Powers:—This is an undignified tone to assume, since it puts it in the power of any fifth-rate nation to cancel the entire Treaty. It also puts into the hands of these powers a strong lever with which to move China to the granting of any terms they may desire. "An instance is even now reported which it is stated that Portugal says to China in effect, "If you do no give us what we require we will withhold our sanction to the British Treaty," and the Treaty will either fall to the ground, or China, if she is supremely anxious it shall come into force, will be coerced into granting the demands of Portugal. All other Treaty Powers are in the same position and are furnished by Britain with this powerful weapon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.