A paper on Gu Weijun?

From Gu Weijun to "a weak country without diplomacy"

Professor Tang Degang, an American scholar, believes that since China had its own diplomacy, there have been two and a half diplomats in China. Li Hongzhang and Zhou Enlai are two, while Gu Weijun is half. I don't think so. Gu Weijun counts as one, and those two count as half.

Professor Tang said this because he never had the right to decide, and he thought that both Li and Zhou had the right to decide. In fact, this reason does not hold water. Both Li Hongzhang and Zhou Enlai must obey one person, and they never dare to disobey any will of this person. The so-called decision-making power is something that has never been seen before. On the contrary, Gu Weijun exercised his decision-making power. At the Paris Peace Conference, he and Lu Zhengxiang decided to ignore the orders of the Beijing government and refused to sign the peace treaty with Germany!

1965438+On May 20, 2009, the Beijing government sent a telegram to the China delegation attending the Paris Peace Conference: "Generally speaking, this draft agreement should be signed, but the Shandong issue should be reserved separately to save the situation." After the request to keep the signature was rejected, the Beijing government instructed on the 24 th: "If it is really difficult to keep it, you can only sign it." However, with the support of Lu Zhengxiang who was hospitalized due to illness, Gu Weijun disobeyed the instructions of the Beijing government and refused to attend the signing ceremony of the peace treaty with Germany on June 28th, thus completing an epoch-making feat in the modern history of China. Neither Li Hongzhang nor Zhou Enlai has such boldness and courage, so they have never achieved similar feats, so they can only leave "against their will" regrets.

The history of Gu Weijun is basically the diplomatic history of the Republic of China. Its richness and achievements are enough to make the world sit up and take notice. If we elaborate, we need a large number of experts in diplomatic history to complete it, which is definitely not something that laymen like us can sum up. So I can only choose a small topic to say. I choose "weak countries have no diplomacy" as the topic. Such a specious proposition has become a matter of course for many people. In fact, it is a big fallacy. There are many definitions of diplomacy. Whether it is the West, the former Soviet Union or ourselves, we cannot do without the word "peaceful means". In other words, it is not necessary to rely on war to solve problems, but to safeguard national interests. If "weak countries have no diplomacy", then weak countries will die! Imagine that only if you can't win the battle can you be called a "weak country." If there is no diplomacy by peaceful means, how can we survive? There is no other way but to subjugate the country.

China, where Gu Weijun lives, is considered a "weak country". This conclusion should not be bad. From the end of the Qing Dynasty, no matter whether others came to us (such as the Opium War) or declared war on others (such as Eight-Nation Alliance), China had only one word "defeat". The dictator had to cede territory and pay reparations to ensure the continuation of his rule. However, there is still diplomacy, otherwise Li Hongzhang cannot be called a "diplomat". His diplomacy is to minimize the losses of the country and the nation. In Gu Weijun, a group of diplomatic professionals studying in the United States and Europe entered the diplomatic community. China's real diplomacy has just begun.

Gu Weijun became famous at the Paris Peace Conference. This diplomatic activity, which triggered the famous May 4th Movement, actually has a lot of glory besides the humiliating peace treaty with Germany. 65438+1At noon on October 27th, the China delegation was informed to attend the top five decision-making meeting at 3 pm the next day to answer the Japanese representative's request to occupy Shandong in the morning. There was only 24 hours to prepare, and I didn't know what the Japanese representative would say, but Gu Weijun gave a wonderful speech for 30 minutes, which caused "full house applause". Five delegations headed by American President Wilson left one after another and came forward to shake hands with Gu Weijun. Even the chief representative of Japan, Duke Er, came to shake hands and bow. It has become a sensational news in local and many local newspapers around the world. French Prime Minister Kerry Duhamel Du Monceau commented afterwards: "Gu Weijun's handling of Japan is like a cat playing with a mouse, trying its best to escape."

