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1. Nota preliminar
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Telegram from Franco Nogueira, Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Portuguese Ambassador to the Holy See informing him that the Archive of the Diocese of Macau is located in the Oficinas de São José in Lisbon (Salesian School) and that the Bishop of Macau only retains in Macau the documentation necessary for regular business.
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This collection of diplomatic correspondence from 1902 to 1909 examines the exchange of missionary jurisdiction over Hainan Island from Portugal to France, highlighting the geopolitical and religious intricacies involved. The core contention arose from the strategic exchange of French control over Hainan (previously under Portuguese jurisdiction) for their missionary district of Zhaoqing, a negotiation commenced in 1898 and formalized through various decrees between 1903 and 1904, ultimately leading to the French possession of Hainan in October 1908. Key diplomatic actors involved in these discussions included the French and Portuguese governments, the Holy See, and local bishops. The origins of this exchange trace back to the 1857 Concordat between the Holy See and Portugal, which established Hainan under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa. This jurisdiction transitioned to the Bishop of Macao by 1874, but by the late 19th century, as French interests in the region grew, the focus shifted towards consolidating French Catholic influence. Critical incidents that framed this diplomatic saga include the 1903 Propaganda Decree sanctioning the exchange but containing a geographical misallocation, and the 1904 Correction Decree explicitly excluding three sub-prefectures from the jurisdictional transfer. Subsequent years saw disputes over property valuations, allegations of bad faith transactions, particularly by Portuguese missionaries, and tensions that necessitated intervention from both the Holy See and negotiating bodies. Post-transfer concerns culminated in discontent expressed by Bishop Mérel of Canton, who sought additional support to compete against resurgent Protestant missions in Hainan, reflecting the ongoing struggle for religious dominance amidst colonial competition. The Portuguese, initially resistant to relinquishing control, later begrudgingly accepted the terms, reflecting the broader geopolitical maneuvering of France to counteract British and American influence in the region. This correspondence not only illustrates the complex interrelationship between religion and colonial politics in early 20th-century China but also sheds light on the historical significance of missionary exchanges and the ecclesiastical negotiations underpinning them, revealing the intricate dynamics at play in colonial diplomacy
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- Book (12)
- Journal Article (1)
- Letter (1)
- Manuscript (7)
Publication year
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Between 1900 and 1999
- Between 1900 and 1909 (7)
- Between 1910 and 1919 (2)
- Between 1920 and 1929 (3)
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Between 1930 and 1939
(1)
- 1935 (1)
- Between 1940 and 1949 (2)
- Between 1950 and 1959 (2)
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Between 1960 and 1969
(1)
- 1968 (1)
- Between 1990 and 1999 (3)