CO129-230 - Public Offices & Others - 1886 — Page 9

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

your (i.e., the Foreign Office's) attention, and as they are of a more or less confidential nature, I send them to you in the body of this letter.

1. We cannot possibly give effect officially to these provisions of the Additional Article unless you give us the Supplementary Rules as an assistance; either the Additional Article must then become a dead letter, or we would have to try to work it privately, by means of a syndicate or opium monopoly, a plan I should rather avoid if it can be managed.

2. Other Powers will not consent to the Additional Article except on the condition of each Power getting its own pet quid pro quo; rather than face such a negotiation, China would throw up the Additional Article, but, in that case, your opium troubles will begin again and be worse than ever. We cannot work the Additional Article satisfactorily without the consent of other Powers, unless you give us those few Supplementary Rules; to do so would involve constant wrangling, and would heavily handicap British vessels and traders.

3. The presence of hulks of the Chinese Customs at Hong Kong, &c., will not do the Colony the least harm. Sir Richard Macdonnell was against hulks, you remember, when I mooted that procedure in 1870; but, after he left Hong Kong, he changed his mind; I have letters of his approving of it, and Lord Carnarvon, when at the Colonial Office, listened to Sir Richard and began to favour the idea. Further, Lord Palmerston's instructions to Sir Henry Pottinger authorize and defend such concession to China at Hong Kong (vide inclosed extract). If you give us the Supplementary Rules, we can work the Additional Article successfully, no matter whether other Powers accept it or reject it.

4. (Quite Confidential.) A hint has been given to the Yamên by a non-British official to the effect (1) that England had hoodwinked and bamboozled China by consenting to an Article which she knew other Powers would not agree to; and (2) that England had told his Government not to agree to this Article unless for a special quid pro quo. The consequence is that England is now being closely watched by China, and there is some curiosity shown as to whether you really signed in good faith or not. I have said to the Yamên that I am sure England has acted in perfect good faith, and that whatever can possibly be done to make the Article effective will be done willingly and heartily. Pray reflect on this carefully. China knows that you can give such assistance as will make it quite possible to give full effect to the Article, and, if you withhold that assistance through deference to either Hong Kong's unwillingness to see the proposed procedure adopted, or a sentimental unwillingness to prohibit non-consenting Powers from engaging in an opium-carrying trade, &c., which they are not to-day engaged in, the hint that you signed what you knew China could not give effect to, &c., will be believed, and English good faith (which is one of the few things in foreigners China really has some confidence in) will be no longer viewed in the same light as before. It is this consideration, rather than any other, that makes me anxious that you should give us these Supplementary Rules and their procedure, and without delay.

5. As a set-off against the concession, you can ask that the "Hong Kong blockade" be entirely done away with. I shall see that this is agreed to, and the Colony will then be deprived of its pet grievance.

If you have any message for me, Mr. Campbell will transmit it in our cypher.

Yours, &c.

(Signed) ROBERT HART.

Inclosure 1 in No. 51.

Proposed Supplementary Rules respecting Opium.

IN order to give full effect to the Additional Article of the 18th July, 1885, and to do so in the way best calculated to secure the largest collection for China, and give the least trouble to merchants, it is proposed to make the following arrangements:

1. The Canton Customs will provide three opium-hulks, to be anchored at Hong Kong, supplemented, if required, by a godown on shore, and the Hong Kong Government will enact an Ordinance directing all vessels arriving with opium on board to discharge their opium into an opium-hulk, the French mail-steamers into the French hulk, the British into the British, and others into the miscellaneous.

2. Opium stored in the opium-hulks to be treated as follows when leaving the hulk:-

(a.) Opium leaving a hulk to go by steamer to Macao, or by small coasting-vessels