At that time, Japan was one of the top five, and China was a weak country. Is it true that weak countries have no diplomacy? No, weak countries need diplomacy more than strong countries! Because the diplomacy of a powerful country relies on the strength of the country, it tends to bully the weak and fear the hard, and its diplomatic posture is rough. Only by relying on the success of diplomacy can a weak country maintain its own survival and dignity. Its diplomacy must be subtle and must be combined with skill and solemnity. It can be said that Japan won politically, but failed diplomatically. Strong countries have no real diplomacy, only weak countries have real diplomacy, although it is forced out. Next, China refused to sign the peace treaty with Germany, which not only safeguarded national dignity, but also was the first one to refuse to sign. Later, Romanian, Serbian, South American countries and other countries followed the example of the representative of China and adopted diplomatic means of refusing visas. If China has become an example of the "third world", how can it be said that there has been "no diplomacy" since the Peace Conference? Gu Weijun and others not only refused to sign a peace treaty with Germany, but also refused to sign a peace treaty with Turkey on the grounds of violating Turkey's territorial and sovereign integrity. China has displayed the image of upholding international justice. Can it be regarded as "no diplomacy"? Gu Weijun and other diplomats not only refused to sign the visa, but also signed a peace treaty with Austria, which not only became China's move to abolish the unequal treaties, but also became a member of the League of Nations, and was later elected as one of the six non-permanent members of the Executive Yuan of the League of Nations. Entering for the first time, it was recognized as a member of the international community. China was previously recognized as a non-member of the international community and was not qualified to apply international law!

In addition, China also signed peace treaties with Hungary (Austria) and Bulgaria (Bulgaria), and for the first time appeared in the international community as a victorious country. Gu Weijun and other countries have also signed international aviation agreements, giving China the same airspace rights as other countries. Besides insulting China's sovereignty, the Paris Peace Conference made considerable achievements in diplomacy. After joining the League of Nations, China overcame the Japanese opposition pressure. Being elected to the Executive Yuan of the League of Nations means that China is qualified to deal with world issues, and Wang Chonghui became the first China to be elected to the International Court of Justice. These are all achieved through diplomatic activities! How can we say that "a weak country has no diplomacy"?

At that time, "Oriental Magazine" reported: "After being promoted (to the Executive Yuan of the League of Nations-author's note), if people are frightened, if people celebrate, people will be happy. The reporter witnessed this situation and sweated; I think that since 19991February 15, the status of the Republic of China in the world has been on an equal footing with the great powers. " Beilby Alston, British ambassador to Beijing, wrote in his annual report to the British Foreign Office: "Despite internal difficulties, China has won higher respect from foreign countries; When China refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles, the climax of international respect began to surge. Although the Japanese won a political victory at that time, China won a moral victory and reached its peak when winning the seat of the International Executive Yuan. "

It is precisely because of these diplomatic victories that the League of Nations lost no time in submitting a "Lu case" to the League of Nations General Assembly, demanding the abolition of Article 21 and the return of Shandong's rights and interests, forcing Japan to express its willingness to return Shandong's rights and interests as long as Japan and China start separate talks. It is not allowed to return it conditionally and refuses to discuss it separately. Finally, the Washington Conference was initiated by the United States at192 1 0.12.00, at which China proposed to abolish Article 21. Under the pressure of the United States and Britain, Japan finally signed the Sino-Japanese Cold Case Treaty with China and its annexes on February 4, 1922. And signed the "Nine-Nation Convention" on 6th, emphasizing respect for China's territorial integrity and sovereign independence and giving China the best opportunity for self-development.

The more important significance of the Washington Conference is that it is the first time that China has won back some rights, not lost them. It was also the first meeting of world powers to discuss the abolition of unequal treaties with China comprehensively and concretely. It laid a good foundation for the abolition of unequal treaties in the future. All these are the victories of diplomatic activities. Why do you say "weak countries have no diplomacy"?

Subsequently, in May of 1924, Gu Weijun and Karakhan, the representative of the Soviet Union, signed the Outline Agreement on the Settlement of Outstanding Cases between China and the Soviet Union and its annexes, which was not only the first time that China and Russia signed a treaty on an equal footing in modern times, but also the beginning of China's abolition of unequal treaties through diplomatic channels.

1On June 24th, 925, the Beijing government officially sent a note to governments of all countries, demanding that the unequal treaties be amended and that a conference on tariffs and legal rights determined by the Washington Conference be held. In the same year1October 26th, 10, a special tariff meeting was held in Beijing, attended by *** 13 western countries. At the meeting of 1 19 10 19, the second Committee passed a resolution: "recognize China's tariff autonomy, allow it to lift the tariff bondage contained in the existing treaty between the country and China, and allow China's national tariff rate regulations to be revised in June 1929 65438.

1926 65438+ 10/0/2 and 13, both of which are the above-mentioned tariff conferences, held a legal rights conference in Beijing to discuss the abolition of extraterritorial jurisdiction. On behalf of Wang Chonghui, China formally proposed the abolition of extraterritorial jurisdiction. Although the meeting was not satisfactory for various reasons, the signing of the Provisional Regulations on the Recovery of Shanghai Mixed Court on August 3 1 of the same year also recovered considerable rights and interests lost in the past.

