The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-04
British Interests and English Wants.

British Interests and English Wants.
From the Friend of India, July 20.l
The expression OF AnglO-Chnese public feeling,
called forth by the near prospect Of revsal Of the
treaty OF Tentsin, as temperate in demand IL is
decided in tone. From all the open ports and from
some of the great mercantile houses like Messrs.
Jardne, Skinner h Co., memorials have been for.
warded to Sir Rutherford Alcock, detailing common
experiences OF the working of the treaty and repre-.
senting the notifications or additions which appear
to be necessary The same feeling runs throughout
the whole Of these memorials with unanimity OF
preston that Is truly wonderful and that forms
the best guarantee for the sincerity well for the
disinterestedness OF the memorialists. Possessing
they do such weight with all parties In China and
knowing the resources upon which they could fall
back in extremity, the attitude assumed by the for
egners towards the Celestial government is so sim
guarly unassuming as to be worthy OF the highest
praise and 1t is but reasonable suppose that their
moderation will not be altogether lost upon the
Court OF Pekin. At all events the Chinese govern
ment cannot fail to see in the memorials not only
eagerness to promote the interests or the empire
but an anxiety for the stability OF the present
regime.
In the case OF SO many different ports there must
Of necessity, be many local requirements or dis
abilities which the treaty failed to meet or to re-
move; but these, though stated IN each instance
kept In the background. Thus Chefoo fees the
hardship that the opposite peninsula OF the Corea
should be smut against her beans and bean cake her
wheat and her pea Oil; and that the rich trade from
the Russian settlements on the North Pacific should
not be allowed to flow through the Corea and across
the Gulf to her harbOr; Shanghai wants the super
ntendency OF trade transferred to her in recognition
OF her extensive commerce and central postion
Hank0w feels the coast trade duties severe, and sug
gests that the collection should he made at the place
to which the freight Is cOnsigned FOochoo thinks 1t
desirable that inducements should be held out to
foreigners to engage in mining enterprise while
Tientsin Is eager for the construction OF railway to
the coal mines of Chai-Tang, and for the cree
ton Of docks at Taku. In themselves these
eating upon what a broad basis q treaty must be
fixed, which aims at meeting the wants Of so many
IL is admitted on all hands that the present
treaty has not been interpreted In sufficiently lib
eral spirit that many of its provisions have been al
lowed to remain dead letter, and that others have
become In the hands OF Chinese officials means OF
eXtofng Illegal dues or OF exercising unnecessary
restraints upon foreign intercourse. The treaty ac
cOrdingy, though really drawn up In an admirable
and statesmanlike manner has come, through the
fault OF the consular authorities, to be regarded
development Of the national resources. From this
however, a valuable lesson will no doubt be learned
which may be applied to the reconstructed treaty,
treaty rigdy insisted IL OF far greater Gaue than
one in which no nav can be detected, but which is
allowed to remain In allegiance. Many hold, and
with good reason, that permission to reside and
transact business in the interior is conceded under
the twelfth article OF the present treaty. but this
foreign manufactures for the Introduction OF
which provision was distinctly made, have become
virtually excluded from the larger portion OF the In
habitants. In dealing with this point II might be
prudent for Sir rutherford Alcock to consider free
dom OF residence in the interior as already secured
by the treaty, and to insist merely upon clear def
milton Of the right The transit dues which almost
prohibitory to trade with the INTERIOR afford an in
stance OF wise provision in the treaty being vtiated
by the native officials Thus piece OF cotton goods
costing Shanghae los. ID pays less than IS ID
eighty miles while the whole expense OF transport
and charges to HankOw distance OF six hundred
miles, amounts only to 3,id. There seems to be
general feeling that transit dues should be collected
by the local officials IN the country, instead OF at the
custom houses OF the open ports On the other
hand q system OF forwarding the goods under con-
suIar passes seems TO possess many Recommended
tions, and the preliminary arrangements connected
with 1t would be perfectly simple; but with the ex.
pcrience Of the dustuck system. which prevailed
In this country century ago, under which
the native merchants purchased free passes
from the company's servants. we fear such
swer. With regard to the revision Of the tariff
ITSELF there seems to be but little ground for desiring
sent treaty framed. 1t Is, however, Of vital import
ance that the distribution OF coal should be free and
re ras ~ rsvaes Il mget and valnahe sonrce
OF revenue In this direction. The free re-expOrta
ton of foreign rice which has been insisted on
not In strict fairness be said to possess the same re-
Communications, although the duty certainly ought
TO be lowered. The salt duties are likely to prove
bone Of contention when the revlsal takes place. II
handing permission to import salt. IL ~ not I'M
possible that this may be accom- plished, and there
seems no reason To suppose that the Celestial gov
ernment would Offer violent opposition II their cher
ished monopoly conld be preserved. IL would, moro.
over seem that opium Is not such hopeless sub.ect
a. Chinese history w0thd lead us 10 suppose, and
that II Sir Rutherford Alcock play his cards toeI u
is inst possible that opium dealers may be permitted
10 sell the drug To the Chinese IN the Interior much
the same footing as they DO 10 those IN the open
ports.
Communications. which form undoubtedly the
most important subject mooted, and a point on
which If carried all the others turn, the promi-
nen want Of the day In China; but, nevertheless.
would be premature to predict how the imperial
functioDares will receive propositions for opening
up the country by railways or even by roads. There
is much, however, to behopcd for from the liberal
tendencies the Chinese government have lately
shown and from the moderation of the other de-
mands Sir Rutherford Acock viii have to exercise
nrmness as well as precaution In the NEGOTIATIONS;
and IT, as IL whispered he means TO content himself
with Simply renewing the present treaty, he must
give ntimat0n that IL will be interpreted and acted
upon according to the letter. Any nderstandng
on this point might lead to serious results, which
are on all accounts TO be avoided One measure we
should like to see carried out, which, however can
hardly be said to within the scope of the treaty
namely, the arIning OF the pilots and pilot briggs
measure which daily occurrences In Chinese waters
show to be absolutely necessary. Much depends
upon the conduct OF Sir Rutherford Aicock at the
coming revision, and we can only hope that IL will
be worthy Of the zeal and craftsmanship which
he has hitherto exhibited throughout his Oriental
career.