Madame Soong May-ling's 1942-1943 U.S.Tour And Its Diplomatic Legacy

Born in China and educated in the United States, Soong May-ling married ChiangKai-shek in 1927 and went on to become an internationally famous advocator for herhusband's Chinese Nationalist government. Fluent in English and with a mastery ofboth Chinese and Western culture, she was a goodwill ambassador and the popularpartner of Chiang Kai-shek during the 1930s. During Second World War, she went ona tour in the United States to drum up support for China's resistance against Japaneseinvasion by winning funds and aid. Her personal political career reached apex whenSoong May-ling became the first Chinese national, and the second woman, to everaddress at the U.S. Congress in February, 1943, publicizing China's image inanti-Japanese war and later in a series of speeches appealing the repeal of thediscriminatory Chinese Exclusion Acts.Madame Soong May-ling is a pivotal player in one of the 20th century's greatepics, but more often than not, her role in anti-Japanese war, especially her 1942-1943U.S. tour, has been longtime slighted by scholars and researchers in Chinese mainland.Based on but not limited to previous studies, the author of this thesis first summarizesWorld Warâ…¡in Chinese theatre and Soong May-ling's U.S. tour proceedings. Andthen the author emphatically points out some important political figures whosecontributions have enabled Soong May-ling's tour. Additionally, Soong May-ling'scelebrity status, as well as her Christian belief and educational background, accordingto the author, can be considered as key elements in her successful tour. At the end ofthe thesis, the author gives an analytical summary of the tour's diplomatic legacy andherewith raise the awareness of Soong May-ling's undeniable endeavors to saveChina from its wartime hardship and adversity.