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31 your (i.e., the Foreign Office's) attention, and as they are of a more or less confidential nature, I send them to you in the body of this letter. 1. We cannot possibly give effect officially to these provisions of the Additional Article unless you give us the Supplementary Rules as an assistance; either the Additional Article must then become a dead letter, or we would have to try to work it privately, by means of a syndicate or opium monopoly, a plan I should rather avoid if it can be managed. 2. Other Powers will not consent to the Additional Article except on the condition of each Power getting its own pet quid pro quo; rather than face such a negotiation, China would throw up the Additional Article, but, in that case, your opium troubles will begin again and be worse than ever. We cannot work the Additional Article satisfactorily without the consent of other Powers, unless you give us those few Supplementary Rules; to do so would involve constant wrangling, and would heavily handicap British vessels and traders. 3. The presence of hulks of the Chinese Customs at Hong Kong, &c., will not do the Colony the least harm. Sir Richard Macdonnell was against hulks, you remember, when I mooted that procedure in 1870; but, after he left Hong Kong, he changed his mind; I have letters of his approving of it, and Lord Carnarvon, when at the Colonial Office, listened to Sir Richard and began to favour the idea. Further, Lord Palmerston's instructions to Sir Henry Pottinger authorize and defend such concession to China at Hong Kong (vide inclosed extract). If you give us the Supplementary Rules, we can work the Additional Article successfully, no matter whether other Powers accept it or reject it. 4. (Quite Confidential.) A hint has been given to the Yamên by a non-British official to the effect (1) that England had hoodwinked and bamboozled China by consenting to an Article which she knew other Powers would not agree to; and (2) that England had told his Government not to agree to this Article unless for a special quid pro quo. The consequence is that England is now being closely watched by China, and there is some curiosity shown as to whether you really signed in good faith or not. I have said to the Yamên that I am sure England has acted in perfect good faith, and that whatever can possibly be done to make the Article effective will be done willingly and heartily. Pray reflect on this carefully. China knows that you can give such assistance as will make it quite possible to give full effect to the Article, and, if you withhold that assistance through deference to either Hong Kong's unwillingness to see the proposed procedure adopted, or a sentimental unwillingness to prohibit non-consenting Powers from engaging in an opium-carrying trade, &c., which they are not to-day engaged in, the hint that you signed what you knew China could not give effect to, &c., will be believed, and English good faith (which is one of the few things in foreigners China really has some confidence in) will be no longer viewed in the same light as before. It is this consideration, rather than any other, that makes me anxious that you should give us these Supplementary Rules and their procedure, and without delay. 5. As a set-off against the concession, you can ask that the "Hong Kong blockade" be entirely done away with. I shall see that this is agreed to, and the Colony will then be deprived of its pet grievance. If you have any message for me, Mr. Campbell will transmit it in our cypher. Yours, &c. (Signed) ROBERT HART. Inclosure 1 in No. 51. Proposed Supplementary Rules respecting Opium. IN order to give full effect to the Additional Article of the 18th July, 1885, and to do so in the way best calculated to secure the largest collection for China, and give the least trouble to merchants, it is proposed to make the following arrangements: 1. The Canton Customs will provide three opium-hulks, to be anchored at Hong Kong, supplemented, if required, by a godown on shore, and the Hong Kong Government will enact an Ordinance directing all vessels arriving with opium on board to discharge their opium into an opium-hulk, the French mail-steamers into the French hulk, the British into the British, and others into the miscellaneous. 2. Opium stored in the opium-hulks to be treated as follows when leaving the hulk:- (a.) Opium leaving a hulk to go by steamer to Macao, or by small coasting-vessels 8

