Along the way, Alan Bart kept looking through the rearview mirror and secretly observing Zhou Hexuan behind him, as if there were flowers on the other party's face. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

After arriving at Columbia University, Alan Barthes and Sun Yongzhen stayed in the car and waited, while Zhang Pengchun took Zhou Hexuan directly to the president's office.

The president of Columbia University at this time was Nicholas Murray Butler, bald and white-haired, even with a white beard, and he was old but very strong. He seemed to be very familiar with Zhang Pengchun, and smiled and hugged a bear: "Zhang, we meet again." ”

"Hello Headmaster!" Zhang Pengchun said respectfully.

Zhang Pengchun graduated from Columbia Institute of Education (M.A.) in his early years, and Butler happened to be the founder of this college.

Butler was also the chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the chairman of the U.S. branch of the International Mediation Council, and served as an adviser to the President of the United States for seven terms. He regularly follows Asian and African affairs, especially news from China, and will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in two years.

Zhang Pengchun, together with Hu Shih and John Dewey, founded the "China Institute" in Manhattan to enhance mutual understanding between the Chinese and American people through cultural and educational exchanges. Columbia University's invitation to Zhang Pengchun to give lectures in the United States is based on the efforts of the "China-America Institute," which is the only influential nongovernmental exchange organization between the two countries.

Butler's understanding of China was obviously influenced by Zhang Pengchun.

Butler looked at Zhou Hexuan, smiled and took the initiative to shake hands and said, "This is Mr. Zhou, right?" ”

Zhang Pengchun introduced: "Mr. Zhou, this is Mr. Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University. ”

"Hello Mr. Barrett." Zhou Hexuan greeted.

After the pleasantries, the three sat down.

Butler smiled: "Mr. Zhou, can you tell me in detail about the war that took place in Northeast China?" ”

Zhou Hexuan was stunned, he didn't expect Butler not to talk about the stock market crash and the economic crisis, but to ask about the Middle East Road incident.

In fact, the reason is very simple, Butler is an anti-war person, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which he chairs, is very concerned about the war in Africa and Asia, and Zhou Hexuan is relatively close to Zhang Xueliang.

As for why Butler knew that Zhou Hexuan and Zhang Xueliang had a very close personal relationship, it must have been said by Zhang Pengchun.

Zhou Hexuan asked: "Do you want to hear the specific experience, or my evaluation of this war?" ”

"I want to know the details, so I can evaluate them." Butler Road.

"Then we have to start with the Qing Dynasty in China...... Zhou Hexuan began to tell the history of the Russian invasion of China.

Butler was aware of this history, but he did not interrupt impatiently, but listened to Zhou Hexuan from the late Qing Dynasty to the present. Especially the current situation in the Northeast after Zhang Xueliang took over, Butler listened very carefully.

Regarding the Middle Road incident, Zhou Hexuan seemed very helpless. The reason why he didn't stay by Zhang Xueliang's side all the time was that in addition to coming to the United States to make a fortune, it was because Zhang Xueliang couldn't listen to the persuasion.

Zhang Xueliang's personality is very contradictory, both indecisive and resolute, and it is useless for anyone to persuade him what he decides.

Before the outbreak of the Middle Road incident, not only Zhou Hexuan had persuaded him, but Zhang Zuoxiang had also persuaded him, but to no avail. Even if Zhou Hexuan stayed by Zhang Xueliang's side all day, it would be useless, because he had already made a decision in his heart.

To sum up, Zhang Xueliang is impulsive and resolute when making major decisions in advance, and when he needs to solve specific difficulties, he becomes indecisive again. This is the case with the Middle East Road incident, the 918 incident, and the Xi'an incident, and it has never changed.

To use LOL as a metaphor, it means that the group is very resolute and the group is very bad.

After listening to Zhou Hexuan's detailed account, Barrett did not express any opinion, but asked: "In Mr. Zhou's view, how to achieve peace in the Far East?" ”

Zhou Hexuan did not answer, but asked with a smile: "Is Mr. Butler peace-loving?" ”

"Of course, I hope that there will never be a war in the world." Butler said.

