First,then,theysuppressedthestatementthattheRussiantreatyhadalreadybeenratified,andthattheEmperorofChinahadgiveninstructionstohismandarinstoreceiveandescorttheAmericanEmbassytothecapitalfortheexchangeoftheratifiedcopiesoftheAmericantreaty.Theseactsweresuppressedwithaviewtostiflethesuspicionthatwouldnaturallyarise,thattheEnglishandFrenchEnvoys,insteadoftheCourtofPeking,areresponsibleformeetingobstaclesinthetransactionoftheirbusinesswhichwerenotencounteredeitherbytheirRussianorAmericancolleagues.Theother,stillmoreimportant,factthatwasatfirstsuppressedbyTheTimes,andtheotherPalmerstonorgans,butisnowavowedontheirpart,isthattheChineseauthoritieshadgivennoticeoftheirwillingnesstoconducttheEnglishandFrenchEnvoystoPeking;thattheywereactuallyinwaitingtoreceivethematoneofthemouthsoftheriver,andofferedthemanescortiftheyonlyconsentedtoleavetheirvesselsandtroops.Now,asthetreatyofTien-tsincontainsnoclausegrantingtotheEnglishandFrenchtherightofsendingasquadronofmen-of-warupthePejho,itbecomesevidentthatthetreatywasviolated,notbytheChinese,butbytheEnglish,andthatonthepartofthelatterthereexistedtheforegoneconclusiontopickaquarreljustbeforetheperiodappointedfortheexchangeoftheratifications.
NobodywillfancythattheHon.Mr.BruceactedonhisownresponsibilityinthusbafflingtheostensibleendaimedatbythelastChinesewar,butthat,onthecontrary,heonlyexecutedsecretinstructionsreceivedfromLondon.Now,itistruethatMr.Brucewasdispatched,notbyPalmerston,butbyDerby;but,thenIhaveonlytoremindyouthatduringthefirstadministrationofSirRobertPeel,whenLordAberdeenkeptthesealsoftheForeignOffice,SirHenryBulwer,theEnglishAmbassadoratMadrid,pickedaquarrelwiththeSpanishCourt,resultinginhisexpulsionfromSpain,andthat,duringthedebatesintheHouseofLordsonthis"untowardevent,",itwasprovedthatBulwer,insteadofobeyingtheofficialinstructionsofAberdeen,hadacteduptothesecretinstructionsofPalmerston,whothensatontheOppositionbenches.
AmanoeuvrehasalsobeencarriedoutduringtheselastdaysinthePalmerstonianpress,whichleavesnodoubt,atleasttothoseacquaintedwiththesecrethistoryofEnglishdiplomacyduringthelastthirtyyears,astotherealauthorofthePeihocatastropheandtheimpendingthirdAngloChinesewar.TheTimesintimatesthatthegunsplantedonthefortsofTakuwhichcausedsuchhavocamongtheBritishsquadronwereofRussianorigin,andweredirectedbyRussianofficers.
AnotherPalmerstonianorganisstillmoreplainspoken.Iquote:
"WenowperceivehowcloselythepolicyofRussiaisinterwovenwiththatofPeking;wedetectgreatmovementsontheAmur;wediscernlargeCossackarmiesmanoeuvringfarbeyondLakeBaikal,inthefrozendreamlandonthetwilightbordersoftheOldWorld;
wetracethecourseofinnumerablecaravans;weespyaspecialRussianenvoy"Gen.Mouravieff,theGovernorofEasternSiberia
"makinghisway,withsecretdesigns,fromtheremotenessofEasternSiberiatothesecludedChinesemetropolis;andwellmaypublicopinioninthiscountrybumatthethoughtthatforeigninfluenceshavehadashareinprocuringourdisgraceandtheslaughterofoursoldiersandsailors."
