When Roosevelt came to power, he already had a clear diplomatic line for the Far East and implemented it in the next ten years. This line was called aiding China to contain Japan!
It is true that Japan is the largest trading partner of the United States in Asia, but it is also the largest competitor of the United States in Asia. Therefore, for Roosevelt, the Japanese must make money, but the Chinese must also be helped, and they must not quarrel with Japan.
Japan cannot be allowed to grow wantonly, nor can China be completely destroyed.
Some historians summarize the process of U.S. aid to China in this way: moral aid to China (191-197), symbolic aid to China (197-1941) and substantive aid to China (1941-1945).
Of course, historians also have three different views on when the United States began substantive aid to China.
Some think it started with the tung oil loan at the end of 198, some think it should be marked by the outbreak of the European War in 199, and some think it should be in 1940 (when Germany, Italy and Japan formally signed the Alliance Treaty).
Especially after the Soviet Union provided aid loans to China, Roosevelt felt even more diplomatic pressure. He was afraid that continuing to delay aid to China would push Chang Kaishen into the arms of the Soviet Union. This was one of the reasons why the tung oil loan was signed.
But no matter when the U.S. government started substantively aiding China, among the American people, the aid to China began after the Battle of Songhu.
There are two main sources of American non-governmental aid to China: academic forces and church forces.
Let’s talk about the academic community first. Many cultural figures in the United States also have a sense of justice. For example, Einstein, who has become an American citizen, took the lead in launching a movement to aid China in the scientific community.
Others are sensible people who have seen the truth of the situation. For example, historians Whitney Griswood and William Johnston, as well as China expert Freda Atrey, have strongly condemned American businessmen's trade with Japan.
, believing that this is aiding potential enemies of the United States in Asia.
Thomas Beeson pointed out: "Japan's aggression directly threatens U.S. interests in China, while American businessmen are helping Japan build their empire."
Although the academic community has great influence, its execution ability is insufficient. They can only appeal for donations and then write a few articles to criticize. The church in the United States is much stronger.
The American people's initial understanding of the Sino-Japanese War came not from journalists, but from missionaries.
Because in the 1900s, most of the American reporters sent to Asia were young people who had difficulty making a living at home. They lacked work experience, and it was difficult to tell whether many things were true or false, and most of these reporters lived in Japan. After the Sino-Japanese War broke out,
A small number of reporters living in China have also left, so even less news has been sent back to the United States. There are even some young reporters who have been deceived or bribed by Japan and actually write articles to help the Japanese.
Compared with journalists stationed in China, there were many American missionaries in China. At that time, almost all communities in the United States had more than one church, and each church would sponsor one or several missionaries to work abroad. These missionaries
Most were sent to China.
Missionaries in China mail a large number of letters to the churches that sponsor them every year, so that more Americans can understand the situation in China.
News about the Nanjing Massacre was brought back to the United States by missionaries. They not only wrote letters to churches, but also to family and friends, detailing everything they experienced.
Under normal circumstances, reports of war atrocities would be regarded as conscious hostile propaganda. However, in view of the special duties and roles of missionaries, the information spread by missionaries is regarded as fact.
As a result, the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in China were spread word of mouth among communities after the missionaries sent them back to the United States. The American church also stood up, strongly condemned Japan's anti-humanity behavior, and urged the U.S. government to immediately stop targeting people.
Japanese trade.
In addition, Japanese planes bombed American warships, which aroused great indignation among the American people. The combination of various reasons gave rise to a wave of American people boycotting Japanese goods.
In the first year of China's all-out anti-war alone, the total annual sales of Japanese goods to the United States dropped from 240 million yen to 150 million yen, a drop of 26%. This is very scary data.
, and the situation has worsened year after year, causing Japan to gradually lose the U.S. market, and Japan’s finances have also become worse.
…
New York.
Zhou Hexuan took Yu Peichen to visit the two missionaries, while Vivien Leigh stayed in Hollywood and did not follow him.
