After the end of fighting in the second Anglo-Burmese war late in 12, April 1852-53, the English and the Burmese held discussions about making peace. During these consultations the wrangles of Anglo-French rivalry continued as before. 

In these circumstances King Mindon, skilled in statecraft, set about establishing a situation from which advantage might be derived for the Burmese, even in their powerless state . With almost half its territory in the hands of the foreigner, Burma was a small state between the two great states of England and France. There had to be a model of conducting foreign relations which would preserve its independence and dignity.

From this expansion of the work of foreign affairs there was a mixture of gains and losses. If we look at the gains, we can see that the connection with the peoples of Western Europe opened eyes to knowledge. However, these same peoples of Western Europe, because of the pressures of imperialism, did not have the same ends in view as the Burmese and the balance was destroyed. 

Finally, it involved a huge loss when the entire kingdom fell into the hands of others. However, if there is good to be found amid the misfortune, it is that the Burmese, in a desire to distance themselves from the ways of Western Europe, acquired a greater disposition to try to establish the cultures of their own country and peoples. 

Their pride of race and xenophobia increased. Alongside their xenophobia, in a desire to challenge and do better than the foreigners, they began to try to take advantage of the sciences of the West as opportunity offered. 

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