Chapter 66 65. Japan proposes twenty-one

In January of the 4th year of the Republic of China, China sent a note to Japan requesting the withdrawal of the troops stationed in Shandong, but Japan ignored it at all. On January 18, it even stated the return of Qingdao and the withdrawal of Shandong garrison troops, and attached the conditions of exchange and a letter of understanding, etc., to the The Yuan government demanded secret negotiations. It turns out that after the Japanese army captured Qingdao, Japanese Foreign Minister Takaaki Kato called the Japanese Minister to China, Hikisuke, to return home to discuss a new strategy for China.This happened in November of the third year of the Republic of China. In December, Doomsday Zhiyi returned to his office in Beijing and requested an interview with Yuan under the pretext of returning to his post. On January 18, he delivered a document to Yuan in person, saying: "The Japanese government expresses its sincerity to the President and hopes that the pending case between China and Japan can be resolved as soon as possible. At the same time, if the Chinese side has sincerity, it also means that the President expresses goodwill to Japan." If the unsolved case between China and Japan is resolved, the Japanese government is willing to give the President more and greater help. The Japanese government solemnly hopes that the President will ask your country to strictly keep secrets during this negotiation.”

The content of this document is divided into two items: one is the clauses, which are to be concluded in the form of a treaty; Yuan flipped through the article briefly, and said: "Your Minister, please go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss it." In international negotiations, after the Second World War, diplomatic activities were not limited to formalities. However, before and after the First World War, diplomatic negotiations were still very conservative. A country’s envoy requested diplomatic relations with the host country. Negotiations can only be done through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country. It would be extremely unreasonable and impolite to go directly to the emperor or president of the host country.It was an unprecedented move in the history of international diplomacy at that time that Japan actually ordered the minister in China to submit a document of secret conditions to Yuan in person.

Worldly affairs, the more you think about secrets, the easier it is to leak.The news that Japan had asked China for secret negotiations was published in various Chinese newspapers, and interviewers of foreign newspapers stationed in Beijing also wrote long telegrams to return home.The United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom ordered their envoys stationed in Japan to request the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hoping to know the content of the secret negotiations between China and Japan, especially the terms of the Japanese side.Unable to withstand international pressure, Japan notified the eleven more common items to other countries in formal documents.

These eleven clauses are part of the clauses mentioned above, and these parts are reasonable in international law.The other part is the Jueshu, which contains many things that cannot be seen by people. The Japanese side has not told other countries about this part of the Jueshu. Japan has used the Jueshu method to negotiate with China many times. Not long ago, when the Kuomintang’s second revolution failed and Zhang Xun invaded Nanjing, and the incident of harming Japanese soldiers occurred, Japan negotiated with China. Gu Yijueshu advised the Chinese government to remove Zhang Xun from his position.Since a foreign government interferes with another country's right to employ people, it is detrimental to China's sovereignty, so it cannot be included in the article, so it is published in the form of a letter.In fact, treaties and treaties have exactly the same binding force in international law.

This time Japan made a request to Yuan, the treaty aspect was relatively light, and the part of the letter was extremely serious. Yuan Zhiyi never read the content of the 21 Articles when he proposed to him that day, and repeatedly stated that this is a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it is inconvenient to directly interfere.However, Rizhiyi insisted on asking Yuan to read it in person.After the Japanese envoy resigned, Yuan opened the documents and was shocked. At 4:00 p.m., he called Lu Zhengxiang, who had just returned from Switzerland and stayed at the Guest House, to do business.When Lu arrived at the Presidential Palace, Yuan Zheng had a secret talk with Secretary of State Xu Shichang. As soon as Lu arrived, he sent Xu away, invited Lu to have a secret talk, taught Lu to read the Japanese documents first, and then said: "You will call Sun Baoqi, Cao Rulin and Liang Shiyi's countermeasures for secret business."

After dinner, Lu Zhengxiang invited Liang Shiyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Baoqi, and Deputy Minister Cao Rulin to talk at the Guest House, with Sun Baoqi as the chairman.First, Lu explained the reasons for calling the meeting and Yuan’s instructions. Sun Baoqi continued to speak: “The Japanese envoy will definitely come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver documents. He has discussed with Deputy Minister Cao for several hours. I think Japan has found This is a great opportunity created by nature. Now during the European War, countries are too busy to take care of themselves, and China is not at peace. This time, Japan’s vicious methods have actually delivered documents directly to the President. This kind of contempt for China can be used. Use force against China.” Everyone discussed this thorny and serious issue repeatedly, and they concluded that there were only two ways to go: one was to accept the conditions of the Japanese side; the other was to use negotiations to bargain with the Japanese side.Of course, there is a third way to refuse, but to refuse is tantamount to breaking up. At this time, the Yuan government cannot resist Japan by force.

