The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

CHINESE TREATY:

The Eari of CLARENDON said he wished to put
a question to the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, respecting one or two points, an explanation
upon which, he thought necessary to render that im-
portant document complete. As they were about to
enter on a new field of commerce, which it was most
likely would depend upon a strict adherence to the
terms of the treaty on their part—it was essential
that no misunderstrnding should exist, and the Chinese
Government would expect a rigid adherence to all the
engagements which they entered into. Their Lordships
had heard with great satisfaction in the speech from the
throne, that the same favour would be afforded to the
commerce of other nations with China which their own
had ; but there was nothing in the treaty to indicate to
foreign countries that this was the case. He sup-
posed that this was an omission, but it was of
importance that no doubt should rest on a
transactions which reflected so much honour on this
country, and which first established the principle of free
competition in this new market, the benefits of which
would probably be extended to other countries by the
Chinese. This wisdom and liberality was owing to the
instructions of her Majesty's Government to the very
enlightened individual by whom those recognitions
were carried on. With regard to the regula-
tions appended to the treaty, they appeared
to have been framed with a very careful regard to the
customs of China, and with a view to prevent fraud on
the part of the Chinese quarrels, on their part by which
their intercourse might hereafter be interrupted. But
these regulations must be considered, he appre-
hended, a part of the treaty equally binding
and of the same force with the treaty, becaus,
in the second article they were adverted to
and formed an integral part of it, but it was desirable
that no misunderstanding should exist in a matter of so
much importance. He wished to know whether her
Majesty's representatives in China had authority to
enforce those regulations as a portion of the treaty
between the two countries. Some of those regulations
were of a very stringent character, and they ought
to be well known in this country, because on
their due observance depended the continuance of their
peaceful intercourse with China. The third regulation,
respecting her Majesty's ships, provides for the impo-
sition of various fines, some of them amounting
to five hundred dollars, together with confiscation of
the whole cargo for certain offences therein specified,
but in no part of the regulations did he find
it stated by whom these fines were to be levied.
Regulation the 13th was the most important part of the
whole treaty ; but he scarcely thought that it expressed
with sufficient clearness. It said that, with respect to the
punishment of English criminals, the Govern-
ment of the Queen of England would enact
laws to provide for that purpose. He begged
to ask his Noble Friend whether any code of
laws had been drawn up, and if so, when
it would be ready to be put in execution ?
It might be highly important that the Consul
should be able early to put the law in force. He
wished also to ask whether that power would be
restricted to the Consul-General or the authori-
tiest at Hong Kong ? or whether each of the
Consuls at the Five Ports would be empowered to carry
the law into effect upon their own authority? The
fourteenth regulation provided that cruisers should be
stationed off each of the Five Ports for the protection
of the Consuls. He thought that a most important re-
gulation, and he was sure that the country would be
glad to learn that it was intended to be perma-
nent, as it was most desirable for the preservation
of peace between the two nations.—(Hear, hear.) On
the subject of the 15th regulation, he begged to ask whe-
ther it was intended that the Consuls should security for
the conduct of the merchants or, for the payment of the
dues to the Chinese Government ?

The Earl of ABERDEEN was happy to hasve it in
his power to give the explanations which hi Noble
Friend required. The regulations having been agreed
upon by the Chinese Commissioners and Sir Henry
Pottinger must be considered as part of the treaoy. The
power of framing a code was given to the G vernor
and Council of Hong Kong, and each f the
Consuls would be empowered to carry into
execution. He entirely agreed with his Noble Fs\ end,
that a British cruiser should be permanently sta-
tioned off each of those posts.—(Hear, hear.) In
respect to the 15th regulation, he could answer that the
Consuls would run no risk whatever. They ere
security for the dues, because the frontiers of
the Hong merchants was abolished ; but hey
would have the ships' papers delivered to herr, and • left
in their possession, until the captains showed tha the
Chineses authorities were satisfied. Although there was
no stipulation respecting other European nations in the
treaty ; yet there had been since a supplementary
treaty, in which he believed it was provided for. Sir
Henrnyo Pt
a diplomatist,hadottinger
doneandalhl
ehishawdorkbewen in some
well busthee
was
respects remiss and unsystematic. He had written
to him (Lord Aberdeen) to say that the supplementary
treaty had been signed. But be had not sent it, or a
copy of it. But he could not doubt that it included some
provision on the subject, because Sir Henry Pot-
tinger had been before aware of the intention of the
Governor, In a communication dated the 4th Nor 4,
he (Lord A.) said that all the Government wished ' or
was a fair and unobstructed trade, and that vl e
desired no advantages which should not be en-
joyed by the subjects of other Governments.—(Hear.)
With that knowledge in his possession at so early a
period, it was exceedingly probable that there might be
an artiale to that effect in the supplementary treaty.
As soon as that supplementary treaty arrived, it would
be laid before the House, and he trusted that it would
be found to be as satisfactory to their Lordships and the
public as the original treaty had been.—(Hear, hear.)
After the transaction of some further business,
Their Lordships adjourned.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 5.
SLAVERY.

The Earl of ABERDEEN Kin continuation from our
Second Edition) said—lt was hot for him to say
what would be the result ofsuch propositions, but his Hon.
and Learned Friend, and the House might rest assured
that nothing should be done that in any degree might
impair the means of suppression of the abominable traffic
in slaves. He could assure the House that the French
Ministry was as desirous of the total abolition of the
slave trade as he (Lord Aberdeen) was, and this would
be kept in view by them in any propositions they might
submit to us. With respect to the right of search itself,
he had witnessed with some regret that it had been
sometimes referred to in a way tending to con-
firm the unwarranted and calumnious representa-
tions which had been made respecting it on the
other side of the water. It had at times been repre-
sented in this country, as it had been constantly over the
water, that the real object of England in the
right of search was to degrade and insult the
French marine, and to obtain certain informa-
tion respecting French ships, in order to turn it
to our own advantage. Incredible as this might appear,
yet was it certain that such a notion extensively pre-
vailed. Now it was not very likely we should attempt
to inflict a degradation upon another nation that might,
with five-fold weight, be retaliated upon ourselves ;
for certainly the right of search being mutual,
where one French cruiser might be subjected,
five English ones would be subjected also. In
the ports of France, so near to us, surely we could
get, did we desire to do so, far better and tuller infor-
mation as to the French marine than on the distant
shores where the right of search existed. He (Lord
Aberdeen) had sometimes seen the right of search
spoken of as a great good in itself. It no doubt
might be made an available means of narrowing the
detestable slave-trade, but of, and in itself,
he looked upon the right of search as a great
evil, and only to be justified by the great
object they had in view. There was nothing else that
could justify so great a sacrifice on the part of his coun-
try. He of course was not prepared to say what might
be the result of the negotiations for the modification of
these treaties, but he hoped the few words he had now
uttered would allay any anxiety that might have been
felt by his Noble and Learned Friend or other old and
staunch friends of the abolition of slavery.---(Hear hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM said he should be very unreason-
able indeed if he were not satisfied with what had fallen
from the Noble Earl, and he could add that he agreed with