A great classic public diplomacy, China in 1915 in San Francisco on splendid appearance of the world's fair in panama

Yuan Nasheng

The author served as consul general of Chinese consulate in San Francisco in 2013, during his tenure, accompanied by China's visit to the guests to visit San Francisco palace for many times. I told them that the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco was the site of the Chinese pavilion for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, which was called the Universal Exposition in those days, but is now translated as the World exposition, or Expo for short. After the xinhai revolution of China, panama in San Francisco on splendid appearance of the world's fair (hereinafter referred to as "Mr Gbagbo), cut a swath, of all the participating countries, created many first: China exhibition exhibits HuoJiangShu and winning awards for all ranked the first, more than the host the United States; China has the largest pavilion area; The number of exhibits was the largest. China accounted for half of gbagbo's 200,000 exhibits. On opening day, the Largest number of visitors to the China Pavilion, including the PRESIDENT and vice President of the United States; Because of China's outstanding performance at the Gbagbo meeting, the United States declared September 23 as "China Day". After the Gbagbo meeting, all national pavilions were removed, with the exception of the Chinese pavilion with its unique artistic features. More than 100 years later, the China Pavilion is still standing in San Francisco under the name of the San Francisco Palace of Arts. Kweichow Maotai, Shanxi Fenjiu, Luzhou Laojiao, Guangdong Fruit wine and Changyu wine won international awards in San Francisco and became famous around the world. Gbagbo will be known as China's most successful participation in the World Expo before the founding of the People's Republic of China. China for Mr Gbagbo will, in the history of the world exposition, especially in the history of China's public diplomacy left a part of a page.

The tactical exception

        Any World Expo is named after the place where it is held. It is held in London and called The London International Exposition. It is held in Shanghai and called the Shanghai World Exposition. The 1915 World's Fair was held in San Francisco. Why not call it the San Francisco World's Fair instead of panama World's Fair? In fact, from the first World's Fair held in London in 1851 to the World's Fair held in Shanghai, China in 2010, hundreds of world's expos have been held. The 1915 Panama-Pacific World's Fair held in San Francisco is the only world's Fair not named after the host city.

San Francisco is a metropolis in the northwest of the United States, and Panama is a country in Central America, thousands of miles apart. Why was the World expo in San Francisco named after Panama? The Panama Canal is located in the Republic of Panama. Although the canal is not in the territory of the United States, the United States enjoys the fruits of the canal construction for a long time due to some special historical background. In the last century, countries began to compete for the construction of the canal, in the construction of the canal, France first obtained the right to dig, but ultimately failed, the United States Roosevelt government then made the decision to dig the Panama Canal, it is this decision, the achievement of a worldwide project. In 1903, work began on the canal. After the opening of the canal in 1915, the shipping distance between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was shortened by 15,000 kilometers, greatly facilitating trade between the East and the West, with the United States benefiting the most. On November 18, 1903, the United States made use of strong diplomatic means and Panama signed the Treaty of Hybno Varia, only $10 million to obtain the right to build a canal in Panama and enjoy permanent lease power in the canal zone of about 16 kilometers wide. Since then, in the context of the national independence movement around the world, Panama for the maintenance of sovereignty and the United States for 13 years of difficult negotiations, the United States was forced to in September 7, 1977 and Panama signed two treaties on the return of canal sovereignty belongs to, but the treaty still provides that the canal permanent neutrality, and the United States will always retain the power to maintain the so-called "neutrality" of the canal by force. In addition, the United States proposed a 23-year transition from direct to indirect control of the canal.

President Theodore Roosevelt called the Panama Canal the eighth wonder of the world in 1914. The opening of the Canal naturally affects the sensitive nerves of every American, and it is an exciting thing for the Americans and even the whole mankind, so the World Expo held in San Francisco and the opening of the Panama Canal are linked together. To celebrate this event, the United States announced that it would hold the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915. The original idea of hosting the World Expo in San Francisco was conceived by a San Francisco businessman named Rubin Heller. The State of California sponsored $5 million in support, issued bonds of the same amount, and offered to the federal government not to use federal funds. People from all walks of life donated generously. By 1911, $170,000 had been raised for the expo fund, led by Rubin Heller, and San Francisco won congressional approval with 159 votes. On November 25, 1911, President Taft designated San Francisco as the city to host the World's Fair. The U.S. Congress sent invitations to governments around the world to attend as scheduled.

The support of the President

In early 1912, Robert Daley, a wealthy Businessman from San Francisco, came to China on a mission to persuade the Chinese government to organize a delegation to the Exhibition. At that time, the provisional government of the republic of China was founded. He visited Sun Yat-sen, the provisional president, Li Yuanhong, the vice President, Wang Chonghui, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Tingfang, and Zhang Rui, the minister of industry. Sun Yat-sen promised that after the situation stabilized, he would actively raise money and organize a delegation to attend the Expo in the name of the government.

