The overseas Chinese and white people in the audience all looked at Zhou Hexuan in stunned silence. They did not expect that the content of his speech would be this.
Especially the overseas Chinese present here do not know much about the domestic situation. It was only today that I learned from Zhou Hexuan that China was not only bullied by Japan, but was also tricked by the US government.
While the overseas Chinese were talking a lot, a white man suddenly stood up and asked: "Hello, Mr. Zhou. I am Birrell, a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle. Can I ask you a few questions?"
The "San Francisco Chronicle" was the newspaper with the largest circulation in the western United States at this time. Of course Zhou Hexuan was willing to be interviewed. He smiled and said: "Excuse me."
Reporter Birrell took out his notepad and said: "You just said that the Silver Act was very harmful to the American people, but what you said is invisible and intangible. Can you say something else that has a direct impact on ordinary Americans?
Content?”
Zhou Hexuan smiled and asked: "Have you ever felt that prices in the United States have increased?"
Birrell seemed to know something about economics. He said: "Price in the United States has indeed risen, but that is the inevitable impact of the United States abandoning the gold standard."
Zhou Hexuan smiled and pointed at Song Ziwen: "This kind of professional issue should be explained by Mr. Song."
Song Ziwen stood up slowly and said in fluent English: "We set 1931 as the base period for U.S. prices. The U.S. price index that year was 100. Before the U.S. dollar abandoned the gold standard in 1933, U.S. prices were decreasing year by year. In 1930, it was 115.
, it was 100 in 1931 and 88.5 in 1932. After the U.S. dollar abandoned the gold standard, the U.S. price index rose to 90 in 1933, only an increase of about 1.5. Until the U.S. government introduced the Silver Act, the U.S. price index soared by more than 10 points in one year.
, it has now exceeded the base of 100.”
Zhou Hexuan summarized: "In other words, after the introduction of the Silver Act, U.S. prices rose by more than 10% within one year."
The two people sang and sang together in a serious manner, but they were actually playing a trick of substituting concepts. Although the Silver Act caused the price of goods to rise in the United States, the impact of the US dollar abandoning the gold standard was even greater. Professionals could see through their nonsense at a glance.
But the reporter was half-hearted and asked in surprise: "Why is this happening?"
Song Ziwen continued to lie: "To put it bluntly, the Silver Bill uses government decrees and government finances to forcibly raise the price of silver. This violates the rules of the market economy and can only benefit the Silver Group, and the entire American people will have to do this.
Pay the bill. Let’s analyze it in detail and find out..."
Song Ziwen rambled a lot, and occasionally used some professional terms, which made the reporter stunned for a moment.
Generally speaking, what Song Ziwen said is the truth. The Silver Act does go against the laws of economics. It can only benefit the Silver Group and make the entire American people pay. However, its impact on the United States is not great, because the Silver Act
The rising prices are far less than the consequences of abandoning the gold standard.
But this is enough, enough to arouse the anger of ordinary Americans. I have lived so miserably, and you capitalists still want to suck blood. It is simply unforgivable!
Sometimes it is better to tell lies than to tell the truth.
Telling half the truth and leaving half so that the other party has no way to defend yourself is the highest level of deception.
Zhou Hexuan had already discussed this with Song Ziwen. They just wanted to stir up public opinion in the United States and put pressure on Roosevelt and state government officials.
When Song Ziwen finished explaining the negative effects of the Silver Act, the Americans present immediately exploded, screaming and cursing the silver capitalists.
Reporter Birrell asked again: "Why can the U.S. government still pass such an unfavorable policy?"
You guessed it right, this reporter is a shill hired by Zhou Hexuan to make big news.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "Let's ask Mr. Song to explain."
Song Ziwen had already entered a state of deception. He said: "The United States is a traditional silver-producing country, and American capital controls about 70% of the world's silver production. But in fact, the silver industry's position in the U.S. economy is not important. It is far from important.
It is less than the output value of peanuts and potatoes, not to mention the output value of wheat and cotton. However, the silver production areas in the United States are very concentrated, distributed in seven western states such as Utah, Idaho, and Montana. The senators of these seven silver-producing states
, controls one-seventh of the voting power in the U.S. Senate, forming the so-called Silver Group. Only by pleasing the Silver Group can the U.S. government and politicians obtain the votes of these seven states and successfully pass other policies and bills."
Zhou Hexuan once again added: "In other words, even if President Roosevelt knew that the Silver Act was detrimental to the country and the people, he had to hold his nose and admit it in order to gain the support of the Silver Group. The Silver Act exploited the American people and did not harm others.
The interests of state legislators, so although legislators from other states do not agree, they will not oppose it. Including California, where you are located, the people of California cannot get a penny from the Silver Act, but they must pay for the Silver Act. You usually buy things,
Items that originally cost only nine dollars now cost ten dollars."
"Oh, God, those capitalists are such bastards!"
"I just said it's really abnormal that prices have risen so much this year."
"You son-of-a-bitch capitalists are all vampires!"
"Roosevelt and those congressmen deserve to die too."
"We must unite to fight against capitalist exploitation!"
"..."
Most of the white Americans in the theater come from the cultural and artistic circles. They are easily incited and have no understanding of the economy. Now some are planning to write articles criticizing the government or even organize demonstrations.
Birrell, the reporter of the San Francisco Chronicle, was already feeling happy at this moment. Big news, big news. If he made such big news, he should be promoted and raised.
Mayor Ross of San Francisco also had a smile on his face. California where he is located is not a silver-producing state, and officials here don't care whether the Silver Act can be maintained. In other words, no matter how big a mess Zhou Hexuan makes, California officials don't care.
.
On the contrary, if Ross can make a few public speeches to call on the people to oppose the Silver Bill, he can gain great popularity, which will be political capital in the future.
Only Fan Heyan was a little scared and asked quietly: "Mr. Song, if we do this, we won't anger the US government, right? Then there will be no need to talk."
Song Ziwen laughed and said: "If we don't do it this way, do you think we can continue to talk? The Silver Group has politically kidnapped Roosevelt. They have one-seventh of the voting rights in the Senate. Roosevelt will not offend the Silver Group for China."
"But...but...it's still inappropriate." Fan Heyan said guiltily.
Song Ziwen directly exposed Fan Heyan's idea and ridiculed: "Are you afraid that you will anger the US government and make it difficult to do business after returning to China?"
"Haha, Mr. Song is joking." Fan Heyan looked embarrassed, and couldn't help complaining: No wonder you offended so many people in Nanjing, and even the Minister of Finance can no longer work. How can you say such a thing!