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The history of wheat trade proved that China is trustworthy friend
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The history of wheat trade proved that China is trustworthy friend
--- Mr. Alvin Hamilton, the best Minister of Agriculture in Canadian history
Remember the lessons of history to avoid detours.
Canadian
politicians should lead Canada going on the rational independent path that
paved by the predecessors of Mr. Alvin
Hamilton and Mr. Pierre
Trudeau toward prosperous, otherwise, surely will be abandoned
by own nationals due to the damage of economic interests.
Frank Oct.
17, 2015, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Updated in Aug. 15, 2016
Contents
1..Mr. Alvin Hamilton - the
best Minister of Agriculture in Canadian history
2..The history of wheat trade proved that China
is trustworthy friend
2.1..The initiation of Canadian wheat trade to China
2.2..The political resistance for trading wheat to China
2.3..Canada's Minister became good friend of
China's Premier
3..We need rational leaders to avoid
historical mistakes
4..Mr.
Jean Chretien can play a role as Mr. Alvin Hamilton
5..Canadian
politicians are facing a critical choice
This
article was mainly excerpt-translated from the book The diplomatic
negotiations of new China in Mandarin.
1.. Mr. Alvin Hamilton - the best Minister of Agriculture in Canadian history
Mr. Alvin Hamilton
Mr. Alvin Hamilton PC (March 30, 1912 – June 29, 2004) was a Canadian politician. Hamilton led the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan from 1949 until he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1957 general election. This election brought the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to power under John George Diefenbaker.
In 1960，Mr. Alvin Hamilton was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture to tackle the manifold problems of Canada’s farm population and to restore the Conservative party’s fortunes among the rural electorate. The massive grain sales to China which followed quickly on his appointment, and increased exports to other Communist countries despite the opposition of the United States, made his task on the PRAIRIES relatively easy.
As Mr. Hamilton’s personal popularity rose, especially in the west, so did that of his party. He was praised as “the best Minister of Agriculture in Canadian history,” he left a legacy of support for the Progressive Conservative party in rural Canada which lasted for three decades, as well as the window to China which he helped open in the early 1960s and which remains open to Canadian business today.
Follow was
excerpt-translated from the book of The diplomatic
negotiations of new China in Mandarin.
2..The history
of wheat trade proved that China is trustworthy friend
2.1..The initiation of Canadian wheat trade to China
In
Oct. 1960, Mr. Alvin Hamilton was
appointed as Minister of Agriculture.
After took office, Mr. Hamilton immediately
faced to solve a manifold problem that predecessor encountered, especially the large
number of surplus grain since 1950s.
At that time, the United States has ordered
Western allies to embargo on China by establishing
comprehensive anti-China
policy.
Mr. Hamilton did not care about those
policies that were harming the interests of Canada, to open
up extremely broad market of China. In the autumn of 1960, he initiatively sent
envoy to Beijing for the contact.
In
the same year November, the buyers of China also went to Montreal, thus, Canada
and China quickly made first deal of grain
trade.
At that time, China suffered three years of natural
disasters, was extremely lack of food. It made China as a large international
grain buyer.
In early 1961, China and Canada signed a purchase
agreement 28 million bushels and 12 million bushels (two total combined
1,000,000 tons) of cereals.
The
first grain trade agreement was as pioneer
to have paved a
significant way for solving the problem
of rapid growth surplus
of wheat in Canada, but also it opened door to China politically. So
that Mr. Pierre
Trudeau could realize his long-cherished wish to
visit China in 1962.
The success of the first trade was excited and
encouraged Mr. Hamilton, and he immediately started planning
negotiations with China to sign a long-term food trade agreements. To this end,
he took a consideration of the "gift promotion" program, which was
giving a certain amount of grain to China to encourage China
long-term buying Canadian grain.
At that time, China has been greatly constrained in
foreign trade, and in extremely shortage in foreign
exchange reserve, due to anti-China policy of isolation and economic
blockade of the United States. So that China was difficult to pay
Canada by foreign exchange.
