1937 After the outbreak of the July 7th Anti-Japanese War, China urgently needed the understanding and assistance of the international community. 1September 1937 to1September 1942, Hu Shixian was ordered to lobby in Europe and America, and then took over as ambassador to the United States. With his international reputation, he lobbied in Britain, the United States and other countries.
So, how did Hu Shi change from the main peace faction to the main war faction? Why did Chiang Kai-shek send him to America? What is the contradiction between Hu Shi and Song Ziwen? Why did Hu Shi, who went to Europe and America to publicize China's Anti-Japanese War, finally get the evaluation of "no contribution" from Chiang Kai-shek?
In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, Hu Shi was actually a "peacemaker" who advocated trying his best to avoid war with Japan through negotiation and international mediation. At the Lushan meeting held by Chiang Kai-shek, he still suggested to Chiang Kai-shek that the central government should make "peaceful efforts" again and negotiate with Japan to recover the newly lost land and preserve the land that has not been lost; Thoroughly adjust Sino-Japanese relations and seek peace for 50 years. Hu Shi's extravagant hopes are really naive.
1937 After the "August 13th" Sino-Japanese War broke out in Shanghai, the defenders of China fought back with flesh and blood, and the war lasted for more than a month. Hu Shi's mood changed, and he felt that China's defenders could fight, and Japan was not invincible. At this time, influenced by the anti-Japanese passion of the whole people, Chiang Kai-shek made up his mind to resist Japan. At the same time, Chiang Kai-shek hoped to get sympathy and support from Britain and the United States in diplomacy. Therefore, the national government appointed Hu Shi as an informal envoy to visit Europe and the United States to conduct national diplomacy. But Hu Shi declined this mission emotionally, saying, "War is imminent. I don't want to leave Nanjing. I want to live and die with Nanjing. " Later, his student Fu Sinian came to earnestly persuade him, and even cried anxiously, saying, "If I have my husband's fame and status, I will go, in order to resist Japan ..." Hu Shi was moved by this and was gladly ordered to go.
Hu Shi is a world-renowned scholar, and his reputation in the intellectual circles of western countries is comparable to that of China at that time. Chiang Kai-shek asked him to seek international assistance, which is natural. 1On the morning of September 26th, 937, Hu Shi flew to San Francisco. After lunch, he made a speech entitled "Try your best, try your best" in the Greater China Theater, which showed his clear understanding of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. On September 29th, he gave a speech at the Federal Club entitled "Can China Win? On the 30th, he gave a lunch speech at the University of California. Then, he drafted an English broadcast speech overnight. However, when the manuscript was handed over to CBS, the station asked for revision, because the wording in the manuscript criticizing the US neutral policy was too clear. Hu Shi was angry and replied without compromise: "I would rather cancel the broadcast than modify it." "I didn't expect that the radio station was polite in this anger and promised to speak according to the manuscript. That night, he published an English broadcast to the whole country on the topic of "China's expectation of the United States in the current crisis" and gently criticized the appeasement policy of the United States.
After arriving in Washington, Hu Shi and Ambassador Wang visited President Roosevelt. Roosevelt asked with concern about the war situation in China and whether China's army could last until winter. Hu Shi gave a positive answer and said emotionally: "China needs the support of the United States. I think the president will soon see through everything! " Roosevelt understood Hu Shi's feelings, but at that time, the United States pursued a neutral policy, which really made Roosevelt difficult to choose. When he left, Roosevelt held Hu Shi's hand tightly and told him not to worry. His attitude is very sincere.
Hu Shi's speech and lobbying efforts never stopped. By July 1938, he had traveled all over the major cities in the United States and Canada, met celebrities from all sides, exposed Japanese atrocities against China, and showed China's determination to fight against Japan.
After Hu Shi finished his activities in North America, he went to Europe to lobby. 1on the afternoon of July 20th, 938, he received a telegram from new york in Paris, and Chiang Kai-shek urged Hu Shi to be the ambassador to the United States to replace the outgoing king. At first, he refused to accept Hu's resignation. Later, after many people urged him to make a painful choice, he agreed. 1938 In September, Hu Shi was officially appointed as the ambassador to the United States.
