Today is the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Chongqing, for every Chongqing person, the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument located in Yuzhong District is not only a geographical indication and humanistic symbol of Chongqing City, but also a spiritual home and spiritual symbol of Chongqing people.
For every Chinese, the Liberation Monument is not only a monument to the liberation of the Chinese nation, but also a monument to the liberation of the Chinese people.
When it comes to what is in the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument, many people will think that the scroll of "To the Chongqing People" written and presented by US President Roosevelt for the people of Chongqing in 1944 is buried under the Liberation Monument.
But is this really the case?
On November 30, the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Chongqing, Zhou Yong, president of the Chongqing Local History Research Association, wrote an article titled "National Liberation and People's Liberation Family Memory - The "Liberation Monument" I Know" to unravel the mystery of this problem: The scroll that Roosevelt gave to the people of Chongqing was not buried under the Liberation Monument, and where it lives today is still a historical mystery.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent Vice President Wallace to send the scroll to Chongqing
Speaking of the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument, people often mention the fact that Roosevelt gave a scroll during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and said that "the scroll donated by Roosevelt is buried at the bottom of the Liberation Monument."
But what are the facts? Zhou Yong said: In the past, whether it was literary and historical materials or news reports, the words used were often vague and vague, and the words "said", "allegedly", "according to relevant materials", and "according to relevant historical records" were often used.
To find the answer, we must first review the history of the scroll coming to Chongqing.
Zhou Yong said that according to historical records, at the end of June 1944, US President Roosevelt sent Vice President Wallace to visit China. On June 24, Wallace handed over the scroll presented by Roosevelt to Chongqing Mayor He Guoguang, who then personally sent the scroll to the Chongqing Provisional Senate.
The next day, the JoongAng Daily reported in detail:
"U.S. President Roosevelt, before Vice President Wallace left the United States, entrusted him with a scroll and wrote a hymn expressing his admiration for the perseverance of all chongqing citizens under the bombardment of enemy aircraft. The scroll has been carried by Wallace Wanli to Mayor He. Yesterday afternoon, Mayor He personally sent the scroll to the Senate and read it out at the meeting. When the whole Senate heard this, they were all extremely excited and gave them warm applause. Senator Wu Renchu successively proposed a method of thanksgiving, and unanimously resolved: In the name of the citizens of the city, he sent a telegram to President Roosevelt and cherished the scroll. For the public to browse. In addition, greetings to Wallace. The scroll is nearly one foot in size, signed by President Roosevelt himself, and covered in a dark brown wallet. When Mayor He entered the venue with the clip, it was almost as large as the □ (note: vacant words) a desk with a large glass brick. ”
"On behalf of the people of the United States of America, Yu Respectfully presents this scroll to the citizens of Chongqing to express our praise for the courageous men, women, and children of your city. Long before the people of the world understood the horrors of air raids, the people of your city were determined and resolute under the fierce aerial bombardment. This glorious attitude proves that the spirit of a strong people who support freedom cannot be harmed by violence. The loyalty of the monarchs and others to freedom will make future generations of people sincerely grateful for eternal immortality. On May 17, 1944, Roosevelt (signed in person)".
Archives and news reports that year showed that burying the scrolls was just a "plan"
Is this scroll given by Roosevelt buried under the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument?
Zhou Yong said that according to the Chongqing Municipal Archives' unpublished archives, "Overview of the Chongqing Municipal Monument to the Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression" (Editor's note: Chongqing Municipal Monument to the Victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the predecessor of the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument), section 6 of the "Victory Corridor" contains:
"Design the corridor to commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression along the spiral ladder, hang oil paintings or mural photographs of the heroes of the War of Resistance, etc., or embed the monument stones donated by various provinces and cities, and the stele stones donated by celebrities, and embed them in the walls to commemorate them forever." Therefore, the scroll presented by US President Roosevelt to Chongqing was placed here. ”
At 10 o'clock on October 10, 1947, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life in Chongqing held the inauguration ceremony of the "Monument to the Victory of the War of Resistance" at the Spiritual Fortress Square of Duyou Street. The next day, the "Ta Kung Pao" published an article entitled "It lasted for Ten Months, the cost was 200 million, and the Victory Monument was inaugurated today."
The report also mentions the location of the scrolls that Roosevelt gave, saying:
"The decrees of the State Government, the inscriptions, and the translation of the scrolls given to the citizens of Chongqing by US President Roosevelt in 1943 are inscribed in stone to remember forever."
"The monumental walls on both sides of the ladder are the 'Victory Corridor'. In the future, cultural relics from various provinces and cities will be collected to be displayed on the corridor. President Roosevelt's message... It will be magnified tenfold by the original axis to be embedded in the wall of the 'Corridor of Victory' for everyone to admire. Reading Roche's words, people have unspeakable feelings.
"There is also a 'commemorative steel pipe' that today will be filled with newspapers, photographs and related cultural relics of the city and buried in the monument this afternoon", in order to "make the culture of today's era known in later times." ”
Zhou Yong said: The above two historical materials clearly record the situation in the stele and the situation of the buried materials when the monument of the Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the predecessor of the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument, was completed:
The inner walls on both sides of the spiral staircase in the monument are designed as "victory corridors" to hang oil paintings, murals, photographs, etc. of the heroes of the War of Resistance, or to embed monument stones donated by various provinces and cities, as well as stele stones donated by celebrities. Among them, the contents of the scroll presented to Chongqing by President Roosevelt are included in the plan.
However, when the Jigong Monument was completed, there were no paintings or stone inscriptions here. Because this is only the content of "future collection".
In the future, President Roosevelt's scroll will be enlarged tenfold and embedded in the wall of the "Corridor of Victory."
On the day of the completion of the monument, a "commemorative steel pipe" was indeed buried in the monument. It contains the city's newspapers, photographs, and related artifacts, but does not contain President Roosevelt's scroll.
In summary, the scroll that Roosevelt gave to the Chongqing People was not buried under the Chongqing People's Liberation Monument. Where does it live today? It remains a historical mystery.
Upstream journalist Li Sheng
Editor: Deng Xi