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Piaotian Literature of the Fourth Empire of China www.piaotia.com Chapter 541 Reaching a Consensus

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    "Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, war cannot solve the problems currently facing China and the United States. I think it is better for us to solve the problems through peace talks. However, the conditions proposed by your country are a bit too strong. If these  If the conditions can be lowered, it may be more conducive for us to reach an agreement!" said Sherlock, the former US Minister to China.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo looked at each other, and then Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said: "So, I wonder what kind of conditions your country can accept?" In fact, the longer the delay is, of course it will be more detrimental to the United States.  The more disadvantageous it is.  But China will also consume more national power for this purpose.  It would undoubtedly be better if we could reach an agreement with the United States as soon as possible and obtain huge benefits from the United States.  Of course, they also know that the conditions proposed to the United States are indeed a bit harsh.  China does not expect the United States to really agree to those conditions when it comes to demanding high prices and paying back the money.

    Hearing Wu Tingfang¡¯s words, US Secretary of State John Sherman couldn¡¯t help but feel happy. As long as the attitude of the Chinese representatives changes, it means that those harsh conditions are not non-negotiable.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. government can agree to both of your country's proposals for repealing the Chinese Exclusion Act and protecting the interests of Chinese in the United States. However, in terms of the cession of Alaska and California, as well as war reparations, the U.S. government cannot  It's hard to accept. California and Alaska are both American territories. If these territories are ceded to your country, the security of the United States will be lost. In addition, the United States also suffered huge losses in this war.  One billion pounds in war reparations. The United States simply cannot afford it!" said US Secretary of State John Sherman.  The current differences between the two sides mainly focus on the cession of territory and war reparations.  In fact, these two points are also the two most important points in this negotiation. The United States desperately wants to reduce losses, while China wants to extract greater benefits from the United States as much as possible.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of State, these territories did not originally belong to the United States! California was captured by the United States by massacring Indians. And Alaska was just purchased from Russia by the United States for $7.2 million. Use this  Two pieces of land in exchange for the end of the war is a very good deal for the United States!" said State Minister Jiang Xingguo.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of Defense, at least, both California and Alaska are legally part of the territory of the United States. The United States has no intention of giving up these territories!" U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman continued to insist.

    In the end, the two sides argued for a long time.  But neither could agree on the issue.  Considering the need to end the war as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang took the initiative to make some concessions.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of State. Let's do this. If the United States can agree to one condition of our country, our country can give up California and only need Alaska!" said Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang.

    U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman was overjoyed and wanted to say more.  However, Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo said impatiently: "Your Excellency, Secretary of State, this is our bottom line. If your country still does not agree, then we can only declare that the negotiations have broken down and continue the war!"

    Although U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman was a little angry, he had no choice. He knew that it would be good to get the Chinese to give up California.  After all, California is far more important than Alaska.  Moreover, this is also the bottom line proposed by US President Garrett Hobart. Alaska can be given to the Chinese, but California must be kept.

    "Okay, Foreign Secretary, what other conditions does your country have?" U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman asked.

    "Our conditions are very simple. The U.S. government must promise not to deploy large warships on the West Coast, mainly battleships, armored cruisers or heavy cruisers with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons! If your country agrees, then we can abandon California  State!" said Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang.

    "What? This won't work! The deployment of U.S. military forces in the United States is the freedom of the United States, and no other country can interfere." U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman said very dissatisfied.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of State, if our country occupies California, it will pose a serious threat to the United States. The deployment of a large number of warships by the United States on the west coast will also pose a huge threat to China. Therefore, China will never give in on this condition!  "Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo said coldly.

    U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman feels China¡¯s persistence, but this issue is beyond his control.  So he said: "You two, I can't give you an answer to this question now. I have to ask the government for instructions. We might as well shelve this issue first."?Let¡¯s discuss other conditions!  "

    In this regard, neither Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang nor Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo had any objections.

