The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Thursday 23 January 1845, page 4

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37153808

CHINA.

(From the Chinese Repository, Sept. 1844.VSUMMARY OF THE TREATY OF

WANGHIA,.

signed 3nn July, 1844,between their Excellencies Hon. C. Cush

ing and Keying, Commissioners respectively on the part of the United Statesof America and China.

Note ? This Treaty was ratified by the Em

peror- of China in August and the ratification

notified by H. E. Keying to Commodore Par

ker, Sept. 14th. It was soon after published bythe Chinese authorities, and its provisions gointo effect without any further delay. This

summaryis taken from Keyirig's 'memorial to

the Emperor, which contains the entire Treaty.

Art. 1. This provides for a perfect, per

manent and universal peace between the

two nations.

2nd. This provides that all duties on

imports and exports, shall be fixed andsettled in a Tariff, which is made a partof the treaty ; and that these duties shall

never exceed those required of any other

nation whatever. All fees are abolished.It secures also, to the United b'tates, anyand all privileges and advantages that mayat a'uy time hereafter be conceded by the

Chinese to any other government or

nation.

3rd. Secures free access to the 5 ports,

Canton, Amoy, Fuchau, Ningpo, and

Shanghai, for all citizens of the United

States, with their families,and vessels.

4th. , Provides for the appointment and

recognition of consuls and other officers,

at all these ports, for their official inter

course and personal correspondence, on

terms of equality, and for redress in case

of insult or injury;

5th. By this the citizens, of the United

States are permitted to import from their

own or any other countryi and to purchase

and export to their own or any other

country, all manner of merchandise not

prohibited by this treaty, paying only the

duties' specified in the Tariff.

6th. By this article, the tonnage duties

are fixed at 5 mace per ton on vessels over

150 tons, and 1 mace only per ton on

vessels under 1 50 tons. Measurement

duties, &c, are abolished. It providesalso that a vessel having occasion to go to

a second port to clear off her cargo, shall

not in that case pay tonnage duty a second

time., ...

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time., ...

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7th.. .This exempts from tonnage dutyall small craft, carrying only, passengers,letters,- provisions, &c:, not dutiable.

1 8th.- -Ey this it is made lawful 'to hire

passage and cargo-boats, and to take into

service' 'pilots,' compradors, linguists,writers', and all .manner of .labourers,

seamen, &c..

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9th. Provides that .the Chinese' may.appoint custom-house officers to .guardvessels ? in port, which officers may live

on board, or in boats alongside, but are to

receive no fees or provisions from theships.

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;10th. This malces it incumbent on theparlies, .concerned, to report, within 48

hours after -corn ing to. anchor in either of

the five ports, -tKe name of the ship, &c,and imposes penalties for a neglect of the

same.*

Due reports being made,, cargo

may he discharged in -whole or in part.

Or if it be desired, the vessel may, with-;

in. 48 hours, but not later, leave the port,

without paying tonnage . duty, providedshe has not broken bulk. After 18 hours

tonnage duties shall be held due,

11th. Provides for the examination,discharge, and' . lading of goods, and for

the settlement of any disputes regardingthe same.

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1 2tb. By this, sets of standard balances

and also weights and measures, accordingto the - standard

i

of . the custom-house at

Canton, are to be provided at all the

pOrtS. ?? ?

?:?;?-

] 3th. Provi'des' that tannage dues be

paid on admission to entry ; import duties

on the discharge, and export duties, on

the lading of goods, and either in syceeor foreign money. Transit duties on

foreign merchandise shall not exceed

those at present established, wherever such

merchandise may pass into the interior.

14th. This article regulates for the

transhipment of goods from one vessel to

another, while in port.

15th. This provides fpr free commerce

with all subjects of China at rthe five

ports, and disallows all monopolies and

injurious restrictions.

16th By this article all responsibility

for the debts of. merchants is denied byboth governments, while each engages to

use all- proper means to obtain payment of

debts,- and redress for frauds, &c.

1 7th.' By this article, houses and

places of residence and of business, also

churches, hospital, and cemetries, and

sites for building the same, are secured to

sites for building the same, are to

citizens of the United States. At the

several . ports, and in their immediate

vicinity, all citizens are allowed to pass

and repass ; but they are not permitted to

go among the villages in the country,

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. .1 Rth--Bv -this..article_it_is..niadej^wful

scholars and people of any part of Chinato teach any of the languages of the

empire, and to purchase all manner of

books.

19th. This provides that the citizens of

the United States shall receive and enjoy,for themselves and all appertaining to

them, the special protection of the government, whose officers, are to defend them

from all insult and injury on the part of

the Chinese.

20. This provides for the re-exportation

of merchandise, which can be done onlyto the other open ports, and this without

any additional duties.

. 21st. Criminals, of whatever nature or

degree, shall be prosecuted and punishedtheir own

22nd. This provides for the neutralityof the United States' flag in case of war

between China and any other country.

23rd. This requires the consuls, at each

of the five ports, to make out annual re

ports of the trade, for transmission to theBoard of Revenue at Peking.

24th. Communications to the Chinese

from citizens of the United states, shall

be made through the consuls. And so

those from the Chinese, for the consuls

pass through the hands, and have, the

approbation of the local authorities.

25th. All questions between citizens ofthe United States, or between them and

subjects of other states, shall be settled

without reference to the Chinese, or anyinterference on their part.

26th. Merchant vessels and their crews,in the five ports, shall be under the jurisdiction of the officers of the United States ;

ind the Chinese Government will not holditself .bound to make reparation for anyinjury done to the same, or to any citizensaf the United States by any foreign, power.But the Chinese Government will do allit can to protect from robbers and pirates,

to seize and punish all offenders of this

sort, and to recover and restore plunderedproperty.

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27th. This provides for cases of shipwreck,. and requires that .all

persons and

property shall have every possible pro

property every proLection, ships refitted, property restored,

&c.

28th. No embargo shall be laid on thecitizens or vessels of the United States,tinder, any pretence whatever,

29th. Desertors -.-from on board

American ships shall be arrested- by the

Chinese and delivered over to the consul

or other officers. And any Chinese

criminals who may take refuge on board

ship, or in the houses of citizens of the

United States, shall be delivered up on

clue requisition being made by Chineseofficers.

30th. This prescribes and defines the

erms of correspondence, which are in all

?espects those of equality and reciprocity,tfo presents shall be demanded of the one

jovernmerit by' the other.

31st. Communications from the government of the United States are to pass to

the court of China, by the imperial com

missioner charged with the superintendence of foreign affairs, or through the

Governors general of Liang Kiang, LiangKwang, &c.

32hd. Ships of war are to be hospitably,

received at any of the ports of China, andall facilities afforded for the purchase of

provisions, making of repairs, &c.? 33rd. Those who attempt to trade clan

destinely at the ports not opened, or to

Introduce opium,' or any other contraband

article into China, shall be left tinprotected to the action of the Chinese government.

34th. This provides' for modificationsof. the treaty after a period of twelve

years, and that no individual stale of -the

Union shall send ministers plenipotentiary'

to China.