Write a dialogue that might have taken place between a conservative member of the Dowager Empress Cixi's court and an official in Emperor Mutsuhito's Meiji government. In the dialogue, have the characters discuss

• the kinds of foreign intervention their countries faced

• the actions their leaders took to deal with this foreign intervention

Cixi's Court Member - Honorable Officer, it is important for us that you stop calling disorder or rebellion to what in our estimation is a patriotic movement against the offense that your united forces have exercised over China.

Meiji's Gov Official - That will be possible, Dear Sir, to the extent that you begin to give credit for the need for our joint intervention in the serious events that China is going through, under the current Dynasty.

Cixi's Court Member - It is sad for me to have to agree with you, that these events happen at the worst moment of our Civilization because, never as now, we had been so vulnerable, as a product of our internal quarrels. It will also be elegant on your part to accept that it has been necessary that a great alliance of nations with their own interests of foreign interference have had to unite in order to face our Great Empire.

Meiji's Gov Official - I must admit to you some reason when you say that there are many nations involved in this controversy, great will be the reparations of war that China will have to face now for the long 40 years of damages that have caused us to breach trade agreements.

Cixi's Court Member - Unequal and unfair are the treaties that force us to sign today, but let me assure you that the interests of your countries are so diverse that your weak alliances will only turn against you, your current union may have bent our strength already divided by internal struggles, but could that union now be superior to the diverse interests of each of its governments? Can you ever agree on how to divide your areas of influence in our vast territory?

Meiji's Gov Official - It certainly sounds like an impossible task. For the time being, we have to focus on putting an end to the social revolts and the containment of the rebel boxers. That will be for now healthy for all, while we wait for the arrival of new times.