Now,thisisoneofLordPalmerston'soldtricks.WhenRussiawantedtoconcludeatreatyofcommercewithChina,hedrovethelatterbytheopiumwarintothearmsofhernorthernneighbour.WhenRussiarequestedthecessionoftheAmur,hebroughtitaboutbythesecondChinesewar,andnowthatRussiawantstoconsolidateherinfluenceatPeking,heextemporizesthethirdChinesewar.InallhistransactionswiththeweakAsiaticStates,withChina,Persia,CentralAsia,Turkey,ithasalwaysbeenhisinvariableandconstantruletoostensiblyopposeRussia'sdesignsbypickingaquarrel,notwithRussia,butwiththeAsiaticState,toestrangethelatterfromEnglandbypiraticalhostilities,andbythisroundaboutwaydriveittotheconcessionsithadbeenunwillingtoyieldtoRussia.YoumaybesurethatonthisoccasionthewholepastAsiaticpolicyofPalmerstonwillbeagainsifted,andIdraw,therefore,yourattentiontotheAfghanpapersorderedbytheHouseofCommonstobeprintedonthe8thJune,1859.
TheythrowmorelightonPalmerston'ssinisterpolicy,andthediplomatichistoryofthelastthirtyyears,thananydocumentseverbeforeprinted.Thecaseis,inafewwords,this:
In1838PalmerstoncommencedawaragainstDostMohammed,therulerofCabul,awarthatledtothedestructionofanEnglisharmy,andwascommencedonthepleaofDostMohammedhavingenteredintoasecretallianceagainstEnglandwithPersiaandRussia.Inproofofthisassertion,Palmerstonlaid,in1839,beforeParliament,aBlueBook,chieflyconsistingofthecorrespondenceofSirA.Burnes,theBritishenvoyatCabul,withtheGovernmentatCalcutta.BurneshadbeenassassinatedduringaninsurrectionatCabulagainsttheEnglishinvaders,but,distrustfuloftheBritishForeignMinister,hadsentcopiesofsomeofhisofficialletterstohisbrother,Dr.Burnes,atLondon.Ontheappearance,in1839,ofthe"Afghanpapers,"preparedbyPalmerston,Dr.Burnesaccusedhimofhaving"garbledandforgedthedispatchesofthelateSirA.Burnes,"and,incorroborationofhisstatement,hadsomeofthegenuinedespatchesprinted.Butitwasonlylastsummerthatthemurdercameout.UndertheDerbyMinistry,onthemotionofMr.Hadfield,theHouseofCommonsorderedalltheAfghanpaperstobepublishedinfull,andthisorderhasbeenexecutedinsuchaformastoconstituteademonstration,tothemeanestcapacity,ofthetruthofthechargeofgarblingandforgery,intheinterestofRussia.Onthetitle-pageoftheBlueBookappearsthefollowing:
"Note——Thecorrespondence,onlypartiallygiveninformerReturns,isheregivenentire,theomittedpassagesbeingmarkedbybrackets,[]."
Thenameoftheofficial,whichappearsasaguarantyforthefidelityofthereturn,is"J.W.Kaye,SecretaryinPoliticalandSecretDepartments,"Mr.KayebeingtheuprighthistorianoftheWarinAfghanistan.Now,toillustratetherealrelationsofPalmerstonwithRussia,againstwhichhepretendedtohavesetuptheAfghanwar,oneinstancemaysufficeforthepresent.TheRussianagent,Vickovitch,whocametoCabulin1837,wasthebearerofaletterfromtheCzartoDostMohammed,SirAlexanderBurnesobtainedacopyoftheletter,andsentittoLordAuckland,theGovernor-GeneralofIndia.Inhisowndespatches,andvariousdocumentsinclosedbyhim,thiscircumstanceisreferredtooverandoveragain.ButthecopyoftheCzar'sletterwasexpungedaltogetherfromthepaperspresentedbyPalmerstonin1839,andineverydespatchinwhichitisreferredto,suchalterationsweremadeaswerenecessarytosuppressthecircumstanceoftheconnectionofthe"EmperorofRussia"withthemissiontoCabul.ThisforgerywascommittedinordertosuppresstheevidenceoftheAutocrat'sconnectionwithVickovitch,whom,onhisreturntoSt.Petersburg,itsuitedNicholastoformerlydisavow.Forinstance,atpage82oftheBlueBookwillbefoundthetranslationofalettertoDostMohammed,whichreadsnowasfollows,thebracketsshowingthewordsoriginallysuppressedbyPalmerston:
"Anambassadoronthepartof[the]Russia[anEmperor]came[fromMoscow]toTehran,andhasbeenappointedtowaitontheSirdarsatCandahar,andthencetoproceedtothepresenceoftheAmeerHeisthebearerof[confidentialmessagesfromtheEmperorandofthe]lettersfromtheRussianambassadoratTehran.
