The following is an accurate translation of the imperial decree i-sued to the Cabinet Ministers at Peking on the 12th instant Since the Treaties have been made with the various nations, letters and despatches under the seals of the governments have passed to and fro making complimentary inquiries year by year without intermission. The harmiouy that has existed has become thus from time to time wore and more secure. The Ministers of the various Powere residing in Peking have abundantly shown their loyal desire to maintain peaceful relations and international friendship. This I cordially recognise and I rejoice in it, In the first and second months of last year (February, 1888) when there were special reasons fur expressing national joy, I received 4 Gracious Decree (from the Empress Dowager) ordering the Ministers of the Yamen for Foreign Affairs to entertain the Ministers of the foreign nations at banquet, That occasion was a memorable and happy ove. 1 have uow been in charge of the government for two years The Ministers of Foreign Powers ought to be received by me at an audience, and I hereby decree that the audience to be held be in accordance with that of 12th year of the reign ut Tung Chih (1873). It is also hereby decreed that a day be tizad every year for an audience in order to show muy desire to treat with honour all the Ministers of the Foreign Powers resident in Peking, whether fully one powered or temporarily in charge of the Affairs of their governments, The ministers of the Yamen for Foreign Atlairs are hereby ordered in the first mouth of the ensue New Year to prepare a memorial asking that a time for the and y be fixed. On the next day the Foueign Ministers are to be received at a banquet at the Foreign Ofice. "The same is to be dune every your in the first month and the rule will be the same on each vecasion, New Ministers coming willie received at this annual audience, At all times of national congratulation when China and the foreign countries give suitable expression to their joy the Ministers of the Fureign Ofticeare also to offer " memorial asking for the bestowal of banquet to show the sincere and increas ing desire of the Imperial Government for the maintenance of peace and the best sible relations between China and the Foreign States. In regard to the details the yanién is hereby ordered to memorialise for Instructions on each oe
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.