WE learn from the Reuter's tele-rams published this morning that was understood in London thata satisfactory Imperial edict abolishing likin arations and approving the new British treaty had been. issued and that the treaty itself would be signed on Saturday last. Sir James Mackay, however, did not consider the edict, a translation of which will be found in another column, entirely satisfactory, and the signature of the treaty awaits the issue of a farther edict; and it is hoped that all will b> in order and the treaty will be signed to-day. The edict does not make it sufficiently clear that the whole of the surtax is to be paid to the provincial authorities to compensate them for the loss of likin; and the provincial authorities cannot be expected to ce-operate heartily in the abolition of likin unless they are assured that they will receive adequate compensation. Those who vern China at Peking are so ignorant, an therefore so suspicious, that such delays as have occurred in this case are always to be expected, even when Peking hus appointed negotiators in whom it his confidence, with full powers; and Sir James Mackay must be warmly congratulated if he succeeds in getting the treaty signed to-day.
2nd September.
Ur to a late hour last night, as far as our informvion goes, the new treaty had not been signed, but it is understood, as Reuter's telegram say, that there is no question about the terms of the treaty, the matter being merely a question of the interpretation of the Imperial edict. It will be seen that the United States Government has decided to accept Sir James Mackay's treaty, and there is very little doubt now that other nations will follow suit as they did in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.