Chapter 2 The first new Chinese diplomats entered the African continent one after another

When Zhou Enlai shook hands with Nasser, he said: Unexpectedly, you are so young Nasser stepped down from the gangway of the plane, with a tall figure, dark skin, and a sharp and resolute face. Compared with Nehru, who was wearing a white robe beside him, he showed the temperament of a heroic soldier .Beside the aging Nehru, he looked so young again, and the two had similar skin color and body, no wonder some people said at the time that if Nasser was not wearing a suit and military uniform, people would mistakenly think he was Nehru Premier Lu's entourage military attache. While waiting for the plane, Prime Minister U Nu also mentioned to Zhou Enlai that Nasser insisted on nationalism, boycotted and strongly opposed the military alliance of the "Baghdad Pact Organization" planned by the United States and Britain.Resisting the pressure from the United States and Britain, he resolutely attended the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference at the invitation of Prime Minister Nehru.

The meeting at the airport was the first meeting between Zhou Enlai and Nasser.When Zhou Enlai shook hands with Nasser, he said: Your Excellency, I can't think of you being so young.This year, Nasser just turned thirty-seven years old, twenty years younger than Zhou Enlai. It was the afternoon of April 15, 1954.Mingaladon Airport in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.On the eve of the Bandung Asian-African Conference, Zhou Enlai, who flew from Kunming to Yangon on the 14th, went to the airport with Burmese Prime Minister U Nu to welcome Indian Prime Minister Nehru, Egyptian Prime Minister Nasser and Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Naim Khan.

Four days ago, on April 11, the Air India "Princess Kashmir" plane chartered by the Chinese government delegation exploded and crashed over the South China Sea on the way from Hong Kong to Jakarta.At that time, the heads or leaders of the participating countries in Asia and Africa were preparing to leave for Bandung, Indonesia to participate in the Asian-African Conference. The "Kashmir Princess" air crash had an impact on the upcoming Bandung Conference and caused some ideological fluctuations.Prime Minister U Nu of Myanmar invited the leaders of five countries including Nehru, Nasser, Zhou Enlai, Afghanistan and Vietnam to meet in Yangon first to discuss issues related to the success of the meeting.

At 8:00 p.m. on April 15th, the leaders of the five countries were hosted by Myanmar President Dr. Bayu.Before the banquet, at 7:00 p.m., Zhou Enlai held the first meeting with Nasser.Early the next morning, the leaders of these countries flew to Indonesia by special plane.During the Bandung Conference, at many banquets held by President Sukarno, Zhou Enlai invited Nasser to the same table for dinner or coffee.On the evening of April 22, Zhou Enlai was in Daman?Shali No. 10 Villa hosted a banquet in honor of Nasser. Both sides introduced the situation and foreign policy of their own countries, and exchanged views on many issues of common concern.

Zhou Enlai had already prepared for the establishment of diplomatic relations that would be involved in this meeting with Nasser. Zhou Enlai: On the issue of establishing diplomatic relations with Egypt, we must be good at waiting... Two years ago, Zhou Enlai received a report from relevant parties: shortly after the establishment of the Egyptian Republic in the summer of 1953, according to Najib, Egypt’s first president and prime minister, the Egyptian government had decided to recognize the People’s Republic of China. It was an unfriendly action to immediately warn Egypt, and Egypt fell into a wait-and-see attitude.In this regard, Zhou Enlai once instructed that when it comes to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and other countries and the new China, we should adopt an attitude of being good at waiting, not forcing, doing more work, promoting relations and making things happen naturally.Later, Egypt inquired through a third country whether it could send a consul general to China while maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan.On December 17, 1953, Zhou Enlai made it clear that he could not accept this approach, which amounted to the recognition of "two Chinas," but he could consider sending a trade representative to Egypt in a semi-official capacity.

Therefore, during the Yangon and Bandung meetings between Zhou Enlai and Nasser, Egypt hoped that China would understand that it still had difficulties in cutting off diplomatic relations with Taiwan.The two sides reached an agreement to normalize relations gradually, starting with trade between the two countries, sending business agencies to each other.In Bandung, Ye Jizhuang, a member of the Chinese government delegation and Minister of Foreign Trade, attended the meeting with Egyptian Minister of Industry and Commerce Mohammed?Ah?Nusser specifically discussed the issue of trade between the two countries.

Before the Bandung Conference, due to the malicious slander and attacks on China by the Western media, Nasser lacked a real understanding of China, so he had concerns.Especially on the issue of religion, 92% of the total population of Egypt are Arabs who believe in Islam, and its capital, Cairo, is full of mosques.However, Western newspapers have ulterior motives to spread rumors and slander that after the founding of the red new China, the atheist Communist Party "destroyed mosques and churches everywhere", "burned the Koran and Bibles", "religious members were regarded as counter-revolutionaries and imprisoned", etc.In addition, Nasser implemented an anti-communist policy in the country, which also made him have some wariness and doubts about the new China ruled by the Communist Party.

However, through contact and observation of Zhou Enlai and the Chinese government delegation at the Bandung Conference, he began to change his original views.First of all, on the issue of religion, he noticed that there was even a well-known Islamic imam Dapusheng among the members of the Chinese government delegation, which surprised him.He had signaled to members of his delegation the Religious Affairs Minister Ba?Kuhl went to contact Da Pusheng to have a conversation about Islam and other related issues, and he got a good impression.He also received reports that the Chinese imam had exchanged activities with Indonesian Islamic organizations in Bandung.

In addition, Nasser also noticed that Zhou Enlai said more than once that China "does not export revolution" in his speeches and side events at the conference, and believed that revolution cannot be exported. We hope that other countries will also respect the social system and way of life chosen by the Chinese people.Zhou Enlai's personality charm, as the people's premier, sincerely, frankly, and friendly attitude of seeking friends for the new China, contains the wisdom and elegance of the long-standing civilization of the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, especially at the critical moment when the conference fell into a split, Zhou Enlai's golden voice on seeking common ground while reserving differences His famous speech, which turned the tide and maintained the overall success of the Asian-African Conference, left a deep impression on him.Although Nasser was not as emotional as Indonesian Prime Minister Shastro Amizoyo, Cambodian Prince Sihanouk, Philippine Foreign Minister Romulo or Burmese Prime Minister U Nu, he expressed his feelings on the spot and enthusiastically praised Zhou Enlai. speech; but Zhou Enlai's image did affect Nasser's subsequent friendly actions towards China.

