Page:China Under the Empress Dowager - ed. Backhouse and Bland - 1914.pdf/290

 Ilis Majesty wished to leave for the cauntry in a few days. Under these circumstances 1 did not consider it advisable to insist too strictly on minor details of etiquette, being pressed for time, and I therefore requested the German Emperor's Chamberlain to have a special train prepared for my journey. We reached Potsdam at 3 p.s. on the 21st; I was met by a General sent by the Emperor with his state carriage. Myself and my suite were Jodged in the palace, where every attention was shown to us, and it was arranged that I should fulfil my mission on the following day, after depositing a wreath on the grave of the late Empress, On the morning of the following day I visited her tomb, and at noon the state carriage came to take me to the New Palace, where, after being ushered into the Emperor’s presence, I read aloud Their Majesties’ com- plimentary letter. The members of my suite were awaiting in an adjoining apartment. After the ceremony I was escorted back to my residence, and at 2 p.m. the Emperor came to call upon me. He was very cordial and remained talking with me for along time. By his orders a steam launch was provided for me, in which I visited the Lake and Peacock Island; on the following day I saw a review of the troops, and was presented to the Empress. The Emperor begged me to remain longer in Berlin, suggesting that I should visit the arsenals and inspect the fleet under Prince Henry at Stettin. 1 could scarcely decline these polite attentions, and after visiting the Empress [ took lodging in an hotel at Berlin, Thanks to the glorious prestige of our Empire, matters have thus been satis- factorily settled, and the knowledge that my mission has been satisfactorily carried out will, 1 hope, bring comfort to Their Imperial Majesties in their anxiety. 1 beg that you will memorialise the Throne accordingly.—Tsa1 Fenc.”

The Empress Dowager was pleased to express her approval of the result of this mission, which in the eyes of the Chinese Government was undoubtedly one of those diplomatic triumphs which China appears to attain most easily when her material resources have completely failed. Reading the above despatch, it is difficult to realise that the Prince’s mission had for its object the expiation of a brutal murder committed, with the full approval of the Chinese Government and Court, on the representative of a friendly nation, The opinion was commonly held by the Legations at Pcking, that the Regent learned much from that penitential mission to the German capital. In 1910

1 This is the Chinese date ; the day of the audience was the 4th September.