Letter by Sir Frederick Bruce

LETTER BY SIR FREDERICK BRUCE This original letter by Sir Frederick Bruce, dated January 12, 1964, was discovered by Jack Gerson during his current researches. He kindly sent a copy to the Bulletin for members' interest. This letter is printed in Ch'ing-shih wen-t'i with the permission of Andrew, Lord Bruce. From the Elgin/Bruce Archive: Broomhall, Scotland, COPY Sir F, W. A, Bruce, H. B. M. 's Minister to China, to his sister Lady Augusta Stanley. Peking - January 12/64 Dearest Augusta, I have nothing later from you than OctF 9. . ¡Between the two dates, Lady Augusta had been betrothed and the news of the death of their brother, the Governor General of India, Lord Elgin, had been announced, j Your letter came through Russia and would have reached St. Petersburg!, in time had it time [sicj dated 10 days later. This is the most wonderfully mild winter as compared with previous ones. It freezes but there is no snow, and as yet I have only had a fire twice in my bed-room. I hope to get away from here in May - if Wade arrives by that time you may tell him from me, that I count upon it. Five years of the China task - 11 - is as much as any one ought to be called on to endure, and during that period I have not been a day out of harness [sic 1. I expect to find Europe in a lively state by the time I reach it. Our friend and ally L. Nap. seems bent on eclipsing the fame of Don Quixote, I trust we shall let him fight his wind-mills alone in future - and not embark in diplomatick jsic] or other enterprises with him. Steady going John Bull is not fitted for such mercurial tricks. He is awkward when he tries to dance the French jig. Thanks for making known to H. M. [prior to her marriage, Lady A. was a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen] my gratitude and devotion. There is no family in Gt. Britain who ought to have these feelings more strongly, and I hope we try & do our best in her service. Here I am getting on well as far as I can judge. My great object is to act in the spirit of a "gentleman" to the Gov, that is; to treat them with courtesy, to admit & respect their rights, & in all matters as much as possible to "save their faces" which is everything to a Govt proud, not unreasonably, of being at the head of this great civilization , & which is very sensitive on this point of dignity, as it governs chiefly by moral influence, not force. This is the only true policy a la longue - for the material aid we give the Chinese will only make them hate us more, if we do not menage their sentiments. I feel certain after the exhibition Mf Lay [of the aborted Lay-Osborn Flotilla notoriety] afforded of his over-bearing and cynical mode of dealing with the Chinese, that if he had succeeded in putting them on their legs, a most violent reaction would have followed against him and all foreigners in China. Gov?8 and nations are the same as individuals - tact & real courtesy (not the external sham), are just as necessary - 12 - to produce friendship between nations, as between men -, and a material benefit bestowed with a bad grace, produces a feeling of bitterness not of regard . Another great result obtained by this course, is, that my colleagues are forced to follow in the same track. And it is only by setting the example of respecting the rights of China, that there is any chance of setting limits to the pretentions of R, Cath. missionaries and preventing their ambitions and fanatical spirit from becoming a source of constant disturbance, if not of War. When you see Gladstone, give him my best regards and read to him what I have said above. Tell him he may have faith in these great moral principles when worked out amidst a people, whose intelligence and moral sense is universally cultivated as it is among the Chinese, There is no reason why we should...