the remonstrances and protestations of the Chinese Government and their urgent representations to all residents in China consider that the proposed Provisions fall as far short of the just requirements of British Trade in that they deal too favorably with the antiquated theory and prejudices of the Chinese. In very respect, we find China treated as a favoured nation that deserved well for her former fidelity to obligations, and the honesty of purpose displayed by her in endeavouring to perform her Treaty stipulations; and as far as British Merchants are concerned, little, if any benefits are obtained, while additional Duties are imposed without reason, and the Transit difficulty increased by the conspicuous absence of any guarantee for the observance of better faith in the future than has characterized the past. As to Hongkong, this colony has reason to complain that it, in especial, must be injuriously affected by some of the proposed alterations to which we now beg respectfully to draw your Lordship's attention.
By Article 2, it is proposed to allow the Chinese Government permission to appoint Consuls to all Ports in British dominions.
Viewed in the abstract, it appears but reasonable that China should enjoy such a right; and able to appoint Consuls in London, Liverpool, Calcutta, Melbourne, or other distant British Ports, no disadvantage would arise; and it is possible that some mutual benefits would, in time, accrue to both countries. The case, however, is very different when we have to deal with Hongkong; and no doubt can be entertained that this clause was suggested by the British Minister and inserted mainly with Hongkong in view. This colony was originally established as an experiment; and the views of its founders have been fully realised by its progress and growth. It is an unproductive Island, but its geographical situation, and its magnificent harbour, marked it out as admirably adapted to become the emporium of foreign commerce in this portion of the world; and the headquarters from which the large financial and commercial transactions of British and foreign merchants in China could best be carried on. Its success, however, and the immunity which as a free Port it enjoys from Customs and other dues, have long been regarded with jealous displeasure by the Chinese Government, which has done all in its power to interfere with its trade, especially that carried on by native Merchants settled in Hongkong. Indeed, it has required the vigorous action of our able and energetic Governor to counteract the undisguised attempts which the Canton Officials have made to cripple the trade of this colony.
China can in no sense be considered a country entitled to all the same rights and privileges as civilized Nations, which are bound by international law; in which the life, the liberty, and the property of all, foreigners as well as natives, are secure and respected; and where a recognized procedure and a regular legal system can be relied on by those who feel themselves aggrieved. All foreign Nations that have entered into diplomatic relations with China, have carefully reserved their extraterritorial rights; thereby showing that in most important particulars, they consider it outside the pale of modern civilization. Nor can the fact that British Consuls reside in the Treaty Ports in China, be adduced in favour of the proposed clause, because it is manifest that in appointing them, the British Government had two objects in view. The first was to protect the lives and property of Britishmen residing within the dominions of the Emperor of China; and in the next place to secure the Chinese from the injuries they might sustain, if all who called themselves British were permitted to resort to China, without any check upon their conduct. In Hongkong, the Chinese residents require no Consular protection; because though amenable to British law, they can appeal to our tribunals; with this additional safeguard, that they have an important official, the Registrar General, to whom as "Protector of the Chinese," they can always have recourse for advice and protection.
We have no hesitation in saying that if a native be appointed as Consul for China in Hongkong, he will in reality be a spy on the Chinese merchants residing in this colony;—and we have several very wealthy and intelligent men of that class—and his main duty will be to report to the Mandarins of the adjoining Province, the amount that can be extorted from them by the nefarious means which our experience shows us the provincial despots know but too well how to use.
The 4th Article of the proposed Convention provides that native produce from the interior, on which the Inland dues and charges have been levied in excess of the Transit Tariff, when sent to a foreign Port, shall be entitled to a refund of such excess, if exported within Twelve months. By the 5th Article, Hongkong appears to be excluded from this stipulation, and we are unable to see why this colony should labour under so obvious a disadvantage, nor why goods shipped to Hongkong, a British Port, should not have the same refund as native produce sent direct to London, or any other foreign Port. The issue of the ordinary Duty Proofs for native produce shipped from a Treaty Port to Hongkong for re-shipment to another Treaty Port, would be an advantage to the colony, and the renewal of a valuable concession formerly enjoyed.
