Volume 2: The crown and the hat are all over the capital, and the spirit is full of energy and enter the foggy city Chapter 47 SSS
Subtitle of this chapter: Do your best and leave the rest to fate.
Simply put, the general environment for solving the Shandong issue was that after World War I, people all over the world no longer wanted to fight. Not only did they not want to fight, they also did not want others to fight.
Even the representative of the Japanese warlords, Tanaka Giichi, had to admit that "the recent world trend does not allow the development of the old imperialism of acquiring new territories or expanding spheres of influence."
The micro-environment is that the relevant interest countries in the Far East, namely the United States, Britain and France, all oppose Japan's monopoly of China's interests, and the Japanese's tough diplomatic style has also aroused opposition from all sides.
After the Paris Peace Conference, not only did the anti-Japanese sentiment of the Chinese people grow stronger, but also the boycott of Japanese goods continued. The United States, Britain and France also criticized Japan as "an aggressor nation" that "only considers itself, not other countries, and is too selfish", claiming that "for the sake of world civilization, they do not want Japan to develop."
Finally, let's talk about the United States. Many Chinese people don't even know that there is such a president, Warren Gambler Harding. But he is a staunch "China-friendly person".
In his campaign speeches, he repeatedly mentioned that the Treaty of Paris allowed Japan to "take Shandong." This word appeared so frequently in Time magazine, which published the campaign speeches of various candidates, that Harding's Democratic opponents were far inferior.
During the campaign, Harding's other Republican partners also frequently mentioned the Shandong issue and the unfair resolution of "invading China" in public to discredit the Treaty of Paris and the League of Nations.
Of course, this is a way to attack his . And the promises made by Western politicians during elections are generally bullshit. Few people stick to their promises like the mustache. He said he would give the German people a war, and he really brought a war to everyone.
However, if it is not too much trouble, these politicians are still willing to do some superficial work.
"So... Brother Shaochuan, the opportunity to solve the Shandong problem has come!"
After our Master Yuan finished speaking, Gu Weijun and Meng Xiancheng showed excited expressions. Minister Gu even stood up and paced a few steps with his hands behind his back.
He turned around, stared at Yuan Yan with a sharp gaze and asked: "Hongjian, let me ask you, even if we have the support of America, will the Japanese agree? You know, the Japanese have always been arrogant and unreasonable, and regard our country as their forbidden delicacy. Will they be willing to spit out the fat meat in their mouths?"
"Brother Shaochuan, the key is not Japan but Britain." Yuan Yan smiled slightly and said confidently.
"Since the Opium War, England has long dominated trade with China. However, during the last war, their attention was mainly focused on Europe, and they had no time to take care of the interests of the Far East. Japan, under the banner of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, expanded aggressively and gradually penetrated into the British sphere of influence in China, South China and the Yangtze River Basin..."
"Between 1915 and 1919, Japan's investment in China was equal to or close to that of Britain, and exceeded the total investment of all other imperialist countries in China. By the end of the war, about half of China's foreign trade was controlled by Japan, while Britain accounted for only 17.1%, ranking second; the United States accounted for 16.7%, ranking third..."
"It was at this time that Britain gradually lost its hegemony in the Far East, while Japan, regardless of Britain, became the new hegemon of the East and occupied a favorable position to speak."
Meng Xiancheng couldn't help but exclaimed: "Hongjian is so talented, you really deserve to be an economic expert!"
Gu Weijun also nodded and agreed, "Bohong is right, Hongjian, you are thoughtful. Our Chinese diplomatic community... no, China is now lacking professionals like you."
Nonsense, I am an economic expert and a professional with my own search engine.
"You two are too kind. This is just my own stupidity." Master Yuan still had to be polite verbally. He then asked: "Imagine, if you were England, would you sit back and watch yourself lose your privileged status in China?"
He asked himself and answered: "Of course not..."
"In fact, long before the Paris Peace Conference, the British Minister to China, Sir John Jordan, had analyzed the situation of Japan, the United States and Britain in a telegram sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the end of 1918, and believed that the situation in China contained the seeds of future conflicts, so 'it is necessary for us to adjust our policies.'..."
"In 1919, when meeting with the Japanese ambassador, British Foreign Secretary Curzon made it very clear that the era when China was cut up and divided into spheres of influence by foreign countries has passed. China's future will not lie in such a division. Nor does it exist in the assumption that Japan will become the hegemon of the Far East. China's future must rely on international help and cooperation, not on the competition of interest groups or the domination of individual powers..."
"It can be seen that regarding the expansion of Japan's influence in China, this troublemaker... well, England is already extremely vigilant and is ready to stir up trouble again."
"Troublemaker...England...hahaha..." This not-so-elegant way of speaking made Gu Meng and the others burst out laughing.
"Be careful with your words, be careful with your words, Hongjian." Gu Weijun shook his head and advised: "You are a public figure now. It's okay for us to talk about it in private, but don't say it outside."
Oops, this reminds me, I have always forgotten the famous nickname of the British. Tomorrow I will write an article to spread the good name of "Stir Shit Stick".
"Brother Shaochuan, that's right." Yuan Yanshu has always "accepted such opinions humbly and refused to change them."
"Since the British are on guard, and they don't have the strength to restore the pre-war situation for the time being, they will definitely use the same approach as in the past and pull other forces into the game. Among the other forces, the most suitable one is their cousin America."
Master Yuan concluded: "In short, Britain and the United States agree on the Shandong issue. They are also anxious to resolve the Shandong issue."
Well, why did Yuan Yanshu waste his breath speaking so much in front of Gu Weijun?
This is because in the original timeline, the Beiyang government and diplomatic circles finally agreed to conduct "marginal negotiations" with the Japanese under pressure from Britain, the United States and Japan, rather than formally including the Shandong issue in the formal agenda of the Washington Conference.
This is certainly disadvantageous to China, but it is also something that can be fought for.
If the original schedule of the Washington Conference had been followed, our Master Yuan would no longer be in the United States at that time, and he had no intention of getting involved in this matter.
It is not because the historical influence of the Washington Conference is not great enough. You should know that after that, the international order was called the "Versailles-Washington System."
It is because the Shandong issue will not affect his "grand plan" and his current influence cannot affect the Shandong issue.
So our Master Yuan just did his best and left the rest to fate.