    "You two, the current fiscal revenue of the United States is only 140 million pounds, which is much lower than your country. If the United States is asked to compensate the United States for one billion pounds at a time, the United States will go bankrupt!" U.S. Secretary of State John?  Sherman said.

    "One billion pounds is only equivalent to six years of your country's fiscal revenue. Your country can pay it off in twenty or thirty years. We only need to charge a little interest!" said Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang.

    ¡°No, the amount of compensation is too much, and the United States cannot afford it!¡± U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman was not fooled.  Considering the national strength of the United States, one billion pounds is a lot, but it will be enough to pay off in ten or twenty years.  However, China is already very terrifying now. If it receives so much war reparations, China will definitely develop into the world's most powerful country.  At that time, it will be even more impossible for the United States to avenge its past humiliation.

    "So, how much war reparations can your country accept?" Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang asked.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, our country can compensate your country 100 million pounds. This is already the greatest ability of the United States. After all, in this war, our losses were also very large!" said US Secretary of State John Sherman.

    "No! 100 million pounds is too little. Our country also spent a lot of money in this war. Well, China is making a concession. The United States will compensate China for 800 million pounds in war reparations." Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.

    "800 million pounds is still a sky-high price, and the United States can no longer afford so much money. In this way, the United States is willing to increase the amount of compensation to 150 million pounds, which is already double the compensation two years ago!" US Secretary of State  John Sherman said with great heartache.  The annual fiscal revenue of the United States is only this small!

    "No, 150 million pounds is too little! At least 700 million pounds will do!"

    "No, 700 million pounds is too much. 180 million pounds at most!"

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman, like businessmen, began to engage in long-term bargaining on this issue.  However, overall, the amounts between the two parties are still getting closer.  In the end, the United States was willing to compensate for 250 million pounds, and the price proposed by Wu Tingfang was indeed 400 million pounds.  After it was reduced to this amount, both parties were no longer willing to make concessions.

    "Well, let's reduce the amount of compensation to 300 million pounds. This is the bottom line that our country can accept. However, the U.S. government must pay it all within three years, otherwise, it will have to be paid with interest!" said Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo  .

    U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman hesitated for a moment, and then said: "You two Excellencies, I need to ask the country for instructions. I will not be able to reply to you until there is a reply from the country!"

    Both Wu Tingfang and Jiang Xingguo agreed with this.  After all, this was a big deal, and it was obviously not something John Sherman could decide alone.

    When U.S. President Garrett Hobart got the final conditions, it was already early morning in Washington, but he still immediately summoned Treasury Secretary Lyman J. Gage and War Secretary Russell A. Al  Jay and Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt.

    "Everyone, cede Alaska to China, and promise not to deploy large warships with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons on the west coast, compensate for the war cost of 300 million pounds, pay it off within three years, repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act, and guarantee the rights of Chinese in the United States.  Interests. This is the last condition proposed by the Chinese, and it is also the last condition that the Secretary of State worked hard to obtain!" said U.S. President Garrett Hobart.  Although this condition is still somewhat harsh, it is no longer as scary as the previous conditions issued by China.

    "Your Excellency, is it possible for the Chinese to continue to lower their demands?" Finance Minister Lyman J. Gage asked.

    ¡°The Secretary of State said that this is the bottom line for the Chinese, and the Chinese will no longer give in. If they continue to persist, it is likely to lead to a complete breakdown of the negotiations!¡± said U.S. President Garrett Hobart.

    "Your Excellency, if we are not allowed to deploy large warships on the west coast, won't the entire Pacific become completely Chinese territory? Moreover, the security of the United States will not be guaranteed. If the Chinese can amend this article  , I think we can sign an armistice treaty with the Chinese!" said Secretary of War Russell A. Alger.

    U.S. President Garrett Hobart shook his head, and then said: "The Chinese used this request in exchange for giving up California!" (To be continued.)

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