Research On The Domestic Public Opinion On The Issue Of Returning The Boxer Indemnity In The Early Republic Of China

The Boxer Indemnity,as a huge amount of compensation stipulated in the Boxer Protocol,has brought a heavy burden to the Chinese people,and the return of the Boxer Indemnity is a very complex matter for the Chinese people.The return of the Boxer Fund is often accompanied by various conditions,and the public opinion has produced various disputes on it.The United States was the first to return the Boxer.In 1908,the United States took the lead in deciding to return part of the Boxer Indemnity received by its own country,and designated the return of the Boxer Indemnity to be used for China’s education.Under the influence of the United States’ return of the Boxer Indemnity,other countries have followed suit and returned or partially returned the Boxer Indemnity to the Chinese government: In 1921,France returned part of the Boxer fund to China as educational funds;In 1922,Britain promised to return the Boxer Indemnity;In 1923,Japan decided to return the Boxer fund,which was earmarked for the development of cultural undertakings in China.In 1917,the Duan Qirui government declared war on Germany and stopped paying reparations to Germany.In 1918,the Soviet Union said that it would give up all its interests in China,including the Boxer Indemnity.In 1919 and 1920,Austria and Hungary gave up the Boxer Indemnity.In 1925,Italy,the Netherlands and Belgium expressed their willingness to return the Boxer money to China.Of course,countries do not return the Boxer money unconditionally,and there are other purposes behind it.The United States returned the Boxer Fund and used it to cultivate pro-American intellectuals;France wants to use the Boxer fund for the resumption of Industrial Bank of China.and put forward the gold franc case after the devaluation of the franc;The Boxer Fund returned by the United Kingdom has been debated over the use of road construction and school building,and has never been finalized;Japan is a return in name,but an invasion of Chinese culture in essence;Although the Soviet Union said it would give up the Boxer fund,it was still manipulating the use of the Russian fund.With the return of the Boxer money from various countries,the reaction of public opinion to this event has also experienced a stage from expressing gratitude for the return of the Boxer Indemnity to fighting for the sovereignty of the return of the Boxer Indemnity.The public opinion was full of hope at the beginning of the return of the Boxer Indemnity by all countries.At that time,the domestic situation in China was severe,social development stagnation,financial difficulties and other problems made the Chinese people think that the return of the Boxer Indemnity could solve the urgent need.But when the purpose and intention behind the return of the Boxer Indemnity by all countries were exposed,the Chinese people also gradually recognized the reality,were disappointed with imperialism,and began to fight for the sovereignty and use of the return of the Boxer Indemnity.The transition from gratitude to power struggle represents that China’s advanced intellectuals have abandoned their illusions about imperialism.At the same time,along with China’s deepening understanding of the West,the Chinese people’s national consciousness has quietly awakened and their patriotic feelings have become increasingly strong.With the gradual awakening of national consciousness,all sectors of Chinese society have publicly expressed their demands through newspapers,magazines and other media,demanding that the sovereignty of the Boxer Indemnity be returned to China and that the returned Boxer Indemnity be used for the purposes they claim.These public opinions show a way of political propaganda and speech expression for the public,which greatly affects the government’s decision-making and implementation.The strong patriotic feelings of the Chinese people are expressed through various public opinions,stimulating the gradual awakening of national consciousness.With the gradual awakening of the national consciousness,the public opinion circles have constantly set off a campaign to fight for the interests of the country,and thus affect the government’s decision-making and implementation,which shows the tortuous and rising process of China’s political democratization from the side.