The provision guaranteeing the toleration of Christianity and the protection of Chinese converts was an unexpected success. The French envoy was interested in securing greater immunity to Catholic missionaries, who were all under French protection, but the American and British ministers did not expect to go beyond securing religious liberty to their own countrymen in China. Dr. Martin says that Mr. Reed was indifferent to the subject, and he states that this article, "now the chief glory of the treaty," was suggested and successfully pressed by Dr. Williams. At the close of the latter's long career, the Secretary of State, in accepting his resignation, wrote: "Above all, the Christian world will not forget that to you more than to any other man is due the insertion in our treaty with China of the liberal provision for the toleration of the Christian religion."
After the signature of the treaties the envoys returned to Shanghai, and there negotiated trade regulations and a revision of the tariff. Mr. Reed likewise agreed with the Chinese plenipotentiaries upon a convention for the settlement of the claims of American citizens against China, and thereby brought to a conclusion a subject which had received the attention of the two preceding ministers. It was agreed to accept in satisfaction of these claims the lump sum of 500,000 taels, the equivalent of $735,288, which was considerably less than the total amount of the claims urged upon the Chinese government.
For the adjudication of these claims a commission of American citizens was appointed, and they were all
