In The 1920 S Intellectual The Cognitive Study Of Unequal Treaties

In the1920s, the intelligentsia appeared more discussion about the unequal treaties. In termsof its background, at home, though the recognition on unequal treaties of the Chinese people inthe late Qing Dynasty still in the hazy stage, the people gradually realized the serious harm ofunequal treaties and started to struggle against the unequal treaties with foreign powers in Chinawith the introduction of international law and the enhancement of the concept of statesovereignty. In the Early Republic of China, the Chinese had a more in-depth understanding ofunequal treaties and began to look at unequal treaties rationally, the grass-roots people’sunderstandings on the unequal treaties had enhanced and their patriotic enthusiasm had alsostimulated after propagandizing of the social political parties. different Social stratumespecially the intelligentsia, the movement which against the unequal treaties turned increasinglyfierce. On international basis, Japan which as China by Suffered violations and abolishedsuccessfully unequal treaties with a struggle, this gave strong stimulation to China; After1918,Soviet Union’s diplomatic policy to China began to transform, Especially after issuing twomanifestos towards China, this gave strong shock to China as also, and enhanced the faith ofChinese people against unequal treaties. There were five representative books on discussion ofthe intelligentsia about unequaltreaties in the1920s. In these few works, The discussion aboutthe definition of unequal treaties of the intelligentsia mainly reflected in violating internationallaw、the disproportion of the rights and obligations、violating other countries’ sovereignty andterritorial integrity and so on. Although the emphasis was different, it was morecomprehensive、meticulous and science than before; At that time, there was still a big debateabout legitimacy and legal effect of the unequal treaties, and an indictment of the harm of treatiescontent embodied in consular jurisdiction and tariff agreement. The issue on how to deal with theunequal treaties brought disputes about Modifications and abolition, But the final purposewhich eliminated the unequal treaties was consistent whatever modifications and abolition;Opinions vary on method and process of modifying or abolishing unequal treaties, but theymostly lacked of practical feasibility; The research for unequal treaties of the intelligentsiastrengthened the cognition of the ordinary people,and promoted the development of the theoryrelated international law and enhanced the influence on foreign affairs and negotiations of thepublic opinion. However, the cognition of unequal treaties in this period had its limitations whichManifested in the following respects: the understandings of the influence of unequal treatieswere not comprehensive; the awareness to the efforts and achievements of Beijing governmentwas inadequate; and the method to abolish unequal treaties was infeasible.