By this time, the Japanese army had ravaged most of China, Guangzhou and Wuhan. Hu Shi "was in danger when he was ordered to be defeated." He said to the staff of the embassy: "I knew when I came that the country was in danger. The more unlucky the country is, the more it needs us. We can only stop when the country is too peaceful. " He also wrote a poem on the photo he sent to his friend to express his feelings: "I have a few white hairs occasionally, and my mood is slightly close to middle age." As a chess piece crossing the river, you can only go forward desperately. "
104, Hu Shi went to Washington as China's ambassador to the United States. When he got off the bus, he shook hands with the director of the Protocol Department of the US Foreign Office.
Hu Shi was ordered in a crisis and immediately entered the role, starting his endless anti-Japanese speech. 193865438+On February 4th, he was invited to give a speech at Mani Club in new york, with the theme: North American independence and War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in China. Here, he compared China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression with the American War of Independence, and wanted to tell the American people that the American victory benefited from French aid and support. Today, the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in China, like the United States, needs the support and assistance of the United States and other friendly countries.
After the speech, he had a heart attack from overwork and almost died. When the lady learned about it, she was worried and scared, and wanted to resign as an ambassador on behalf of her husband. Hu Shi understood his wife's kindness and wrote to enlighten him and said, "I came for my country. It doesn't matter if I suffer a little. I have told you time and again:' If you stay in the green hills, you are not afraid of burning without firewood'. The country is green water and green mountains, and the green water and green mountains have fallen, and our children and grandchildren will be slaves. "
Hu Shi engaged in diplomacy, without the depth and low-key of any politician, but won the understanding and trust of others with a "frank and open" attitude. Therefore, people praised him as an ambassador for scholars. According to Dr. Wu Jianxiong, a student of Hu Shi, her American friends told her that "the whole Washington government" was "respectful" to Hu Shi. Wang Shijie also said that he saw Roosevelt's letter to Chiang Kai-shek, which praised "trust is in the right place". As a diplomatic envoy, he became a monk halfway and had no diplomatic experience at all. It is precisely because of his academic demeanor and benevolent character that he is respected by the American ruling and opposition parties.
June1939165438+10/2 Chiang Kai-shek reviewed the situation of the Anti-Japanese War in the past two years at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Committee of the Kuomintang. In order to publicize the spirit of Chiang Kai-shek's speech, Hu Shi delivered a speech entitled "The Current Situation in China" in new york on February 5, 65438. Hu Shi listed the achievements of China's regular army and guerrillas, and cited statistics to expose Japanese military and economic weaknesses. Hu Shi also strategically and objectively introduced the assistance of the Soviet Union, Britain, France and the United States to China. While fully affirming the Soviet Union's aid to China, he also euphemistically expressed his greater expectation for American aid to China, and once again called for banning the supply of iron, oil, copper, nickel, cotton and other munitions to Japan.
1938101On October 28th, Hu Shi (left) presented the ambassador's credentials to President Roosevelt at the White House in Washington, USA.
1939 10, the newspaper said that Chiang Kai-shek, who is also the premier, will reorganize the ministries, Song Ziwen will replace Kong Xiangxi as the finance minister or trade minister, and Song Ziliang will replace Chen Guangfu as the director of the trade commission. Hu Shi was deeply suspicious when he heard the rumor. On June 7th, 165438+ He sent a secret telegram to Chen Bulei, deputy secretary-general of the Supreme National Defense Commission, asking him to hand it over to Chiang Kai-shek, suggesting that Song Ziwen should not be appointed as finance minister. Later, Song Ziwen did not become finance minister, but this does not mean that Chiang Kai-shek adopted Hu Shi's opinion. Because of the original contradiction between Chiang Kai-shek and Song Dynasty in resolving the An incident, and the British Ambassador to China Clark Carr hoped to link Song Ziwen's comeback with the comeback of Zhang Xueliang and Soong Ching Ling, so as to show the firm anti-Japanese United front to the outside world. This is of course unacceptable to Chiang Kai-shek, but Chiang Kai-shek entrusted another mission to Song Ziwen.
1940, Chiang Kai-shek appointed Song Ziwen as the chairman of China Bank and sent him to the United States as a "private representative" to handle foreign loans. Song Ziwen's American adviser, Young, accompanied him. On June 6th of the same year, Chiang Kai-shek expressed his complete trust in Song Ziwen in his letter to President Roosevelt. Hu Shi was the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the National Government to the United States, and Song Ziwen was the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Chiang Kai-shek to the United States. Under this personnel arrangement, it is impossible for them to have no friction at all. What's more, Hu Shi has always been dissatisfied with Kong Xiangxi, Song Ziwen and other relatives, especially with Song Ziwen.
