altars in Chin
Proponderator
Faciaāion,
(10)
Traders. the disruption of our vast and complicated commercial relations with the Chinese out-weighed by the losses which the great majority of Merchants would sustain by derive from the short-lived and unwholesome impetus of a war, would be infinitely between the two countries. The transient benefit which some few individuals might peaceable, as all our interests tend to the preservation of the peaceful relations sufficient to remark that we are emphatically men of peace; all our avocations are Britain and China. Such imputations are scarcely deserving of notice. It is so far as to allege that we really desired a renewal of hostilities between Great upon the British and Foreign Merchants residing here; and some have even gone from interested persons. We well know that imputations have at times been cast from London, particularly as our representations may be considered to emanate we labor under the disadvantage of addressing your Lordship at so great a distance adoption of the policy of late so strongly advocated at home. We are aware that forcibly as we can our opinion as to the results which are likely to ensue from the watched the course of events here, and we now deem it our duty to express as
Chinese Government. advice should therefore be eagerly sought for, and her wishes carried out, by the her vanquished enemy, she has always displayed consideration and fairness. Her her respected, she has ever been moderate in her demands, and in her dealings with she ought to exercise a paramount influence in China. Her victories have made and by the last Returns it exceeds eighty per cent of the entire Foreign Trade- 41. From the vast preponderence of her Commerce in this portion of the world,
tically to recede. Great Britain cannot afford to lose ground. and those who share his views, are advocating. In China not to advance is empha- so strongly condemn the ill advised and retrogressive action which Mr. BURLINGAME one; not employing undue pressure, nor yet making injudicious concessions; that we policy which ought to be adopted by Great Britain, is a vigorous and consistent day their aspect becomes more ominous. It is because we feel convinced that the the British Goverment. Aftirs in China have reached a critical point, and each its disastrous consequences, that we now address your Lordship, and through you, period, and great expenditure to renew there. It is because we fear a war, and 40. Once broken off, or even partially disturbed, it would require a lengthened
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same time added to their political influence in the East. and ample redress for injuries inflicted on their subjects, while they have at the can be induced to use in China, have recently succceded in obtaining immediate tion of foreign l'owers, who, by the adoption of more vigorous action than she increasing contempt by the Chinese themselves, but will rapidly sink in the estima Treaty rights to be violated with impunity, she will not merely be looked on with On the other hand, we greatly apprehend that if she any longer permit her possesses in China, and of which we earnestly hope she will not soon be deprived. easily be effected by the proper exercise of the influence which Great Britain still ship would, if introduced, be attended with the most beneficial results; and could 42. We believe that the important changes we have recommended to your Lord-
I have the honor to be,
Your Lordship's most obedient.
and very humble Servant,
Chairman,
Chamber of Commerce.
on behalf of the Hongkong General
To the Right Honorablę,
The Earl of Clarendon, H.G.,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs.
The Humble Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Hongkong,
1. That on the 3rd day of January instant, at a Public Meeting of this Community, called to take into consideration the Convention for the Revision of the Treaty of Tientsin recently signed by Sir Rutherford Alcock, Her Majesty's Minister to China, it was unanimously resolved that measures should be taken to remonstrate against the ratification of the convention by Her most Gracious Majesty, in so far as certain articles thereof, more peculiarly affecting the welfare and prosperity of this Colony and its Community, are concerned,
2. Your Memorialists now, in pursuance of such resolution, beg to state the reasons which appear to them to render it not only inexpedient, but highly injudicious, that the Convention shall be ratified, so far as regards those clauses which they believe to be injurious in their tendency or effect to the prosperity of the Colony and its trade, and almost certain materially to diminish the Revenue now accruing to the Crown from the Colony; and they trust that Your Lordship will take them into your serious consideration, before advising Her Majesty to ratify any provisions which this Community unanimously consider as most prejudicial, not only to their own interests, but to the far-ger interests involved in placing the relations between Great Britain and China upon a satisfactory footing.
3. Your Memorialists, while craving Your Lordship's best consideration of the despatch addressed to you by the Chamber of Commerce of this Colony, would point out that, as Colonists, they represent interests which, though in the main identified with those represented by the Chamber of Commerce, sometimes cease to be perfectly identical with the latter, and which are, by some of the clauses of the convention, more particularly affected than is the trade with China as a whole; and Your Memorialists believe that it is quite possible not only to maintain and preserve existing rights affecting trade, but also to extend and develop general commercial interests in China, without sacrificing or prejudicing this Colony in order to attain those ends.
4. The clauses of the Convention which, in the opinion of Your Memorialists, more immediately concern and affect their interests, are the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th.
5. Of these by far the most important is the 2nd clause, under which the Chinese Government will claim to place a Consul at Hongkong; and Your Memorialists propose to state, firstly, why they conceive the Government of China have no shadow of reason to claim such a concession, and, secondly, why it is that the granting of such a privilege will be injurious to their interests; and in this connection they would respectfully urge that, if they can satisfy Your Lordship that the right of the Chinese Government to such a concession is untenable, or even doubtful, Your Lordship will be bound to give great weight to the deliberate conviction of a whole Community, as to the doing so being fraught with great peril to the only interests at stake,--their own.
6. Your Memorialists would first ask Your Lordship to consider the question of the Usage, for it is Usage and not a Right, with regard to one Power allowing another Power, with which it is in amity, to place Consuls in its Ports. This privilege of placing Consuls or "National Agents" at places in the territory of another nation, is accorded to all Nations who recognize and act upon the principles of Public Law, and are in unrestricted commercial communion and intercourse with each other, and who grant the same or reciprocal privileges. By "unrestricted" it is not meant that the trade is not subjected to certain imposts, or restrictions, of a purely fiscal or protective character, or to limitations as to "contraband" traffic, but that the right to go into and travel through a country, and to reside anywhere in its territory is never prohibited, and where the capital, products, and manufactures of another country are allowed (subject to revenue or protective imposts or restrictions) free ingress and transit to every mart in its dominions. This general rule applies, not only to all Christian and Civilized Countries, but also to other nations where, for divers reasons, it has been thought right to insist upon a preservation to Great Britain of ex-territorial jurisdiction over its subjects resident or commorant within the dominions of the other Power, as for example, Turkey and other Countries bordering on the Mediterranean. If this then be, as Your Memorialists believe, the rule and the reason for granting this privilege, it is necessary to see whether China complies with the requirements exacted from every other Power with whom Great Britain is in Treaty, before Exequatur is granted to its Consuls; and, if she does not, is there any reason why she should be made an exception?
Introductory.
Special interests of Memorialists.
Danger of Convention commented on.
International usage
as regards appointment of Consuls
Sheweth;
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