The sun never sets in America

Chapter 195 Atlantic Treaty

Xijing City, Fuhua Hotel...

This is the largest hotel in the entire Xijing City built in the past two years.

The entire hotel is decorated in French Shylock style, and the interior of the hotel is completely gold-plated. There are even rumors that there are VIP suites and gold-plated toilets inside. I don’t know if it’s true or not? ?
  Inside this Fuhua Hotel, there are not only places to eat, but also suites for resting. It can be said that it is both a restaurant and a hotel.

When the Han Dynasty invited foreign guests to a banquet, they would either hold the banquet in the palace, or arrange for them to stay at the Fuhua Hotel before the banquet.

And this Fuhua Hotel also has a great background. According to people, it is the property of Wei Guogong Liu Ming, so it has connections with the palace. Every time diplomatic envoys come to Xijing, they must stay at Fuhua Hotel.

So much so that Fuhua Hotel is very arrogant in its external publicity, often making metaphors about diplomacy and state affairs.

In addition, if you want to stay at Fuhua Hotel, you have to make a reservation first. Nothing else. There are too many people and it is too busy.

In addition, once there are important VIPs, the hotel will be closed three days in advance, which also makes it difficult to reserve seats at Fuhua Hotel.

Even the afternoon tea at the Fu Wah Hotel has become a status symbol. Anyone with money who doesn't go to the Fu Wah Hotel for a meal, the so-called afternoon tea and the noble service will feel as if he has never been developed. .

In the eyes of Xijing people during this period, Fuhua Hotel was a symbol of rich people and nobility in their eyes. They even said that if you stay at Fuhua Hotel for three days, your life will not be in vain.

In the past three days, Fuhua Hotel has also increased a lot of security due to the arrival of US President James Knox Polk. After all, this is the first US president to come to Han after the Sino-American War. Regardless of Han and the United States are at odds with each other privately in the Americas, but on the surface, the United States and Han are still the two most powerful countries in North and South America. The fathers of a group of small countries have to show their face no matter what, so this etiquette cannot be abolished.

Another British Canadian Governor, Duranthi, refused the penthouse suite at the Fuhua Hotel arranged by the Han Dynasty and lived directly in the British Legation in Xijing.

From this we can see the difference between Britain and the United States. One has just arrived, while the other has been here for so long that he has no sense of life...

…………

In the private room on the top floor of Fuhua Hotel, President James stood in front of the huge transparent glass, looking at the huge Xijing City below, with a trace of sadness in his eyes.

After all, President James is the president of a country, and it is the president of the United States, which is developing rapidly.

He has been to Washington, New York, and the Great Lakes region in the Midwest, which is currently being vigorously developed. These places all give people a feeling of vitality.

People can feel the strength and vitality of the United States at once.

And what a coincidence, this is the case in Xijing, and the same is true in Han Dynasty.

President James was both wary and jealous of the Han people. After all, the territory occupied by these Han people was something they Americans could only dream of.

But now looking at the state of Han, it seems that there is no chance to take it back.

"Unfortunately, unfortunately..."

President James kept thinking about the pity in his heart.

President James, what a pity, is not the territory of North America and the Pacific Ocean.

Losing half of its North American territory would mean that the United States would only be able to control the remaining half of North America, and its influence in South America would also be weakened.

The loss of the Pacific Ocean will make the two-ocean strategy formulated by the United States’ past generations in vain.

No one understands what the Pacific means to the United States better than the American elite.

With the Pacific Ocean, the United States has strategic leverage. Today's so-called Atlantic negotiations can be discussed or not, and the United States is no longer restricted by Britain.

In addition, the Pacific Plain is also of great benefit to the development of the United States. With the Pacific Ocean, American industry and commerce can enter the Far East, the other side of South America, and even get close to the Indian Ocean.

Although it is a bit whimsical, it does appear to be the case on the map. The huge Pacific Ocean connects the prosperous areas of eastern Asia and is close to the Indian Ocean, the world's largest trade and transportation channel, and has unimaginable wealth.