In a meeting near the end of the Bandung Conference, Nasser mentioned to Zhou Enlai that Egypt was being threatened by Israel and asked Zhou Enlai to help provide weapons to strengthen its defense capabilities.At that time, in February, shortly before the Bandung Conference, Israeli forces attacked the Egyptian Army Command in the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring nearly a hundred people.After the events in Gaza, Nasser stayed awake at night trying to buy much-needed weapons.He has made many reward tests to the British and American sides.The United States wants Egypt to sign a "mutual defense treaty" with it as a prerequisite for selling weapons.Britain made no reply to the Egyptian order.And Israel continues to buy a large number of new weapons from France, becoming more and more powerful.He decided to find another way to obtain weapons.

Zhou Enlai agreed to help Nasser contact the Soviet Union.Soon after Nasser returned to Cairo, the Soviet ambassador to Egypt confirmed to him that China had conveyed Egypt’s request to the Soviet government; he also said that the Soviet Union was willing to provide any amount of weapons, including modern aircraft and tanks.However, considering that the Soviet Union might have impure motives, Nasser reacted cautiously.Nasser wanted to use the Soviet Union's willingness to sell weapons to urge the United States and Britain to provide weapons. Nasser later said: The Bandung Conference laid the groundwork for strengthening relations between Egypt and the People's Republic of China, it united us and defined our goals. After returning from Bandung, Nasser immediately sent the Minister of Religion to visit China A few days after Prime Minister Nasser returned to Cairo, he immediately sent the Minister of Religious Affairs Kool to pay an official visit to China.This is also the first ministerial government official from an independent African country to visit New China.China has given warm, friendly and considerate reception.The Egyptian delegation led by Minister Kool also visited the Muslim residential area and many mosques in China.Later, it was reported that after returning to Egypt, Kool told Nasser: It is not what the Western propaganda said. The mosques in China are well preserved. There is no destruction of churches or persecution of believers. It is just that many Islamic believers and non-Muslim residents Likewise, life is relatively poor.In China, Minister Kool donated 1,000 pounds to Chinese Islamic believers and 1,000 pounds to non-Muslim poor people, which were handed over by the Islamic Association of China and the Chinese People's Relief Association respectively. Almost at the same time as Minister Kool's visit to China, the Egyptian government submitted a motion to the Secretariat of the Arab League to recognize the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. During the visit to Kor, China and Egypt had a comprehensive exchange of views on the development of relations in various fields such as politics, trade, culture, religion and military affairs.On the evening of May 31st, Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Chen Yi met with Minister Kool and Kamel, a professor of law at Cairo University, and hosted a banquet. Met in Bandung.At the time when Israel hoped to establish diplomatic relations with New China, China was not in a hurry to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Zhou Enlai made it clear to Kool that the Chinese government supported the just struggle of Egypt and other Arab countries against Israel’s aggression and expansion.The two sides expressed a common stand against imperialism, anti-colonialism, and safeguarding national independence and national sovereignty.Regarding Egypt's urgent need to purchase weapons, Zhou Enlai proceeded from the analysis of the international situation and the situation of China and Egypt, and believed that it would be detrimental to both sides if China provided weapons to Egypt now.Minister Kuhl agreed with Zhou Enlai's analysis.Minister of Foreign Trade Ye Jizhuang held talks with Minister Kool, and the two sides reached an agreement to propose suggestions to their governments to strengthen trade and cultural exchanges. Through Minister of Religious Affairs Kool's visit to China, Nasser further dispelled the doubts caused by the West's slanderous propaganda against New China, enhanced mutual understanding, and promoted the development of bilateral relations.Just two months after Kool returned to Egypt, Nasser sent Minister of Commerce and Industry Muhammad?Ah?Nusser led an Egyptian trade delegation to China. Zhou Enlai put trade first as the first step towards formal diplomatic relations The Egyptian delegation arrived in Beijing on August 10.This is the first Egyptian trade delegation to visit China, and also the first trade delegation to China from the African continent.They visited some large factories in Anshan, Shenyang, Shanghai and Beijing, and were received by Premier Zhou Enlai on the afternoon of August 21.On the 22nd, the two sides signed the three-year "China-Egypt Trade Agreement" and "Protocol on the First Agreement Year of the China-Egypt Trade Agreement" in Beijing, which is the first in the history of China-Africa relations. official trade agreements.The agreement is determined: Egypt imports 60,000 tons of steel from China, and China imports 40,000 tons of cotton from Egypt?50,000 bales, give each other most-favored-nation treatment and set up a government commercial representative office in the other country, and give the representative office due respect, security protection and various conveniences in work.The two sides also confirmed through the exchange of