Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/144

Rh After concluding the treaties with Pottinger, Ch'i-ying returned to Nanking. In February 1844 the United States' commissioner, Caleb Cushing (顧盛, 1800–1879), arrived at Macao and informed the acting governor-general, Ch'êng Yü-ts'ai 程矞采, that the American mission intended to go to Peking. To prevent Cushing from doing so Ch'i-ying was quickly sent from Nanking to Canton and was made (April 1844) governor-general of Kwangtung and Kwangsi with full powers to conduct foreign affairs at the five ports. The negotiation between Ch'i-ying and Cushing began on June 17, 1844 and on July 3 they signed the Treaty of Wanghia (望厦, a village north of Macao). The treaty granted to the United States all the privileges enjoyed by the British, including clear stipulations concerning the extra-territorial rights of foreigners. Subsequently Ch'i-ying signed two other treaties: with France on October 24, 1844 and with Sweden and Norway on November 20, 1847. Among those who assisted him in the negotiations were Huang Ên-t'ung 黃恩彤 (original ming 丕範 T. 綺江 H. 石琴, 南雪, chin-shih of 1826, d. ca. 1882 age 83), and P'an Shih-ch'êng (see under ).

Ch'i-ying, as signer of these treaties, had no conception of their far-reaching effects on China. The most crucial stipulation—consular jurisdiction—was probably regarded by Chinese officials as the most expedient way to escape the difficulty of administering justice to foreigners. Even Emperor Hsüan-tsung, when commenting on the terms of the Treaty of Nanking, seems to have been concerned merely about the payment of the indemnity, and instructed Ch'i-ying himself to find ways of doing it. Ch'i-ying accomplished this task in a few years by forcing the former Hong Merchants to assume part of the burden, the rest being borne by the provincial treasuries. Thus the emperor was content, and entrusted Ch'i-ying with full power to conduct foreign affairs for the empire. In 1845 Ch'i-ying was made Associate Grand Secretary, though residing at Canton; and early in 1846, at the triennial inspection of high officials, he was commended for his excellent services. Possibly the emperor reasoned that Ch'i-ying's conciliatory policy towards the British was advantageous to the Manchus who could thus preserve their strength for ruling the country (see under ). Ch'i-ying's policy of consideration and deference to foreigners was a new departure in Chinese officialdom, and gained for him widespread commendation in the West. In 1847 a Chinese junk, named Kê Ying, visited Providence, Rhode Island, and other United States ports.

However, further troubles with foreigners were already brewing. Sentiment in Canton ran high against British insistence on the right to enter the walled city of Canton. Prior to this time the Cantonese had looked down upon foreigners and could not bear to make this concession to the British. Moreover, during the years 1843–48 disturbances had occurred when foreigners wandered from the factories on the Pearl River. In retaliation the British governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Francis Davis (達庇時, 1795–1890) led a small flotilla toward Canton (April 3, 1847) and Ch'i-ying was forced to promise that the British might enter the city two years later, that is, in 1849. However, Ch'i-ying failed to make a full report to Peking on this matter, and the promise was not kept by his successor,. Ch'i-ying was annoyed with the Cantonese for causing the trouble and reported that the mobs were incited by rogues and gangsters. He denounced those officials of Peking who vainly imagined these mobs as competent to resist foreigners. Early in 1848 he executed four culprits who led a band which killed six British subjects. By these acts he antagonized not only the Cantonese but many officials in Peking who accused him of being an oppressor of the people and an ally of Westerners. These voices probably influenced Emperor Hsüan-tsung in recalling Ch'i-ying to Peking in February 1848 and retaining him there. A new policy of relaxing control of the anti-foreign elements at Canton then began, and this resulted in the Second British War (see under ).

In Peking Ch'i-ying was accorded various honors. At first he served as an Associate Grand Secretary, holding concurrently the lucrative post of superintendent of Customs and Octroi of Peking. Late in 1848 he was made a Grand Secretary. But before long Emperor Hsüan-tsung died and Ch'i-ying and his party fell into disfavor with the new emperor, Wên-tsung. In May 1850 he submitted a memorial advising the young emperor to discard men of little ability, even though they were known as "models of high conduct" (chün-tzŭ 君子), and to appoint men of talent, even though others called them "inferior men", (hsiao-jên 小人). His intention was as laudable as his wording was unfortunate, for if the emperor had followed his advice the officials who were dismissed would have designated them- 132