The evening times., 1900-06-18

for Property burned In 1886
The Chinese indemnity, which fills many
pages of the diplomatic history of the Uni
ted States, is interesting in degree, In tne
light of late developments in the East.
On the night of December IA, 1856, the
foreign factories at Canton were burned,
and foreigners we're compelled TO fee the
city, and on the 18th day Of the next mon
all foreigners were forced to abandon
Whampoa, the port of Canton. II was al
legged that these outbreaks were the les 1T
of the hostiIities between China and Great
Britain growing out Of the controversy
concerning the loreha arrow, controversy
which, il is alleged, infamed the feeiings
of the Chinese against all foreign residents-
The destruction of the foreign settle
ments at Canton. though apparently the act
OF incendiaries, was reported TO have be- u
arranged by the authorities at Canton, who
made no distinction between enemies and
.neutrals President Pierce, in a message
to Congress on this subject, said: TIE
subsequent proceedings OF the Canton Gov
eminent in Offering rewards for the heads
OF all foreigners indiscriminately, were to-
.gether with the preceding acts OF inJu;y'
considered as making the provincial gov
sernment and consequently the lmpe rial
Government, responsible to the fullest ex-
tent"
! American citizens, having thus been ob-
hged TO leave Canton and WhampOa TO save
their lives from the indiscriminate fury OF
the populace, supported by the au.ho tiles,
claims for their losses in consequence Cf
sthe destruction Of their property and the
interruption of their business, were ire
ferred by the United States against China
These claims were made the subject OF
negotiation by William b. Reed. in 1888.
- In the negotiation OF his treaty of ami y
and commerce with China in that year lie
xndeayored to secure the insertion OF
article In relation to claims The Ch.nete
5plenipote ntiaries refused TO admit II, ard
ne subsequently proposed an arrange nt Mt
Whereby the claims might be gradually liq-
Undated without any open acknowledgements
OF imperial liability. This end was to lie
accomplished by donating a certlin prOpJr-
ton of the duties collected on AmeTic@
goods and bottoms at three treaty por
10 the payment of the American ca ms
To this proposal the Chinese plenipoten-
tiaries essented. and it was agTe d ~
means OF an exchange Of votes that fund
Of 100000 taels, or about $SiO,OO0 should
be raised in this manner.
Moore, in his work on international
Arbitrations," points out that in this
agreement there were certain elements of
inconvenience and uncertainty II was pro-
vided that in the adjudication Of aims
and especially of those at Canton. the Cal
nese Government should be repIes ntei by
an officer appointed 10 act for II.
Terms of Agreement Obscure.
This provision was thought to involve
delay. if nothing more.
Besides no apportionment was made be-
tween the three treaty ports Of the pro-
portions OF duties TO be reserved in them,
nor was any specification made Of the
time at which the agreement was TO take
effect. except the contingent one of the
restoration of business at Canton. These
features of the agreement caused Mr..
Reed TO desire its modification He wish
ed 10 make II more precise in its terms
as well as TO give il the solemnity of
conventional form. On November s. 1858.
therefore he signed at Shanghai a con-
venticn by which. though he accepted 50o,-
600 taels, or S735. .23S.91 in settlement of
the claims, he obtained an exact appOr-
tionment of the fund among the ports Of
Canton, Shanghai, and FoochOo. together
with provision for the issuance of deb
entures by the collectors OF customs on
the first day of the next Chinese year.
The distribution of the fund was COM
mitted to a board of two commissioners,
from whose decision an appeal was allow
ed TO the American Minister to China. AS
commissioners, the President appointed
Charles W. Bradley. United States Consul
at MinEpO, and Oliver f. Roberts. a for
mer United States Consul at Hongkong.
According to the designation of time
made by John E. Ward, the American
Minister to China. the commissioners met
at Macao November Is 1859. They caused
a notice Of their meeting to be published
in the China Mall of Hongkong, and
ordered all claims to be filed before De-
eember Is, 1859 They concluded their
labors January 13, 1860. The total amount
Of the claims presented was 81. .535, III. 80.
and the amount allowed was $4S9, Isl. .95,
there being a surplus left after paying the
awards Of nearly $3.50, OOO.
When il had been ascertained that a
surplus would remain, the return of the
money was proposed. but China refused TO
accept 1t. In his annual message Of 1860
President Buchanan suggested that as the
remainder of the fund would in equity be-
long to that Government 'it should be
appropriated to some benevolent object in
which the Chinese were specially inter
ested."
President Lincoln in his first annual
message repeated this suggestion. but ad-
ded that if it should not be adopted the
money mlght be invested as a fund for
The satisfaction of claims against China
which might arise in the future
In 1858 Mr.. Burlingame proposed that the !
money should be used for the establish
ment Of an educational institution at Pc
Rim. No action, however was taken by
Congress on the subject and in 1867. the
money was ordered to be remitted to the
United States. This was done and the
money was duly invested Finally by an
act Of March g. 1885. Congress directed the
Secretary of State, after deducting the sum
Of ECO which was to be paid to the
executors OF Charles E. Hill in satisfaction
OF his claim against the Chinese Govern
ment for the use and loss of his steamer
the Keorgeor, to turn over the remainder
OF the fund, together with the increment
derived from its investment. TO China
In accordance with this direction the
Secretary of State. on April "a. 1885. paid |
TO the Chinese Minister at Washington the |
sum Of S453.4G0.90. In acknowledging fne
receipt of the money the Chinese Minis |
ter said
The generous return of the balance Of
the indemnity fund by the United States
cannot fail TO elicit feelings of Kindness
and admiration on the part NJ tho Covar,