We hail with pleasure the stipulations contained in Articles 12 and 13 relating to bonded Warehouses, the working of coal mines, the opening of Wuhu as a Port, the exemption from duty of materials used in docks, foreign coal and grain, and the introduction of a steam-tug on the Poyang Lake. All these are steps in the right direction. We cannot but think, however, that if the Chinese Government has consented to provide a Tug for the purpose of towing British-owned vessels of the Chinese type, the British Minister would not have found it insuperably difficult to induce it to permit small steamers to ply, under proper restrictions, upon the Poyang Lake, and other inland waters.
The proposed alteration in the 28th Article of the Treaty, by which a commutation of all Transit Dues is to be effected by the payment of increased Import and Export Duties, would be willingly accepted as an experiment, were we assured that by it the local Mandarins will be prevented from levying, as heretofore, any illegal charges.
We do not, however, consider that the process contemplated by the supplementary Rules attached, will suffice to ensure that the contemplated arrangement will be faithfully carried out by the Chinese officials; and without ample guarantee against the imposition of illegal charges by the Provincial Authorities, it appears to us that the only result to Foreign merchants will be an increased burden of two and a half per cent. on the value of their goods, without any countervailing advantage.
It should not be forgotten that the exemption which Sir Rutherford Alcock is prepared to purchase at so high a cost, is already ours by the Treaty of Tientsin, and that a most dangerous precedent will be established by giving the Chinese an additional duty for breaking faith with us. The conditions affixed to the privilege are a direct premium for further violations of the stipulations of the Treaty, and as an instance of the trust that may be reposed in the honourable intentions of the Chinese Government at the very time these stipulations of the convention have been agreed upon, it is worthy of remark that at Canton, an additional tax has, within the last few days, been imposed on foreign goods. It is contrary to all experience to expect the faithful observance of the new terms of transit, and it is suicidal on the part of a country like Great Britain, so deeply interested in the development of our import trade in manufactures, to recede from a favourable position when once secured, or inertly to suffer valuable concessions once obtained, to be afterwards denied us systematically, and occasionally with insolence. The convention, as regards the transit dues, is therefore, in a most essential point, unsatisfactory.
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the remuatrances and protestations of the Chinese Government and their urgent retrogres- Birg demande àll residents in China consider that the proposed Provisions fall as far short of the just requirements of British Trade in the they deal too favorably with the anti- quated theory and prejudices of the Chinese. In erely respect, we find China treated as fatured nation that deserved well for her former fidelity to obligations, and the honesty of purpose displayed by her in endeavouring to perform ber Treaty stipulations; and as far BE British Merchants are concerned, little, if any beaefits are obtained, while additional Dutiér. are imposed without reason, and the Transit feulty inoreased by the conspicuous abscure of any guarantee for the observance of better faith in the future than has characterized te past. Asto Hongkong, this colony has reas to pomplain that it, in especial, must be injurely affected by some of the proposed alterations to which we now beg respectfully to draw your Lordship's attention.
By Article 2, it is proposed to alle Chinese Government permission to consuls to all Ports in British dominione
Viewed in the abstract, it appears but that China should enjoy such a right; and abe to appoint cousuls in London, Livar Calcutta, Melbourne, or other distant Br Ports, no disadvantage would arise; and h possible that some mutual benefits would, aperte to both countries. The case, however
very different when we have to deal - Hongkong; and no doubt can be entertained ths this clause was suggested by the Britis
ister and inserted mainly with Hongkon ik view. This colony was originally establishe as an experiment; and the views of its founders i bavebeen fully realised by its progress and growth. It is an unproductive Island, but s geographical situation, and its manificent barbour, marked it out as admirably kapte ed to become the emporium of foreign com- merge in this portion of the world; and The headquarters from which the large financial and commercial transactions of British and. Fordig merchants in China could best be Aurried on. Its success, however, and the, immunity which as a free Port it enjoys from Customs and other dues, have long been regarded with jealous displeasure by the Cbinde Government, which has done all in its power to interfere with its trade, especially that carried on by native Merchants settled in gkong. Indeed, it has required the vigorous action of our able and energetic Governor to counteract the undisguised attempts which the Canton Officials have made to cripple the trade of this colony,
