世界貿易公司與中美物資流動，1938-1958

Abstract

抗戰時期，在嚴重缺乏物資的情況下，中國政府急需尋求國際借款，以確保戰爭所需要的關鍵物資，其中又以美國為主要對象。中國政府派遣以上海銀行家陳光甫為首的中國使美財政代表團，向美國財政部協商商業借款，最終確定以易貨方式進行，其債務方不能是政府部門，必須是以民營商業機構的名義行之，「世界貿易公司」於是在美成立。其主要業務為運用借款採購中國所需的美國工業物資，並銷售美國所需的中國農礦產品，以償還債款。1939年至1942年上半年，世界貿易公司運用易貨借款採購物資與銷售桐油償還借款的執行成效甚佳，不僅協助國民政府獲得汽車用品、石油產品、無線電等戰時物資，拓展商業網絡，也因提前償還桐油借款，建立商業信用。此外，作為中、美政府機構簽約、收款、驗貨、交貨與傳達商情的中介角色，其經營有賴於董事們在中國與美國的政商人際網絡，且有仁社與中國工程師學會等社團網絡的支持。太平洋戰爭爆發後，美國政府極力向外採購戰略物資，諸如中國豬鬃，並希望以有限資源達成戰爭生產最大化。在此情形下，物資的採購與出口均有優先次序，申請手續甚為繁雜。世界貿易公司在這些購銷事務上，付出諸多心力。1945年戰爭結束後，世界貿易公司依然發揮了代理中國政府採購物資、履行借款、申請出口許可證，以及銷售桐油換取外匯之職能。誠如陳光甫所說，中美物資供需問題絕對不是新事物，而是因為戰爭變得更加複雜。在前人研究的基礎上，本文主要從世界貿易公司領導階層的信件，以及該公司與中美各機關往來的業務資料，指出在美國供給物資主要管道的租借法案之外，世界貿易公司有別於中國國防供應公司與駐美中國物資供應委員會，係以商業途徑為政府解決許多戰時複雜的物資問題。再者，針對過往未梳理的中華民國政府遷臺後駐美採購機構的整併問題，本文也從世界貿易公司的整頓與結束經營，說明1950年代政府對美購銷物資的逐漸統一及制度化。整體而言，在中美關係史研究中，世界貿易公司確實有獨特之處。該公司的經營長達將近20年，其戰時所被賦予解決物資問題的任務，不因戰爭終止而結束，戰後仍執行戰時未完成的業務。作為戰時解決物資問題的機構，世界貿易公司在代理政府運用借款、購銷物資及參與商業交涉的同時，也進一步培養工程人才、傳遞工商資訊，更與中國廠商保持密切的連繫，期能深化經營基礎，展現了永續發展的商業思維。就此而言，本文以世界貿易公司為中心，探討戰時跨國物資流動的複雜過程，也為以下議題：作為駐美購銷物資機構、對美物資交涉、政商關係與人事網絡、經營策略，提供了一個特殊的歷史視角，並進而思索戰爭與物資交換的歷史意義，以及戰時經驗與戰後臺灣歷史之關聯。Facing with a lack of materials during the second Sino-Japanese War, the Nationalist Government sought international loan mainly from the U.S. to secure critical support. The Shanghai banker Chen Kwang-pu led Chinese Financial Mission was sent to the U.S. to negotiate a commercial loan with the U.S. Treasury Department. The final decision was implemented by Barter Trade, which the debtor had to be private institutions instead of government department. Thus, Universal Trading Corporation was established for applying loans to purchase American industrial materials needed by China and to sell Chinese agricultural and mineral products needed by the United States to repay debts.From 1939 to the first half of 1942, Universal Trading Corporation successfully implemented barter trade to purchase material and paid the debt by selling tung oil. The Nationalist Government was able to obtain war materials such as automobile, petroleum product and radio transmitter, as well as expanding business network. Moreover, benefit from the early repayment of the tung oil loan, established business reputation. As an intermediary for Chinese and U.S. government agencies to sign contracts, collect, inspect materials, deliver materials, and convey business information, the corporation operation depended on the boards' political and business network, and the community network of Phi Lambda Fraternity and the Chinese Institute of Engineers. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the U.S. government vigorously procured strategic materials, such as Chinese bristle, and hoped to maximize war production with limited resources. Since the procurement and export of materials had priority and the applications was very complicated, Universal Trading Corporation had put a lot of effort into these transactions. Even after the end of the war in 1945, Universal Trading Corporation continued to act as an agent for the Chinese government in purchasing supplies, borrowing loans, applying for export licenses, and selling tung oil in exchange for foreign exchange.As Chen said, the supply and demand problem of materials in China and the U.S. was not a new thing; it has become more complicated due to the war. Based on previous studies, this study reviewed letters from administrative level of the Universal Trading Corporation and the business data of the company's transactions with various institutions in China and the U.S. It shows that other than the Lend-Lease Act to provide U.S. supplies, Universal Trading Corporation, unlike China Defense Supplies, Inc. and the China Supplies Commission in the U.S., was a commercial solution to complex wartime material problems for the government. Moreover, for the problem of the consolidation of procurement agencies in the U.S. after the relocation of the Republic of Chinese to Taiwan, this study based on the reorganization and end of operation of the Universal Trading Corporation also explains the gradual unification and institutionalization of the government's purchase and sale of materials from the U.S. in the 1950s. Overall, Universal Trading Corporation truly has uniqueness in the study of the history of Sino-American relations. In operation for nearly 20 years, it was given the task of solving material problems during the war, yet still carried out unfinished business after the war. As an institution that solved the problem of materials in wartime, Universal Trading Corporation not only used loans on behalf of the government, purchased and sold materials, and participated in business negotiations, but also cultivated engineering talents and transmitted industrial and commercial information. These deepened the foundation of business and demonstrated the business thinking of sustainable development. This study focuses on Universal Trading Corporation and explores the complex process of transnational material flow in wartime. This study provides a special historical view for institution purchasing and selling materials, negotiations with the U.S., government-business relations and personnel networks, business strategies. It also investigates the historical significance of war and the exchange of materials, as well as the connection betweenwartime experience and postwar Taiwan's history.