Xiao Zhenlei and Wilson had a pleasant meeting, which may have something to do with the needs between the two countries. Wilson became president two years ago, and he had a certain element of luck in becoming president, when Republican candidate Taft and Progressive candidate, former Republican and President Theodore? Roosevelt's race was so tight that he scattered the votes that should have been cast for the sole Republican candidate, and he won the campaign without difficulty.

On March 15, 1913, Wilson held the first presidential press conference in U.S. history, and allowed reporters to ask him questions at the press conference.

Wilson is a doctor of law, a doctor of philosophy, and perhaps the presidents of the United States are the most learned of all the heads of state in the world, with the highest percentage of highly educated. Later generations of historians voted for less than 31 presidents, and Wilson ranked in the top 4, second only to George? Washington, Abraham? Lincoln and Franklin? Roosevelt.

Xiao Zhenlei had some understanding of Wilson, and he found that President Wilson was also an American isolationist practitioner, and now the European powers have been divided into two major power camps, and both camps have sent representatives to the United States to lobby Wilson and the U.S. Congress, hoping that the United States will join their camp. He and most members of Congress agreed that the United States was between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, that there were no enemies around, and that there was no need to be involved in both camps. It's good to make a fortune with a muffled voice.

But in the last two months, the situation has changed. There is a tendency for the two sides to fight, and there is a big difference between the two camps fighting and confronting each other. If it is only a confrontation, the United States can still profit from it, sell military and civilian supplies to both sides, and make a lot of money, but if the two sides fight, one side will always be defeated, and then how will the winning side treat the United States, a country that is on the left and right? Wilson, the president of the United States with a doctorate in philosophy, knows very well that there are only interests between countries, and only the law of the jungle! Will the victor's side be blushing when they see the United States making a windfall in the war? There is no doubt about it! Wilson and many members of the U.S. Congress saw the crisis ahead. Therefore, the United States must find allies, and there is only one China that is suitable.

During the talks, Xiao Zhenlei asked: "Mr. President, in which direction do you think the relations between the two major camps in Europe will develop?" And how should our country and your country, which are surrounded by this whirlpool, deal with themselves? ”

Wilson said: "Judging from the current signs, the smell of gunpowder in Europe is getting stronger and stronger, and I believe that sooner or later they will have a war, and both sides have interests in the Far East, and your country's attitude and position as a great power in the Far East in this period is very crucial, and our country has commercial and trade contacts with the two major military and political groups in Europe." The current tension between the two sides is very detrimental to peace, and if they go to war, our country will not have a good choice, and we will have to remain neutral. But we will not make any statements that we will not go to war when we are attacked! Your country is in a similar, but different, situation with my country, and your Government has just been formed. I don't think it would be wise for your country to make a choice to join any of them now! ”

Xiao Zhenlei smiled, noncommittal.

Wilson added, "Your Excellency President Shaw." Presumably, our Minister to China Naensch has already conveyed my proposal to you, and I think that two major camps in Europe have now been formed. And there is a high probability that a big war will break out, although we want to remain neutral for many reasons, but we cannot be isolated, the situation of our two countries is very similar, I think our two countries should deepen cooperation in all aspects, and we can go further in diplomatic relations! ”

Xiao Zhenlei asked, "Further in diplomatic relations?" Where can you go further? ”

Wilson tentatively said: "For example, in industry and agriculture and in many other areas, we will strengthen cooperation!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei thought for a while and said: "Your Excellency, if it is just this, I don't think the United States has an advantage over Britain and Germany, and my country can also maintain neutrality, and then maintain commercial and trade contacts with both of them, although there is no cooperation in many fields during the war, but I think it can still be carried out in some aspects, which does not seem to be in line with the purpose of you inviting me to the United States!" I think that our two countries can form a strategic alliance like the two major power blocs in Europe and advance and retreat together! Our alliance does not take part in the wars of the Entente and the Central Powers, but if one of them wants to work against us, we must attack and defend the alliance, and I think this is the main purpose for which His Excellency the President has invited me to the United States three times in a row."