Below the South Pacific is the South Pacific region where Australia is located. Although it is a wilderness now, in time it will become a paradise and a strategic location.

It can be said that American strategists during this period were much stronger than those American politicians in later generations who only knew about internal fighting.

They understand very well the significance of the two-ocean strategy to the United States.

Just like in 1845, less than a year after the end of the Sino-American War, the Washington Post published an editorial article:

(America, a country that should have been the ruler of two oceans)

In this article, the author explains in detail what the two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, mean to the United States of America.

In the article, he compared the Atlantic Ocean to the thighs and support of the United States, and compared the Pacific Ocean to the arms of the United States, the hands with which the United States seizes the future.

And he also compared losing the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains to a person who first loses his arms, and then even his lifeblood is in the hands of the enemy.

There is no doubt that President James has read this editorial. He has even read a book called "What is America" ​​by an author named Jersey.

In that book, the author compared the Han Dynasty to an Oriental tiger that suddenly broke into the Americas. The bald eagle in the United States could only circle in the air, looking for flaws. If it attacks recklessly, its wings may be bitten off by the Oriental tiger, and then it will be attacked again. Can't fly either.

The last time the United States was like a bald eagle whose wings were scratched by an Oriental tiger, it almost fell off. Fortunately, the bald eagle family has a big business, so it can't fall off yet.

But if you don’t drop it today, if you mess around and don’t drop it tomorrow, you will have to drop it sooner or later.

If everyone in the United States understands this truth.

Therefore, the author also made a metaphor in the book about the relationship between the United States and Han, that is, the Eastern tiger can't help but the bald eagle in the sky, and the bald eagle cannot kill the Eastern tiger on the ground.

Since neither side can defeat the other, the best way is to relax. In the process of relaxation, develop each other's national strength, and then find the other's weaknesses.

This statement has also been compared to the evil neighbor theory by the author Jersey. The implication is that Han is an evil neighbor at the door of the United States. It is impossible to drive it away at once. It is better to try to get along with the evil neighbor first and find evil neighbors later. If your neighbor shows any signs of weakness, drive him away.

President James strongly agrees with this theory. In many White House meetings, he compared Han to an evil neighbor that is difficult to move away and can only be outmaneuvered, not brute force. This was also the last time President James vetoed directly questioning Han. Instead, the country took what the Secretary of State said, contacting Britain and jointly putting pressure on Han.

Now it seems that this method really works.

And when President James saw the prosperous Xijing City and the Empire State Building under construction, he became even more convinced of his idea, that is, to ease up on the Han and wait for the opportunity! !
  …………

The British Legation is located in the most prosperous and best place on Shanhai Street. The entire British Legation is built with Roman columns. There are guards wearing British bear hats at the door. Although these guards are more of a pretense, but for For Britain, this is enough.

After all, this is what the British Empire does externally. In view of the power of the Royal Navy, no country dares to touch the brow of the British Empire.

The Union Jack is like the power of the Royal Navy, displaying the majesty of the British Empire to the outside world at all times.

"Your Majesty the Governor, these are the snacks from Linglongzhai of Han Dynasty. Please try them..."

Gaule, the new British Minister in Han, introduces the pastries on the plate to Peter, the Governor-General of Canada. (Gao Le is the Chinese name he gave himself)
  "What is this??" Governor Pete picked up a pastry wrapped in dough and looked like a pudding in the middle and asked Gao Le.

"This is an egg tart, a delicacy invented by His Majesty the King." After seeing the egg tart, Gao Le replied to Peter with a smile.

"Oh, does His Majesty the King know how to eat delicious food??" Governor Pete asked in surprise when he heard that the strange snack in his hand was invented by Liu Peng.

In his opinion, a monarch so similar to Alexander and Peter the Great should not have time to engage in these things.

(Since the end of the Sino-American War, Liu Peng’s legendary experience has led the West to call him Alexander of the East and Peter the Great of the East. Of course, these are all metaphors. When he is really called, he is still a king. As for the emperor, he never mentions it.)

