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Volume 2 Beijing Story Chapter 104 The rising tide lifts all boats and the conditions for participating in the war

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    Update time: 2012-07-21

    Lin Quanzhu couldn¡¯t laugh or cry when he heard this. This Wang Geng is really brave. He started blackmailing people in front of the ministers of the four countries?  However, Wang Geng's words at least reveal the message that no matter how the president and Congress progress, at least the Duan Cabinet is unswervingly continuing to advance the matter of participating in the war.

    "As for when China can join the war, it is obviously a question that everyone is concerned about. I really can't answer this question. How about Deputy Minister Xia answer it?" Wang Geng kicked the ball to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Xia Yiting in a blink of an eye.  .

    "Hey! Ladies and gentlemen! In fact, the cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of Premier Duan, have been working hard to push China to formally declare war on Germany. However, you all understand that China is also a complicated place where various forces are entangled. If you ask me to give a timetable, I will give you a timetable.  I really can¡¯t take it out!¡± Xia Yiting cried out hurriedly.

    "Chief Xia, don't tell lies in front of real people. The influence of your cabinet on Congress and the president is so great! During the war, it is an abnormal state. At this time, you are still arguing with each other. When you decide to join the war, the day lily will be gone.  It¡¯s cold!¡± French Minister Kant shouted dissatisfied.

    "Democracy and the rule of law are the goals we pursue in building a republic. Doesn't the U.S. government also have to wait for the House and Senate to pass the motion to join the war before the president can officially sign the document to join the war?" Xia Yiting countered not to be outdone.

    "Alexander, your statement is inappropriate. Besides, the problem facing the Chinese-government is not whether to participate in the war, but the inability of the president, parliament, cabinet and southern factions to unite and fight under the same banner! It is a pity that Yuan Xiangcheng fell short, otherwise China  There will not be such a fragmented situation!¡±

    British Minister Zhu Erdian thought of his old friend President Yuan Da, and felt a little sentimental for a while.

    "Everyone, the establishment of the Preparatory Office for Participation in the War is one of the major measures taken by Premier Duan to promote the initiative to join the war. At such a critical moment, the Chinese government needs huge support from all countries in order to effectively continue to advance our common cause of defending world peace." Wang  Geng said in a calm tone.

    ¡°Obviously, Wang Geng¡¯s subtext is that when we join the war depends on how much support you give us. The era of empty-handed white wolves has passed, and it¡¯s time for you to take real action in providing assistance!

    Hearing this, the ministers of Britain and France turned their attention to the ministers of the United States and Japan. These two and the forces behind them are the decisive and dominant forces. Britain and France themselves are too weak to provide any actual sweetness!

    "As long as China officially joins the war, everything will be easy to negotiate!" U.S. Ambassador Rui Enshi said tactfully while doing Tai Chi.

    Wang Geng asked Xia Yiting next to him a few questions in a low voice. After hearing this, Xia Yiting nodded first, then shook his head, with a wry smile on his face. Wang Geng knew what he was doing, so he waved his hand and continued:

    ¡°I just asked Deputy Minister Xia that when the Chinese government announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Germany on March 3, it put forward conditions to all countries. These conditions have not yet been formally responded and confirmed by all countries. In this case, how to reflect the various countries¡¯ commitment to the country?  China¡¯s sincerity?¡±

    "The Chinese government has been nagging about asking for this or that from the Allied Powers. I wonder what specific conditions Supervisor Wang is talking about?" Lin Quanzhu asked with a haha.

    "Minister Lin, you are a noble man who forgets things, so I might as well reiterate it again!" Wang Geng said calmly, the conditions we proposed are as follows:

    1. The part of the Boxer Indemnity that belongs to Germany and Austria is permanently revoked, and the part that belongs to the Allied Powers is suspended for 15 years.

    2. Acknowledge that China will increase import tariffs by 10% in a timely manner.

    3. In the Xinchou Treaty and its annexes, it is hoped that some places that hinder China's defense against German actions can be removed. For example, Chinese troops cannot be stationed within 20 miles around Tianjin.

    4. China¡¯s responsibility to the Allied Powers is to provide raw materials and labor based on the average international market price and no lower than the average income of labor in the Allied Powers.

    Wang Geng talked about the various demands made by China so effortlessly that the ministers from the four countries, including Xia Yiting, were surprised. How could this guy be so knowledgeable and have such a strong memory?

    After a while, Japanese Minister Hayashi Kwonsuke was the first to react and couldn't help but jump up and yelled,

    "The conditions you mentioned, Supervisor Wang, are wrong. I remember that the first clause is that the German and Austrian part of the reparations shall be permanently revoked, and the part belonging to the Allied Powers shall be suspended for 10 years. How did it become 15 years?!"