A few days later, the Qing emperor abdicated, Sun Yat-sen resigned as provisional president, and Yuan Shikai was proclaimed as provisional president. In March 1912, the United States government, in the name of President Taft, issued an official invitation to the Republic of China to participate in the Panama World Exposition. Yuan Shikai attached great importance to this event and regarded it as an important event for China to advance to the international stage. He immediately sent Chen jintao, the first finance chief of the Government of the Republic of China, and others to the United States to express China's willingness to participate in the competition and reserve the venue for the exhibition hall. At that time, China and the United States had not formally established diplomatic relations, which shows how serious Yuan Shikai was about this matter. On October 24, Chen jintao and others attended the venue and held the foundation laying ceremony for the China Pavilion with a base of over 20,000 square feet. "The United States Government dispatched the nearby army to salute 21 guns, raise the five-color national flag and parade to show respect." (TuKunHua: "travel of the world's fair, Shanghai commercial press, July 1916, p. 159) The United States showed its high level of hospitality to the Republic of China. In May 1913, less than half a month after the United States officially recognized the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai said that China would participate in the Gbagbo Fair, and decided that the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce would prepare for the competition.

Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce of China to participate in the World Expo host for a prudent selection, the host put forward six conditions, "one, familiar with foreign languages; Second, the games experience; 3. Have traveled to Europe and America; 4. Contact with foreign businessmen; Fifth, communication ability; Vi. Understanding diplomatic relations. Chen Qi was the initiator and main organizer of nanyang Promotion Association (NANYANG), China's first domestic exposition organization, so the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce recommended him as the supervisor of the Games in the United States and the director of the Affairs Bureau for the preparation of panama Games. On May 24, 1913, Chen Qi was appointed by Yuan Shikai, the great President, for his "brilliant knowledge and extensive experience in Europe and America". It was no accident that Chen qi, 35, was asked to organize a gbagbo conference in the United States. Chen qi received a traditional education since childhood, and was the first in both the child examination and the scholar examination. However, he gave up the traditional imperial examination system, chose the new school, and mastered English through three years of study. In 1904, he went to the United States as part of the Qing dynasty's entourage to participate in the St. Louis Exposition, from which time he began to develop a close relationship with the exposition.

In June 1913, China's Bureau of Preparation for the Panama Games was established. Chen Qi, as the director of the Bureau, made beiyang Government's Ministry of Finance finally agree to exempt All Chinese exhibits from taxation for the Gbagbo Games. The Ministry of Transport has also made a concession, stipulating that all exhibits will be charged a 30% discount on freight.

On November 1, 1914, the Chinese "in the process of the Panamanian bureau" instead of "the tournament of panama's supervision department" to the United States, China as general supervision in June, Chinese exhibition delegation formally established. The exhibitors from Zhili, Shandong and Zhejiang provinces boarded the ship bound for the United States as the "advance delegation" of the Chinese delegation. On December 6, 1914, after a year and a half of preparation, the Chinese delegation to panama Expo went to the other side of the ocean. Meanwhile, Baana

The Horse Canal has been opened. After nearly a month of sea turbulence, more than 40 members of the Chinese delegation arrived in San Francisco on December 29 with the first batch of 400 boxes of exhibits. The second shipment of 1,400 crates didn't arrive in San Francisco until January 29, 1915.

In May 1914, the All-China Federation of Chambers of Commerce began to discuss the participation of the Chinese industrial group in the Exhibition in the United States, headed by Zhang Zhenxun, president of the All-China Federation of Commerce. The Chinese industrial group went to the United States and was warmly received by the United States, "The United States has never hosted foreign guests so well." At the conclusion of the delegation's visit to the United States, Chen qi said, "It is rare in recent times and an honor in the world." The U.S. Department of Labor also made clear provisions on the preferential treatment that Chinese participants should enjoy when entering and leaving San Francisco port, ensuring that they will not be subjected to discriminatory treatment, and also made corresponding provisions on the courtesy that Chinese visitors should receive.

