The Last Time Of The "Second Yamun": A Study On The Qingdao Chamber Of Commerce From 1945 To 1949

Qingdao was a city built on business prosperity so that it had a strong business atmosphere,the rule of China's traditional feudal order and thinking ceased to exist as the early colonization of Qingdao City,the businessmen organizations in the community in Qingdao played a very important role.The local government of Qingdao had been changing in modern history,every time there was not a long regime,which left for the chamber of commerce a huge space.In order to rule firmly,all the previous regimes tried to master the local businessmen organized by powerful social and economic forces, attempted to transform the local businessmen organization into the tools of their own and government spokesmen.Throughout the history of the development of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce,in spite of all the previous regimes did not intend to give the chamber of commerce the number of real power,the organization's affairs and power was far beyond its members and business management,had a hidden social management functions.During Shen Honglie being the mayor of Qingdao City,the hidden social management functions of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce had effective guidance and management,thus obtained significant results,therefore the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce was seen as the "second yamun" which was also a matter of course after the local government,it was larruping compared with the other chambers of commerce.Anti-Japanese War broke out,however,the fall in Qingdao,in order to meet the needs of the war,the Japanese colonial authorities forced the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce into the rule system of local government and to assist the governors as the tools control the reorganization of the local economy,monitor the local businesses,under the power of interference,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce lost the autonomy of civil society,becoming the semi-official organization existed in name only,the characteristics of "second yamun" lost basically.After the defeat of Japan,in order to achieve the purpose "grasp the chamber of commerce,control the businessmen",the mayor of Qingdao City Li Xianliang tried to take control of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce under the local government,in his intervention,the chamber of commerce completed a post-war demobilization.But faced with the political pressure from the Nationalist Government,as well as the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce due to a collapse of the internal contradictions of the predicament,Li Xianliang had to organize personnel assigned to the Committee,to reorganize the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce.After 87 days'work,the Committee conducted a preliminary transformation,restructured the industrial and commercial trade association.Although Li Xianliang hoped to further infiltrate the Kuomintang party and government forces into chamber of commerce, thereby controlled the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce,on the government's intention, however,the Committee composed of businessmen did not operate seriously in the actual implementation,but tried to protect the interests of chamber of commerce,during the finishing period,the Committee led all the members of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce for a tax boycott about the government's unreasonable revenue.Not only did the reorganization enable the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce reconstruct,but also made a glimmer of vitality into the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce.April 26,1946,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce officially announced the reconstruction,then led by Li Daifang,the new chairman who was on behalf of government officials and businessmen,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce embarked on the road to rehabilitation and positioned itself for the intermediary organizations between government and the members of chamber of commerce,looked forward to working with all levels of government to form a good interaction,to revive the past glory of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce.On this basis,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce actively participated in national and local political,economic,social activities,through efforts,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce gradually made a figure in the domestic business sector,and became an important member of the Republic of China Chamber of Commerce Federation.On the political aspect,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce depended on the Republic of China Chamber of Commerce Federation,the Qingdao City Council as platforms,actively made suggestions to the central and local governments,at the same time it also strongly resisted the government's unfair treatment to business circles,and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of their own;On the economic aspect,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce enabled to implement the government's economic policies and laws to members in time,to safeguard the economic interests of the business sector,and to assist the government in the stability and regulating the order of the local business,to make contribution on promoting the restoration and development of the national economy;On the aspect of social life,not only did the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce actively participate in various social activities,but also the broad participation in the region's education,charity,relief,social construction,such as the establishment of a commercial vocational schools,relief victims, addressing the difficulties of members,and local tree planting,etc,these activities established a good image for themselves.However,the ensuing civil war interrupted the recovery plans of the chamber of commerce,the arrival of the civil war led to a wide range of domestic economic recession,so that the business sector got into crisis.However,for the sake of preparing for civil war and political dictatorship,the Nationalist Government not only failed to take effective economic regulation,but much of the compression chamber of commerce activities,as well as the rights to speak,moreover,the chamber of commerce had failed to adjust the strategy making effective communication with government,leading the more and more increasing gap and resentment between chamber of commerce and government,finally,chamber of commerce as an intermediary organization had been unable to play the role effectively.Affected by the civil war,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce together with Qingdao City were isolated in the corner of the Shandong Peninsula,commercial channels occlusion,goods scarcely,the chamber of commerce was also affected and hard to make achievements,finally it had been target of any extortion by local government and the military.In good weather,favorable terrain,and a prerequisite for survival,such as one by one after the loss,the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce had not once again become "second yamun",but ushered in the reign of the Nationalist Government in their lives the last time.