TheRussianambassadorrecommendsthismantobeamosttrustyindividual,andtopossessfullauthoritytomakeanynegotiations,[onthepartoftheEmperorandhimself],etc.,etc."
These,andsimilarforgeriescommittedbyPalmerstoninordertoprotectthehonouroftheCzar,arenottheonlycuriosityexhibitedbythe"Afghanpapers."TheinvasionofAfghanistanwasjustifiedbyPalmerstononthegroundthatSirAlexanderBurneshadadviseditasapropermeansforbafflingRussianintriguesinCentralAsia.NowSirA.Burnesdidquitethecontrary,andconsequentlyallhisappealsonbehalfofDostMohammedwerealtogethersuppressedinPalmerston'seditionofthe"BlueBook;"thecorrespondencebeingbydintofgarblingandforgery,turnedquitetothereverseofitsoriginalmeaning.SuchisthemannowabouttoenteronathirdChinesewar,ontheostensiblepleaothwartingRussia'sdesignsinthatquarter.
ANOTHERCIVILIZATIONWARNewYorkDailyTribuneOctober1859
byKARLMARX
THATTHEREistobeanothercivilizationwaragainsttheCelestialsseemsamatternowprettygenerallysettledwiththeEnglishpress.
Still,sincethemeetingoftheCabinetCounciIonSaturdaylast,aremarkablechangehascomeoverthoseverypapersthatwereforemostinthehowlforblood.Atfirst,theLondonTimes,inanapparenttranceofpatrioticfury,thunderedatthedoubletreacherycommitted——bycowardlyMongolswholuredonthebonhommeoftheBritishAdmiralbystudiouslyfalsifyingappearancesandscreeningtheirartillery——bytheCourtofPeking,which,withdeeperMachiavelianism,hadsetthoseMongologrestotheirdamnablepracticaljokes.Curioustosay,althoughtossedonaseaofpassion,TheTimeshad,initsreprints,contrivedtocarefullyexpungefromtheoriginalreportsallpointsfavourabletothedoomedChinaman.Toconfoundthingsmaybetheworkofpassion,buttogarblethemseemsrathertheoperationofacoolhead.Howeverthatbe,onSept.16,justonedaybeforethemeetingoftheMinisters,TheTimesveeredround,and,withoutmuchado,cutoneheadoffitsJanus-headedimpeachment."WeJear,"itsaid,"thatwecannotaccusetheMongolswhoresistedourattackonthefortsofthePeihooftreachery";butthen,tomakeupforthatawkwardconcession,itclungthemoredesperatelytothedeliberateandperfidiousviolationofa"solemntreaty"by"theCourtofPeking."Threedayslater,aftertheCabinetCouncilhadbeenheld,TheTimes,onfurtherconsideration,evenfound"noroomfirdoubtthatifMr.BruceandM.deBourboulonhadsolicitedtheMandarinstoconductthemtoPeking,theywouldhavebeenpermittedtoeffecttheratification"ofthetreaty.What,then,remainsthereofthetreacheryoftheCourtofPeking?Notashadoweven,butinitsplacethereremaintwodoubtsonthemindofTheTimes."Itis,"itsays,"perhapsdoubtfulwhether,asamilitarymeasure,itwaswisetotrywithiuchasquadron,ourwaytoPeking.Itisstillmoredoubtfulwhether,asadiplomaticmeasure,itwasdesirabletouseforceatall."Suchisthelameconclusionofalltheindignationblusterindulgedinbythe"leadingorgan,"but,withalogicofitsown,itdropsthereasonsforwarwithoutdroppingthewaritself.Anothersemi-Governmentalpaper,TheEconomist,whichhaddistinguisheditselfbyitsferventapologyfortheCantonbombardment,seemstotakeamoreeconomicalandlessrhetoricalviewofthingsnowthatMr.J.WilsonhasgothisappointmentofChancelloroftheExchequerforIndiaTheEconomistbringstwoarticlesonthesubject,theonepolitical,theothereconomical;thefirstonewindingupwiththefollowingsentences:
