CHAPTER FOUR

THE PORTUGUESE PRESS IN SHANGHAI

The old Portuguese traders in the Far East concentrated primarily in Macao. After the Opium War, however, a growing number of Portuguese started to settle in Shanghai. There, as in other treaty ports, the foreign press that existed relied on its own emigre community for support and readership. The Portuguese residents of Shanghai had always held an influential position in the city’s foreign community, but their political, economic and cultural influences were rather small. Therefore, Portuguese newspapers were always rather short-lived.

The earliest of the ephemeral Portuguese papers was O Aguil_o (Chinese name: Bei Fang), which existed from 1867 into 1868. Antonio Diniz edited the paper, and he was aided financially by Albina Silveira and others. At first, F. P. Rozario was in charge of publishing, printing and distributing the paper. The main content of O Aquilço was literature and social news, although, occasionally the paper did carry longer reviews, which at times had an influence outside of the Portuguese community. The Portuguese Consulate-General apparently exercised some influence over the paper for it was able to forbid, in 1868, the publication of an article about Macao.

The Shanghai Evening Express (Chinese name: Wan Cha Bao or Wan Kuai Bao) was the first evening paper in Shanghai. D. Wares Smith and F. P. Rozario cooperated to found the paper on October 1, 1867. Smith, however, soon became the sole-proprietor and the only editor. Between April and May of 1869, the paper stopped publication because of financial problems. Then Smith’s creditors forced him to put the paper under the control of the trading company, "Tang Ni." Smith went bankrupt later, and the paper died with his financial solvency. He left China in 1871.

After withdrawing from the Shanghai Evening Express, F.P. Rozario started a new English language evening daily, the Shanghai Evening Courier (Chinese name: Shanghai Cha Bao or Tong Wen Xi Bao or Tong Wen Wan Bao) on October 1, 1868. In the next year, Hugh Lang took up the post of editor and soon became the owner of the paper. In order to compete with the North-China Herald and North-China Daily News, the Shanghai Evening Courier devoted a great deal of space to investigative reporting and reports of China’s home news. Rozario engaged a batch of talented journalists, sending resident correspondents to China’s larger cities. Hugh Lang was a heavily involved editor, and he wrote a large portion of the news articles. He died, perhaps from overwork, on January 19, 1875. The paper had been merged with the Evening Gazette, and the new paper became the Shanghai Courier and China Gazette.

On May 7, 1870, the Rozario family again entered the Shanghai newspaper world with the English weekly The Cycle (Chinese name Zun Huan). The brothers Rozario hired R. A. Jamieson as the editor. After that, The Cycle clearly expressed the viewpoint of the Shanghai Customs organization, which had been controlled and operated by foreigners. The content of the weekly was weighted heavily toward literature and contemporary political events. A divergence of political views between the publisher and the editor lead to the demise of the paper which officially died on June 30, 1871.

Le Nouvelliste de Changhai (Chinese name Shanghai Baojie or Shanghai Xinwen) was the first French language newspaper had been published by foreign residents of China. It appeared in Shanghai on December 5, 1870, and was issued weekly. The brothers Rozario founded the paper, and they retained H.A. Beer as the editor. The paper was highly regarded in the French community. French merchants and the Catholic Church in China supported it financially. Le Nouvelliste de Changhai always reflected the views of the French government. It was reported to have ceased publication on December 31, 1872, but other sources reported a total of 182 issues had been published which would have carried it beyond the reported date. The question of the length of the paper’s publication history remains an unresolved research question.

On June 2, 1873, Pedro Loureiro founded the English language Evening Gazette (Chinese name Wan Bao). F. H. Balfour edited the paper. In September of the same year of its founding, the office of the newspaper was destroyed by fire. The fire caused a temporary halt in the publication, but by the beginning of the next year it was up and running. F. H. Balfour replaced the former publisher and was concurrently editor. "Ke Tai," a foreign trading company, distributed the paper. In January, 1875, after the death of Hugh Lang, the publisher and editor of the Shanghai Evening Courier, the Evening Gazette merged with the Shanghai Evening Courier and the Shanghai Budget and Weekly News Letter (Chinese name Shanghai Jinnang yu Meizhou Tongxun). The resultant paper was the Shanghai Courier and China Gazette (Chinese name Shanghai Cha Bao yu Zhongguo Chao Bao). The Rozario family remained involved in Shanghai’s publishing business as C. do Rozario worked for the Shanghai Courier and China Gazette.

