RECP
C. O.
5322
LCD 26 MAR 21
(No. 167.) My Lord,
No. 125.
Sir T. Wade to Earl Granville.-(Received February 17, 1881.)
Peking, December 10, 1880.
I HAVE already reported the arrival of Mr. James Angell, as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.
As Her Majesty's Minister at Washington had informed your Lordship in his No. 114 of the 12th April last, Mr. Angell, with Mr. Swift and Mr. Trescot, had been appointed members of a Commission, the precise nature of whose functions was as yet undeclared.
From the statements that had appeared in the newspapers, I was under the impression that the sole object of the Special Commission was a modification of the Burlingame Treaty, in such form as to meet the objection of the State of California to the excessive immigration of Chinese. In this I was mistaken. Mr. Angell arrived first, as I have reported, and having, after a brief visit returned to bring up his family from Chefoo, was joined by Mr. Smith and Mr. Trescot in Peking.
I believe that I am correct in saying that while Mr. Angell himself represented his Government as Minister, and as such was competent to deal single-handed with all matters of current interest, his two fellow-members of the Commission held powers equal with his own to treat of all questions affecting possible change of Treaties. In this capacity they attended a Conference of the foreign Representatives of Treaty Powers present in Peking, upon the subject of taxation of imports.
The Commission, so far as I can learn, succeeded in obtaining the assent of the Chinese Government to some arrangement that will improve the state of things objected to in California. But the nature of this arrangement has not as yet been divulged. Neither have the particulars of a short Commercial Treaty negotiated by the Commission. This, I believe, contains one Article that will enable Chinese steamers to enter the port of San Francisco without the special permission heretofore required. I do not vouch, however, for the exact justice of my impression.
Mr. Swift and Mr. Trescot have left China for the United States.
I have, &c.
(Signed) THOMAS FRANCIS WADE.
137
V
RECP
C. O.
5322
LCD 26 MAR 21
(No. 167.) My Lord,
No. 125.
Sir T. Wade to Earl Granville.-(Received February 17, 1881.)
Peking, December 10, 1880. I HAVE already reported the arrival of Mr. James Angell, as Minister Plenipo- tentiary of the United States.
As Her Majesty's Minister at Washington had informed your Lordship in his No. 114 of the 12th April last, Mr. Angell, with Mr. Swift aud Mr. Trescot, had been appointed members of a Commission, the precise nature of whose functions was as yet undeclared.
From the statements that had appeared in the newspapers, I was under the impresion that the sole object of the Special Commission was a modification of the Burlingame Treaty, in such form as to meet the objection of the State of California to the excessive immigration of Chinese. In this I was mistaken. Mr. Angell arrived first, as I have reported, and having, after a brief visit returned to bring up his family from Chefoo, was joined by Mr. Smith and Mr. Trescot in Peking.
I believe that I am correct in saying that while Mr. Angell himself represented his Government as Minister, and as such was competent to deal single-handed with all matters of current interest, his two fellow-members of the Commission held powers equal with his own to treat of all questions affecting possible change of Treaties. In this capacity they attended a Conference of the foreign Representatives of Treaty Powers present in Peking, upon the subject of taxations of imports.
The Commission, so far as I can learn, succeeded in obtaining the assent of the Chinese Government to some arrangement that will improve the state of things objected to in California. But the nature of this arrangement has not as yet been divulged. Neither have the particulars of a short Commercial Treaty negotiated by the Commission. This, I believe, contains one Article that will enable Chinese steamers to enter the port of San Francisco without the special permission heretofore required. I do not vouch, however, for the exact justice of my impression.
Mr. Swift and Mr. Trescot have left China for the United States.
I have, &c.
(Signed) THOMAS FRANCIS WADE.
137
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