Tue debate in the House of Commons on the 2ud of April, on Me, MeLrren's motion, attracted a great deni of notice from the English newspapers. The resolution was not ju sly worded, probably owing to the subject having been taken up by a member more anxious to identify himself with question already important, and certain to engage the earnest attention of the working ps " Han acquainted with foreign trade, But the quality of the other members who took part in the discussion makes it particularly valuable, Mr, Palmer represents large north country cons shipbuilder and a Iddesleigh's commission on the Depression of Trade, Another member claimed to represent the Manchester Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Mnacloan site for borough, the existence of which depends on cotton-spinning and he is thoroughly acquainted with the trade of India, Mr, Goschen nisse spoke, and, besides the Into and present Under Scorotnrica of State for Foreign Affnire, Me, Sathorlaud gave the House the benefit of his ex. perience in Chins, and the opinions he ad formed of the English Consuls in this country, In addition to those members wi tom we have named others spoke, sol ax Me, G. Howell, a working mau's representative.
We have on previous occasions given Consular service in China charged, and we then stated might be very considerably eulurged without its standing being in any way lowered, and with great advaninge to English traders here and -wll cone nected with industries at home. We are not advocates fur Britis Minister at Peking, or anywhere else, "pushing" Uke trade or interests of their countrymen in the wanner in which the Ministers of other powers The push st come feom English tauufuctacers and wer-chants themselves; but at the aame there are many ways in w at foreign courts may their countrymen to extend their com. merce. Que of the chief means of doing so is to enlighten the English traders as to the changes which may take place from time to time in the trade of the country to which they are accredited, the possibility of ete especially new ways, above all in issuing such reports promptly. It may be answered that the Ministers in foreign countries have nothing to do with the issue of the Consular reports on trade, and that these are printed in London, All such reports must first be Inid on the table of the House before being issued to the public, and under this rule Under Seoretary said that a report received in the middle of August might live to wait Lill the middle of February before it wns presented. Is there any reason why all Consular Reports from the open ports should not be issued either in Peking or Shanghai? Why should they be sent to Englund, very possibly in the case of the elaborate Report on the trade of Shinghni, to lie useless for six or seven months London, and to be fifteen or mouths old before it is in the hands of this community, That the Reports enn be made public in Chinn is evidenced by Sir Harry Parkes having at lent on one oven sion caused us to be furnished with Consular Reports before they were issued in London, No doubt the old rule will require to be wet oxide; bat, considering the haste which the Foreign Office showed in thin debate to meet the wishes of the mercantile communities, we are inclined to think that n suggestion from Peking that the Consular Reports on trade in Chinn should be published in China instend of lying on the table of the House, until they are naeles, might entertained at the Fureign Otlive. There ix, also, much to recommend the suggestion of Mr, Howell, that nbstracta of these reports should be published and sold ut n choup price.
The feeling of the House on the general subject was, we should think, expressed in the words of Mr, Suthers Innd, Th was unanimously felt Unt the Foreign Office should be impressed wilh the necessity of taking some steps in the matter. Speaking from his own experience in Chinn, ho said there were Consuls and Consuls, and that some of thew, ho udded, unnceossmily, could well uphold the honour of British com~ merce, That ix all very well; but what is wanted from the Consuls ix vigilance in protecting British treaty righty ut their ports, and keeping their oountsymen well informed in all tunatters of trade and helping them with Chi officials, when they can do tu without derogation of their ufice, Mr, Sutherland ed the Guvermuont to impress on the Chinese the necessity of improving the cunditidn of the harbour of Shanghai; and notwithstanding what we were recently authorized tony wboutdredging being suen begun on the Bar, we inclined to Uhink that some distinction remains to be won by the Minister at Peking who shall effectually move the Chinese Government to order the removal of this obstacle to the navigation of the river, By this wil mereantileships which trade with Shang. hui would be benefitted; and we may here remark" that the curlier publica tion of better Trade Reports would be of grent service to merchants of every nationallly, Even if it were possible, we should not desire to keep the infurmation acquired by our Consuls forownsolo use, any wore than we should desire to have Americans, Germans, or Freuchex= cluded from the advantages which our Colonies offer to euterprizing men. A free fight and no favour is the motto ander which English merohauta
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.