Chapter 123 The so-called equality

In early summer, in Nanjing, Jiaoyang was in the air. At this time, for the citizens in Nanjing, Nanjing seemed to be as calm as ever, but this calm was only limited to the surface. Early in the morning, the square outside the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire was full of students and young people who came to sit and demonstrate.

Since the beginning of May, after the Sino-US negotiation table on the renewal of the "Treaty on Restriction of Chinese Workers in the United States" was moved to Nanjing, boycotts and protests have been staged in various cities in China. At first, China said that the negotiations overshadowed people's attention to the "Treaty on Restriction of Workers from the United States and China", and with the signing of the signing of the peace treaty between China, the "Restrictions on the United States and China" The Covenant has once again come into people's sight. Driven by internal and external factors, the initial protest has evolved into a full boycott.

The boycott of American goods and protests that have expanded to the whole country have intensified, so that the Chinese people no longer care about the killing of Russia on the Korean Peninsula, and even the sea war between Russia that may break out at any time can't attract their attention. For the Chinese who have just relied on force to recover the Northeast and Taiwan, China seems to have become a powerful country in an instant. At the same time, the war in Northeast China and the post-war gains seem to inadvertently point a new way for China, that is, never compromise in the face of external pressure.

If the political axe does not compromise, what should the people do? Undoubtedly, they use their own actions to support the political axe. People believe that the imperial political axe will never compromise with external pressure. They try to add the negotiation chips of the political axe by boycotting American goods, sit-in protests, etc.

It's almost customary. Every time he starts negotiations with Roukeyi, the U.S. ambassador, before the Treaty of Restriction of Workers in the United States, he will look out of the window and look at the young people who sit quietly in the square to show their support. Even when the negotiations begin, he will also think of those people.

"... Therefore, I don't think this is a negotiation. It's just a natural continuation of the Old Testament!"

Looking at Liang Dunyan with a solemn expression in front of him, Rou Keyi said, but Liang Dunyan did not show any expression. He just opened the Treaty of Restricting Workers from the United States and China signed by the Qing Dynasty with the United States ten years ago before answering.

"Mr. Ambassador, according to the terms of the treaty, after the expiration of the treaty, if one party does not agree, the treaty may be abolished by itself!"

"Last year, we reached a basic consensus with the Qing Dynasty in Washington!"

Rou Keyi once again moved out of the basic consensus reached by the State Council and the ambassador of the Qing Dynasty to the United States. Although the Qing Dynasty also had no intention of signing, at least a basic consensus was reached.

"So, I think the only problem we need to solve now is the problem of signing!"

"Your Excellency, I remind you that you are in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, and you are facing the Foreign Minister of the Chinese Empire!"

The attendant on the side decisively answered for the minister.

And the refutation of the other party, Rou Keyi just smiled. He just wanted to remind them of this point, and also showed them a way. President Roosevelt needed to use this treaty to please the western constituency.

"Mr. Minister, the United States helped you during the Sino-Japanese War. Why do you want to launch an anti-American arrival campaign now?"

As an expert on China's oriental issues, Rou Keyi tried to play the emotional card.

Liang Dunyan shook his head and looked at Rou Keyi sitting on the opposite side.

"Indeed, you help us just for your own interests..."

There have always been only interests between countries, and the so-called friendship is only based on interests.

"Before, the fairness shown by your country and President Roosevelt in the conflict was really encouraging. Both His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Political Axe have expressed their gratitude to your country. We thought that with the leadership of the United States, justice and justice will return to the world diplomatic stage!"

Staring at Rou Keyi, Liang Dunyan thanked him first in a polite tone, and then criticized him.

"Therefore, before the negotiation of the Treaty Restriction of Workers in the United States and China, China's political axe was full of expectations for the American political axe, but now I have to say that we also showed some disappointment. In the past, according to our experience, we felt that the United States was not as [***] and degenerate as those imperialists. The image of Americans was honest and fair, and they were always ready to help China.

In the midst of praise, Liang Dunyan slowed down his tone. As a young child studying in the United States, he knows far better than others how to deal with Americans. Americans will never harm their interests for the sake of face, but Americans also hope to get the kind of "face" they need, based on the face of interests.

"The good impression of the United States and the fairness of the American political axe in international affairs make us hope that through long-term efforts, we can help Americans and the American political axe help China when it encounters difficulties internationally. Therefore, after the conflict in China, His Majesty the emperor's first thought was to write a letter to President Roosevelt, indicating China's attitude and expectations. Based on the interests of the United States, President Roosevelt undoubtedly helped China a lot. However, now, we also find that in many cases, Americans talk a lot. Broad and friendly words do not bring any practical benefits to China, and President Roosevelt does not really care about the reaction of the Chinese people!"

