At the same time, Sir Claude Macdonald is allowed to
speak in a very firm way. It appears from the Blue-book published this week that he has secured the largest share of the railway concessions, and always deals with the Tsung-li-Yamen as a body to be argued with for an hour or two, and then gently assured that the British Admiral will be summoned with his cruisers. To this threat the Ministers, under instructions from the Dowager-Empress, always give way within the time specified. The cession of Wei-hai-wei was secured in this way, and most of the concessions. It is not a pleasant way of negotiating, for the Chinese, to speak plainly, are always bullied into agreement, but it does not appear that any other course is possible. The Chinese never concede anything except under the influence of fear, break faith unscrupu- lously, and try by every possible device to induce the European Powers to quarrel. The regular course is to refuse a British request on the ground that Russia Opposes it, and a. Russian request because of British demur, and then, when the European Ambassadors meet and the trick is exposed, to smile, concede everything as "a proof of friendship," and ask the Ambassadors to dinner. Note, by the way, Sir Claude's sarcastic admission that if all European demands were granted the Emperor would have very little territory left to govern.
