A Brief Study On The Salvation Paths Taken By Chinese Group In France During The Reign Of Beiyang Government (1912-1927)

During the reign of Beiyang government, Chinese group in France have made a profound impact on China’s social development. Throughout that special period, not only the intention of advocates and practitioners but also the salvation paths they had decided to follow have changed dramatically.The previous study on the Chinese group in France is about their working and studying in France, especially about the historical figures of the Communist Party among the group and their political performance and it seldom touches on the group’s performance in education, technology and economy. Undoubtedly, a brief study on the Salvation Paths taken by the Chinese group in France during the reign of Beiyang Government (1912—1927) can deepen our understanding of the group. Moreover, recognition of the separation of their ultimate actions from their original plans is very useful for the relevant authority’s reference and learning when they set and implement relevant policies of studying abroad.The study object of the paper is the salvation paths followed by the Chinese group in France from 1912 to 1927. And by adopting such methods as contrastive analysis, generalization, case study and combining the research methods of other areas such as politics, histories and pedagogy, the paper analyzes from a view of sociology and psychology the salvation practice of the Chinese group in France in that period. There are three main periods during which Chinese group went to France in the reign of Beiyang Government:one is from 1912 to 1918; one is from 1919 to 1923. And particularly in 1921, three campaigns launched by Chinese students in France—A campaign on February 28th, Refusal to lend money from France government, and Invasion of Universite de Lyon— mark a turning point of the campaign for sending Chinese students to France. Then the third is a campaign for going to France after 1924.The advocates and the three organizations of the campaign for sending Chinese students to France aimed at saving China with France’s science, industry and education. They also hoped that the students abroad could learn advanced science and technology, industry and French culture so as to save the tumultuous nation. After World War I when lots of French soldiers left from the army, French’s economy were in deeper recession. At the same time, May 4th movement of 1919 in China brought the proletariat to historical stage. The economical and political changes at home and abroad had encouraged some new ideas in the Chinese students in France. And having competed with three isms, the Chinese students in France were split into different groups in terms of salvation path. Some decided to take a politics path, some to take an education path, some to take a technological path and others to take an industrial path.The students in France had exerted far-reaching influence on China’s politics, education, technology, economy and even other fields. Politically, they were active May 4th campaigners and laid solid foundations for the establishment of the Communist Party. While educationally, they built a new educational system to develop China’s higher education and paid great attention to feminine education. As for science and technology, they positively advocated "saving the country with science and technology" and and "cultivating scientific and technological talents". Regarding economy, they proposed "saving the country with industry". And they also facilitated the spread of the principles of the early Marxist Economic Politics, which has basically showed the way for China’s future economic development.