American policy and the Canton government, 1921-1925.

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between the Kuomintang of China and the United States of America from 1921 to 1925. In 1921, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the Kuomintang, tried to obtain American aid and recognition. His failure was due to the prejudice of American officials toward Sun, as well as the unwillingness of America to withdraw its recognition from the Peking Government. Sun was again frustrated in 1922 when his military subordinate, Chen Chiungmin, betrayed him. Records reveal that America was in favor of Chen's political overture and encouraged Chen's military insurrection. When Sun tried to grab the customs surplus in 1923, a policy that the western government had imposed on China, the United States dispatched more gunboats to prevent it. Convinced that he could not obtain help from America after this episode, Sun was forced to link with Communist Russia in 1924. Influenced by Soviet advisers and Sun's sudden death in 1925, the Kuomintang adopted a pro-Russian policy to unify China. American worry about Bolshevism in China had come too late.