Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 9, 1891

Mr. Denby to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
Pelting, February 28, 1891. (Received April 21.)

No. 1256.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of the following papers relating to the audience question: An aide-mémoire delivered by Mr. von Brandt to the foreign office, setting forth the propositions of the foreign representatives as to the manner of holding the audience; a protocol of a meeting of the foreign representatives at the German legation February 18; a memorandum of the conference held at the tsung-li yamên February 15,1891a memorandum of a meeting held at the tsung-li yamên February 19, 1891, between the ministers of the yamên and Mr. von Brandt, on the part of the foreign representatives; a protocol regulating the forms and ceremonies to be observed at the audience and reception agreed on February 22, 1891, by the ministers of the foreign office and the foreign representatives.

It will be seen that proper and satisfactory arrangements have been concluded for the holding of the audience and a subsequent reception of the whole diplomatic body.

The foreign ministers receded in two particulars from their first demands as to ceremonial. They consented to be received in the same hall in which the audience was had in 1873—the Tzü-Kuang-Ko, or “Kiosk of Purplish Brightness.” The foreign community mostly protested against the use of this hall because it was alleged that it had been generally used for the reception of Koreans, Mongols, and other vassal races. I preferred to accept this hall rather than to create serious difficulties at this time. By reference to page 406 of “The Life and Letters of Dr. S. S. Williams” you will see that he characterizes the main objection to the use of this hall as “a petty scruple,” and speaks highly of the adaptation of the hall to purposes of audience. This opinion had some influence on me, and, besides, I recognized that in general the head of a state has the right to select the place in which he will receive foreign envoys.

The Chinese ministers agreed that future receptions should be held in another hall, and the compromise was accepted. The other point conceded was the mode of the delivery of the letters of credence. The foreign representatives contended that these letters should be delivered by themselves into the hands of the Emperor himself. But as, according to Chinese usage, no person can present a letter to the Emperor without kneeling, and as we refused to kneel, we were willing to place our letters on a table so close to the Emperor that he might take them in his hand if he chose to do so. The Chinese ministers replied that no person except the princes of the blood could be allowed to ascend the platform on which the throne was placed.

The matter was compromised as follows: After reading his address the envoy will advance to the foot of the middle steps, bearing his letter of credence, which he will hand to Prince Ching, president of the foreign office, who will descend by one of the side steps to receive it; the prince will then ascend the platform and place the letter of credence, he standing and not kneeling, on a small table placed before the throne. It is apparent that Prince Ching, being in some sense our agent, could not kneel while holding our letters. If the Emperor addresses him after he has parted with the letters, he may kneel as much as etiquette may require. A comparison between the forms now agreed on and those followed in 1873 will show that substantial progress has been made in the eighteen years that have elapsed. (For an account of the audience in 1873 see Foreign Relations, 1873, page 198 and following.) Some points of progress are the following: Separate audiences are granted and each minister takes his interpreter, instead of all going together with one interpreter; foreign representatives are not to be kept purposely waiting, as was done before; letters of credence are to be placed on a table close to the throne, instead of on a table ten or twelve paces from the throne, as before; the whole diplomatic body, including chargés d’affaires, secretaries, attaches, and interpreters, is to be received after the separate audiences of the ministers having letters of credence are concluded. There was no general reception before. Audiences are to be granted also for the presentation of letters of recall and new credentials or other autograph letters from sovereigns or rulers. If Mr. Low could truthfully say in his dispatch No. 79, of July 10, 1873 (found at page 198, Foreign Relations, 1873), that the audience of that year was “an important step in advance, the most important that the Chinese Government has ever taken except when compelled by force of arms,” the ministers now at Peking may rightfully claim that the result of their arduous and lengthy discussions is much more important. The persistence, of the ministers and the ability of the dean, who personally conducted the negotiations, have secured the adoption, as nearly as Chinese law and usage permitted, of the ceremonial generally observed in Europe and America.

I do not deem it necessary to enter upon any disquisition as to the effect on China or elsewhere of this wide departure from ancient usage in this country.

It is hoped and believed that the public recognition by the Chinese Government of the right of audience implying, as it does, the equality of each foreign nation with China, will serve as a stepping stone to a marked improvement in the relations between China and the treaty powers. The audience, it is supposed, will be had in about a week.

