In the TV series "Age of Awakening", Peking University rectified the teaching order in accordance with the normal process and dismissed a group of unqualified British faculty members, including foreign Professor Cordley, but unexpectedly attracted a diplomatic incident!
Causes of diplomatic events
It turned out that this Kedley was a descendant of the British aristocracy, and he wrote to the British Prime Minister at the time, accusing Peking University President Cai Yuanpei of breaking the contract, discriminating against British citizens, and demanding that Peking University apologize and compensate him and other dismissed British faculty members and restore them. The British Prime Minister gave the British Embassy Minister in China full authority to handle the matter, and the British Ambassador sent a diplomatic note to the Republic of China government to intervene diplomatically in the dismissal of British faculty members at Peking University.
In the face of Britain's unreasonable demands, Peking University President Cai Yuanpei resolutely opposed. The contract breaker definitely does not exist, the appointment letter of the Peking University faculty member clearly states that he can be dismissed if he is not competent for the job or violates the rules of the school, shouldn't he compensate the school, because he is not competent for the job, but has caused losses to the school.
Since this incident has risen to a diplomatic incident, the so-called diplomacy is no small matter, once it is not handled well, it is no longer a matter of personal dignity, but involves the prestige and authority of the school, and the right of a country's national character.
So much so that Chen Duxiu said excitedly:
We at Peking University, holding the national character with one hand and the axiom in the other, which one we lose, is a crime against this country.
Compromise or resistance?
The Peking University jury held an emergency meeting the next day, and the theme was Compromise or Resistance?
Chen Duxiu (Mr. Zhongfu) was the first to speak, first expressing his great anger:
"I listened to Mr. Cai's introduction, and I felt very angry! This moment reminds me of the Opium War more than 70 years ago, how the Western powers bullied us China and plundered our China. At that time, under the pretext of protecting the interests of the Chinese diaspora, the British government used strong ships and cannons to open the door of China, and our Chinese nation began to fall. Today, they have come to this set again, and under the pretext of protecting the interests of the British in China, they have even interfered in the internal affairs of our Peking University. My opinion is clear, Peking University will not compromise! We are the sinners of history if we compromise! ”
Hu Shi (Mr. Suitable) went on to say:
"I returned to my homeland from the United States not far away, I want to be a dignified Chinese, the British are doing so absurdly, if even such a shameless demand is required to us to submit, what sovereignty and national dignity do we talk about, even our basic personality is gone!"
In the end, everyone agreed, that is, to fight to the end! And actively prepared materials, prepared to form a group of professors and the British Embassy in China for negotiations.
"Diplomatic Regiment of Literary Masters"
The drama came to a climax here, with negotiators from Peking University professors and British embassy staff holding a fierce diplomatic conference. The members of the Peking University professorial delegation are as follows, Hu Shi, Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Gu Hongming, look at this lineup, it can be called the "Diplomatic Troupe of Literary Masters".
It is worth mentioning that Gu Hongming, a master of Chinese studies (proficient in 9 languages, obtained 13 doctorates, was the first Chinese person in the Qing Dynasty to be proficient in Western science, language and Oriental Chinese studies), and has a great reputation in British circles. However, he personally did not have deep personal relations with the other three, and at the same time was an academic opponent, because Gu Lao preached traditional culture, while the other three were representatives of the New Culture Movement, advocating vernacular literature and literary reform. However, in the face of major right and wrong, they still formed a united front and were united with the outside world, which made our generation admire.
During the negotiations, British diplomats in China asked China to back down in an arrogant attitude and tone throughout the negotiations. However, several Chinese professors argued and refuted the unreasonable demands of the British side.
The Chinese brought with them regulations issued by the Ministry of Education and Peking University, which proved that the dismissal of Kedley was legal, and some evidence that Mr. Kedley was not qualified to teach at Peking University and seriously violated Peking University rules and discipline. However, the British, citing the fact that the regulations were issued by different people, said that Chinese each person in office customizes his own rules, like a child's play, and does not know who to listen to. It was obviously sophistry, and in response to this, Master Koo directly pointed out that "the arrogant prejudice and unreasonableness in you are rarely found in our Chinese." The British side went on to say that Britain is a country that respects human rights and abides by the contract. The implication is that we do not keep the contract?
Gu Lao laughed after listening to it, and directly wanted to tutor the British in history! In 1886, the University of Edinburgh expelled two professors who were involved in trouble because of alcoholism, and in 1889 the University of Oxford dismissed more than a dozen foreign professors, eight of whom were still unexpired. In 1902 and so on, many dismissal incidents of British universities were listed at once. If you can do this, why can't we, is this the democracy, freedom, equality that you worship as gods? The British side was speechless, but threatened again with cooperation that has already affected the national level, obvious bandit logic, when it is not reasonable, take these threats.
The British representative became embarrassed and angry and directly threatened the Chinese representative
Fortunately, the Chinese representative withstood the pressure and responded directly to the British threat: "If we can abandon our principles and succumb to power, then we will not negotiate today."
At last
After a layer of diplomatic negotiations, in fact, it still has a great effect, directly allowing British diplomats to give up pressure on China through diplomatic channels. Kedley's side was still not dead set and decided to take Peking University to court, but Peking University was also prepared, on the one hand, the government's diplomatic department hired expert lawyers, on the other hand, it also made the details of the British intervention in the matter public in the newspapers.
This event ended in a great victory in the north, which is worth celebrating. At that time, when the country was weak, the Republic of China government also adhered to the attitude of "turning big things into small things and small things into small things", and wanted Peking University to solve problems softly, "not hurting the peace". As everyone knows, once it is soft, how will the school deal with itself in the future, and will the education reform not change? The British are so arrogant and prejudiced, if they give in to this matter, they will lose China's national dignity and righteousness, which is tantamount to signing an unequal treaty.
Fortunately, China still has a national backbone, and Cai Gong of Peking University, Chen Duxiu, Hu Shi, Gu Hongming, Li Dazhao and others stood up at a critical moment and fought against the wisdom of the British side, which not only safeguarded our rights and interests, but also made the British side pay its due price, and never dared to underestimate us. It was a rare diplomatic victory during the Republic of China.
Thanks to the predecessors' adherence to justice and national character, this indomitable national spirit now inspires us in the future.
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