东南亚侨汇与抗日战争——再论东兴汇路的起源与发展

Southeast Asian Remittances and the War of Resistance against Japan—Re-discussion on the Origin and Development of Dongxing Remittance Channel

东兴汇路是抗战时期中国沟通外部世界的重要战略通道。1907年,中国政府就在此地设立邮政机构并与法属越南互换国际邮件。本文以广东政府机构馆藏一手侨汇档案为基础材料,揭示了太平洋战争爆发之前由官方行局所初步构建并主导的东兴汇路就已存在并发挥作用的史实。以往学界主张这一汇路源于1942年春,将其主要归功于潮帮侨批局的说法并不科学。东兴汇路之所以能经受住太平洋战争的重大考验,关键是因为华南驻军、广东地方当局、官方行局此前已成功解决了私营侨批业难以独自应对的批路安保、头寸接济、侨批寄递等诸多难题。东兴汇路的存在及持续运转,不仅为太平洋战争爆发以后中国政府继续沟通东南亚侨汇、稳定战时广东财政提供了重要保障,而且还成为中共中央扩大国际统一战线、争取海外抗战资源的重要渠道。遗憾的是,战时环境和头寸不足及国家行局和广东地方金融机构在侨汇利益上的矛盾和争夺,却又在一定程度上影响了国家集中侨汇的能力和成效。

Dongxing Remittance Channel was a strategic financial channel for China to communicate with the outside world during the Anti-Japanese War.In 1907,the Chinese government had already established a postal agency herein to exchange international mail with French Vietnam.In the past,many scholars claimed that Dongxing Remittance Channel originated in the spring of 1942,and the main reason for the establishment of this Channel was due to the Qiaopi trade.However,this argument is untenable.The reason why the Channel can withstand the baptism of the Pacific War is that the South China Garrison,the Guangdong Provincial Government,and the Canton Provincial Bank had already successfully solved many problems such as channel security,financial position assistance,and overseas Chinese Qiaopi delivery that were difficult for the Qiaopi trade to deal with.The idea of managing overseas remittances is worthy of recognition.In terms of its historical contribution,the channel not only strongly supported the frontlines of resistance,but also became an important channel for the CCP to expand the united front and win overseas resources for the war of resistance.Unfortunately,the wartime environment and insufficient positions,as well as conflicts and competition between local banks and local financial institutions in Guangdong,to some extent affected the ability and effectiveness of the state to concentrate remittance funds.