Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, August 21, 1890.
(Received October 6.)
No. 1153.]
Sir: It is known to the Department that in the year
1887 Mr. Little, a subject of Great Britain, built a small steamer for the
purpose of navigating the Yang-tse between Ichang and Chun-Khing. This
intention was based on the Chefoo agreement of 1876, wherein it was
stipulated that—
British merchants will not be allowed to reside at Chun-Khing or to
open establishments or warehouses there so long as no steamers have
access to the port.
This clause is, in its terms, rather indefinite. Sir Thomas Wade said that it
was so made intentionally, but English merchants claimed that it was an
implicit agreement that steamers might ascend to Chun-Khing.
When the steamer was nearly ready to make the attempt to go up the
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river, the British minister deemed
it advisable to procure the assent of the Imperial Government before making
the proposed voyage. Negotiations followed, but the local objections were so
great to the use of steam on the river that the yamên delayed granting the
permit. It occurred to the Chinese that a way out of the difficulty would be
to buy outright the steamer Kuling, which had been
especially built to ascend the gorges. But this scheme was seen to be a mere
makeshift, as it would deter no other British subject from entering upon the
same enterprise and could not do away with the Chefoo agreement.
Inspector-General Hart was called in as an arbitrator. He proposed that steam
should be excluded, but trade might be carried on in native boats. The
British foreign office approved this compromise, with the understanding that
the Kuling should be bought, and that Little should
be compensated for his loss of time. Sir Robert Hart was empowered to offer
to Little 120,000 taels for the purchase of the steamer and go-downs and for
his compensation. This offer was accepted.
Finally a new agreement was made, of which I send you inclosed a copy.
By the articles agreed on Chun-Khing becomes an open port; the English may
hire Chinese boats or build and use boats of their own after the Chinese
pattern; they shall be subject to the general trade regulations prevailing
on the Yang-tse; the boats shall be provided with passports and shall be
subject to the supervision of the customs taotais; as soon as Chinese
steamers ascend the river English steamers may go up; the convention shall
be as binding in all respects as the Chefoo convention.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 1153.]
Chun-Khing convention.
Article I.
Chun-Khing is hereby declared to be an open treaty port, enjoying the
same privileges and similar in all respects to the other treaty ports in
China. English merchants are permitted to trade between Ichang and
Chun-Khing in all kinds of merchandise, and they are permitted to
purchase or hire Chinese boats to carry their wares and cargoes. But if
the English wish to build boats of their own, they are permitted to do
so under certain conditions only. Those conditions are that they build
boats only after the Chinese pattern, and that they employ Chinese crews
exclusively.
Article II.
English merchants trading between Ichang and Chun-Khing, and employing
boats for the transportation of their merchandise, shall trade in the
same articles as they carry between Ichang and Shanghai, shall be
subject to the same regulations as apply to traders between these ports,
and pay duty according to the rules established for the trade of the
Yang-tse ports.
Article III.
The boats shall be provided with passports, flags, and cargo manifests,
all in due order. The merchandise to be transshipped to places above
Ichang, as well as that going to traders in that port and Chun-Khing, is
to be supervised by the customs taotai for Chuen-Tung and Chun-Khing,
the commissioner of customs, and the English consul, which officials
will also determine the rules that are to govern the transactions of
merchants. They are also to take such measures for the revision of such
trade regulations as may be found at any time insufficient or
inadequate.
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Article IV.
In case Chinese boats are employed by the English, the rules and
regulations now in force in the Yang-tse ports shall be strictly adhered
to. Such boats must pay for their licenses at Chun-Khing and Ichang.
Boats built and owned by the English, after the Chinese pattern, must
also pay their tonnage dues and register their flags and passports.
Boats that fail to comply with all these requirements will not be
eligible for the benefits of the convention; but boats that have taken
all the measures herein provided will be allowed to trade freely between
Ichang and Chun-Khing. Boats’ passports and such documents will not be
transferable. All the other boat will come under the customary
rules.
Article V.
As soon as Chinese steamers bring merchandise to Chun-Khing for trading
purposes English steamers will be permitted to come also.
Article VI.
This Chun-Khing convention shall be considered in the same light as the
Chefoo convention and be as binding in every respect as that treaty.
