A reexamination of Hu Shih’s appointment to the British China Indemnity Advisory Committee

From the newly discovered British Foreign Office archival documents, as well as from an interview with Hu Shih in an American newspaper, this article will demonstrate that his appointment as a member of the China Indemnity Advisory Committee went through twists and turns. After he was nominated for the Committee, Hu Shih first lost his candidacy due to a change in the British cabinet. He was subsequently thoroughly questioned during the deliberation stage. When the nomination had just been approved, Hu Shih became suspect to the British because of his remarks on politics. The British government changed their mind following his statement on the May Thirtieth Incident, and approved his appointment. In brief, the reexamination of the entire process of Hu Shih’s appointment is crucial for filling lacunae in current research concerning his life and career. It is also helpful in furthering our understanding of the various political considerations behind Britain’s remission of the Boxer Indemnity. © 2025 The Author(s).