Historical revelation

On February 20, 1915 at 12 noon, panama Pacific, the official opening of the world's fair. Panama Expo site is selected in the United States San Francisco Bay land, covering 625 acres, the entrance and exit of the venue is equipped with "chaoyang" and "sunset" two doors, above the English engraved with the proverbs of various countries, on behalf of China is the Analects of Confucius "who knows better than good". Attendance during the whole in a total of 19 million people, in the end also profit of $2.4 million. On the opening day, the expo received nearly 220,000 visitors, of whom 80,000 visited the China Pavilion. Two million people visited the China Pavilion during the expo. Chinese business circles also formed a "tour group to the United States", zhang Bishi, the founder of Shandong Changyu Wine industry, led the team to the United States to "learn lessons", for a time, "the city is full of expo". A total of 25,527 awards were awarded, with 20,344 MEDALS and 25,527 certificates. Chinese exhibits won 1,218 MEDALS, including 57 medallions. Both are at the top of all participating countries. Tea from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and Fujian provinces of China each got a medallion, and silk products also got 10 medallions.

 China won the first prize at the Panama Pacific Expo, which provides us with a rare enlightenment:

-- Details determine the success or failure of diplomacy. At the Panama World's Fair, the Ugly Chinese wine bottles were all rustic brown clay POTS. Besides, all the wine bottles were placed in the agricultural pavilion, so that the POTS, mixed with cotton and soybeans, were neglected for a long time. To expand the influence of Chinese wine, Chen qi proposed moving alcohol from the agricultural hall to the popular food hall. On this day, the staff accidentally broke a can of wine while moving it. This smashed wine jar is filled with Maotai, its fragrance, attracted by passing tourists, tut-tut praise. June said, in my heart, and immediately let you pick a few empty bottles, open the lid, and pour the wine, for people to taste, China agricultural museum before suddenly hilarious results. In this way, maotai, which was not well known, won awards at the expo and became famous at home and abroad.

-- Less money can accomplish great things in diplomacy. At that time, Japan is also actively preparing to participate in the Panama Expo, has been organized a year ago, special funds of 6 million yuan, to compete with China silk tea two industries, with more than 1 million yuan to prepare for two products. However, after the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce successively reduced the 1.9 million yuan budget of China's participation in the exhibition, it was reduced to 700,000 yuan, and only 610,000 yuan was given to the affairs Bureau, which is only one tenth of the Preparatory budget of Japan. At this time, Chen Qi received the news that zhang Rui, the general director of the industry, sent an "oral command" that the contract fee for the construction of the China Pavilion would be reduced by six tenths from the original basis, and only 90,000 yuan would be given to the National currency. It is customary for the host country to provide the venue and the participating countries to build their own government pavilions. Although the location of The China Pavilion is good, due to the beach in San Francisco, the construction cost went up a lot, the display cost alone needs more than 100,000 yuan. Chen's two calls to the Beiyang government to request an increase in the budget were rejected, and he sent a letter to his brother, who worked in the presidential palace, hoping to report the problem to Yuan shikai, but he never got a reply. Chen Qi can only "measure rice for cooking" "phase of the degree of wood." However, the arrangement of the exhibition with Chinese characteristics has won a lot of praise from the local media. Japan spent 10 times more money than China, but China won far more prizes and Japan's attempt to steal market share from Chinese products in silk tea was unsuccessful.

In foreign relations, we must be wary of others. There is no shortage of China-friendly people in the US, but there have always been those who have been calculating China from time to time. There was also a "Chinatown Hell" incident in San Francisco, which insulted China. A company invested by Americans opened a fake China pavilion with the theme of "Chinatown Hell". The pavilion showed the evil phenomena of Chinese men wearing pigtails, women binding their feet, polygamy, opium smoking, gambling, brothels, prison torture and so on in the late Qing Dynasty. Attacking China was the so-called "hell on earth". On the American opened this "copyzhai" China pavilion, Chen Qi as the General supervision of China know very angry, immediately wrote to the United States to host president Moore, asked it to stop, under the pressure of Chen Qi and patriotic overseas Chinese, Moore the next day to see, and immediately closed.

-- Public diplomacy is not optional. It can promote economic diplomacy. International exposition is not only the carrier of public diplomacy, but also the platform of economic diplomacy. In the early stage, Chinese people despised the expo and thought it was mainly "showy". With the increase of the number of exhibitions, they began to realize the significance of "business war", and gradually changed their attitude and paid attention to it. It is one of the two main purposes of China's participation in international expositions to seek commercial benefits and promote communication. Through the exhibition, Chinese products can be more to the world, promoting the development of foreign trade. After the Panama Expo, China's export to the US increased significantly. "In 1915, China's export to the US increased by 60 million US dollars compared with the previous year, including 140 million US dollars of silk, 18 million US dollars of tea and 11.2 million US dollars of tung oil." At that time, the price of a Ford MODEL T car was 30,000 US dollars. Chinese exports to the United States is gaining $60 million a year, the value is equal to 20 million cars, this is a astronomical figures. Because of this, people say Gbagbo will "be a turning point in the history of China's foreign trade."