| Hindered in their work by a hostile social and political environment, American missionaries in China depended heavily upon the support of their government. Therefore, they took an active interest in the policies of their government which affected the missionary enterprise, or might be used in its advancement. During the period of the Boxer Uprising they advocated measures to protect and extend foreign and missionary rights, to improve the social and political status of Chinese Christians, and to bring about the social and political reform of China. To accomplish these objectives, they urged American political and military intervention in China and that their country cooperate with other powers.But the influence of American missionaries on other aspects of American policy was negligible. The Open Door Policy, primarily commercial in character, was of only indirect concern to missionaries, and its formulation and operation were not affected by them. Missionaries were unable to modify in any fundamental way the American policy of minimum military and diplomatic intervention in China, either in the interests of their own work, or in behalf of Chinese reform. Nor did they succeed in changing the traditional American policy of independent action in international affairs.Missionaries were able to influence those policies of their government which directly concerned their enterprise, such as measures dealing with missionary rights, the promotion of religious toleration, protection and reparation for Christians, and the responsibility of local Chinese officials for missionary safety. |
