ABSTRACT
Prior to the commencement of commercial relations with the West, China had no foreign relations in the sense of diplomatic negotiations between two sovereign states dealing with each other on equal footing. Hence, up to 1840, during three quarters of the life of the Manchu Dynasty, the role of China was to conquer, impose conditions, exact tribute, civilize, then neglect, reconquer, re-civilize and finally re-exact the same tributes again and again. The first generally recognized regular organization for handling foreign affairs was the Tsung-Li Yamen. This office, however, had a forerunner, the Soothing Office Fu Chu, which was scarcely known to the world. This office was established by Emperor Hsien Feng in 1860 when he was "on his hunting trip" in Jehol, as a result of the siege, and after the capture of Peking and the burning of the Summer Palace Yuan Ming Yuan by the allied armies of England and France.
