Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/98

90 councils of the empire; but some credit also attached to the British representatives who in their dealings with the Chinese Government resolutely set their faces against the pushing of extravagant claims and the multiplication of points of difference. The two great Mahomedan rebellions in the provinces of Yunnan and Shensi and Kansuh, the suppression of which taxed to the utmost the resources of the Chinese Government during a greater portion of the decennial period, also was a factor which made for harmony between the Peking authorities and the Western powers. The only unsatisfactory phases in the situation were occasional outbursts of popular feeling against the missionaries who at this time were actively prosecuting their propaganda in various parts of China. At Yangchow and Formosa, and later at Swatow and Foochow, there were outrages more or less serious. But in each instance reparation was promptly made and it was manifested that the Chinese Government was sincere in its desire to ensure protection for the foreigner to the utmost of its ability. The worst episode was one which occurred at Tientsin in 1870 and which, but for the outbreak of the Franco-German War, might have involved China in war with France. On the 21st of June in that year a disorderly mob gathered outside the Roman Catholic Mission House in Tientsin, murdered M. Fontanier, the French Consul, who endeavoured to restrain them, and subsequently attacked the Mission House, murdering its inmates, who included M. Simon, a member of the French legation at Peking, and his wife, a French storekeeper and his wife, three priests, ten sisters of charity, and a Russian merchant and his wife. A great sensation was created by this crime, which surpassed in horror any that had hitherto been perpetrated against the foreign community, and on the one hand there was an insistent demand from Europeans for retribution and on the other a wave of anti-foreign exultation. The Chinese Government fortunately recognised the extreme gravity of the crisis and decided to send a special mission to France to offer what amends it could for the outbreak. Chung How, the Superintendent of Trade for the three northern ports, who was present at Tientsin at the time of the riot, and whose lack of initiative was indirectly responsible for the occurrence, was selected to head the mission. It otherwise lacked nothing which could lend it importance as a manifestation of the Government's regret at the event. In Paris the mission was received in a not unfriendly spirit, but the intimation was given that as a recognition of the moderation shown in the matter the French Government would expect that the right of audience would be conceded to the French Minister at Peking. The demand was received with mingled feelings in Peking, where the old jealous feeling of exclusiveness was still in the ascendant. The question remained in abeyance until the young Emperor Tungche, four months subsequent to his marriage, was, in February, 1873, invested with full powers of government. Then, the time being ripe for pressing the claim, the Foreign Ministers in a joint note preferred a request to be received in audience. At the outset the old question of the kotow was raised, but on a clear indication being given that there would not be the slightest concession on this point. Prince Kung and the ministers yielded, and the young Emperor duly received the ministers of the foreign powers in audience on June 29, 1873. The event marked an epoch in the history of the diplomatic relations of the European nations with China. Once and for all the claim to superiority so arrogantly and insistently put forward on behalf of the Chinese Emperors was abandoned.

After this for some little time the course of Chinese history ran, if not smoothly, at all events with less serious incident than heretofore. In 1873 trouble arose between Japan and China over the murder of the crew of a junk wrecked on the Loochoo Islands some years before, but thanks to the mediation of Mr. Wade an amicable settlement was reached by the terms of which China paid an indemnity, and the Japanese evacuated Formosa, which they had occupied to bring pressure to bear on the Peking authorities. Another episode of a more personal character which was the subject of diplomatic representations was an attack by pirates in August, 1874, on the river steamer Spark while on her way from Whampoa to Macao. The vessel was plundered and the only English passenger, Mr. Walter Mundy, was seriously wounded and left for dead on the deck. Mr. Mundy was permanently injured by the treatment he received; but the Home Government declined to support his claim to compensation though there was no question that the piratical attack was due to the failure of the Chinese authorities to carry out the provisions of one of the principal clauses of the Treaty of Tientsin.

The death of the Emperor Tungche on January 12, 1875, seemed to offer promise of serious internal trouble, but eventually the succession was peacefully arranged by the selection of Tsai Tien, a child of tender age, the son of Prince Chun or the Seventh Prince. The new Emperor was proclaimed on the 13th of January with the name of Kwangsu, and he commenced his reign under the auspices of the two Empresses and Prince Kung, who, by their judicious direction of affairs were able to look forward to a further spell of uncontrolled power. Before the new ruler had been many weeks on the throne an event occurred which rudely threatened the peaceful relations which had grown up between the Chinese and the British Governments. Towards the close of 1874 the Government of India decided to despatch a special mission of exploration under the command of Colonel Horace Browne to Yunnan, the extreme western province of China. The enterprise was promoted with the approval of the Peking authorities, who issued special orders to the local authorities concerned to give the mission every assistance. Mr. Raymond Augustus Margery, a talented Chinese scholar, and an official thoroughly versed in Chinese ways, was appointed to accompany the mission as a coadjutor of Colonel Browne. He journeyed through the interior of China from Peking and joined his chief at Bhamo, on January 26, 1875. Three weeks later the mission started on its way. As it approached the Chinese frontier it was met by rumours of opposition to its advance on the part of Lisitai, a Chinese commander who had control of the frontier. In order to ascertain the true state of affairs, Colonel Browne despatched Mr. Margery on an expedition of inquiry across the frontier. Riding out on the 19th of February, Mr. Margery reached Momein, a town on the Chinese side of the border, the same day, and sent from thence a letter saying that all was quiet at that place. Nothing further was heard from him or of him until several days later, when the news was spread that he and his attendants had been treacherously murdered at Manwein, a place some little distance to the eastward of Momein. The startling information was supplemented by a statement that a large Chinese force was advancing with the intention of attacking the expedition. Any doubts that may have been entertained as to the accuracy of the news were dispelled on the 22nd of February by the appearance of a hostile body of Chinese troops on the heights near the camp of the expedition. Preparations were made by Colonel Browne to meet the threatened danger, but the Chinese general, seeing the bold front that had been assumed, thought better of his enterprise and withdrew his force. When news of the outrage reached the outer world, a great cry of indignation