Wilson smiled when he heard this: "Yes, since His Excellency the President has put it forward, he must agree with this idea, and then we can both enter the substantive stage, which will save us a lot of time!" ”

"Wait!" Xiao Zhenlei raised his hand and said: "Your Excellency, please forgive me for saying that the conditions for the establishment of an alliance between the two countries are not ripe now, and there are still some obstacles in the middle, if this obstacle is not eliminated, it will bring us a lot of trouble to establish an alliance!" ”

Wilson thought for a moment and wondered: "Your Excellency, my country has not long ago returned all the concessions in your country, and signed an agreement with your country to renounce the one qiē treaty that it had signed with the Qing court, and also returned the Gengzi indemnity money to build schools in your country for educational purposes. ”

"Yes, of course!" Xiao Zhenlei said: "The Chinese Exclusion Act is this obstacle, as far as I know, you are not only a doctor of philosophy, but also a doctor of law, the purpose of the law is to ensure fairness and impartiality, you should understand that the Chinese Exclusion Act is not only a discrimination against overseas Chinese in your country, but also a discrimination against the Chinese people all over the world, but also a discrimination against our government, if the Chinese Exclusion Act is not repealed, our government cannot sign an alliance with your country, otherwise, our government will not be able to bear the anger of the people."

"Oh, God!" Wilson frowned when he heard this, but this was a very big obstacle, he had never expected this aspect to come up before, but now he was suddenly mentioned by Xiao Zhenlei, which caught him off guard.

After pinching his eyebrows, Wilson smiled bitterly: "Your Excellency, you have given me a problem, this is a hard bone, you should know that this is a conceptual problem among the people, and my government is afraid that what can be done in this regard is very limited!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei shook his head and said: "Mr. President, I don't think this is a problem, I think the vast majority of the American people are kind and friendly, they are very willing to make friends with people of other nationalities, they are all eager for peace, and it is only a few Americans who discriminate against the Chinese, isn't it?" I hope that Your Excellency the President should make his own contribution in this regard, and let the government let the propaganda department give the American people some ideological guidance, and in fact, you should also know very well that racial discrimination in the United States is already very serious, and it is not conducive to the unity and stability of the United States, isn't it? ”

Wilson thought for a while and said: "Your Excellency, I don't really want a legal provision like the Chinese Exclusion Act to appear, because it violates the spirit of the law, and our government can make some efforts, but you also know that our country's political system does not allow the government to interfere in the legislative and judicial aspects, but I can submit a bill to the Congress and try to persuade the Congress, as for whether it can succeed, I can't guarantee whether it will succeed!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei shook hands with Wilson and said: "I am grateful for this, whether it is successful or not, it will not affect the current relationship between our two countries!" ”

The two exchanged their views on other aspects and reached a certain consensus in the field of business cooperation, and at the same time decided to cooperate on some projects in the field of scientific research.

Back at the accommodation, the secretary Xiao Gao reported to Xiao Zhenlei: "President, there are three news, first, I just got the latest news, Japanese Prime Minister Yamamoto Gonbei has been forced to resign a few days ago because of the Siemens incident, in order to stabilize the political situation, Japan's Taisho Emperor urgently appointed Okuma Shigenobu to take over as prime minister!"

Chiang sent a telegram to the chief of the General Staff saying that the reorganization of the army had been completed, and that all the newly reorganized units had their numbers, and that they were currently undergoing reorganization, and that it was expected that the first phase of training would be completed within three months.

In addition, the military intelligence department has just sent a secret telegram saying that in view of the fact that the strength of our army has reached the limit that they can no longer bear, and that the war with Tsarist Russia is imminent, the Japanese cabinet held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss a plan for large-scale military expansion, and the Japanese navy is also making plans to increase the number of ships and recruit sailors! ”

Originally, because of Xiao Zhenlei's visit to Japan through Wèn, the situation of Yamamoto Gonbei, who was originally deeply involved in the Siemens incident, has improved somewhat, but the Japanese political circles are very dissatisfied with Yamamoto Gonbei, and recently all aspects of Japanese political circles have joined forces to exert pressure on Yamamoto Gonbei, and Yamamoto Gonbei cannot stand up to all political forces, so he has to resign with hatred.

According to Xiao Zhenlei's assumption, the national army will be temporarily reorganized into 60 divisions, about 1.5 million people, for such a large territory as China, such a large population, and the current international situation is unstable, 1.5 million army is really not much, much less than Germany now. But it still irritates the nerves of the Japanese. If China were still the China of the past, even if China had 2 million troops, Japan would not be afraid, but now China is different, it has a unified, clean, and efficient government, and it already has its own complete steel industry and military industry, and it is completely self-sufficient in weapons and ammunition, and the combat capability of such an army is quite strong. (To be continued......) R1292