民国初年的中美导淮合作及其流变

Sino-US Huai River Conservancy Loan and Its Evolvement in the Early Years of the Republic of China

淮河水患为祸多年,淮河流域民生多艰。清末民初,美国红十字会在参与多次赈灾后,将目光转向消除水患,这与中国政府的治淮意愿及行动不谋而合。在中外借款等各类国际交往中,中国因美国红十字会在淮河流域的赈济慈善而倾向于与美国合作。美国红十字会提议的中美合作导淮成为美国对华独立投资的良好契机。值得注意的是,在英、俄、法、日等国激烈争夺在华利权的时局下,选择与美国合作导淮是中国政府做出的最有利于自身利益的选择。不过,导淮合作又因国际局势的变迁及复杂的利益纠葛,流变成合作整理运河,最终成为一纸空文。

The Huai River floods had been a disaster for many years for the people living along the river.In late Qing and early Republic of China,the American Red Cross turned to think about how to eliminate the floods after several years’relief activities,which coincided with the will and action of the China government in eliminating the Huai River floods.Due to the charity and relieving activities of the American Red Cross in Huai River area,Chinese people generally had a good impression of the United States.Therefore,Chinese government tended to corporate with the United States in international communications.US-China Huai River Conservancy Loan which proposed by the American Red Cross provided a good opportunity for the independent investment.Under the situation that Britain,Russia,France,Japan,America and other countries were competing with each others for benefits and rights from China,Chinese government thought it was the best choice to corporate with America.However,Sino-US Huai River Conservancy Loan evolved into Grand Canal conservancy loan because of the changes in international situation and complicated interest entanglement among nations and between American government and companies.