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Powers can also abolish the unequal treaties, they will also
be our friends". Cheung Tsok Lem was not much pleased with my answer. At that time I understood that the Diplomatic Corps had demanded the respect of the unequal treaties in
exchange for the recognition of the Provisional Executive.
Therefore I again explained to him that it was for the unequal treaties that we fought vigorously at the Paris and Washington Conferences, and that therefore we should by
no means let the matter drop. He was, however, not satisfied with my words, and before long he broke off his
friendship with us. Then on the 10th December the
Provisional Executive agreed to the demand of the Diplomatic Corps that the credit of our Republic with the foreign Powers would be upheld, forgetting all the fight for the abolition of the unequal treaties. It was for this that
the terrible incident of the 30th May broke out, and it is
this that proves sufficiently that no militarist is qualif- ied to speak of salvation of our country. We must under- stand that no friendship can exist among any nations, unless they are in equal position. Between a master and a slave, we can only speak of kindness, and never of friendship, because a master and a slave are not equal in position. Brothers, friends, and husbands and wives are all equal, and can therefore speak of love. Since the Powers have not treated us with equality, how can we speak of friendship with them? Russia has treated us with equality, and why should we fail to treat her as our friend? The reason is
simple and clear.
Now let me tell you why so many of our Russian members
have come to Kwong Tung to help us in our revolution? We
have invited Mr. Borodin as our chief advisor, and he
attends the meetings of the Political Committee, where he
has made all suggestions he knew, without reserve. He has shared all hardship and calamity with us, and is indeed a very good comrade, such are one as is difficult to find. If
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