Florindo Duarte Guedes, who had earlier published a Portuguese language paper, O Echo da China (Chinese name Zhongguo Huisheng Bao) in Hong Kong, founded a Portuguese language paper in Shanghai in 1888, the O Progresso (Chinese name Jin Bu). Edited by M. Fernandes Carvalho, O Progresso was a political periodical and often expressed critical opinions of the Portuguese colonial administration in China. The circulation of the paper remained very small. It was never given a formal Chinese name, and it ceased publication in 1889. Another Portuguese language periodical was edited by Francisco Bribo in Shanghai in 1911. Named the Rotundo, the details of the publication of this periodical remain unclear.

Briefly Portuguese publishing did expanded beyond newspapers. In the 1940s a Portuguese language magazine, Pela Patria, did appear. C.E.L. Ozorço was the editor, T.A. Carvalho was the business manager, M. H. Gutterres, was the art editor and E.L. Barradas was the honorary secretary.

THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

The majority of the Portuguese residents of Shanghai were Roman Catholic. They maintained an active religious life throughout the history of the treaty port. The Catholic Church of "The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" (Chinese Name: Hongkou Tianzhu Tang) had been built in Honkew (No. 16 Zanzing Road, then No. 21 and No. 260) in the North District of the Shanghai International Settlement on land donated by a Portuguese merchant: Albina da Silveira, an agent of the Union Insurance Society of Canton. The construction of the church started with a foundation stone ceremony on November 29, 1874, and it was completed on June 1, 1876. The Jesuit Father Auguste Foucault oversaw the construction.To the north of the church stood the clergy residence, and to the south was the school for boys and the lodgings for missionaries. In the seven decades of its existence, the church was served by over fifty Catholic priests, and by the 1920s some of the priests were Chinese. A full list of the priests served in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be found in Appendix No. 1.

For more than seventy years, "The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" was the center of religious activities for the Portuguese community in the north and east districts of Shanghai’s International Settlement. As has been pointed out, the majority of Portuguese in the city were devoted Catholics and the church was always crowded on Sundays and holidays. The church during the year celebrated 23 different holidays. Names and dates of those holidays are listed in Appendix No. 2.

THE APOLLO THEATRE

One of the earliest foreign cinemas in modern China was the Apollo Theatre (Ai Pu Lu Yingxi Yuan). It had been founded by a Portuguese-Russian business man of the treaty port, S. G. Hartzberg, who was the proprietor of St. George’s Hotel. Hartzberg’s business interests were rather wide spread. He had been listed as the sole agent for Messrs. Gilmour, Thomsen & Co., Ltd., Fine Old Highland Whisky, and the Glassgow and the Mineral Water Manufactory, the sole manufacturers of "Vitalis." The theater was located at 52-56 North Szechuen Road and it showed mostly French films as well as other foreign films. Two of its managers were A. Popovich and I.S. Coushnir. The threatre closed down in the late 1920s.

PORTUGUESE PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

Like all of the foreign residents of the treaty port of Shanghai, the Portuguese kept up a very active social life. Those activities were carried out on a number of levels, but much of it was through the formation of public organizations or clubs. Detailed below are the Portuguese clubs and organizations that could be identified from the sources.

1. The Club Portuguez (Club União). One of the oldest public establishments of the Portuguese in Shanghai was the Portuguese Club, located on No. 32 Kiangse Road. It had been founded in 1882. The first committee was composed of R. Markwick; J. Danenberg, Honorary Secretary; H. Pereira, Honorary Treasurer; F. S. Oliveira; and A. Yvanovich. Two years later the club had moved to No. 1 Chepoo Road and J. Danenbrg remained the Honorary Secretary.

In 1901 the club had changed its location to No. 10 Quinsan Gardens and a new committee had been formed: A. J. d’Ameida, President; H. A. Pereira, Honorary Secretary; J.M.P. Remedios, Honorary Treasurer; William Allanson; L. d’Encarnação; F.V. da Fonseca; and A.M. Silva. It had been renamed the Club União in 1907 and moved to No. 32 North Szechuen. F.F. Silva became Honorary Secretary and V.F. de Senna, Honorary Treasurer. H.A. Pereira remained a member of the committee, and F.M.R. Mattos, J.M.P. Remedios, and E.A. Jorge were added to the committee. Subsequently, the club had been located in the Central Building, No. 18, Nanking Road in 1900, and then in 1921 at No. 111 North Szechuen Road.

