Guo Songtao Diplomatic Activities During The YaKub Beg's Invasion Of Xinjiang Period

Guo Songtao(1818--1891) is the first envoy in the Chinese modern history. He rests on its"Principle, sentiment, potential"diplomatic thought expressed his opinion and instructed his diplomatic practice. This article mainly talks about the changes of Guo songtao's diplomatic thoughts , and the activities with British directed by this thought during Yakub Beg's invasion of Xinjiang period. This paper also gives a fair assessment towards his pros and cons in his diplomacy activity.The paper is mainly divided into four parts. The first part elaborated the process and the main content of Guo Songtao's diplomacy thoughts. Guo Songtao starts to knew the westerns in the second Opium War; his diplomatic thought formed during the process of handling the foreign affairs; maturated and deepened during his visiting mission to British and France.The second part confesses the background of the negotiation with British government. In order to capture the benefit in the central Asia , British, Russia colluded with the Yakub Beg political power. With the British government's support, Yakub Beg invaded Xinjiang and established"Gerdershare"political power. Because Guo songtao went abroad on a diplomatic mission to British for"Mar Jarli Event", he suffered Chinese people's scold. After arrives at London, he negotiated with the British government on Yakub Beg issue.The third part is focus on Guo Songtao's three negotiation activities with British and show the influence of his diplomatic thoughts on his diplomatic activities. First, he proposed a wrong suggestion---"give Kashghar to Yakub Beg". Second, he protested the suggestion that send envoy to Kashghar by British government .His decision manifests his patriotic mind. Third, he accepted British government's mediation and hoped that after military victory, make use of its mediation, to ask Yakub Beg to return some more area. But his suggestion was strongly opposed by Zuo Zongtang.In the fourth part, another narrates the changing process of Guo Songtao's diplomatic thought during the negotiation with British. At last, Guo Songtao realized the British imperialist's nature, and proposed the government to"Let Zuo Zongtang takes charge of all the affairs."This proposal banishes British take advantage of diplomatic activities to help Yakub Beg political power.