Hey Everyone,
This TL is planned to continue (ideally) till the year 2010.
Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and feedback - I'll reply to each one in detail once I finish updating up to schedule.
1934: Dark Clouds and Silver Linings
Part Three: The Duce and the Generalisimo: Sino-Italian Cooperation.
"Chiang Kai-Shek is an artist who has worked men, as other artists have worked marble or metals. But men are harder than stone and less malleable than iron. China is a masterpiece. The artist has succeeded. His capabilities far exceed the task."
- Benito Mussolini
Mussolini greeting crowds in Shanghai.
Although the Sino-Italian "Pact of Brotherhood and Friendship" signed in December 21 1934 came as a surprise to many observers it was in hindsight perhaps an inevitable development of trends that had been evident since the early 1920's. Italy had long sought to portray itself as the friend of China and it's recognition of KMT suzerainity over all of China and it's steadfast refusal to back down in spite of international pressure (unlike Germany) meant that Italy, Italian Fascism and Mussolini had many admirers and friends within Nationalist China. Italy's restraint during the "Humiliation Treaty of Beijing" in spite the high profile murders of several Italian nationals was also taken as a sign of Italian good faith. As a consqeuence Sino-Italian relations became very warm.
As Sino-Italian relations became closer, so did the volume of Sino-Italian trade. Although there was no formal trade pact between the two nations, Italy was China's 4th biggest trader (after Germany, Soviet Union, USA.) Italian luxury goods such as Silk, perfumes and cosmetics was very popular with the rising Chinese middle classes and upper classes. Foreign goods - especially Italian were taken to be status symbols - a sign that a particular individual or family that possessed them that they were wealthy enough to own expensive foreign products rather than the cheaper Chinese products. Some economic historians (mostly Chinese) assert that Sino-Italian trade during the late 20's and early 30's spared Italy the worst of the Great Depression.
The RN Gulio Cesare was renamed CN Sun Yat-sen when it was purchased from Italy in 1934.
Others, perhaps more realistically, assert that it was not in the civilian trade that made Chinese silver flow into Italian coffers. It was in the military sector. Following the 'frosting' in Sino-German relations following Gustav Stresseman's acceptance of the "Treaty of Beijing" China turned to Italy for military help - particularly in the construction of a naval force. Negotiations began about the purchase of two Italian Cavour class Battleships of pre-WWI vintage -
the Conti de Cavour and the Giulio Cesare. The Italian War Ministry and Mussolini were happy to oblidge - Mussolini saw an opportunity to strenghten Sino-Italian relations and to make a tidy profit selling two obsolete warships. With the money he expected to make he could finance the construction of brand new and modern battleships. To sweeten the deal he agreed to return Italian concessions in China and to send 'Naval advisors' to renovate the two obsolete warships into more modern ones. Excited by the potential of having two warships Chiang agreed.
Conti de Cavour and
Gulio Cesare were delivered in late 1934 accompanied by Italian military advisors
and sailed into Shanghai with much fanfare.
The RN Conti de Cavour was renamed and redesignated as CN Yi Min (in honour of the murdered Chinese ambassador to Germany)
China had probably purchased the two obsolete battleships for
far more than they were worth, for Mussolini had begged the Italian Lira artificually higher before making the sale. Despite this, Mussolini's voluntary renounciation of Italian concessions and violent denounciation of "Anglo-French Imperialism" in China meant that when
Il Duce stepped into Shanghai he was greeted with ecstatic cheering. The fact that
Il Duce had come personally to deliver the two battleships was widely praised. Chinese culture placed a high emphasis on face-to-face personal relationships and the fact that Mussolini had come in person to negotiate a Sino-Italian Treaty was highly regarded. When Mussolini stepped into Shanghai any doubts about Italian sincerity dispelled - the Sino-Italian Treaty was a foregone conclusion.
The Fiat CR.32 which was more manoeuverable and able to take off and land in shorter runways was deemed suitable for the China's planned fleet of carriers.
The Sino-Italian
"Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood" resembled the Sino-German in the economic agreements signed between the nations, it also resembled the Sino-German in that it laid down provisions for the two nations going to each others aid when attacked by a foreign power (except for Germany or the Soviet Union.) It resembled the Sino-German agreements in all but the secret agreements for Chinese Naval rearnament. Over the coming decade, nearly half of Chinese naval surface ships (excluding destroyer class ships and smaller) would come from Italian naval yards. The Italian CR.32 would also be build under license in Kwangsi for use of the Chinese Navy...
Italy was popular in China. Italian fascism had many admirers, ranging from figures as diverse as Dai Li (the man who would later earn the title "Chiang's Himmler) to Wang Jingwei. The fascist theory of "corporatism" was especially liked - as was Italian futurism which seemed to herald a brighter, faster and more vibrant future - a mood that was in vogue with the mood of a nation that was emerging from the hidebound conservatism and shadows of the past. Young Chinese flocked to watch French cinema, danced to American jazz in dance halls and admired Italian futurist paintings. The stability that the Kuomintang created laid the foundation for a stable and prosperous middle class, when the economy keeps growing by an average of 10% every year and the money keeps roling in what's a guy to do?
Call an election.
Next Update: A Brief Analysis of Foreign Military Missions + The Plan for Chinese Naval Rearnament "Plan C."
) , well now i gonna start my analisis of the past three post(in a short way):