I shall present the letter of credence that I received in 1885. Should it be the pleasure of the President to address to the Emperor of China any communication at this time, it will be delivered by me in special audience either at the time it is received or afterwards when the ministers of Russia, France, Belgium, and Spain shall be granted an audience.

When I wrote my dispatch No. 1234, of January 24, suggesting that a new letter of credence be sent me, I had the best reasons to suppose that the audience would be postponed and that a “letter” might reach me in time. But the course of events has made that impossible. I make no suggestions now as to the sending of a new letter of credence, but leave the question to the better judgment of the President and yourself. Trusting that my conduct in all this negotiation will meet with your approval,

I have, etc.,

Charles Denby.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 1256.]

Aide-mémoire.

The members of the tsung-li yamên having, in their recent discussion with the minister of the German Empire about the way in which the audience ought to take place, referred more than once to the necessity of making very careful arrangements, so that they might serve as precedents for future audiences and receptions, the foreign representatives, therefore, with all due respect to the sovereign, and wishing to facilitate the work of the yamên in preparing their report to the Throne, have thought it desirable and necessary to place before the yamên some notes on the points which they consider indispensable, if a satisfactory understanding shall be arrived at, to serve as a precedent for the future. They are willing to forego for the moment some of the most important rights and privileges which are granted to them by international law and courtesy, but they are not in a position to abandon any of the principles upon which the comity of nations reposes. They wish neither to hurry nor to press the yamên, and in his interviews with the Chinese minister the minister of the German Empire has more than once indicated the means by which a decision of the audience question could be postponed for some time; but, while the foreign representatives are perfectly willing to go as far as possible in their endeavors to meet the yamên’s views, limits to their compliance are imposed upon them by the rules that regulate the intercourse of independent nations, and these limits are indicated in the following notes.

Foreign representatives furnished with letters of credence arriving at Peking to be received by His Majesty in separate audiences after having given copies of their credentials to the tsung-li yamên and asked for an audience to present the originals thereof, the foreign representatives being each one accompanied by his own interpreter. The same rule to hold good for the presentation of letters of recall and new credentials or other autograph letters from sovereigns or rulers. At the yearly or other general receptions the foreign representatives to be accompanied by the secretaries and attaches of their legations, the military and naval attachés, and their interpreters.

Foreign representatives are everywhere received in the apartments of the palaces usually employed for audiences and solemn receptions. This is the general rule. For this reason and on account of the dispute into which, after the audience in 1873, the Tzü-Kuang-Ko had got, and without intending in the slightest way to dictate to the sovereign, the foreign representatives objected to the use of that hall. Upon the declaration of the tsung-li yamên that the Tzü-Kuang-Ko had been already indicated in the imperial edict, and that all preparations for the reception of the foreign representatives had been made in it, but that in future another suitable locality should be designated for the reception of the foreign representatives, the latter declared that for this oncethey are willing to overlook the objections existing against the Tzü-Kuang-Ko. They must, however, state most positively that they will not accept any arrangement by which their right of being received in the apartments generally used for audiences and solemn receptions was definitely precluded. With regard to the form of handing over autograph letters of sovereigns and rulers, and letters of credence or recall, the one generally and exclusively used is that of placing them personally into the hands of the sovereign or ruler to whom they are addressed. Taking into consideration the difference of Chinese etiquette, the foreign representatives are willing to place their letters of credence on a table placed so near to the throne and so high that His Majesty could, if he chose, take the letter with his own hand. The foreign representatives not to be kept waiting for any length of time after their arrival on the ground before they are admitted to the imperial presence. The foreign representatives and their staff to enter through the door to the right of the middle one from the outside. The rehearsal of the ceremony to be omitted.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 1256.]

Ministers’ protocol of the meeting held at the German legation on February 18, 1891.

• Present: The representatives of Belgium, France, the German Empire, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, Spain, the United States.

Mr. von Brandt having read the annexed memorandum of his conference with the ministers of the tsung-li yamên on the 15th instant, the foreign representatives were of opinion that it would be useless to continue a desultory discussion, especially as the yamên had more than once in the course of these meetings with Mr. von Brandt stated that the rules now to be agreed on ought to serve as a precedent for future audiences and general receptions. It was then decided that in order to bring the yamên to a decision or to safeguard at least the principles for which the representatives were contending, a statement of these principles should be placed before the Chinese ministers and given to them at their request in the form of an aide-mémoire.

