Impact

The workers saw firsthand that life in Europe was far from ideal, and reported this on their return to China after the war.

Chinese intellectuals of the New Culture Movement looked on the CLC as a point of pride - Chen Duxiu, for instance, bragged that "while the sun does not set on the British Empire, neither does it set on Chinese workers abroad." But the ill treatment of these workers was added to the list of grievances against Britain.

A more positive impact was on the educated youth who came to France to work with them, such as James Yen, whose literacy programs with the workers showed him their worth and dignity.