MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have received from the Chinese Government any intimation of a demand for a revision of the treaties between China and Great Britain; if so, when was the demand made; does the demand for revision extend to Articles XXIV., LII, and LIV. of the Treaty of Tientsin of 26th June, 1858, which articles respectively stipulate that British subjects shall in no case be called upon to pay other or higher duties than are required of the subjects of any other foreign nation; that British ships of war shall be at liberty to visit all ports within the dominions of the Emperor of China; and that the British Government and its subjects shall have free and equal participation in all privileges, immunities, and advantages that may have been, or may hereafter be granted by the Emperor of China to the Government or subjects of any other nation; if not, to what articles of what treaties does the demand extend, and what would be the effect of the revision demanded; and does Her Majesty's Government propose to accede to this demand?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe demand 666 of the Chinese Government is for a revision of the Customs tariff in accordance with Article XXVII. of the Treaty of Tientsin. Formal notice was given to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin in April last. Any revised duties which may be agreed upon will, of course, be subject to our rights under the most-favourednation articles of the treaty.