"Since taking the lead in passing the 'Slave Trade Act' in 1807, under the continuous efforts of the British Empire over the past 100 years, mankind has made tremendous progress in enjoying equality. But undeniably, there are still many deficiencies in human civilization. Continuing to promote the progress of human civilization is the unshirkable moral beacon obligation of the British Empire.

Many people mistakenly believe that the power of the British Empire stems from military power led by the Royal Navy, but His Majesty the King and his humble government do not think so. The meaning of the Empire's existence lies in promoting the rights of freedom and equality that God, in His mercy, endowed upon mankind, and constantly contributing to the progress of human civilization.

Past history proves that the more the leading role of the British Empire in human civilization is strengthened, the faster the progress of human civilization. Conversely, the progress of human civilization will suffer setbacks..."

On June 19, the warm summer wind of France blew in through the window of the editor-in-chief's office of *Le Figaro*. The editor-in-chief, who had taken off his coat and wore only a shirt, held a newspaper that vibrated slightly in the wind. After reading the opinion published by the British Foreign Secretary in *The Times* on the 18th, the editor-in-chief knew he must not let the British be so arrogant.

Sure enough, when the editor-in-chief began to consider who to ask to write a response article, a phone call came in. Although *Le Figaro* was not managed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the caller was not an official but just someone with a background in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the editor-in-chief fully understood and accepted the view of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 'In the struggle for political high ground, France must never let the British seize the high ground.'

In the view of the French intellectual circle, Britain claiming to be the beacon of civilization was unacceptable! In the history of leading world civilization, France always considered itself the beacon of civilization.

The editor-in-chief called in the political section editor and asked him to call in the reporters. He picked up a pen and wrote down several keywords on the manuscript paper: 'Monarchy', 'No Constitution', and other negative French views on British political culture. But the editor-in-chief felt it was not enough.

At this time, reporters had followed the political section editor into the editor-in-chief's office. Two long sofas were full of people. Late-coming reporters leaned against the wall, taking out small notebooks and pens like other reporters, ready to record the tone set by the editor-in-chief.

The editor-in-chief asked directly, "Have you all read that article?"

The political section reporters nodded one after another. As Frenchmen, tit-for-tat with Britain in the media was almost an instinctive reaction. Especially Britain's speech on abolition stimulated the mood of French media people even more.

"Tell me the keywords you think are appropriate." The editor-in-chief made a request.

Reporters answered one after another, mostly similar to the few keywords the editor-in-chief had just thought of casually. *Le Figaro* is a famous French newspaper, and the editorial department is full of capable reporters. Including the editor-in-chief, the reporters felt these keywords were unsatisfactory. When the reporters were temporarily silent, the political section editor proposed a word: 'Islanders'.

The editor-in-chief couldn't help tapping the table hard with his finger and praised loudly, "Very good!"

The political reporters of *Le Figaro* all remembered that this was the term He Rui used to criticize Britain during the Sino-British War. Borrowing this word at this time was really very appropriate. Since the British Foreign Secretary had already begun to boast, the *Le Figaro* reporters immediately took the task and returned to their workstations piled with various materials to write furiously.

Competing for the commanding height of civilization is a national strategy. In this competition, France must never let Britain take the lead.

Soon, a debate between the media broke out. More than 130 years had passed since the French Revolution. After France experienced a lot domestically, positive evaluation of the Revolution was already the mainstream view in France. And the 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' proposed by the French Revolution was actually taken and used by the British; how could French reporters tolerate it!

The French upper class knew very well that in the competition of moral civilization, France must never yield its position. However, what troubled them at this time was not the arrogant speech of the British, but the pressure within France. With the efforts of the members of the French branch of the International Human Rights Organization, some members of the French Parliament had expressed their willingness to propose a bill.

Now the economic pressure in France was increasing, and there must be a channel to release pressure. France had vast colonies, and bulk commodities like cotton did not rely on the United States. Trade statements towards the United States did not affect the French textile industry.

Those French upper-class members with higher status considered a higher level. Trade relations between major powers were not simple. The United States was a Great Power. Once trade relations between France and the United States were affected by politics, they would face strong counterattacks from the United States. This was not beneficial to France.

But this matter was really related to votes. Now that the French cabinet had finally stabilized a bit from the revolving-door changes, all politicians knew the importance of votes at this time. They really couldn't pretend nothing happened.

Finally, the French Foreign Minister had to come out and issue a statement, "Some recent investigation reports mentioned the fact that the United States uses slaves in cotton planting. The anti-human rights action of slavery completely violates the founding spirit of France and runs counter to the concept of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. In this regard, the French government believes that any act of slavery must be criticized. We also hope that such things will not happen in the third decade of the 20th century..."

The British government criticized slavery but would not impose a direct trade embargo on US textiles just because of the existence of the family slavery system in the United States. The basic views of the French government and the British government were exactly the same. There were many areas with slavery in the vast colonies of the two countries. If the import of 'textiles produced by slaves' was banned, it would first lead to internal political problems.

