Page 395 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

381.

When these Americans despatched this memorial in late

May, their primary motive was to retaliate against the Chinese

authorities for their arrogant actions. The obvious reprisal

would have been to leave Canton, along with the English mer­

chants, and refuse to trade with the Chinese. But the Ameri­

cans 1 commercial pragmatism precluded this alternative. Aware

of the probable despatch of an English fleet to China in

support of English merchants, Americans merely suggested that

the United States join the English. At the time they composed

the memorial, the signers must have realized the unlikelihood

1
of the American government s pursuing such a policy. The

biggest concern in their minds was the apprehension that, be­

cause of military power, the English would obtain commercial

concessions from the Chinese government. Extremely conscious

of competition, the Americans feared losing their preferred

status in Chinese eyes. Only through their cultivation of Chinese

friendliness had Americans been able to build a competitive and

profitable trade at Canton to rival that of English merchants.

By defeating the Chinese militarily, the English fleet could

easily erase the one advantage which Americans possessed.

Nevertheless, Americans knew they could not deter the English

from their chosen course of action. As a result the Americans

wanted to receive part of any concessions forced from the Chin­

ese by the English. On the other hand, they did not desire to

relinquish their commercial profits under the old system as long

as it operated.

Their overriding concern for a secure position in the