786 RICHARD S.HOROWITZ retary of State John Hay had previously suggested that the foreign minister should speak at least one European language.The commis- sion agreed,however,that such a requirement would too narrowly limit the choices,and result in the selection of Foreign ministers who lacked the political influence to get their views accepted.Never- theless the report suggested that below the level of the President and Ministers of Foreign Affairs,there should be two vice ministers with extensive experience,and 'one of them at least should know a foreign language.30 The recommendations of Komura and Rockhill were accepted by the Foreign Diplomatic Corps (which served as the presiding body to manage the foreign side of the negotiations),and on April 22 the Minister B.J.de Cologan of Spain communicated these proposals with greater elaboration in a note to the Qing negotiators.Cologan began: [Since T]he Zongli Yamen has during the forty years of existence clearly shown that it is incapable of discharging the functions with which it was intrusted,the representatives of the powers have deemed it necessary to substitute in its place,for the good of China,and for the harmonious rela- tions between the Empire and the foreign governments,an organization analogous to those which exist in other countries.31 Cologan noted that the Zongli Yamen had failed in terms 'of ability, of regularity,of promptness and wise administration.'Authority,he insisted,had been spread into too many hands,leaving no one man responsible for overseeing foreign policy.32 Following the Komura- Rockhill proposal,the new organization would be led by a President of the Office of Foreign Affairs,a man of Princely rank,and he would be assisted by two ministers,one of whom must be a member of the Grand Council,and the other a President of one of the Six Boards Below them,as in the Komura-Rockhill proposal,were to be two vice ministers.Cologan emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for foreign affairs must be in the hands of the President.Finally,the name of the new organization would be Office of Foreign Affairs, waiwubu,not Zongli Yamen,a name 'which does not indicate suffi- ciently the importance and authority'of a body responsible for the highest functions of State.'The new office would be placed ahead of the Six Boards in the official order of precedence.33 30Ibid,120,122. 31bid.,134 32 Ibid. ss Ibid.The name Zongli Yamen was a contraction for zongli geguo shiwu yamen meaning Office for the general management of affairs with the various countries.' The contraction translates loosely as 'office for general management.'786 RICHARD S. HOROWITZ retary of State John Hay had previously suggested that the foreign minister should speak at least one European language. The commis￾sion agreed, however, that such a requirement would too narrowly limit the choices, and result in the selection of Foreign ministers who lacked the political influence to get their views accepted. Never￾theless the report suggested that below the level of the President and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, there should be two vice ministers with extensive experience, and 'one of them at least should know a foreign language.'30 The recommendations of Komura and Rockhill were accepted by the Foreign Diplomatic Corps (which served as the presiding body to manage the foreign side of the negotiations), and on April 22 the Minister B. J. de Cologan of Spain communicated these proposals with greater elaboration in a note to the Qing negotiators. Cologan began: [Since T]he Zongli Yamen has during the forty years of existence clearly shown that it is incapable of discharging the functions with which it was intrusted, the representatives of the powers have deemed it necessary to substitute in its place, for the good of China, and for the harmonious rela￾tions between the Empire and the foreign governments, an organization analogous to those which exist in other countries.3' Cologan noted that the Zongli Yamen had failed in terms 'of ability, of regularity, of promptness and wise administration.' Authority, he insisted, had been spread into too many hands, leaving no one man responsible for overseeing foreign policy.32 Following the Komura￾Rockhill proposal, the new organization would be led by a President of the Office of Foreign Affairs, a man of Princely rank, and he would be assisted by two ministers, one of whom must be a member of the Grand Council, and the other a President of one of the Six Boards. Below them, as in the Komura-Rockhill proposal, were to be two vice ministers. Cologan emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for foreign affairs must be in the hands of the President. Finally, the name of the new organization would be Office of Foreign Affairs, waiwubu, not Zongli Yamen, a name 'which does not indicate suffi￾ciently the importance and authority' of a body responsible for 'the highest functions of State.' The new office would be placed ahead of the Six Boards in the official order of precedence."33 30 Ibid., 120, 122. 3 Ibid., 134- 32 Ibid. " Ibid. The name Zongli Yamen was a contraction for zongli geguo shiwu yamen meaning 'Office for the general management of affairs with the various countries.' The contraction translates loosely as 'office for general management