A Study On The Role Of Ping Kwei Mining Administration During Anti-Japanese War

As Anti-Japanese War broke out in July,1937, the government of Republic of China drew up a policy of mine barter trade which included tin mine. By doing so, the government won the assistance of Soviet Union and America in its war against Japan. The government, in its efforts to improve the domestic productive force of mine,set up an array of industrial and mining enterprises in the rear of the war with national capital to produce special mine. Ping Kwei Mining Administration, started operations in 1st, October,1938, was a joint enterprise of the National Resources Commission and the Kwangsi Provincial Government of China among those in the rear of war. After its foundation, it worked actively in its cooperation with the National Resources Commission to carry out the policy of national tin production. Additionally, it took charge of the purchase, refinery, and selling of tin in mining sectors of Guilin, Pinle and Fuhezhong mine. Built in the wartime, Ping Kwei Mining Administration was endowed with distinctive historical meaning. Besides, it also saw t similarities in the development of history among China and other countries in the world at the wartime. Of all industrial and mining enterprises in the rear of the war, the Operations of Ping Kwei Mining Administration best demonstrated the achievements and setbacks of the enterprises, as well as the cooperation and divergences with the world anti-Fascist countries. Focusing on the Ping Kwei Mining Administration at the wartime, this thesis gives an analysis on its production of tin and coal in accordance with the domestic and international situations, especially in tin markets. With reference to related materials and documents, the thesis starts from the administration’s variation of production from October,1938 to November,1944 and continues to discuss the significant role of the tin from Ping Kwei Mining Administration in the national government’s barter trade with Soviet Union and America. Furthermore, the thesis places emphasis on its contributions of needed supplies from the trade to the army by demonstrating more specific data. Moreover, the thesis also pays attention to the administration’s efforts in its staff welfare, education and medical care. Thus, the thesis takes a closer look at the role of national capital in improving the living standard of staff and citizens in mining areas and local constructions.The thesis analyzes the role of Ping Kwei Mining Administration during Anti-Japanese War from six sections:The first section is an introduction. It gives a brief introduction of the research by academic circles since 1960s. The research covered national government’s policy of mine barter trade, National Resources Commission, mining industry in Kwangsi Province and Ping Kwei Mining Administration. The thesis is greatly inspired by the former researches. Besides, the introduction points out the research approaches, emphasis, difficulties and innovative goal of the thesis.The second section elaborates on the natural conditions and historical background of Fuzhonghe mining area where Ping Kwei Mining Administration located. Additionally, it explains the mining ways of coal and tin in Fuzhonghe mining area before the foundation of the administration. It also presents the favorable mining environment of coal and tin in this area.The third part reveals the historical course of Fuzhonghe mining area from the control of local government of Kwangsi Province to the domain of national government by analyzing the favorable situation of tin industry in China and other countries and the divergence between the central government and the local ones before the founding of Ping Kwei Mining Administration from early 1930s to October, 1938. Based on the changes of Fuzhonghe mining area ruled by the New Kwangsi clique, it emphasized the foundation for the administration’s operations at wartime laid by New Kwangsi clique’s ruling since the administration founded.The fourth section, with reference to materials and documents of the National Resources Commission and Ping Kwei Mining Administration, explored the achievements of Ping Kwei Mining Administration before the Pacific War from the perspective of the changes in tin market of China and other countries and the mine barter trade between China and America. It also evaluates the contributions of the administration to tin barter trade and constructions in the rear of the war in this period.The fifth section tries to indicate the changes in international tin markets and the barter trade between China and its allies and the impact of the inflation at wartime towards mining enterprises in the rear. As a result, it explains the decline of Ping Kwei Mining Administration from December,1941 to November,1944. Furthermore, it gives an evaluation on the achievements of the administration in this period.The six section sums up the thesis from the angles of the relations between enterprises and war environment, government, market and local resources.