Chapter 347 War Bonds
It was a very sudden thing for Truman to take office as US president, and the White House did not hold an inauguration dinner for the new president. Moreover, Truman succeeded the US president because of Roosevelt's sudden death. At this time, it would be an inappropriate thing for Truman to hold an inauguration dinner to celebrate.
After Roosevelt's funeral, Chen Qiang was invited by the Chinese Embassy in the United States. Ambassador Wei invited several well-known Chinese people to the party, including Chen Qiang.
Chen Qiang had only met with Ambassador Wei for a few times, and he only had a few polite words to each other when he met, and he was not familiar with him. Ambassador Wei was different from Hu Shi before. He was a typical bureaucrat, and he could have a prosperous official career by relying on his wife. Chen Qiang did not want to deal with such people.
As for the other Chinese who attended the party, Chen Qiang knew them all. Among the Chinese in the United States, there are not many who are well-known, so they naturally know each other.
This is a Chinese party, and everyone is sitting around a large round table. The chef is also a Chinese chef, but the chef is probably a Cantonese dish.
Ambassador Wei sat in the seat of the host, and the seat next to him was Mr. Situ, the tycoon of the American Chinese community.
Last month, New York just held a "American Hongmen Reunion Conference", and the Hongmen Zhigong Hall was also renamed as the "China Hongmen Zhigong Party". Mr. Situ was elected as the chairman of the United States and became the leader of the overseas Chinese delegation in the entire Americas. He was also recommended as the overseas Chinese consultant to the United Nations General Assembly's Chinese delegation. The United Nations General Assembly will be held in San Francisco. Hongmen is extremely powerful in San Francisco. With the help of Mr. Situ, the Chinese delegation's work in San Francisco will be much more convenient.
Ambassador Wei raised his wine glass and talked: "Everyone, now in the face of national crisis, the Japanese invaders occupy my land and slaughter my brothers and sisters. Although the soldiers on the front line resisted bravely, they still could not stop the fall of the country. Although I am in the United States, I am still heartbroken whenever I think about this matter..."
Ambassador Wei spoke nonsense for most of the day and finally reached the theme of treating today, which is selling bonds, and selling bonds in the United States.
During the war, all participating countries were selling bonds to their people to support the consumption of war. Of course, the US government sold the most bonds. Since the United States was not affected by the war and the industrial production in the United States was not affected, Americans had money to buy war bonds issued by the government, especially when the war broke out, the US stock market collapsed, and ordinary Americans did not have a better investment channel. Purchasing war bonds was a good choice.
During World War II, the United States sold a total of 238.4 billion US dollars in war bonds. In comparison, Britain bought 73.4 billion US dollars in bonds, France sold 19.4 billion US dollars in bonds, the Soviet Union sold 16.7 billion US dollars in bonds, while China sold only about 1.6 billion US dollars in war bonds.
For the Axis powers, Germany sold the most war bonds, up to 57.3 billion US dollars, Japan sold 31.1 billion US dollars in bonds, and Italy sold 17.4 billion US dollars in bonds. However, after the Axis powers were defeated, the war bonds they sold were probably unable to be cashed.
Although it was already the last year of World War II, and in another half a year, the Allies would achieve the final victory, in China, the Japanese still controlled several of China's most core and prosperous areas. Especially after the end of the Henan-Hunan-Guangdong War last year, China lost several major economic provinces, which immediately made Chongqing's finances worse.
Chongqing's finances are on the verge of collapse, and it is normal to issue war bonds to alleviate financial difficulties. However, the domestic war lasts much longer than Europe. At this time, China no longer has much war potential to tap. Even if it continues to issue war bonds in China, it will not be sold much. It is difficult for domestic people to survive, so there is no money to buy bonds.
So Chongqing thought of the United States, and they planned to sell war bonds to the United States. With the US bond sales of 238.4 billion US dollars during World War II, even a fraction of the money, it was enough to make Chongqing's popular and spicy food.
It is not new to China's sale of bonds to the United States. The Qing government once sold bonds in the United States in the name of building the Huguang Railway. Later, when the Beiyang warlords were in the era, they also sold bonds to Americans, and many Americans really dared to buy them. When the Sino-US trade war was in the future, some Americans took the bonds of that year and asked China to return 750 billion US dollars.