Halfway through the road, they suddenly saw a parade of hundreds of people, holding slogans such as "Boycott Japanese goods," "Oppose atrocities," "Uphold justice," and "Break diplomatic ties with Japan." In front of the parade, there were also
There were many people wearing church clothes handing out leaflets along the way.
As soon as a fashionable lady got out of the car, she was stopped by a priest and handed out a leaflet saying: "Beautiful and noble lady, please do not buy Japanese stockings. Every pair of Japanese stockings you buy is providing support to the devil. Those devils are
There is a massacre in the far east. They kill innocent civilians and even pregnant women and children. This is not allowed by God. This is blasphemy against God. They will go to hell!"
The lady was a little frightened. She took the leaflet and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I will not buy Japanese stockings again. Please give in, okay, I have to buy a birthday gift for my husband."
The parade was getting closer and closer, and Yu Peichen said happily: "Sir, have you seen it? Many Americans support China's war of resistance!"
"I see, these Americans deserve respect and admiration." Zhou Hexuan nodded.
In fact, Zhou Hexuan was very suspicious of the priest's starting point. He did not mention other products, but focused on boycotting Japanese stockings. There was no support from American stockings merchants, and Zhou Hexuan would not believe it even if he killed him.
Although nylon stockings had been invented at this time, they had not yet been officially put on sale. All those on the market were traditional stockings. As a major silk-producing country, Japan's stockings were of extremely high quality and were deeply loved by American women.
The stockings were defeated step by step.
At least American stockings manufacturers firmly support the boycott of Japanese products. In their view, directly cutting off trade with Japan is what the U.S. government should do.
Compared with the backing of American capitalists, British capitalists have gone into battle on their own. Because Britain invested too much in China, Japan's invasion of China caused serious losses to them, so countless British business groups jumped up and down. The most representative ones are three companies:
Imperial Chemical Industries, Shell Oil UK and British American Tobacco plc.
These British companies organized publicity and donations while putting pressure on the British government. They pointed out: "The British government must realize that if Japan does not use all weapons including prestige, finance, resources, as well as scarce supplies and market control, Japan will inevitably occupy
China, it will only be a matter of time before Japan liquidates British interests in China."
Even without China asking for help, the British and American capitalists whose interests have been harmed have already protested against their respective governments and spontaneously launched various forms of aid movements to China.
Perhaps because he saw two Asian faces in the car, the parade surrounded Zhou Hexuan's car. A priest came over and knocked on the car window and asked: "Are you Japanese?"
"No, we are Chinese." Zhou Hexuan said.
The priest said: "Sir, I hope you are not lying. If you are Chinese, then I express my sympathy and encouragement to you, and hope that your country can win the war. If you are Japanese, then please stick to justice and obey God's instructions.
Do your part to resist the unjust war."
"Thank you. On behalf of the Chinese people, I would like to thank everyone for your help." Zhou Hexuan said sincerely.
The priest then walked back to the parade and said to the others: "The people in the car are Chinese. They express their gratitude to us. Let us continue to move forward for justice!"
Soon, the parade came to a Japanese store, and someone suddenly shouted: "Smash it!"
The priest quickly stopped and shouted: "Don't use violence, we are marching peacefully. Don't use violence..."
Many demonstrators did not listen to the advice at all, and rushed into Japanese stores in groups, smashing the window glass. There were also some criminals among them, who quickly snatched away the goods in the store, like reckless heroes who robbed the rich and gave to the poor.
Laughing and punching the clerk, he even set a fire in the store when he left.
Why did the sales of Japanese goods to the United States drop by 26% in just one year? Just look at what happened before you and you will know that selling Japanese goods is in danger of being smashed and robbed, resulting in a rapid decrease in Japanese stores in the United States.
The American people are still very capable, and Zhou Hexuan must give them a thumbs up.
