Title:	British Interests and the Struggle of Russia and France for Leases and Spheres of Influence in China (1897–1898)
Authors:	Skřivan Sr., Aleš Skřivan Jr., Aleš
Citation:	West Bohemian Historical Review. 2021, no. 2, p. 147-166.
Issue Date:	2021
Publisher:	Západočeská univerzita v Plzni
Document type:	článek article
URI:	http://wbhr.cz/images/issues/WBHR_2021_2.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/11025/46291
ISSN:	1804-5480
Keywords:	První čínsko-japonská válka;sféry vlivu v Číně;pronájmy Rusku a Francii;krize politiky "skvělá izolace"
Keywords in different language:	First Sino-Japanese War;spheres of influence in China;leases to Russia and France;crisis in the policy of “Splendid isolation”
Abstract in different language:	China found itself in massive debt after its defeat in the war with Japan (1894–1895), and it was progressively put under significant pressure by the Great Powers who were seeking to define their exclusive spheres of influence and gain economic concessions. Russia was the first to take measures in this regard, its objective being to acquire dominant influence in northern China building on the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. France too, Russia’s ally, began to pursue a similar status in the southern Chinese provinces neighbouring French Indochina. Great Britain, after decades enforcing the principle of China’s territorial integrity, and equal trade opportunities in the country for all, was somewhat taken by surprise by these developments. Russia took advantage of the situation to increase pressure on China, culminating in the lease of Port Arthur and Dalian and the recognition of Russian claims regarding the Liaodong Peninsula. Great Britain found itself in a particularly adverse position. Several members of Britain’s government were determined to support resistance to Russia’s advances in the Far East even at the cost of war. In contrast, Prime Minister Salisbury had been promoting an understanding with Russia for many years, but after Russia’s occupation of Port Arthur he realised this was no longer possible Britain managed to maintain its position in China, but many leading British politicians realised that the policy of “splendid isolation” would no longer suffice to maintain Britain’s position.
Rights:	© Západočeská univerzita v Plzni
Appears in Collections:	Články / Articles (KHV) Číslo 2 (2021) Číslo 2 (2021)

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.