way, it would serve me to ask the question. I did immediately act upon Sir C. Clarke's first despatch & I have the honour to forward Copies of the note that I addressed to the Prince of Kump & of H. J. H.'s reply.
The unnatural Curtness of the latter is to be ascribed to the Prince's detection of my motive in asking a question which I was perfectly competent to answer myself. I could only have put an ulterior purpose, to wit, the purpose of reminding the Chinese Court that it was not only on the Yunnan frontier that international difficulties were possible.
I did not know at the time what the French have since learned, namely that they were pressing up here for permission to put one or more consular officers within the Yünnan frontier for surveillance of the trade of their newly established Protectorate.
To return to Sir C. Clarke's suggestion, China does not affect to control the forts of States tributary to her. They accept investiture from the Chinese Court, & in Anam the formalities proper to such ceremonies are supervised by a third Class provincial authority deputed from the adjoining province of Kuangsi. This shows the distance it suits the pride of China to place between herself and her tributaries.
Her dread of responsibility, at the same time, deters her from direct interference in the affairs of these tributary States. The remarks of her public men about Corea, which I have pointed out elsewhere, authorize this conclusion. On the other hand the same remarks tend to prove that when the Chinese Court does speak, it is not always listened to.
Page 211
way, it w? serve me to ask the question. I did immediately act upon y L's first despatch & I have the hour to forward
Copies of
the note that I addressed the Prince
of Kump & of H. J. Hi's reply.
The unmonal
Curtness of the latter is to be ascribed to the
Prince's detection of my
motive in
awking a question wh as I was perfectly competent
to answer it
myself
I cd only have put an ulterior purpose, to wit, the purpose
for of reminding the Chinese fout that it was not only on the Yunnan frontier that international difficulties were possible.
I did not know at the time what I
that the French
have since learned,
namely were pressing up here for permission to put one or more consular officers within the
Yünuan
211
Yunnan prontier for surveillance of the trade of their newly established Protectorate.
To return to Sir C. Clarke's suggestion, China
dow not affect to control the fort of State
tributary to her. They accept investiture
from the thinese fort, & in Anam the formation proper
to suck ceremonies are supervised by
third Class provincial authority deputed from the adjoining province of Kuangsi. This shows the distance it suits the pride of thing to place between her tributaries herself.
Her dread of responsibility, at
the same time, deters her from direct interference
in the affairs of these tributary The remarks of her public men
Slates. about forea,
I have pointed out elsewhere,
authorize this conclusion.
hand the same remarks
Lo
On the other
to prove that when
the Chinese fort does speak, it is not always
listened
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