documents that the commercial representative office has the right to hang the national flag and national emblem of the country, the personal inviolability of the principal and deputy representatives, the inviolability of official documents and files, and the right to use passwords.Although the agreement does not clearly stipulate that commercial representative offices enjoy diplomatic treatment, they actually enjoy diplomatic privileges higher than consular treatment. It is worth noting that the Taiwan authorities still had an "embassy" in Cairo at that time, but Zhou Enlai and Nasser reached a reliable tacit understanding with mutual understanding.Under such circumstances, Zhou Enlai agreed to set up a commercial representative office of the above-mentioned specifications in Cairo, putting trade first as the first step in establishing formal diplomatic relations.According to the commentary in the book "Diplomatic History of the People's Republic of China (1946-1956)" edited by Mr. Pei Jianzhang, "Trade is the first step in establishing formal diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. is of great significance". On December 24, 1955, Li Yingji, the official representative, and Zhang Yue, the deputy representative of the Commercial Representative Office of the Chinese Government in Egypt, led the staff of the Commercial Representative Office to Cairo and brought with them a letter from Zhou Enlai to Nasser.In January 1956, the Chinese Commercial Representative Office in Egypt was formally established.In February, Egypt's commercial representative in China Midhat?Ah?Farr arrives in Beijing and establishes a Shang representative office. The handshake between Zhou Enlai and Nasser at the Bandung Conference ushered in a new era of new China and modern Africa. Mao Zedong bought 100 million pounds of Egyptian cotton, the largest cotton transaction in Egyptian history Nasser is stubborn Nasser. On the issue of establishing diplomatic relations with New China, Nasser once again showed his rebellious and indomitable character.Shortly after Minister Nusser returned from his visit to China, he decided to choose an appropriate time to announce the recognition of the People's Republic of China.At that time, the United States and Britain decided to help the World Bank to provide funds for the Aswan Dam that Nasser was determined to build. However, the United States and Britain had conditions. .After the Bandung Conference, there were frequent exchanges between China and Egypt. Less than a month after the Chinese government’s commercial agency hoisted the five-star red flag in Cairo, Paul Han, vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the Islamic Association of China, led the Chinese cultural and art delegation Arrive in Cairo for a visit.This is the first large-scale art troupe to visit Africa in Chinese history, and was warmly welcomed by the Egyptian government and people in Cairo.The art troupe's exquisite performance full of Chinese national characteristics caused a sensation in Cairo, and many people came to Cairo from afar to watch the performance.The major newspapers and periodicals in Egypt reported the grand occasion of the performance with a prominent layout. At this time, Nasser, who had already assumed the presidency, received Ballhan and members of the delegation, and watched the last performance of the Chinese Art Troupe in Cairo on March 12.Nasser said to Balhan: "I really admire your art for maintaining its own national style and rich oriental color.... The visit will definitely help the mutual understanding between the people of Egypt and China and further promote the mutual understanding between the two peoples. friendship." In March, Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Ye Jizhuang was invited to visit Egypt, met with President Nasser and delivered a letter from Premier Zhou Enlai. In the letter, Zhou Enlai reviewed the friendship established with President Nasser during the Bandung Conference and the development of bilateral relations in recent years , hoping that China-Egypt relations will be further consolidated and developed.In March, China held a large-scale Chinese commodity exhibition in Cairo. This exhibition was also unprecedentedly grand. China also donated 28 machines to Egypt at the exhibition.China also decided to purchase an additional 100 million pounds of Egyptian cotton in 1956 after purchasing more than 30 million U.S. dollars of Egyptian cotton and cotton yarn in the previous two years, of which 5.9 million pounds would be paid in cash.At that time, when the Western powers sharply reduced the purchase of Egyptian cotton due to Egypt’s insistence on anti-imperialism, anti-colonization, and maintenance of national independence and sovereignty, the Egyptian cotton was seriously unsalable and affected the economic life of Egypt. The Egyptian cotton purchased by China was the biggest support for Egypt. .The Egyptian side believes that this is the largest cotton transaction in Egyptian history.At that time, a Western newspaper used such a headline: Mao Zedong bought 100 million pounds of Egyptian cotton.No wonder an Egyptian reporter said: During these two and three months, the Chinese style was blowing in Egypt. The frequent presence of Chinese people in Cairo made the US and British people in Cairo seem to have sand in their eyes.The United States and the United Kingdom did not hesitate to exert high pressure in an attempt to prevent Egypt from recognizing the new China.The U.S. ambassador to Egypt, Kaffery, said at a diplomatic event in Cairo that the U.S. does not want to see hot-headed actions in Cairo at a time when Egypt still has a lot to do with the West. This