[centre][img=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/China_Qing_Dynasty_Flag_1889.svg]
[b]The Empire of the Great Qing[/b][/centre]

To Mr. Gladstone;

I look upon admirably at the most wonderful reconciliation and friendship that had blossomed in the last decade between our two nations. Your men are welcome to trade in China at anytime, and the kindness in which many of your officials, merchants and civilians alike have treated us Chinese have been more than welcome. The Great Qing desires not a single territory nor protests the rights enjoyed by the British in the Orient; nay, we have welcomed both.

We do, however, understand your great concern over the size of our armed forces. It was in our intentions to begin the downsizing of our forces as of last year back to the peacetime levels enjoyed in the early 1860s, as with the Eternal Vigil's achievement in affirming our independence from the Treaty of Constantinople and reclaiming those lands lost to the Russians during our times of duress, we felt the time was ripe for negotiations. The most unfortunate circumstance of the Prussian declaration of war against ourselves, however, made this process impossible to pursue last year.

Let it be known that we hold no desires but peace now, and the moment that this opportunity is upon us we shall see no reason to possess an enlarged army; an immediate downsizing would begin. Therefore, so that we may find peaceful circumstances in which a smaller army would be perfectly suitable for, we would like to invite Mr. Gladstone to help arbitrate the peace process between the Eternal Vigil and those warring with us so that we may both comply with his request and bring about a newfound peace to the Orient.

- Prince Gong, Regent of the Qixiang Emperor