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Volume 9, Prosperity Volume, Section 52: Under the Panama Canal

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The United States, but this is just the will of the United States. It does not need the Panama Canal, but it will definitely not allow the Panama Canal to escape from its palms.

After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the United States was very controlled by the Panama Canal. However, Britain was deeply trapped in the quagmire of the Boer War. Against this background, the British government decided to give up its original claim for decentralization of the Panama Canal in exchange for US diplomatic support.

From December 1898 to February 5, Britain and the United States finally signed the Treaty between the United States and Britain on Promoting the Construction of Navigable Canals, also known as the Treaty of John Pontford, to replace the original Clayton-Bulvo Treaty.

The New Testament established the United States' privilege of presiding over the digging of the Panama Canal and enjoying the provisions on canal management. Britain only retains the freedom to navigate the canal. On December 20, the case further strengthened its control over the canal, and Britain also accepted it unconditionally. At this point, the United States completely ruled out the interference from Britain and could concentrate on dealing with France.

However, after that, the French failed to dig the canal, and the following world war made the French unable to continue digging the canal. As a result, Zhao Gang, who was very familiar with history, came forward and contacted the French government to explore the possibility of transferring the canal right. On the second half, he also proposed to acquire the French Canal Company, but was rejected by the company's general manager Yu Tan and the French government.

During the World War ended in 1902, France made>:|: Repayment, the share price of the French Canal Company was 20 million yuan. It was sold to a Chinese company, which was the canal company established by Zhao Gang. As soon as he obtained this company, Zhao Gang sent someone to negotiate with the Colombian government to extend the time limit for the construction of the canal again. It was extended from the original 10 years to 30 years, which means that the construction could be completed before 1939, and it was paid 20 million yuan. This money was later considered worth it because he obtained more profits.

At this time, the US government did not know that the Canal Company's small move was that in order to acquire shares in the Canal Company, the Panama Canal Company was established in New Jersey, USA, and launched a large-scale lobbying campaign to create public opinion for the acquisition of the Canal Company. This move failed, and the United States instead took the approach of striking the east and attacking the west, deliberately revealing rumors that it would cooperate with Nicaragua and build another canal to compete with the Panama Canal.

This deliberately spread false news has been miraculously effective. Martinez Silva, the Colombian ambassador to the United States, hurriedly drafted an agreement to transfer the French Canal Company's lease to the United States without asking for instructions on his own government. It is recommended that the United States dig the canal instead of France, with a lease period of 100. After the expiration, the United States can station troops in the canal area. It only needs to pay 600,000 US dollars to the Colombian government every year.

Silva's hasty plan was severely refuted by the Colombian government, but its content was unexpectedly leaked, becoming a trump card for the United States to threaten Colombia. Silva was quickly removed from office. In order to put pressure on the canal company, the US parliament began to discuss the issue of allocating funds to build the Nicaragua Canal, which had a great impact on the excavation of the Panama Canal, but it surprised the Americans. The canal company did not react at all, neither started work nor paid workers' wages.

The specific plan for the Nicaragua Grand Canal is to enter the San Juan River from the northern San Juan, Caribbean Haiti, through Lake Nicaragua with a water depth of 18-61 meters, then dig through the Rivas Isthmus, and arrive at the Pacific coast. Once the plan becomes a reality, the water depth will greatly exceed the Panama Canal, and the shipping market potential and world trade development space will be greater.

The world's largest tonnage tankers and cargo ships can basically travel between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean through the Nicaragua Grand Canal. The voyage between California on the west coast of the United States and New York on the northeast coast will be shortened by 800 kilometers and the transportation time will be shortened by one day; a large-tonnage cargo ship departing from ports of China, South Korea and Japan can save 36 days when it arrives on the east coast of the United States.

However, what is hidden under the bright prospect is the same terrible construction volume. The Grand Canal is dug in Nicaragua with a total length of 270 kilometers, and it is planned to be completed in 10-12 years. According to preliminary estimates, once the Grand Canal is really started, at least 20,000 migrant workers will need to directly participate in the construction of the project.

This huge project faces many difficulties. First of all, financial difficulties are prohibitive. Nicaragua, located in Central America, is one of the poorest Latin American countries, and it can only solve 5% of the estimated total investment in the Grand Canal.