is clearly putting pressure on Nasser. Nasser did not buy into the American account, and took actions to recognize the new China Nasser certainly did not buy into the American account. Nasser's father belonged to the Saidi clan, which is generally tall, dark-skinned, tall and stubborn, and easily excitable.Nasser inherited this lineage, which was later shown in the formation of his character and physique.In the anti-British struggle in history, many Saidi people were heroic fighters.When Nasser was in elementary school, he often went back to his hometown with his family from the city to play. The glorious history of Egypt and the stories of his predecessors who bravely resisted the British Expeditionary Force were preached by the Saidi elders, which often excited Nasser. He resented the British aggression.This youthful experience played a big role in making Nasser a fervent nationalist at a very young age.At the age of fifteen he was active in the student movement and became president of the High School Students' Union; when he organized a demonstration along the square of the British barracks, the military police shot at the march and the bullet grazed his forehead.When he felt that the army was the key force to determine the fate of Egypt, he tried every means to join the army. After unremitting efforts, he finally entered the Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy, and later entered the Cairo Army Staff College for further studies.He was stubborn and brave in combat. In the famous Palestine War in 1948, he served as the chief of staff of the battalion. He was wounded by a bullet in the abdomen. Before the wound healed completely in the hospital, he insisted on returning to the front line. Wounded still led the army to fight bravely.For this he was awarded the title of "Tiger of Falluja" and promoted to major.He has high prestige in the army.When the Farouk Dynasty, backed by the United Kingdom, fell into a political and economic crisis, he judged the situation and secretly formed a "free officer organization" in the army, with the goal of driving out the British and overthrowing or completely changing the current corrupt system in Egypt.After long-term preparations, the uprising was held in the middle of the night on July 22, 1952. Before dawn, the uprising troops had completely controlled the capital Cairo, announcing the overthrow of the Farouk dynasty and beginning a new period in Egyptian history. The tyrant over the Egyptian people was overthrown, but the British occupying forces remained on Egyptian soil.Of course, the United Kingdom does not want its vested interests in Egypt to be on the verge of bankruptcy. Western powers such as the United States and Britain are trying to pull the newborn Egypt into their own orbit, so they do everything possible to exert influence and pressure on Egypt.Of course, the United States and Britain do not want to see the five-star red flag appear in Cairo.The words of American Ambassador Kaffery fully exposed the true face of the United States to control Egypt, interfere in Egypt's internal affairs, and undermine Egypt's neutrality policy. Nasser decided to take action— On May 16, 1956, in Beijing, Farr, the Egyptian commercial representative to China, paid a visit to Premier Zhou Enlai and sent an official note; Li Yingji, the Egyptian commercial charge d'affaires, officially notified that the government of the Republic of Egypt has decided to withdraw its recognition of the Taiwan regime, while recognizing the People's Republic of China and willing to establish diplomatic relations and exchange diplomatic envoys.The Egyptian government spokesman immediately announced the decision to newspapers and radio stations. On May 24, President Nasser met with Representative Li Yingji and said: "Recognition of the People's Republic of China has long been decided. The reason for not announcing the recognition a while ago was to make Western powers reduce aid to Israel and make this region more peaceful. However, these great powers do not want to be friends with Egypt and have supplied Israel with large quantities of arms. Under the circumstances, the present is the best time to recognize the government of the People’s Republic of China.” Egypt became the first African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt immediately aroused great repercussions in the world.Newspapers and periodicals in many countries commented that Egypt's recognition of People's China was a "catastrophic failure" of Western foreign policy.The United States blamed Egypt for its actions, and according to the New York Times, Secretary of State Dulles even starkly announced that he would take action to urge France to supply Israel with arms in retaliation against Egypt.In order to pressure Egypt to submit, the United States suddenly announced on July 19, 1956, that it would withdraw the promised funds for the construction of the Aswan Dam.Immediately afterwards, the United Kingdom and the World Bank also made the same withdrawal decision. Ambassador Chen Jiakang encountered war as soon as he arrived in Cairo Wearing Xiulang glasses, he is smart and capable, with a gentle manner.He was just in his early forties this year.He led a group of staff of the embassy in Egypt, after a long journey, finally came to this remote and unfamiliar ancient city in Northeast Africa.Deserts in the suburbs, long caravans, towering pyramids, streets with Arabic buildings and European-style buildings in the city, mosques and minarets all over the city, the beautiful Nile River passing through the city, and citizens in robes. ...; Despite the exoticism, his thoughts are still lingering on the pioneering work he is facing: