Mediterranean hegemon

After listening to Contini's talk, including his talk about "building socialism in one country" and "the merits of the New Economic Policy", the veteran Kamenev could not help but retort: ​​"You yourself said that you should adjust policies according to changes in the actual situation, which shows that what was proven to be correct in the past may not be reliable in the next stage. The Soviet Union is currently facing new historical opportunities and needs new theoretical guidance and direction."

Contini shrugged: "Excuse me, the current economic situation in your country can only be described as easing and partially recovering. I think your main industrial and agricultural indicators and the average level of your people's living standards have not yet recovered. Before the war? If you can't even do this, how can you prove that the Soviet system is superior to the Tsarist system? By the same token, in a horizontal comparison in Europe, your country's per capita output and overall living standards are also at a relatively low level, not to mention compared with major countries such as Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, even compared with Poland and Romania, this objective gap restricts the spread of theory. It's like a poor man shouting on the street that I have a way to make a fortune - how many people are willing to listen? " Bukharin was amused by this metaphor and asked: "In your opinion, what is the correct way to export theory?" "Make yourself stronger "Contini smiled, "If Comrade Stalin's strategy of building socialism in one country is implemented, and the Soviet Union becomes a major European power after 20 years of construction and development, not only in terms of overall output, but also in terms of per capita output and living standards, it will be at the forefront of Europe. I believe that at this time, the theory will have a strong persuasive power - it will point out a path for backward countries, a new path that is different from the known historical development path, which is also the path that the fascists are currently promoting in Italy.

Why does the United States believe in liberalism? Why does the United Kingdom believe in capitalism? Isn't it because these two systems have brought them unimaginable success? success and international status? If your country's construction path is successful, I believe it will be more convincing than guns and the Red Army! "

Zinoviev looked gloomy and said to Kamenev in a low but clear voice: "A young man who has not even graduated from university, I don't know who praised him to be a theorist, and dared to point fingers at Bolshevism, which he does not understand at all..."

"Who is this?"

"Mr. Zinoviev, a member of the Soviet Politburo and the Executive Chairman of the Communist International..."

"What did he say just now?"

"This..." The translator was stunned for a moment, but still said the complete meaning.

Contini smiled, turned around and said to Chicherin in English: "I don't care if he is a theorist or not, but there is one thing that everyone recognizes. The three-flag idea I proposed has been included in the party's guiding ideology and included in the party program by the fascists. German comrades have also developed new theories on this basis... I have always had a firm belief in revolution. During the Italian revolution, I launched a student movement in Rome to welcome the arrival of the leader. However, some comrades in your party hesitated and wavered at the critical moment of the revolution. When the revolution succeeded, they turned into revolutionary veterans. I think this kind of sentiment of relying on seniority is very abnormal. Once they encounter severe tests, they may become traitors-making revolution depends on loyalty and belief, not age!" Among the Russians present, only Chicherin can master English fluently, so Contini wants to talk to him alone. As expected, Chicherin's face changed drastically after hearing this, and his hands began to tremble - Kamenev and Zinoviev's performance in the October Revolution was well known, and they were once deeply criticized by Lenin. Although they later made self-criticisms and passed the test, it does not mean that this matter has disappeared. Didn't Trotsky attack this matter not long ago? Stalin saw Contini and Chicherin whispering for a while, and saw Chicherin's face change drastically, so he knew that something important must have been said, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Chicherin, what did President Ciano say to you just now?"

"I... this..." Chicherin didn't dare to tell the truth directly, and was about to make a few excuses to cover it up, when Contini added a sentence like a finishing blow, "Comrade Chicherin, tell Comrade Stalin my words truthfully... I have heard that your country's Cheka is very powerful, and there must be recordings and records at the venue. If what you said before and after doesn't match, I will pat my butt and leave at that time. Your words... um?"

When Chicherin heard this, he couldn't help but frowned - powerful! Although this president is not very old, he has a full grasp of the internal situation of the Soviet Union, the struggle at the top level, and even the political ecology of Russia. Every word hits the point.

Are Kamenev and Zinoviev right about this? Of course it was wrong. Even if he made a self-examination, it didn't mean that the matter no longer existed. It was a stain for a lifetime. The reason why he said this was because Zinoviev's intentional or unintentional sarcasm. Chicherin regretted it so much that he almost wanted to scold himself. How could he forget what the president did in Italy? He was a person who could use various means to get rid of the Socialist Party. How could he suffer such a loss? Is this retribution coming?

