New to the Library: Foreign Office Files for China, 1919-1937

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I’m really pleased to let you know that the Library has recently purchased access to the Foreign Office Files for China, 1919-1937 from Adam Matthew Digital. This means we now have access to the full Foreign Office Files for China database covering the years 1919 to 1980. This fantastic resource provides access to the digitised archive of British Foreign Office files dealing with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

You can access Foreign Office Files for China, 1919-1980 via the Databases A-Z list, Primary source database list, the History Subject Guide or DiscoverEd.

The Library had already purchased access to the files covering the period 1938-1980, broadly covering the ‘Open Door’ policy, China’s war with Japan, Communist Revolution, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

The Library has now purchased the files covering 1919-1937 to enlarge access to this fascinating resource. These come in two parts: 1919-1929 broadly covering Kuomintang, CCP and the Third International; 1930-1937 broadly covering The Long March, civil war in China and the Manchurian Crisis.

Screenshot from “China: Banditry in China; proposed international police force for China under League of Nations; capture or murder of foreign nationals by bandits; Communist activity; hostilities in [[Mukden]] and danger to British residents” (Government Papers, The National Archives, Kew, 1932). Accessed 1st August 2018.

The period 1919-1980 was a time of significant turmoil and upheaval in China and Foreign Office Files for China gives access to formerly restricted British government documents including diverse materials such as diplomatic dispatches, letters, newspaper cuttings, maps, reports of court cases, biographies of leading personalities and summaries of events.

You can access Foreign Office Files for China, 1919-1980 via the Databases A-Z list, Primary source database list, the History Subject Guide or DiscoverEd.

If you’re interested in this you may also be interested in China: Culture and Society, Chinese Foreign Policy Database, The Database for the History of Contemporary Chinese Political Movements, 1949-, Policing the Shanghai International Settlement, 1894-1945 amongst others. You can access these and other primary source databases via the Primary source database list.

Access is only available to current students and staff at the University of Edinburgh.

Caroline Stirling – Academic Support Librarian for History, Classics and Archaeology