PROTECTORATE, a term applied to the relationship, existing between a strong nation and a weaker one wherein the former under takes to protect the latter from hostile invasion or other form of aggression and in conse quence exercises more or less control over its domestic and entire control over its foreign affairs. The protectorate, unlike the colony, does not lose its individual sovereignty; its people do not become citizens of the protecting state; if the protecting state goes to war with another power the protected state may remain neutral. The relation has, however, often been a mere cloak for absolute dependency on the part of the weaker nation, which for reasons of state it has seemed expedient to disguise. The term protectorate is also applied to the state thus protected. The relation between a protectorate and its protector is usually estab lished by treaty, although sometimes it is the result of mere understanding only. There are two classes of protectorates which differ es sentially from the existing circumstances: (1) Where both nations are civilized; (2) where the protector is civilized and the protectorate is not. Most of the protectorates of the present day belong to the second class and are to be found in Asia and Africa and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Notable examples of exist ing protectorates are Tunis, Annam, Tonking, Madagascar and Somali Coast under French protection; and North Borneo, Bechuanaland, Somaliland, British Central Africa, British East Africa protectorate, Uganda protectorate, the Sudan and Nyassaland under British pro tection. Italy also maintains a protectorate in Africa. The United States has from early
times exercised similar control over weak na tions in various parts of the world. One of these was Liberia on the west coast of Africa and founded by the American Colonization Society in 1820. It has been understood all along that no other nation would be permitted to annex it or interfere in its affairs. Like wise Hawaii for a short time occupied the posi tion of a protectorate until its annexation to the United States in 1898. From 1882 to 1897 the United States was one of the three powers to exercise a protectorate over the Samoan Islands. Likewise from 1836 to 1845 it exer cised a protectorate over the republic of Texas. From 1846 to 1903 the United States as a result of treaty with Colombia exercised a quasi-pro tection over the Isthmus of Panama for the purpose of ensuring the neutrality of the Panama Railroad. Partly as a result of Ameri can aid Panama seceded from Colombia in the latter year and virtually placed itself under the protection of the United States. The most perfect example of an American protectorate at the present time is that of the republic of Cuba, which secured its independence of Spain in 1898 chiefly through the intervention of the United States and which upon demand of the American government inserted in its Constitu tion a promise not to enter into foreign rela tions with any other country without the con sent of the United States and accepted other conditions which materially impair its inde pendence.