As Contini reminded him, he did not dare to conceal the full meaning of what Contini just said - it would be just a paraphrase if he said it directly. If he did not say it, it would probably leave him in Stalin's mind that Chicherin was Gami. The impression of Nev and Zinoviev's group, and when he thought of the word Cheka, he felt the hairs on his back stand up, so he had to whisper it in Stalin's ear, and the latter nodded repeatedly, his face A strange smile appeared on the face - it turns out that the Italians also knew that Kamenev and Zinoviev were unreliable, and this shame was lost abroad...

Although Bukharin couldn't hear what the two were talking about, he instinctively thought that what Contini just said was not a good thing, and he couldn't inquire or defend it - Chicherin just said it quietly to Dalin, It can be seen that the problem is serious! Faced with a somewhat embarrassing atmosphere, he immediately stood up to smooth things over. He first raised his glass and said a toast to Contini, and then directly extended the topic to the Bank of Italy's old accounts against Tsarist Russia: "I heard that you intend to sign with us. An agreement to waive mutual compensation?”

Of course, Contini would not hold on to it forever. After he was convinced that Stalin had heard what he said, he immediately got off the road and followed Bukharin's words: "Not long ago, the United Group formed the United Bank and acquired the During the internal clean-up and rectification of many medium-sized and large domestic banks, we discovered that old debts from your country were on the books. Many accounts have not received any interest or principal repayment for 10 years, but they are still hanging on the accounts, so I am here with the hope of settling this account, but let me state first that I do not represent other Italian banks, I only represent the previous historical debts of the banks affiliated with the United Group.”

"But, you know, the Soviet attitude towards old historical accounts is very clear: repayment can be made, but compensation for countries that interfered in our civil war and caused huge damage must also be considered..."

Contini smiled: "I can't say whether there should be compensation or not. At least this is not a matter considered by the bank. It is a behavior between countries. Moreover, the Italian government has not intervened much in your civil war, but I understand your thoughts. , within the scope of my authority, I can promise to clean up these accounts as my respect to your revolution, as my respect to Mr. Stalin and Lenin..."

As soon as these few words were said, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became warm, and the unhappiness just now seemed to be wiped away. Even Stalin expressed his gratitude with a red face: After the accounts of Union Bank were written off, other Italian banks can also handle it in the same way. Contini Although it does not promise anything on behalf of the Italian government, it can basically be regarded as what the Italian government means - no one owes each other anything.

Chicherin quickly said: "Your generosity makes us very happy. No matter what political ideas we hold, I believe it will not prevent each other from becoming good friends..."

"I think so too. Both the Italian government and the United Group hope to develop friendly relations with your country in the future. We have many complementary aspects in the economic, trade and technological fields..."

Contini gave such a huge gift: not only did he recognize the Soviet power diplomatically, but he also reached close cooperation in economics and trade. More importantly, he gave Comrade Steel endless support in the areas of naval and political struggle that he valued most. , which made him very satisfied.

Since he was satisfied, the generous Comrade Steel certainly wanted something in return: not only did he allow Moscow University to award Contini an honorary doctorate, but after hearing the news that the other party was very interested in Russian oil paintings, he laughed loudly and instructed Chicherin to send him an honorary doctorate. Contini’s 20 collections were taken from the homes of the Tsar and other nobles. Although they are not the top batch, there are also works by Kramskoi, Repin, Surikov, Shishkin and others. Contini was overjoyed after seeing it: The value of these works can only be said to be average now. In 80 years, each one can be sold for a sky-high price. It will be just right to give a share to the children as heirlooms in the future, in case the family is in trouble. Not to be impoverished - After having children, the CEO who used to be high-spirited and believed that there was nothing wrong with the world and just let himself go began to become a philistine.

On August 11, Italy and the Soviet Union officially established diplomatic relations and announced that they would mutually waive historical debts and compensation responsibilities. Against this background, Contini took Ada to visit major major cities in the Soviet Union, including Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Moscow, Stalingrad (Tsaritsyn), and inspected industry, mining, military industry, and model farms. They even visited the Red Army and the Red Navy, and even gave speeches at Moscow State University and Sun Yat-sen University, encouraging young comrades to pursue the truth, work hard, and serve the country. They were warmly welcomed everywhere they went.

The speech at Sun Yat-sen University was particularly sensational. Everyone couldn't believe their eyes - the Soviets actually allowed a person who did not agree with Bolshevism and was known as a young fascist theorist to give a lecture. More importantly, the content of the speech seemed to be unreliable. It is not reactionary. People do not say which doctrine is better. They only say "adapt measures to local conditions, adapt to the times, and advance with the times." In the final analysis, the purpose is to make the country stronger.

Nicholas Chiang wrote in his diary: "After listening to the speech, I suddenly became enlightened, and my thoughts on the Chinese revolution became more and more profound..." (If I write more, it will be 404...)