The effects of what happened in Borneo may not be visible until a year later, but there is an immediate problem.
Shandong problem.
The Shandong issue has a long history. After the outbreak of World War I, on August 15, 1914, Japan automatically joined the Allied Powers and declared war on Germany in accordance with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
On September 18, 1914, the Japanese and British forces began to attack Qingdao. At the same time, the Japanese army ignored China's neutral status at the time and occupied Jiaozhou Bay and the entire Jiaoji Railway.
At that time, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang government protested to Japan and asked the Japanese troops to withdraw. But Japan ignored it.
Just last year, the Beiyang government declared war on Germany and joined the Allied Powers.
After that, the Beiyang government once again asked the Japanese to withdraw their troops, but the Japanese still refused to leave.
This matter can be regarded as a coincidence.
In order to attack the Germans, the British and French signed secret treaties with Japan, ignoring the Beiyang government that had not yet participated in the war. According to the secret treaty, the Japanese would obtain the rights of the Germans in Shandong after the war.
The British and the French took this move in order to let the Japanese taste some sweetness first, and then support the British and French in their war against Germany in Europe.
However, they did not expect that the Japanese would not be fooled. They took no further steps after capturing Shandong. Not only did they not send a single soldier to Europe, but they took advantage of the fact that Britain and France were limited by the European war and were unable to escape. They sold things to Europe at high prices to make money while seizing on them.
Beiyang government market.
You must know that the Beiyang government has one-fifth of the world's population. Such a giant market can consume industrial products that even the whole of Africa cannot keep up with. Only when there is a market can there be vitality. Otherwise, even if Europe owns Africa's
So what about resources? If you produce something you can’t sell at all, it’s the same as nothing.
Corresponding to the despicable and shameless Japanese, the Beiyang government is honest and reliable. Since it declared war on Germany last year, the Beiyang government has tens of thousands of troops in Europe and has made great contributions.
This puts the British and French in an extremely awkward position.
If you have merit, you will be rewarded. If you have fault, you cannot be punished, but you cannot help the evildoer. But the secret agreement signed by the British and French with the Japanese was written in black and white. How to choose became a problem that Clemenceau had to face.
Qin, I understand your anger, but I need time. Facing Qin Zhiyuan, Clemenceau spread his hands and responded helplessly.
The location where Clemenceau and Qin Zhiyuan are located is the Bordeaux City Hall. Because the French government has moved to Bordeaux, Clemenceau, as Prime Minister, also has to work here.
Just half an hour ago, Qin Zhiyuan had just accepted the rank of Army Lieutenant General from Clemenceau, and reached a consensus on the expansion of the First Division of the Foreign Legion into four divisions.
From the time of this meeting, we can see the benefits of having people in the DPRK. You must know that Qin Zhiyuan met with President Raymond Poincaré twice, and the total time did not exceed half an hour. As for the three prime ministers after Qin Zhiyuan arrived in France,
Aristide Briand, Alexandre Ribot, Paul Pan Lewei, and Qin Zhiyuan did not get the chance to meet them at all.
Well, three prime ministers, it sounds like Qin Zhiyuan has been in France for more than ten years, but in fact it is only more than half a year.
This is really messy
George, I'm very angry. I can't understand why children who are opportunistic, sneaky, and naughty are rewarded, and why children who are honest, hardworking, and uncomplaining suffer humiliation. Qin Zhiyuan is righteous.
Clemenceau was worried, rubbing his temples, pinching his eyebrows, and sometimes slapping his forehead. He was not to blame for this kind of putting the cart before the horse. His predecessor had made mistakes, but now he had to do it.
He will take the blame.
But this cannot be blamed on others. Since Clemenceau has assumed the position of prime minister, it means that he will recognize all agreements signed by his predecessor, otherwise France's national credibility will be lost.
Qin, believe me, I will find a way, maybe in half a year, maybe in nine months, Shandong will definitely be returned to the Beiyang government. Clemenceau is sincere.
This is not because Clemenceau is delaying. When facing Qin Zhiyuan, Clemenceau will not shirk. Qin Zhiyuan is a general fighting on the front line, and his troops are now almost the most effective in France.
Troops, if Clemenceau uses drag on Qin Zhiyuan, what if Qin Zhiyuan is better than a gourd?
France cannot afford such consequences, Clemenceau knows very well.
Of course I believe you, Prime Minister Qin Zhiyuan still wants to add fuel to the fire.
Call me George, Qin, I will never forget those nights at Grand Fovey. Clemenceau is serious.
It sounded dirty at night, but Qin Zhiyuan understood what Clemenceau meant.
Okay, George, I believe you. Qin Zhiyuan understands Clemenceau's difficulties.
The democratically elected government has never been decided by one person. Even if Clemenceau wanted to help Qin Zhiyuan, Clemenceau could not do anything without the approval of the parliament.
As Clemenceau said, he needed time to convince Parliament, time to coordinate the interests of all parties, and time to reunite France.
In fact, the above are the duties of the French Prime Minister. As for governing local areas, that is not within the scope of the Prime Minister's authority.
As Prime Minister, Clemenceau has no right to interfere with the operation of the Paris city government. The decision of how to build a Paris government elected by Paris citizens, and even remote areas like Corsica, is a no-brainer.
Even the parliament has no control there, because there are currently no representatives from Corsica in the French parliament.
The Prime Minister actually did a very frustrating job.
It was precisely because of frustration that Clemenceau gradually became tougher and was eventually ostracized by mainstream French society.
That's a story later. Now Clemenceau is France's much-anticipated savior.
Qin Zhiyuan is also looking forward to it.
There is good news that I must inform you personally. Clemenceau stood up solemnly, walked around the desk and stood opposite Qin Zhiyuan: In order to express gratitude to the Chinese for their contribution to France, the Parliament collectively passed a resolution yesterday and decided to abandon Beiyang from now on.
The remainder of the Boxer Indemnity payment owed to France by the government.
Gengzi compensation is an eternal pain in the hearts of the Chinese people.
In 1900, due to the Boxer Rebellion incident that year, the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China, the Qing government at that time was forced to sign the Xinchou Treaty. The treaty stipulated that the Qing Empire should compensate various countries with 450 million taels of silver, which should be repaid in 39 years, with a total principal and interest of 9
One hundred and eighty million taels of silver.
Why 450 million?
Because there were 450 million people in the Qing Empire at that time, each person had one or two
Starting from 1900, the Boxer Indemnity was paid year by year. Starting from 1909, the Americans returned part of the excess principal and profit as a study fund in the United States.
After the founding of the Republic of China, in order to gain recognition from Western countries, the Republic of China government announced that it would inherit all treaties signed by the Qing Empire, and the Gengzi Indemnity continued to be paid.
The emergence of Qin Zhiyuan finally changed this situation. Clemenceau may not be able to force Japan to return Shandong to the Republic of China, but he also expressed his gratitude to the Republic of China in his own way.
You know, half of France has been reduced to ruins, and they are in need of money now.
So Qin Zhiyuan's thanks seemed sincere: Thank you, George, thank you