The officers and committee members of the club in the following years included: 1911: E. Marques de Souza, President; J. Martinho Marques, Honorary Secretary; H.J.N. Lopez, Honorary Treasurer; C.E. deLopes e Ozorio, G.A. Martinho Marques, J.F.M. Gutterres, B.F. Savard-Remedios, E.J. Pereira, and Sarazolla Fernando, Clerk. 1920: J.R. d’Oliveira, Consul-General for Portugal at Shanghai, Honorary President; L.J. d’Encarnacao, President; J.H. Botelho, Vice-President; A.F. das Caldas, Secretary; V.F. de Senna, Treasurer; F.G. E. da Silva; P.M. da Costa; A.A. Rodriques; A.M. da Silva, Jr.; and J.C.P. d’Assumpc_o. 1921: J.M. Tavares, President; B.B. das Remedios, Vice-President; J.C.P. d’Assumpc_o, Secretary; P.M. da Costa, Treasurer; L.J. d’Encarnacao; F.G. Eca. Da Silva; A.M. da Silva; J.M.E. Pereira; and Vasco de Caralho.

2. Club de Recreio. The Club de Recreio had been established in the early 1890s and located at No. 36 Whangpoo Road in 1893. By 1903 it had moved to No. 31 North Szechen Road. H.A. Pereira served as the President, F.S. Oliveira as the Honorary Treasurer, and J.C.P. d’Assumpção as the Honorary Secretary. The committee had included V.B. de Souza and F.X. d’Encarnação. L.A. Lubeck was the elected President of the club in 1897, A. Yvanovich became the Honorary Secretary and C.J. Rocha joined the committee. Officers and committee members in subsequent years included: 1901: L.A.Lubeck, President; F.F. da Silva, Honorary Secretary; Marcos de Souza, Honorary Treasurer; B. Maher, Honorary Librarian; R.C.S. Souza; A.Y. Yvanovich; and J.L. Carneiro. 1903: H.E.J. d’A.C. Branco, Honorary President; L.A. Lubeck, President; E.C. Ozorio, Honorary Secretary; Marcos de Souza, Honorary Treasurer; and R.C.S. Souza, Librarian.

3. Club - Sport "Passa-Leão." The Club Sport "Passa-Leão" was founded around 1910, and I.B. de Senna served as its first President. H.H. Selavisa Alves was the Honorary Secretary and L.A.M. Ozorio was the Honorary Treasurer. The first committee members were J.M.O. Sequeira, A.A.A. Rodriques, A.M. Ferras, N.H. de Selavisa, P.J. Rivero, and P.A.M. da Costa.

4. Clube Lusitano de Shanghai (Portuguese Sporting Association). The Shanghai Lusitano Club took the former location of the Club União, No. 32 North Szechuen Road, at its founding in about 1910. By 1918, E. T. Rivero was the Chairman; J.J. de Souza was the Honorary Secretary; M.F. R. Leitao, Treasurer; and I.M. Rangel, Secretary. C.P. Simoes, A.M. da Silva, J.C.P. d’Assumpc_o, J.L. Stuart, P.J. Marques, and L.F. Lopes made up the committee.

In 1921, the Club had been reorganized and adopted the name The Portuguese Sporting Association. In 1929, it again took the name Clube Lusitano de Shanghai. In 1933 it had moved to the Pearce Aprts. on the corner of Boone and Chapoo Roads. At the same time it had opened a sporting section referred to as the Portuguese Sporting Association. Thoe Baptista was the Chairman in 1933 and M.F. Leitao was the President by 1936. The Association had been located at 813 Dixwell Road. In the same year M.P. Campos had served as the Honorary Treasurer. The club had moved to 1273 Avenue Joffre in 1941 and then to 1273 10A Ling-sen Road in 1948.

Subsequent officers and committee members were: 1921: D.M. Gutterrs, Chairman; R.R. Roberts, Honorary Secretary; C.M. Carrea, Honorary Treasurer; E.I. Leitao, Captain; E.S. Carneiro, M. Campos; A.M. Gutierrez; M. Leitao; and S. Xavier. 1924: J.J. Souza, Chairman; C.E.L. Ozorio, Vice-Chairman; A.E. Collins, Honorary Secretary; A.F. Diniz, Honorary Treasurer; F. Baptista, J.P. Campos; F.A. Leitao; L.B. de Senna; J.A.C. Britto; and W. Goulbourn. 1928: M.F. Leitao, President; M.P. Campos, Honorary Treasurer; A.M. Gutierrez, Honorary Secretary. 1929: P.V. Botelho, President; M.P. Campos, Vice-President; A.J. Roza, Honorary Secretary; Luc. F. Lopes, Honorary Treasurer. 1936: M.P. Campos, President; M.F.R. Leitao, Vice-President; F.X. Diniz, Honorary Secretary; A.R. Portaria, Honorary Treasurer; A.M. Collaco, Secretary. 1941: D.M.G. Gutterres, Chairman; A.M. Souza, Vice-Chairman; P.A. Costa, Honorary Secretary; L.F. Lopes, Honorary Treasurer; A.M. Collaco, Secretary. 1948: M.P. de Campos, President; C.M. Gonsalves, Honorary Treasurer; V.L. Xavier, Honorary Secretary.

