CHESTER C. TAN. The Boxer Catastrophe. Pp. ix, 276. New York: Columbia University Press, 1955. $4.50

• Author: Kwan-Wai So
• Published date: 01 March 1956
• Date: 01 March 1956
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/000271625630400184
• Subject Matter: Articles

197
of the military governor and Attorney Gen-
the first decree ordering the organization of
eral Anthony’s devastatingly critical report
the militia was not issued until November
to Governor Stainback.
Unfortunately,
of that year,&dquo; and that the Boxers began as
most of these essential documents are
a volunteer association under the influence
printed in very small type and from unclear
of the heretical sects with the declared aim
type.
of fighting the native Christians. Mr. Tan
ALLAN F. SAUNDERS
also reexamined the parts played by the
University of Hawaii
leading statesmen of the time such as Li
Hung-chang, Jung Lu, Liu Kun-i and Chang
CHESTER C. TAN. The Boxer Catastrophe.
Chih-tung.
He gives special credit to
Pp. ix, 276. New York: Columbia Uni-
Sheng Hsuan-huai, the Director of Rail-
versity Press, 1955. $4.50.
ways and Telegraphs and of the China
Although a number of Western books
Merchants Steam Navigation Company,
have been written on the subject, there is
who had contributed a great deal in influ-
more than justification for the appearance
encing the measures taken by southern
of the volume under review. The author
viceroys to maintain peace in the south-
has made the best use of both Western and
east.
Another interesting point he makes
Chinese source materials.
is that the Tseng-Alexeieff agreement was
The introductory chapter treats the un-
signed without the Imperial Court’s knowl-
happy relationship between China and the
edge and that the text of the agreement
West, the inevitable conflicts and the failure
printed in several outstanding document
of the Hundred Days reform movement.
works is incorrect.
It goes on to examine the genesis and the
The introductory chapter does not match
development of the Boxer movement and
the quality of the following chapters be-
how the movement was being harnessed by
cause the author ventures with somewhat
the reactionary forces rallying around the
untenable generalizations.
He seems to
Empress...