The Forehead Is Well Shaped
And Broad, And The Head Is Large Beyond The Average."
Owing to the dissatisfaction felt at the place of audience, which seemed
to put the Treaty Powers on the same
Footing as tributary states, the
foreign ministers have endeavored to force from the Tsungli Yamen the
formal admission that a more appropriate part of the imperial city should
be assigned for the ceremony; but as the powers themselves were not
disposed to lay too much stress on this point, no definite concession has
yet been made, and the Chinese ministers have held out against the
pressure of some of the foreign representatives. But, although no concise
alteration has been made in the place of audience, the question has been
practically settled by a courteous concession to the new English minister,
Mr. O'Conor, who succeeded Sir John Walsham in 1892, and it is gratifying
to feel that this advantage was gained more by tact than by coercion. When
Mr. O'Conor wished to present his credentials to the emperor, it was
arranged that the emperor should receive him in the Cheng Kuan Tien
Palace, which is part of the imperial residence of Peace and Plenty within
the Forbidden City. The British representative, accompanied by his
secretaries and suite in accordance with arrangement, proceeded to this
palace on December 13, 1892, and was received in a specially honorable way
at the principal or imperial entrance by the officials of the court. Such
a mark of distinction was considered quite unique in the annals of foreign
diplomacy in China, and has since been a standing grievance with the other
ministers at Pekin.
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Page 654 of 704
Words from 177447 to 177719
of 191255
