Wells Williams to Rutherford Alcock, K. C. B, August 13, 1868

Mr. Williams to Sir Rutherford Alcock

My Dear Colleague: I have carefully looked over the papers which you gave me relating to the revision of the British treaty, and desire to express my gratification at the encouraging evidences they exhibit of progress on the part of the Chinese in understanding their political and commercial relations with other nations. The different position of things between Great Britain and China, under which the present discussions have been carried on, and those attending the two former treaties of 1842 and 1858, forms of itself one of the most marked evidences of beneficial progress in this part of the world.

The two noteworthy points in this précis relate to the establishment of the mixed court, and to the regulation of the li kin and other unauthorized taxes on the trade— points which, if once well established, will gradually work out most desirable results. The mixed court will become a school of instructive practice to the native officials connected with it, and I should think serve even as the beginning of a reform in the jurisprudence of the country; and we both know that that means to change judicial wrong and torture into just and legal punishment, directed by officials acquainted with their duties. It is a great step to get the Foreign Office to initiate such a court, even though its slow progress be attended with many drawbacks, and I shall most earnestly support its establishment.

It will be of lasting service to the trade if you can induce this government to subject such capricious levies as the li kin taxes to some well-understood control. In a country where an income tax is impossible and an excise tax is vexatious, and the duty on imports and exports fixed by a treaty, the rulers may, perhaps, be excused for increasing their uncertain revenue by imposing transit and other charges on produce and cargoes as they can; but if they can be only brought to see the advantages of a legal well-known rate of charges, by seeing that they produce more revenue with less irritation, the advance will be great. I think that your proposition to have all these uncertain charges brought under the cognizance of authorized accountable officers has everything to recommend it as a practicable solution of the present grievances. I am afraid that it may fail of doing even what we reasonably look for, but it is much to have the new plan agreed to and tried.

In regard to alterations in the tariff, (whose revision comes within your plan,) it will perhaps be advisable to restrict them to bringing every article under a uniform rule of five per cent, ad valorem on all imports and exports. The list of free might be made more precise with advantage, so as to avoid in future some disputes which have already arisen as to the kind of articles included under such general terms as ships’ stores and household stores.

The 10 points specified in your minute include some of considerable importance, and I agree with most of them as beneficial and practicable. I am afraid that all rules will be inoperative in respect to the fourth rule, however, as long as the money of China is of account, and no currency in the proper sense of the word is issued by government. I do not believe any rules can regulate the purity of sycee; for when the Chinese are able to maintain a gold and silver currency, then only will their bullion conform to it. From the nature of the case, all efforts to regulate its supply, quality, or exchange will, I fear, fail.

The opening of new ports involves so many other points than merely finding new marts for trade, that we hesitate, especially when it is seen that of the old ones Kwing-Chan, in Hainan, has not been occupied, and others have disappointed their promise. To the three proposed stopping places on the Yangtse, I would add Kwnchau, or a convenient place opposite Chinkiang, unless this port can be extended so as to include a landing place on the northern bank of the river, within its own jurisdiction. Then, too, the port of Kinkiang might be extended to include Hukan, at the mouth of the Poyang lake, for the strong current prevents native boats from getting up to Kinkiang, about 18 miles distance. This disability is so great, and causes so much delay at the entrance of the lake waiting for a fair wind, that many of them take a circuitous inland route in preference. But on this last point I suppose a joint commission could get all the information in good time respecting all the ports to be used as stopping places along the river, and their report would furnish reliable data.

The minute furnished you from the Foreign Office respecting the modifications which its members can see their way clear to adopt in the treaty, does them much credit in its spirit and argument, and is another evidence of progress and assimilation of ideas. While we are urging our privileges, they claim that native merchants should not be, in their own country, placed on a worse footing than foreigners—a most reasonable demand.

In fine, my dear Sir Rutherford, I congratulate you on the progress made, as shown in the result of your discussions upon the proposed alterations in the British treaty. It is a victory of peace, and perhaps more permanent than one of another kind. The points which the Chinese have refused are those on which they feel that neither they nor their subjects are yet ready; but these, and still greater changes, will, I hope, be introduced among them, in the same peaceful manner, as they are prepared to receive others by the natural, gradual results of the causes now going on. In effecting this, however, harmony of action among those engaged in the work is exceedingly desirable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,