Should this step not produce the desired effect, Mr. von Brandt was to tell the yamên that the foreign representatives could see no advantage in continuing the discussion and would wait for further communication from the yamên.

Mr. von Brandt was at the same time authorized to state to the Chinese ministers that the foreign representatives considered it as a condition sins qua non of their acceptance of any arrangement that the mention of the “western gardens” as the locality where the hall for future audiences or receptions would be situated should be omitted from such arrangements; he was to add that such mention in an imperial edict would be considered as a breach of good faith by the foreign representatives and would cause them to regard all arrangements arrived at so far as nut et non avenu. With regard to the question of presentation of the letters of credence, several modifications of the original demand of the foreign representatives were proposed and discussed. It was finally agreed upon to propose to the Chinese ministers that the foreign envoys having advanced to the foot of the steps leading to the platform, Prince Ching might come down the steps, receive the letters of credence from the hand of the envoy, and place them upon a table placed somewhere upon the platform, doing this, however, while standing and not kneeling.

As a last alternative it was suggested that it might even, perhaps, be admissible to arrange the question so that the letters of credence should be deposited by their bearers upon a small table placed as near as possible to the platform.

The conference then separated.

• M. v. Brandt.
• Charles Denby.
• John Walsham.
• K. Otori.
• A. Pansa.
• J. H. Ferguson.
• R. G. de Uribari.
• C. Kleiménow.
• P. Ristelhueber.
• Chas. Michel.

[Inclosure 3 in No. 1256.]

Memorandum of the conference held at the tsung-li yamên on February 15, 1891, between the Chinese ministers Prince Ching, Hsü-wen-shen, Sun-yi-wên, Hsü Yun-i, and Chang Yin-huan and Mr. von Brandt, the latter for the representatives of the treaty powers.

Hsü Yun-i left after the first hour.

Prince Ching opened the conference by stating that he and his colleagues had received the dispatch which Mr. von Brandt had addressed to them in the name of all the foreign representatives on the 7th instant on the subject of the manner in which the letters of credence were to be presented. There were, however, material reasons which rendered the acceptance of the proposal made in this dispatch impossible. The throne was to be placed upon an elevated platform, and upon this nobody but the princes of the blood, grand chamberlains^*, were admitted and would be admitted. The table upon which the letters of credence were to be deposited might be approached nearer to the platform.

Mr. von Brandt having refused to agree to this proposal, and having again explained the reasons which obliged the foreign representatives to insist upon the mode of procedure as laid down in the dispatch of February 7, a long and to some extent desultory conversation took place, in which Prince Ching made, one after the other, the following proposals, viz: That the foreign representatives should place their credentials upon the table, from which he, the prince, would take them and present them, kneeling, to the Emperor; or, that no table should be placed before the representatives, but a small one near to the platform; the prince would have the letters of credence from the hands of the representatives and place them, standing, upon this small table, after having done which he would go and kneel near the Emperor’s throne; or, finally, that the table could be approached quite near to the middle steps leading to the platform, but leaving a passage between’ it and the steps, the foreign representatives placing their letters of credence upon the table thus situated.

Mr. von Brandt having declared all these propositions unacceptable, a further conversation ensued, in the course of which Mr. von Brandt remarked that he found himself in a difficulty talking about a place which he had never seen, and asked if there would be any objection to his seeing the Tzü-Kuang-Ko. This the prince declared to be utterly inadmissible, as the hall was in the neighborhood of the imperial residences. The other Chinese ministers joined in this declaration, stating that they themselves had never been in the Tzü-Kuang-Ko. In making this statement they evidently overlooked the fact that the hall was not one generally used for audiences and receptions. The prince finally offered to send Mr. von Brandt the exact measurements of the hall. A plan, executed according to these measures, received from the yamên on the 16th instant, is annexed.

The discussion on the question of the presenting of the letters of credence having produced no result, Mr. von Brandt remarked that he had placed the yamên’s proposals with regard to the place in which the reception was to take place before his colleagues, and he was now in a position to inform the prince and ministers of the decision arrived at. While taking the Chinese text of this decision from Mr. von Brandt’s hand Prince Ching remarked that he had forgotten the other day to say that while separate audiences might take place in other halls, the Tzü-Kuang-Ko ought to be reserved for the New Year’s reception, no other hall being so large, so convenient, and so beautiful. Mr. von Brandt replied that this declaration of the prince, coming a week after the former discussion of the point, was not acceptable, and that he could only refer the prince to the paper placed in his hands, which embraced the whole question.