"Now,allthesethingsconsidered,itisobviousthatthearticleofthetreatywhichgaveourAmbassadorarightofvisitingorresidingatPeking,wasoneliterallyforcedupontheChineseGovernment;andifitwerethoughtabsolutelyessentialtoourintereststhatitshouldbeobserved,wethinktherewasmuchroomforthedisplayofconsiderationandpatienceinexactingitsfulfilment.NodoubtitmaybesaidthatwithsuchaGovernmentastheChinese,delayandpatienceareinterpretedasasignoffatalweakness,andisthereforethemostunsoundpolicywecouldpursue.Buthowjarareweentitled,onthisplea,tovarytheprinciplesonwhichweshouldassuredlyacttowardanycivilizednationinourtreatmentoftheseOrientalGovernments?Whenwehavewrungoutanunwelcomeconcessionfromtheirfears,itmaybeperhapsthemostconsistentpolicytowringout,alsofromtheirfears,theimmediateexecutionofthebargaininthewaymostconvenienttoourselves.Butifwefailinsodoing——if,inthemeantime,theChineseovercometheirfears,andinsist,withasuitabledisplayofforce,onourconsultingthemastothemodetobetakenforgivingourtreatyeffect——canwejustlyaccusethemoftreachery?Aretheynotratherpractisinguponusourownmethodsofpersuasion?TheChineseGovernmentmay——anditisverylikelythatitisso——haveintendedtoentrapusintothismurderoussnare,andneverhavepurposedtoexecutethetreatyatall.Ifthisshouldprovetobeso,wemustandoughttoexactreparation.ButitmayalsoprovethattheintentiontodefendthemouthofthePeihoagainsttherecurrenceofsuchaviolententryaswasmadegoodbyLordElgininthepreviousyear,wasnotaccompaniedbyanydesiretobreakfaithonthegeneralarticlesofthetreaty.Asthehostileinitiativecameentirelyfromourside,anditwas,ofcourse,atanymomentcompetenttoourcommanderstoretirefromthemurderousfire,openedonlyforthedefenceoftheforts,wecannotcertainlyproveanyintentionofbreakingfaithonthepartofChina.And,tillproofofadeliberateintentiontobreakthetreatyreachesus——wethinkwehavesomereasontosuspendourjudgment,andponderwhetherwemaynothavebeenapplyingtoourtreatmentofbarbarians,acodeofprinciplesnotverywidelydifferentfromthatwhichtheyhavepractisedtowardsourselves."
Inasecondarticleonthesamesubject,TheEconomistdwellsontheimportance,directandindirect,oftheEnglishtradetoChina.Intheyear1858,theBritishexportstoChinahadrisento?,876,000,whilethevalueoftheBritishimportsfromChinahadaveragedupwardofcg,000,000foreachofthelastthreeyears,sothattheaggregatedirecttradeofEnglandwithChinamaybeputdownataboutci2,000,000.Butbesidethesedirecttransactionstherearethreeotherimportanttradeswithwhich,lessormore,Englandisintimatelyconnectedinthecircleofexchanges,thetradebetweenIndiaandChina,thetradebetweenChinaandAustralia,andthetradebetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates."Australia,"saysTheEconomist,"takesfromChinalargequantitiesofteaannually,andhasnothingtogiveinexchangewhichfindsamarketinChina.AmericaalsotakeslargequantitiesofteaandsomesilkofavaluefarexceedingthatoftheirdirectexportstoChina."BoththesebalancesinfavourofChinahavetobemadegoodbyEngland,whoispaidforthisequalizationofexchangesbythegoldofAustraliaandthecottonoftheUnitedStates.
England,therefore,independentlyofthebalanceduebyherselftoChina,hasalsotopaytothatcountrylargesumsinrespecttogoldimportedfromAustraliaandcottonfromAmerica.NowthisbalanceduetoChinabyEngland,Australia,andtheUnitedStatesdfromChinatoIndia,asasetbyChinatoIndia,onaccountofarked,enpassant,thattheimportsneveryetreachedtheamountof