"This king of Han not only invented egg tarts, but also invented a delicacy called tomato scrambled eggs. I like it very much. I think he is the greatest invention of this century..."

As a gourmet, Gao Le liked the modern dishes invented by Liu Peng very much, and even privately called Liu Peng the king who knew how to cook best in history.

Although this thing is a derogatory term in the eyes of Easterners, in the eyes of Westerners, it is a symbol of the king's erudition.

"What a strange king..." Governor Pete said with some incomprehension when he learned that Liu Peng also made other delicacies.

"Your Majesty, Governor, what do you think of the country Han?" Gao Le asked Governor Pitt, changing the subject. "The Han people, in my opinion, are just like the Americans, they are colonial upstarts." Governor Pitt replied disdainfully, "But these guys are indeed a bit too strong. I am in Canada, and I have to fight every day." I'm worried that these two bellicose guys will take advantage of Canada." Governor Pitt continued to reply to Gao Le with some worry.

In fact, his worries are right. After all, there is no doubt whether there are [-] people in British Canada, let alone the United States and China, which have hundreds of millions of people. He and his British Canada could not stop his ambition to annex Canada.

"Your Majesty the Governor, Han and the United States are not that stupid. They will not offend the British Empire on this..." Gao Le comforted Governor Pitt, "These two countries understand very well that they cannot do without the British Empire!!" Gao Le said very proudly.

Gao Le's words are also well-founded. If nothing else, who is the boss in the Atlantic Ocean now? ?
  Who does the United States rely on to purchase cotton from the southern United States? Who does Han need to approve if he wants to open up the Atlantic trade? ?

Take Anglo-Chinese trade as an example. Although Britain canceled its preferential treatment to Han, the original cooperative relationship was not completely severed.

The Anglo-Chinese trade is still the one with the largest import and export among all trading countries in Han. Diplomacy can deceive people, but the economy cannot.

The United States also needs Britain to check and balance Han in the Atlantic. This is also the main reason for this meeting.

Therefore, Gao Le is not worried at all that the United States and China will threaten Canada. What he is most worried about is that the United States and China, like the last four-nation treaty, will squeeze out British power from the outside. This is what the British The most feared thing.

After all, no matter how powerful the British Empire was, it would be of no use to a united American continent.

"Mr. Minister, how do you think the king will handle this negotiation?"

Governor Pitt thought for a moment and asked Gao Le about Liu Peng.

"In my opinion, the king will definitely make concessions, but it shouldn't be too much." Gao Le has a certain understanding of Liu Peng and knows his character.

It's totally a case of not letting go of the eagle in sight.

"And it is very likely that he will open a breakthrough from us..."

Gao Gao said meaningfully to Governor Pitt.

Just when Governor Pete was about to say something, he heard a voice coming from outside the door.

"Your Excellency the Governor, Your Excellency the Minister, someone from the Imperial Palace of Han Dynasty has come to invite you two to lunch."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Le and Governor Pitt looked at each other, and they could see the shock in each other's eyes.

.............................................

A few days later, in the newly built Suncheon Hall of the Han Dynasty Palace, the final negotiations between Han, the United States and Britain officially began.

"Mr. President, I believe that Han has the right to deploy its fleet in Longhe Port. This is our right..." Because this time the specifications were important, Yan Jun led the negotiation.

"No, this is a matter of principle, and we in the United States cannot agree to it."

"You are a threat to the United States of America!!"

President James reacted extremely strongly when he heard that the fleet was to be deployed in the Atlantic Ocean.

"Mr. President, I would like to ask, if your country deploys its fleet in New York and Florida, is it a threat to our Han country?" Yan Jun asked President James without any scruples.

"No, these are two things, we can't mix them up!!" After hearing this, President James immediately shook his head and refused.

"This is unfair to the United States of America!!" President James said again.

"Mr. President, you Americans keep saying that we want to pursue fairness, so let me ask you, is the fairness you are talking about unilateral fairness for the United States, or fairness for everyone..." Yan Jun said President James and his staff beside him in one sentence. , so shocked that I was speechless.

