1927

THE CHEFOO CONVENTION, 1876
15
Court; but the officer presiding over it, either from lack of power or dread of un¬
popularity, constantly fails to enforce his judgments.
It is now understood that the Tsung-li Yamen will write a circular to the Lega¬
tion, inyiting Foreign Representatives at once to consider with the Tsung-li Yamen
the measures needed for the more effective administration of justice at the ports
open to trade.
3.—It is agreed that, whenever a crime is committed affecting the person or
property of a British subject, whether in the interior or at the open ports, the British
Minister shall be Tree to send officers to the spot to be present at the investigation.
To the prevention of misunderstanding on this point. Sir Thomas Wade will
write a Note to the above effect, to which the Tsung-li Yamen will reply, affirming
that this is the course of proceeding to be adhered to for the time to come.
It is further understood that so long as the laws of the two countries differ from
each other, there can be but one principle to guide judicial proceedings in mixed cases
in China, namely, that the case is tried by the official of the defendant’s nationality ;
the official of the plaintiff’s nationality merely attending to watch the proceedings in
the interest of justice. If the officer so attending be dissatisfied with the proceedings,
it will be in his power to protest against them in detail. The law administered will
be the law of the nationality of the officer trying the case. This is the meaning of
the words hui t'ung, indicating combined action in judicial proceedings, in Article
XYI. of the Treaty of Tientsin; and this is the course to be respectively followed by
the officers of either nationality.
Section III.—Trade
1.—With reference to the area within which, according to the Treaties in force,
lekin ought not to be collected on foreign goods at the open ports, Sir Thomas Wade
agrees to move his G-overnment to allow the ground rented by foreigners (the so-called
Concessions) at the different ports, to be regarded as the area of exemption from
lekin; and the Government of China will thereupon allow Ich’ang, in the province
of Hu-pi; Wu-hu, in An-hui; Wen-chow, in Che-kiang ; and Pei-hai (Pak-hoi),
in Kwang-tung to be added to the number of ports open to trade and to become
Consular stations. The British Government will, further, be free to send officers to
reside at Chung-k’ing to watch the conditions of British trade in Szechuen;
British merchants will not be allowed to reside at Chung-k’ing, or to open establish¬
ments or warehouses there, so long as no steamers have access to the port. When
steamers have succeeded in ascending the river so far, further arrangements can be
taken into consideration.
It is further proposed as a measure of compromise that at certain points on the
shore of the Great River, namely, Tat’ung and Ngan-Ching in the province of An¬
hui; Ho-Kou, in Kiang-si ; Wu-sueh, Lu-chi-kou, and Sha-shih in Hu-Kwang,
these being all places of trade in the interior, at which, as they are not open ports,
foreign merchants are not legally authorised to land or ship goods, steamers shall be
allowed to touch for the purpose of landing or shipping passengers or goods; but in
all instances by means of native boats only, and subject to the regulations in force
affecting native trade.
Produce accompanied by a half-duty certificate may be shipped at such points
by the steamers, but may not be landed by them for sale. And at all such points,
except in the case of imports accompanied by a transit duty certificate or exports
similarly certificated, which will be severally passed free of lekin on exhibition of such
certificates, lekin will be duly collected on all goods whatever by the native authorities.
Foreign merchants will not be authorised to reside or open houses of business or
warehouses at the places enumerated as ports of call.