After Song Ziwen went to the United States, Hu Shi stated quite bluntly in his letter to Weng and Wang Shijie on May 1942: "A male here seems to have no intention of courtship, so he can only flatter his intention and dare not refuse every word ... I really want to find a considerable opportunity and am determined to go. I'm useless here. If I don't leave, I will really become a' love stack'. " "A certain public" here refers to Song Ziwen. This shows that the relationship between Hu Shi and Song Ziwen is as hot as water, ice and charcoal, and there is no room for reconciliation. However, Song Ziwen's work in the United States is not as miserable as Hu Shi said. By signing three agreements with the United States, namely, tungsten sand loan, metal loan and China-US stability fund agreement, Song Ziwen has obtained three loans in succession. The acquisition of the above three American aid will certainly reflect the inefficiency of Hu Shi's diplomatic work, thus increasing Chiang Kai-shek's dissatisfaction with Hu Shi.
Tse-ven Soong
Since 194 1 spring, the United States and Japan have reached a draft provisional agreement after many negotiations. The draft only calls for Japan to withdraw its troops from southern Vietnam, but says nothing about Japanese troops in China. 1941165438+1On October 22nd, US Secretary of State Hull summoned the ambassadors of China, Britain, Australia and the Netherlands to inform and explain a draft that the United States was prepared to reach a temporary compromise with Japan. The ambassadors of Britain, Australia and the Netherlands have no objection. Hu Shi immediately objected and asked to meet with President Roosevelt to state the reasons for obstructing the draft US-Japan peace talks.
165438+1On October 24th, the US-Japan compromise will be passed soon. Hu Shi sent an urgent telegram to the Chongqing authorities: "The situation is urgent and difficult to contain." . This situation made Chiang Kai-shek furious and Song Meiling intervened. Chiang Kai-shek and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs telegraphed Hu Shi on June 25th, 165438, instructing him to express his opposition. On 26th, Hu Shi made a serious protest to Hull on behalf of the National Government. On the same day, Song Ziwen and I visited President Roosevelt together. Just then, British Prime Minister Churchill sent a telegram to Roosevelt, opposing the US policy toward China, saying that "if China collapses, it will greatly increase the crisis between Britain and the United States!" It is because of this internal and external effort that the United States decided to withdraw its compromise plan on1October 26th, thus changing the situation in the Pacific.
Chiang Kai-shek was extremely dissatisfied with Hu Shi's weakness in the Japanese-American negotiations. 194 1 year 1 1.30 Chiang Kai-shek regarded Hu Shi as a bureaucratic politician in his diary "introspection this month", and his dissatisfaction with his cowardice and incompetence in foreign affairs has been seen in writing.
Roosevelt was Hu Shi's classmate when he was studying at Columbia University. With this relationship, coupled with Hu Shi's reputation and charm, Roosevelt paid special respect to Hu Shi. At that time, it was difficult for ambassadors of many allies to meet directly with the president of the United States. However, Hu Shi is different. Whenever something happens, Roosevelt will try to find time for an interview, even if he is busy. 194 1 10 in June, Japan's Tojo cabinet was established, and Nomura and Reich were sent to the United States for negotiations, in order to hide people's eyes and ears, in fact, to cover up their preparations for fighting against the United States. During this period, Hu Shi visited Roosevelt many times and frankly exchanged information with him on the development of the situation in the Far East.
After the breakdown of the US-Japan talks, Japan finally showed its ferocious face and brazenly attacked Pearl Harbor, an important military base of the US military.
Roosevelt
1942 65438+ 10, 2 6 countries, including China, the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union, signed the Declaration on Joint Action against the Fascist Axis in Washington, D.C., and the international anti-fascist United front was formally formed. However, Hu Shi, who was once proud of this, had his personal fate reversed. Hu Shi is willing to be a pawn of the National Government. Now that the "river" has passed, Hu Shi can abandon this "pawn". 1On August 5th, 942, the National Government dismissed Hu Shi's post as ambassador to the United States on the grounds of "being soft-hearted and playing too much", and Wei Daoming took over.
