CHINA'S STRUGGLE FOR TARIFF AUTONOMY THE FIVE PER CENT AD VALOREM TREATY TARIFF merchants licensed to deal with foreigners."Even more simply because they were now signing a treaty with Great Britain.In the explicit is the statement of Mr.J.R.Morrison,the Chinese Nanking treaty there is nothing to indicate that the advantages gained were to be exclusively for the British,while Article VIII of the Supplementary Secretary and Interpreter to Captain Charles Elliot,the Chief Treaty signed at Hoomunchai in October 1843-nine months before the Superintendent of the trade of British subjects in China. signing of the American treaty-is not compatible with the idea of monopo- 1y, Dennett,however,points out (Tyler Dennett;Americans in Eastern Writing in 1834 he declares:"The impossibility of obtaining Asia.New York;1922;pp.108-109.vide also John W.Foster,American from the Government any fixed tariff of duties has been for Diplomacy in the Orient,Boston New York;1903;pp.75-96)that this many years one of the most prominent evils in the commercial "open door"declaration of the Chinese authorities was due to representa- tions made by Commodore Lawrence Kearny of the U.S.A.East India system of Canton,-it being the policy of all parties,govern- squadron. This contention,if it is meant to imply that the British were ments,hong merchants,and linguists to keep foreigners in a seeking monopolistic privileges,is negatived by Elliot's declaration in 1840 state of perfect ignorance of the mode and rate of duties levied to Keshen when he was negotiating for the opening of Canton,Amoy and Chusan:-"It should be explained that the privileges of trade at the re- on foreign trade."In most instances "the illegal and irregular spective ports,above spoken of,are not demanded exclusively for the ships charges more than quadruple the real imperial duties,and on and merchants of the English nation. But English merchants and ships one very important article (cotton)are apparently increased shall be allowed to trade,upon an equal footing,at any port or ports of the Empire,which the Government of China may now or hereafter open tenfold."1 That the Chinese higher authorities were not blind to.the ships and merchants of any foreign nation." (F.O.17/47.Elliot to to the existence of these evils is proved by an Imperial Edict Keshen,12th December 1840,enclo.in desp.No.1 Elliot to Palmerston,5th January 1841.)It is also not borne out by issued in 1834,after Lord Napier's unsuccessful attempt to get official instructions and pronouncements made by British authorities in the years immediately into direct official communication with the Government,2 but preceding the Treaty of Nanking. this clear. .The following quotations will make it may well be that the warning given in that decree to the "Her Majesty's Government do not desire to obtain for British officials and the members of the co-hong against debt to subjects any exclusive privileges of trade,which should not be equally extended to the subjects of any other Power." (Lord Palmerston to Rear- foreigners,and against extortionate private taxes was prompted Admiral Elliot and Captain Elliot;20th February 1840.H.B.Morse; less by the desire that it should be taken literally,than by International Relations of the Chinese Empire.3 vols. L0ndon;1910- anxiety to avoid a rupture,which would mean an unwelcome 1918;vol.1;p.630.)"The Plenipotentiary seizes the earliest occasion to declare that Her Majesty's Government has sought for no privilege in China diminution of income,and by the official necessity of demonstrat- exclusively for the advantage of British ships and merchants,and he is ing to all the world that the highest in authority was not only performing his duty in offering the protection of the British flag to the unmindful of his moral obligations as ruler of the people. subjects,eitizens,and ships of foreign Powers that may resort to Her Majesty's possessions."(Pruclamation by Captain Charles Elliot,20th January 1841. $2.The Treaty of Nanking,which concluded Ch.Rep.,Vol.X;1841;p.63.)"A secure and well- regulated trade is all we desire,and you will eonstantly bear in mind that Efect of Treaty the war of 1839-1842 between Great Britain we seek for no exclusive advantages,and demand nothing that we shall not of Nanking. Negotiations for and China,was the first attempt to set com- willingly see enjoyed by the subjects of all other states.' (F,0.:17/51: Aberdeen to Pottinger,desp.No.30,4th November 1841.) drawing up of a mercial relations between China and foreign “Her Majesty desires no acquisition of territory,nor any advantages for her own subjects tariff and fixing tradersa on a more workable basis than