Local Forces In Shanghai And The Red Cross Society Of China (1904-1949)

During the Russo-Japanese War in 1904,the China Red Cross Society was established in Shanghai.Shanghai is not only the birthplace of the Red Cross Society of China,but also the head office of the Red Cross Society of China established in Shanghai for a long period of time.Therefore,Shanghai occupies a very important position in the history of the Chinese Red Cross Society.Modern local autonomy is the product of the revival of European business and the rise of civil society.Sun Yat-sen described local autonomy as "the foundation rock of the country." After the reclamation,the Shanghai civil society was born and the thought of local autonomy rose.Before and after the First World War,the national bourgeoisie in Shanghai was given the opportunity to grow and expand,and the merchants' class gradually grew.The establishment of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce meant that the Shanghai bourgeoisie,especially the merchants' class,was decentralized and unified.The General Business Council has gradually formed a force that can influence the business community in Shanghai and even the business community in China.After the Red Cross Movement was introduced to China,Shanghai merchants became the first class to come into contact with this emerging humanitarian movement.The leaders of the Shanghai Municipal Federation of Commerce have become pioneers in the development of the Red Cross movement in China.In order to maintain the neutrality and autonomy of the Red Cross Society of China,Shanghai businessmen and the government have had several games.Ultimately,due to the flourishing development of local autonomy in Shanghai and the growth of the national capitalist class,the Central Government has neither led the Red Cross Society of China in carrying out the economic foundation of public philanthropy nor has it been able to control the political power of the Red Cross Society of China.It is forced to acquiesce to the status quo of the Chinese Red Cross's independence and autonomy.As the new generation of national bourgeoisie becomes stronger,some of the merchants in the merchants' class have gradually declined because they cannot keep up with the changes of the times.Almost at the same time,the Chinese Red Cross Society is also tit-for-tat on the issue of whether or not it should amend its constitution to adapt to the current unified central government.The General Assembly,which has always been responsible for the affairs of the Red Cross Society of China,was cancelled.The Red Cross established a Supervisory Board under the supervision of the government to replace the regular parliament to handle the affairs of the Red Cross.This not only means that old-style businessmen have withdrawn from the big historical stage,but also bid farewell to the Chinese Red Cross.At the same time,it also marked that the Chinese Red Cross Society has become part of the government's machinery and lost its former independence.After the September 18th Incident,the call for anti-Japanese national salvation nationwide has grown stronger.In the face of the fact that the central government has no policy against the enemy and the internal economic recession and civil war remain,the demands of the Shanghai bourgeoisie for the implementation of constitutional government are also growing stronger.In order to increase the monitoring of the society,the National Government has promulgated a series of laws and regulations to regulate social groups and organizations.The Red Cross Society of China is also listed here.While strengthening the supervision of the Red Cross Society of China,the Nanjing National Government has also cultivated new forces in the Red Cross Society of China to serve as its spokesperson and to help the government complete the control of the Red Cross Society of China.Du Yuesheng and his leader Hengshe became candidates for the government.In the process of the creation,development,and growth of the Red Cross Society of China,there is also help from the domestic medical community and the International Red Cross Society.As the largest medical organization in the country at that time,the Chinese Medical Association actively cooperated with the Red Cross Society of China to help build the Red Cross in hospitals,medical schools,and field rescue operations.The help from the International Red Cross Society and National Red Cross Society also made the China Red Cross Society a gateway to China's foreign exchanges.All in all,the growth of the Red Cross Society of China cannot be separated from the intervention and help of local forces.The shift in power of all parties has also affected the development of the Red Cross Society of China.But it was with their joint efforts that the Red Cross Society of China was able to grow and grow,making the Red Cross worthy of the title of the world's number one charity.