5. The Portuguese Red Cross Fund. Sometime before 1918 the Portuguese Red Cross Fund had been established at No. 108 Bubbling Well Road. It had been led by Mrs. H. de Oliveira.

6. Associacao Macaense de Socorro Mutuo de S’hai. The Association had been formed sometime during the decade after 1910 and located at 32 North Szechuen Road. In 1918, L.A. Lubeck was the President while E. dos Santos Carneiro and J.C.P. d’Assumpação had served as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Marcos de Souza and J.J. de Souza were on the committee. By 1924, E.A. de Garcia was the President and J.M.C. de Souza had become secretary. The Treasurer was J.M. Diniz, assisted by E.J. Leitao, and L.J. d’Encarnac_o was on the committee.

7. Associação Macaense de Socorros a Casados de Shanghai. This association had been established sometime before 1924, and in that year its President was A.S. Braga. J.C.P. d’Assumpação was the Vice-President; M.P. de Campos was the Treasurer with A.P. Zuzarte and E.E. d’Encarnac_o as assistants. The committee was made up of L.F. Lopes, C.M. da Rosa, C.M. Maber, and T.G.J. d’Almeida.

8. Associação des Senhoras Portuguesas (Portuguese Women’s Association). The Portuguese Women’s Association had become active in late 1920 with an office at 32 North Szechuen Road. Mrs. Mary de Souza was the President; Mrs. Marla Botelho, Vice-President; Mrs. Hilda G. Ozario, Honorary Secretary; and Mrs. Marguerite de Silva, Honorary Treasurer. Subsequently the Association had officed on the sixth floor of the Peace Apartments from 1933 to 1937, then at 46 Rue Massenet during 1938-39, and finally at 55 Yuen Ming Yuen Road in 1941. Mrs. Marguerite da Silva remained President during those years. Vice-Presidents included Mrs. Marie Meichado, Miss Ernie Remedios, and Mrs. Angelina Lopes; Secretaries were Miss Marie T. Britto and Mrs. Geraldyne de Senna; Treasurers were Mrs. Hilda G. Ozorio and Mrs. Leticia Silva.

9. Organisacao Nacional da Colonia Portuguesa de Shanghai (The Portuguese National Organization). The Portuguese National Organization had been established about 1941 with an office at 650 Szechuen Road. J.A. Ribeiyo de Melo was the Honorary President and J. Roliz was the President. A.S. dos Remedios served as the Vice-President, and T.A. Carvalho, J.M. Gutterres, and F.P. Gutteres were secretaries and treasurer respectively.

10. Cooperativa Portugues de Shanghai. The Cooperative had started its activities at the beginning of the 1940s and located at 376 Route Cardinal Mercier. In 1941 M.P. de Campos was the President and A.S. dos Remedios was the Vice-President. T.A. Caralho and A.S. Braga were secretary and treasurer.

11. The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce. This commercial organization was located at 17 Canton Road.

12. The Portuguese Benevolent Association (Pu Qiao Ci You Hui). The Portuguese Benevolent Association was located at 1920 Lingsen Road following World War II.

13. Club for the Summer Season in Shanghai. In the spring of 1930, A. M. da Silva and a couple of friends had established a club especially for the summer, which had operated from May 1^st to September 30^th of that year. Located at 99 Avenue Road, it had been formed to provide a place of amusement and recreation. There were a library, a restaurant, a bar, a dance hall, and billiard and card rooms. The facilities were for members only.

14. Associação Macaness de Socorro Mutuo de Shanghai. In the beginning of the 1930s this soccer association had begun its activities. Its president was A. S. Braga.

15. Associação Portuguese de Beneficencia de Shanghai. This benefit association had started its activities no later than 1931. It was located at 161 Range Road and, in 1932 the association secretary was Mrs. Albertina Pereira.