The first cause that prepared and brought about the present conflict is due to the sworn hatred of the people against the Christians. Assuredly the end pursued by the missionaries, of doing good to others, is very praiseworthy. But, as a general thing, right-thinking Chinese would not for anything in the world abandon the religion that comes down to them from their ancestors, for the sake of embracing one that is wholly foreign to them; the result is that the new converts are unfortunately in large measure dishonest people who hide behind the shelter of the Church to give themselves up to their evil passions, such as bringing lawsuits with impunity, and molesting and robbing their fellow-countrymen. The feelings of the people, which were at first merely wrath and indignation, and do not date from yesterday, have been changed into an implacable hatred, the fury of which it is impossible any longer to restrain. The Chinese no more desire to be converted to Christianity than the Europeans would wish to embrace the maxims of Confucius. My personal opinion is that commercial relations between China and the foreign powers may be developed to any desired extent; but as for the question of religion, it would be more prudent to allow each to respect his own as he understands it; this would be calculated to preserve the future from all conflict. I do not know whether the foreign governments will at last recognize the whole importance of the question and renounce it definitely. In the belief that I have answered all your questions, I beg leave to assure you that I shall always be charmed to be useful and agreeable to you. Yours with most sincere esteem Yang-Yü, Chinese Minister And a little later a second letter came from the same source: Imperial Chinese Embassy St. Petersburg, September 10 (23), 1900 My dear Baron: Sincere thanks for your kind letter, as well as for the newspaper clippings, which have greatly interested me. I hasten to send you and the Baroness my best wishes for a good journey and a happy sojourn in Paris. I likewise hope that you will have a brilliant success in the noble assembly of the ninth Peace Congress. Once again you are going to spread the light and to plead for that peace cause which ought to be dear to every human heart. Therefore I should be greatly delighted to learn that all your endeavors toward this end have fully succeeded. Yours with most sincere esteem Yang-Yü, Chinese Minister In the late summer we went to Paris to attend the Peace Congress that was to be held there, and to see the Exposition.