SUPPLEMENT TO THE "DAILY PRESS,"
to remonstrate against the ratification of the proposed Revision of the Treaty."
This was seconded by Mr. H. B. Leman, and carried unanimously.
Hon. J. B. TAYLOR then mentioned that it was agreed that the deputation from the Chamber was to wait on His Excellency at half-past two, and he supposed the two should go together.
The CHAIRMAN understood that both were expected at half-past two, whether they should go together or not would have to be ascertained. It would be desirable to appoint a committee, and he, therefore, begged to propose the following resolution:---
"That the following gentlemen be requested to act as such Committee and Deputation:-The Hon. P. Ryrie, Messrs. J. F. Axey, E. R. Belilios, Geo. Crichton, J. P. Duncanson, W. H. Forbes, G. Falconer, J. Fairbairn, T. C. Hayllar, A. Heard, A. McG. Heaton, G. J. Helland, A. Joost, A. B. Lomaun, J. Menke, E. H. Pollard, Q.C., T. Pyke, J. J. dos Remedios, D. Ruttonje, S. D. Sassoon, R. S. Walker, J. C. Whyte, and A. Zimmern, and that as many as possible of these gentlemen be requested to attend as the Deputation."
This was seconded by Mr. Hitchcock, and carried.
Some discussion ensued as to the best mode of getting up the memorial, in the course of which the Chairman pointed out that people at home should see that the community here think a great deal about the matter, when they would be induced to do so too.
Mr. HITCHCOCK then proposed that the Committee take steps to prepare a memorial in time for the ensuing English mail, and adopt measures to get it as extensively signed by the Community as possible.
This was seconded by Mr. Ryrie, and carried, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.
DEPUTATION TO SIR RUTHERFORD ALCOCK.
A deputation consisting of a large number of Members of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, and of the Committee appointed at the public meeting, waited on Jan. 3rd, by appointment, upon H.E. Sir Rutherford Alcock, K.C.B., Her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to China, to respectfully address him with reference to the convention as to the revision of the Treaty of Tientsin, agreed to on the 23rd October, 1869. After the deputation had been introduced, Sir Rutherford said that he was very glad of the opportunity which was afforded him of meeting the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Community of Hongkong.
His Excellency then went on to say that it was only right to notice a circumstance that was too frequently overlooked in the comments made with reference to his conduct, namely, that he could not do more than obtain from the Chinese the best terms compatible with his instructions. He was not a free agent, but Her Majesty's Minister.
As far as he was personally concerned, he would be glad to show the deputation the nature of all that had been done; and so far as he felt authorized to do so, he would frankly state to them the nature of the long negotiations which had terminated in the convention. They had extended over more than eighteen months, and he thought that the specimen of printed papers which he held in his hand, which embodied the dispatches that had been passed during that period on the subject, showed that at least considerable attention had been paid to it.
He was at liberty to quote to them such portions as were of most interest, as showing the circumstances under which the revision was effected. It would be desirable to give some explanations as to particular clauses.
He held in his hand a document (a memorandum from the Board of Trade), from which he might without indiscretion quote certain passages. First, he would show under what conditions alone it was possible to negotiate, and would read extracts from the memorandum, illustrating the nature of the instructions under which he had acted.
The subject was to be considered under two divisions; first, as to the existing treaty; and, secondly, as to the modifications which it was designed to introduce in it by the revision.
The most important point under the first heading was the arrangement as to transit dues, and the right of protection in the interior as originally contemplated by the treaties.
Upon this point Her Majesty's Government was of opinion that all that could be claimed under the Treaty of Tientsin was that at the Treaty ports the importer had the right to sell his goods in the market, and to send them into the interior free from more than the tariff and Treaty duties; but that when out of his hands, they had to take their chance.
He hoped that the terms now agreed to might operate in removing these restrictions.
Their general character might be summed up as being, first, to allow all foreign goods to circulate freely throughout China on payment of the tariff and transit dues; secondly, that refund was to be made of any charges paid in excess of such tariff and transit dues; and, thirdly, that with regard to such articles as formed the subject of monopolies, British subjects should be allowed to deal in them upon the same terms as the Chinese.
The Chinese authorities took up a ground which was certainly very fair. They said: We cannot give your nationals any exclusive privileges, but they shall be placed at perfect liberty to trade on the same footing as our own people.
