The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-02
The Russian Treaty with China.


The Russian government delights to take the European
public by surprise, and the Gazette of ST. Petersburg has
just nshed case in point. This Ia no less than
treaty concluded with the government Of China at Pekn
the l4th Of November last, signed by Prince Kung
and General Ignat the Russian Ambassador there and
ratified by the Emperor Alexander the LIST Of January
Thus dates three weeks later than the Chinese treaties
with Great Britain and France which date from the Gath
and 25th Of October The Court of St. Petersburg ap
pears to have been resolved that would not be behind
Great Britain and France in obtaining new treaty prv
leges from China; and while the two great maritime
Powers proceeded with world wide notoroy to enforce
the observation OF the treaty Of Ten sn at the head Of
considerable expedition, the Russian government
a qs spper INTO b ie 81 o saa
at 80 favorable an opportunity. When the Chinese
authorities in Pekin besought the Russian to
mediate between them and the allied armies advancing
the capital the shrewd Muscovte no doubt saw at
what excellent card the Celestals had put into
his hand His government would mediate, but It must
be paid for its mediation The Court of Pekn probably
lound that beggars must not DO choosers, and II was
doubtless glad to purchase mediator OF peace at the ex
pense Of new concession to the Russian government.
What the extent Of this concession In intrinsic political
Importance may be II is at this moment too early to de-
itself into two parts it provides for the reconstruction
OF the Russian frontier In Eastern Siberia along tho
valley OF the Amoor and defines the trading rights and
other privileges OF interchange OF the Russians China
and also (ior the sake Of nominal reciprocity OF
the Chinese in Russia. To deal first with the
territorial frontier question, the Russian boun-
Diary by this treaty extended to within eight hundred
miles Of Pekn This proposition Is clearly established
BY the first article of the treaty Had the line Of tho
Russian frontier would have been considerably
mote from the Chinese capital The river Amoor flows
nearly east and west through the vast district known
Manchura between the province Of Irkoutsk, In East
Siberia, and the Sea Of DC hotsk which washes the
Asatc coast to the norhward Of the Sea OF Japan Pre-
viousy to the Russo Chinese treaty OF 1857 tho whole
district OF Msntchura through which the Amoor flowed
was Chinese territory But by that treaty Manchuria
To the northward OF the Amoor coded to Russia,
who thereby into possession Of fresh territory
equal TO the superficial area of Germany BY the pre-
sent treaty of the llth OF Move nber 1890 1t is pro-
yttp hat xxt fbp shaiS tt RuS
Chinese boundary fro tho Point at which II energies
out Of the remote and inland province of Ikousk, SO
far its confluence with the Oussour, about two
hundred and fifty miles from The sea, that
boundary shall thence take the of the Oussour
which flows nearly at right angle with the Anoor and
shapes its course southwark in line parallel with the
seacoast. II follows from this that the Russian boun
diary includes as Russian Territory all that district be-
the Oussour and the The treaty further do
fines the frontier shall pursue the OF the Sou
gatcha river which is continuation Of the Oussouri,
as far as the Lake OF Hinka which 1t shall bisect one
half the lake belonging henceforth Russia and tho
other TO China This lake Is within hundred miles OF
the sea Cf JAPAN on the southern seacoas of Manchur
near Victoria Bay and commissioners from the two go
vcrnmcns be appointed TO define the remainder OF
the boundary Between the mouth OF the
AMOR the Sea Of 0chotsk and the Bay OF Victoria
the Sea % Japan there intervenes some hun
dred miles or seaboard in the possession Of Rus
Elm. This seaboard lies just opposite the Japanese
islands, with the Sea Of Japan there about three hun
dred miles wide, intervening between the Russian
seaboard and the Japanese insular empire We do
not know that there IL any thing in this Russian acqus
on TO render the Tycoon Japan and his Ministers much
much more apprchensve OF Russian power than they
were before for broad channel must always divide them
from the present Russian scaooad and Russia has
possessed much maritime authority In distant But
this distinct definition OF tho Russian boundary the
side OF China proper convnces us OF the magnitude OF the
stride which the Russian empire has made 10 that quar-
ter OF tho world
It remarkable to perceive tho eetradng dos,rne,
which here suddenly receive practical acceptance from
the two exclusive governments Of tho world The
fourth article OF the present treaty provides that trade
shall for the future be maintained along the boundary
fhuuda fppdfr qep Of nj duf NQt %
ment which, not content with maintaining exhorb
rate OF duties along her frontiers In Europe has
also maintained four FIVE distinct lines Of custom houses
between her Polish frontier and Moscow or St Peters
burg Nor has China been much less Liberal while abe
has been far more arrogant Russian merchants to
possess the privilege OF travelling in the Chinese
Empire, subject TO the reservation that they not
70 congregatc in greater number than 200 In the
locality Either government 10 possess the privi-
lege Of maintaining Consus in the commercial cities In
territory Of the other Boards arbitration are also
TO be appointed for the settlement OF tho dts
putes OF Russians trading In China and Chinese trading In
Russia although II Ia 70 be assumed from the character
Of the latter people, that they will rarely become don't
inflated In the Russian territory. Indeed, while careful
reciprocity in many other instances exhibited the
concessions OF the treaty II bears evidence for the
past Of being constructed In the interests Of Russian
trade An absolute right Of extradon also bargained
for by the Russian authorities whenever any fugitive
from justice takes refuge In the Chinese territory Many
other conditions with regard to posts aud courers arc
also contained In this document. SO far the trading
relations OF the Russian and Chinese governments
concerned shall be glad TO witness the Introduction
q any system which may promote the commercial in.
tcrchaugc of their subjects although reserve the
moment decided opinion OF the bearings of the
territorial settlement made TO the advantage OF the for
state. But empire which stretches almost as near
rekn and Jeddo TO Vienna and Berlin would DO for.
mdabc enough n II were not SO barren and uncivizcJ.
France and Prussia.
The following were the remarks the speech OF the
King Of Prussia the opening "a the thamber6,--
Except the paragraph relating 70 the connct which
exists between the Gcrmanic Confederation and Den
mark everything 10 this very lengthy document es0cs
desire ann hope 81 seeing peace maintained 10 Europe,
and IL will be remarked that among the which
thn king rounds hia conndencc be Iccs bis personaL