Tambor and various kinds of torture, much as it was in every country in Europe within the latter centuries, it was impossible to insist upon the whole of their judicial machinery and legal proceedings, Letter in the preliminary examination or trial of criminals, in order to meet the views of a foreign court. In regard to the break clause in question, it will, I trust, be thought enough that they are now secured from any form of execution not sanctioned by the civilisation and usages of the country giving them up for trial and the punishment due to their crimes.

It may be observed that the present arrangement is not limited to offenders taking refuge in Hongkong, but applies to all, whether pirates or others who may be surrendered by British authorities. And considering that the Extradition clause, as indeed the whole Treaty, was not of their seeking, but imposed upon them by inferior powers, I am bound to say the Chinese Govt has shown on this occasion more of that sullen resistance to yielding to proposals for modification in the Treaty in the interest of the Foreign Powers, which might not unnaturally have been anticipated, considering how the original terms were dictated.

On the second question, to which Y. J. reports the absence of a reciprocal stipulation for the surrender of British subjects, whether they are British by birth, or, as in the case of the late Chinese subjects of the British Crown and others naturalised in Britain...

Page 2

404

Share This Page