Geography Reference
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might graciously be allowed to remain in China for a few days of trad-
ing and sightseeing before being required to return to their native
lands. Any notion of other nations being China's equals or of foreign
diplomats remaining in China indefinitely would have been unthink-
able. Furthermore, the Qing government viewed involvement with
commerce as beneath the dignity of the Chinese government; com-
merce involved private contact between petty men concerned with
profit, a somewhat ignoble motive in traditional Confucian moral esti-
mations, and did not require government-to-government contact.
In short, neither nation had a full appreciation of the diplomatic
sensibilities and norms to which the other subscribed. This became
quite apparent in June 1793, when the British government sent Lord
Macartney to the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-1796) with a wish list
for, among other things, residential diplomatic representation in
Beijing, trade throughout China, and exemption for British subjects
from Chinese legal jurisdiction. The Qing government received
Macartney and his retinue as tribute bearers coming to congratulate
the Qianlong emperor on the occasion of his 83rd birthday. Macartney,
however, steadfastly refused to perform the kowtow, which would have
led to a considerable diplomatic contretemps for both sides had the
emperor not ultimately dispensed with the requirement.
The substance of Macartney's requests were summarily denied in a
highly condescending missive from Qianlong to King George III. One
might well imagine how badly the smug ethnocentricity of this letter
would have clashed with what the French have called la morgue britan-
nique, or British haughtiness.
AN IMPERIAL EDICT TO THE KING OF ENGLAND:
You, O King, are so inclined toward our civilization that you have sent
a special envoy across the seas to bring our Court your memorial of con-
gratulations on the occasion of my birthday and to present your native
products as an expression of your thoughtfulness. On perusing your
memorial, so simply worded and sincerely conceived, I am impressed
by your genuine respectfulness and friendliness and greatly pleased.
As to the request made in your memorial, O King, to send one of your
nationals to stay at the Celestial Court to take care of your country's
trade with China, this is not in harmony with the state system of our
dynasty and will definitely not be permitted.
There has never been
a precedent for letting them do whatever they like.
The Celestial Court has pacified and possessed the territory within
the four seas. Its sole aim is to do its utmost to achieve good government
and to manage political affairs, attaching no value to strange jewels and
precious objects. The various articles presented by you, O King, this
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