Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/278

 to ascend one of the rivers of China to an interior city, which was not open to foreign trade and travel. The imperial authorities asked their envoys to land at the mouth of the river and go to Peking under Chinese escort. The Chinese were technically right in their position, and for a third time the British began hostilities against China upon an issue in which they were in the wrong. And yet the treatment of the American minister at Peking proved that the Chinese could not be brought to a faithful observance of the treaties except by further coercive measures.

In 1860 Lord Elgin and Baron Gros were again sent out, backed by a large naval and land force of the allied powers. The Taku forts were a third time assaulted, and with success, and a formidable army marched overland to the capital and there dictated peace, the emperor and his court fleeing to the north, and his palace being plundered and burned. The treaties of Tientsin were ratified and exchanged, Tientsin was opened to foreign trade, indemnities and a cession of territory were exacted because of the war, and the right of diplomatic residence at Peking and equality of official intercourse were guaranteed.

The second stage in the advancement of China to a proper position among the nations was thus brought about by the rough argument of war. The journey yet unaccomplished was to be made with reluctant and