the extremely rich oil reserves, the Suez Canal, a strategic artery connecting the two continents of Europe and Asia, and the contradictions in the Middle East Intricate and complicated, the anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, and national independence and liberation struggles in Africa and the Middle East developed rapidly after the war; after the Bandung Conference, the influence of New China in this region was expanding day by day. It was against this background that he was sent to Egypt of.Since he is the first new Chinese ambassador to Africa, it can be said that the task is arduous and glorious, and the responsibility is heavy and challenging.He remembered that before leaving Beijing, Premier Zhou took the time to meet with him and the main staff of the embassy during the final discussion and approval of the second five-year plan for the development of the national economy at the National People's Congress. Thinking of him going to bid farewell to the very familiar Sister Deng, the eldest sister said, although you went to a strange continent, I believe that when you come back, you will become an expert in Africa. July, when they arrived in Cairo, was the hottest day of the year in Cairo. Cairo is close to the Sahara Desert, and it was much hotter than the "stove" in their hometown of Wuhan. The temperature was as high as 40 degrees.He felt that his heart was hotter than the climate here—— He was a passionate young man born in Guangji, Hubei. He studied at Wuhan University in his early years. Not long after he participated in the revolution, because he could speak English, he was required to work in the United Front and foreign affairs. Since he was 25 years old in 1938, he was elected Worked next to Zhou Enlai in the Wuhan Eighth Route Army Office, served as Zhou Enlai's secretary and English translator, and worked in the foreign propaganda team of the Yangtze River Bureau of the CPC Central Committee under the direct leadership of Zhou Enlai.After the fall of Wuhan, he followed Zhou En to Chongqing and served as the deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Group of the United Front Work Committee of the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Hongyan Village.In 1944, he went to Yan'an to receive a visiting group of Chinese and foreign journalists and David?The U.S. military observation team led by Colonel Paul Reid.In 1945, at the beginning of the founding of the United Nations, he went to San Francisco, USA to attend the United Nations Constitutional Conference as the secretary of Dong Biwu, the representative of the Chinese Communist Party.In 1946, he followed Zhou En to Nanjing and was in charge of the Liaison Office of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Nanjing Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.Before and after the founding of New China, he also served as the deputy director of the Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and represented the youth in the liberated areas to attend the World Youth Conference several times.In 1950, Zhou Enlai transferred him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director of the Asian Department.Before becoming the first ambassador to Egypt this time, he served as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Asian Department.He has been engaged in foreign affairs and united front work under the direct leadership of Zhou Enlai for a long time. He has experienced the test of long-term revolutionary struggle and accumulated rich experience in foreign affairs. He is proficient in English, quick in thinking and strong in action.Since the ambassador to Egypt is extremely important, diplomacy with Africa is a new field for the new China to open up. Zhou Enlai quickly thought of him when considering candidates.Before leaving Beijing, some people said that among the countries that had established diplomatic relations with China, the Egyptian embassy should be the most distant embassy from Beijing at that time... In addition to the extreme heat in Cairo, there are many mosquitoes after nightfall.Under the heat wave and the attack of mosquitoes, he listened to Radio Cairo or the Voice of Arabia, and he finally fell asleep thinking about it... When Chen Jiakang arrived in Cairo, on July 19th, the United States suddenly announced the cancellation of the financial aid plan for the construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt, and would no longer provide the 72 million aid promised for the first phase of the dam project. US dollars, the World Bank also canceled 200 million US dollars in loans for dam construction.At this time, President Nasser was visiting Yugoslavia and had not yet returned to Cairo.The United States stopped aiding the construction of the Aswan Dam, using the so-called "Egypt's non-cooperation" as an excuse, and even spread rumors that "Egypt's economy has gone bankrupt."After Nasser got the news, he was very angry.He said that this is not a withdrawal of aid, but an instigation of the Egyptian people to overthrow the current regime.Nasser was born with a stubborn temper. He has repeatedly stated that he takes revenge as a matter of course. His principle in dealing with problems is: repay friendship with friendship, and repay hostility with hostility. The actions of the United States have greatly hurt the national feelings of Nasser and the Egyptian people.The Nile River that flows through Egypt is the "father of all rivers" in Africa. The construction of the Aswan Dam on its upper reaches has been the long-cherished wish of the Egyptian people for years of economic development. Therefore, Egyptian newspapers and radio stations reacted strongly to the