After meeting with Labor Party leader Arthur Henderson, Zhou Hexuan had a tour guide around him who was responsible for accompanying him on inspections and speeches in the UK.
This tour guide’s name is Clement Attlee. He graduated from Oxford University, worked as a lawyer, worked as a volunteer in the slums, worked as a lecturer at the London School of Economics, participated in the First World War, and retired with the rank of major.
, turned into politics and became mayor.
Attlee was a socialist. When the Labor Party came to power to form the government, he served as undersecretary for war. After he resigned, he supported the national strike and participated in the study of the issue of Indian autonomy.
Well, these are Attlee's past, and his future will be bright.
He served as deputy leader of the Labor Party at the end of 1932, leader of the Labor Party in 1935, Lord Chancellor of the British Seal in 1940, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1942, and defeated Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1945. Since then, he has led the Labor Party to vigorously carry out socialist reforms in Britain.
Zhou Hexuan never expected that the old man Arthur would actually send a future British Prime Minister as his tour guide.
Attlee is also a highly ranked figure in the entire British history. His influence on the post-war British political system was too profound. Not only that, the Marshall Plan, the founding of NATO, the founding of Israel, the independence of Pakistan and India, and the independence of Burma and Ceylon
, the founding of Bangladesh... Behind this series of international events, there is the shadow of Attlee.
"Mr. Zhou, after you finish your lecture at the University of London, I hope you can go to Oxford University." Attlee strongly recommended his alma mater.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "If I have time, I would be happy to do it."
The two took a car to the University of London. The first stop was the place where Attlee once worked as a lecturer, the London School of Economics and Political Science under the University of London.
In the car, Attlee asked in confusion: "Mr. Zhou, do you really think that fascist forces will spread around the world?"
"There are various signs that this may become a reality." Zhou Hexuan said.
Attlee was still an anti-war and peaceful person at this time. He actively advocated British disarmament and would go on strike when nothing happened. He had nothing to do with the image of the British Prime Minister more than ten years later. This person's character was modest and cautious, even if he became the Prime Minister in the future.
The Prime Minister still listened to other people's opinions with an open mind. He said: "Mr. Zhou, I have read your academic works, and I still admire your advanced insights. But to be honest, your prediction is really hard to believe."
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "Perhaps you will believe it after another two years."
Although Hitler was promoting Nazi ideology at this time, he was still limited to domestic political purges, persecuting and excluding dissidents, and indeed there were no signs of external expansion.
It was not until two years later that Hitler publicly announced an expansion of the military, a serious violation of the Treaty of Versailles. This made Attlee wake up. He changed from supporting disarmament to opposing the appeasement policy, and asked the British government to prepare for war to prevent German expansion.
This was a guy with keen eyesight and a clear mind. As early as the beginning of Hitler's military expansion, he realized that war was inevitable, while the heads of the British and French governments at that time were still taking chances.
Zhou Hexuan was unable to give a reasonable explanation for the time being. Although Hitler had already made his mark in German politics, it would take another half a year before he actually came to power. In the early days of Hitler's rule, his political and economic policies were also chaotic. Before he publicly announced military expansion,
It is difficult for anyone to detect his crazy ambition.
Smart people like Einstein, who had lived in Germany for a long time, could only subconsciously feel the terror of Hitler and the Nazis, because before those guys came to power, they had already taken control of the country by stirring up public opinion and violence.
Hitler was indeed clamoring for expansion, but many people believed that it was just a propaganda method for the dictatorship to gain power.
Zhou Hexuan said: "Richard, you can go to Germany and Italy for on-the-spot investigation. You can find many clues."
Attlee nodded and said: "I will go. The Nazis also claim to be socialist, but their ideas are too radical."
The two chatted all the way and soon arrived at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the city center.
As soon as Zhou Hexuan got off the bus, he saw more than 20 Chinese students waiting at the school gate, and some were even students from other schools.
William Beveridge, the president of the London School of Economics and Political Science, came forward to greet him personally: "Mr. Zhou, welcome to the London School of Economics and Political Science for academic exchange!"
"Hello, Mr. Principal, I am extremely honored!" Zhou Hexuan shook hands quickly.
This is also a very powerful guy. After the end of World War II, William Beveridge formulated a blueprint for the welfare state for Britain. Most of the subsequent social welfare systems in Britain originated from Beveridge.
It can be said that the two people around Zhou Hexuan at this moment, Attlee and Beveridge, jointly laid the foundation for modern Britain.
"Mr. Zhou!"
"Mr. Zhou!"
More than 20 Chinese students waved enthusiastically. Zhou Hexuan smiled and said to Beveridge: "Mr. Principal, can I say a few words to my compatriots?"
"Of course." Beveridge nodded.
Zhou Hexuan walked over quickly and said hello: "Hello, classmates!"
"Hello, Mr. Zhou!" the international students responded in unison.
Zhou Hexuan asked: "Is your studies going well? Are there any difficulties?"
A male classmate said: "Difficulties can be overcome, but national calamities cannot be endured. We all want to graduate as soon as possible and serve the motherland!"
"There are many opportunities to serve the motherland, but the prerequisite is to study hard," Zhou Hexuan asked, "What is your name?"
The male classmate said excitedly: "Yang Deqiao, courtesy name Yuyao, is a graduate of Central University and is currently studying economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science! I came to the UK through Mr. Zhou's study abroad fund. Thank you very much for Mr. Zhou's generous support!"
"Very good, keep working hard!" Zhou Hexuan nodded with satisfaction.
Yang Deqiao in history was also considered a celebrity in the field of economics during the Republic of China.
This man joined the Communist Party in 1926 and surrendered to the Kuomintang Party the next year. He was a traitor to our party. However, after the September 18th Incident, he was arrested and imprisoned for participating in the student patriotic movement. After his release, he was admitted to the University of London as a publicly funded international student.
He successively served as the director of the Ningxia Education Department and the general manager of the Chongqing Branch of the Central Bank. He joined New China when Chongqing was liberated and authored the book "History of Economics".
Due to the butterfly effect brought by Zhou Hexuan, Yang Deqiao obtained Zhou Hexuan's study abroad fund and went abroad before the September 18th Incident. He became an international student three years in advance. He didn't know what kind of development he would have in the future.
But no matter what, many of the overseas students supported by Zhou Hexuan will become treasures after returning to China, and many of them hold important positions. He can barely be regarded as his disciples all over the world.
Surrounded by international students, Zhou Hexuan, Beveridge and others came to the large classroom. The classroom was full of students, most of whom were white, with a few Asians and even a few Japanese international students.
"Zhou, Zhou!" shouted white students, all of whom seemed to be academic fans of Zhou Hexuan.
Zhou Hexuan raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and said with a smile: "I am very happy to come to the London School of Economics. I don't understand politics or economics. Your principal, Mr. Beveridge, is a famous economist.
I won’t show my shame in front of him. Today I will talk about the international situation and how the British colonial system collapsed..."
"Wow!"
The audience was instantly in uproar.
Are famous universities in the UK saying that the British colonial system is about to collapse?
Watfak!
Principal William Beveridge was obviously taken aback, and then a smile appeared on his face. He liked such unexpected speeches.