Today, Ambassador Wei summoned everyone, hoping that these well-known Chinese in the United States can come out and take the lead and actively purchase war bonds issued by Chongqing. In this way, even if the Americans don’t buy them, relying on the influence of these well-known Chinese, those Chinese living in the United States should also buy war bonds from Chongqing.
Everyone also knew that Ambassador Wei invited everyone and would definitely go to the Three Treasures Hall without any trouble. Many people have guessed that Ambassador Wei was coming to ask for money in almost every ten years, so when Ambassador Wei told about the war bonds, everyone was not surprised.
I heard someone ask: "Amistantor Wei, I don't know what the term of the bonds issued by Chongqing this time?"
"This time the government issued long-term bonds, with a term of more than ten years." Ambassador Wei replied.
Chen Qiang curled his lips slightly and thought to himself that in ten years, you guys will go to Baodao to stay in peace. Can these bonds be exchanged at that time? Isn’t buying bonds issued by Chongqing now waste money?
However, Chen Qiang thought again and again that even if he ran to Baodao, he would definitely not dare to offend Americans, so the bonds sold to Americans would definitely be redeemed, so there is no need to worry about not getting a return on this investment.
"The domestic financial situation is really not optimistic. Since it is to support the War of Resistance, then buy some." Chen Qiang said in his heart.
At this time, someone asked again: "Ambassador Wei, if you want to buy the bonds issued by the government in the United States this time, it should be used for US dollars, right?"
Ambassador Wei nodded: "You are right. We will not charge US dollars if you use US dollars. But don't worry, if you exchange bonds in the future, you will also give them US dollars."
"I wonder how the government plans to use this US dollar?" the man asked just now.
When issuing bonds, of course, you must clarify the purpose of the bond. If ordinary people go to a bank to make a loan, the bank will also ask whether it is a car loan or a mortgage loan, let alone a huge amount of bonds. Investors will also feel worried if they only say that selling bonds but not the purpose of the funds raised by the bonds.
Moreover, this time I issued bonds in the United States, and I got all the US dollars, and I had to pay back the money in the future. This situation is even more special. Of course, investors hope Ambassador Wei can explain it clearly.
Ambassador Wei coughed dryly and said, "This time the government issued bonds, all it touched was US dollars, so this fund will be mainly used to purchase weapons and ammunition in the United States for domestic soldiers to use it."
"So that's the case. Since we are buying weapons to attack the Japanese, we should support it with all our strength." The man who spoke just now nodded.
Chen Qiang thought of another thing, so he asked: "Amistantor Wei, the domestic situation is tense, I don't know when this batch of weapons and ammunition will be transported back to China? Will it be transported to the hands of the frontline soldiers in China?"
Ambassador Wei thought for a while and replied: "If you want to buy weapons and ammunition from the Americans, you must first sell the bonds so that the government can have money to buy things. If the bonds are sold well, you should be able to raise the funds we need within half a year, and then negotiate the price of weapons and ammunition with the Americans. In addition, it will take a certain amount of time for Americans to deliver the goods. If everything goes well, the weapons and ammunition we purchased can be transported to China at the beginning of next year. Next spring, our soldiers will be able to use these weapons."
Everyone on the dining table nodded, but Chen Qiang smiled coldly.
It is April 1945 now, and there are still four months before Japan surrenders. What weapons and ammunition will be needed then? The weapons and ammunition exchanged for this batch of bonds will not be transported to China until next spring, and the daylily will be cold! It is estimated that at that time, American soldiers began to tease girls on the streets of Japan.
"If you sell bonds and buy weapons, you have to wait until next spring to transport them back to China. What's the use? The Japanese will surrender long ago! At that time, these weapons will probably be used to fight a civil war!" Thinking of this, Chen Qiang took a deep breath and decided not to buy this batch of war bonds.
If it was to support the post-war reconstruction in China, Chen Qiang would not mind generously donating money and would do his best. However, Chen Qiang would never accept that his money would be used to fight a civil war, and the weapons he bought with his money were not aimed at the Japanese invaders, but his compatriots.
So this time, Chen Qiang won't pay a penny!
On the dining table, everyone generously donated money, saying that they would buy war bonds issued by Chongqing, and some even said the amount they were about to purchase to show their support for the domestic war of resistance.
