Treaty of Tientsin

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The Treaties of Tientsin (Traditional Chinese: 天津條約 Simplified Chinese: 天津条约, Pinyin: Tiānjīn Tiáoyuē) were signed in Tianjin in June 1858, ending the first part of the Second Opium War (1856-1860). France, UK, Russia, and the United States were the parties involved. These treaties opened eleven more Chinese ports (see Treaty of Nanjing) to the foreigners, permitted foreign legations in Beijing, allow Christian missionary activity, and legalised the import of opium.

They were ratified by the Emperor of China in the Beijing Convention in 1860, after the end of the war.

1 Major Points
2 Definitions
3 American Involvement
4 Aftermath
5 Footnotes
6 References
7 See also
8 External link

[edit] Major Points

Britain, France, Russia and the United States would have the right to station legations in Beijing (a closed city at the time)
Ten more Chinese ports would be opened for foreign trade, including Niuzhuang, Danshui, Hankou and Nanjing
The right of foreign vessels including warships to navigate freely on the Yangtze River
The right of foreigners to travel in the internal regions of China for the purpose of travel, trade or missionary activities
China was to pay an indemnity to Britain and France in 2 million taels of silver respectively, and compensation to British merchants in 2 million taels of silver.
Offical letters and other documents exchanged between China and the UK are to be banned from referring to British Officials and Subjects of the Crown by the character "夷" or "yi" (barbarian). Treaty of Tianjin Text

[edit] Definitions

The Treaties of Tientsin uses several words that have somewhat ambiguous meanings. For example the words “settlement” and “concession” can often be confused. The term “settlement” refers to a parcel of land leased to a foreign power and is composed of both foreign and national peoples; locally elected foreigners govern them. The term “concession” refers to a long-term lease of land to a foreign power where the foreign nation has complete control of the land; it is governed by consular representation.^[1]

[edit] American Involvement

Following the pattern set by the great powers of Europe, the United States took on a protectionist stance, built up its navy, and tried to create a colonial empire. This “New Imperialism” led America to set its sights on the Pacific, and in particular China. The United States was one of the leading signing “treaty powers” in China, forcing open a total of 23 foreign concessions from the Chinese government. While it is often noted that the United States did not control any settlements in China, they did however share British land grants and were actually invited to take land in Shanghai, but refused because the land was thought to be disadvantageous.^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

While the opening of these ports brought many good things to China, some parts of the treaty hurt China (i.e., being a national humiliation). The influx of foreign capital helped the Chinese economy to grow and advance to more even levels with the foreign powers, despite such humiliation. Also, the presence of foreign military powers in the area provided stability, not only in everyday life, but economically as well as being humiliating. However, the security and opportunities provided along the coast hindered the rural advancement and rehabilitation in the interior, which was itself humiliated.^[3]

[edit] Footnotes

^ William C Johnstone. "International Relations: The Status of Foreign Concessions and Settlements in the Treaty Port of China." American Political Science Review 31.5 (Oct. 1937): 942.
^ Ibid. 945
^ Ibid. 946

[edit] References

William C Johnstone. "International Relations: The Status of Foreign Concessions and Settlements in the Treaty Port of China." American Political Science Review 31.5 (Oct. 1937): 942-8.
Bloch, Kurt. "The Basic Conflict Over Foreign Concessions in China." Far Eastern Survey 8.10 (May 1939): 111-6.