With continuous diplomatic efforts, the China administration signed a new equality pact with China at the same time with 1943 65438+ 10/0/,and then all countries with unequal treaties with China signed a new equality pact with China. It can be said that China stood up here! These are all won by diplomatic efforts, and "weak countries have no diplomacy" cannot be justified.

Diplomacy is the fruit of human civilization. When human beings are in ignorance, there is no diplomacy. At that time, human beings still followed the principle of animal nature and the law of the jungle, that is, war solved the problem. Only when the process of civilization develops to a certain extent can diplomacy be realized. With the development of history, many small and weak countries in the world have gained the right to exist and develop just because of diplomacy.

Such as East Timor. In addition, outstanding diplomats have emerged in small and weak countries. For example, Mr. Annan of Ghana has become an outstanding Secretary-General of the United Nations. There is no doubt that a country's strength will inevitably bring benefits to its diplomacy, but this is a temporary phenomenon caused by the limitations of the civilization process. Nor can it prove the correctness of "weak countries have no diplomacy". On the contrary, weak countries need diplomatic means to protect their legitimate rights and interests because they have no other means.

After World War II, marked by the Atlantic Charter, especially the establishment of the United Nations, although the advantages of a powerful country still exist, the world is rapidly moving towards civilization, and the role of diplomacy is becoming more and more significant. For example, India and Myanmar gained independence without a large-scale war of independence. But compared with China, they are all weak countries.

For example, Myanmar Prime Minister Wu Nu told Zhou Enlai that Myanmar was just a lamb in front of an elephant in China. However, they all gained benefits that powerful Britain could not obtain through diplomatic means. A typical example of the successful diplomacy of a weak country is Myanmar. Relying entirely on diplomatic means, the 70,000-square-kilometer territory south of Yunnan McMahon Line was cut off from the powerful China and even maintained friendly relations with China.

China's Foreign Minister will also write poems praising: "I live at the head of the river and you live at the end of the river. Love each other infinitely, and drink a river. " The lamb cut a piece of meat from the elephant and let the elephant sing a hymn for it. The dream that the powerful Britain failed to realize was realized by this "weak country" without firing a shot. This diplomatic victory is unparalleled! In addition, India. Although it is not as clever as Myanmar's diplomatic skills, it also takes advantage of bullying the weak.

1949, on the one hand, taking advantage of China's "one-sided" diplomatic weakness, he took the initiative to act as a liaison between China and the West; On the other hand, taking advantage of China's invasion of North Korea, in June 1950+065438+ 10, it occupied 90,000 square kilometers of China territory south of McMahon Line, which Britain dared not occupy. Although China won the battle later, Lao Mao apparently ordered to retreat to the north of McMahon Line in order to show China's powerful Hong En. India immediately made a comeback, took root with all its strength, played tricks by diplomatic means, and used Chinese and Western confrontation. So far, it has occupied that place, established "Arunachal Pradesh" and immigrated 7 million people. Although Tibet, the most fertile place, has not been legally recognized, it will obviously no longer be the territory of China!

In addition, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, North Korea, Viet Nam and other weak countries all ceded their land and only relied on diplomatic means to get money from Mao's powerful China. Even as far away as Albania, Zambia, Tanzania, Zaire and other poor countries, you can get money without cutting land. They just used a little diplomatic trick to hint at supporting Lao Mao as a leader of the third world. Are these examples "weak countries have no diplomacy"?

On the other hand, the reason why a weak country becomes a weak country is not that there is no diplomacy, but that there is no "internal communication." When the political and economic relations of various nationalities and groups in a country are not handled peacefully and mutually beneficial, it is strange that as long as some forces within the country are suppressed and others are suppressing others, or even civil strife, it is expected that the country will not weaken.

Our own history has fully proved this point, and there are many such examples in the world today. The most typical one is Palestine. That Arafat has been in the leadership position for almost half a century, but there are more armed gangs in a palm-sized area than any country in the world. People depend on international charities for their survival. Some people with brains fled to foreign countries to make a living, running three times more than those who didn't! Even its loyal ally, Jordan, was fed up and had to block the border. The remaining fools continue to be driven there to serve as cannon fodder for Saddam Hussein and others. So far, I am besieged on all sides, alone, and I have been living in fear.

Ironically, Arafat, who advocates armed struggle, can only survive by diplomatic relief from the international community. Without diplomacy, he would have been finished! With the development of human society, diplomacy has become the mainstream form of communication between countries. No matter who is strong or weak and who ignores diplomacy, no one can stand. The paradox of "weak countries have no diplomacy" should have been swept into the dustbin of history long ago.