Study On Sino-British Negotiation Over Nanking Incident

On March 23,1927,the Northern Army captured Nanking.The next day,a violent attack on foreigners and consulates broke out in the city,and then British and American warships shelled the city of Nanking,causing a number of casualties of Chinese soldiers and civilians.It was so called Nanking Incident.Nanking Incident had an important impact not only on China’s political situation,the National Revolution and the foreign policy of the National Government,but also on the adjustment of western countries’ China policy.Previous studies on Sino-British relations during the Northern Expedition mostly regarded Britain as aggressive and emphasized the confrontation strategy of the National Government,but ignored the compromise of Britain and British interests in China.Based on the perspective of British government,use of valuable historical materials such as British national archives and the Foreign Relations of the United States,this dissertation focus on British government’s negotiation over Nanking Incident in order to examine issues of Sino-British relations which were lack of concern.Shortly after Nanking Incident,Britain advocated joint action with the United States,Japan and other countries against Wuhan government.The failure of the joint sanctions and the overtures of the Nanjing government led the UK to adjust its policy,withdraw from Hankou and turn the negotiation to Nanking.During the informal negotiation between Britain and Wang Chunghui Nanking was in alliance with Wuhan,quite a few key officials of the former Wuhan government becoming part of the new government,especially Cheng Chien,whom Britain had been trying to hold accountable.Cheng Chien’s status in the new government increased rather than decreased,leading to the failure of the negotiation at this stage.As Foreign Minister Huang Fu’s assumption of duty at the beginning of 1928,Britain and the National Government entered the stage of formal negotiations,during which Britain’s adjustment of policy was influenced by internal and external factors several degrees.Treaty revision become the focal place of the Sino-British negotiations,which is also the main content of the Sino-British differences.After the second Northern Expedition,the Nationalist Government created a new situation of military progress and national unity,and the United States took the lead in signing a new customs treaty with the Nationalist Government.In this context,a final compromise agreement was reached.Later,China and Britain established Nanking Claims Commission to take charge of the compensation for Nanking incident.Sino-British Negotiation over Nanking Incident was an important turning point in the relations between China and Britain in modern times.In the negotiation the British policy experienced a transition process from tough ultimatum to strong negotiation,and then from strong negotiation to compromise and concession.This is not only the process of Britain’s understanding of the emerging Kuomintang regime,but also the readjustment of Britain’s China policy and interests in China.On the other hand,the Kuomintang regime gained British diplomatic recognition through the negotiation of Nanking Incident.The negotiation between China and Britain have gone beyond the negotiation over Nanking Incident itself.Through the commitment of amending the treaty and diplomatic recognition,the two sides have gradually transformed their hostile relations into an alliance.