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The 'Boxer Protocol' was a peace treaty signed on September 7, 1901 between the Qing Empire of China and the Eight-Nation Alliance—Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—plus Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands after China's defeat in the Boxer Rebellion at the hands of the Eight-Power Expeditionary Force.

Contents

Names

Signatories

The Clauses

The Effects

Political

Economic

Social

See also

External links

References

Names

In Western countries, it was also known as the 'Treaty of 1901', 'Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China'. The full name of the protocol is: 'Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Netherland, Russia, Spain, United States and China —Final Protocol for the Settlement of the Disturbances of 1900', reflecting its nature as a diplomatic protocol rather than a peace treaty at the time of signature.
In China, it was known as the 'Xinchou Treaty'. It was later regarded as one of the "Unequal Treaties".

Signatories

Prince Qing and Li Hongzhang signed the protocol on behalf of the Qing Empire, while Alfons Mumm (Freiherr von Schwarzenstein), Ernest Satow and Komura Jutaro signed on behalf of Germany, Britain and Japan respectively.

The Clauses

450 million taels of silver were to be paid as indemnity over a course of 39 years to the eight nations involved (982,238,150 taels in total with the interest).^[1] Under the exchange rates at the time, 450 million taels was equal to US$ 335 million gold dollars or £67 million.¹
The Chinese paid the indemnity in gold on a rising scale with a 4% interest charge until the debt was amortized on December 31, 1940. After 39 years, the amount was almost 1 billion taels (precisely 982,238,150).¹
The sum was to be distributed as follows: Russia 28.97%, German 20.02%, France 15.75%, United Kingdom 11.25%, Japan 7.73%, United States 7.32%, Italy 7.32%, Belgium 1.89%, Austria-Hungary 0.89%, Netherlands 0.17%, and Spain, Portugal, and Sweden and Norway 0.025%。 Also, additional 16,886,708 taels was paid at local level in 17 provinces. By 1938, 652.37 million taels had been paid. The interest rate (of 4% per annum) was to be paid semi-annually with the first payment being the 1st July 1902.
The Qing government was also to allow the foreign countries to base their troops in Beijing. In addition, the foreign powers had placed the Empress Cixi on their list of war criminals, however, provincial officers such as Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai had defended her, claiming that she had no control whatsoever over the whole escapade, She was later removed from the list, though she was to step down from power and discontinue any meddling in the affairs of the state.
'Other clauses included:'

★ To prohibit the importation of arms and ammunitions, as well as materials for the production of arms or ammunitions for a period of 2 years, this could be extended to a further terms of 2 years as the Powers saw necessary. - the ban of imports of weapons till 1903-1905.

★ The destruction of Taku Forts.^[2]

★ Legation Quarters occupied by the Powers shall be considered as a special area reserved for their use under exclusive control, in which Chinese shall not have the right to reside, and which may be defensible. China recognised the right of each Power to maintain a permanent guard in the said Quarters for the defense of its Legation.

★ Boxer and Government officials were to be punished for crimes or attempted crimes against the foreign Governments or their nationals. Many were either sentenced to execution, deportation to Turkestan, imprisoned for life, commit suicide or suffer posthumous degradation.

★ The Chinese Government was to prohibit forever, under the pain of death, membership in any anti-foreign society, civil service examinations were to be suspended for 5 years in all areas where foreigners were massacred or subjected to cruel treatment, provincial and local officials would personally be held responsible for any new anti-foreign incidents.

★ The Emperor of China was to convey his regrets to the German Emperor for the assassination of his Excellency the late Baron von Ketteler, German Minister.

★ The Emperor of China was to appoint Na't'ung to be his Envoy Extraordinary and direct him to also convey to the Emperor of Japan, his expression of regrets and that of his Government at the assassination of Mr. Sugiyama.

★ The Chinese Government would have it to erect on the spot of the assassination of the late Baron von Ketteler a commemorative arch inscribed in Latin, German and Chinese languages.

★ Concede the right to the Powers to occupy the following places:^[3]
{|class="wikitable"
! Traditional Chinese
! Simplified Chinese
! English names
! Translated names from early text
|-
| 黃村 || 黄村 || - || Huang-tsun
|-
| 郎坊 || 郎坊 || - || Lang-fang
|-
| 楊村 || 杨村 || - || Yang-tsun
|-
| 天津 || 天津 || Tianjin || Tien-tsin
|-
| 軍糧城 || 军粮城 || Junliangcheng || Chun-liang-Cheng
|-
| 塘沽 || 塘沽 || Tanggu || Tong-ku
|-
| 蘆臺 || 芦台 || - || Lu-tai
|-
| 唐山 || 唐山 || Tangshan || Tong-shan
|-
| 灤州 || 滦州 || Luanzhou || Lan-chou
|-
| 昌黎 || 昌黎 || Changli || Chang-li
|-
| 秦皇島 || 秦皇岛 || Qinhuangdao || Chin-wang Tao
|-
| 山海關 || 山海关 || Shanhaiguan || Shan-hai Kuan
|-

The Effects

Political

This event also further marked the increased decentralization of power in China, from the central government to the provinces. This is as both Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai had delayed and then disobeyed orders from the Qing Government to join the Boxers in the Boxer Rebellion. These two provincial officers had in their hands very powerful armies, namely the Beiyang Army and the New Army, which was later merged under Yuan Shikai after Li Hongzhang's death. Lastly, the defeat in the rebellion and the severity of the protocol initiated the Late-Qing Reforms, which were basically a follow-up of the Hundred Days' Reform, and led to the 1911 Revolution.

Economic

The huge indemnity of 450 million taels of silver was a large burden on the common folks in China, who had to foot it with increased taxes. It is estimated that the entire Qing government income was only about 250 million taels at the time.¹ Making that almost twice the value of the entire government.

Social

The Boxer Protocol was a further blow to what little integrity the Qing government possessed. The people of China were already very dissatisfied with the corrupt and inefficient Qing government, and this only proved that their sentiments were well founded. The people of China had become convinced that the Qing government was utterly incapable of ruling their country, and believed that a revolution was the only way the country could be restored to peace and prosperity.

See also

★ Anglo-Chinese relations

★ China Relief Expedition

★ Boxer Rebellion

★ Beijing Legation Quarter

External links

★ Wikisource Xinchou treaty (Chinese)

★ Text of Boxer Protocol, Peking 7. September 1901

★ The Corner.org boxer protocol

References

1. Spence, Jonathan D. [1991] (1991). W. W. Norton & Company publishing. ISBN 0393307808.
2. Sondhaus, Lawrence. [2001] (2001). Naval Warfare, 1815-1914. Routledge publishing. ISBN 0415214777
3. Pamphlets on the Chinese-Japanese War, 1939-1945. [Published 1937]
Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1937-1945. University of California digitized May 30, 2007. No ISBN.