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..
,
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.
,
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,
.
. .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.
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