With respect to the concession of inland navigation, although they refused the right to foreign vessels and His Excellency was not aware of any country that conceded such a right-they were yet willing to allow such navigation on the same footing as it was pursued by their own subjects.
Foreigners might navigate the inland waters in vessels of the same type as those used by the Chinese; and it was further important to note that the restrictions as to steam would be removed whenever the Chinese themselves commenced to employ steamers, when foreigners would be at equal liberty to do so.
JANUARY 7, 1870.
The correspondence which had taken place showed that the Home Government was inclined to think all steps in this direction would be most dangerous and calculated to bring about complications; while the Chinese, except under a system of penalties and licenses tending to prevent such results, strongly deprecated that foreigners should go into the interior in steamers under their Treaty rights, until the people had become more familiar with foreign ways and foreign appliances.
The Deputation would thus see that His Excellency's hands had not been free to do as he might wish in such questions.
It was the habit to speak on all occasions as of this, that, or the other act of Sir Rutherford Alcock, but the paper from which he had already quoted contained a strong expression against demanding any such concessions as were urged by the mercantile communities and the Press, and censured the Minister for the language which he had used in respect to them.
It would thus be seen that the only censure which His Excellency had received was for going too far in the direction of advocating commercial concessions.
The provision respecting a tug on the Poyang Lake, which had been the subject of a great deal of comment, such as showed it was not properly understood, was of importance, as the beginning of a system which might ultimately be worked into practical use.
Next, with respect to travel in the interior, His Excellency quoted from the Board of Trade Memorandum, which was to the effect that their Lordships thought this question was an act of Chinese administration, and beyond this, they took no notice of the matter, except to express their opinion that the present arrangements were all that are required in the interests of commerce and peace.
With respect to the concessions asked, first, to establish stores and residences in the interior; next, as to steam navigation; and finally, as to the working of mines, the minute set forth, that while giving due credit to Sir Rutherford Alcock for his efforts in this direction, their Lordships were unable to regret that he failed in obtaining concessions on these points.
They believed the first of them, namely the right of residence, would with the exterritoriality arrangement in existence, be attended with great danger.
If there were only one foreign power concerned in the matter, it would no doubt be easier, though even then, they would advise the concession not being urged; but with a large number of foreign nations, all claiming exterritorial rights, there could be nothing more calculated to bring about complications.
With respect to railways and telegraphs, they could not be allowed as Treaty rights, and should at first be introduced only as experiments, and any general scheme should be inaugurated by the Chinese themselves.
No new attempts should therefore be made at obtaining privileges in this direction.
His Excellency, as Her Majesty's Minister, was bound to take his instructions from Her Majesty's Government, and to negotiate under the conditions which they provided for, and Her Majesty's Government had deliberately come to a different opinion to that of the Mercantile Communities in China.
They might be sure that Her Majesty's Government earnestly wished, so far as they could, to further the trading interests of the country, and no doubt had formed their opinion upon careful consideration, and for weighty and sound reasons.
Such were the general conditions under which the negotiations had been conducted, and His Excellency would now be glad to give any explanations in his power on such points as the deputations desired to have explained.
Hon. J. B. TAYLOR said he had been deputed to speak on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, and they could not but feel that, as the provisions of the original Treaty had proved completely inoperative, it was to be feared that those of the convention would not prove more successful, unless there were some guarantee that they would be carried out in good faith.
British merchants were allowed to resort to the interior for trade, but the privileges would be rendered abortive by their being prohibited from putting up the names of their Hongs, and being allowed to reside only for a short period.
HIS EXCELLENCY thought he could explain this point.
It was very often the case that when the Chinese agreed to terms in writing, they underrated the importance which the terms actually conveyed.
For example, the Russians had no more trading rights than British subjects, but yet there were Russian Hongs established in the interior.
There were a few above Hankow, in the Tea districts.
They spoke Chinese, and had half Russianised Chinese in their employ, and assimilated themselves very much to the people, to the extent in some instances of adopting their dress.
They gave no trouble to the authorities, and the authorities gave none to them.
It was His Excellency's firm belief that British subjects could do the same.
If they would be prepared to trade under the same conditions, there need be no trouble or disturbance.
The object of the provision was this, that the local authorities might be disposed not to admit...