U.S. backlash , The sentiment of the street crowd is very strong.UN Secretary-General Hammarskjöld also flew to Cairo to mediate. At this time, the Egyptian government still attaches great importance to its relations with China.The protocol officials of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were particularly enthusiastic, and Chen Jiakang soon met Foreign Minister Faqi.Faqi told Chen Jiakang that President Nasser attached great importance to the appointment of Ambassador Chen. After returning to Cairo, the President specially ordered the time for the Chinese ambassador to submit his credentials at 12:00 noon on July 22; On the day before the Lunar Revolution Festival, at 12:00 noon, due to the high sun and the highest temperature, residents stayed at home to rest, and it was a time when radio audiences were very popular.Another protocol official whispered to the Chinese staff that the meeting between UN Secretary-General Hammarskjöld and President Nasser was also arranged immediately after Ambassador Chen presented his credentials. Four days after Ambassador Chen Jiakang submitted his credentials, he personally experienced the most exciting event in contemporary Egyptian history, the most glorious chapter in the history of the Egyptian people's anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggle, and also the most difficult and severe day.On July 26th, the fourth anniversary of the Egyptian people's expulsion of King Farouk, in Alexandria, Nasser's hometown, thousands of people gathered in Manzia Square to listen to the President's long speech.The president's emotional speeches are often interrupted by applause from the crowd.At the end of his speech, Nasser resolutely announced the "Decree of the President of the Republic Concerning the Nationalization of the International Suez Canal Company".After the announcement of the nationalization of the canal company, the revenue from the canal will be used to build the Aswan Dam project. In an instant, the crowd was jubilant, and the applause was like a storm, which lasted for a long time.The whole country of Egypt is cheering: "The wealth of Egypt has finally been returned to Egypt!" A small country like Egypt has finally challenged the strongest power in the world in order to safeguard national independence and national dignity.The decisive measures taken by the Egyptian government to safeguard national independence and national sovereignty immediately shocked the world, and received enthusiastic support from the Arab countries and people from all over the world. However, Britain immediately froze Egypt's 130 million pounds deposits in London, and adopted control measures that prevented the Canal Company's funds in London from being used by Egypt.The United States has also taken similar measures.On August 2, Britain, France, and the United States issued a joint declaration denying Egypt's sovereignty over the canal and wanting to impose "international control" on the canal; threat of force against Egypt.On August 4, Zhou Enlai delivered a speech to foreign journalists stationed in Beijing. On behalf of the Chinese government, he expressed full support for Egypt's nationalization of the Suez company, opposed any attempt of armed intervention, and advocated to resolve the issue through negotiation. Since the Suez Canal is the lifeline of the British ruled colonies, France has long been furious because of Nasser's support for Algeria's national liberation war, and Israel has long wanted to attack the leaders of the Arab world. Egypt used force. On October 29, 1956, Israel dispatched 45,000 troops, under the cover of British, French, and American aircraft and warships, to launch a lightning attack on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.On the evening of October 31st, British Canberra planes began to attack Egyptian airports. Immediately afterwards, Britain and France began direct bombing of Egyptian towns, ports, and important military sites. The Suez War broke out when Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt.They attempted to overthrow Nasser's government and restore control of the Suez Canal. The Chinese embassy sticks to its post in the flames of war, carries out external activities, and maintains smooth communication with the country Bombs fell in the downtown with piercing whistling sounds, and the buildings in the streets were blown into ruins in an instant.The embassy staff could clearly make out the British or French emblem on the plane flying overhead.At that time, densely populated cities such as Cairo, the capital of Egypt, Port Said, the second largest city, and Suez were all under bombardment by planes.The situation was extremely critical. Facing the sudden war, the Egyptian people did not give in. They mobilized urgently, armed themselves, and rose up to fight.The government, on the instructions of President Nasser, distributed weapons to anyone who volunteered as a guerrilla fighter.On the streets of Cairo, residents can be seen queuing up to receive guns and ammunition to participate in the defense of the motherland. Ambassador Chen Jiakang, who just took office, dealt with this extraordinary incident calmly and calmly.According to international practice, foreign embassies in the midst of war should not be attacked.But the Chinese embassy is located in the center of Cairo. It used to be the governor's residence, occupying half of the street.Amidst the bombardment by British and American planes, accidents may happen to the embassy at any time, and of course it is also the front line.But Ambassador Chen immediately gathered all the staff of the Chinese embassy to discuss and conceive of all possible incidents, and made