British Confidential Prints on Opium War

In the field of history, British Documents on Foreign Affairs provides important primary source materials for historians to study the Opium War from the perspective of the British. The title of Volume 16 of this series is 'Anglo-Chinese War and Its Aftermath, 1839-1849'. In total there are 286 pieces of documents, dated from 18th October 1839 to 5th July 1848. The first document of this volume, dated 18th October 1839, carried the Confidential Print number 75/1. It is a secret dispatch from Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot, R.N., Superintendent of Trade and is a very crucial document on the Opium War.1 This document is both a situation report and an instrument from the British Foreign Minister to a senior British official posted in Asia. It reflects the intention and thinking of the British government of the day. Major points in this dispatch are:1) Her Majesty's Government feel that it is impossible for Great Britain not to resent the outrages which have been committed by the Chinese upon British subjects, and upon the Queen's officers. 2) Her Majesty's government would send to the China seas a naval, and probably a small military, force. 3) The operation of this force would be decided by the Governor General of India, the Admiral and Captain Elliot. 4) British navy would plan on blockade Canton and the Peiho or Pekin rivers, and as an intermediate point, to seize and occupy one of the Chusan islands, or the town of Amoy, or any other insular position that could be used to mount military operations, and afterwards to be used as a secure basis for the British commercial establishments permanently. 5) Elliot should not interrupt the legitimate British trade in Canton of the year.

Among the many things that amazed me when I first read this dispatch was that as early as in 1839, the British already had the intention of establishing a permanent trading basis in China. It was by destiny that Hong Kong eventually became the pick.

Note:
1. Palmerston, Henry John, 3rd Viscount (1784-1865) was the British Foreign Minister at that time and Charles Elliot (1801-1875) was the British Chief Superintendent of Trade in China. In early 1841 Charles Elliot was the administrator of Hong Kong, succeeded by Henry Pottinger in late 1841.