Boxer Protocol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Treaty of 1901, known as the Xinchou Treaty (辛丑条约) in China, and more commonly known as Boxer Protocol or Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China, 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.
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.
China later regarded this as one of a series of "Unequal Treaties" which it signed since the First Opium War.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] The Clauses
450 million taels of silver were to be paid over a course of 39 years to the eight nations involved(982,238,150 taels in total with the interest).At the time, the annual budget for the Qing government was about 100 million taels. 450 million taels was based on 450 million population china had at the time. 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. Till 1938, 652.37 million taels was actually paid.
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 the ban of import of weapons till 1903, and the execution of Qing government officials who were involved in the rebellion.
[edit] The Effects
[edit] 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.
[edit] Economic
The huge indemnity of 450 million taels of silver was a large burden on the common folk in China, who had to foot it with increased taxes. Also, the strain on the country's resource slowed down the efforts in the Late-Qing Reforms.
[edit] 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.