On the second day after France expressed its diplomatic view, the US President summoned the French Ambassador to the US. Facing the US President's questioning of France's attitude, the French Ambassador to the US answered sincerely, "Mr. President, our government's position on abolition has always been consistent and never targeted anyone. There has been a friendly relationship between France and the US for hundreds of years. I think current Franco-American relations are developing continuously, and no problems have arisen."

President Coolidge knew that what the French Ambassador said was the truth. It was the British who attacked the United States first this time. For France's political status in Europe, the French government had to make a statement on slavery. Since the French Ambassador clearly expressed that Franco-American friendship was unaffected, President Coolidge did not continue to say too much unnecessary words on this matter.

Summoning the French Ambassador had clearly expressed the attitude of the US government, which was enough at this stage. The US couldn't launch a military and diplomatic struggle with France just because the French government criticized the slavery system.

After sending away the French Ambassador, the Secretary of State returned to the Oval Office and asked directly, "Mr. President, should we invite the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the whips of both parties, to a meeting?"

"Frank, do you think the time has come?" Coolidge asked. Whether there was 'family slavery' mentioned in the International Human Rights Organization report in the United States, President Coolidge could be sure that such things definitely existed in large numbers. But President Coolidge could also be sure that this would not be the mainstream phenomenon in the cotton-growing areas of the American South.

In this regard, Coolidge even admired He Rui's methods a little. If He Rui turned the issue of the Chinese Exclusion Act into the focus of contradictions between China and the US, this problem would become very big. The Democratic Party would definitely make a big fuss about this matter.

Now, senators from conservative southern states and the KKK had mobilized the media to attack the US government and declared that a tougher policy should be adopted towards China. So out of political reality, President Coolidge tended to let things ferment for a while longer.

For the US upper class, abolishing the Chinese Exclusion Act was already an inevitable result. The only reason for not pushing it with full force now was that abolishing the Chinese Exclusion Act required political transactions. It was already 1927, and countries around the world no longer engaged in slavery institutionally. Now Britain and France jumped out to criticize slavery, and more countries would express their attitudes in the future. The greater the political pressure from abroad, the smaller the political price to be paid domestically.

However, Secretary of State Frank's view was different from Coolidge's. "Mr. President, the ones who pushed the Chinese Exclusion Act most fiercely before were Irish voters. Decades later, Irish descendants don't even know they were the ones who promoted the Chinese Exclusion Act. I don't think resolving the Chinese Exclusion Act as soon as possible will encounter real fierce resistance. If we don't act now, it might make the United States more passive internationally. According to my observation, a series of actions by the He Rui government have greatly affected the image of the United States."

President Coolidge hesitated for a moment before asking, "Then what are you worried about?"

"I think if this matter cannot be resolved as soon as possible, as Britain and China continue to approach each other, an alliance excluding US intervention will appear in the Western Pacific. Although Britain has not recognized the government of the Japanese Republic at this stage, compared with the duration of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the current Anglo-Japanese divergence is only a very short time."

Coolidge had to admit that Secretary of State Frank's analysis was very reasonable. After hesitating for a moment, Coolidge called his secretary in, "I hope to hold a meeting tomorrow attended by leaders of both parties in the Senate and House, the whips, as well as the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor."

The secretary accepted the order immediately. Without President Coolidge's instructions, he knew very well who to contact immediately.

Early the next morning, men in formal suits filed into the Oval Office of the White House. President Coolidge was also in formal dress, but after everyone sat down, he took off his coat and, wearing only a shirt, began the meeting with a group of American bigwigs.

The bigwigs looked at each other. Taking off the coat was a prelude to a confrontation; this action by President Coolidge already proved his attitude towards this meeting. But the bigwigs would not show weakness because of the President's attitude. The northern Republicans were okay, but the southern Democratic leaders of the Senate and House and the whips even felt a little happy. They wanted to make trouble, and now it was finally time to negotiate.

Secretary of State Frank introduced the diplomatic situation the United States was encountering first, "Latest news, the British naval observation delegation visiting China stated at a press conference that regarding the diplomatic rumors that China wants to provide anchorages or even concessions for the British Pacific Fleet, someone on the Chinese side indeed proposed it."

The bigwigs of both American parties originally thought the Secretary of State would say some well-known news, but they didn't expect to hear such impactful news. During the Sino-British War, the US upper class optimistically believed that British warships would completely lose anchorages in the Far East. This meant Britain no longer had the ability to attack Hawaii, an important US port in the Pacific.

If China really provided ports or even concessions to the British Pacific Fleet, the British Pacific Fleet could once again truly threaten Hawaii, an important base of the US Pacific Fleet. This matter could not be treated lightly. A group of American bigwigs looked at each other again for a moment, and everyone saw the vigilance in each other's eyes.

The US National Security Advisor took over the topic, "The British naval delegation stated that the British government believes acquiring concessions in China is a completely outdated choice. The British side has absolutely no consideration in this regard."