Tien-Tsin, treaty of

views updated

Tien-Tsin, treaty of, 1858. The second Opium War began in October 1856 when the Chinese authorities at Canton seized the British-registered Arrow. In June 1856 at Tien-Tsin, the Chinese agreed to receive a British diplomat at Peking, open up more treaty ports, pay an indemnity, and legalize the opium trade. Russia, America, and France obtained similar concessions. A punitive expedition to Peking in 1860 forced the confirmation of the terms, and Kowloon, opposite Hong Kong, was ceded in perpetuity.

J. A. Cannon

More From encyclopedia.com