that of which should not equally be shared by other nations;and to the attainment rates of these objects,and these alone,the efforts of Her Majesty's forces are to be Pottinger's monopoly,restriction,and irregular levies.It directed." difficuities. (Lord Stanley to the President of the Board of Control;31st opened to British subjects for residence and December,1841. B.P.P.Correspondence relative to Military Operations in China,1843;p.23.)When negotiations on the Nanking treaty and 1J.R.Morrison:A Chinese Commercial Guide comsisting of a collection of details respecting foreign trade in China. Canton:1834.Quoted in tariff were under way the Chinese Plenipotentiaries suggested that the privileges to be granted should be confined to the British,to which Pottinger Vol.III of The Chinese Repository;Canton 1835,p.424. replied:-"The Government of England has asked for no 1840.D.77. privileges or 2B.P.P. Correspondence and Papers relating to China. advantages with regard to trade and future intercourse with China that 3 In July 1843,many months before the first treaties with the United she will not be glad to see granted to other nations."(F.O.:17/57,Pot- States and with France were negotiated,the Chinese authorities recognized tinger to Chinese Plenipotentiaries,3rd September 1842,enclo.No.31 in by official proclamation that the privileges of the British treaty would be desp.No.38 Pottinger to Aberdeen,3rd September 1842.)On the question extended to all traders,irrespective of nationality.Ch.Rep,Vol.XII; to whom should be ascribed the credit for the first enunciation of the"open 1843;p.443.There is no satisfactory evidence that the British authorities, door"policy in China,the Chinese claim that the "chief credit for putting when negotiating the Nanking treaty,tried,or hoped,to secure a monopoly at the base of all Chinese foreign policy the grant of most favoured nation of trading privileges in China for British subjects.For centuries the treatment to all foreign nations"must be assigned to the two Imperial Chinese had treated all foreigners alike in matters of trade and it is un- Commissioners Keying and Elipoo,vide The Chinese Social and Political reasonable to suppose that they had altered their attitude to other nations6 CHINA'S STRUGGLE FOR TARIFF AUTONOMY merchants licensed to deal with foreigners." Even more explicit is the statement of Mr. J. R. Morrison, the Chinese Secretary and Interpreter to Captain Charles Elliot, the Chief Superintendent of the trade of British subjects in China. Writing in 1834 he declares: "The impossibility of obtaining from the Government any fixed tariff of duties has been for many years one of the most prominent evils in the commercial system of CantoJ.l,-it being the policy of all parties, govern- .ments,hong merchants, and linguists to. keep foreigners "in a state of perfectignfJrance of the mode and rate of duties levied on foreign trade." In most instances "the illegal and irregular charges more than quadruple the real imperial duties, and on one very important article (cotton) are apparently increased tenfold." 1 Tp.at the Chinese higher authorities were not blind to . the existence of these evils is proved by an Imperial Edict issued in 1834, after Lord Napier's unsuccessful attempt to get . into direct official communication with the Government,2 but it may well be that the warning given in that decree to the officials and the members of the. co-hong against debt to foreigners, and against extortionate private taxes was prompted less by the desire that it should be taken literally, than by anxiety to avoid a rupture, which would mean an unwelcome diminution of income,.and by the official necessity of demonstrat￾ing to all the world that the highest in authority was not unmindful of his moral obligations as ruler of the people. § 2. The Treaty of Nanking, which concluded Effect of T.reaty the war of 1839-1842 between Great Britain of Nankmg. • h fi t tt t t Negotiations for and Chma, was t e rs a emp to se com- . ~ra.ffing·d~ o.f a mercial relations between China and foreign an of a~ates~mg traders3 on a more workable· basis than that of P!,iting':lr's monopoly, restriction, and irregular levies. It dIfficulties. opene d B ·t· h b' t f 'd d to n 1S su J ec s or reSl ence an 1 J. R. Morrison: A Chinese Commercial Guide consisting of a collection of de taUs respecting foreign trade in China. Canton: 1834. Quoted in Vol. III of The Chinese Repository; Canton 1835, p. 424. 2 B.P.P. Correspondence and Papers relating to China. 1840. p. 77. 