China can in no sense be considered country entitled to all the same rights and privileges as civilized Nations, which are bound by international law; in which the life, the liberty, and the property of all, foreigners well as natives, are secure and respected; and where a recognized procedure and a regalar legal system can be relied on by those who feel themselves aggrieved. All foreign Na tions that have entered into diplomatic roke. tions with China, bave carefully reserved their exterritorial rights; thereby showing that in most important particular, they consider it outside the pale of modern civilization. Nan the fact that British consula reside in the Treaty Ports in China, be adduced in fave of the proposed clause, because it in mataifest that in appointing them, the Blish 'Government had two objects in view. 10 vaka tó protect the lives and property of Habmen residing within the dominions of The Emperor of China; and in the next! pace to secure the Chinese from the injuries they might sustain, if all without dis- who called themselves British were permitted to resort to China, any check upon their conduct. Tadongkong, the Chinese residents require o Consular protection; because thong amen- ! le to British law, they can appeal to our themals; with this additional safeguard, that delavo an important oficiat is the Registrasi Ueberzi, to whom as Protector of the Chinese,” Dây can always have redoute for advice and
F
We have no hesitation in saying that if a native be appointed as conant for China in Hongkong, he will in reality be a spy on the Chinese merchants residing in this colony ;- and we bave several very wealthy and intelligent med of that class-and his main duty will be to report to the Mandarins of the adjoining Bces, the amount that can be extorted from them by the nefarious means which our experience shows us the provincial despots kow but too well how to use.
The 4th Article of the proposed Convention provides that native produce from the interior, on which the Inland dues and charges bave been levied in excess of the Transit Tariff, when sent to a foreign Port, shall be entitled to a refund of such excess, if exported within Twelve months. By the 5th Article, Hongkong appeara to be excluded from this stipulation, and we are ginable to see why this colony should labour under so obvious a disadvantage, nor why goods shipped to Hongkong, a British Port, shuld not have the same refund as native pro- die sent direct London, or any other foreign Port. The issue of the ordinary Duty Proofa for native produce shipped from a Treaty Port to Hongkong for re-shipment to another Treaty Port, would be an advantage to the colony, and the renewal of a valuable concession formerly enjoved.
We hail with pleasure the stipulations con. tained in Articles 12 and 13 relating to bonded Warehouses, the working of coal mines, the opening of Wuhu as a Port, the exemption from duty of materials used in docks, foreign coal and gaino, and the introduction of a steam-tug on the Poyang Lake. All these are steps in the right direction, We cannot but shink however, that if the Chinese Government has consented to provide a Tug for the purpose of towing British-owned vessels of the Chinese type, the British Minister would not have found it insuperably difficult to induce it to permit small steamers to ply under proper restrictions upon the Poyang Lake, anf other Inland
waters.
The proposed alter tion in the 28th Article of the Treaty, by which a commutation of all Transit Dues is to be effected by the payment of increased Import and Export Duties, would be willingly accepted as an experiment, were we assured that by it the local Mandarins will be prevented from levying, as heretofore, any illeg charges.
We
do not, however, consider that the process contemplated by the supplementary Rules attached, will suficé to ensure that the contemplated arrangement will faithfully carried out by the Chinese officials; and without ample guarantee against the imposition of illegal charges by the Pro- vincial Authorities, it appears to ns that the only result to Foreign merchants will be an in- creased burden of two and a half per cent. on the value of their goods, without any counter- vailing advantage.
It should not be forgotten that the exemption which Sir Rutherford Alcock is prepared to purchase at so high a cost, is already ours by the Treaty of Tientsin, and that a most danger ous precedent will be established by giving the Chinese an additional duty for braking faith with us. The conditions affixed to the privi- lege are a direct premium for further violations of the stipulation of the Treaty, and as ang instance of the trust that may be reposed
the in
bonorable intentions of the Chinese Government at the very blure these stipulations of the convention have been agreed apon, it is worthy of remark that at Canton, an additional tar has, within the last few days, been imposed on foreign goods. It is contrary to all experience to expect the faithful obser vance of the new terms of transit, and it is suicidal on the part of a country like Great i Britain, so deeply interested in the develop- ment of our import trade in manufactures, to recede from a favourable position when once secured, or inertly to suffer valuable concessions once obtained, to be afterwards denied ns systematically, and occasionally with insolence. The convention, as regards the transit dues, ia tberefore, in a most essential point, unsatisfac- tory.
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