英国公使威妥玛与天津教案

天津教案发生后,法国公使罗淑亚步步紧逼,强迫清政府接受其无理要求,英国公使威妥玛则不仅与之密切配合,狼狈为奸,而且充当罗淑亚的主使,其手段之毒辣更数倍于罗淑亚.为威逼清政府妥协,威妥玛先以法国将对中国开战相恐吓;在普法战争爆发消息传来后,他又变换手法继续压迫清政府妥协退让.天津教案最终以完全接受法国无理要求为结局,固然与曾国藩的软弱妥协有关,然而威妥玛的为虎作伥也是一个重要因素.

British Minister Wade in the Trial of Tianjing Missionary Case

After the Tianjing Missionary incident, French Minister Rochechouart presses hard to force the Qing government to accept France's unreasonable demands, while British Minister Wade not only cooperates with Rochechouart but also plays as his leader. Wade first threatens a war by the French; and then, after the German-French War, he changes his way to force the Qing government to give in. The Tianjing Missionary Case ends with a complete acceptance of the French demands. It is so because Zhen Guofan's weakness and compromise. However, Wade's role is an important factor as well.