FOREIGN OFFICE FILES FOR CHINA, 1949-1976

(Public Record Office Classes FO 371 and FCO 21)

Part 1: Complete Files for 1949

Brief Chronology

1919

The Paris Peace Conference grants former German concessions in China to Japan, causing much Chinese resentment. 3,000 students demonstrate in Peking (May Fourth Movement) against the Paris Peace Treaty and Japanese claims in China. Sun Yat-sen re-organises the Kuomintang in oposition to the government.

1921

The Chinese Communist Party is founded at a national Conference in Shanghai.

1923

Soviet Union promises to aid the Kuomintang’s cause of Chinese unification.

1925

Sun Yat-sen dies and is replaced by Chiang Kai-shek as leader of the Kuomintang. In the summer Chiang embarks upon the Northern Expedition against northern warlords (campaign ends 1927). A 15 month strike and boycott of foreign trade in Hong Kong is begun.

1926

Split develops within the Kuomintang between left and right wing factions. In March Chiang expells his Soviet advisors and restricts the role of communists within the Kuomintang.

1927

The rift within the Kuomintang widens as the Communists set up their own capital at Wuhan, whilst Chiang establishes his own at Nanking. April witnesses a massacre of Communists in Shanghai as Chiang purges leftists from the Kuomintang.

Communists expelled from Wuhan by Kuomintang.

1928

Chiang Kai-shek becomes President of Republic of China and is in effective control of most of the country.

1931

Mukden Incident (bombing of Japanese run railway in Manchuria).

1932

Mukden Incident used as excuse by Japanese to create pupet state of Manchukuo.

1934

Communists in Kiangsi Provence, under pressure from Nationalists, forced to undertake the Long March to Yenan.

1935

Japanese begin to expand borders of Manchukuo southwards.

1936

Nationalist troops mutiny at Xi’an. Japanese expansion in China leads to truce between Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang.

1937

Full scale fighting begins between Chinese and Japanese forces; resulting in the announcement of a Communist-Nationalist anti-Japanese front. Kuomintang forced to retreat to Chagking. December sees Nanking falls to Japanese troops who massacre 100,000 Chinese.

1938

Japanese proclaim a ‘New Order’ in China to be headed by the Japanese military.

1941

Japanese attack American naval forces in Pearl Harbour, bringing USA into World War Two.

1943

Britain and America revise their treaties with China. Chiang Kai-shek meets with Roosevelt and Churchill in Cairo to discuss strategy. The resulting Cairo Declaration announces “that all the teritories that Japan has stolen from the Chinese such as Manchuria, Formosa and the Pescadores shall be restored to the Republic of China”.

1944

Allies begin to decisivly turn the tide of the war against Japan. Japanese forces launch counter-offensive and advance into south-west China to attack US airbases.

1945

Potsdam Proclamation calls on Japan to surrender.

US drops atomic bombs on Japan, whilst Soviet forces invade Manchuria. Chiang Kai-shek reaches an agreement with the USSR, confirming their territorial gains in China. Japan surrenders 15 August. Chiang gains seat at UN Security Council for China. Fighting begins between Communists and Nationalist troops in Manchuria. General Marshall arrives in China to halt civil war between Chinese Communists and Nationalists.

1946

General Marshall succeeds in negotiating a truce between warring parties in Manchuria; but truce betwwen Communists and Nationalists soon breaks down and fighting resumes in Manchuria. US suspends aid to the Nationalists in attempt to end the fighting.

1947

General Marshall leaves China. Formosan revolt against corrupt Chinese rule. US announces resumption of aid to the Nationalists.

1948

January

British Consulate at Canton destroyed.

February

President Truman announces that the US will provide $570 million worth of aid to China.
Communist People’s Republic declared in North Korea.
Communists capture Manchurian port of Yingk’ou.

March

Communist forces in Manchuria capture the strategic railway junctions of Kirin and Ssupingkai.

May

Dr Wong Wen-hao succeeds Chang Ch’un as Nationalist Premier.

August

Nationalist Navy receieves a gift of two British warships.
Republic of South Korea declared.

September

Tsinan falls to Communists.
Communists launch a major offensive in Manchuria.

October

Mukden falls to the Communists, who soon extend their control over all of Manchuria.

November

Dr Wong Wen-hao resigns as Nationalist Premier.

December

The remnants of the Nationalists forces regroup and attempt to hold a defensive line behind along the Yangtze River.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek visits the US to appeal for further aid.
Dr Sun Fo becomes Premier of Nationalist government.

1949

January

Communist forces take Peking.
Chiang Kai-shek ‘retires’ as President and is replaced by General Li Tsung-jen as ‘Acting President’.
All personel of the US Army Advisory Group leave Canton for the USA.

February

Nationalist government announces that it will move the seat of government from Nanking to Canton.

March

Nationalist Premier Dr Sun Fo resigns, he is succeeded by General Ho Ying Chin.
Establishment of the Central Plains Provisional People’s Government by Communists in central China.

April

Communists present their Eight Point Peace proposals to a Nationalist delegation visiting Peking.
Communist forces cross the Yangtze River.
HMS Amethyst attacked in Yangtze River by Communist forces.
Communist troops enter Nanking.

May

Communists capture Shanghai and Hankow.
Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang Party organisation move to Formosa.

June

Conference held to try to patch-up split in Kuomintang betwen Chiang Kai-shek and Li Tsung-jen.
Communists announce that a Political Consultative Conference is to be convened in Peking to frame the future constitution and government of China.

July

Communists launch offensive against Nationalist held areas in central China.

August

US stops aid to Nationalists.
Chiang Kai-shek visits Seoul to discuss Pacific Anti-Communist Union with South Korean President.
Soviets test their first nuclear device.

September

Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference convened.

October

Mao elected Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
People’s Republic of China officialy proclaimed.
Nationalist government evacuated from Canton to Chungking.
Amoy falls to the Communists.
American Consul-General at Mukden and four members of his staff arrested by Communists.
USSR is the first country to officially recognise the new regime.

December

UK government decides in principle to accord de jure recognition to the government of the People’s Republic of China (official recognition is announced 6 January 1950).
Chiang Kai-shek declares Taipei the temporary capital of China.

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