Li Kuo-ching’s Letter to Hu Shih李國欽致胡適函

【導讀】李國欽（1892—1961）早年留學英國，是中國第一個發(fā)現(xiàn)鎢礦并用漢字“鎢”描述這一元素的人，后常駐美國紐約，從事礦產進出口貿易，成長為國際軍火原料巨賈，后兼任財政部與農商部駐紐約代表。駐美期間，與胡適、王寵惠、俞大維等人過從甚密。這封信選自《北京大學圖書館藏胡適未刊書信日記》，是李國欽于1938年7月21日寫給正在歐洲訪問的新任駐美大使胡適的。時值日本侵華危急關頭，中國軍民遭受巨大犧牲，民國政府不得不遷都重慶。在這樣的背景下，民國政府一改既定方案，決定參加來年在紐約和舊金山舉辦的世博會。

偶然從外交部長俞大維那里得知這一消息的李國欽遂以好友身份致函胡適，從朋友共識、民族大義、利害關系、華僑現(xiàn)況等角度展開游說，試圖勸諫中國政府放棄參會。李國欽的這番論述入情入理，字里行間流露出愛國心、民族情。民國政府最終決定不以官方身份參與1939年世博會。

如今，中國已成功舉辦2010年上海世博會和2019年北京世界園藝博覽會，各類專業(yè)博覽會精彩紛呈，規(guī)模和影響都遠非當年所能想見。

Dear Friend，

適之兄鈞鑒：

From your itinerary I note that you will be in London today. I do hope that you had a nice visit in Paris and that you will have a good sojourn in London. October is such a long time for us to wait for your return.

依兄日程，今日當抵倫敦。誠望巴黎之行愉快，并祝倫敦之旅順遂。約以十月為歸，期亦久矣，弟等翹盼殊切。

You may recall that while you were here we discussed about the World’s Fair. If I am not mistaken， I understood from you that there was a standing resolution by the Government restricting China’s participation in any exposition. I thought that was a wise move on the part of our Government because to participate in any exposition in a half-baked manner would only do more harm than good to China. The spirit in joining any exposition or world’s fair is to bring out the best in us.

兄當記在紐約時曾與我敘及世博。倘所記無誤，兄曾言我政府有一常設決議，限制中國參與任何博覽會。竊以為，此乃我政府明智之舉：蓋因諸事不備而貿然與會，弊多利少。任一博覽會之參與，皆宜彰顯中華之最佳，是為要旨。

For almost a year now I have been invited by the authorities of the World’s Fair to participate directly or indirectly. I have frankly told them that while China is fighting a life and death struggle， she has neither the time nor the resources to participate in the Fair and I know that she will be excused by America. As a matter of fact， China， by her absence from the Fair， will receive much more publicity than by her participation in a poor fashion.

近一年來，世博當局幾番邀我直接或間接與會。我亦坦言，值此生死存亡之際，中國必無暇他顧，亦無資財以助，我知美國必諒中國之處境。實則中國因缺席所獲之宣傳，將遠勝以窘迫之姿態(tài)列席其中。

The Japanese publicity agent HSH wants China to participate first of all because he does not want China to say that she did not participate because of the war and secondly， because he wants China to appear very inferior to Japan.

日方公關代表休斯敦之欲中國與會，一為其不欲中國以戰(zhàn)事為由而不參會，二為其欲使中國相形見絀于日本矣。

I enclose herewith correspondence exchanged with Herbert Houston， James A. Thomas， William Chadbourne and Edward Hume， all of which is self-explanatory.

隨函呈奉我與赫伯特·休斯敦、詹姆斯·A. 托馬斯、威廉·查德伯恩及愛德華·休姆往來之書信，信中之意，可以昭然自見也。

To my great surprise today I was told by James Yu that the Chinese Government had changed its mind and would participate. I asked who gave him this authority. His reply was that it was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I asked him further how the authority was given. His reply to this was that the Ministry， at the request of the Embassy， had consented to participate in the Fair provided the Government was not requested to spend any money. I asked how the request was made and I was told that “the Chinese in America and some Americans would take care of the expenses if the Government would only grant permission.” I told him that “the Chinese in this country knew nothing about the arrangements and I for one was certainly opposed to it because I felt that it would be a disgrace to China as she could afford neither the money nor the time to participate.” I also told him that I had participated in the Panama Exposition in 1915 and also the Philadelphia Centennial. As a matter of fact I was one of the Chief Judges of the Philadelphia Exposition. In each case China spent a tremendous amount of money and the result was only a poor second in comparison with Japan. I cannot see how any success can be made.