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31 your (ie, the Foreign Office's) attention, and as they are of a more or less confidential nature, I send them to you in the body of this letter. 1. We cannot possibly give effect officially to these provisions of the Additional Article unless you give us the Supplementary Rules as an assistance; either the Additional Article must then become a dead letter, or we would have to try to work it privately, by means of a syndicate or opium monopoly, a plan I should rather avoid if it can be managed. 2. Other Powers will not consent to the Additional Article except on the condition of each Power getting its own pet quid pro quo; rather than face such a negotiation, China would throw up the Additional Article, but, in that case, your opium troubles will begin again and be worse than ever. We cannot work the Additional Article satisfactorily without the consent of other Powers, unless you give us those few Supplementary Rules; to do so would involve constant wrangling, and would heavily handicap British vessels and traders. 3. The presence of hulks of the Chinese Customs at Hong Kong, &c., will not do the Colony the least harm. Sir Richard Macdonnell was against bulks, you remember, when I mooted that procedure in 1870; but, after he left Hong Kong, he changed his mind; I have letters of his approving of it, and Lord Carnarvon, when at the Colonial Office, listened to Sir Richard and began to favour the idea. Further, Lord Palmerston's instructions to Sir Henry Pottinger authorize and defend such concession to China at Hong Kong (vide inclosed extract). If you give us the Supplementary Rules, we can work the Additional Article successfully, no matter whether other Powers accept it or reject it. I 4. (Quite Confidential.) A hint has been given to the Yamên by a non-British official to the effect (1) that England had hoodwinked and bamboozled China by consenting to an Article which she knew other Powers would not agree to; and (2) that England had told his Government not to agree to this Article unless for a special quid pro quo. The consequence is that England is now being closely watched by China, and there is some curiosity shown as to whether you really sigued in good faith or not. have said to the Yamên that I am sure England has acted in perfect good faith, and that whatever can possibly be done to make the Article effective will be done willingly and heartily. Pray reflect on this carefully. China knows that you can give such assistance as will make it quite possible to give full effect to the Article, and, if you withhold that assistance through deference to either Hong Kong's unwillingness to see the proposed procedure adopted, or a sentimental unwillingness to prohibit nou-consenting Powers from engaging in an opium-carrying trade, &c., which they are not to-day engaged in, the hint that you sigued what you knew China could not give elect to, &c., will be believed, and English good faith (which is one of the few things in foreigners China really has some confidence in) will be no longer viewed in the same light as before. It is this consideration, rather than any other, that makes me anxious that you should give us these Supplementary Rules and their procedure, and without delay. 5. As a set-off against the concession, you can ask that the "Hong Kong blockade" be entirely done away with. I shall see that this is agreed to, and the Colony will then be deprived of its pet grievance. If you have any message for me, Mr. Campbell will transmit it in our cypher. Yours, &c. (Signed) ROBERT HART. Inclosure 1 in No. 51. Proposed Supplementary Rules respecting Opium. IN order to give full effect to the Additional Article of the 18th July, 1885, and to do so in the way best calculated to secure the largest collection for China, and give the least trouble to merchants, it is proposed to make the following arrangements: 1. The Canton Customs will provide three opium-hulks, to be anchored at Hong Kong, supplemented, if required, by a godown on shore, and the Hong Kong Government will enact an Ordinance directing all vessels arriving with opium on board to discharge their opium into an opium-hulk, the French mail-steamers into the French hulk, the British into the British, and others into the miscellaneous. 2. Opium stored in the opium-hulks to be treated as follows when leaving the hulk:- (a.) Opium leaving a bulk to go by steamer to Macao, or by small coasting-vessels 8

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your (ie, the Foreign Office's) attention, and as they are of a more or less confidential nature, I send them to you in the body of this letter.

3. The presence of hulks of the Chinese Customs at Hong Kong, &c., will not do the Colony the least harm. Sir Richard Macdonnell was against bulks, you remember, when I mooted that procedure in 1870; but, after he left Hong Kong, he changed his mind; I have letters of his approving of it, and Lord Carnarvon, when at the Colonial Office, listened to Sir Richard and began to favour the idea. Further, Lord Palmerston's instructions to Sir Henry Pottinger authorize and defend such concession to China at Hong Kong (vide inclosed extract). If you give us the Supplementary Rules, we can work the Additional Article successfully, no matter whether other Powers accept it or reject it.

4. (Quite Confidential.) A hint has been given to the Yamên by a non-British official to the effect (1) that England had hoodwinked and bamboozled China by consenting to an Article which she knew other Powers would not agree to; and (2) that England had told his Government not to agree to this Article unless for a special quid pro quo. The consequence is that England is now being closely watched by China, and there is some curiosity shown as to whether you really sigued in good faith or not. have said to the Yamên that I am sure England has acted in perfect good faith, and that whatever can possibly be done to make the Article effective will be done willingly and heartily. Pray reflect on this carefully. China knows that you can give such assistance as will make it quite possible to give full effect to the Article, and, if you withhold that assistance through deference to either Hong Kong's unwillingness to see the proposed procedure adopted, or a sentimental unwillingness to prohibit nou-consenting Powers from engaging in an opium-carrying trade, &c., which they are not to-day engaged in, the hint that you sigued what you knew China could not give elect to, &c., will be believed, and English good faith (which is one of the few things in foreigners China really has some confidence in) will be no longer viewed in the same light as before. It is this consideration, rather than any other, that makes me anxious that you should give us these Supplementary Rules and their procedure, and without delay.

you have any message for me, Mr. Campbell will transmit it in our cypher.