emergency arrangements and preparations.The older staff in the embassy actively carry out external activities; the younger staff stick to their posts and make emergency preparations. Under the harsh and dangerous environment of aircraft bombing, Ambassador Chen Jiakang carried out foreign activities through various channels, maintained frequent contacts with the Egyptian government, and closely watched the situation and trends. Reports the situation and executes tasks and instructions delivered domestically. At the critical moment, Nasser spoke to the Egyptian people on the radio, saying that he would never surrender and would stay and resist until all the invaders were driven out of Egypt.He also refused to let his wife and children leave the capital Cairo.After Cairo radio station and Voice of Arabia radio station were bombed, he was parading through the streets of Cairo in a convertible car.The president resisted with the military and civilians, and the people were encouraged. At that time, the embassies of some countries in Cairo were preparing to evacuate, prepared boats to carry women and children, boarded the boats from the city, and sailed to Aswan in the upper reaches of the Nile River to seek asylum, and invited lesbians from the Chinese embassy to go with them.The lesbians at the embassy expressed their gratitude and wanted to stay and work in the embassy in Cairo. In Beijing, after receiving the report from the embassy in Cairo, Zhou Enlai received the Egyptian ambassador to China, Hassan?Raghab expressed condemnation of the armed aggression by Britain and France, and resolutely supported the just struggle of the Egyptian people.Premier Zhou also handed over to the ambassador the Chinese Government's Statement on the British and French Armed Aggression of Egypt, explaining that this was only the first step in China's support for Egypt, and that China would consider other steps. Mao Zedong proposed to Egypt that the Egyptian army should not stick to the West Nai Peninsula The late night of November 2nd was actually the early morning of November 3rd.It was almost dawn, but Mao Zedong did not feel sleepy.Several members of the Politburo in Beijing had left, leaving him alone.Facing the large map of Egypt that had just been hung on the wall, he was very excited. Back then, in the courtyard of a farmer's house in a mountain village in northern Shaanxi, he used a kerosene lamp to look at a map and command the national liberation war.Sometimes when the enemy army is approaching, the guards have already arranged to move, the guards and the secretary have packed his luggage, and the horses he rides have been led to the door of the house, and he is still looking at the battle map.If Zhou Enlai hadn't come to remind him himself, he really wouldn't have left.Hu Zongnan's troops often entered the village as soon as they rolled up the map and walked out of the mountain pass. Not long after he entered the city, the Korean War broke out. He spread out the large military map in the Juxiang Bookstore, and stayed up many sleepless nights. Relying on the frequent telegrams with Peng Dehuai, he guided the volunteers to directly communicate with the US military on the Korean battlefield. contest. Last night, at the Politburo meeting of the CPC Central Committee held in Zhongnanhai, Zhou Enlai briefed Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi and others on the outbreak of the Suez War based on the report of the Chinese embassy in Egypt and the briefing of the Egyptian ambassador to China.This set his mind aflame. When the news came in July and August 1956 that Egypt had taken back the Suez Canal, Mao Zedong was very excited.At this time, the first Egyptian ambassador to China Hassan?When Rajab arrived, Mao Zedong immediately received Rajab.When we first met, Mao Zedong said: "We feel happy as soon as we see the Egyptians. There is no barrier between us. Egypt has done a very good thing." 根据中国革命的经验，毛泽东的谈话很亲切、广泛，他还引导埃方在斗争中做好统战工作，还关心纳赛尔总统要注意安全。他说—— 你们的国王做了坏事，所以被人民推翻了，但他还是个埃及人。现在全埃及人民、全阿拉伯人民和全亚非人民都团结起来了，他也应该讲点爱国主义，不要发表不利于埃及的言论，不要做帝国主义的走狗，你们应该对他做点工作。中国地主的土地土改时都被没收了，但是在抗美援朝的时候，他们也赞成打美国人。 ... 纳赛尔总统最近最好不要到没有警戒的地方去，因为帝国主义的计划失败后，他们会采取各种手段，像暗杀等。西方国家骂纳赛尔总统是个野心家，是个希特勒，说他想统治阿拉伯世界。但是我们认为，纳赛尔总统是亚非地区的民族英雄，因此帝国主义才不喜欢他。 现在英法联军真的进攻埃及了。这天白天的时候，毛泽东就亲自过问对埃及的声援。他还指示说：我们在经济上援助埃及的方针应该是大力的、无偿的，它需要什么，凡是我们办得到的，一定要送去。 除了过问声援和经济援助，毛泽东还从军事上极为关心苏彝士运河战局的进展，下午，他还叫人催问驻埃使馆有没有战况的新报告。经过彻夜未眠的思考，十一月三日，毛泽东以其丰富的军事经验对整个战局发展作出了判断：以色列部队先对西柰半岛发起进攻，意图在于把埃及的主力部队吸引至运河以东地区，然后待命于地中海上的英法联军登陆塞得港后，沿运河南下，直逼开罗，三国部队合击，一举歼灭埃军主力…… 好大的胃口哟！毛泽东陷入了沉思，很快就提出了埃军不宜固守西柰半岛等关于埃及反侵略战争的军事部署和战略方针的建议。此建议，由周恩来转交给埃及政府。 十一月三日这天，北京市近五十万群众与全国各地上亿群众，开始了连续三天的集会游行，遣责英、法的侵略，声援埃及人民的正义斗争。 在埃及，纳赛尔意识到了对方的意图，果断命令埃军从西柰撤出，不要恋战，以免陷入敌方圈套，使埃及主力部队免于覆没。主力保存下来了，后来有实力阻挡占领塞得港的英法联军南下。纳赛尔这一决定后来被称誉为“天才决定”，与毛泽东的“不宜固守西柰”的提议可谓“英雄所见略同”。 十一月十日，中国把埃及急需的大批物资装上运往埃及的轮船，其中包括六千吨豆类，一千多吨冻牛羊肉。随后又有大批钢材、粮食、茶叶、矿石、绵籽油等运往埃及。周恩来致电纳赛尔，代表中国政府向埃及赠送两千万瑞士法郎的现金。中国红十字会也赠款十万元人民币，还准备了一个医务工作团，以备埃及的需要。 埃及军民给侵略军以顽强的抗击，阿拉伯各国采取断交与切断输油管等手段，配合埃及的战斗，中国与全世界人民（包括英法本国人民）给入侵者以严正警告下，英法联军被迫宣布于十一月六日停火，至十二月二十二日从埃及撤走了最后一批部队。埃及人民终于赢得了维护国家主权、抗击外国入侵的最后胜利。十二月二十六日，北京市群众隆重集会，庆祝埃及人民的胜利。 陈家康一出任驻埃及大使，就经受了苏彝士运河战争的严峻考验。他率领使役全体人员沉着应战，正确地执行国家的外交路线、政策及国内的各项指示，园满地完成了使命。通过这次经历，他和中国使馆赢得了埃及与广大阿拉伯人民的称赞和友谊。纳赛尔总统对陈大使也很赏识，在开罗的众多外国大使中，他是少有的可以与纳赛尔总统进行深谈的一个。他与中国使馆的表现，使他在开罗的外交使节中赢得了广泛的威信，连当时与中国尚未建交的国家的大使，如美国、日本等国大使，对他也很尊重，愿意同他交往。 来自茶叶发源地的“贸易大使”出使嗜茶如命的国度 新中国使多少投身革命的人的命运，会产生难以想像的变化。 白认在新中国成立之初，就离开了党政工作岗位，选择了对外贸易部，准备把后半生投入新中国的经济贸易工作中去。当时他怎么都不会想到，自己会来到大西洋岸边的古城拉巴特，在这如此遥远的西北非担任中国驻摩洛哥王国首任大使。新中国建国初年从军队挑选了一批将军耿飙、姬鹏飞、袁仲贤、黄镇等作外交官而被称为“将军大使”，著名作家巴人（王叔任）出任驻印度尼西亚首任大使被称为唯一的“作家大使”；这次，白认从对外贸易部部长助理的岗位上来当大使，该算是当时唯一的“贸易大使”了。 摩洛哥和中国，具有相同的命运，过去都饱受帝国主义的侵略和压迫，因而两国人民心心相印，彼此相通。