New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-28
THE CHINESE DAFFICULTY.
LITTER FROM Mr.. j. ROSS BROWNE TO THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT
LOCATION OF THE USITED SrAIbs'
pEKINC Nov. %. 1905

SIN, On Monday last, at the JOINT lnteINlo"
oSthc British Minister and myself with your -
and members Of the TsVngh Yamen, 1 tooA o0' 80 y
submit few considerations IN connecuoh w. ~"
sne intercourse between the citizens OIL 'n ~ -,
and China, upon clear unders'~H"e "
important results depend --...,oD
soaroelv practicable in a desuisory CONVERSATION
,h ,ha ,cplties Of verbal Interpretation, TO maN9
nyerv uoiut "A inteligDle as the gUVlty Oh INC
demapds. sed I new, egreea6ly to promise suonh' NY
~ nt seems an Opportuno occasion for csnGa
1uterehange of opinion, since sooe Oh to C"dsTaton
S a. t,,e British Treaty, now under cOnsde,.S
Tat tail 10 affect Interests of the United In
and S1llty with whBch the propositions oI tho
Rritish Minister discussed by the bosever ia
gd mon She questions still ut issue II Is oarneSy
20 be hoped taat the ~ Wtbout placing
init so favorable opportunity 70 pass s dsosition TO
upon record substantial guarantee OF
iiaka n Tor ward movement Future mIsuiS nit ~
SS he ureveated by distinct declaration OF pohey Se
snass t GS Sfe''H''O y -, minor ,,rDor,.
and can scarcely result in any practical good e'tner
40 natives forelgness withoat those and ali
sonfael advantages OF intercourse depend. A.
THE abolition OF interior transit passes and insttuon
q, an Increased import duty viii not, spprehend pre-
vent those abuses which form so serious an
secure indemnity for illegal taxation is liable to give rise
so vexsOus delays by opening new neds Ior fios IN
the removal OF unnecessary restrictions upon iOregH
merchants peGea and cayrV on their business
without unnecessary checks aud tney
and neople mutual prejudices would gradually be re-
moved and confidence established III the tfaoS Con.ln
op Tor the Of your Hghness is, whether IT
is well proong indefinitely existing causes OF dssen-
sion. 1T, - o.oorrort no
vet been reached is proposed extension Of steam
1syiaon on the inland waters. All experience has de-
mousrated in Europe, America, ana india ana 10 some
vessels and machinery propelled by steam extensive
systems OF trade can now be carried on IN any couu9
with proht In Mexico Central and South America, ana
other countries through which railroads nave Deeh
sIruced only to limited extent nd SSne ccnsdePable
progress These countries however are sum very i D
Giud the times and the consequence they are poor anu
their trade Is small compared with their capacity Tor
The use Of small steamers or even stesmtugs the
upper waters Of the Yangtzehang' on the P9yamg
Lake and on tae feinO e be e ADMINISTRATION Of
merchandise and domestic products ana would dispense
with unnecessary and Improbable labor, which could
wen be devoted to the opening of coal mines building
OF roads, and other works Of internal improvement.
roads Nearly all the land transportation s now carried
by Of coolies, cames wheeloaTTows s1a sIia
sve could be devised tits draft upon labor without
adequate result Nevertheless could not DC d
much less desired by friendly power that suuueh anu
extraordinary changes should be made An experiment
nnscSo% to Picking would test the advantages Of rail
roads where work could be directly under control OF
would be Wiling to take all the peCuniary risk, and
oeive their compensation upon any equitable basis tha
might agreed injurious 70 the interests OF
China. Even tramway FROM the coal mines III tne
vicinity Of Peslng to the city waS or 70 tge c6a
now depends upon the growth Of grass for in bad
eos the came and coal becomes scarce and dear
This very uncertain dependence for so indispensable
The question Of opening the coal mines has been con-
sdered without any satisfactory result No real conces-
sion has been made There great demand Tor coal at
the principal commercial marts on the coast IL Is wen
known that coal seams OF great extent ana rehness eh
M the SsEs % hs ia me a OF PSE
MIR Raphael Pumpey has fully demonstrated this in his
rSery for Working the mines and Suitable improve
for transportation there can be no doubt TINS In
less than half s present cost TINS would be source
of large revenue TO the Chinese Government, and
great advantage commerce. yet objections are made
TO the only means by which either natives or Foreigners
can avail themselves Of this natural resource. willing
ness expressed try the experiment Of working GER
tain mlHes by means of foreign machinery under official
little avail to get the coal out Of tho mines unless
cheaper methods Of transportation are adopt
ed. The cost Of carrying 1t 20 the place OF eonsnmp
ton now the principal item OF expense Be
succeed in this and failure would be very dis
eouragug to all parties Governments cannot, from the
precarOus nature of the pursuit. work mines successfully
II for individual enterprise TO make them profitable
4sn fPgGs' %se5S n%S a"a L 9
mines TO worked by private companies individuals
who either purchase them in fee simple as IN the United
States or pay share OF the proceeds 70 the
subjectng the public revenues TO unnecessary risks and
has always been found most conducive 70 the develop
mcnt Of the natural resources OF the country.
Ihave thus frankly and in spirit OF true friendship
views. Results Of inestimabe magnitude and
OF profound interest to the welfare Of this Empire de-
pend upon the action taken at this time 1t Is manifest
10 my Gnd tnat steam on the havga6ie waters tae
Of trade IN the Interior and the gradual establishment OF
teegraphs aud railroad systems essential
of modern intercourse, and that OF begin
ming, without unnecessary delay, would avert much
fptpre misunderstanding. An irresistible spirit of pro-
gressioa efectng great changes everywhere Modern
nations under the general impulse move rapidly and will
be- likely leave the work Of the present generation
topOstery have the honor TO be, Sir with consIdera
A"G sS Rs
KySs, Chief Secretary q sag e gSEs5sn As9l5s
Mr.. BROWNE r? OWE OK TIE BQRLrNGAME MISSION
On the 18th and 18th of July the British and
American merchants at Shanghai addressed TO Mr.
Browne formal letters expressing their regret at his de-
parture from China their satisfaction his policy and
their dstrust Of the results Burngame mission
Mr. Browne replied in long letter, from which NO ex
tract the substance
Mr.. BROWNIES REPLY.
SHANGHAI, July II, 1869
Tho essential provisions Of existing
eXtorted from China by force and doubtless she
sdeTs them unjust The anomaly presented OF nations
holding fOrcble intercourse with people, against the
wi Of the governing authorities yet processing to re-
IN the Multiplication Of their internal affairs Il IL
clearly indifference To force the opening @ ports and
Roll 70 secure diplomatic representation At PeSng at
the lannon's mouth and hold there against the will OF
the Government; TO establish customs system, and
place foreigner at the head Of IT, with foreign subordi
naes at the ports In short to bfict compulsory rea
deIapge and ultimately destroy its cherished instr
tutione 49, =.
that cap be done under such anomalous circumstances
treat China with the forbearance, consideration and
respect due 10 POWER sovereign N its political aspect
but possessing an organization Incompatible with absO
Lutte equality. Believing civilization TO be superior
our standard. But surely hat nerer be done b. al
tHQuated acceptance Of their claim The independence
i' y GSe9 s and fG Sygre 40 mot S5
IN proceeding upon false premises. II they -eeTe
independent they would cease to hold relations which
Nv one the barriers OF isolation which have long eno