...when it flows at the sight of a woman ; cures losses of semen whether with dreams or withtout - and when the semen is cold or thin.