Chapter 90: Looking South 8
Volume 6: Rising and Falling · Chapter 90
Nazi Germany was quite anti-communist, and Wu Xiangyu was well aware of this. Germany had always been cursing the Jews and cursing the Soviet Union. Hitler attributed Germany's defeat in World War I to the conspiracies of the Jews and the sabotage of the communists. As a Marxist party, the People's Party should theoretically be a force that Hitler was extremely hostile to. However, when he met Hitler in person, Wu Xiangyu discovered that things were not quite as he had imagined.
Hitler's position in Germany was roughly equivalent to Chen Ke's position in China. When Wu Xiangyu saw him, he couldn't help but compare the two in his mind. The result of the comparison was that the two were not very alike.
Hitler seemed full of vitality, and his every gesture had a powerful infectious appeal, only his expression had a bit of a bitter and hateful flavor. In comparison, Chen Ke had more of an Oriental calmness and reserve. In Wu Xiangyu's feeling, Chen Ke was always in a very natural state. At least until now, Wu Xiangyu had only seen Chen Ke indecisive once. That was during the twelve-person meeting convened for the Southern Advance Strategy.
However, the development of the situation seemed to have exceeded Chen Ke's expectations. This was because the enemy's stupidity and eagerness for quick success exceeded imagination. If Britain and the Netherlands had done nothing, the People's Party would have had no way to deal with them. These two countries started making trouble themselves, and the result was that they suffered the consequences of their own actions. Judging from the current strategic situation, the strategy of marching into Australia and New Zealand that Chen Ke had once envisioned might not be impossible to achieve.
Hitler's meeting with Wu Xiangyu was naturally not just to say hello. He seriously talked about the issue of Sino-German cooperation. The "Sino-British Friendship Treaty" stipulated that China could not ally with Germany or other forces hostile to Britain. Hitler wanted to know if China would continue on this basis and how far it would go.
"The peace treaties signed between China and other countries will not target any third-party country. This is China's consistent stance." Wu Xiangyu replied, "In principle, China also does not want to form a military alliance with any country. The situation in Korea is a special case. China has had a tradition of protecting Korea for thousands of years."
Hearing Wu Xiangyu's explanation, Hitler seemed quite satisfied with this answer. He continued to ask, "Then what is your country's view on the situation in Europe?"
"My country has no interests in Europe, so my country does not want to get involved in European issues. Of course, my country believes that Germany has suffered great pain under the Versailles System. In this regard, my country has very similar feelings in many aspects." Wu Xiangyu replied.
China was not a beneficiary of the Versailles System. Not only China, but the Soviet Union and the United States were also suppressed by the Versailles System. The United States participated in World War I and paid a certain price, but did not get the dominance they expected, so the United States simply did not join the League of Nations. China completely relied on military power to gradually regain the interests China had lost. In this regard, Germany probably had no other choice either.
Hitler was concerned not only about China's attitude towards Britain. He also asked about China's attitude towards the United States and the Soviet Union. Wu Xiangyu explained the specific content of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to Hitler. "Since we have signed friendship treaties with the United States and the Soviet Union based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China will ensure the smooth implementation of these treaties. Peace itself is an interest for China."
Hearing Wu Xiangyu's words, Hitler just smiled. Peace is an interest for any country, but it depends on who dominates the peace. Just as the Versailles System was an interest for Britain and France. They could use the Versailles System to suppress and plunder Germany at will. China now dominated peace in the Far East, so China naturally felt that peace was a huge interest.
The two sides also discussed some more specific content, such as China providing Germany with complete submarine design blueprints and technical parameters, and transporting some key parts. As for the production of other components and the complete assembly, it could be completed by Germany itself.
Wu Xiangyu proposed that he hoped German canal engineering personnel could provide technical support and assistance when China excavated the Kra Canal. Only then did Hitler know that China was excavating a canal that would make the British feel uncomfortable all over. Now Hitler felt that it was unlikely that China would stand on the British side.
The negotiations between the two sides revolved entirely around the short-term or long-term interests between China and Germany. Regarding communism, Hitler did not mention a word, as if Hitler never knew that China was also a socialist country believing in Marxism.
This is really a model of pragmatism! Wu Xiangyu praised in his heart. Dealing with such a person, Wu Xiangyu felt it was very troublesome. Turning hostile faster than turning a page of a book, that was exactly describing a guy like Hitler. A pragmatist might have strong will and desire, but they will sooner or later suffer losses in this regard. After all, people still need to have some spirit.