The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-18 00:00:00

SALT TRADE WITH CHINA.

The following are the chief reasons urged by a
deputation which waited on Earl Russell on Wed-
nesday last for the admission of salt into China :
" During the first China war, in 1859, the Salt
Chamber memorialised the Foreign-office to obtain
admission of English salt into China. Instructions
were sent to Lord Elgin, but arrived too late ; the
war was over and a treaty concluded. An inter-
view was sought with the Hon. Mr. Bruce, Minis-
ter appointed to Pekin, and the subject brought
fully under his notice before he left England. When
Lord Elgin returned from China a deputation from
the Chamber had an interview with his lordship,
who then stated that it was a question of revenue,
and that if we could satisfy the Chinese Govern-
ment that they would not suffer in this way it
might be more feasible. Her Majesty's Govern-
ment promised renewed representations to China on
the subject. The war was renewed, Lord Elgin re-
turned to China, and concluded a treaty in which a
clause was allowed making the admission of salt
prohibitory, to the great surprise of the Salt Cham-
ber. Renewed application to the Foreign-office,
who promised to urge the British Minister in China
on the subject. Interview with Mr. Lay, at Lord
Elgin's suggestion, also with Mr. Parkes. The for-
mer thought it might be practioable to induce the
Chinese Government to make a trial with one pro-
vince, under some arrangements with the English
representatives that would prevent any detriment
to the revenue. Nothing had yet been done in this
way, and Mr. Lay is returning to China. In 1844
not a ton of English salt was imported into India
in 1862 Calcutta alone 200,000 tons. The salt trade
is much dependent on foreign consumption. The
Southern States of America have hitherto taken
one-fourth of the production, and the trade is much
depressed from the failure of this source. The salt
trade employs a large quantity of tonnage, and the
vessels going to China are much in want of outward
cargo. The privilege of exporting this article to
China would lie a great boon to shipping. The
consumption of salt in China is believed to be
enormous. Smuggling exists to a large ex-
tent ; bat it does not appear that an im-
portation of foreign salt would interfere with any
vested interests, or that the Chinese have any pre-
judices that way. It is, as Lord Elgin justly said,
a question of revenue, and the only explanation the
Chamber has received of Lord Elgin allowing salt
to be a prohibited article under the tteaty is that
without this clause it might have led to a smug-
gling trade up the rivers, for which the British
Government might be held responsible, or involve
its representatives in questions with the Chinese
Government. The Chamber has no desire to cause
disputes with the Chinese Government; they be-
lieve that both the Chinese Government and people'
would be benefited by the admission of English
salt ; and that under such an arrangement as that
suggested to Mr. Lay the Chinese revenue would be
lully protected. It is a revenue queition, as stated
by Lord Elgin, and the example of Calcutta is an
encouragement in this respect. It only requires
bonded stores, whence the salt can be delivered on
payment of the Chinese duty, more easily and effi-
ciently collected than under the present Chinese
system. In every respect, as regards the salt manu-
facture in this country—the shipping interest, which
suffers from the want of outward cargo and promot-
ing commercial intercourse with the Chinese—the
admission of salt is an object of great importance,
which it should be strongly pressed on the English
authorities of China to obtain."