[SSU-YÜ, Teng, & FAIRBANK, John K. (1982).China's response to the West. A documentary Survey,1839-1923. Cambridge. Harvard University Press, pg. 47-49]
 

Memorial del Príncep Gong sobre el Zongli yamen, entregat a Yehol, 1861

        After the exchange of treaties, the barbarians have returned to Tientsin and sailed hurriedly back to the south in groups. Moreover, they still base their demands on the treaties. This shows that they do not covet our territory and people. Hence we can still through faithfulness and justice tame and control them while we ourselves strive towards recovery. The present case is somewhat different from the ( barbarian invasions ) of former dynasties. . . Now the Nien rebellion [1851-1868] is ablaze in the north and the Taiping in the south, our military supplies are exhausted and our troops are worn out. The barbarians take advantage of our weak position and try to control us. If we do not restrain our rage but continue the hostilities, we are liable to sudden catastrophe. On the other hand, if we overlook the way they have harmed us and do not make any preparations against them, then we shall be bequeathing a source of grief to our sons and grandsons. The ancients had a saying, «Resort to peace and friendship when temporarily obliged to do so; use war and defense as your actual policy." This is truly a well-founded statement.

        The situation today may be compared ( to the diseases of a human body ) . Both the Taiping and Nien bandits are gaining victories and constitute an organic disease. Russia, with her territory adjoining ours, aiming to nibble away our territory like a silkworm, may be considered a threat at our bosom. As to England, her purpose is to trade, but she acts violently, without any regard for human decency. If she is not kept within limits, we shall not be able to stand on our feet. Hence she may be compared to an affliction of our limbs. Therefore we should suppress the Taipings and Nien bandits first, get the Russians under control next, and attend to the British last. . .

        If we follow our plan at the present time, we should act according to the treaties and not allow the foreigners to go even slightly beyond them. In our external expression we should be sincere and amicable but quietly try to keep them in line. Then within the next few years, even though occasionally they may make demands, still they will not suddenly cause us a great calamity. After careful deliberation on the whole situation we have drafted six regulations:

        (1) To establish at the capital the Tsung-li ko-kuo shih-wu ya-men ["office in general charge of foreign affairs"; i.e., the "Tsungli Yamen"] . . . under the direction of princes and ministers. . . As soon as the military campaigns are concluded and the affairs of the various countries are simplified, the new office will be abolished and its functions will again revert to the Grand Council for management so as to accord with the old system.

        ( 2 ) To establish the offices of high commissioners to facilitate the handling of affairs respectively at the northern and southern ports. Here follow details on the office of superintendent of trade for the five southern ports: Can ton, Foochow, Amoy, Ningpo and Shanghai, and the superintendent of trade for the three northern ports: Newohuang, Chefoo and Tientsin.

        ( 3 )  To arrange for maritime customs collections at the treaty ports and on the Russian frontier;

        ( 4 ) to ensure mutual information among officials handling foreign relations, so as to prevent errors.

        ( 5 )  To select two persons from Canton and two from Shanghai who understand written and spoken foreign languages and send them to Peking for consultation

        ( 6 ) In each seaport, the internal and external commercial conditions, as well as foreign newspapers, should be reported in communications to the Tsungli Yamen once a month to supply material for official perusal.