African Nationhood

February 1919, 2, Paris, Palace of Versailles.

The Paris Peace Conference opened a month ago, and the French President made a special opening speech here.

The defeat of the Allies was the defeat of Germany, which made the French particularly happy.

The reason why the Peace Conference was chosen to be held here was because during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the Palace of Versailles was occupied by the Prussian army.

1871年1月18日普鲁士国王威廉一世在镜厅内加冕成为德意志帝国皇帝，同年2月26日在凡尔赛与法国签订了初步和约。

Things have turned, and now the French have become the victors. They exercised the privilege of the victors and deliberately placed the address of the peace conference in the Palace of Versailles.

Little did they know that twenty years later, Mustache also exercised the privilege of the winner on behalf of Germany and was chosen to be on the train where Foch accepted Germany's defeat on behalf of the Allied Forces and accepted France's surrender.

The world goes round and round, and similar plots are constantly being played out, but the protagonists in the plots are constantly changing.

……

The Peace Hall is a palace place in the Palace of Versailles. It is a square hall in the southwest corner of the main building and south of the Hall of Mirrors.

The decoration style is similar to that of the Hall of Mirrors, but the theme of the oil painting on the fireplace is "Louis XV Creates Peace".

The decoration in the hall is themed with statues of Roman emperors, lions, and the national emblems of France and the Kingdom of Navarre.

Sitting in this hall today are four heads of state, namely British Prime Minister Lloyd George, US President Wood Wilson, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, and the convener of today's meeting, Prime Minister Ouyang Geng of South China.

Among the four leaders, French Prime Minister Clemenceau is the oldest. He is 78 years old this year.

This old man has a wise mind and clear thinking, and is a very powerful politician.

In the original time and space, it was because he failed to resist the alliance between Britain and the United States at the Paris Peace Conference and failed to implement the national will to completely crucify Germany.

When he agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles, his reputation at home was ruined and he resigned shortly after signing.

U.S. President Wilson was full of passion and idealism, but he was ultimately shattered by Britain and France.

Because he did not stick to his point of view at the peace conference, his political career became controversial, and both government officials and citizens were disappointed with his performance.

In the end, in the congressional vote, because members were overwhelmed by public opinion, the vote for the United States to join the League of Nations failed.

It has to be said that it is ironic that the United States was not a founding member of the League of Nations advocated by Wilson.

In this Paris Peace Conference, Britain was the biggest winner and the biggest vested interest, because most of the benefits went to Britain and its autonomous territories.

……

In this time and space, South China had already occupied Germany's overseas colonies. In addition, Britain paid the price of the Ugandan colony in order to quell the rebellion in East Africa.

After learning of Germany's surrender, Vorbeck finally showed up in the Sudan and surrendered to the British.

Now he has successfully returned to Germany and has become a national hero in Germany.

……

Generally speaking, Nanhua has taken the lead in seizing the fruits of victory and is not at all anxious about the outcome of this imperialist spoils-sharing conference.

Britain, France and the United States were all very repulsive to South China. Therefore, at the Paris Peace Conference, the Supreme Council did not allow South China to participate.

The highest-level meeting only allows the participation of the heads of state and foreign ministers of the five countries, Britain, France, the United States, Italy and Japan, and is also known as the "Meeting of Ten".

Although South China obtained the surrender of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, South China was still an autonomous dominion under the British command and had no diplomatic rights.

This is why Ouyang Geng has time to visit the Chinese labor groups in France.

During the war, 9.6 Chinese workers worked for the British, 2.4 for France, and 1 for the United States.

Now that the work of persuading the Chinese workers to join Nanhua has been completed, most of them are waiting for the cruise ship to be transported to West Africa to settle down in the administrative office.

Although the person is gone, issues involving the vital rights and interests of the Chinese workers must be discussed and resolved with the three parties.

So Ouyang Geng took advantage of the break in the peace meeting to summon the three leaders and ask them for money.

……

"Three gentlemen, we, the citizens of South China and the people of the overseas territories, served the countries wholeheartedly during the war and paid a lot of hard work, and some even paid the price with their lives.

They should have been respected and treated equally after the war, but why did you three countries blatantly ignore and insult them? "

This accusation is very serious because the three countries have always advocated freedom, fraternity and equality.

The three elder statesmen looked at each other, and Clemenceau spoke first.

"Prime Minister Ouyang, what you said is a bit serious and confusing. Please be more detailed."

Ouyang Geng didn't find it strange that these three people acted stupid in front of them. Politics is an art of performance.

"This is the evidence. Please take a look at it, three gentlemen."

As Ouyang Geng spoke, he delivered the documents and data compiled by Nanhua to the three leaders.

It lists seventeen clauses of discrimination suffered by Chinese workers during the war, among which the three clauses of wage theft, salary discrimination, and disregard of honor are the most important.

Ouyang Geng looked at the information and said: "The first one is the deduction of wages. During the war, our Chinese nationals often suffered abuse, humiliation and wage deductions from managers.

Two-thirds of the 14 Chinese workers have not received their due wages. The control personnel of your three parties often force the Chinese workers to play and gamble with them, making the Chinese workers dare not speak out.

In addition, salary discrimination is even more excessive.

For the same job, you white people get several times or even ten times the wages of Chinese workers.

Taking ordinary workers as an example, Chinese workers only get 2 points a day, while British workers get 28.5 points, Americans get 33.8 points, and French workers get 29.5 points.

A blacksmith's day is 5.8 points for a Chinese worker, 48.1 points for a British worker, 53.3 points for an American, and 46.8 points for a French worker.

