7 Intervention (1862-64) FEW NOW ARGUE,as most Western writers on the subject once did,that foreign intervention was the decisive factor in the defeat of the Taipings.Nevertheless,it continues to be recog- nized as of considerable importance,and it is often assumed that,being important,it was also quite extensive aid.Thus Lo Erh-kang,after suggesting that the English and French forces which had been retained in China to enforce the new treaties were reinforced by additional troops from India following the defeat of the Mutiny there,states that 'in the Spring of 1862 England began big scale military action against the Taiping state and a new phase in her interference began'.1 It is certainly correct to suggest that a new phase in British policy began at this time,but in so far as Lo's argument infers that the British government was prepared to make a heavy commitment of its forces to the struggle it is quite contrary to the evidence.A primary objective of British policy during these years was to keep the scale of direct foreign involvement as small as possible, to the minimum necessary to ensure a Manchu victory. Bruce in particular urged strictly limited intervention,for he was thinking far beyond the immediate question of the sup- pression of the rebellion,major problem though that was.His grand design,while British minister at Peking,was to win the adherence of the Manchu government to the new treaty settle- ment in spirit as well as letter.His approach,as he defined it to 111王nterⅤention (1862ˉ 64) 鞲 tha△ Erhˉkang,after suggesting that t【 bCing important,it was a1sO quite extellsiⅤ le EngⅡ 鹦 sh and Frenc11forces 骥 c aid。 Thus Lo 瀚 w⒒ich had been retained in China to enf0rce the new treaties were reinforced by additiona1troops frOln India fo11ovving thc defeat of the Ⅸ赝utiny there,states tl△ at‘in the Spring of1862 Eng1and began big scale lnⅡ itary邑ct至on against the Taiping state and a new phase in her intcrferencc bcgan’ ,廴 It is certainly correct to suggest that a rlew phase in British poⅡcy began at this t虹ne,but in so far as Lo’ s argu11△ cnt in】i￡)rs that the British goⅤernment was prepared to make a heavy comⅡ 1itnlent of its forces to the strugglc it is quitc contrary to the eVidcnce. A primary o妫cCtive of BⅡ tish poIicy during these ycars w皮 s to keep the scale of dircct foreign inⅤ olvement as sma1l as possible, to the Ⅱ1iniFnum necessary to ensure a ⅣIanchu victory。 Bruce in particular urged strict1y1i【nited intervention,for he was t缸 hking far beyond tlle inunediate question of the sup￾pres蕊on of the rebellion,m耐 or problem though that was.H必 grand design,、,孓 `hⅡ e British Ⅱ蛀nister at Peking,讯λs to win the ad⒒ere且 ce oft⒒e卜Ιa血c匕ug。vernment to the new treaty settleˉ me狃tin spirit as we11as Ietter。 FⅡs approach,as he denned itt。 1】 1