Secondly, the project volume is vast, and huge locks are needed to build and the water level of the Grand Canal is raised by 105 feet so that ships can enter and exit Lake Nicaragua. Many areas of the canal must be passed through the San Juan River, and many areas must be broadened and dredged. The active volcano is located in the canal development zone, and the canal project will face the risk of volcanoes or earthquakes erupting at any time.

If the United States builds the Grand Canal of Nicaragua, first of all, it cannot be delayed. If it is to recover the west in more than ten years, it will be too late. Secondly, the construction funds of more than one billion US dollars are too expensive, which will directly cause a fiscal crisis in the United States. Canal companies can afford to be delayed, but the US government cannot.

The Americans finally couldn't hold back their anger. Soon the US government proposed the first offer, willing to buy the Canal Company's property for $40 million, and the answer was very "no". This made the Americans feel very embarrassed, so the US government began other small actions.

Although the construction rights of the canal belong to the Canal Company, as long as the country where the canal is located is settled, even if the canal company is unwilling, it will not be able to fight against the two countries. Therefore, under the guidance of this idea, the US government began to blackmail the Colombian government.

Soon, the United States passed the Spooner Act, which stipulated that the United States had the right to acquire the property of the French Canal Company of $4,000 and made provisions for the security of the canal area that were in line with the interests of the United States. The bill emphasized that if the Colombian government rejected the above suggestions, the United States would start digging the Nicaragua Canal and immediately allocated $10 million to prepare for the project.

At this time, a fiscal crisis occurred in Colombia. Colombia, who was in trouble at home and abroad, fantasized about using the power of the United States to quell the rebellion, so he ordered Concha to immediately accept the United States' request and only demanded $10 million and $60 per year for land rent. The public opinion in Colombia was in an uproar, and Concha refused to implement it. On November 15, Colombia was advised by the United States. Concha used his resignation as a protest. On November 28, he was deported as a mentally ill person.

After Concha left office, Thomas Elland, a secretary of the Colombian Embassy in the United States, succeeded to negotiator. This man was a pro-American element. In order to satisfy the United States, he even rented the canal every year.

250,000 US dollars, on January 22, 1909, the United States and Colombia signed the Treaty of Erland. The treaty was purely a rough replica of Silva's draft. The Colombian media agreed that the Treaty of John the Highland was an unequal treaty that was powerless and humiliating, calling on the people to oppose it, and even put forward the slogan that no inch of power can be lost, no inch of land can be lost.

The US ambassador to Colombia also had to admit that Colombian public opinion was emotionally firmly opposed to the ratification of the treaty. They regarded this treaty as an attempt by a powerful country to spend a few small money to deprive it of the most valuable wealth in the world! On May 17, 1909, the US Senate brazenly ratified the Treaty of John the High, but in 812, the Colombian Congress rejected the treaty due to public pressure.

Independence of Panama

After the Treaty of John the High-Erland was rejected by Colombia, the United States instead instigated Panama's independence so that when seizing the canal's power, it would no longer have to deal with the annoying Colombian Congress. Even the silent canal company could be put aside and let them go with the Colombian car.

Panama has long had an independent tendency. In 1821, when Spain was independent, he reluctantly became a member of the Federal Republic of Greater Colombia together with Venezuela and Ecuador. However, the Panama elite lacked a sense of identity with this federal state that was pieced together purely by Bolivarian personal charm. For this reason, the central government of Bogota had to suppress Panama's independence movement many times, with the result of increasing hatred and membrane. In 1830, when the so-called Federal Republic of Greater Colombia +. A province of the Republic of Ranada.

On the one hand, the Panama elite complained that Colombia sold its interests in the treaty with the United States, and on the other hand, the city's economy benefited from the influx of American tourists. In 1896, Panama's population increased to 316,000. The construction of railways and the development of canal projects made the Panama elite full of fantasies about the future.

When the United States and France and Colombia were in trouble over the canal concession issue, the Panama elite were worried. They realized that the overly angry patriotism in Colombia would make the prospect of successful canal excavation dimmed, and when the French canal company was in trouble due to poor management, the Panamanians felt a huge threat to their own interests.

At the same time, the directors and shareholders of the French Canal Company, which is deeply in crisis, are also anxious about the future. In order to sell the company to the United States at a reasonable price, Philippe Bino Varia voluntarily acted as a contact between the latter and the Panamanian independents. Varia's idea was endorsed by American lawyer William Nelson Cromwell, who is the spokesperson for the company's major shareholders. In this way, the United States, Panamanian independents and the French Canal Company formed a strange community of interests.