In 1961, in a talk for long-term grain
trade, China side proposed a solution: in the next two years and a half, to buy
about 5 million tons of wheat and 1.28 million tons of barley, but, with the
proviso that had to use the loans of Canada. China side stressed that: loans
are the main condition.
China's solution can help to resolve the
huge surplus grain of Canada, and it is great benefit to Canadians.
After careful consideration, Mr. Hamilton
smiled: "Backed with thousands of years of civilization, Chinese people
are lack of dollars but never lack of wisdom."
2.2.. The political resistance for trading
wheat to China
However, this scheme met with strong resistance in the
Cabinet discussion.
Firstly, the Minister of Finance and Minister of
Foreign Affairs strongly opposed. Because the bank loan demands government
guarantees, which means that Canada actually recognizes the Government of
People's Republic of China.
Opponents also worry that China may take Canadian food
as military reserves.
Some opponents also fear reprisals from the United
States on defence issues, or to reduce capital investment in Canada. Others
worry is that Chinese people might repudiation in repaying the loans of Canada.
Thus, Cabinet disputed endlessly.
In
the first wheat trade made with China, the Americans immediately responded with
banned exporting vacuum pump for handling grains, also prohibited Mobil Oil Company to
provide fuel for transportation ship.
The
Prime Minister Diefenbaker and Mr. Hamilton were extremely annoyed. Mr. Diefenbaker
told the US ambassador: you tell President Kennedy, if this shoe sets in you
Americans feet, what you feel?"
When Canada's cabinet repeated debating,
that China was started to negotiate with Australia on
grain trade. The information reached Ottawa from Hong Kong China; Mr. Hamilton sensitively felt
that the message indicates that Canada may lose this oncoming opportunity.
Finally, in order to facilitate this long-term grains
trade that was extremely beneficial to Canada, Mr. Hamilton
determined to guarantee by his political life.
In the April 1961, on the first cabinet meeting, after the opposition
made statements, Mr. Hamilton stood up, morally glanced at the venue,
seriously said to the Prime Minister Diefenbaker with such remarks:
"His
Excellency Prime Minister, if this extremely beneficial for Canadians of grain
trade agreements cannot be passed in the cabinet, then, as the Minister of
Agriculture, I have to resign. I hereby declare that, after the agreement is
signed, if China missed appointments to be repudiation, please replace me,
however, please announce the real reason of my resignation. Prime Minister, if
you do not agree with my resignation, please approves to give Chinese
loans".
After heard the
remarks, nearly seventy years old white-haired
Prime Minister Diefenbaker was showing a little, looked a little surprised, and
soon returned to normal.
The prime
minister Diefenbaker who served as a lawyer for 20 years in rich grain western
Canada, He knew the vital interests of the majority of farmers. He looked
around the participants in silence, in a very quiet voice: "Look, you see
this man is really going to resign, and you have heard that he is the real
thing, because, he believes that is a program totally in favor of Canadian
national, if you do not agree, whether ready to make the same, to resign."
The venue was very quiet, no one objected.
Old
prime minister nodded slightly and said: "Okay, well, we do not need to
discuss it any more. I got what I wanted."
Later, in April 22, 1961, China and Canada signed the
first long-term wheat trade agreement. According to the agreement, China
prepaid 25% cash, and the rest using Canadian loans, the duration was 9 months.
In the practice, the implementation of the loan amount broken through $ 100
million. By the first long-term food trade agreement, Canada sold a total $ 362
million of grain to China, and, since then the history of Sino-Canadian wheat
trade began.
2.3... Canada's Minister became good friend
of China's Premier
Between
March and April 1964, after retirement, Mr. Hamilton and his wife visited China.
China Premier Zhou Enlai gave them a cordial hospitality
with a banquet.