These Chinese elites who have lived in the United States for a long time are quite patriotic, especially in this moment of national crisis. They are very willing to contribute for their motherland. However, these people do not know that their efforts this time will ultimately be used on the battlefield of the anti-Japanese war.
Chen Qiang looked at these patriotic Chinese with some regret. He believed that these patriotic Chinese would not want to see China fall into war again. However, Chen Qiang could not do anything, so he could only sit there without saying a word.
Ambassador Wei was quite satisfied with the performance of the patriotic Chinese, but he soon noticed that when everyone was generously donating, Chen Qiang sat there, savoring the tea carefully, as if all this had nothing to do with him.
No matter how stupid Ambassador Wei is, he can see Chen Qiang's resistance.
"This Chen Qiang, everyone here counts that he has money, but he doesn't say anything. It's not that he wants to be silent, right?" Ambassador Wei was a little displeased. He coughed dryly and asked, "Chen Jianjiang, what do you think about the government issuing bonds this time?"
"It's a good thing. Everyone is responsible for fighting the Japanese invaders!" Chen Qiang said a beautiful sentence without hesitation, but did not mention the matter of buying bonds at all.
Ambassador Wei was not here to listen to beautiful words, so he continued: "General Chen Jian said it well. Everyone is responsible for fighting the Japanese invaders. Everyone here is indeed generous to support the war of resistance!"
Ambassador Wei said, looking directly at Chen Qiang, his eyes as if saying: Everyone has paid for it, how much do you plan to pay?
Chen Qiang continued to pretend to be stupid: "I really admire you all for your generous donations. Come on, I would like to give you a cup and hope that we will drive away the Japanese invaders as soon as possible and win the war of resistance!"
As Chen Qiang said, he picked up the wine glass and acted as a toast. Ambassador Wei's face seemed embarrassed. However, in this occasion, Chen Qiang clearly wanted to be a rooster who was irreverent, and Ambassador Wei could not ask Chen Qiang for money.
Everyone here also saw that Chen Qiang was not planning to pay, and all kinds of strange eyes looked at Chen Qiang.
Some of them know Chen Qiang, while others don’t know Chen Qiang. Those who know Chen Qiang will find it strange, why Chen Qiang is silent on buying bonds. You should know that this is supporting the domestic anti-Japanese war cause; those who do not know Chen Qiang probably think that Chen Qiang is a stingy and can’t bear to pay, or they think that Chen Qiang is a national scum without patriotism.
The atmosphere at this banquet also became colder because of Chen Qiang's "uncooperational" attitude.
...
After the banquet, everyone left the seat, but Mr. Situ called Chen Qiang into his car. He wanted to ask why Chen Qiang was so resistant to the war bonds issued by Chongqing and was reluctant to buy even a dollar.
Chen Qiang had already guessed Mr. Situ’s intentions, and after getting into Mr. Situ’s car, he asked directly: “Sir, do you want to ask me why you are not going to lose your penny today?”
Mr. Situ nodded: "You kid are not short of money, and I know that you are absolutely unambiguous in national justice. Why are you scared today? I guess there should be a reason, right?"
Chen Qiang nodded: "What the sir said is, mainly because I think this money is probably not used on the battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War."
"How do you say this?" Mr. Situ asked.
"Sir, how long do you think the Japanese can last?" Chen Qiang asked.
"The Japanese still have millions of troops, so it should not be a problem to support another year. If you are lucky, you may be able to support another two or three years." Mr. Situ said.
Chen Qiang shook his head: "I don't think so. In Europe, the Allies have already attacked Germany and Germany is about to collapse. Once the European war is quelled, the main force of the Allies will move to Asia and fight against Japan with all their might. Although the Japanese still have millions of troops, how long can they last under the attack of the United States and the Soviet Union? I think the war will end within this year!"
Mr. Situ nodded, then said, "So you just asked when weapons and ammunition can be transported back to China. This is the case? Do you think the war will be over next spring, so it is no longer necessary to buy weapons and ammunition? You kid, you have your own ideas, but you are still too short-sighted. You did something wrong with this matter!"
Mr. Situ said, as if the elders were teaching the younger generation.
—————
Chapter completed!