614, the American Le Monde published an article advocating that if the Colombian government insists on its own and still sets obstacles for the US acquisition of the canal company, the Panama people should be independent from Colombia in order to defend their own interests. The specific plan for the independence uprising, 8. Amado met Cromwell and Varia in New York, and received news that the US government would support the independence uprising. Varia said that he had received a clear commitment from President Theodoros and Secretary of State Milton Hay John that the US government would recognize Panama's independence and protect the revolutionaries.

On September 1, the US State Department handed over documents and other items needed for the uprising to Varia, including military plans, secret codes, manuscripts of the Declaration of Independence, Panama's constitution, national flag, etc. Varia himself prepaid 500,000 francs to Amado as funding for the uprising.

On October 20, Amado returned to Cologne. Although he was pleased with the results of the trip, he had to take risks with his destiny, career and even life with just a promise from a Frenchman. At the critical moment, Amadote's wife Donia Maria gave him great spiritual support. At this time, after the lobbying of the revolutionaries and a grant of $5, the commander of the Colombian garrison Estevan Ueltas decided to join the "Patriot Group". This was undoubtedly a timely help for the uprising.

Soon, Amado bought a Colombian gunboat captain for another $35,000 to show this. The Colombian government finally noticed the abnormal trend of Panama's political situation and immediately sent a famous general to lead 40 soldiers to Cologne on a gunboat in case of an extraordinary incident. The cruiser "Nashville." suddenly drove into Cologne Port and publicly prevented the Colombian army from entering Panama City.

On November 3, the two generals just arrived in Panama City. They were arrested by the already rebellious Ueltas at 17 pm. Amado notified the US Consulate that Panama had officially broken off from Colombia, and the Arango and his son were in the Cathedral Square in Panama City. The members of the committee included Panama elites and senior staff of the American Railway Company.

That night, the Panama City Council held a special meeting and recognized the new regime. On the 114th, Panama held a mass, declared independence, and elected Amado as the first president of the Republic. Amado shouted in his speech at the meeting: "Long live the Republic of Panama! Long live Roosevelt! Long live the United States!" The slogan became an interesting story in the history of world diplomacy.

Regarding Panama's independence, a US senator wrote: The Panama people stood up. Like 41 people! Because the Panama Independence Uprising was planned by 7 Panama and 34 Americans with the support of the United States. Gustav Adolf Meliand wrote that Panama married the United States for the sake of cheapness, and was a hybrid country that harmed sovereignty.

Eric Leon believes that Panama is a country with atrophy. After Panama's independence, the United States immediately urged the new government to sign the Canal Treaty. Varia was appointed as the ambassador to the United States by the Panama government and granted full authority to sign the Canal Treaty. On November 18, 2009, the United States and the Republic of Panama signed the "Delegation between the United States and the Republic of Panama on the Construction of a Navigable Canal Connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean", referred to as the "Trade of the United States and the United States" or the "Trade of the High John Buno Varia".

The treaty stipulates that the United States guarantees the independence of Panama. Panama handed over the canal area 10 miles wide to the United States for permanent occupation and control. Some islands in the middle of the Bay of Panama were also handed over to the United States for use. The United States paid Panama $1,000 in one lump sum. Since 1913, it has paid $250,000 per year. Article 3 even clearly stipulates that the Republic of Panama must not have the right to the canal area, which turned the canal area into a country in the middle.

Article 5 stipulates that the United States owns

The permanent monopoly of all the property of the Horse Canal and the Railway Company, Article 8 River Company and the Railway Company, shall be transferred to the United States. Article 24 stipulates that no matter what changes occur in the political situation in the Republic of Panama in the future, it shall not affect the power granted to the United States under this Treaty. The most important point in the Treaty is that the United States has the right to interfere in Panama City and Cologne City to maintain public order.

The series of performances in the United States are dazzling. Just when the United States thought it had achieved its goal, the Canal Company finally started its own performance. First, the Canal Company announced its largest shareholder - the Chinese Emperor, and then the Chinese Emperor was very angry and public.

"If a country does not want to respect some sacred pledge and intends to defile it with conspiracy, then I will never ignore this situation and will resolve to eliminate it in its own power."

Soon, the same voice came from Britain and Germany. Compared with China, the United States is a little smaller, so these two countries naturally do not want to offend China. US President Roosevelt suddenly became overwhelmed and immediately sent a special envoy represented by former President Grant to China to discuss the purchase of the canal company.