Why do you white people get so much more for the same job?
Are you white workers more noble than Chinese workers?
Or do you white workers have an extra ear and an extra mouth? "

No one present knew the reason for this, but they didn't dare to say it out loud. Once they spoke, it would be a slap in the face.

Therefore, they all remained silent under Ouyang Geng's questioning.

Ouyang Geng continued to criticize regardless: "They are now our citizens of South China. As the Prime Minister of South China, I must fight for their right to equal wages.

They are hardworking, brave and fearless. In July 1918, during the Second Battle of the Marne, the British and French allied forces were overwhelmed by the Germans, causing the Germans to rush to the rear.

Our Chinese workers held shovels and pickaxes and fought hard against the German bayonets, rifles and grenades, and finally drove away the Germans and saved the front for you.

But you treat our citizens like this. This is the greatest discrimination and arrogance towards our Chinese workers.

This phenomenon not only happens to the Chinese workers, but the black and Indian workers we provide for your battlefields also suffer similar wage discrimination.

Now, on behalf of all workers in South China, I would like to make stern representations to the three countries.

If you cannot give me a satisfactory answer, then I will convene a press conference to expose the ugly behavior of your three governments! "

The more Ouyang Geng talked, the angrier he became. At the end, he slapped the table so hard that the objects on the table jumped to express his anger.

……

This threat really shocked the heads of the three countries.

If Nanhua was still just a colony in Southwest Africa, it is estimated that the three countries would not even pay attention to Ouyang Geng.

But things are different now. Nanhua defeated the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the European War. No matter how clever it was, it was a real achievement.

No matter how unwilling they are, Britain, France and the United States have to pinch their noses and admit that South China made a huge and outstanding contribution to the final victory of the Allies during the European War!

Not to mention the outstanding contributions of Nanhua's aircraft, armored vehicles and active sonar in the war.

At this time, Nanhua's international influence was very huge.

Once Nanhua holds a press conference, where will the Allied Powers put their face?
How can we represent fairness and justice?

……

"Premier Ouyang, don't worry, there may be a misunderstanding on this matter.

We can meet your request, but let's negotiate the specific amount. "

Lloyd George smiled and smoothed things over. He was not afraid of South China now, because Britain, France and Italy all owed debts to South China and the United States.

The total debt of the three countries adds up to 23 billion pounds.

Among the debt ratios between South China and the United States, the United States accounts for more, about 12.92 billion pounds, and South China accounts for 10.08 billion pounds.

(In the original time and space, the United States paid a total of 115 billion U.S. dollars in supplies and aid during World War I. After deducting the 37 billion U.S. dollars the United States borrowed from Britain and France before the war, there was still a debt of 78 billion U.S. dollars.

In the end, the United States only recovered US$30 billion in repayment, and the rest was squandered by Britain, France, and Italy. )
If they owe too much, they can unite and refuse to pay back the debt.

So Lloyd George is very relaxed now, and it's just a matter of adding a number.

……

Ouyang Geng didn't know what Lloyd George was thinking, and even if he knew, he wouldn't be in a hurry.

The United States has nothing to do with these gangsters, but Nanhua is not afraid.

Anyway, the African colonies of Britain and France are on the edge of South China. If they are pressed, they can directly use the colonies to pay off their debts.

"We have calculated a total of the wage arrears and back wages of these workers, which totals 2000 million pounds. You three countries will look at the distribution."

The heads of the three countries discussed and finally formed a repayment ratio based on the number of labor services: Britain, France, and the United States - 5:4:1.

After reaching an agreement on this point, Ouyang Geng moved on to the next point.

"You ignored the merits of the post-war war, and even though the Chinese workers had put in so much hard work, you awarded them bronze medals, even worse than blacks and Indians.

Moreover, the image of Chinese laborers was deliberately removed from the oil paintings on public display.

We demand that this blatant act of discrimination be corrected immediately.

At the same time, a monument was built for the sacrificed Chinese workers and a public apology was made in the media! "

This request made the French a little uncomfortable, "This, you are going too far!"

Ouyang Geng chuckled and said, "It's too much. What you did is not too much?

You Europeans fight, but you want us from Africa and Asia to come and serve you and fight.

The war has been won, but now you are beginning to dislike us too much?

Without us Chinese, can you win?
……

When you arrogantly erase the contributions of the Chinese, you should think more about whether someone will come here to force you to admit your mistakes.

This matter is non-negotiable. If you don't do it, I will follow my previous strategy and directly expose your ugly behavior.

Let the whole world see what kind of hypocrisy you politicians who talk about freedom and fraternity all day long have! "

"you!"

Clemenceau's face was anxious, and his heart was beating rapidly.

He put his hands on his chest and sat down, panting.

Ouyang Geng looked at the Frenchman who lowered his head and gasped and smiled scornfully, "Prime Minister Lloyd George, President Wilson, do you think my request is too much?"

President Wilson chuckled, "It's not too much, I think it's just right."

Prime Minister Lloyd George also nodded in agreement, "Well, this is what it should be. The French government should meet the South China government's requirements.

After all, Chinese and South Chinese laborers made many contributions to France.

You should fulfill your obligations as a responsible government and shoulder your due responsibilities. "

The two heads of state agreed. How could the French resist? Prime Minister Clemenceau nodded helplessly.

"Okay, I'll do what you ask."

Ouyang Geng smiled and nodded, "Well, we should all be happy, because we reached an agreement at this meeting and contributed to post-war peace. Don't you think so?" (End of Chapter)