Canadian
newspapers had reported that, China host told the guests: "1959-1961, the famine
almost shattered our passion. When we, the whole country were making great
efforts to explore the way out, we have no friends, but, only you began to sell
our wheat."
Premier
Zhou Enlai told Mr. Hamilton: in past, Chinese people have
good friends Norman
Bethune and Chester
Ronning from Canada, and now, there has been
like you. Chinese people have never forgotten the old friend that associated in
the tribulation period.
Sure
enough, after the difficult period of three years, in particular in the late
1960s, though, the agricultural production of China has been restored, food
output increased, however, China was not only not
decrease the grains
imports from Canada, but also increased the amount in imports year by
year.
In Beijing, the one hour and half conversation with Premier Zhou
Enlai deeply impressed Mr. Hamilton.
In the later years, Mr. Hamilton lived in Ottawa, he
recalled this feeling of the conversation to the visitors from China, Zhou
Enlai was so sincere, frank and respected. From 90 minutes of talks, I realized
that he was keen to tell me that the one thing he most want to do before the
end of his political life was to make America and China, in some way, to
restore harmonious relations.
Mr. Hamilton was deep touched by Zhou Enlai, after which,
based on his own understanding of Zhou's wishes, he extensively contacted the
US lawmakers and politicians, including the President Johnson and the Chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee William Fulbright to convey the desire
of the government of China to achieve reconciliation between China and the
United States.
In the process of mobilization for Americans and
Chinese return to normal, he mentioned China's proposal "by trade to
achieve peace", it was real attractive for the Americans.
The
article Alvin Hamilton
(1912 – 2004) reported that in 1960, as Agriculture
Minister, Mr. Alvin Hamilton was
not only to sale massive grain to China and also increased exports to other
Communist countries despite the strong opposition of the United States.
We
may say that, in a large extent, it was that the rational of Mr. Alvin Hamilton saved
agriculture of Canada.
Now,
I think of the U.S.'s Alexander
Hamilton who was a founding father of the United States,
and a chief staff
aide to General George
Washington. As
the first Secretary of the Treasury, he
successfully solved the problem of huge debt by Revolving
door plan that government assume the entire debt, then to
retire the old depreciated obligations by borrowing new money at a lower
interest rate.
The man who
called as Mr. Hamilton, I think, is most rational.
I
wish that Mr. Hamilton is still in
playing his role in Canada.
3.. We
need rational leaders to avoid historical mistakes
The main concern of my cost so much time to mention
historical events is intended to avoid
the repeat of the historical mistakes.
I hope
that by looking back at the hardship of politicians in rationally dealing with
thorny issue - surplus grain of Canada (It will be also the long term issue),
to raise the awareness for present officials of Canada, when dealing with
Sino-Canadian relations, to take economic interest as the first priority, and this is
the only right way.
As rational officials of Canada, who
must dump the childish mind in political ideology, to rebuild a rational brain for doing
right business, thereby to lead Canada going on own way as that of Mr. Hamilton
Alvin and Mr. Pierre
Trudeau hard paved.
It is
inevitable that historical tragedies would be staged repeatedly; due to there
always some people are more on ideology less on pragmatically, on the key position plays with a childish play.
The
political vision of New Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull may provide a Rational
Enlightenment to treat the sick of those mental defectives.
Sept.
14, 2015, article New
Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Faces a Tough Economy reported
that: Turnbull, a former investment banker with strong support from much of the
country’s business elite, promises a less ideological and more pragmatic
approach to government. We can expect less focus on issues of concern for
social conservatives and more on getting the national economy rolling again,
bucking the trend we see now in Europe and the United States.
The report also said that the emerging giant China has been Australia’s most important export market since 2009. China alone accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the value of Australia’s export growth since 2013, a contribution that’s about ten times the size of that from developed market partners like Japan or the United States. China has invested in Australia, and Australians have invested in China.
April 26, 2016, there was a report that Australia PM to lead 1000-strong business delegation to China.