In traditional view, Americans controlled the Panama Canal through unequal treaties and plundered the wealth that should belong to the Panama people. In fact, when the 1909 treaty was signed, Theodore Roosevelt said happily: "I got the isthmus!" Professor Samuel Hayakawa said a puzzling comment: "We stole it properly!"

Regarding the relationship between the United States and Panama, in 1927 | The New York Times made the following self-deprecating statement: "When you hit a stone with an egg, the eggs are broken; in other words, when you hit an egg with a stone, the eggs are broken; the United States is a stone, the Panama eggs; no matter what the situation, the eggs are broken."

However, from another perspective, when the national strength of the two countries is similar, this principle is very effective. China and the United States want two hard stones. After offsetting each other, the Americans helplessly changed their attitude and began to follow common sense to buy canal companies.

In Zhao Gang's study, Grant enthusiastically stated that the US government's quotation of 200 million US dollars, plus the rent of the Panama Canal. 500 per year, this price is 500 for the Canal Company, 10 for the Colombian government, and 20 times the price of the Panama government.

However, Zhao Gang threw out a cold sentence: "No!"

Former President Grant was very angry. Just half a year ago, the Chinese ruler told the world enthusiastically that building a canal is the matter of the Colombian government and it is internal affairs. No country can interfere. The Chinese government welcomes the construction of this great project and hopes that the project will be completed as soon as possible.

Then this despicable and cowardly emperor took action in secret, just as he did before. Of course, consistent with the past, this guy still did not violate the rules, which made President Grant very angry. Once upon a time, Western countries used rules to set traps and deceived those stupid Easterners. How could such a person appear now, even more than Westerners, use rules to achieve their own ulterior motives.

As the emperor of China, although he did not use political institutions to achieve his goals, he also achieved his goals through tens of millions of yuan to obstruct the construction of the canal. However, the United States of America needs to pay the price for this canal again, and there is no place to blame the Chinese emperor. Isn’t he allowed His Majesty to invest?

Suppressing his anger, because that would be useless, on the contrary, it would make things even worse. The Chinese emperor was not afraid of threats and intimidation, which had been spread in Western countries long ago. Grant told his situation. In fact, this was the best way Grant could think of, that is, to break the net to death.

"Your Majesty, you know that our country has paid a huge price to build healing. However, if we follow your actions, we will have nothing. Do you think this is fair? If this is true, then there is no doubt that our President will step down, the anger of the people will burn him, and then replace him with a belligerent president. The relationship between our two countries will become very difficult. I am afraid that this situation is not what Your Majesty likes to see!"

After hearing Grant's description, Zhao Gang raised his head, stared at Grant and said:

"Are you threatening me? If that's the case, then you go back immediately and I will use my artillery fire to regain what originally belonged to me.

Grant stood up in shock:

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I have no intention of threatening you. However, if this happens, our government's credit will be reduced to the lowest point and we will definitely not be able to maintain order. We have made such concessions last time. If we cannot exchange your sympathy, then we have to say sorry with regret."

Zhao Gang lowered his head. Grant's meaning was very obvious. If he continued to hold on, the United States would likely take extreme actions. Although China's current strength is stronger than the United States, the United States is fighting at home, and China needs to expedition 10,000 nautical miles. It is difficult to make substantial progress. In this case, it is better to sell the canal company to him. The original purpose of buying a canal company was to set some obstacles for the US government rather than to prevent the construction of the canal.

Not long after, when the new period of the wealth of civil servants was disclosed, people unexpectedly saw that on the fastest wealth increase list, the first place was - His Majesty the Emperor. In the past, this name usually appeared on the top of the fastest wealth reduction list. In the past six months, it increased by 800 million US dollars - equivalent to 10 yuan of wealth, and the income description was neatly written "Selling shares in Panama Canal."

What others don’t know is that His Majesty the Emperor sells things that are not his own to him, but cannot protect them, which brings losses to him.

The Colombian government looked at Zhao Gang's telegram and was amused and laughed. The 2,000 yuan had been spent, so there was no money to fill this hole, but he did not dare to neglect the Chinese emperor, so worried that he could not help. In the end, Zhao Gang gave his own opinion. The emperor liked emeralds very much. In the end, there was an extra content in His Majesty's property declaration form.

In 1909, the United States officially built the Panama Canal, and the + River was completed. The United States invested a lot of manpower and material resources to communicate with the two oceans as soon as possible. The American White Fleet was already impatient!
Chapter completed!
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