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Northumbria Research Link Citation: Jones, Robert (2018) The China Association: Fostering Trade, Networks and Sociability, 1889 to circa 1955. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University. This version was downloaded from Northumbria Research Link: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/39787/ Northumbria University has developed Northumbria Research Link (NRL) to enable users to access the University’s research output. Copyright © and moral rights for items on NRL are retained by the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. Single copies of full items can be reproduced, displayed or performed, and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided the authors, title and full bibliographic details are given, as well as a hyperlink and/or URL to the original metadata page. The content must not be changed in any way. Full items must not be sold commercially in any format or medium without formal permission of the copyright holder. The full policy is available online: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/policies.html The China Association: Fostering Trade, Networks and Sociability, 1889 to circa 1955 Robert Jones PhD 2018 The China Association: Fostering Trade, Networks and Sociability, 1889 to circa 1955 Robert Jones A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Northumbria at Newcastle for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Research undertaken in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences November 2018 Abstract In 1889, a group of British returned migrants from China gathered for a formal dinner in London, resolving that the gathering would become a recurring function, and also that steps should be taken to establish an association representing their interests. This thesis examines the history of the body subsequently founded, the China Association, investigating its records alongside contemporary newspapers, periodicals and directories, as well as the papers of a number of individual members. In doing so, the thesis traces the establishment, objectives and activities of the CA over a period of 65 years. To understand how the CA operated, the thesis first focuses on the Association’s membership, examining the 111 founding members alongside later officers and key individuals. The study then investigates the three principle aims of the Association, which were to provide: (1) a political voice for British interests in China through the creation of links with the British government; (2) a platform of sociability for returnees through a variety of events; and finally (3) charity to deserving causes as well as providing philanthropic backing to collections including those for education. While disparate on the surface, these aims were drawn together by the underlying desire of the Association—and central aim of its leaders—to improve the state of British trade and businesses in China. This study offers the first comprehensive examination of a return migrant association, identifying it as a structure that served to facilitate the strengthening of trade, networks and sociability, whilst also serving as a political lobbying group. i Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................. i List of Tables, Figures and Illustrations .......................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... vi Abbreviations used ........................................................................................ viii Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Definitions and approaches ............................................................................ 10 A question of sources ..................................................................................... 17 Scope, methods and structure ......................................................................... 23 Chapter One: A Historiographical Perspective .......................................................... 27 Britain in China: Metropole and periphery interests and their development. 28 The British in China: individuals and firms ................................................... 38 The China Association’s place in an associational world .............................. 50 Political pressure groups and their involvement in China ............................. 65 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 72 Chapter Two: The China Association: Foundation, Membership and Organisation. 74 The objects of the Association ....................................................................... 75 Individual membership................................................................................... 77 Officers and committees ................................................................................ 91 Return or retirement? Continuing mercantile links of China Association members ....................................................................................................... 102 Corporate members ...................................................................................... 105 Asian branches ............................................................................................. 108 Metropole-periphery conflict and oligarchy in the China Association ........ 115 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 124 Chapter Three: Politics, Sociability and Networks ................................................. 126 The China Association’s social gatherings .................................................. 127 Encouraging sociability and countering the ‘difficult return’ ...................... 135 Politics at dinner ........................................................................................... 146 ii Balancing politics and sociability: The admission of Chinese guests to social functions............................................................................................. 170 The China Association as a political pressure group ................................... 175 Directing political pressure: Metropole or periphery pulls? ........................ 186 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 199 Chapter Four: Benevolence and Philanthropy ......................................................... 201 Individual pleas for assistance ..................................................................... 204 The China Association as a benevolent network during famine and war .... 209 The China Association, education and philanthropy ................................... 223 The China Association’s School of Practical Chinese and the foundation of the School of Oriental and African Studies ........................... 235 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 257 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 259 Appendices ............................................................................................................... 266 Appendix A: The China Association’s founding members ......................... 266 Appendix B: Key China firms...................................................................... 297 Appendix C: Students examined at the China Association School of Chinese, 1909 ............................................................................................... 303 Appendix D: List of chairmen and vice chairmen ....................................... 305 Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 309 Primary sources ............................................................................................ 309 Secondary sources ........................................................................................ 319 iii List of Tables, Figures and Illustrations Tables 1.1 Commercial Expatriates as a percentage of British population, Shanghai and Hongkong ................................................................................ 40 2.1 The 1889 general committee of the China Association ................................. 99 2.2 Selected China Association member firms and financial contributions....... 105 2.3 Branches of the China Association .............................................................. 109 3.1 The individuals given China Association dinners in their honour ............... 159 4.1 Original subscribers to the China Association School of Practical Chinese ......................................................................................................... 239 4.2 Contributions to the China Association School of Chinese endowment fund .............................................................................................................. 243 Figures 2.1 Firms holding the China Association chairmanship ..................................... 94 2.2 Background of the China Association vice-chairmanship ............................ 95 2.3 Dates holding chairmanship and vice-chairmanship, selected firms ............. 96 2.4 Average length of