"Your Excellency, your government's act of privately seizing Chinese cargo ships and arresting Chinese citizens is a serious challenge to the sovereignty and dignity of the British Empire. It infringes on the personal rights of our citizens and violates the right to freedom of navigation that has been guided by the British government. On behalf of the British government, I strongly protest to your government, demanding that your government immediately release personnel, return the withheld cargo ships, and give necessary compensation, otherwise the British government will take all means to retaliate."

Seeing the British Consul Scholes' passionate and righteous look, Li Sanjie was calm and said: "Sir, do you know what kind of cargo is carried on the British cargo ship that we detained?"

Scholes said: "No matter what cargo is carried, they are British cargo ships, and only the UK has the right to govern and deal with them. The punishment of British cargo ships by any other government is an offense to British sovereignty."

Li Sanjie laughed and said, "Mr. Consul, your attitude is not helpful in solving the problem. In the real situation, you should be very clear. Your cargo ships help Japan transport military supplies. As the belligerent, we can actually regard them as enemy ships and sink them, but we did not do so. We just detained the ships and captured the crew. Of course, your crew members seem very experienced in this regard. They did not resist our arrest. This is a very correct approach, avoiding unnecessary sacrifices and leaving enough room for negotiation between our two governments. However, if the UK really wants to solve the problem, it hopes to show a sincere attitude instead of such bluffing intimidation."

Scholes was also a little embarrassed about Li Sanjie's neither soft nor hard attitude. In fact, when he decided to allow shipping companies to transport supplies to Japan, the UK had prepared for the East China government to protest. However, the two sides negotiated and dealt with it, and at that time they had already sent enough weapons and ammunition to the Japanese army on the Korean Peninsula. Then he knew that the East China government did not say hello at all, and directly seized ships and people. Now he has seized a total of 7 British cargo ships, arrested 247 crew members, and confiscated nearly 10,000 tons of materials. Swire Company was forced to stop all Japan's shipping business and called the British government to interfere immediately.

The British government did not expect that the East China government would seize the ship without even calling, but now the people and ships were in the hands of the East China government, so it immediately ordered Scholes to negotiate with the East China government. After receiving the order, Scholes was also full of grievances. Why was it his turn to clean up the mess for others? But he had to do it, so he had to make an appointment with Li Sanjie. As soon as the two met, Scholes looked harsh, trying to win the lead and overwhelm Li Sanjie first. However, Li Sanjie had a deep heart, soft and hard, and soft and steel, which easily broke Scholes's bluffing appearance.

Scholes said: "Mr. Committee member, the way to solve the problem is very simple. Your government must release people and ships immediately."

Li Sanjie shook his head and said, "Mr. Consul, it may not be that easy for us to release people. They helped Japan transport military supplies, which is itself an act of war. Therefore, if Britain does not show some sincerity, we will not be able to release people."

Scholes said: "What sincerity do you need?"

Li Sanjie said: "First of all, the British government must ensure that no similar incidents will occur in the future. All British ships are not allowed to engage in transportation business to the Korean Peninsula; secondly, the ships we seized will be confiscated and punished; the people we arrested can be released, but after the war is over."

Scholes said without thinking: "No, first of all, this is the commercial behavior of the shipping company, and the British government cannot interfere; secondly, you can confiscate the goods, but the cargo ships that are detained must be returned; and the people you arrested must be released immediately."

Li Sanjie said: "We cannot accept such conditions. If the British government does not interfere with the company's business behavior, then we cannot guarantee that similar incidents will not happen again. Even if this time the matter is resolved, there will be a next time."

Scholes was silent for a while before saying, "Okay, I will report to our government for your attitude."

After several rounds of negotiations between the East China government and the UK, the two sides finally reached an agreement. The British government would warn Asian merchants not to intervene in the Far East war. The cargo carried by the seven cargo ships seized by the East China government was confiscated, but the ships and crew stayed in Qingdao as hired by the East China government and participated in the East China government's transport fleet until the end of the war.

This result is acceptable to both sides. The famous discussion said that the East China government released both people and ships, but it was still under the control of the East China government in the form of hiring tenants. Moreover, with the progress of the Liaodong battle, the battle to attack Vladivostok began, and the East China government's demand for sea freight was increasing, so these seven British cargo ships were all used.

