BRITISH POLICY IN CHINA.
The course which the Government have determined to pursue in China, is described in the following despatches addressed by Lord John Russell to Mr. Bruce, and just presented, with other papers, to Parliament. They constitute the latest information on the subject, and will be found of considerable interest-
" Loa John Russtll to Mr. Bruce.
Foreign Office, 29th October, 1819. " From the terms of your despatch of the 10th August, I infer that, at the time when you wrote it, you thought it not improbable that the Chinese government might shortly address to you some communication, with the view of inviting you to Pekin, for the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty of Tien-tsin. " If any such proposal has been made to you, and if it be still unanswered when you receive this despatch, you will state, in reply, that you are not authorized to entertain it until the Chinese government shall have made a formal apology for the act of the troops who fired on her Britannic Majesty's ships of war from the Takoo forts in July last. "You will add that her Majesty's Government require that, when you go to Pekin for the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, you shall proceed up the Pei-ho river to Tien-tsin in a British vessel, and that provision be made by the Chinese authorities for the conveyance of yourself and your suite, with due honour from Tien-tsin to Pekin.
" Should the assurances given to you by the Chinese government, on these heads be satisfactory, you will make arrangements for proceeding to Pekin at the earliest period at which it may be safe and convenient for you to undertake the voyage. It will be. proper that a naval force should accom- pany you to the mouth of the Peolio, and directions to this effect will be forwarded to Admiral Hope.
" Should you experience any unbecoming treatment, either at Pekin, or on your journey to or from the capital, you will return to the Gulf, and place the matter in the hands of the naval Commander-in-chief. "You will take an early opportunity of apprising the ministers of the Emperor q[China that, in consequence of the attempt made to obstruct your passage toac'eldn in June last, when you were proceeding thither to ex- change the ratifications of the treaty of Tien-Min, her Majesty's Govern- ment consider that the understanding entered into between the Earl of El- gin and the Imperial Commissioners, Kweiliang and Hwashana, with respect to the residence of the British Minister in China, is at an end, and that it rests henceforward exclusively with her Majesty, by the terms of Article II. of the treaty of Tien-fain, to decide whether or not she shall instruct her minister to take up his abode permanently at Pekin.
" If, however, no pacific overtures shall have been addressed to you by the Chinese government, before the time when this despatch reaches you, you will, immediately on its receipt, communicate to the prime minister of the Emperor the demands of her Majesty's Government, as stated above, and inform him that, unless within a period of thirty days from the date of your communication you receive from him a reply conveying to you the Emperor's unqualified assent to these demands, the British naval and military autho- rities will proceed to adopt such measures as they may deem advisable for the purpose of compelling the Emperor of China to observe the engagements contracted for him by hisplenipotentiariea at Tien-tain, and approved by his imperial edict of July, 1858. "On grounds of humanity, her Majesty's government would be desirous, if possible, to avoid, the necessity of having to undertake military operations on a great scale against the -capital of the Chinese empire. They will learn, therefore, with satisfaction that the measures which I have indicated have had the desired effect, and induced the Chinese Emperor to accede to the moderate terms which, by this despatch, you are instructed to oflbr for his ac- ceptance. " It is necessary, however, to be prepared for a different result, and it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to make such arrangements as will enable a considerable military force to be despatched from the south with the change of the monsoon, if it should be then requisite to undertake operations on land. I have only to add that it is not the intention of her Majesty's Govern- ment that you should consider yourself to be bound by your instructions to insist on a personal interview with the Emperor. It is essential that you should correspond on terms of equality with the chief officers of the empire, and that you should refuse to submit to any degrading ceremonial, either on the occasion of an audience with the Emperor, or on any other ; but you will be guided by your own discretion, and, in some degree, by the practice of the representatives of other great western powers, in determining whether or not you will press the demand that the Emperor of China shall receive you in the only manner in which you would consent to be received, namely, with the forms which, on such occasions, are customary in the west.
" Her Majesty's Government are in communication with the Govern- ment of the Emperor of the French, in reference to the subject of this des- patch."
"Lord John _Russell to Hr. Bruce.
Foreign Office, Nov. 10, 1859. " Sir,—Since my- despatch of the 29th ultimo was written, I have received and laid before the Queen your despatch of the 3d of September.
It appears by this despatch and us inelosures, that the Emperor of China now fully sanctions the resistance made by the forts at Takoo to the passage of her Majesty's ships up the river Peiho. " He states that Takoo was fortified by his command, and that the envoys of the different nations were told by Kweiliang and Hwashana at Shanghse, that Takoo was so fortified, and that they must go round by Pah- tang.
" Now, although the denial of a passage to the capital by the usual and most convenient route would have been evidence of an unfriendly disposi- tion, yet it was a matter upon whichyou might have remonstrated and ne- gotiated, without having recourse to force to clear the passage.
"You say, however, with regard to these alleged warnings—' These as- sertions are directly contrary to the truth, though I think it not improbable the Commissioners may have represented the matter in this light to the Emperor. Neither in the letters that passed between the Commissioners and the Envoys, nor during the interviews Mr. Ward had with them, was a word said of defences at Takoo, nor was any allusion made to Peh-tang.'
" Thus, it appears, that neither you, nor M. Bourboulon, received any warning ; nay, when the Admiral arrived at the mouth of the Peiho, so far from having an intimation from authority that the passage of the Envoys up the Peiho was to be resisted, he was assured that the fortifications were made by the militia of the country as a defence against pirates, and that a passage should be opened to allow of vessels proceeding by the river. " The soldiers at the forts had, no doubt, ascertained the correct range of the palisades and stakes, where the French and British vessels were certain to be stopped, and thus they had all the benefit of a prepared ambuscade. " Whether the Emperor was cognisant of this act, or whether it was di- rected by his officers, it is an outrage for which the Chinese Government must be accounted responsible. "Unless, therefore, the most ample apology should be promptly made, and the other demands specified in my previous despatch shall be complied with, you are instructed to state that a large pecuniary indemnity will be demanded by her Majesty's Government from that of China. I am, &c.
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