Roosevelt looked at the representatives of the three parties and said, "If you have no objections, then this is the end of today's preparatory meeting." ”

At this time, Witt said: "I still have a little more to say, and I hope to be able to say it today." ”

Roosevelt nodded, understanding that the Russians were about to start making trouble, and looked at Komura Shoutaro again, seeing that he was expressionless, and he didn't know if he had discussed it with the Russians in advance, and said: "Of course, today is to make everything clear, Mr. Witt, if you have any other requirements, please feel free to say it." After a pause, Roosevelt said, "Everyone has no opinion." ”

Komura Shoutaro's face still had no emotion at all, and said, "No." ”

Li Sanjie said: "We also want to hear Mr. Witt's opinions. But I was thinking in my heart, this old man jumped out at this time and had something, I'm afraid it's not simple, it seems that he wants to make trouble. But Li Sanjie doesn't care, it's a big deal to break up, anyway, he is ready to talk about it.

So Witte said: "As we all know, most of the area where this war took place was the territory of the Qing State, and due to the reason of the enemy, our Russia temporarily controlled this area in order to protect the expatriate, but later our country signed a treaty with the Qing State to deliver the territory, but due to the outbreak of the war, it was not fulfilled. But in any case, Chunguo is also one of the parties. ”

He turned to Li Sanjie again and said: "Mr. Li, not long ago, the Qing Dynasty officially recognized the East China Government as an independent political body, so it can be regarded as a country, but for a long time before that, the East China Government existed as a part of the Qing State, and even was a subordinate of the Qing State, Mr. Li will not deny this. ”

Li Sanjie nodded and said, "That's right, we used to be under the jurisdiction of the Qing State in name for a while. ”

Witt said: "That's good, it is precisely for these reasons that we in Russia think that if there is no Qing State to participate in this negotiation, I am afraid it will not be very suitable." ”

Roosevelt said, "Mr. Witte means to change the tripartite talks to the quadripartite talks?"

Witte said: "Of course not, after all, the Qing State did not participate in this war, of course it cannot be a party to the negotiations, and it is too late to invite the Qing State to participate in the negotiations, but at least the representatives of the Qing State should be given the opportunity to listen, and now there are several Qing officials who are inspecting in the United States, including the royal family members of the Qing State, my suggestion is to invite a few Qing officials to be the listeners of this negotiation as a commissioner." ”

After Werther finished speaking, Roosevelt said: "Before that, Qing officials who were inspecting the United States did ask me to participate in this negotiation, but I refused. However, as a commissioner, as a listener to this negotiation, according to the rules, it should be up to the three of you to decide, and it is inconvenient for us to express our opinions. ”

Now Roosevelt understood Witt's intentions, but first of all, he showed that he had rejected the demands of Qing officials, in fact, he was courting the East China government, and not expressing his opinion was to detach the United States and maintain its neutral status. Because Roosevelt knew very well that the East China government would never accept Werther's suggestion and would certainly fight back, and when the two sides reached a stalemate, the United States would be able to mediate in a neutral capacity.

Komura Shoutaro said, "Mr. Witt's suggestion is very reasonable. ”

Roosevelt nodded, turned to the side of the East China government, and said, "What about the attitude of the East China government?"

Li Sanjie snorted and said, "We refuse." ”

Witt deliberately made a surprised expression and said, "No.? Why? I want to hear the reasons of the East China government." ”

Li Sanjie sneered and said, "There is no reason for us to refuse, it's as simple as that." ”

Witt was also stunned, Li Sanjie's blunt answer was a little unexpected to him, but after all, he was also a veteran who had been rolling in the political arena for decades, so he quickly adjusted his emotions and said: "This answer is so surprising to me, I want to ......"

"Enough is enough, Mr. Werther. Li Sanjie didn't wait for him to finish speaking, then interrupted: "You are not a great artist, the level of performance is very clumsy, like a clown, I have seen enough." I'll give you one last chance to take back your suggestion right away, or you won't be able to afford it. ”

It turned out that Werther's purpose was to use the Qing court to disgust the East China government, of course he knew that the East China government would not accept this proposal, but he was ready to mess with the East China government in terms of legal theory, and in the end not only had to force the East China government to make concessions in other aspects, but also could overwhelm the East China government in momentum. Knowing that Li Sanjie did not follow the script written by Werther, not only did he refuse directly, but he didn't even give a reason, which frustrated Werther's desire to mess around, and Li Sanjie didn't care about the occasion at all, and would unceremoniously accuse him of being like a clown, and asking Werther to withdraw his suggestion in the last sentence was tantamount to a showdown with Werther.

Although he knew that the situation was not developing according to his control, if Werther really withdrew his proposal in this way, he would lose the dispute he provoked, and such an outcome was obviously unacceptable to Werther. But if it refuses to retract the suggestion just now, it is obvious that the East China government has a bigger storm behind it, and the consequences may not be borne by Werther. At this time, Werther only hoped that someone would come out and give the two sides the next step, but it was a pity that Roosevelt was looking down at his watch, and Komura Taro was closing his eyes to recuperate, obviously unwilling to give Werther a ladder.