Sun Baoqi first expressed his personal opinion. He believes that the problem facing today is to accept the Japanese conditions.Cao Rulin agreed with Sun's proposition.Liang Shiyi objected, saying: "Accept without talking. There is no such example in diplomacy. We have to negotiate with the Japanese side. We have done our best to talk about it. Otherwise, how will we explain to the Chinese people and history. "Lu Zhengxiang agreed with Liang Shiyi's opinion, so there were two propositions in this meeting, each with two votes in support. The next day, Sun Baoqi visited Yuan and reported the situation of the meeting the previous day. Yuan listened and said: "Very good, let me think about it and make a decision." I have been here, and after careful consideration, I also advocate negotiating with the Japanese side, and I hope you can serve as the chairman to preside over this negotiation." Lu replied: "This negotiation is too difficult, and Zhengxiang is not physically strong enough. It is best to ask the president to send another cadre. Yuan said: "Lack of energy is irrelevant. I can tell Deputy Chief Cao to take more responsibility for the negotiation, and tell the Japanese side that Mr. Lu is weak and needs to rest. I entrust you with all my strength, so you can go to the negotiation without worry." "Seeing that Yuan Yi has made up his mind, Lu has no choice but to accept it.After Lu resigned, Yuan summoned Sun Baoqi and told Sun that he had decided to negotiate with Japan, so Sun Baoqi submitted his resignation letter, resigning as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and recommended Lu Zhengxiang as the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Yuan.

Yuan announced on January 27 that Lu Zhengxiang was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he and Cao Rulin were in charge of negotiating with Japan, and Sun Baoqi was appointed as the president of the Audit Court. Japanese Minister Hikiichi was extremely disturbed when he heard the news of Sun Baoqi's resignation, so he went to the Presidential Palace to lodge a verbal protest with Yuan. Regret." Yuan replied: "Your minister's opinion is counterproductive. China's change of foreign minister is an expression of sincerity. What's more, the new foreign minister has always been patient and will be able to negotiate with your country wholeheartedly. If you don't believe it, please go ask others. Let’s go to the Minister of the State.” The Japanese envoy really went to ask the leader of the Beijing envoy, the British Minister Zhu Erdian, and the British envoy replied that Lu was very good.Niichi Masaki had no choice but to telegraph Tokyo, saying that China's change of foreign minister was really a good intention.

On the second day after Lu Zhengxiang took over as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he received Hikiichi, and the conversation between the two sides was very exciting. Masayoshi Hiki said: "I have heard about the president's name for a long time and know that the president is a famous diplomat. It is a great honor to be able to negotiate with the president on the Sino-Japanese issue this time." Lu replied: "I will do my best. May I ask when your minister would like to start the discussion, and we can set a date now, shall we?" Hikiichi said: "I think the chief ministers have set a date."

Lu replied: "Since your envoy is under the government's order, it is of course better to start the negotiation as early as possible, so it will be done tomorrow." Hikiichi said, "May I be allowed to make some comments?" Lu replied: "Of course, of course." Hikimashi said: "I hope that the negotiations will be held every day, and also on Sundays, and the principle is to resolve them as soon as possible." Lu said: "It is okay to hold meetings every day, but it is held on Sunday. There is no such rule in diplomatic practice, so it seems unnecessary. There is another layer. Although meetings are held every day, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I cannot cancel all other official appointments. , so it is necessary to spare time every morning to meet guests, so the meeting can only be held every afternoon."

