the authorities granted to the French protectorate. Assessments Critics of the protectorate said that the authorities that granted the privilege to a Christian nation did so under duress, that the system contributed to and exacerbated anti-Christian sentiment in those countries, and that it allowed Christian missionaries to disregard the sensibilities of the non-Christian population. Those who see benefits in the protectorate system contend that it was the best means of protecting missionaries and their activities and allow that it required that the foreign power minimize its meddling and exercise discretion in asserting its rights. As an example, one study noted that the superior of the mission of southeast Chi-li resolved its issues directly with local authorities and sought intervention from the French legation only three times during the difficult period from 1862 to 1884. They believed abuses were minimal, especially in comparison with the benefits. End of the French Protectorate See also Christianity and colonialism Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Notes References The following sources are cited by the Catholic Encyclopedia: Concerning the Levant. -- Charrière, Négociations de la France dans le Levant (4 volumes, Paris, 1848) Schopoff, Les réformes et la protection des chrétiens en Turquie 1673-1904, Firmans, bérats, ... traités (Paris, 1904) Pélissié du Rausas, Le régime des capitulations dans l'empire ottoman (Paris, 1902-5), I, 190-202 II, 80-176; Rey, De la protection diplomatique et consulaire dans les échelles du Levant et de Barbarie (Paris, 1899) De Saint-Priest, Mémoires sur l'ambassade de France en Turquie, suivis du texte des traductions originales des capitulations et des traités conclus avec la Sublime Porte (Paris 1877) Charmes, Politique extérieure et coloniale (Paris, 1885), 303-84, 387-428 Le régime des capitulations par un ancien diplomate (Paris, 1898) Burnichon, Les capitulations et les congregations religieuses en Orient, in Etudes, LX (1893), 55 Prélot, Le protectorat de la France sur les chrétiens d'Orient, in Etudes, LXXVII (1898), 433, 651 LXXVIII, 38, 172; Rabbath, Documents inédits pour servir à l'histoire du Christianisme en Orient, XVI-XIX siècle (Paris, 1907–10) Auguste Carayon, Relations inédits des missions de la Co. de Jésus à Constantinople et dans le Levant au XVIIe siècle (Paris, 1864) Lettres, édifiantes et curieuses. Concerning the Far East. -- Cordier, Histoire des relations de la Chine avec les puissances occidentales (Paris, 1901-2) History of Christianity in China Foreign relations of France Holy See–Turkey relations China–Holy See relations Catholic missions