In comparison with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, in self-pride of democratic government of Canada, there is always irrational policy maker to oppose any rational resolution in regardless it is in great favor of the people of Canada.
We need rational and decisive top leaders who can bold act against all of the reckless behavior as that of the former Minister of Agriculture Mr. Hamilton Alvin.
Today, China, as a most quick development country, for Canada, the significance is not only limited in agriculture, but with great broader aspects.
For well developing the market of China, we need a man as that of Mr. Alvin Hamilton, a man who has such potential to assist Canada going on a rational way.
Then,
in current Canada, who is the best one, the one is worth us to support for?
4..Mr. Jean Chretien can play a role as that of Mr. Alvin
Hamilton
Mr. Jean Chretien, the 20th Prime Minister of Canada can play a role as that of Mr. Alvin Hamilton did.
The personal
friendship with top leaders of China showed his focus on key economic issue
with less prejudices of the political and ideological as that of rational
practice of Mr. Alvin Hamilton
and Mr. Pierre
Trudeau.
The sober and rational of Mr. Jean Chretien may help young politicians to avoid acting on irrational impulse, to make up for lack of experience, and thereby avoiding mistakes.
As
politician, in many cases, there only passion is not enough; it still needs
experience and political skills, especially a rational mind that supports the
rational reasoning and practicing as that of Mr. Alvin Hamilton
and Mr. Pierre
Trudeau.
And those are just the quality of that Mr. Jean Chretien has showed.
Apr 19, 2016, the article Premier Li hails China-Canada relations during Chretien visit reported that China’s Premier Li Keqiang hailed China-Canada relations during a meeting with Jean Chretien, the former Canadian prime minister, at Zhongnanhai in Beijing.
Premier Li noted that China-Canada relations developed into a “golden decade” during Mr. Chretien’s administration and that China appreciates Mr Chretien’s contributions to promote the development of China-Canada relations.
During the meeting, Mr. Chretien recalled happy memories of his visits to China and noted that China-Canada relations are well-developed and that the two economies are natural partners as they are complementary to each other.
Mr. Chretien said he believes that a new “golden era” of China-Canada relations will come and Canada is willing to cooperate with China in this endeavor.
April 19, 2016, the article Canada-China relations to enter ‘golden’ era, Chinese Premier says reported that Canada and China are set to enter a new “golden” era under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, China’s second-most powerful man told Jean Chrétien in Beijing this week.
Mr. Chrétien has long-standing ties to China, a country he courted both in and out of office. He championed the “Team Canada” trade missions that elevated the profile of Canadian businesses in the 1990s, but has continued to return in later years as an “old friend” of China.
Ms. Sarah Kutulakos, the executive director at the Canada China Business Council, said that, Mr. Jean Chretien has helped provided “a bridge” between Canada and China over the years. “He’s still highly respected in China,” she said, and “there is a fair amount of continuity under him.”
The Chinese premier’s reference to “golden years” echoes recent language used between China and Britain, which have heralded a “golden era” in ties. London’s courting of Beijing has resulted in major new trade contracts, including a deal by a Chinese company to develop nuclear power in Britain, and praise from Beijing.
China’s culture has tradition of in respecting old friends. Today, Mr. Jean Chretien established friendship with China will continue to contribute to the economic exchanges of two countries.
2.5.. Canadian politicians are facing a critical choice
Canadian politicians are facing a critical choice: to lead Canada going on the rational independent path that paved by
the predecessors of Mr. Alvin
Hamilton and Mr. Pierre
Trudeau toward prosperous.
Or to play according to
others baton, thereby win the appreciation of the allies, but, surely will be abandoned
by own nationals due to the damage of the national interests as that of former
British Prime Minister Tony
Blair did.
Canada should notice
that some European countries have begun to reflect on the issue of sanction on Russia
and have called for an end of such irrational.
The participation
of sanctions against Russia has caused loss in exports of Canada, but, there
were reports showed that initiator country seems did not stop doing business
with Russia.