Hiki said, "Yes." Lu said: "Then it is better to stipulate that the meeting will be held at five o'clock in the afternoon every day." Hikimashi said: "Five o'clock is too late, it is best to start at two o'clock in the afternoon, and we must continue to drive at night." Lu said: "It's not a problem to hold a meeting at two o'clock, but the meeting continues at night. My health is too bad, and it will last for a week. I must resign." Hiki asked: "When do we decide to hold the meeting?" Lu replied: "How about deciding to hold talks at 3 pm on February 2?" Hiki Masaki said: "Okay! Let's decide on this date. It is a great honor to meet with the chief minister today. I hope that from this good start, we can have a good result." Lu replied: "I will do everything I can!" This is the end of this first meeting. From this conversation, we can see that the Japanese side is aggressive. A minister, to the foreign minister of the country he is stationed in, arranged everything with an unreasonable attitude; in fact, the more unreasonable ones are yet to come. Woolen cloth! This basic document for Sino-Japanese negotiations was proposed by the Japanese side, and it became known as the twenty-one documents.The Twenty-One Articles are divided into five items. According to the document, the first issue includes four items, the second issue includes seven items, the third issue includes two items, the fourth issue includes one item, and the fifth issue includes seven items. The full text is hereby reproduced as follows: The Japanese government and the Chinese government are mutually willing to maintain the overall peace in East Asia, and hope to further strengthen the existing friendly and good-neighborly relationship between the two countries. The terms of agreement are as follows: (1) The Chinese government promises that in the future, the Japanese government intends to agree with the German government that all the disposals such as the transfer of all rights and interests enjoyed by the Chinese government to the Chinese government in accordance with the treaty or other relations in Shandong Province in Germany will be recognized. (2) The Chinese government promises that all the land and islands in Shandong Province and its coastal areas will not be transferred or leased to other countries, no matter what the title is. (3) The Chinese government allows Japan to build a railway connecting Yantai or Longkou to the Jiaoji line. (4) The Chinese government promises to open the main cities in Shandong Province as commercial ports as soon as possible for the purpose of foreign residence and trade; the places to be opened shall be agreed separately. The Japanese government and the Chinese government hereby agree on the terms as follows because China recognizes that Japan enjoys a superior position in southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia: (1) The two contracting countries mutually agreed to extend the lease period of Lushun and Dalian, as well as the period of the South Manchuria and Anfeng Railways, to a period of 99 years. (2) Japanese subjects may obtain the right to lease or own the land they need for building houses and factories for industrial use in South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia, or for farming. (3) Japanese subjects are free to live and travel in southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, and operate various businesses such as commerce and industry. (4) The Chinese government agrees to grant to the Japanese subjects the right to exploit various mines in southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia.As for the mines to be opened, they will be negotiated separately. (5) The Chinese government agrees to deal with the following items with the consent of the Japanese government first: ①When South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia allow other countries to build railways, or borrow funds from other countries for the construction of railways. ② When offsetting various taxes in southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, and borrowing money from other countries. (6) The Chinese government promised that if the Chinese government hires political, financial, and military advisers in southern Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, it must first discuss with the Japanese government. (7) The Chinese government agrees to appoint the Japanese government for the management and operation of the Jichang Railway, and the term is ninety-nine years from the date of signing this contract. The Japanese government and the Chinese government are concerned about the existing secret relationship between Japanese capitalists and Han Yeping Company.And willing to enhance the common interests of the two countries, the agreed terms are as follows: (1) The two contracting parties agreed that Hanyeping Company will be regarded as a joint venture between the two countries when there is a suitable opportunity in the future, and that without the consent of the Japanese government, the Chinese government will not dispose of all rights and interests belonging to the company by itself, nor will it make the company arbitrarily punished. (2) The Chinese government permits all nearby mines belonging to the Hanyeping Company's mines. Without the consent of the company, no one other than the company is allowed to mine.It is also allowed that any actions that may affect the company, whether directly or indirectly, must first obtain the consent of the company. For the purpose of effectively preserving the territory of China, the Japanese government and the Chinese government have made a special article as follows: The Chinese government allows all the harbors and islands along the coast of China, which shall not be transferred or leased to other countries. (1) In the central government of China, powerful Japanese must be employed as political, financial, military and other advisers. (2) All Japanese hospitals, monasteries, schools, etc. established in mainland China shall be allowed to own their land. (3) In Japan and China, there have been frequent police cases, resulting in many disputes. Therefore, the police in necessary places must be jointly organized by Japan and China, or the police offices in these places must employ a majority The Japanese, on the one hand, plan to improve the Chinese police organization. (4) Purchase a certain amount of ordnance from Japan (for example, more than half of the ordnance required by the Chinese government), or establish a Sino-Japanese joint ordnance factory in China, hire Japanese technicians, and purchase Japanese materials. (5) Consent to Japan for the construction rights of the railways connecting Wuchang, Jiujiang and Nanchang, and the railways of Nanchang, Hangzhou, Nanchang and Chaozhou. (6) To establish railways, mines, and rectify Haikou (including shipyards) in Fujian Province. If foreign capital is needed, first negotiate with Japan. (7) Allow Japanese nationals to have the right to teach in China.