Lord Palmerston and the Spitfire

In Washington this week Chinese Ambassador Wei Tao-ming inked his paint brush and with delicate strokes inscribed his signature on a new U.S. treaty abolishing U.S. extraterritoriality rights and other special privileges in China. His co-signer was Secretary of State Cordell Hull, who said: "All of us have looked forward to this day. . . ."

On the same day in Chungking a new Sino-British treaty was signed. Sealed with red wax and red, white & blue ribbons, it corresponded in all major respects to that signed in Washington. Cabled Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "This is to me a signal proof of solidarity among the United Nations. ..."

Coming at a time when Chinese intellectuals feared being shoved into a United Nations limbo, the treaties may open a new era in China's relations with the Western powers. They undoubtedly wrote an epitaph on a century of abuses of Chinese rights and contributions to Chinese life by the same Western powers.

The West moved into the East with treaty demands in 1842, when British warships forced the Chinese to mark off five treaty ports. The British also seized the barren island they subsequently built up into the city of Hong Kong. In the War of 1856-60 further treaty ports were seized and the Chinese customs service handed over to foreign administration. After the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century, Western nations solidified their hold on further territorial concessions, forced indemnities and loans on China at heavy interest rates. The U.S. sanctimoniously used the "most-favored nation" clause in its treaties to take advantage of the privileges Britain gained. The treaty ports became fleshpots for the foreigners, sources of national humiliation to the Chinese.

On the credit side, the foreign powers brought China its first steamship, its first locomotive, modern science and modern education. They established a postal service, did a superb job of clearing away navigational hazards and charting the Chinese coasts.

Under the new treaties, and others expected to follow, China will have no treaty ports (Hong Kong, however, is to remain British), no foreign judicial systems, no British ships in inland waters and coastwise trade. Then when victory over Japan is won Chinese destiny will rest in the hands of Chinese leaders.

An old legend credits blustering Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston with instructing one of his envoys to China a century ago: "Never forget that you are the representative of Her Most Christian Majesty dealing with heathen barbarians." This week there was only one profane Chungking witticism to commemorate him: "If Lord Palmerston heard about this, he'd not only turn in his grave but jump high enough to fly a Spitfire."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.