Immediately after having looked at the paper, which ran thus:

“Upon the statement made by the tsung-li yamên that the Tzü-Kuang-Ko had already been designated as reception hall by the imperial edict, and that besides all the preparations for receiving the foreign representatives in it had been made, but that in future another suitable place should be designated for the reception of the foreign representatives, the latter withdrew for this once their objections against the Tzü-Kuang-Ko”—

Prince Ching remarked that the words “in the western garden” were left out after the mention of a suitable place to be provided for. Upon the reply of Mr. von Brandt that the form of the acceptance of the yamên’s proposal as presented by him was the result of an unanimous decision of the foreign representatives, and that he had neither the power to discuss it nor to accept any alteration of it, the Chinese ministers showed great, probably at least artificial, indignation, and declared that they would never accept the omission of the words “in the western gardens,” and that what was offered to them now was quite contrary to what they had proposed at the last meeting.

Mr. von Brandt then shortly recapitulated what had passed on this subject during the different meetings at the yamên; that in the first instance he had explained to the ministers the objections existing in the minds of the foreign representatives against the Tzü-Kuang-Ko which rendered it unacceptable as the audience hall; that at the next meeting the prince and ministers, after giving their reasons why the Tzü-Kuang-Ko ought to be accepted for this once, had promised that for the future another place should be provided for in the western gardens; and that he, Mr. von Brandt, had, in reply to this, simply stated that he would not pronounce himself on this proposal, but would submit it to his colleagues. Prince Ching having recognized the exactness of this statement, Mr. von Brandt continued that the interminable discussion upon questions which had been regulated and settled long ago by international law and courtesy was not only becoming very tiresome, but seemed perfectly useless. In the course of the discussion the Chinese ministers had again spoken of the audience as of an act of great condescension on the part of the Emperor. With all due respect to His Majesty, he had to repeat what he had said before, that while he and his colleagues felt very touch honored by His Majesty’s intentions, their reception was not a question of condescension, but of right. If the exercise of this right had not been claimed by the treaty powers, it had been in order not to embarrass the Chinese Government and to give them ample time and opportunity to accustom themselves to ideas and facts which at first might have appeared rather strange to them. Even now his colleagues and himself were far from wishing to press upon or seem to hurry on the yamên; he had pointed out before to the ministers by what means a decision in the question might be easily postponed for some time, and he could only repeat that he and his colleagues were perfectly willing to accept a postponement. On the other hand, declarations that such or such a thing was impossible in China had no effect upon him; he had heard them too often belied by the facts to attach much importance to them. He would draw the attention of the yamên only to what had been said and written by themselves about telegraphs and railways, and, if in these and other questions so much progress had been made notwithstanding all the former declarations of the Government, he could not understand why in other points they should obstinately cling to antiquated forms, unless the inadmissible idea of a superiority of China over other nations was connected with them.

This the prince denied most emphatically, adding at the same time that he did not understand why so many difficulties were raised by the foreign representatives, the form in which the audiences had taken place in 1873 having satisfied everyone, and it having been originally the intention of the yamên to have the new audience exactly in the same manner as the former one. At the request of the foreign representatives the yamên had made already a great many concessions, but it looked as if the representatives felt bound to create difficulties for the yamên; the question of the place in which the audiences were to take place was in any case decided by imperial edict; a thorough discussion of all other points was so much more necessary as the arrangements for this audience ought to be made so as to serve as precedent for future occasions.

Mr. von Brandt replied that this was a reason more why the representatives should insist that the arrangements contained nothing contrary to the dignity of the nations they represented. The prince was, however, greatly mistaken if he supposed that the form under which the audience had taken place in 1873 and 1874 had given general satisfaction. There was not one of the representatives then received who had not again and again repeated that great changes were necessary in the form in which these audiences had taken place, and the judgment pronounced by foreign and Chinese public opinion alike had ratified that verdict. It was therefore the duty of the present representatives to see that the new audiences produced a better effect than the former ones.

After some further resultless conversation the conference, which had lasted very nearly three hours and a half, broke up, another meeting being arranged for the 19th instant.

