In 1900, a coalition of eight countries invaded Beijing, China, namely Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy, and austria-Hungary. However, in the course of post-war negotiations, a total of 14 countries filed claims against the Qing court, with 6 more countries. The six countries are Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Norway. They did not send troops, but claimed that "there was loss of persons and property in the war" and were "injured States". Therefore, they also demanded compensation from the Qing government. The Qing court fled Beijing even with the emperor and empress dowager Cixi, and those who remained in the peace talks were unable to argue with these countries and could only acquiesce to the demands of the six countries. In this way, the Qing government faced 14 "creditors".
The 14 "creditors" each harbor a ghost fetus, and Britain and France believe that the amount of reparations cannot exceed the Qing government's ability to compensate, and the demands made should not exceed a reasonable amount; Germany and Russia all want to take this opportunity to "make a big profit", believing that the more reparations, the better, if the Qing government cannot pay compensation, it can borrow money from banks in various countries; Japan does not want the Qing government to bear too much burden and affect the payment of the reparations of the "Maguan Treaty"; the United States has taken the initiative to let the Qing government pay less reparations as much as possible. No more than $150 million.
Why would the United States propose such an "unsocial" approach to claims? Is it really "benevolent" to China? Of course not. This was because the United States at that time was vigorously pursuing an "open door" policy. This policy was identified by the United States as a "national policy" for relations with China. At this time, the United States did not lack funds, and it hoped to break the pattern of interests of other Western powers in China with its strong economic strength, and gradually replace them as the new hegemon that could influence the Qing Dynasty.
The Englishman Robert Hurd was then the General Department of Customs and Taxation of the Qing Government, with the title of envoy, and the official residence was Sanpin. Hurd has been in China for a long time and is familiar with the financial situation of the Qing government. According to the finances of the Qing Dynasty, Hurd calculated that the actual tax revenue of the Qing government was less than 100 million taels of silver per year, which was apportioned to more than 400 million people, and each person only paid 2 yuan of silver per year, which was lower than some countries at that time. According to this, Hurd said: "The compensation increased by the tax increase should not exceed 20 million taels of silver per year." This number should be as low as possible, not more. To this end, Hurd submitted four reports to the Western powers, proposing that the amount of reparations should be set at 450 million taels of silver, paid in installments for a period of 39 years, with interest charged at an annual rate of 4.5%, and a total of about 980 million taels of silver.
The allocation is then based on the "actual loss" of each country. The distribution ratio of all countries is the largest in Russia, accounting for 28.97%, Germany 20.02%, France 15.75%, England 11.25%, Japan 7.73%, the United States 7.32%, Italy 5.91%, compared to 1.89%, the rest are less than 1%. As a result, 14 countries were happy with the amounts they received, as the money far exceeded their "actual losses".
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the government of the Republic of China continued to make compensation, but due to the development of the situation, after deferring, stopping payment and refunding, the actual amount of compensation did not reach this amount. According to historical statistics, until January 15, 1939, when the Ministry of Finance of the Nationalist Government issued a circular declaring that it would stop paying Gengzi reparations, in the 37 years from 1902 to 1938, the total amount of Gengzi reparations paid was 664 million customs taels, deducting refunds from some countries, and the actual amount of reparations paid by China totaled more than 576 million taels, accounting for about 58% of the total.
The four countries that renounced reparations: After the First World War, Germany waived reparations after March 14, 1917; after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria and Hungary also abandoned reparations in 1919 and 1920, respectively; after the October Revolution, the Soviet government abandoned reparations in 1924.
Six countries that refunded the reparations: In an advisory letter to Congress on December 3, 1907, the President of the United States asked Congress to authorize the refund of geng money for education in China, and sent students to the United States as one of the ways. The proposal will be passed in the United States. In 1908, the President of the United States signed a bill to refund $11.6 million in reparations, which won a round of praise in american public opinion. In 1924, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to refund the remaining Gengzi reparations. Refunds in the United States have had a greater international impact. In December 1920, Britain informed China that it would refund the geng money as a common interest between China and Britain, and hoped to use British education to teach Chinese, develop Sino-British trade, and promote British economic interests. France also informed China at this time that it would refund the geng money. China and Belgium and China and Italy concluded agreements in 1925 and 1933 respectively to return the Geng. The Dutch returned all the money to China in 1926.
Of the total Gengzi reparations, the quota allocated to Japan was 7.73 percent, ranking fifth among eleven countries. When the United States returned the money, the number of students studying in the United States gradually surpassed that of students studying in Japan, a phenomenon that aroused the attention of Japan. From 1918 to 1921, a number of Japanese parliamentarians, including Honkichi Takahashi and Rusaburo Shimizu, successively raised questions and suggestions to the Diet on the education of Chinese students studying in Japan. So the Japanese government began to treat Chinese students in a gentle way. In March 1923, the 46th Diet of Japan passed a bill to refund 19% of the reparations to Develop Cultural Undertakings in China. However, Japan's use of gengzi reparations for the so-called cultural undertakings against China is only a kind of pretense, and although it wants to win the favor of the Chinese people, it cannot hide the essence of its aggression.
In the 37 years from 1902 to 1938, the total amount of China's actual payment to Japan was 57.36 million customs bills, plus Qingdao's public property and salt industry subsidy treasury bills, the amount of compensation paid by the state and Japan accounted for 99% of the Geng, and even when the fierce war between August 13 and Songhu was in full swing, the Republic of China government continued to pay Japan 32,824 yuan in compensation for the month of August on August 31.
The relevant messages are as follows:
On August 26, 1937, Mei Lehe, then the General Taxation Department of China Customs, sent a telegram to Kong Xiangxi: "In order to maintain the integrity of the customs and maintain the tax calculation, the payment due to the Japanese Geng and the aftermath should still be paid temporarily, and the dispute shall be avoided with full debt credit." In addition to the face of the second seat, I would like to call for verification. ”
On August 27, 1937, Kong Xiangxi sent a letter to Mei Lehe: "Yu Dian is informed. The monthly payment may be deferred as agreed. ”
On 7 September 1937, Melehe addressed to the Customs Department No. 11969: "... The portion of the reparations to Japan's Gengzi, calculated in 32,824 pounds and fifteen shillings, was due on August 31, and was previously deferred to the August 300 electric bill of the Jun Bureau, but was not immediately allocated. On August 31, he was granted permission to make the payment, that is, the payment was made in full on the same day, and it was received by the Japanese side. Thereafter, with regard to Japanese debts and compensation, until another order is issued, it shall comply with this telegram order, and shall continue to be allocated as usual when it matures on a monthly basis, so as to be fully indebted..."
The reason why the Republic of China government is bent on perfection is very clear, fighting against Japan, Chiang Kai-shek is well aware of his own ability, many times, arms and weapons still need to rely on the support of the United States and other countries, so he thought of relying on the way of compensating Japan Gengzi to establish the prestige of his own Republic of China government, so that other countries can see that the government is so credible to the "enemy", and then support him in many ways.
It was not until after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that Chiang Kai-shek probably felt that there was little hope for Japan to turn around, chiang kai-shek dared to declare war on Japan, and all sino-Japanese treaties were thus abrogated.