一九五五年四月，当穆罕默德五世还被流放在印度洋西边的马达加斯加岛上的时候，周恩来总理在印度洋东边的万隆召开的亚非会议讲坛上发言，就明确地表示：中国政府和人民完全同情和充分支持摩洛哥人民争取民族独立的斗争。一九五六年三月摩洛哥独立后，四月四日，周恩来总理致电摩洛哥王国首相西？贝凯，热烈祝贺摩洛哥独立，相信摩洛哥人民在维护国家独立和建筑幸福生活的事业中将获得新的成就，并且愿意看到两国之间的友好与合作关系的发展。四月十八日，西？贝凯首相复电周恩来总理表示感谢，希望摩洛哥的独立将有助于两国建立友好关系。 摩洛哥的独立是政治上的独立，按照当时法、摩两国谈判所签的独立方案，是颇为有名的“互相依存中的独立”方案。因而，摩洛哥独立后的经济命脉还掌握在法国资本家的手中。穆罕默德五世和中国建交友好关系，主要想开展摩洛哥自己的外贸，而且很快就向中国方面表达了这一愿望。摩洛哥独立当年的十一月，周恩来就派遣了贸易代表团访问摩洛哥，在访问摩洛哥最大的港口城市卡萨布兰卡时，当地总督表示希望中国在卡萨布兰卡设立领事馆，尽管当时未能设立，却体现了摩洛哥人民对中国人民的友好感情。此后，两国在贸易上的来往逐渐增多，为促进两国建交打下了很好的基础。据中国驻摩洛哥首任大使白认在回忆录中记述—— 穆罕默德五世在位，双方的主要贸易是中国的茶叶和摩洛哥的磷酸盐肥料以货换货。摩洛哥磷酸盐的储量和产量都居世界首位，每年向中国出口六十万吨，这是一个不小的数目。摩洛哥人民是世界上喝茶最多的人民之一，年需茶叶一万二千吨，平均每人每年喝一公斤的茶叶。摩是中国茶叶的最大主顾。 中摩两国经两年贸易来往并促进了相互了解与信任后，一九五八年秋天，中国外贸部副部长雷任民访问摩洛哥，在洽谈好茶叶和磷酸盐的贸易的同时，达成了建立大使级外交关系的协定。 于是，摩洛哥成为继埃及以后非洲第二个与中国建交的国家。因为与摩洛哥是从贸易口子入手建立的外交关系，当时外交官又很缺，有人建议从贸易战线物色一个驻摩洛哥大使，便于今后加强从贸易方面开展对非洲的外交工作。周恩来同意了这个提议。 当时在外贸部物色的就是四十多岁的白认。 白认是北京郊区顺义县人，青年时想求学，因家里贫穷没法进入北平的名牌大学，只好进入免交学费、有饭吃的北平师范学校读书。“九？一八”事变，日本入侵中国，国难当头，他在救国救亡的学潮中加入了中国共产党，这是他人生的转折点，当时他只有十九岁。一九三三年，他因能写能说，擅长于宣传鼓动，被选进学生会担任宣传股长；这一年，他与一群热血青年离开北平北上投入抗日前线，参加了冯玉祥部察哈尔民众抗日同盟军，在总政治部担任宣传员。一九三七年，“七？七”事变后，他在山西省参加抗日战争，先后担任兴县牺牲救国同盟会任特派员，兴县县长，中共晋绥一地委委员，晋绥一专署专员。一九四五年起，担任吕梁七、九、十专署副专员，晋南行署建设处处长。新中国成立前后，他先是担任西康省军事管制委员会副主任，然后担任西康省委常委、副省长。西康省合并后，他调到外贸部，于一九五六年任对外贸易部部长助理。 他于一九五八年十二月调至外交部，经过了一段时间的学习和准备，于一九五九年四月中旬离京赴任。行前，陈毅副总理接见并作了有关的指示。 在他作动身准备的时候，有人告诉他说，他要去的地区古代叫做“马格里布”，在阿拉伯语中是“极西”意思。这个地区在中国古代称为“日没之处”，是太阳落山的地方，在古人看来是最西边、最遥远的地方。 六百多年前，中国和摩洛哥的旅行家已经相互访问 第一个有明有姓可考据的到达摩洛哥的中国人是汪大渊。他比白认大使早到摩洛哥六百多年。中国和摩洛哥的贸易往来，也可以追溯到六百多年以前。 在元代，也即十四世纪初，中国人已经绘制出当时世界上最精确的非洲地图。这个地图已经把非洲正确地画成一个倒三角形，并且标出了三十五个地名。这要比欧洲一三七五年的卡塔兰地图、一四五九年的弗拉？毛罗地图出现的非洲三角形图像都要早一些。 大约在一三三六年，汪大渊从埃及来到摩洛哥，甚至到达了最西的丹吉尔港（当时叫挞吉那）。丹吉尔位于非洲的西北角，直布罗托海峡的西南岸，靠近大西洋，被阿拉伯人称为极西之地，中国人也将其视为“日没之处”。 汪大渊是元代洪州人（今江西南昌）。一三三四年冬，他租海船满载着瓷器、丝绸、药材，从福建泉州出发，出马六甲海峡，经印度洋抵达亚丁。那时还没有苏彝士运河，他把货物从大海船转装至小船上，渡红海至埃得哈布港，再卸下货物装在骆驼背上，经陆路运往内地，约三十天后再用小船沿尼罗河运至开罗，从这里沿一条叫作加利齐恩的运河，最后运到地中海南岸的亚历山大港，然后再转船运到摩洛哥。在这期间，他还去国过麦加朝圣。 汪大渊所著的《岛夷志略》中有其在摩洛哥丹吉尔港的见闻—— 国居达里之地，即古之西域。山少田瘠，气候半热，天常阴晦。俗与羌同。男女身面如漆，眼园，白发。笼软锦为衣。女资纺织为生，男采鸦鹘石为活。煮海为盐，酿安石榴为酒。有酋长。地产安息香、琉璃瓶、硼砂，栀子花尤胜于他国。贸易之货，用沙金、花银、五色缎、铁鼎、铜线、琉磺、水银之属。 中国人带着美丽的瓷器、丝绸到达丹吉尔的消息，很快传遍摩洛哥。摩洛哥的旅行家伊本？巴图泰听说后，下决心也要克服重重困难，到遥远而神秘的中国去旅行。 伊本？巴图泰是著名的中世纪探险旅行家。他的全名是穆罕默德？伊本？阿卜杜拉？团哲。他是个著名法学家的后代，自幼研习法律，收获颇丰，虽说当法学家可以受世人尊敬，并能获取高官厚禄，光耀门庭。但巴图泰在博览群书中对地理游记产生了浓厚的兴趣。神秘的东方世界，牵动着这个阿拉伯青年的心。 巴图泰二十二岁开始出门探险远游。他穿过沙漠，三次到达伊斯兰圣地麦加。之后，开始航海闯向东方国家印度和中国。他历尽艰辛到达了印度最大的城市德里。他因博学而得到印度王室的器重，出任德里总法官，执掌司法职务，薪俸极为丰厚。一三四二年初，他受命出使中国。不幸的是，三艘使船驶离印度次大陆不久即遇海事，使团失散了。巴图泰几经周折，飘泊经马尔代夫、斯里兰卡、孟加拉、印度尼西亚等地，最终于一三四六年乘船抵达泉州港，开始了在中国的旅程。他称泉州为“剌桐”，夸奖泉州港口“是世界大港之一，甚至是最大的港口。我看到港内停有大艟约百艘，小船多得无数。”他先后到了泉州、广州、杭州、北京等地，在北京觐见了皇帝。皇帝在诏书中命令沿途官员要给巴图泰“优待”，其费用由政府支出，等等。巴图泰在江南一个城市遇到了同乡——摩洛哥人布史雷。他们早在印度时已相识，此次在中国相见，都很激动，俩人“不禁落泪，布史雷来从印度来中国已有多年，善理财，资产巨万，现有男女仆各五十人。” 巴图泰回到马格里布后，由他口述，别人记录整理了一本书《伊本？巴图泰游记》。该书对当时中国地理风貌、城市状况、社会生活等都有详细的记载。 馆址的楼里发现美国最先进的窃听器 初到摩洛哥首都拉巴特，因为没有买到合适的房子，使馆人员住在一个阿拉伯人开的旅馆里，每天去一个越南人开的餐馆吃饭，这个越南人能做中国菜。不久，就物色到一幢合意的房子。房子为两层楼，房子建筑约五百平方米，房子连院子共一千多平方米，正适合使馆需用。房产原属王国政府的前首相，其因盖了新居而出售旧屋。经人介绍，很快就达成了交易。在搬进去之前，对房子进行了维修。 使馆人员搬进去后，就发生了窃听器事件。 政务参赞进行分配房子，将接待室、会客厅、宴会厅、食堂及炊事员、司机等服务人员的宿舍安排在底楼，楼上是工作人员办公、学习和住宿的地方。楼上有间最大最好的房子，该是那位前首相夫妻的卧室。政务参赞理所当然将这间大卧室分给白大使夫妇作住房。可是，担任使馆二秘兼党支部书记的大使夫人黄其云过惯了简陋的日子，不愿在使馆享受特殊待遇，她看中了原主人小孩住的小房间，旁边照样有洗澡间和厕所，说这已经够好了。政务参赞不肯让白认大使住在这么个小房间。白大使说，尊重夫人的意见吧。 据白认记述，为分配住房还有这样的对话—— ……政务参赞笑着说，那是人家小孩子住的房子，分给大使和夫人住，让人家知道了会笑话咱们的。她说：“咱们不让人家参观宿舍，不接待外宾上楼，他们怎么会知道咱们的住房分配情况呢？” 政务参赞见她执意要住小房子，只得又问我：“大使，你看怎么办？” 我笑着说：“我已经说过，这个问题由她决定。” 由于白认黄其云夫妇不愿享受特殊待遇，竟使大使幸然避开了敌人安装在大使卧室里的窃听器。 搬进新买的馆舍三个月后的一天，黄其云和另一工作人员郑守义在向法文翻译吴天波学法语，她听觉敏锐，忽然听见一种很轻微的嘀嘀嘀的声音。她觉得诧异，让郑守义、吴天波也注意细听。三人循声轻步寻找过去，寻进了政务参赞卧室里，并循声打开了挂衣服的壁橱门，经过细心倾听寻找，发觉声源就在壁橱下面的墙壁里。白大使得到报告也来了。大家经过仔细观察，发现墙底部靠地面有一块砖大小的地方，比周围的颜色要新一点。吴天波用铁铲撬了一下，石灰和泥土随着坠落，一个微型窃听装置终于暴露出来。那是一块小薄片片，撬开时还在嘀嘀嘀的响。郑守义刚想拆出来看一看，白大使悄声摆手制止了，示意大家出屋去研究。 有的人要看一看，白认大使嘱咐大家：“在旁边看看可以，不过不要动，也不要说话，以免惊动敌人。” 机要员小黄建议：“大使，我去取下来处理了，免得敌人再窃听使馆的机密。” 白认说：“不。我们不能自行处理。必须迅速向国内报告请示。” 当晚一请示。国内立即回电说：马上派人去检查。 过了没几天，两个专家携带着专用设备从国内赶到了使馆。他俩蹲在壁橱前看了又看，然后对使馆的人说：“这是一台接收转送的窃听机器，作用相当于一台广播机。看上去小巧轻便，是美国制造的最先进的窃听器。这种最新产品，是美国的禁品，我们想买都买不到，想不到在这儿却唾手可得。” 两个专家拿出了从国内带来的探测器，将使馆所有房间的墙壁检查了一遍，查出了四个小窃听器，每一个只有小女表壳那么大，中间穿着很细很细的铜丝。由于敌人以为大使夫妇肯定住那间大卧室，他们精心装了窃听器。但没想到大使夫妇只住小卧室，大卧室改作大家的学习室，是大家读报听广播看电视的地方。敌人就只能窃听我们的学习内容了，如意算盘落了空，白白送了几个最先进的美国新型产品，让两个专家很高兴地带回国去研究了。 白大使细心谨慎，为了防备万一，那几个窃听器都没有马上拆除，一直到两个专家买妥机票，收拾好行装离开使馆上机场之前，他才让他俩把它们拆下来，马上乘车带走。 至于窃听器到底是什么人装的？虽说始终是个谜，但是联系到摩洛哥的战略位置与在现代史上的复杂背景，也就不难理解了。 摩洛哥位于西北非，它西临大西洋，北边海岸就是被称为欧、非两洲咽喉的战略要道直布罗陀海峡，隔着地中海与西班牙遥遥相望。因而，摩洛哥是个战略要地。二次大战期间，一九四二年十一月，准备到欧洲开辟第二战场的美国作战部队就乘军舰在摩洛哥登陆，并在摩洛哥最大的港口城市卡萨布兰卡建立了共同打击德意法西斯的盟军司令部。盟国的四国首脑会议就曾在这儿召开。罗斯福、斯大林、邱吉尔、戴高乐都在海边的豪华别墅下榻。卡萨布兰卡也成了著名的特务活动中心，不只是美国、英国、苏联等盟国，就是德国、意大利、甚至日本，都在这儿设立了秘密的情报机关或是建立了特务活动的地下据点。有一部由大明星英格丽？褒曼主演的著名美国影片《卡萨布兰卡》，表现的就是二战时期这个城市里错综复杂的国际特务活动。在战后的冷战时代，因为这里是进入非洲大陆的桥头堡，特务活动仍然十分活跃。据说，街上有的商店、旅馆或者照相馆都会是某国特务开设的掩护门面。 自从出了窃听器事件之后，中国驻摩使馆对于保密与安全工作引起了特别的关注。 老国王穆罕默德五世罕见的来到中国展览馆 摩洛哥国王穆罕默德五世领着戴面纱的宠妃和王储，还手拉着漂亮的小公主，前呼后拥地来到了中国馆参观。白认大使和展览团长在中国馆门口表示热烈的欢迎。中国馆是国王来卡萨布兰卡国际博览会参观的少数几个展馆之一。这令其它许多国家的展馆人员外交使节十分羡慕与惊奇。国王参观中国馆，表明了驻在国对新中国的重视。 本来国家最高领导人参观在该国举办的国际博览会，只是一种很平常的国际惯例。但在摩洛哥却非同小可。国王穆罕默德五世全名叫穆罕默德.本.优素福，是摩洛哥举国景仰的民族英雄，也受到阿拉伯世界与非洲人民的崇敬；但是这个国王却脾性颇有点怪，他在王宫里深居简出，很不愿意出席礼宾活动，各国使馆举行招待会或是节庆仪式，他从来没有出席过。中国首任驻摩大使白认到任开馆后，经过调研了解，也从不提这种办不到的要求。 穆罕默德五世国王却表现了对中国的少有热情。白认大使到任不久，中国杂技团飘洋过海，乘船来到摩洛哥访问演出。中国使馆为杂技团在拉巴特的大剧场举行大型招待会，邀请来了摩洛哥王国政府各大臣、要员、知名人士和各国使节及华侨代表，一千多人济济一堂，气氛格外热烈。演员们表演的富于中国民族特色的杂技节目，极为成功。杂技团在拉巴特、卡萨布兰卡、非斯、丹吉尔、马拉喀什等城市演出了三四十场，受到了摩洛哥朝野的普遍欢迎，影响很大。深居王宫里的国王听说以后，特别邀请杂技团进宫去，为王室成员专场演出。穆罕默德五世全家看了后都异常高兴，对杂技团赞不绝口。 这次博览会在卡萨布兰卡举办，在白认大使的张罗下，对外贸易促进会组织的中国馆办得很具规模，占地面积约三千多平方米，参展商品品种大约三千多种。从红旗牌大轿车和各种工业机床，服装、五金、百货、日用品、食品、农产品等，琳琅满目，应有尽有。虽说当时中国商品从现代化程度来看，与西方发达国家相比，还有相当的差距，但许多产品到底是在建国后刚十年的短短时间里，从无到有发展起来的，充分反映了新中国突飞猛进的经济建设成就，颇得新独立的民族国家、海外华侨和好些西方人士称赞。 白大使想请国王去参观中国馆，开始使馆有人有顾虑，担心请不来。白大使向主管的王宫典礼局长提了出来。典礼局长说，他一定努力争取。果然，穆罕默德五世带着宠妃和王储来到了中国馆，就确实使人感到破例与少见了。 当人们知道穆罕默德五世为争取摩洛哥的独立而经受的磨难与坎坷，对他深居简出的孤怪脾性也都会十分谅解的。 老国王曾被流放到孤岛上，养成了孤寂的怪脾性