Research On Modern Northeast China's Customs(1861-1931)

Following the Opium War,China(the Qing Dynasty)was forced to open five major seaports to western powers.After that,the treaty ports appeared in large quantities.After the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin,Newchwang opened ports and set up customs.The modern customs system was established in Northeast China,and the economy of Northeast China was involved in the world economic system.After Japan-Russia War,with the opening of the ports pattern gradually spreading,the Modern Northeast China's Customs(MNCC)pattern initially formed.According to Unpublished Chinese Maritime Customs Historical Materials(1660-1949)in Harvard University Libraries,U.S.A.by Professor Wu Songdi and the annals,taking MNCC from 1861-1931 as the research object,this article focuses on the background and process of the establishment and main functions of MNCC,and analyzes the foreign trade situation in Northeast China in different periods,and then reveals the interaction and correlation between the Customs and the social changes in Northeast China.The paper holds that MNCC was established under the "Hart System" after the introduction of the modern customs system in China,and the competition among the foreign powers before and after Japan-Russia War promoted the formation of the spatial pattern of MNCC.MNCC stimulated the process of the modernization in Northeast China objectively and passively,but under the drive of colonialism,the great powers obtained more aggressive rights and interests from China under the semi-colonial system,and especially Japan gradually accelerated the pace of invasion of China.The "Russification" of MNCC evolved into "Japanization".This paper is mainly divided into five parts:The first part mainly presents the introduction of the modern customs system to China.From the establishment of the coastal customs system in the early Qing Dynasty to the destruction of the customs sovereignty signed by the Nanjing Treaty after the Opium War broke out,from the establishment of the Shanghai Customs Tax Administration Committee to the establishment of the foreign customs commissioner system,this part focuses on the evolution of customs from tradition to modern times and the formation of the modern customs system with the foreign customs commissioner as the core.The second part expounds the establishment of MNCC.In the early Qing Dynasty,the government set up Shanhai Tax Customs in Northeast China.After the signing of Tianjin Treaty,it set up the modern customs in Newchwang which has prominent regional advantages,marking the establishment of the modern customs system with the foreign customs commissioner as the core in Northeast China.Before and after Japan-Russia War,the great powers quickened the pace of scrambling for Northeast China,which led to the formation of the MNCC pattern with Newchwang Customs,Dairen Customs and Antung Customs in the south,Harbin Customs and Aigun Customs in the north,Hunchun Customs and Lungchingtsun Customs in the east.The third part discusses the operation mechanism of MNCC,including customs functions,tariff system and personnel management.The analysis shows that under the control of the foreign customs commissioner,MNCC exercised its customs functions in accordance with the modern customs system,and a complete trade statistics system was established,and the amount of customs duties and taxes increased rapidly.But the detection of smuggling got little success because the final disposal power was still largely in the charge of foreign personnel.The establishment and modification of tariff system and the change of personnel management are all beneficial to the capitalist powers to obtain more interests and rights.The fourth part focuses on the foreign trade after the setting-up of MNCC.In this paper,the foreign trade in Northeast China is divided into three periods: the period before opening ports,the period of One Customs and the period of Many customs.This part mainly analyzes the trade status and the reasons of the change in the latter two stages and summarizes the characteristics of the trade.At the same time,it expounds the trade situation with Japan and Russia in stages.The fifth part summarizes the comments of MNCC.The Customs is the place for the great powers to compete,so the competition for Northeast China is also reflected in the competition for MNCC.The "Russification" and afterwards the "Japanization" of MNCC fully illustrate the characteristics of the customs colonization.At the same time,the establishment of MNCC promoted the development of foreign trade and the increase of customs duties,and further promoted the modernization of Northeast China.