Three days after "Chang'e-1" went into space, Simon finally met Song Ziwen again. I wonder if it was affected by the successful launch of "Chang'e-1". Compared with the last time he met, Simon felt that Song Ziwen's temperament had changed. It seemed that He became more confident and "bossy". Bossy, yes, just bossy. After the meeting and greetings, Song Ziwen said rudely and directly: "Viscount Simon, I can only give you five minutes. If you have anything to say, please just say it. .”
Simon only dared to ask for a meeting again after he exchanged several telegrams with New Delhi. Originally, he thought that with the conditions that the British could offer, he would definitely be able to persuade the Chinese side. However, after meeting Song Ziwen, he understood the change in his temperament. Later, I felt a drumbeat in my heart and was no longer confident, "Yes, yes, Your Excellency, Foreign Minister, that's it. After our last meeting, I called the cabinet and Prime Minister Churchill criticized me. What Mr. Prime Minister meant was , what will be the future of Myanmar, and even the entire Indochina Peninsula, we are willing to follow your government’s arrangements.”
He was interrupted by Song Ziwen before he finished speaking. Song Ziwen shook his head and said: "Viscount Simon, this is wrong. Our government has no intention of interfering in other countries' internal affairs. Therefore, what will be the future of Myanmar and even the entire Indochina Peninsula? This will be determined by It is up to the people of each country to decide independently.”
Simon was stunned, but he cursed in his heart and praised: "Well, your country's diplomatic proposition is really admirable. However, the countries in Indochina are currently unable to resist the Japanese invasion. I thought that China, as a regional power, is You have an obligation to do something to maintain regional stability and order, so our government hopes that your country can assume the responsibility of a regional leader and lead neighboring countries to resist Japanese aggression."
The British decision-makers headed by Churchill spent a lot of time thinking about how to persuade China to help Britain stop the Japanese army from advancing westward. But because there was no real benefit in hand, Churchill resorted to using false names to create a trap for the Chinese. There is no shortage of so-called "China hands" in the British senior management who are familiar with China's human conditions and national conditions. In their eyes, Chinese people value fame and sometimes even their lives, and they often make incomprehensible slapping and pretending to be fat people. It was under the influence of these people that Churchill finally found a way to deal with the Chinese government, and Simon thought it was feasible, so there was this new meeting.
The "China experts" at the British decision-making level have this understanding, which is naturally derived from historical experience. Counting various Chinese dynasties, there seems to be no shortage of examples of slapping someone in the face and making a fool of themselves in diplomacy. Before the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese were more accustomed to referring to the sky as the sky. The self-proclaimed country seems to confirm the Chinese people’s reputation for being vain.
It’s just that the senior leaders of the coalition government headed by Ouyang Yun are also such people. They are totally wrong. You must know that during the Cairo Conference, the impression Ouyang Yun left on Churchill was similar to that of a rogue. Just imagine , a person who can act as a rogue in diplomacy, how can he care about some false reputations? As the de facto supreme head of state of China, Ouyang Yun's diplomatic style will naturally set a benchmark. Okay, Song Ziwen was a humble gentleman by birth, but after being influenced by this, he has now become "bad". So, when Simon dropped such a big hat, Song Ziwen not only did not accept it happily, but rejected it righteously and sternly.
Accustomed to treating foreign affairs in the same way as Ouyang Yun, Song Ziwen may still have a sense of historical glory in his heart, but he will never be dazzled by these false names. After Simon finished speaking, he smiled and smiled with the translator sitting behind him. Looking at each other, he looked at Simon and said seriously: "Viscount Simon, you are right. As a regional power, China is indeed obliged to maintain regional stability and order. However, this is also a matter of circumstances. Today, our country still has a lot of resources. The territory has not been recovered. In this case, even if Prime Minister Ouyang has the intention, but he is unable to do it, so what. Our government does not care about regional leaders. Of course, this does not mean that we will not care about the affairs of neighboring countries. , As a responsible big country, we will of course help neighboring countries to resist foreign aggression, but at this time, I think we will definitely focus on regaining our occupied territories first." At this point, he looked at his watch, and then did Astonished, he said: "Yeah, it's five minutes." After saying that, he stood up, as if he would leave in the next moment.
When Song Ziwen said the first sentence, Simon was still secretly happy. However, after Song Ziwen said the last sentence, he was shocked, and his joy suddenly disappeared. When Song Ziwen said "but", his heart was high. It reached his throat, and then he couldn't sink any more. Seeing Song Ziwen about to leave, he quickly stood up and said: "Your Excellency, please give me five more minutes, just five minutes."
Song Ziwen frowned, looked at him and said: "Viscount Simon, I just said that if our government is unwilling to take on this responsibility, it is really beyond its power." After saying that, he looked at him and blamed him, "Why are you doing this?" "Tangled" expression,
"I know that your government has many difficulties. Prime Minister Churchill mentioned in his telegram to me yesterday that if China has any difficulties, as long as we have the ability to help solve them, we will never refuse. Your Excellency, on the issue of war against Japan , we have common interests, and if your country can put heavy pressure on the Japanese army in Indochina, it can also alleviate domestic pressure, right? Your Excellency, we are discussing this cooperation with a pious attitude. What does your country have? Please feel free to ask for it."
Simon almost said the last words through clenched teeth. Seeing this clearly, Song Ziwen snickered in his heart, but on his face, his brows furrowed deeper, "Then I'll give you another five minutes." He said, and then He pretended to call the secretary who was sitting beside him, and said to him: "Xiao Zhang, go make a phone call and explain that I'm five minutes late."
Xiao Zhang understood, stood up and went out.
Song Ziwen sat down again, pretending to be worried and complained: "Viscount Simon, you must have heard about the current situation of our government. Before the formation of the coalition government, China was actually in a state of bankruptcy. I am not afraid of your jokes. After the formation of the coalition government, At that time, instead of getting a dime from the previous government, we got a huge pile of debt. As you know, war is actually about money. Moreover, the Central Plains of our country has suffered a famine that has not happened in a century. It is necessary to rescue refugees. Money, weapons and equipment cost money..."
As soon as Song Ziwen started talking, Simon began to sweat on his forehead. He felt that what he had said before was too full. However, thinking of Churchill's explanation, he still gritted his teeth and held back.