Liang Dunyan's reproach made Rou Keyi begin to repeatedly figure out whether this was his own idea, the idea of the Chinese emperor, or the idea of the Chinese.

"So how to explain the reduction of Gengzi's compensation for the education of Chinese youth in the United States?"

After thinking for dozens of seconds, Rou Keyi still tried to change the topic.

"That's just for your reputation. You just want to win the favor of the Chinese people and further obtain trade benefits."

While speaking, Liang Dunyan stretched out his finger.

"Two years ago, the United States only ranked third in trade with China, second only to Britain and Germany. Now, the United States is the first. Since last year alone, the United States has made a profit of more than tens of millions of dollars in goods trade. You have indeed won our favor by supporting Chinese students with a refund that has not yet been approved by Congress. Similarly, we are also willing to purchase goods from friendly countries, but Mr. Ambassador, the Chinese will also boycott any goods produced by any country that cannot treat China friendly and equally!"

"Mr. Minister!"

Liang Dunyan's accusation made Rou Keyi's frown jump, and he almost immediately said.

"Please note that the Treaty on Restricting Chinese Workers in the United States is only limited to restricting Chinese workers from entering the United States. I don't think any country in the world will be as friendly and treat China as the United States?"

"Is it?"

A cold question, Liang Dunyan's expression was still extremely solemn, staring at Rou Keyi.

"Ten years ago, when I served in the former regime, in the face of the Treaty on Restriction of Workers in the United States and China proposed by your country, and even the Exclusion Act on China, the former political axe also wishfully believed that the Exclusion Act only restricted Chinese workers, not the prohibition of Chinese in other identities, because your political axe had promised that for those who were already in the United States Chinese with legal residency are given the most favorable national treatment. But after the situation, not only the Chinese workers were excluded, but the top Chinese were also repeatedly harassed and insulted.

Looking at the other party, Liang Dunyan said almost word by word in a tone of suppressing anger.

"Two years ago, Tan Jinyong, a military attaché of the Qing Dynasty in the United States, committed suicide after being insulted by the San Francisco police. At the beginning of this year, the military attaché and guards of the Chinese embassy were also insulted and returned to China angrily. I think that after this kind of thing happens, it is difficult for us to treat the exclusion of Chinese workers from the United States as their own business. And last year, Theodore, who faced the general election? In order to win 37% of the voters in the West, Roosevelt also joined the ranks of China and loudly promised to "in favor of Congress to enact a new bill on Chinese workers"!

Just as Rou Keyi was about to refute, Liang Dunyan interrupted him.

"Mr. Fang Shouliu, a Chinese representative who participated in the 1904 St. Louis Expo last year, told the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce of the Empire and criticized the various bad deeds of your country's political axe against the Manchu Qing government axe delegation, including U.S. customs officials suspected that the members of the delegation were mixed with illegal labor, and ordered everyone to Only by submitting a guarantee fee of $500 can it be released. What's more, if the Chinese delegation needs to leave the exhibition hall area for more than 48 hours during the exhibition, they must submit a written application and report to the United States before the deadline, otherwise, they will be deported! Ambassador, I would like to ask, this..."

The corners of his lips were slightly raised and he looked directly at the other party. Liang Dunyan asked again.

"Is this what your country calls for equal and friendly treatment?"

In the face of Liang Dunyan's questioning, Rou Keyi opened his mouth but couldn't speak. When he thought about how to respond to the other party, Liang Dunyan continued.

"If His Excellency the Ambassador or President Roosevelt believes that this is a way of equal and friendly treatment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire hopes to get a diplomatic letter from your country that has been confirmed, we do not mind applying the same equal and friendly "treatment" to the overseas Chinese in your country in the same way!"

In the face of the silent Rou Keyi, Liang Dunyan stared at him, with a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

"For Your Majesty, myself, and many Chinese people who have lived and studied in the United States, the United States once left a good impression on us. We have received a modern education in the United States, and Americans once treated us kindly, but what about now? We can see that in the United States, Chinese people are seriously discriminated against, and even our diplomats are discriminated against. When our diplomats are insulted by discrimination, what are you doing? Now..."

Raised the Treaty of Restriction of Workers in the United States and China in his hand, Liang Dunyan's tone was full of anger.

"When you keep saying that you are willing to wait for me, but you hold such a treaty full of discriminatory surname clause and ask us to sign it. Is this waiting for me? Your Excellency, please answer my question! What I need is a direct, official, formal, and recorded answer that can be testified by the world! Is this waiting for me?"

(to be continued)