Although Swire Shipping Company also stopped helping Japan transport supplies, as the People's Army released some goods in the early stage, a total of 13 cargo ships arrived on the Korean Peninsula and transported about 200,000 tons of supplies, which was enough for the Japanese army to reorganize about 200,000 troops and ammunition needed for a war on the Korean Peninsula. This also made Japan a little relieved. In any case, the Japanese army has now had the power to fight on the Korean Peninsula.

Moreover, while reorganizing the army, Japan is also trying its best to find opportunities in diplomacy. In addition to the United Kingdom, the United States is also a goal for Japan to strive for long. After the United States and the East China government reached an agreement on issuing bonds, purchasing materials, and sending military observation teams, Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kentaro Kaneko also visited US President Theodore Roosevelt.

Kentaro Kaneko and Roosevelt were classmates at Harvard University, which is one of the important reasons why Kentaro Kaneko was able to serve as ambassador to the United States in 1904. After the Russo-Japanese War, Kentaro Kaneko ran around the United States, proclaiming that Japan launched the war to resist the brutal Russian barbaric expansion. In addition, Roosevelt also supported Japan to participate in the war, which changed American public opinion to a certain extent.

Because they were old classmates, the two did not have much politeness after meeting each other. After sitting down with each other, Kentaro Kaneko said: "Hisser of the President, I am very regretful of the US government's resolution to allow the East China government to issue bonds in the United States. This will seriously undermine the situation in the Far East and send a wrong signal to the East China government, making peace in the Far East afar and seriously hurt the feelings of the Japanese people."

Roosevelt shook his head and said, "Mr. Ambassador, although I personally do not agree, issuing bonds is a business act. Although I am the President of the United States, I cannot interfere with normal domestic business activities. Therefore, I really cannot help in this matter."

Kentaro Kaneko said: "As far as I know, the US president has this power."

Roosevelt said: "The US president does have such power, but it is precisely because of this power that it will never be abused enough. So this incident is very regrettable. I can't help you. Moreover, even if the United States rejects the request of the East China government, Germany will still issue it, so it is meaningless to discuss this issue now."

Kentaro Kaneko said: "Okay! Mr. President, Japan is the cornerstone of stability in the Far East. In order to resist the brutal Russia, Japan has paid a huge price. Now Japan is facing an opponent who is more brutal, more barbaric and more vicious than Russia. It is impossible to defeat this opponent with the power of Japan alone. We need the help of the United States."

Roosevelt nodded and said, "We will not forget the contributions that Japan has made to resist Russia's expansion and maintain a civilized world. We will do our best to help Japan overcome this difficulty."

Kentaro Kaneko said: "Thank you for your friendship."

Roosevelt said: "So what does the Japanese government need us to do?"

Kentaro Kaneko said: "We hope the US government can provide Japan with a low-interest loan worth no less than 30 million pounds."

Roosevelt frowned and said, "For me personally, there is no problem, but loans are the bank's business. Even the president has no right to force banks to provide loans to designated customers. Therefore, I can only say that I will do my best to help Japan. But to be honest, in Japan, it may not be easy to obtain a bank loan unless Japan can provide effective collateral."

Kentaro Kaneko also smiled bitterly. Of course, he understood that with Japan's military failure, Japanese bonds were originally very popular and suffered a sharp decline in the US market. People holding Japanese bonds lowered prices and sold them, and the lowest price even dropped to 7.

Under 0%, in this case, which bank dares to provide loans to Japan; instead, the bonds issued by the East China government in the United States were enthusiastically sought after. Although the first batch of bonds of the East China government had been sold, it was still hot. Some people sold the East China government bonds at a price of 103-105%, but there was still a shortage of supply. Therefore, after the news that the East China government applied to issue the second batch of bonds in the US market spread, it immediately attracted a warm welcome from the American financial community. Moreover, the East China government hopes to use the income from bonds to purchase American products, which also made the American industry and commerce very excited. Under the pressure of strong public opinion and capital consortiums, although President Roosevelt did not want the East China government bonds to be issued in the United States to increase the ability to war, it could only be approved.

Roosevelt said again: "I have a suggestion for Japan. Under the current circumstances, it is better to get a ceasefire with the East China government as soon as possible."
Chapter completed!