But now we can't delay too long, so Witt gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Li, I think my suggestion is very reasonable, and there is no need to withdraw it, unless you can give me sufficient reasons, and I ask you to formally apologize to me for the insult you just gave me." ”

Li Sanjie sneered and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have the time to accompany you to do a monkey show, since you still have to insist, we won't accompany you." This time the verdict can be declared broken. ”

Witt was stunned, he really didn't expect Li Sanjie's reaction to be so fierce, and he didn't even talk about it before the negotiations officially began. Although Werther also knew that Britain and France would send troops to the war if the negotiations broke down, such a rupture would obviously not satisfy Britain and France.

As he spoke, Li Sanjie turned to Roosevelt and said, "Mr. President, thank you for your efforts for peace in the Far East, but now I can only say that I am very sorry that due to the Russian side, we can only withdraw from this negotiation." ”

At this time, Roosevelt's eyes also left his watch, but glanced sideways at Werther, and saw that Werther's eyes were full of pleading, obviously hoping that Roosevelt would make a statement to save the delegation of the East China government. Roosevelt said: "I am very sorry that the representative of the East China government made such a decision, but as a neutral party, we respect the decision of the representative of the East China government. ”

When Witte heard this, his face couldn't help but change greatly, he didn't expect that Roosevelt didn't keep the East China government delegation at all, and he didn't know how to save it, so he was helpless for a while. In fact, Roosevelt was very dissatisfied with Werther's clever behavior, and he also knew that even if he spoke out, the East China government delegation might not buy his own face. In addition, Roosevelt also had a bottom in his heart, the behavior of the East China government delegation was actually a gesture, that is, to force the Russian delegation to back down, to put it bluntly, this is a game of blinking before anyone, and now it seems that the Russians are obviously the first to lose their breath, so let them be anxious for a few days first, and let Witte teach a lesson.

Li Sanjie got up and said, "Okay, there's no point in let's talk about it any longer, please ask Mr. President to arrange a steamer and send us ashore." ”

Roosevelt nodded, and immediately sent someone to call the captain and ask him to arrange a steamer.

In fact, the other members of the East China government delegation were also very surprised, but they didn't expect Li Sanjie's reaction to be so fierce, because at this time, except for Li Sanjie, no one knew that Britain and France had decided to support Japan and Russia not to pay war reparations, and to join the war after the negotiation broke down, so after Li Sanjie announced the breakdown of the negotiations, everyone was also surprised, but on this occasion, everyone could only choose to support Li Sanjie's decision, so they all got up and left the reception room with Li Sanjie and came to the deck.

Seeing that people from the United States, Japan, Russia, and other parties did not come out, Zhou Fengshan said: "Member Li, is it a bit too much for you to announce the breakdown of the negotiations like this?" ”

Li Sanjie said: "Don't worry, it makes sense for me to do this, but the reason is too complicated, and it is inconvenient to explain it here, and I will explain it clearly to everyone after I go back." ”

When everyone heard Li Sanjie say this, they didn't ask anymore, and at this time, the motorboat had already sailed to the side of the boat, and everyone boarded the motorboat in turn, left the sailboat, and headed for the dock.

At this time, the representatives of Japan and Russia would still be in the guest room, looking at each other, not knowing what to do. After a long while, Witte asked a little and said, "Mr. President, why didn't you keep the delegation of the East China government just now?"

Roosevelt said: "We are only neutral parties, and we do not participate in the negotiations between you, and it is the right of all of you to withdraw from the negotiations, so how can we interfere? In fact, it is very easy to keep the delegation of the East China government, as long as Mr. Witte withdraws your proposal, isn't it?"

With an embarrassed expression, Werther did not answer.

Roosevelt added: "The representatives of the East China government have decided to withdraw from this negotiation, so what are the plans of Japan and Russia, and will you continue to negotiate or will you not participate in the negotiations?"

Witte said: "The next step, we have to consult the country, before we can decide." Mr. President, we'll leave first. ”

Roosevelt nodded, and immediately sent someone to arrange for a motorboat to take the Russian delegation back to the docks.

After the Russians had left, Komura said, "Mr. President, is this the end of this negotiation?"

Roosevelt said: "Mr. Komura, you can rest assured, the East China government is just pretending to be its own, the Russian delegation has gone too far this time, I will negotiate in private, as long as I force the Russian delegation to make a gesture of concession." ”

Komura Shoutaro lowered his head, in fact, before this meeting, Witte informed the Japanese side of the Russian side's decision and asked the Japanese delegation to cooperate, and the members of the Japanese delegation thought that this plan was feasible, but during the meeting, Komura Shoutaro found that the atmosphere was not right, so the Japanese delegation did not speak out in support of the Russian delegation.