    "I remember that the import tariff was increased by 5%, why did it change to 10%? Supervisor Wang, are you kidding me?" French Minister Kant also shouted!

    "There is also a problem with Article 4. There was no limit on labor and raw material cost prices at that time," British Minister Zhu Erdian said slowly.

    "Nima, if I don't tell you, you just pretend to be stupid, and I will add fuel to your jealousy. Now you all remember what conditions the Chinese government proposed?  I don¡¯t know what is good or bad!  Wang Geng thought.

    Xia Yiting was rubbing her hands beside her and didn¡¯t know what to say.Well, obviously he was not mentally prepared for Wang Geng's unauthorized increase in the price. Just now Wang Geng just asked if he had made four demands when he broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, so Xia Yiting nodded, and then Wang Geng asked if the other party had accepted the official reply.  With these conditions, Xia Yiting shook his head again. Who would have thought that Wang Geng would be so bold as to raise the price even more!

    "Everyone, before an agreement is officially reached, it is subject to modification, not to mention how many agreements that have been formally signed have not been formally implemented. The Chinese government proposed these conditions a month ago, but the countries have not confirmed and exchanged letters in time.  , so it¡¯s understandable that we will re-introduce conditions today!¡±

    Wang Geng didn¡¯t pay attention to the other party¡¯s yelling at all. He took a puff of cigarette slowly and answered with a smile.

    "Director Wang, you are just the director of the diplomatic relations with the United States. Although Director-General Wu Tingfang has resigned, there is still Deputy Minister Xia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. Do you think you can represent the Chinese government?" French Minister Kant is obviously used to arrogance in France.  , it was a little unacceptable for a young man like Wang Geng to sound so arrogant and arrogant, and he couldn't help but ridiculed him.

    "Mr. Kant, although tonight is just an informal secret consultation between the five countries, if you have doubts about whether I can represent the Chinese government, I can't understand why you entered this room? I only talk to people who recognize me  Before you change your doubts about me, I ask you, as the French Minister, to withdraw from this informal and secret consultation! "

    Wang Geng¡¯s face turned cold and he counterattacked fiercely.

    "Hey! Chief Xia is here. We have no doubts about your identity. Kant, I think you should apologize to the Supervisor Wang on this point!" The British Minister Zhu Erdian saw that Kant could not frighten Wang Geng, so he quickly came out to smooth things over.  .

    "Okay, Supervisor Wang, I withdraw my doubts about you just now, please don't take it to heart!" Kant's expression did not change, but a series of French words came out of his mouth, obviously giving up the fluent Chinese that he had just managed to speak.

    Wang Geng¡¯s English, German and Japanese are all much better than French, but it was not difficult for him to understand Kant¡¯s words, but this guy deliberately showed his hands in an exaggerated manner,

    "I'm sorry, could you please say it again in Chinese? I know nothing about French, and I don't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings again because of differences in language and ways of thinking!"

    Alexander Kant's face turned green and white, but he finally said it again in a low voice in Chinese with a stiff accent. This was his first fight with Wang Geng. Who would leave the venue to demonstrate during the secret consultation, not to mention France was still asking for help.  One party!

    "Supervisor Wang, are you sure these are the new conditions for participation in the war proposed by the Chinese government?" Hayashi Gonsuke asked as if he didn't believe it. The Japanese government's attitude towards China's participation in the war has changed several times. The main reason is that it is worried about the Shandong issue.  After the war broke out, Japan sent troops to occupy Qingdao. It was afraid that China would return as an ally after the war. Therefore, it not only hoped that China would participate in the war, but also worried that Shandong's interests would be legitimately claimed after the war as a victorious nation.

    However, at this time, Japan had reached a tacit agreement with Britain, France, the United States, and Russia, and the Shandong issue would be resolved by concluding a separate multilateral agreement. Therefore, at this moment, Japan became one of the vanguards in promoting China's participation in the war.

    "The last time the Chinese government proposed these conditions, firstly, they did not receive formal responses and exchange of letters from various countries. Secondly, these conditions still failed to push the president and Congress to agree to participate in the war. Under such circumstances, Prime Minister Duan and the cabinet can only continue to seek provisions from various countries.  More favorable conditions to support us in ensuring that China can declare war on Germany as soon as possible!¡±

    Wang Geng¡¯s words sound reasonable and reasonable, and the subtext is very clear. The longer you delay and refuse to agree, the higher the price I will offer next time. Don¡¯t say that the Chinese government has let you go!  It's entirely your own fault!
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