3 In July 1843, many months before the first treaties with the United States and with France were negotiated, the Chinese authorities recognized by official proclamation that the privileges of the British treaty would be extended to all traders, irrespective of nationality. Ch. Rep, Vol. ~n; 1843; p. 443. There is no satisfactory evidence that the British authorities, when negotiating the Nanking treaty, tried, or hoped, to secure a. monopoly . of trading pl"ivileges in China for British subjects. For centuries the Chinese had treated all foreigners alike in lnatters ·of trade and it is un￾reasonable to suppose that they 'had altered their attitude to other nations THE FIVE PER CENT AD VALOREM TREATY TARIFF 7 simply because they were now signin t t . Nanking treaty there is nothing to in~i:at:~~~ ~'th Great BritaiJ:~. In the to be exclusively for the British while A t· 1 ~tI;d~antages gamed were ~re~ty signed at Hoomunchai in Octobe: '~:43_ni 0 the Supplementary sIgmng of the American treaty-is not compatible .~~ t~O~~hs before the Iy .. Dennett, however, points. out (Tyler De'mett~IA e. I ea ?fn~onopo­ A~,a. New. York; 1922; pp. 108-109. vide aiso J h mertcans m Eas~ern !?,plomacy ,n the Orient, Boston & New York' 10 n. W. Foster, Amencan open door" declaration of the Chinese a th ?t. 903, pp. 75-96) that this tions made by Commodore Lawrence K~al'~rI leS was due to representa￾squa.dron. This contention, if it is meant to y. ~f the U.~.A. ~a.st India seekmg monopolistic privileges, is negatived b;nlIirot~haJ :fe B:·ItIS.h were to Keshen when he was negotiatin f th . s. ee aratlOn m 1840 Chusan :-."It should be explained gth~~ the oP,!n.'tg of Canton, Amoy and spective ports, above spoken of are not d e prJvI eges of trade at the re￾and. merchants of the E~glish' nation ;~a~ edl"e~cluSivelY for the ships shall be allowed to trade upon an ,q·ual ~ t. ng IS ~ merchants and ships the Empire, which tha Governme~t eof eh.oo mg', at any port or ports of to the ships and lnerchant" of any foreign ~~~ior;:~1 now or her,;after. open Keshen, 12th December 1840, enclo. in desp N 1 El[.Ft· 17/4 i. .. Ell,ot to January 1841.) It is also not horne o~t °b·· . '~ to. Palmer.ston, 5th pronouncements made by British author.t ... y offiCIal mstructlOns and preceding the Treaty of Nanking Th ~ 'r~':, the yea:s immediately this. clear. "Her Majesty's Go;ern;"ent ~o ~o~~~~fre quotat!O:,s will ~~ke subJects any exclusive privileges of trade h'ph hto lobtam for BrItish extended to the subjects of any other Pawn; "w (1, ~. ~u ld not be equally Admiral. Elliot and Captain Elliot; 20th' Februa~r a merston to Rear￾lnternatwnctl Relations of the Chinese Em· ~ 18~0. H. B. Morse; 1918; vol. 1; p. 630.) "The Pleni ote t' pI:e. vo s",.London; 1910- declare that Her Majesty's Govern~enth~ary seI~tesf the earl~est occasion to exclusively for the advantage of B T h s ~~Ug or no pnYllege in China only performing his duty in offering ~~~s r~t~~~o~nd merch~n.ts, and he is subjects, citizens, and ships of foreignP Powe t~f :he BrItIsh flag to the Majesty's possessions." (Proclamation by C~~tai: ~r::a~ res~fl~ to Her January 1841. Ch. Rep., Vol. X' 1841' "u ar es . lOt, 20th regulated trade is all we desire, and you ~iK c:;~~antIA bsecu~e aJ;d well- we seek for no exclusive advantages and de .y ear m mmd that willingly see enjoyed by the subje'Cts of a!r~~:rn:~~~,g,!hat we shall not, . Aberdeen to Pottinger desp No 30 4th N b es. (P.O.: 17/51: desires no acquisition ~f terr'itor; n;1' an a~:em e1" 18~L) "Her Majesty which. should not equally be sha~e'd by othYe at,:,tages for her own subjects f h . l' na IOns' and to th tt' o. t ese obJects, and these alone, the efforts of Her M . t' f e a amment d!rected." (Lord Stanley to the Prp<ident f ·th ;Jes y s orces are to be December, 1841. B.P.P. C01.respond;nce "e~at" e . oard .of Control; 31st in China, 1843; P, 23.) When negotiations o~et~O ~1,Z,~c:ry Operation .. tariff were under way the Chinese Plenipote t. .e an mg treaty and priv!le~es ~o be granted should be confined to th~ ~~~~f:h s~;~:~;e~ ~ha! t.he replIed.- Tl).e Government of England has asked f' c. . ottInger advan~ages with regard to trade and future intercou:s: :tfrIv,!eges or s~e WIll not beglad to see granted to other nations" F ChIna that hnger to Chinese Plenipotentiaries, 3rd September i842( .O·ll~57, PO.t￾desp. No. 38 Pottinger to Aberdeen, 3rd September 1842-;' e3c o. o. 31. In to w~om ~ho~ld be .ascribed th.e credit for the first enun~iatio~ ~~et~U~,~tlOn door polIcy III Chma, the Chmese claim that the "chief cred't f e l,len at the base of all Chinese foreign policy the rant n 1 ~r putt:ng treatment to all foreign nations" must be ~ . °d! mt,ost favoured natIon C ... "ssigne 0 the two Imp " I ·ommlsswners Keymg and Elipoo vide The Ch· S. ena , mese omal and Political