Question

How does Lin view the nature of trade between Britain and China? How has it changed over time? What is Lin’s complaint against British traders?

11:30 DOCUMENT Lin Zexu LETTER TO QUEEN VICTORIA (1819) By the early 1800s, the opium trade dominated by British merchants produced millions of Chinese addicts. The opin trade increased steadily, hehe 1800 and 1827. 4,500 chests were shipped to and sold in China a rear. In 1&3&thember reached 40,000 chests. The result was a serious w ow of Chinese Sihver. The Ong government finally decided in 1838 to han the opium trade and Lin Zen appointed as imperial commissioner o perwise the operation. Lin arrived in Guangzhou in March 1839 and soon launched strong attacks on both addicts and reglers. He also onderwcowfiscation of opium in foreign merchants possession and burned as any as 21.306 chests Lin's letter to Oueen Victoria was sent during his anti-o campaign Lin asked Queen Victoria to stop the sale of opium from India to China. In response to British merchants' request for protection, the British Reef was on its w o m ehow War was imminen Letter to Queen Victoria, 1839 His Majesty the Emperor comforts and cherishes foreigners as well as Chinese: he loves all the people in the world without discrimination. Whenever profit is found he wishes to share it with all men, whenever harm appears, he likewise will eliminate it on behalf of all of mankind. His heart is in fact the heart of the whole universe Generally speaking, the succeeding rulers of your honorable country have been respectful and obedient. Time and again they have sent petitions to China, saying "We are grateful to His Majesty the Emperor for the impartial and favorable treatment he has granted to the citizens of my country who have come to China to trade," etc. I am pleased to learn that you, as the ruler of your honorable country.ane thoroughly familiar with the principle of righteousness and are grateful for the favor that His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon your subjects.... But after a long period of commercial intercourse, there appear among the crowd of barbarians both good persons and bad, unevenly. Consequently there are those who smuggle opium to seduce the Chinese people and so cause the spread of the posson to all provinces. Such persons who only care to profit themselves, and discard their harm to others, are not tolerated by the laws of heaven and are unanimously hated by human beings. His Majesty the Emperor, upon hearing of this, is in a towering rage. He has especially sent me, his commissioner, to come to Kwantung (Guangdong), and together with the governor-general and governor jointly to investigate and settle this matter All those people in China who sell opium or smoke opium should receive the death penalty. We trace the crime of those barbarians who through the years have been selling opium, then the deep harm they have wrought and the great profit they have usurped should fundamentally justify their execution according to law. We take into to consideration, however, the fact that the various barbarians have still known how to repent their crimes and return to their allegiance to us by taking the 20,183 chests of opium from their storeships and petitioning us, through their consular officer superintendent of tradel. Elliot, to receive it. It has been entirely destroyed and this has been faithfully reported to the Throne in several memorials by this commissioner and his colleagues Fortunately we have received a specially extended favor from His Majesty the Emperor, who considers that for those who voluntarily surrender there are still some circumstances to palliate their crime, and so for the time being he has magnanimously excused them from punishment. But as for those who again violate the opium prohibition, it is difficult for the law to pardon them repeatedly. Having established new regulations, we presume that the ruler of your honorable country. who takes delight in our clined towards us, must

Answer 1

Lin's view of nature of British trade -

In early 1800s, the major trade between Britain and China was trade in opium. The Britishers dominated opium trade by selling to China via Indian route. This resulted in large ouflow of chinese silver and emergence of large chinese population turning into opium addicts.Further whatever was traded from China to other foreign countries were beneficial in nature, there was not a single thing exported that caused harm to human kind. However British prohibited opium use in their native country ( being aware of the ill effects of opium use) but sold the same to other countries and made huge profits out of it.

There was a commercial intercourse of trade between the two nations on the common ground - profit with prosperity. Gaining from trade in such a way that everyone prospers. Lin also mentions that British traders were respectfully, favourably and impartially treated and honored by the Emperor. At the same time these traders were obedient towards local Chinese policies and rules.

How this trade has changed over time -

Overtime in greed of profits the British traders resorted to illegal activities and usurped large profits out of trade. In light of this the Emperor ordered to settle the matter by restricting and prohibiting any further buying, selling and consuming opium in China whether officially or unofficially going forward.Anybody involved in trade would be retrospectively charged and executed unless they proved their allegiance to China. However those who surrender will find their crimes palliated. Further unlike past the British traders would not be pardoned. The Chinese stringent rules and code of conduct would be binding on all traders.

Lin's letter came as warning to the Britishers to stop ships carrying opium or else it will be destroyed. It also warns the British crown to instruct its traders to follow local policies and rules with care and not expect any favours or leniency in this matter. The letter was written and sent during the anti-opium campaign in China. In response the British traders sought protection from the British crown and it was concluded that war was emminent. To sum up the opium trade became the cause of conflict between the two nations.

What is Lin's complaint against British traders -

The British traders grew barbaric and greedy overtime and lured Chinese people into buying opium in huge quantities. In want of great profits they started breaking rules and regulations. They also started smuggling opium in provinces in China where it was not previously allowed. At no. of times they were pardoned by the Emperor, but disobeying rules became their norm.