In fact, whether he resigned or was removed from office, Hu Shi's continued stay in the United States would have no effect. On the night of his dismissal, Hu Shi called Chiang Kai-shek and said, "I am very grateful that the Central Committee of Mongolia relieved him of his illness." In the telegram to Chiang Kai-shek, Hu Shi claimed that Wei Daoming was "mediocre", and American newspapers criticized him, and recommended Guo Taiqi or Jiang Tingfu to replace Wei Daoming to show his tolerance as a "relegated minister". However, what is done is done, and it is impossible for Chiang Kai-shek to adopt Hu Shi's opinion. In order to comfort Hu Shi a little,1at the beginning of September, 942, the Executive Yuan of the National Government gave him a vacant position as a "senior consultant". Kong Xiangxi sent another telegram to Hu Shi, asking him whether he was short of money and whether he had enough money to return home. Hu Shi sent a telegram on September 14 declining.
Hu Shi was removed from the post of ambassador to the United States, which shocked and regretted the American media. 1942 On July 2nd, Chongqing Ta Kung Pao reprinted a message from Washington post: "Hu Shi, China's ambassador to the United States, traveled all over the United States in the last six months, with a journey of 35,000 Li, setting a record for foreign envoys to travel in the United States. Ambassador Hu received more honorary degrees than President Roosevelt. He delivered more speeches than President Roosevelt's wife. The record of being invited to speak at public meetings is also beyond the reach of all members of the diplomatic corps. " Wang Shijie, who later served as Foreign Minister of the National Government, wrote in his diary on September 4, 1942: "Although the US government agreed to replace China's ambassador to the United States with Wei Daoming as usual, it was actually quite dissatisfied. So is American public opinion. ..... "Wang Shijie's diary on September 8 said:" The government announced that Wei Daoming would replace Hu Shizhi as ambassador to the United States, and both China and foreign countries were very disappointed. "
Someone has analyzed the deep-seated reasons for Hu Shi's dismissal. Steinhauenbeck, an adviser on political relations in the State Council, commented that the ambassador violated the power of Song Ziwen, who became foreign minister in February. He got the exact message from the China Embassy in the United States, saying that Hu Shi and Song Ziwen had drawn up the power of attorney for both parties. It is said that the highest authorities of the National Government suspected that Hu Shi defended the policies of the American government in Washington, and seldom explained the policies of the Chongqing government to the United States. So Hu Shi became the victim of this doubt.
Hu Shi has always stood on the standpoint of understanding and safeguarding the United States, which is probably true. Hu Shi also said shortly before he was dismissed from office: "The first priority at present is to be generous, forgive and treat friends, and understand that friends sometimes don't care about us when they are in trouble. Never blame your friends too much. Britain and the United States are big countries. Are they willing to lose their land and teachers? Don't you care about our pain? We must always sympathize with our friends. Friends know that we are good enough to be friends in need, and only in the future will we have friends who will always be happy with us ... Today, we suffer only because Britain and the United States are suffering greater difficulties and humiliation. They don't care about us, and their leaders really think this is the biggest shame. But they want revenge day and night, but they can't say anything, just bite the bullet and work hard. We must understand their difficulties in order to become a friend in need. "
Hu Shi conveyed the opinions of the American government to the National Government, which also aroused Chiang Kai-shek's dissatisfaction. 194 1 At the beginning of the year, Chiang Kai-shek used hundreds of thousands of troops to "encircle" the New Fourth Army under the pretext of "rectifying military discipline" and created the "Southern Anhui Incident" that shocked China and foreign countries. The news spread to the United States, causing adverse reactions. In March, Hu Shi conveyed the opposition of the US government in a telegram to Chen Bulei. In Chiang Kai-shek's view, these opinions were also used by the US government to put pressure on the China government, and he didn't want to hear these harsh words.
There are obviously many factors to remove Hu Shi from the post of ambassador to the United States, but it is Chiang Kai-shek who Hu Shi is willing to work for. 1942 65438+ 10/3, Chiang Kai-shek made a "no contribution" evaluation to Hu Shi in his diary "Introspection Record of Last Week". He said: "Hu Shi is a typical scholar and celebrity today. As a result, he will not hesitate to use foreign forces to consolidate his position and even damage the prestige of the country. He stayed in the United States for four years, but he won more than ten honorary doctorates for himself. He made no contribution to the country and the war, and even refused to speak for fear of being convicted in the United States. However, the outside world still claims that the United States did not dare to compromise with Japan and eventually left, which is its credit. Before the abolition of unequal treaties, if they have not been replaced, it will be more valuable, and it will be even harder for the government to order them back! Scholars and celebrities have done this for the country. " This is the conclusion made by Chiang Kai-shek on Hu Shi's diplomatic career and the sad ending of Hu Shi's "loyalty and resentment".