M. v. Brandt.

[Inclosure 4 in No. 1256.]

Memorandum of the meeting held at the tsung-li yamên on February 19. 1891.

• Present: The Chinese ministers Prince Ching, Sun-yi-wên, Liao Shon-hing, and Hsü Yung-i and Mr. von Brandt, the latter on the part of and for the foreign representatives.

After the exchange of some complimentary remarks Mr. von Brandt opened the conference by stating that the subject which had occupied them for some time, the audience question, might be considered from the two different points of view, that of principle and that of convenience.

The attitude observed by the yamên bad obliged his colleagues and himself to take into more serious consideration than had been their intention originally the former view. He proposed now to place before the ministers the principle which, according to the opinion of his colleagues and himself, ought to rule the question. He would then proceed to explain the concessions the foreign representatives were willing to make for the sake of convenience; but he requested the prince and ministers to listen patiently and attentively to what he had to say, as much might depend upon the result of to-day’s conference.

The contents of the aide-mémoire agreed upon between the foreign representatives at their meeting of the 17th instant were then placed before the prince and ministers, and at their express desire a copy of it was given to them.

The prince and ministers read the paper very carefully, without, however, making any other remarks than that most of the points had been already agreed upon.

Mr. von Brandt then continued, saying that one of the points to be settled was the place where the audience was to take place. As was stated in the aide-mémoire, audiences were generally given in certain apartments of the palace set aside for that purpose. His colleagues and he himself had, in order to avoid lengthy controversies, foregone until now to bring that point forward; but they had, on the other hand, the right to expect that nothing would be done by the Chinese ministers which might seem to do away with the principle itself. It was for this reason that they had proposed that all mention of the place in which audiences were to take place in future should be omitted. Prince Ching replied that the question would have to be decided by an imperial edict, to which Mr. von Brandt answered that as the edict would have to be prepared by the yamên it would be very easy for that body to leave out the mention of the western garden. This omission was a conditio sine qua non, and he was authorized by his colleagues to state that the mention of the “western gardens” as the future place of receptions or audiences, even in an imperial edict, would be considered by his colleagues as a breach of good faith, and would cause his colleagues and himself to consider the whole arrangement so far as agreed upon as nul et non avenu.

After some show of resistance, during which Sun-yi-wên proposed that the “western gardens” might be inserted in an imperial edict which would appear only in a court edition of the Gazette, the prince gave way, stating repeatedly and most positively that no mention of the place to be used in future would be made in an edict or elsewhere.

Mr. von Brandt then continued, stating that the objections raised by the yamên against the foreign representatives mounting upon the platform on which the throne stood had been taken into consideration by his colleagues and himself, and he was prepared to make another proposal which to him at least seemed to obviate the difficulty.

The foreign envoy, after having delivered his address, should advance to the steps of the platform, when Prince Ching would come down from it, receive from the hands of the envoy his letter of credence, remount upon the platform, and place them upon a small table in the immediate neighborhood of the throne; this being done, of course, standing and not kneeling.

To this proposal Prince Ching agreed, stating only that he would have to come down one of the side steps, nobody but the Emperor being allowed to pass over the middle steps. He also stated that the table would be placed immediately before the Emperor’s throne.

Mr. von Brandt then referring to the presence of the military, naval, and diplomatic attachés and interpreters at the general reception, Prince Ching objected, stating that they had never heard before of military attachés, and that the admission of all the persons mentioned to the general reception would make the number of persons admitted too large. Mr. von Brandt pointed out that Gen. Tchêng Ki-tong had at Berlin at least been presented and received as military attaché, and that the prince himself had mentioned for each legation one minister, one secretary, and one interpreter, which would make for ten legations thirty persons, while all the persons proposed to be received were thirty-one.

After some resistance the prince gave way also on this point, saying that an imperial edict would have to be issued on the subject.

Mr. von Brandt pointed out that the persons not having been received in special audience by His Majesty ought to be presented to the Emperor at the general reception. This proposal evidently distressed the Chinese very much, as they seemed to have no idea how such a ceremony would be gone through. Finally the prince proposed that a list showing the place, name, and rank of each person present should be presented to His Majesty, which Mr. von Brandt accepted under the condition that the four chargés d’affaires should be separately presented to His Majesty, to which the prince agreed.

