淸末 汽船의 內地航行 禁止 措置에 관한 一考 ― 1860年代 中盤 上海의 도닝턴號 案件을 中心으로

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the Qing government’s perception and the response of the inland navigation of the steamers in the late 19th century. Specifically, by analyzing the changes in the position and response of the Shanghai authorities about the Donnington issue in the mid-1860s, this study examined an aspect of the Qing government''s policy on treaty ports. Since the Taiping Rebellion occupied Suzhou, the Shanghai authorities have been in fact allowing the upcountry purchase of the foreign merchants, who have loaded treasure on their steamers and go to the inner region to purchase native produce. However, in December 1864, the British small steamer Donnington was in trouble as it navigated from Shanghai to the non-treaty port of Suzhou. The Shanghai authorities banned inland navigation of the steamers based on Article 47 of the Treaty of Tianjin in 1858. However, in response to such measures, Harry S. Parkes, a British consul in Shanghai, presented the despatches of August and October of 1863 sent by Hwangbang(黃芳), a former Shanghai Taotai as evidence, insisted that it was approved by the Superintendent of Southern ports, Li Hung-chang(李鴻章). At the request of the Desheng Barrier(得勝卡), Li Hung-chang, quoted in the Hwang''s despatches, made the steamers anchored at the Likin barrier to comply with cargo inspection and Likin payment. In addition, Hwangbang informed the British consulate of the list of Likin barrier that the steamers were to dock. As such, the Shanghai authorities allowed the steamers to navigate inland on the premise of cargo inspection and payment of Likin but banned them from navigating inland based on the Donnington issue. In the background, the trade of the native merchants and native vessels was restored as the Taiping Rebellion of Jiangsu was suppressed in late August 1864, followed by the restoration of Suzhou and Nanjing. Thus, the Shanghai authorities judged that the disadvantages were greater than the advantages obtained by allowing the steamers to navigate inland. Such a controversy emerged as a problem of a decrease in tax revenues and livelihood of the native vessels as well as the problem of Likin evasion and public safety.