Directory_and_Chronicle_1900 — Page 64

4

NANKING TREATY, 1842

to British subjects by some of the said Hong merchants, or Co-Hong, who have become insolvent, and who owe very large sums of money to subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.

Art. VI.-The Government of Her Britannic Majesty having been obliged to send out an expedition to demand and obtain redress for the violent and unjust proceedings of the Chinese high authorities towards Her Britannic Majesty's officers and subjects, the Emperor of China agrees to pay the sum of twelve millions of dollars, on account of expenses incurred; and Her Britannic Majesty's plenipotentiary voluntarily agrees, on behalf of Her Majesty, to deduct from the said amount of twelve millions of dollars, any sums which may have been received by Her Majesty's combined forces, as ransom for cities and towns in China, subsequent to the 1st day of August, 1841.

Art. VII.-It is agreed that the total amount of twenty-one millions of dollars, described in the three preceding articles, shall be paid as follows:-

Six millions iu mediately.

Six millions in 1843; that is, three millions on or before the 30th June, and

three millions on or before 31st of December.

Five millions in 1844; that is, two millions and a half on or before the 30th of

June, and two millions and a half on or before the 31st of December.

Four millions in 1845; that is, two millions on or before 30th of June, and

two millions on or before the 31st of December.

And it is further stipulated, that interest, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, shall be paid by the Government of China on any portion of the above sums that are not punctually discharged at the periods fixed.

Art. VIII.-The Emperor of China agrees to release, unconditionally, all subjects of Her Britannic Majesty (whether natives of Europe or India), who may be in con- finement at this moment in any part of the Chinese Empire.

Art. IX.-The Emperor of China agrees to publish and promulgate, under his imperial sign manual and seal, a full and entire amnesty and act of indemnity to all subjects of China, on account of their having resided under, or having had dealings and intercourse with, or having entered the service of Her Britanric Majesty, or of Her Majesty's officers; and His Imperial Majesty further engages to release all Chinese subjects who may be at this moment in confinement for similar reasons.

Art. X. His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to establish at all the ports which are, by Article II. of this treaty, to be thrown open for the resort of British merchants, a fair and regular tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general information; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandise shall have once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and dues, agreeable of the tariff to be hereafter fixed, such merchandise may be conveyed by Chinese merchants to any province or city in the interior of the empire of China, on paying a further amount as transit duties, which shall not exceed per cent. on the tariff value of such goods.

Art. XI. It is agreed that Her Britannic Majesty's chief high officer in China shall correspond with the Chinese high officers, both at the capital and in the provinces, under the term "communication;" the subordinate British officers and Chinese high officers in the provinces under the term "statement," on the part of the former, and on the part of the latter, "declaration," and the subordinates of both countries on a footing of perfect equality; merchants and others not holding official situations, and therefore not included in the above, on both sides for use the term "representation in all papers addressed to, or intended for, the notice of the respective Govern- ments.

"

Art. XII.-On the assent of the Emperor of China to this treaty being received, and the discharge of the first instalment of money, Her Britannic Majesty's forces will retire from Nanking and the Grand Canal, and will no longer molest or stop the trade of China. The military post at Chinhae will also be withdrawn; but the island of Koolangsoo, and that of Chusan, will continue to be held by Her Majesty's forces until the money payments, and the arrangements for opening the ports to British merchants, be completed.