Agreement between Great Britain and Germany signed on October 6, 1900, signed by Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil and Ambassador Paul von Hatzfeldt respectively, stating both parties' opposition to the partition of China into spheres of influence
The Yangtze Agreement formalized Anglo-German opposition to partitioning China, aligning both powers with the Open Door Policy to preserve equal market access.
Key Facts
- Date Signed
- October 16, 1900
- British Signatory
- Prime Minister Lord Salisbury
- German Signatory
- Ambassador Count Paul von Hatzfeldt
- Policy Alignment
- Open Door Policy
- Primary Subject
- Opposition to partition of China into spheres of influence
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Boxer Rebellion era, major powers were eyeing territorial and commercial advantages in China. Germany feared that a formal partition would confine it to a small trading zone, while Britain sought to prevent rivals from excluding it from Chinese markets. Both nations found common ground in supporting the Open Door Policy, which guaranteed equal commercial access for all powers.
On October 16, 1900, Great Britain and Germany signed the Yangtze Agreement, with Lord Salisbury representing Britain and Count Paul von Hatzfeldt representing Germany. The agreement formally committed both governments to opposing any partition of China into exclusive spheres of influence, reaffirming their alignment with the Open Door Policy.
The agreement represented a short-lived moment of Anglo-German diplomatic cooperation, signaling both nations' preference for an undivided China open to multilateral trade. However, its practical effect was limited, as other powers continued to pursue spheres of influence, and Anglo-German relations subsequently deteriorated in the lead-up to the First World War.
Political Outcome
Both Britain and Germany formally committed to opposing the partition of China into spheres of influence, endorsing the Open Door Policy of equal market access.