The rest of the conference, which lasted a little over an hour and a half, was taken: up by a conversation about certain points of etiquette, the number of bows to be made, etc. Sun-yi-wên suggested that as one of the envoys might forget to make his how at the proper place, the members of the yamên accompanying him ought to pull him by the sleeve; he took also great pains to explain that the ministers of the yamên present at the audience had to stand straight in the presence of the Emperor and could not salute the foreign envoys, and he seemed to feel considerably relieved when he was told that he was not expected to do so.

Prince Ching then mentioned the banquet to be given to the foreign representatives by order and in the name of His Majesty, and Mr. von Brandt replied that, everything having been settled so satisfactorily, he had no doubt that his colleagues would accept it as willingly as himself.

The conference then broke up, another one being arranged for the 22d instant, in order to settle the last details of the programme.

M. v. Brandt.

[Inclosure 5 in No. 1256.]

Ceremonial agreed on.

Foreign representatives furnished with letters of credence arriving at Peking to be received by His Majesty in separate audiences, after having given copies of their credentials to the tsung-li yamên and asked for an audience to present the original thereof, the foreign representatives on these occasions to be accompanied by them own interpreters.

The same rule to hold good for the presentation of letters of recall and new credentials, or other autograph letters from sovereigns or rulers.

Reasons existing which render the use of the Tzü-Kuang-Ko as an audience or reception hall undesirable, another suitable place will be provided for future audiences and receptions. The ministers of the yamên having declared that the Tzü-Kuang-Ko had already been designated by His Majesty and all preparations for the reception of the foreign representatives made in it, the latter are willing to forego for this time their objections against the Tzü-Kuang-Ko.

The foreign representatives not to be kept waiting for any length of time after their arrival on the ground before being admitted to the imperial presence.

The foreign representatives and their suite to enter through the door to the right of the middle one from the outside.

special arrangements for the separate audiences.

No table will be placed in the audience halls.

The foreign envoy will bow for the first time after having passed through the door of the audience hall; he will bow a second time half way between the door and the place where he will take up his position between the dragon pillars, and a third time when he has reached this place.

He will then read his address (of which and his credentials a copy and a translation will have been handed to the yamên before the audience), after which the interpreter who accompanies him will read the translation of the address.

After this he will advance to the foot of the middle steps, bearing his letters of credence, which he will hand to Prince Ching, who will descend by one of the side steps and come up to him to receive them. Prince Ching will then remount upon the platform by the same side steps and place the letters of credence, standing, upon a small table placed before the throne; at that moment the foreign envoy will bow and His Majesty will bow likewise, thereby acknowledging to have received the letters of credence. The envoy will then return to his former place between the dragon pillars, where he will await the reply of His Majesty and answer such questions as His Majesty may be pleased to address him.

The audience being over, the envoy will withdraw, bowing at the same places where he did so on entering.

The interpreter will remain a little behind and to the left of his chief and will enter and leave the hall after him.

special arrangements for the general reception.

The foreign representatives will enter the hall according to their seniority, each one being followed by his suite. The members of the diplomatic body will take up their position opposite the throne between the dragon pillars, in three rows, the first composed of the chiefs of missions, the second of secretaries, military, naval and other attachés, the third of the interpreters.

Prince Ching will then present by name and separately the four chargés d’affaires to His Majesty.

After this presentation is over Mr. von Brandt, as doyen of the diplomatic body, will advance a little and read the congratulatory address of the diplomatic body, the translation of the same being read afterwards by Mr. Popoff in his quality of the oldest by seniority of the interpreters present.

This having been done, Mr. von Brandt will return to his place, when His Majesty will graciously reply to the address, the text of His Majesty’s reply being placed by Prince Ching in Mr. von Brandt’s hands.

After a bow from His Majesty, indicating that the reception is finished, the representatives and their suites will withdraw in the same manner in which they entered.

In entering the hall and advancing to the places to be occupied by the members of the diplomatic body the same number of bows and at the same places will be made as at the separate audiences. The same rule will be observed in withdrawing.

The members of the diplomatic body, having taken up their places, will bow together to His Majesty, who will acknowledge their salutation by a bow.

The preceding arrangements have been agreed upon by the ministers of the tsung-li yamên and the foreign representatives and signed by them on the 15th of the first month of the seventeenth year Kuang Sü (23d of February, 1891).

1. Yü chien ta ch’en, ambar, ministers of the presence.