(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[35407]
No. 1.
[September 16.]
SECTION 3.
Question asked in the House of Commons, September 16, 1909.
Mr. Ginnell,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what British force was specified by the protocol, signed by the Powers after the Boxer outbreak in 1900, to remain in North China for the preservation of order, and for how long; what is the entire strength of the British forces maintained there now; whether they are maintained there at China's expense; how many of those troops are white men, and how many are men of colour; and whether he is aware that the maintenance of troops of an inferior race in this country is resented by the Chinese.
Answer.
The Final Peace Protocol of 1901 provided that each Power had the right to maintain a permanent guard in its legation quarter and to occupy certain points between Peking and the sea. Under this agreement a total of about 8,000 troops was maintained in North China for several years, about 2,000 of whom were British. These troops are maintained at the expense of the country to which they belong, and not of China.
No time-limit was specified in the protocol of 1901, but the question of their reduction has been, and still is, under consideration. The latest information I have shows that there are 64 British officers and 1,025 European British troops, 17 Indian officers and 805 Indian troops in North China. I have no reason to suppose that the presence of the latter is in any way resented by the Chinese, nor are they of inferior race, and I repudiate entirely the description of them given in the question.
[2418 --3]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.