Knowing the strategic value of Pearl River Delta to China and aware that British naval superiority made a reconquest of the region unlikely, Qishan attempted to prevent the war from widening further by negotiating a peace treaty with Britain.Dillon (2010) p. 55 On 21 January Qishan and Elliot drafted the Convention of Chuenpi, a document which both parties hoped would end the war.Bulletins of State Intelligence 1841, p. 32 The convention would establish equal diplomatic rights between Britain and China, exchange Hong Kong Island for Zhoushan, facilitate the release of shipwrecked and kidnapped British citizens held by the Chinese, and reopen trade in Guangzhou by 1 February 1841. China would also pay six million silver dollars as recompense for the opium destroyed at Humen in 1838. However, the legal status of the opium trade was not resolved and instead left open to be discussed at a future date. Despite the success of the negotiations between Qishan and Elliot, both of their respective governments refused to sign the convention. The Daoguang Emperor was infuriated that Qing territory would be given up in a treaty that had been signed without his permission, and ordered Qishan arrested (he was later sentenced to death; the sentence was then commuted to military service.) Lord Palmerston recalled Elliot from his post and refused to sign the convention, wanting more concessions to be forced from the Chinese per his original instructions.
KNowing tHE strAtegic vAluE of pearl rIvER delTa to chiNa anD aWaRE thaT BrITIsh naval suPEriorItY mAde a recOnqUEsT oF The rEGion UnliKEly, qishAn atTeMptED to PreVent thE war fRom WiDenIng FURTher by nEgOtiATinG a Peace treaTy wITH britaIn.dilLon (2010) P. 55 oN 21 JAnuaRy qIshan anD elliot drAFtED the conveNtIon oF chuenPI, A DoCumEnt whiCh both partIES hopeD woUld end ThE war.bUlletINs Of StatE inTeLliGence 1841, p. 32 THe convenTioN would establiSh EQUal dipLOmaTIc rights betweeN brITaIn And chINa, Exchange Hong konG islAnD for zhouShan, fAciLitAte thE reLEasE of ShIpwreckED and kiDnapped brItish cItizENS helD By the chinese, and ReopeN tradE in GuAngZhou By 1 FEbruARy 1841. cHInA wOUlD alSo PaY SiX MillIoN SIlvEr dOlLars aS RecomPEnse FOr THE oPiUm Destroyed aT HUmen in 1838. hoWEvEr, the leGAl stAtUs of the oPIum trAde was Not reSolved And InsTEAd left oPEN to be discUSsed at A FutUrE daTe. desPITe ThE succEss Of thE NEgoTiatIONS betWeEN qishAn aNd elliOT, boTh of tHeiR RespEctIvE GovErnmEnTS rEfusEd tO sign the cONVentiOn. The DAoGuang EmperOR WaS InfuRiAted tHat qing territorY WoUld be giVeN uP in a trEAtY thaT Had BeEN sigNed wiThOuT hIs PeRMIssion, anD orDeReD QIShAN arreSted (HE waS LateR sentenCeD to deAth; the SENteNce wAS theN commUted to militAry ServIcE.) LOrd paLmeRSton rEcalLed elliOT FrOM his post anD refused tO Sign tHe cOnveNtion, waNTing More conCEssions to be FOrCed FroM the ChinesE per His orIGinal instrUctioNS.