Aw interesting point in Sir Thomas Wade's memorandum upon the Chefoo Convention, is the explanation given of the Tis, 150,000 exacted by way of hundred and eighty thousand taels. It|indemaity. Sir Thomas explains that is provided with the permanent works this demand was never pub forward on its present traffic;|as for an indemnity for the Yunnan outrage, which, he persistently contended, was an international offence; nor even for the terrible incident, the murder of Mr. Margary, which was an aggravation of that offence. "The case had been constantly described (by the Chinese officials) as a case of life for life; and I had," writes Sir Thomas, "as "constantly protested against the in. "accuracy of that description. Had "T contemplated the acceptance of an "indemnity as in, so to speak, general satisfaction of the international offence, "TI should have felt bound to propose "something much more considerable; "an indemnity of such magnitude aa "would have rendered either occupa-"tion of territory or other material "guarantee unavoidable."—As it was, his demand was limited to what would cover (1) payment of £10,000 tothe family of Mr. Margary, and of certain lesser amounts to the Chinese accom. panying him, who also were murdered. (2) Payment of the expenses occasioned, in particular to the Government of India, by the ovcurences of February, 1875. In these he contemplated including the expenditure called for by Colonel Browne's mission the losses of the gentlemen composing it; the expenses of Mr. Margary's mission across China in 1874-75, and of Mr. Grosvenor's mission in 1875-76 and the expense of maintaining one or more British officers in the interior, as stipulated, for a term of five years, should Her Majesty's Government seo fit to take advantage of the stipulation. (8) Satisfaction of various claims of British merchants arising out of the action of officers of the Chinese Gov. ernment up to the commencement of the year 1876. This action was, in general, wrongful seizure and de. tention of imports or produce the property of British merchants, includ ing one claim outstanding for pay. ment on account of supplies provided to the Chinese Government towards the close of the rebellion. Sir Thomas had estimated these claims at about Tls. 30,000, "though it was not impossible that others might be pro-sented, the validity of which would be recognised." The whole indemnity having been paid, by his desire, into the Oriental Bank at Shanghai, he set apart 50,000 taels as a sum to be avail able for the liquidation of claims under the authority of the Legation, and the remaining 150,000 taels were deposited at interest.
This explanation certainly places the indemnity question in a more intelligible light than had been at first apprehended. The greater part of the criticism which was directed against this demand, was based on the assumption that it was in some measure an atonement for the outrage, and Sir Thomas Wade carefully explains that it was not in the least degree so intended. We still
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.