The May 30 movement : an outline

Abstract

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 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.