Zhou Hexuan asked: "But if one country is enslaved by many countries. So, should this country rise up and win dignity and equality through war, or should it endure humiliation and enjoy peace? ”

"Well......" said Butler, who was suddenly speechless and thought about it, "it is better to solve the problem by peaceful means." ”

Zhou Hexuan asked with a smile: "In the original United States, if there was no War of Independence, would the British colonists give up their privileges peacefully?" ”

Butler shook his head and said, "No." ”

Zhou Hexuan said: "For Chinese patriots, war is only a means, and peace is the goal. I know that the Western community is very opposed to this Middle Road War, believing that General Zhang Xueliang took the initiative to provoke the war. But I firmly support General Zhang's recovery of the Middle Road, but his strategy is problematic, so the ending is regrettable. ”

Barrett disagrees with Zhou Hexuan's point of view: "With all due respect, China is a weak country, and it is actually a great loss to solve problems with war." It is only through peaceful means that independence can be won step by step. Anti-war activists in China and other countries are trying to formulate a set of international rules, hoping that future international disputes can be resolved by peaceful means. ”

Last year, Butler brokered a "Non-War Pact" (the full name of the "General Treaty on the Abolition of War as an Instrument of National Policy"), which was signed not only by Britain, the United States, France, and other countries, but also by Japan, Germany, and the Soviet Union.

Later, at the Tokyo Trial, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) became an important legal basis for convicting Japan of war crimes.

Before Zhou Hexuan came to Columbia University, he specifically asked about Butler's deeds. He said sincerely: "Mr. Butler, I personally approve of the "Non-War Pact" that you promoted. But to be honest, it's a piece of waste paper, and it is not binding on certain countries, such as Japan and the Soviet Union. In this Middle East Road incident, the Chinese army only withdrew its due rights and did not harm the lives of the Soviets. On the contrary, the Soviet Union took the initiative to cross the border to attack China, which was a clear violation of the "Non-War Pact." But so what? ”

"That's why I'm asking you about the Middle Road incident, and we're investigating the matter and we're going to condemn and sanction the unreasonable side," Butler said. ”

"If sanctions?" Zhou Hexuan felt like he was listening to a joke.

"If China also signed the Non-War Pact, then the League of Nations will make a decision on it, but unfortunately China has not yet joined the Non-War Pact," Barrett said. ”

Zhou Hexuan felt very weak to talk to this old man, the other party was indeed an anti-war person, but it didn't seem to have much effect except for the mouth cannon.

The Non-War Pact was indeed an important legal basis for the trial of Japanese war criminals, but it could not be used until after the war ended. If Japan is the victorious country, then it will be a ghost, and everything will have to be judged by strength.

Of course, international public opinion is still very important.

Zhou Hexuan took the initiative to say: "Mr. Butler, I think the most important thing to pay attention to in the non-war treaty organization is Japan. According to my friends in Japan, militaristic ideology is rampant in Japan, and both the government and the people are clamoring for an armed invasion of China. ”

Butler said: "If the investigation is true, I will report this to the League of Nations." Japan is a headache, they always don't follow the rules, and the League of Nations can't do anything about it. ”

Zhou Hexuan smiled: "Then let's talk about the cooperation between the schools." I hope that Columbia University can reach an academic exchange and cooperation with Peking University in China, and recruit two international students with full scholarships from Peking University every year. ”

"Of course," Balaker said, "but in return, Mr. Zhou must come to Columbia University for an academic exchange, at least once a year." ”

"Then it's settled." Zhou Hexuan said happily. He now has a deep relationship with Peking University and Tsinghua University, Tsinghua is rich and handsome, and they have their own American cooperative schools, but Peking University needs to be helped.

Butler said, "Then I'll help Mr. Zhou arrange an academic exchange meeting and an academic lecture first. ”

Zhou Hexuan said very self-awarely: "Academic exchanges and lectures are limited to history and sociology, and I have not studied much in the field of economics. ”

"No problem," Barrett stretched out his hand, although he was a little regretful, "happy cooperation!" ”

"Happy working together!" Zhou Hexuan shook hands with him and said.