"gain-seeking and corrupt men will for profit and sensuality defeat my wishes, but nothing will induce me to derive revenue from the vice and misery of my people."
-Chinese Emperor to British plenipotentiaries (my new English vocab word for today!), again refusing to legalize opium in 1842.

plenipotentiary: "a person, esp. a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country."