1869 annual event: the first modern Chinese diplomatic missions in Europe and is visited

This is the wonders of China's diplomatic history: sent to the Western world in modern China's first diplomatic mission, led by Westerners. Things can be traced back to 1858, the Qing court and the four countries Britain France, Russia and the United States signed the "Treaty of Tianjin." Treaty provisions for the repair of about 1868 years. Accustomed to "Hua Yi diplomacy" and severe exclusion "treaty diplomacy" Qing, as the "rounding off" as a scourge, bitter seeking countermeasures. Europe to send a mission to mission, in order to know ourselves, and it was put on the agenda Yamen. November 27, 1867, Prime Minister Yamen Qing Yi Xin formally petitioned for the appointment of Burlingame American Secretary of State for foreign negotiations, the British Bozhuo An Also good for the German and French about "Associate", as his deputy, Chinese officials Zhigang, Sun Valley, accompanied by another secretary suite of more than 20 people. February 1868, missions from the port of Shanghai Hongkou; June, first arrived in Washington; arrived in London in September; January 1869 arrived in Paris; in September, to Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands; October, arrived in Berlin; 1870 February, arrived in St. Petersburg, 23, Burlingame sudden death due to overwork; October mission to return to China.

[Origin] face-based system of diplomatic spectacle The end of November 1867, the diplomatic community in Beijing, because China's imperial emperor decided to send ambassadors to visit Burlingame as the world and shocked. Burlingame because even I, the appointment before the release, nor do I have to prepare the Qing court appointed his clear implication. Shanghai's English-language newspaper "North China Herald" that bring it behind the main promoter of the total tax Secretary Hurd, December 14, the newspaper reported: "This decision ... ... ... ... was scarcely so that we can not believe it. ... We can say with certainty, no matter how suddenly released, Burlingame's appointment is the result of long and careful consideration of our correspondent says, ' this is only after consulting with Hart's' We believe that this program is from Hart's mind. " Hart in his diary confirms this: "send representatives to the problems overseas, I have become Prime Minister in time to be sure to talk to a bureaucratic thing. ... A few days later, at a banquet in the Yamen, Bozhuo An (J.MeL.Brown) told me, Yamen Burlingame is already considering sending representatives to the treaty country, and asked my views on this issue, I immediately said that this idea should be supported, the next day, I went to the Yamen strongly agree. " Hart strongly urged that the matter be implemented Yamen motivation quite clear: China should live apart from out of the initiative in the international spotlight; China must be the capital of Western countries have their own envoys to the Chinese Government's views at any time conveyed to the Western governments, not minced by Beijing's envoy on behalf of Western countries to convey. Although the same conclusion, the Qing court to consider this matter very different starting point but with Hart. Celestial's "Hua Yi concept" deep, 1858 "Treaty of Tianjin" provides Chinese and Western countries should exchange envoys, however, over the years, has been sending envoys resident in Western countries, unilateral action, the Qing court has not happened . Reasons, first, the Qing court consciously relative lack of expertise in this area; more important is, the Qing court to "foreign manners different" this issue has long followed the ostrich policy, adopted an evasive attitude - do not send envoys to the Western countries, will not be a "ritual conflict." On the other hand, Western countries envoys asked by convention audience with the Chinese government's supreme leader, has been soft against the Qing court was - "Hua Yi diplomatic concept of" under the audience ceremony, diplomats who need to kneel before the Emperor; but In the "Treaty diplomatic concept", the equality of States, to let Western diplomats prayed the Emperor of China, talking nonsense. Qing both understand this, but unwilling to give up on the country highlights the heavenly glory "Hua Yi foreign concept," can only take measures to avoid, dragged to the ground the young emperor, the emperor met with the Western China has always regarding the arrangements for diplomats do. In the "repair some years" the dawn of the Qing court had to send their own diplomatic mission to the West. Mission imperative, face the same can not be lost: if Western missions in the mission when the "Romans" to the western etiquette, it is bound to affect the domestic Western diplomats met with the emperor's ceremonial negotiations - Qing In order to avoid the emperor received the Western diplomatic envoys of equality has been fought at the negotiating table for 10 years, how can they fall short! Well, let foreigners led the Chinese mission mission, to resolve this contradiction has become the "best solution", as the memorial in Yamen said: "Chinese people used to make, honesty can not help but make things difficult; with the foreigners to make, you shall not be difficult. " Nevertheless, the Qing court was worried about, and prepared for the mission eight instructions. One of "etiquette issues" special instructions: You can "shall avoid" salute the case, as done away with, say be good for future negotiations; must follow the etiquette of Western countries, who can not quibble, we must Yanzheng Shen Ming, this is the gift of the West , does not match with the national conditions of China, "China whenever the total state system should not change"; all things against the Chinese state system of etiquette, you can not and will not held not held. These instructions have not been able binding in Burlingame. Yamen proposed missions do not directly handed credentials Western heads of government, lest they in turn, requires the direct delivery of credentials to the Qing emperor, but the Burlingame one to the United States, it received an audience with President Johnson, the pro-handed credentials; Prime Minister Instructions to avoid bureaucratic Western etiquette, Mission presented his credentials in the process, the bow is completely in accordance with the West, the gift of the handshake line. Thereafter, travel to Britain, France, Rui, Dan Holland, general, Russia and other countries, the mission shall be to the western etiquette. Burlingame is a foreigner because of the reason, the Chinese officials accompanying experience Zhigang and Sun Valley, they do not feel any shame in place. Zhigang wrote in his diary, "gift from the times, so that from the vulgar, but also gift also." Effect may be seen and heard, Burlingame died in February 1870, the mission continues to Belgium, Italy and Spain, continue to use the bow to Western diplomatic etiquette audience with the sovereign countries, presented his credentials.