"Everyone, we should be gentler...after all, we are all civilized people!!"

Governor Pitt, who was watching the excitement from the side, wanted to interrupt.

Yan Jun couldn't say anything because the British had intervened, lest others comment on him, which would be disrespectful to him.

"Everyone, we should understand what our purpose today is, not to argue about so-called safety and so-called fairness..."

"It is a value that we can all recognize and a reality that we can all agree with!!"

Governor Pitt gave a long speech to the people from the three countries present.

"We should not focus on what you need, what I need, and then argue endlessly." Governor Pitt looked at the two sides and said, "But we should understand what everyone needs, all of us, need What kind of Atlantic order, an Atlantic security order that everyone can accept!!" Governor Pitt continued to look at the two parties and said.

“What is order in the eyes of the United States??”

"What is order in the eyes of Han?"

Governor Pitt asked President James of the United States and Yan Jun, the Prime Minister of Han Dynasty, the same question one after another, that is, what is the order in their hearts.

"Your Majesty the Governor, order in the eyes of the United States of America is security, and it is the absolute security of the United States of America in the Atlantic Ocean!!"

President James answered without hesitation.

After hearing this, Governor Pete nodded and looked at Yan Jun beside him.

"Your Majesty the Governor, the Americans say they need security. It just so happens that we, Han, also need security." Yan Jun continued following what President James just said, "Not only that, we Han also want to maintain safe and unhindered trade. Atlantic trade environment!!" Yan Jun mentioned the Atlantic trade that Han was most concerned about.

"This is the core interest of the Han State and cannot be changed." Yan Jun continued without waiting for the Americans to speak.

"Similarly, Mr. President, you just said that the United States needs security, and I agree with it, but such security should depend on the trust of both of us, rather than the unilateral security of one country!!" Yan Jun suddenly silenced the Americans. He was speechless and did not even give the Americans a chance to refute.

"We, Han, agree to limit Atlantic armaments, but this is not just a matter for us, Han, but a matter for all the countries along the Atlantic Ocean. It is our common interest..." Yan Jun put the original attitude of Americans towards The arms control requirements of the Quasi-Han State have been raised to the level of all countries.

"I think Mr. President, you also agree?" Yan Jun tilted his head and asked President James.

President James nodded helplessly.

"Your Excellency, Mr. Governor, Mr. President, I promise you that Han will never expand in the Atlantic Ocean, not even one mile of land!!" Yan Jun finally assured U.S. President James and British Canadian Governor Pitt.

This speech was also the key to promoting the Atlantic Treaty within a few days of the meeting.

The Atlantic Treaty is also known as the Atlantic Equilibrium Treaty.

The treaty stipulated that the naval tonnage of the three countries in the Atlantic should be six to three to two.

That is, the United Kingdom exceeds the United States and Han Dynasty combined.

This is what the British have been asking for. Although the United States and Han wanted to change, this was the most powerful thing for Britain during this period. In the end, they had no choice but to compromise.

The treaty also stipulates that the three countries of Britain, the United States and Han will maintain a safe state of security for their respective trades in the Atlantic Ocean, that is, unimpeded navigation.

In addition, Han also promised not to expand its territory or deploy troops in the Caribbean. (This treaty divided South America, because both China and the United States believed that South America was their own territory and should not be included in the treaty, although the British wanted to)
  In addition, China and the United States have demarcated a maritime defense zone. No party is allowed to enter this area without reason. Even if it wants to transit, it needs to be reported.

This is also to prevent military miscalculation between the two sides.

In addition, Han and the United States also signed a North American Trade Treaty symbolizing friendship between the two countries.

The treaty stipulates the tariff ratios and the scope of trade between China and the United States. Basically, except for some sensitive areas, cooperation can be carried out.

This treaty also opened the honeymoon period between China and the United States that lasted for a long time.

Although this honeymoon was known by later generations as the newlyweds testing each other with knives, it actually brought benefits to the economies of the two countries.

　Ask for a reward, ask for a monthly ticket
  　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)