The “Hu Hanmin Correspondence” in the Harvard-Yenching Library

The "Hu Hanmin Correspondence" in the Harvard· Yenching Library by Chen Hongmin Translated by David P.Barrett The Harvard- Yenching Library is the holder of a major collection of private letters and telegrams concerning the eminent Guomindang (GMD) leader, Hu Hanmin (1879-1936). This resource is an invaluable asset for study of the Guomindang, the Republican period, and China's modem history in general. The correspondence was originally in the possession of Hu Hanmin's family. Its acquisition was due to the persistent efforts of former Yenching Head Librarian , Eugene Wu (Wu Wenjing). Hu Hanmin, a native of Guangdong, was a longtime follower of Sun Yatsen , and became one of the leading figures in the GMD after Sun's death in 1925, serving in such posts as president of the Legislative Yuan, chairman of the GMD. Political Council, and chairman of the GMD Standing Committee. In 1931 Hu broke with Chiang Kai-shek and moved to Hong Kong, from where he championed the adoption of a policy of national resistance to Japan, and simultaneously worked to unite all anti-Chiang political and military forces in southwest China. Hu died in May 1936 in Guangzhou. The Hu Hanmin Handian Gao consists of 2,511 letters and telegrams from the last five years of Ru's life, 1931-36. These materials are contained in forty-one volumes (ce), and consist almost exclusively of the draft versions of correspondence sent by Hu and the original copies of correspondence received by him. Hu' s contacts embraced almost everyone of importance of the time: Chiang Kai-shek, Wang Jingwei, Sun Ke (Sun Fo), Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Zhang Xueliang, Lin Sen, Song Ziwen (T. V. Soong), Kong Xiangxi (H. H. Kung), Wang Chonghui, Yu Youren, He Yingqin, Li Jishen, Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Chen Jitang, Zou Lu, Xiao Focheng, Ju Zheng, Deng Zero, Jiang Guangning, Cai Tingkai, Fang Zhenwu, Song Zheyuan, Han Fuqu, LongYun, Liu Xiang, Liu Wenhui, Wang Jiale, Yang Hucheng, He Jian, Sun Dianying, Shi Yousan, Chen Rang, Liu Luyin, Du Yuesheng, Zhang Xiaolin and many others. Many important issues and events from the first half of the 1930s are raised in the correspondence: for example, factional activities within the Guomindang, the question of war or peace with Japan, the autonomist leanings Twentieth-Century China, Vol. XXIV, NO.1 (November 1998): 119-21 120 Twentieth-Century China of the southwestern provinces (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan) and Nanjing's countermoves, Japanese efforts to subvert the southwest and the local responses to this, the Shanghai peace conference of 1931, the short-lived Sun Ke cabinet of early 1932, the Fujian Rebellion of 1933, the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Army, Hu's 1935 trip to Europe and the ensuing attempts to construct a renewed Hu-Chiang alliance, the Fifth GMD Congress of the same year, and the political activities of the overseas Chinese. In their letters, Hu's correspondents give voice to their true political beliefs, which are frequently at variance with their officially stated positions. Many hitherto unknown details are brought to light, and the factional disputes and personal relationships of those on the political stage are given greater illumination. The collection is also important for the comprehensive view it offers of the efforts of Hu Hamnin to construct a broad anti-Chiang alliance based on support he drew from Guangdong and Guangxi. It is indeed remarkable that such an extensive correspondence of so influential a political leader has been preserved. The collection affords a number of new perspectives on the politics of 1930s China. To give an example: early in the decade Hu Hanmin covertly organized a so-called "New Guomindang." Some scholars have denied that such an organization existed; while others have been persuaded of its reality, but have lacked conclusive evidence to support their view. The correspondence, however, not only includes many items concerning the promotion of "party activities," but also includes local "party reports " and even an original copy of the "party oath" taken by a recruit into the movement. The evidence is sufficient to prove the existence of this putative challenge to the established party. There are many such opportunities presented in the correspondence for filling in gaps...