Parkes at Japan, and who (it is stated) may be shortly expected to arrive at Trong động
6.
It is proper to mention that the members of the Executive Council, and all other persons here who know China, unanimously agree that it would be very impolitic and very damaging to British interests in this part of the world if the customary Naval and Military Honours hitherto paid here to Her Majesty's Ministers, and to high Chinese and Japanese Functionaries, should be withheld in future. The change would immediately become known throughout the neighbouring countries by means of the Chinese newspapers published at Hongkong. The Chinese and Japanese, like all other Eastern nations, have an elaborate system of official etiquette; and are particularly observant and sensitive on that subject. They would immediately infer:
(1:) That the withholding of the usual Honours from the new British Ministers implies that those Ministers