[Restore] Burlingame made diplomatic mission success In "China's diplomatic history (the Opium War to the 1911 Revolution 1840-1911)," a book on the nature of Burlingame and the missions for this description: "Because of Burlingame over the years by virtue of their cunning tricks deceive their trust, they actually think that the U.S. invasion of molecules are 'doing things for peace, kept in the dark and foreign general', 'a matter of inconvenience in case of China, very willing to sort out', thus is very appropriate for the job. Hurd got the news immediately after the Prime Minister Yamen, strongly agreed. So the U.S. and British aggression on the molecular Hemou instigation, the Qing government actually appointed Burlingame as the "Chin sent Secretary of State for Zhongwai representations", the enable countries. ... Such a bizarre form of mission. " This is a particular narrative, the product of a distorted view of history, followed the ancient Chinese "punish heart" tradition. Visit: the first in modern China signed a treaty of equality The first stop was Mission Burlingame country the United States. In San Francisco, Burlingame played his speaker's expertise, declared to the audience: his mission, which means China has embarked on a path of peace and progress and hope that this great nation of Western civilization to reach out to the glorious banner of the day far, the time has come, this day has come. In New York, Puan Chen continues to inspire and said: China has "opened its eyes and the. ... He is willing to trade with you, to you to buy goods to sell something to you." American missionaries and inspire them: "Every seat in China hill and every valley in the glorious cross erected! " Remarks, no doubt represents the results of the Burlingame mission of the individual expectations. But he also did not forget the mission entrusted to the Qing court: "I hope China's autonomy can be maintained, I hope he can be assured of an independent, I hope he can get equal treatment, so that he can get the same with all countries rights. " "Burlingame Treaty" is a mission in the United States made the most significant diplomatic achievements. This is modern times, China and Western countries signed the first equal treaty. The United States to ensure non-interference in the treaty the Qing court's internal affairs, but also to protect overseas Chinese, free immigration, religious freedom and other terms. Of particular importance is the U.S. government after the signing of the treaty, then Europe and the United States Foreign aware that the United States will not recognize any intention of interfering in China's internal affairs and attitudes, and asked the U.S. envoy to assist the countries in Europe, the successful completion of the Burlingame Mission trip. Visit to Britain: the British forced the Chinese government publicly acknowledged the threat of force local governments to conduct defect Mission in September 1868 arrived in London. Had signed a treaty with the United States because of "non-interference in China's internal affairs" clause has a direct meaning for the UK, the British government and mission is very cold towards the media also most hostile missions. Until October, the mission was able to courtesy call on Foreign Minister Stanley; 11 months, only in a cool atmosphere to obtain an audience with Queen Victoria. Just at this time, the Catholic orphanage in China for more than 40 death row which led to tens of thousands of baby full of jealous of people burning churches, beating the missionaries, "Yangzhou lesson plans." British Consul Medhurst in Shanghai took the opportunity to dispatch warships to move into Nanjing, Governor Jiang Zeng two threats. Unsuccessful negotiations with the Qing court for several months, to reverse this trend Burlingame mission visit to Britain of the machine by direct negotiations with the British Government. Burlingame, who rely on the familiar rules of the game of Western diplomacy, negotiations can be successful, mutually agreed: After the occurrence of similar incidents about which approach to follow the line, "not good at troop movements, ship dispute with local officials," and forced the British Foreign Office issued an official statement, openly admitted that local officials in China threatened unauthorized troop movements, acts of defects that respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction. But the UK remains that the use of force "to protect life and property damage by pressing the" reservations. Statement issued shortly after the British took place in China Taiwan Consul Ji Bixun good at troop movements, ship fresh, local officials to Taiwan blackmail silver events. Qing based on agreements, notes the British government. Handed in by the British government to reverse this trend Ji Bixun claim silver, freshwater Chinese officials to apologize, and will subsequently Ji Bixun dismissal. Visit to Germany: Bismarck recognized China needs a strong central government November 1869, mission arrived in Berlin. According to his wife saying Burlingame, mission in Prussia by "the most formal and most spectacular reception." January 1870, Burlingame Bismarck and Prussian strongman Prime Minister held a formal meeting. The results of the meeting is Bismarck statement: China needs a strong central government, the United States and British missions to get broad support, and Germany needs to maintain good relations with these countries. Bismarck said: "The vast territory, large population (China) Empire needed a respected, with a central government authority and power." This is recognition of the legitimacy of imperial rule, but also to recognize China's sovereignty and statehood. Russia: a sudden illness Burlingame tired to death February 1870, the Russian mission arrived in the capital of St. Petersburg. After two weeks, to get an audience with Tsar Alexander II. Russia and China at this time in the northwest and tension that exists between the Heilongjiang River, the Tsar in the meeting to talk about irrelevant intentional and Burlingame US-Russian relations, but relations between China and Russia deliberately avoided to make the exchange Burlingame feel very difficult. February 18, Burlingame suddenly fell ill, have multi-treatment did not improve. Chinese officials accompanying Zhigang documented ill after working conditions Po: "Illness, Japan and Canada, still read the newsprint on to things to worry about Russia. Cover the sea longer than Po to Business and Government, and to Russia, the land adjacent to Wan and China thousands of miles, but not a way around the situation, fear of ways somewhat less, lost color in China; measures are not phrase when, Yi Xiao Yu Eren. is anxious day and night, plus non-pathogenic potential have been. " February 23, Burlingame died in office on the Chinese imperial ambassador.