CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 627, 10 November 1858, Page 3

CHINA.

SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PEACE

BETWEEN ENGLAND AND CHINA

We ('Bombay Telegraph') give below an abstract of the most important points secured by the treaty with, the Government of China, concluded by the Earl of Elgin"at Tientain on the 26th of June, on behalf of Great Britain, and duly ratified hy the Emperor:—-

Art. I.—Confirms the treaty of peace at Nankin, and abrogates the supplementary treaty aiid general regulations.

Art. 2.—Provides for the optional" appoints meat of Chinese and British Ministers at the courts of Pekin and St. James's.

Art. 3.—Contains provisions with respect to the permanent establishment of a British Minister at Pekin, his family and suite.

Art. 4.—Makes provisions for the travelling, postal, and other arrangements of the Resident Minister.

Art. s.—The British Minister to transact business with a Secretary of State on footing of equality. Art. 6.—The same privileges accorded to Chinese Minister in London.

Art. 7.—Provision with reference to Consuls and their official rank.

Art. B.—Christianity whefcher Protestant or Roman Catholic to be tolerated, audits professors protected throughout the Empire. Arc. 9.—British subjects to be permitted to travel for pleasure or trade to all parts of the interior. Arrangements with respect to passports, and cities in the hands of rebels. Ai't.lo. —Chinkiang to be open to trade within a year of the signing of the treaty, and three other ports on the Yangstzeskiang as far as Hankow to be opened, on the evacuation of. its shores by the rebels. Art. 11.—The ports of Niu-chwang (Manehuaia), Tang-chow (Gulf of Peeheli),' Tai-wan (Formosa), Swatow, and Kiung-chow (Hainan), to be opened in addition to present free ports. Art. 26. —Tariff to be revised by an Anglo Chinese Commission appointed for the purpose.

Art. 27. —Revision of tariff to be decennial

Art. 28.—Au official declaration of the amount of transit duties leviable at Inland Custom-houses to be published in English and Chinese. The British merchant, however, to be allowed if he chooses to commute the transit dues at an ad valorem rate.

Art. 29.—Reduction of tonnage dues, and a four months' certificate to vessels engaged in coasting trade. Art. 50. —Official correspondence to be for the future conducted in English on the part of English Officials, to be accompanied by a Chinese version for the present, and to be considered the text. Art. .51.—The character I (barbarian) to be suppressed in Chinese official documents. Ait 52.—British Ships of War to visit any port in the Empire. The Commanders to be treated on terms of equality by Chinese Officials. A r fc 53.—Measures to be concerted loathe suppression of piracy. Art 54.—Pavorwd nation clause. Art 55.—Conditions affecting the Canton inilrmnity question, to be placed in a separate avtiolo. Art 50.—Ratifications to be exchanged within ii year.

The French have also concluded a treaty, but its terms have not transpired. By latest advices the Earl of Elgin was at Shanghae, en route to Japan, with the representation Yacht. Mr. Reed arid the Baron Gros accompanied his Lordship. Admiral Seymour left Tientsin for Japan direct. His Excellency is exceedingly anxious to g-et to Canton again, and will not tarry long* on the shores of Niphon. The position of affairs in Canton is sad to contemplate. To say that it is held by the allied forces is hardly correct; it were more correct to say that the city is undex* a state of siege. The bulk of. the few representatives of houses which, on the withdrawal of the blockade, went there for the purpose of trade, have returned, and the few foolhardy men that remain, do so at the peril of their lives. Murders of civilians and soldiers occur every few days. The fevr Chinese who entered upon trade with foreigners have left j the city is deserted by all except the poor who cannot leave, and provisions for the garrison can only with the utmost difficulty be obtained. Excepting that supplies can be thrown into it from the river side, the garrison would soon succumb from actual starvation. It is with regret that we learn that Lord Elgin does not realise this extreme difficulty. It is said he completely ignores Canton, "he knows nothing- about it; the General and Commissioners must arrange matters as well as they can, as they have quite a sufficient force. Having succeeded in getting'the treaty signed, he thinks his mission is accomplished." The Cantonese care not a fig for the treaty made by the Emperor—nor for his edicts or his decrees. ' Canton has always been the head and front of offence, and will remain so until the hatred of the people to foreigners has been crushed out of them by the strong heel of military discipline. To eradicate this feeling, or to bring1 into subjection twenty millions of people who possess it, will prove a most difficult task, and until such is done the treaty of Tien-tain will be utterly valueless.