米荒、米潮二重奏:1940年成都的粮食危机

The Duet of Rice Shortage and Rice Riots: Chengdu’s Food Crisis in 1940

1940年国统区的粮食问题开始严峻,位于大后方核心区域的成都,其粮食危机表现为粮价飞涨的米荒和饥民抢粮的米潮交替出现。1940年春季成都米价的上涨由通货膨胀、粮食歉收、囤积居奇等多方面因素所致,进而引发了 3月14日成都饥民打砸仓栈、哄抢存米的群体性事件。国民党四川当局通过封仓平籴的手段暂时平息了此波风潮,却未深究原因,将其简单误判为中共地下党所为。随后的两个月间,新成立的物价平准处在打击囤积居奇方面后继乏力,未能遏止住米价;平价销售食米的工作既缺存米又乏资金,且弊案不断。米价再度滑向失控。当年成都初夏高温少雨的天气,进一步催化了米价的涨势,刺激了民众酝酿已久的过激情绪。成都城厢内外继发割口袋、阻关、冲击米市的第二波抢米风潮,导致了社会动荡。米荒和米潮的波浪式发展,意味着成都粮食危机的迅速加深。而国民政府在处置过程中的疏漏和失误,反映出其统治逻辑和应对能力中的问题。

In 1940,the food problem in the Kuoinintang-controlled area became more and more serious. The food crisis in Chengdu, which located in the core of the rear area, was manifested in the alternation of the "rice shortage" of soaring grain prices and the " rice riots" of the hungry people. Tlie rise of rice price in Chengdu in the spring of 1940 was caused by inflation, poor harvest, hoarding and profiteering, and other factors, which led to the mass incidents of Chengdu hungr}r people smashing warehouses and robbing rice storage on 14 th March. The Kuomintang Sichuan authorities temporarily quelled the riots by means of closing warehouses and selling stored grains, but did not delve into the causes and simply misjiidged it as the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party's underground members. Over the next two months, the newly established Price Leveling Office had no enough strength to crack clown on hoarding and failed to contain the rise of rice price. The sale of rice at affordable price was both short of rice and funds, and the cases of malpractice were incessant. These resulted in the rice price losing control again. The high temperature and less rain in Chengdu in early summer further catalyzed the rise in rice price and stimulated the long-brewing excessive emotions of the people. Both inside and outside Chengdu occurred the second riots of cutting grain bags, blocking passes, and charging rice markets,leading to social unrests. The development in waves of "rice shortage" and "rice riots" means the rapid deepening of the food crisis in Chengdu. However, the careless omissions and mistakes of the Nationalist government in the process of disposal reflect the problems in its ruling looio and ability to deal with emergencies.