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addressed an official communication to the Governor of Macao, instructing him to drive all the English out of Macao. And accordingly, though British interests in China were at that moment in a most
Page 438.
critical position, the Governor of Macao pressed Her Majesty's subjects residing at Macao to embark on ship-board and to leave the place; and these British
Page 434.
subjects were in consequence compelled suddenly, and to their great inconvenience, to depart from Macao. The Chinese authorities then informed the
Page 452.
Governor of Macao that this "respectful obedience
Additional China Papers, 1840, p. 8.
....merited commendation.”
Page 8.
Subsequently, in September of the same year, when Canton was blockaded by a British force, Her Majesty's Superintendent again requested the Governor of Macao to allow British merchants to take refuge at Macao, but the Governor declined
Page 11.
to do so, on the plea that it would be objected to by the Chinese; and when the violent proceedings of the Chinese authorities towards Her Majesty's Superintendent and the British community residing in China made it necessary to enforce by arms the rights of British subjects, the Chinese troops were posted in, and acted from, Macao as from a possession
See Sir J. Davis, No. 8, May 23, of their own.
The Portuguese Government declared its neutrality in the hostilities which ensued between Great Britain and China.
The right of Portugal to sovereignty over Macao then became a question in dispute between the British and Portuguese Governments, the authorities of that place having protested against the entrance into the harbour of a British frigate, which took its departure in consequence.
The British Minister at Lisbon was directed to remonstrate against this proceeding as a breach of the neutrality of Portugal--the war-junks of China being allowed to enter the harbour. The Portuguese Minister admitted the fact verbally, as well as the principle that, if Macao were unable to maintain its neutrality, and to enforce respect to its laws for the protection of the subjects of third Powers, those Powers had a right to have recourse to such measures as the case might require; he stated that it was the interest of Portugal to remain neutral, if possible, but that, if that were found to be impracticable, the Government would not hesitate to
and No. 38, 1844.
Memorandum;
July 31, 1843.
Lord Howard de Walden, No.191;
September 8, 1840.
To Lord Howard de Walden,
No. 69; October 10, 1840.
Memorandum;
July 31, 1843.
7
declare against the Chinese rather than against the English, and that instructions to that effect should be sent to the Governor.
He added, in an official note, that Macao could not, without compromising itself, and endangering its safety, take part, either directly or indirectly, in the dispute between Great Britain and China, and that the Governor had been enjoined to the strictest neutrality; and he explained, with reference to a refusal which had been given to the landing of certain cargoes from British vessels, that permission for that purpose could not have been granted without a violation of the conditions under which Macao was bound to the Chinese Empire, and which had been enforced, upon a similar occasion, in 1808, by an order from a Mandarin to the Governor.
In consequence, however, of the expulsion of the British subjects from the place, the sentiments of the British Government with respect to the neutrality of Macao, were afterwards communicated to the
Lord Howard de Walden, No. 221;
October 21, 1840.
Portuguese Government in the following terms :-
"Macao is to be considered by the British Government as belonging either to Portugal or to China; if to Portugal, so long as Portugal is at peace with Great Britain, Macao ought to be neutral in any contest between Great Britain and China in which Portugal does not take part with Great Britain.
"If Macao, however, is not to be looked upon as a Portuguese, but as a Chinese possession, then the Government of Portugal is not entitled to make any representation to the British Government as to any steps which the British forces may take with respect to that portion of the territory of China."
Colonial Office;
July 27, 1843.
1842.
On the 29th August, 1842, a Treaty of Peace was concluded between Great Britain and China.
1843.
In July 1843 the Colonial Office inquired whether Macao was a Portuguese possession within the meaning of the Treaty of Alliance between Great Britain and Portugal of 1661, under which Great Britain was bound to defend Portugal and her possessions as
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