"The collapse of China" excerpt 23

Four "Dedications": The Sino-French Huangpu Treaty

After the United States, it was France.

As a powerful European country, France's interests are mainly in Europe, North Africa, North America and other places, and its commercial interests in the East are relatively small. The number of merchant ships coming to China is less than one tenth of that of Britain, and its trade volume is only a fraction of that of the United States. [Illustration] Its expansion to the east is still pioneering and has the characteristics of focusing on areas other than commerce.

To their great disappointment, Ashley suggested that the Qing Dynasty immediately make peace with Britain and send a mission to Paris.

The Bantang talks, the first high-level meeting in the history of Sino-French relations, were fruitless. On February 5th, Ashley also went to Manila and told Yishan before leaving that he had something to find out about his true intention to stay in Macau. Ashley's behavior is quite like a sincere boss.

Zhen Shengyi went to Guangzhou on March 16th and held talks with Yishan and others on the 2th. Yishan is still asking whether the French will intervene, but Zhenshengyi has offered the conditions for peace between the Qing Dynasty and Britain. Yishan was completely disappointed.

With an interest rate of more than 2 sailors, Shisi hired civilian boats and sailed upstream to attend the signing ceremony of treaty of nanking on August 29th. The British side did not give preferential treatment to these uninvited guests.

Upon his return from Nanking, Ashley reported to the Navy Department that he proposed to occupy Taiwan Province Island and Hainan Island, and demanded the use of force. Today, China people fear cannons, and diplomatic notes are too slow to take effect.

There is no doubt that France has gained the same trade rights as Britain. According to the memorial of Senior Citizen, Lademont "rejoiced and went away" after receiving a satisfactory reply.

first, China and France conclude a Covenant; 2. China sends a diplomatic mission (even as a traveler) to France and can send it by French ship; Three, China sent young people to France to learn the method of shipbuilding and casting guns to attack and defend, so as to be able to fight against Britain in the future. Ashley's real intention is hidden and sinister (seeking a military port in China), but sending people to study in France is more beneficial to China's future than giving books to the United States.

The private activities of Si Li, Zhen Shengyi and La Di Meng Dong in China were not accepted by the French government, but they were recalled one after another, which paved the way for Théodore de Lagren, the first plenipotentiary of France, to make China.

The benefits we have gained are not guaranteed by treaties or articles of association, but only obtained by the China government issuing a decree or an imperial edict, which the emperor can take back at any time ...

Although people have recognized that the Humen Treaty and the Wangxia Treaty are unequal treaties, people in the "China" have not yet realized it. In particular, Jie Ying and Huang Entong are thankful for the new system established by the new treaty at various trading ports at this time, thinking that they have found a way to safeguard the peace between the people and foreigners and avoid danger.

Therefore, Laeni and others have always been evasive about going to Beijing, becoming the first chip to blackmail Senior Citizen. It is best not to say clearly whether you have the intention and order to enter Beijing; If Senior Citizen asks this question, you'd better avoid it as much as possible. If there is an impasse, you should say to Senior Ying, "Since you don't agree to my reasonable request, I will go to Beijing to ask the emperor, and the emperor will certainly not refuse my request."

According to Lacini's report, the main provisions of the treaty were successfully passed, and "there was no dispute or disagreement", except for the title of Louis Philippe, the French king.

According to the existing information, Jian Ying has never asked for an outline of the contents of the treaty, except for a passing remark in a clip: The articles of association of the foreign trade have been agreed upon, and everything is based on the new examples of Britain and Peru, with similarities and differences in words and no differences in plot ...

Only a few words have been mentioned, which shows the status of the treaty in his mind.

From this, Laeni enjoyed all the scenery aboard the British ship Gao Huali on the Nanjing River two years ago, and he won a flawless treaty for his country. France thus obtained all the rights and interests in the Humen and Wangxia treaties, including one-sided MFN treatment, consular jurisdiction, agreed tariffs, and the entry and exit of warships.

and senior citizen? He played a report on the signing of the contract a week later and attached the treaty for trial. And with the fold, he recommended 9 officials who contributed to the negotiation, added titles and revoked the punishment! The Sino-French Huangpu Treaty is the dedication of the "China", and the people in the "China" regard this great sadness as a great joy.

Galileo's move, in turn, defeated the Lachnian army. Without the authorization to conclude a military treaty, he vetoed Galileo's promise. Galileo did not give up, but kept asking for relaxation. During the meeting on October 12, he also proposed to cede Ryukyu, and his diary revealed his real purpose: "I want to cede Ryukyu and coerce China people to change their previous attitude in solving the missionary problem."

In the communication between China and the West during the Opium War, the language problem has always been a big obstacle. At that time, most people who knew foreign languages in China were compradors with low education level, who were rude and greedy, so it was difficult to be the official helper of the government. Translators from western countries, mainly missionaries who have been in China for many years, have more knowledge and understanding of China's inside story and become the main force in negotiations.

Here, Senior Ying staged a self-directed play for Daoguang Emperor, which was as vivid as Yang Fang and Yishan three years ago. After explaining that the French side promised not to ask for anything else, he clearly expressed his attitude: Can you invite the emperor to go beyond his grace and exempt all Chinese and foreign people who study Catholicism without causing trouble?

There is no doubt that Jiao Ying and Huang Entong don't like Christianity, and they just choose the one that does the least harm to China from the French requirements. But they didn't know that the later facts were exactly the opposite of their judgment. They decided that it was the most dangerous to allow the ambassador to enter Beijing to see Daoguang Emperor. And they decided that the safest relaxation was forbidden, but after half a century, the daughter-in-law of Daoguang Emperor, Empress Dowager Cixi, escaped from Beijing in a carriage with Guangxu Emperor in the dusk.

many years have passed. In 187, Japan sent its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yanahara Maemitsu, to China to seek a treaty. This little brother, who was deeply influenced by Han culture in the past and ignored by the Qing Dynasty, made such a rash move that the Qing Dynasty did not agree. However, Li Hongzhang, China's most knowledgeable minister of Beiyang and governor of Zhili, agreed to conclude a treaty with Japan.

many years have passed. In 1881, Li Hongzhang negotiated a treaty with Brazilian envoys. The treaty signed by the two sides is the first equal treaty in China's modern history, which gives MFN treatment to each other and cancels the agreed tariffs. It has been 4 years since the Opium War, and the Qing Dynasty has signed dozens of unequal treaties with Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Austria and other countries.

"China" is a dream, a dream that is hard to wake up.