Concession (territory)

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In international law, a concession is a territory within a country that is administered by another entity (usually a colonizing power, or at least mandated by one, as in the case of colonial Chartered companies) than the state which holds sovereignty over it.

Usually, it is conceded, that is, allowed or even surrendered by a weaker state to a stronger power. For example, the politically weak and militarily helpless Qing China in the 19th century was forced to sign several so-called Unequal Treaties (by analogy with private contract law, their validity has been contested because of force majeure) by which it gave, among other rights, territorial concessions to numerous colonial powers, European as well as Japan, creating a whole host of concessions in China in addition to even more numerous treaty ports where China retained territorial controll.

However, just as with permanent sales of territory, there are cases when concession has been entered upon voluntarily by a power which could have resisted the demand, believing the arrangement to their mutual interest, or as part of a more complexly balanced deal.

In the many cases where the terms of the contract (be it in the form of a treaty between states) provides for similar terms as an ordinary property lease, notably a term limited in time and usually an indemnity sum, the territory can be called more precisely a lease territory or leased territory. Many of the concessions in China were leased.

The term is not to be confused with 'territorial concession', which applies to any clause in a treaty whereby a power renounces control over any territory, usually in the form of a full and indefinite transfer, often without any indemnity.

Contents

1 Austrian concession holders
2 Belgian concession holders
3 British concession holders

3.1 Held by the British authorities
3.2 Privately held

4 French concessions
5 German concessions
6 Italian concessions
7 Japanese concessions
8 Portuguese concessions
9 Russian concessions
10 U.S. concessions
11 Jointly held concessions
12 Sources and references
13 See also

Austrian concession holders

One of the Concessions in Tianjin (then known as Tientsin) .

Belgian concession holders

The Guatemalan parliament issued a decree on May 4 1843 by virtue of which the district of Santo Tomas was given "in perpetuity" to the Compagnie belge de colonisation, a private Belgian company under the protection of King Leopold I. Belgian colonizing efforts ceased after a few years, due to the lack of financial means and the harsh climate. (1843)
The Lado enclave, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, leased to the Congo Free State (not a part of Belgium itself, but in a personal union with Belgium under King Leopold II) (1894-1910)
Belgian Concession in Tianjin (1902-1929)

British concession holders

Held by the British authorities

While Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by the Empire of China in 1841-42, and on 24 October 1860 the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island were ceded by China at the Treaty of Peking (British annexation 4 February 1861), on 9 June 1898 the New Territories (comprising areas north of Kowloon along with 230 small islands) were leased from China for 99 years as a concession. On 19 December 1984 the UK agreed to restore all of Hong Kong -including the territories ceded in perpetuity- to China on 1 July 1997.
On 20 November 1846 a British concession in Shanghai (in China) was established (after 16 June 1842 - 29 August 1842 British occupation of Shanghai, since 17 November 1843 a Treaty Port); on 27 November 1848 this Concession was expanded, but on 21 September 1863 (after the 1862 proposal to make Shanghai an independent "free city" was rejected) an International Settlement in Shangai was created by union of the American and British concessions (consummated in December 1863).
The British concession in Tientsin, in which the trade centred, was situated on the right bank of the river Peiho below the native city, occupying some 200 acres. It was held on a lease in perpetuity granted by the Chinese government to the British Crown, which subletted plots to private owners in the same way as at Hankow. The local management was entrusted to a municipal council organized on lines similar to those which obtain at Shanghai.
On 1 July 1898, Liukung Island (in Weihaiwei Bay, since 30 January 1895 - 1898 occupied by Japan) and Weihaiwei were leased by Britain from imperial China, until Weihaiwei was returned to China on 1 October 1930; it retained a separate administration until 1938.

