Rigby, Richard
Description
The roots of the disturbances leading to the May 30 incident
are to be found in labour unrest in Japanese textile mills
in Shanghai, and the introductory chapter attempts to explain
this against the background of industrial growth and the
beginnings of trade unionism, accompanied by the development
of the C.C.P. and its alliance with the K.M.T. A further
significant factor discussed was China's failure to improve
her international position following W.W.I., a failure
particularly...[Show more] apparent to Chinese living or working in
Shanghai's International Settlement.
The thesis then shows the rise of a mass movement in
Shanghai following the shooting on May 30» and traces its
gradual decline after the breakup of the united front of
workers, businessmen and students. An attempt is made to
evaluate the roles of the main political groups involved.
Chapter three looks at events elsewhere in China. The
form the movement took in each place varied according to
local conditions. The Peking government tried to profit by
the movement, but also felt endangered by it, and played a
contradictory role, to the dissatisfaction of patriots and
foreigners. Disagreements between warlords and amongst the
foreign Powers further ensured that negotiations failed to
reach any satisfactory conclusion, although the Judicial
Enquiry produced some significant evidence.
The following two chapters examine the varied responses
of different groups of Chinese and foreigners, paying
particular attention to the ideas and opinions of the C.C.P.
and the British, especially the Foreign Office, as being the
major protagonists involved. The final chapter looks at the two most out.standing
results of the movement, the growth of organized labour and
of the C.C.P., both closely linked, and the suggestion is
made that the great success of the latter may account for
the differing emphasis placed on the movement by C.C.P. and K.M.T. historians. Subsequent events which indicated that
the Powers, especially Britain, had adopted a new stance
following May 30, are sketched in, and by way of conclusion
the major developments arising out of the movement, which
gave it its significance, are recapitulated. Taken together,
they show that in the May 30 movement the Chinese entered a
new stage in their fight for sovereignty and equality, and
a new social order.
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