今日俞大維謂中國政府已改弦易轍，將欲與會，我聞此訊，驚異久之。問授權者何人，對曰：外交部也。更詢其詳。乃稱外交部應大使館之請求，已同意以政府不出資為前提參會。問以請求之故，則曰：“美國華僑及部分美國人愿擔此費用，只待我政府準許。”我遂告之曰：“美國華僑于此安排一無所知，我亦決計反對，以為此舉必成中國之恥，因吾國既乏財力，亦無時暇也。”又言及我曾參與1915年之巴拿馬萬國博覽會及1926年之費城世博會，更系費城世博會首席評委之一。吾國歷此二會，皆斥巨資，而斬獲竟不敵日本。未來何以望見成功，則非我所能知也。

I do not know whether or not you are aware of this sudden change. The change was evidently made during my absence from New York. It was done with some secrecy. It was told to me by accident. You may have been consulted.

此等遽變，未審吾兄知否。料應生于我離紐約期間。其事能成，或涉隱秘。今日不期聞弟之聽。或亦有人詢及兄耳。

There is a great danger and that is that certain elements want to participate in this World’s Fair for a purpose entirely different from what you and I have in mind. It has been said off and on that a big restaurant should be set up at the Fair. You may remember that while you and I were at the Yale Club Hume asked us that question point-blank and our answer to him was NO.

此中潛藏重大危險：有人欲以截然不同于你我之目的參會。坊間間有傳言，世博會上將設一大餐館。兄或能記憶，昔日相與聚于耶魯俱樂部，休姆直言以此相詢，你我皆曰“無之”。

Why must these people have the Government acceptance？ Because by Government acceptance the Fair will grant a concession of 10，000 feet of land free of charge. These people want to use that concession and the other official privileges that go with it. I am very fearful of this—fearful that

何以此間人士必求得政府之許可？皆因憑此許可，世博會將無償劃撥一萬平方英尺之土地。此輩欲得土地之利益，并其他相應之官方特權。弟于此深感憂慮。所慮者三：

1. The Japanese spokesmen may take this occasion to ridicule us —

一則日本發(fā)言人或借機嘲我諷我；

2. The Americans will wonder why China in her national crisis would participate in such an affair， and

二則美國人或將疑心，中國何以國難當前而參此盛會；

3. China will be made the laughing stock of the Fair because we haven’t the time nor the wealth to do justice to China or to the Fair.

三則無籌備之時與力，將使中國與世博蒙羞，亦使中國淪為世博之笑柄。

The Chinese people here are about taxed to their capacity. Their business is not altogether good. Even assuming their business was better， their first duty is to support those who are actually fighting the life and death struggle at home and not to support the selfish schemes of certain individuals.

此地華僑稅賦已甚，所營之業(yè)亦多不如意。縱有生意興隆者，其首要之責，乃扶助國內殊死搏斗之兵民，而非助長個別人士之私心。

I do not know how much you know about this matter or whether or not you will agree with my views. If you should have changed your mind and now agree that China should participate in the Fair， I would like to hear from you because if anybody in the world can convince me， you are the one to do it. While on the other hand， if you have not changed your mind and you still believe that China’s participation at this time in such a crude manner will do more harm than good to China， I would then suggest that you immediately cable the highest authority to stop this nonsense. You can do it—it is not too late.

不知兄于此事，知之幾何，亦不知兄于弟之淺見意下如何。若兄意已變，以為中國今當參此盛會，則弟愿聞其詳。蓋當世能令我折服者，惟兄耳。然則若兄初衷未改，以為中國于此時草率參會，弊大乎利，則請速電告最高當局，止此妄行。兄固能為之，且為時猶未晚矣。

Yours sincerely，

順頌時祺

K. C. Li

李國欽

（譯者單位：北京語言大學）