Privately held

Tati Concessions Land 1872-1911, in a small part of present Botswana, detached from the Matabele kingdom

French concessions

Kwangchowan (Kwangchowwan) since 27 May 1898 French leased territory (under a French Administrateur, subordinated to Tonkin in French Indochina, now in Vietnam; June 1940 - February 1943 loyal to Free France) as territoire de Kouang-Tchéou-Wan, till in February 1943 the French concession is relinquished to the Japanese sponsored Chinese National Government by Vichy France (not recognized by the Free French, nor by the Republic of China), February 1943 - September 1945 occupied by Japan; on 28 February 1946 formally returned to China by France.
6 April 1849 French concession in Shanghai (since 17 November 1843 a Treaty Port) established; 17 July 1854 Municipal Council established.
French concession in Tianjin (then known as Tientsin)
French concession in Hankou
French concession in Guangzhou (then known as Canton)

German concessions

Qingdao, on 6 March 1898 leased 'for 99 years' to Germany (as Kiaochow = Tsingtao) Bay (Kiautschou) already occupied by Germany since 14 November 1897); on 23 August 1914 imperial China cancels the German lease, only to find it since 7 November 1914 occupied by Japan.
one the Concessions in Tianjin (then known as Tientsin)

Italian concessions

in Tientsin (Tianjin) on 7 September 1901 a concession was ceded to Italy by imperial China, since 7 June 1902 the Tientsin Italian concession (administered by Rome's Consul), since 10 September 1943 occupied by Japan; in 1943 Mussolini's (Fascist, virtually fictitious) Italian Social Republic relinquished concession to the Japanese-sponsored Chinese National Government (recognized by Kingdom of Italy nor Republic of China), on 10 February 1947 formally ceded to China by Italy.

Japanese concessions

Kwantung (Port Arthur, Lüshun), formerly Russian concession (see below) from imperial China, until 2 January 1905 when occupied by Japan, since 5 September 1905 Japanese leased territory (Kwantung Territory), Port Arthur was renamed Ryojun, since 12 April 1919 Civil administration replaces military; since 22 August 1945 occupied by the Soviet Union, September 1945 - 11 October 1955 under joint rule by Soviet Union and (then fellow communist People's Republic of) China, till on 11 October 1955 fully re-incorporated into China.
one the Concessions in Tianjin (then known as Tientsin)

Portuguese concessions

Macau was leased from the empire of China

Russian concessions

Kwantung (Port Arthur), since 27 December 1897 occupied by Russia, on 27 March 1898 Port Arthur became the Russian leased territory of Kwantung (Kvantunskaya oblast, i.e. imperial province), since 12 August 1903 seat of Russian Viceroyalty of the Far East, until 2 January 1905 when occupied by Japan, since 5 September 1905 Japanese leased territory (Kwantung Territory)
one the Concessions in Tianjin (then known as Tientsin)

U.S. concessions

1848/54 American concession in Shanghai (since 17 November 1843 a Treaty Port) established, till on 21 September 1863 (after the 1862 Proposal to make Shanghai an independent "free city" was rejected) an International Settlement in Shangai is created by union of the American and British concessions (consummated December 1863); see below
Guantanamo Bay - leased from Cuba (which now disputes the lease) under 1903 and 1934 treaties in perpetuity; no civilian administration, only military command

Jointly held concessions

21 September 1863 (after the 1862 Proposal to make Shanghai an independent "free city" was rejected) an International Settlement in Shanghai is created by union of the American and British concessions (consummated December 1863); 1896 Concession expanded.

On 7 July 1927 a Chinese city government of Greater Shanghai was formally established. In January/February 1931 the Japanese occupy the Hongkew district, and 9 November 1937 the Chinese city of Shanghai, but only on 8 December 1941 Japanese troops occupy the International Settlement (but not the French concession); it is dissolved by Japan in 1942. In February 1943 the settlement is officially abolished by the U.S. and Britain; in September 1945 the last territory is restored to China.

Sources and references

[WorldStatesmen- also by concession holder]- or by country for non-colonial territories