The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-31

French armies occupied Picking in 1860.
and that treaties were made STIMULATING
for the residence Of diplomatic repre-
sentatives at Picking, no audience of the
Emperor was granted till 1873, and then
only under somewhat humiliating circum-
stances. After years of effort, much cor
respondence and many conferences, it
was arranged that joint audience would
be granted to the heads of missions, ac-
conpanied by a single interpreter. This
occurred on June %, 1873. The Emperor
was seated in his chair of state, on d
raised dais, and surrounded by railing.
In front of this railing was placed a
yellow table, and the diplomats were
ranged in a line back to the table; they
each in turn advanced to the table. bow
ed to the Emperor, and laid the letter
of the President or King on the table.
Prince Kung, head of the foreign office,
knelt before the Emperor to receive his
reply, which was that he hoped that the
Emperors, Kings and Presidents repre-
sented by the diplomats were we'll, and
that all their business with the foreign
office would be settled satisfactorily. The
hall in which they were received Is call
ed the Hall of Purple Brightness" but
1t is the one set apart for the reception
of embassies from the yassal states of
China. sa -sS $3.50
N O. further audience
ABANDONING with the diplomats was
DEMANDS held until 1891, soon aft
IN CHINA. er the present Emperor
gaesgnt SOS attained his majority.
This was preceded by long discussion,
In conference and correspondence, as to
the ceremonial that should attend the
audience BY this time the points of diff
ference had reached narrow limits. The
kow-tow and kneeling Of the diplomats
had been abandoned. The chief dispute
ranged around the question whether
Prince Ching he head Of he f0ro{prp Of
flee, who was to receive the letters Of
credence, should kneel to the Emperor
before he laid the letters on the table. 1t
was finally decided that he should not
kneel till afterward. 1t was also decided
that each Minister should have a separ-
ate audience when he delivered his letter,
and 1t was further conceded that a Joint
audience should also be held with the
diplomatic corps, including all the secre-
tsxies and attaches. But the audience
was still he'd in the Hall of Tributaries.
On that occasion the American Minister,
Colonel DENLY. delivered his letter of Gre
dence, which he had held for six years,
waiting an opportunity for its presenta-
tion.
Upon the arrival OF new Ministers from
France and Russia, after the japanese
War, in 1895, they refused to attend an
audience to deliver their letters of Gre
dence in the Hall of Tributaries, and it
V dS iiHdiIN QeclQSQ IDtL at the next
New Years reception they, Jointly with
the Diplomatic Corps, should be receiv-
ed in one of the halls of the Imperial pal
ace proper, and this occurred in due state.
under the leadership OF the American
Minister, Colonel DENLY, as Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps Thus another adj
vance was made toward complete equali-
ty of intercourse. But not until the yell
low table is removed, the railing is brol5-
en- down and the Emperor rises from his
throne and receives, standing, the letters
of the rulers of Christendom into his own
hands, will perfect equality of inter-
course between sovereigns be established
The foregoing narrative illustrates the
slow. but certain, progress being made in
bringing China out of its seclusion. Ster
by step the barriers are being broken
down. through the pressure of the for
e'gn Powers. and under the influence OF
the more intelligent of China's states