Country Roads [China-SRA]

[Cataphrak]

1500 Hours, Eastern Standard Time, September 2nd, 1959
From: Lt. Col. J. Walker, Ambassador (RoC-SRA)
To: C. Sharp, Secretary of State, SRA

Last year, the Republic of China asked the democratically elected government of Zhejiang for permission to provide industrial, economic, and humanitarian aid. This proposal was accepted, and a transcript of the exchange is attached.

Last month, reactionary militarist forces within the Zhejiang army and navy proceeded to launch a coup d'etat against that democratically elected government, and launched a crackdown on popular protests against this illegal and illegitimate seizure of power. In the resulting chaos, several of our aid workers were wounded or killed in the fighting.

As a result, the Legislative Yuan ordered a limited deployment of troops and aircraft to protect the Republic interests and citizens inside Zhejiang borders until the restoration of the democratically elected government. The military strongmen in control of Zhejiang responded by launching a full-scale attack against these forces without due provocation or declaration of war.

If you tried to help a fella and he punched you in the nose, would you take it?

The Republic of China's intentions are simple: remove the militarists, and restore democracy and rule of law to Zhejiang, the same way your own government has to Maryland and New York.

Hope that clears things up.

-Walker

[Markus Wilding]

Respectfully, Congress disagrees with your assessment.

Reports from Zhejiang show that the Republic of China's military force was asked to leave, and both times the request was ignored by the Republic of China.

From our standpoint in Atlanta, China has interfered in places it should not have, and has reaped the consequences it has sown. The differences between China's misadventures and Atlanta's campaigns are that the Socialist Republics do not pledge to assist a nation in need, and then flagrantly violate their sovereignty later. The documents Atlanta possesses show clearly that China's accusations are baseless and inflammatory at best, which we have attached to this communique. From our standpoint, the Republic of China is unduly interfering in a sovereign nation's internal affairs and interrupting the transfer of power between a corrupt leadership and a new way forward.

We sincerely hope that China will see reason and cease their unprovoked, reactionary intervention in the Republic of Zhejiang.

[Cataphrak]

1900 Hours, Eastern Standard Time, September 2nd, 1959
From: Lt. Col. J. Walker, Ambassador (RoC-SRA)
To: C. Sharp, Secretary of State, SRA

Respectfully, Congress should get its goddamn eyes checked.

If a gang of Mountaineers broke into Atlanta, declared themselves the legal government of the SRA, and ordered your entire civilian administration arrested for treason, would you listen? The coup forces claiming to be in control of Zhejiang are an illegitimate cabal of military strongmen pretending to be a government, and both the Republic of China and many of the people of Zhejiang recognise them as such.

My government has made its position clear on this matter. The legitimately elected government of Zhejiang has only but to demonstrate it is not under duress, and request the withdrawal of RoC troops of their own free will.

Until then, the SRA is strongly advised not to interfere in this internal Chinese matter.

-Walker.

[Markus Wilding]

Be advised, Congress has lifted previous tariffs on China following House and Senate debates and economic concerns.

We congratulate China on having successfully defended itself from recent aggression.

[Cataphrak]

1200 Hours, Eastern Standard Time, December 1st, 1962
From: Lt. Col. J. Walker, Ambassador (RoC-SRA)
To: C. Sharp, Secretary of State, SRA

My government has informed me that they appreciate the conciliatory posture of the Socialist Republics regarding this issue, and are now moving to reciprocate. It is expected that the Federation of Korea Parliament will soon follow suit.

-Walker

[Markus Wilding]

A message was sent to China via the SRA's embassy:

To Premier Song Qingling,

We in Atlanta wish to extend our enthusiasm for the Democratic Socialist Party, in no small part for their recent electoral victory and continued prosperity in China's internal politics. Truly, the tenets of socialism have been proven both in America and in China, and our nations stand as testaments to the prosperity and success that can be found with the proper mindset and the right people in the right place.

- President Alexander Connally

[Cataphrak]

A exquisitely hand-written message, in english, was sent back in reply.

Mr. President,

On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I would like to offer my sincere appreciation for your gracious letter of congratulations. I have always held much admiration for the American people, especially in their love of the principles of equality and fairness, and it brings me nothing short of profound joy to see an American government embrace those hallowed principles so fully and earnestly, as the SRA has in these past two decades.

However, I would hasten to remind you that the tenets best fit for your country are not necessarily the tenets best fit for mine. My own country is an old one, a land possessed of a unique character shaped by five thousand years of civilisation - and the last portion of that long history has taught us a harsh lesson in the costs of ignoring that truth. My late husband's Socialism was not the Russian Socialism of Lenin. It was not the American Socialism of Debs or Reed, nor was it the German Socialism of Marx or Luxemburg or Thalmann. It was, and remains, Chinese Socialism. The differences, I fear, are not altogether so easy to elide.

Yet even so, I would not think it so untrue to say that our governments have goals in common: to liberate those oppressed by despotism and capital, to defend the peace of the world from those who would overthrow it, to see the children of our countries grow in plenty and security. I would hope that in the time ahead, these similarities will go some way in bridging the gap between our countries, and that our respective governments may deal with each other in openness and good faith.

I remain,

R. Song Qingling, Premier of the Republic

[Markus Wilding]

A message was sent to the Chinese foreign ministry;

Chinese comrades,

In the interests of fostering a new era of Chinese-American cooperation, Congresswoman Melissa Kaur has decided to tour the Republic of China for some time and has expressed an interest in meeting with senior Chinese leadership. Obviously, such a tour would be dependent on the schedules of the Chinese government and the whims of those willing to meet with Congresswoman Kaur; please advise regarding potential meeting times and appropriate timetables.

Sincerely,
- Melissa Kaur 1974 Presidential Campaign

[Cataphrak]

After some discussion, the Executive Council has made the decision to offer a formal invitation for Congresswoman Kaur to engage in an official tour of the Republic. However, in the interests of impartiality and non-interference in the internal affairs of a foreign power, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also deemed it necessary to extend a similar invitation to President Connally's campaign as well, though this invitation carried with it no obligation to accept.

That being said, it is the position of the current government that the re-normalisation of relations between the Republic of China and the SRA would be a desirable outcome, and thus, the government of the Republic would be pleased to host the visit of any major presidential candidate.

-The RoC Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[Markus Wilding]

A message was sent back indicating that Congresswoman Kaur would arrive in China within the coming weeks.

No official response came from President Connally's campaign.