Edgar Snow and the others rode their horses higher and higher along the streets of Mexico City, finally arriving at their destination: a manor situated in the upper part of the city. This was the residence provided by the Mexican President. At the entrance, the Mexican Minister of the Interior was welcoming the attendees.

As soon as he entered the manor, Edgar Snow displayed his journalistic instincts and began contacting the representatives he was interested in. He first approached the French representative. Opening the conversation, Snow asked, "I wonder if the French government agrees to transform the International Human Rights Organization into a state-based organization?"

The French representative wanted to speak but hesitated. Over the past two years, as the influence of the International Human Rights Organization expanded, representatives from many countries had come under its scrutiny. The view that the organization should transition from an international academic body to a formal organization of states had been gaining traction.

Just as the Mexican government was willing to host the International Human Rights Organization meeting in Mexico City—politically, this was a good opportunity to promote Mexico to the world. The French government also hoped to possess moral rallying power, so there were voices within the French parliament and government suggesting that an International Human Rights Organization composed of various nations should replace the existing academic one.

The French representative paused for a moment before replying, "There has been no such decision at this stage, but the French government is considering recognizing the International Human Rights Organization."

Snow continued to ask, "Is the French government worried about the possibility of being stripped of its qualification as a human rights organization?"

Knowing that Edgar Snow was a journalist, the French representative teased, "Mr. Snow, are you asking this question as a journalist or as a representative of the American human rights organization? Is the U.S. government not worried about being stripped of its qualification?"

Snow simply smiled and did not answer. When the International Human Rights Organization was a non-governmental organization, its internal relationships could be very flexible. Moreover, NGOs were not limited by state behavior. Just like Snow himself—he criticized the U.S. government for its systemic racial discrimination against Black people, but he would never be expelled from the International Human Rights Organization just because he was American.

However, once the U.S. government joined as a state entity, if the International Human Rights Organization asked why the United States practiced segregation and racial discrimination as a matter of policy, the U.S. government would find it difficult to answer.

In this regard, the French government faced the same difficulty. The whole world knew that China and France were in a substantial alliance. Given the current philosophy of the International Human Rights Organization, France's persecution of people in its colonies was something that had to be criticized. If the French government did not change, it would have to be stripped of its seat.

Snow asked, "If the International Human Rights Organization becomes a state-based organization, will the current philosophy of the organization be modified?"

"No," the French representative shook his head. "But there will be differences in the charter and system."

After saying this, the French representative voiced his own concern. "I heard that besides the four nations of the East Asian Alliance and the Soviet Union, some South American countries also want to become founding members of the potential state-based International Human Rights Organization."

An international organization did not necessarily need every country in the world to join; the number of founding nations could be small. Snow was shaken by this suggestion. Before Snow could speak, the French representative continued, "There is now a possibility that non-white nations will form the International Human Rights Organization. The French government is in a difficult position. No matter which white nation joins first, it will be seen as betraying the white world. Of course, Russian blood is considered to have been contaminated by the Mongols."

Snow fell silent. If the International Human Rights Organization became an alliance of non-white nations, it would be perceived as an organization antagonistic to the white world, which would inevitably greatly affect its influence among white nations. However, compared to an NGO, an international organization joined by states would see a leap in influence and rallying power.

How to choose? This was no longer something Snow could figure out.

For the rest of the time, Snow conversed with human rights representatives from various European countries. Most of the representatives from these countries had also heard some news, and their views on the future of the International Human Rights Organization were quite polarized. Moreover, what everyone was more concerned about was: if this became an international organization composed of states, would the original members from non-member countries be marginalized or suffer crackdowns domestically?

Snow felt that the United States likely would not become a founding member of the International Human Rights Organization, and he and the American human rights organization members faced the same problem. However, Edgar Snow was relatively optimistic. The transformation of the International Human Rights Organization into a state organization would itself greatly expand its influence. Furthermore, working for the legitimate rights of humanity was a great profession. As an American, Snow hoped that the United States could become a more civilized country where every American citizen could enjoy legitimate human rights.

While chatting with everyone, a commotion suddenly broke out in the venue. Following his journalistic instincts, Edgar Snow went toward the direction of the noise. Soon, several familiar faces left Snow speechless. The Weimar government of Germany no longer existed, but when it did, they had attached great importance to the International Human Rights Organization. Although the Weimar government's goal had been to criticize the immense suffering brought to the German people by the Treaty of Versailles, because Germany had been forced to lose all its colonies, it had paradoxically gained moral liberation. Therefore, the Weimar government often published human rights investigation reports at the annual meetings of the International Human Rights Organization through its domestic human rights organizations. In a sense, the Weimar government was the country that had earliest made its human rights organization chapters semi-governmental.

But now, the Weimar government was gone. Hitler, in accordance with the law, had turned Germany into a purely Nazi dictatorship. Now, this group of semi-official personnel had come again...

Under the strange gazes of the crowd, the Nazi German international human rights representatives said nothing and simply walked inside. Since the International Human Rights Organization had not yet convened a review of the German members' status, everyone could only watch them proceed to the rooms prepared for them.

The next day, the General Assembly of the International Human Rights Organization officially opened. At the meeting, the Mexican President spoke first. "Respected ladies and gentlemen. The Mexican government feels extremely honored to be the host of this International Human Rights Conference. Human rights are rights that all mankind should possess. Regardless of skin color, gender, religion, or age, every human being on Earth should receive their legitimate rights. The Mexican government was established based on such concepts of justice. The Mexican government fully identifies with the philosophy of the International Human Rights Organization and believes that the Mexican government should support such a just cause. Therefore, the Mexican government believes that all countries that abide by international human rights concepts should become members of the International Human Rights Organization in the capacity of state members. Thus, the Mexican government requests the respected representatives present to take this suggestion back to your countries. We look forward to more governments being willing to participate, making the promotion of human rights a cause supported by all nations."

Zhao Tianlin felt quite a few gazes directed at him, but he did not look back at all. As China's representative, Zhao Tianlin just stared at the Mexican President delivering the speech. After the speech ended, Zhao Tianlin was the first to applaud.

All countries knew that the International Human Rights Organization was established by China and originated from the Asian International Tribunal organized by China, and Zhao Tianlin was the convener of the Asian International Tribunal. Those who looked over probably thought that the Mexican President's speech might have stolen China's thunder.

Zhao Tianlin himself did not think so. China currently had its own difficulties. China had even collectively put the ANZAC corps on trial, so it was not afraid of foreign misunderstanding. However, the current establishment model of the International Human Rights Organization had clear camp divisions. If China took the lead, it would be misunderstood as a form of provocation. The Mexican President taking the lead was very beneficial for establishing Mexico's prestige, and China was also happy to let Mexico gain this honor.

Just on the second day after the Mexican President issued the initiative, China, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu, Upper Burma, and Assam all sent telegrams expressing their willingness to respond to the Mexican President's initiative and become founding nations of the International Human Rights Organization.

Seeing these telegrams, the Mexican President could not close his mouth from smiling. Mexico's largest neighbor was the United States, and US-Mexico relations were quite poor, but Mexico had no way to deal with the United States. Now, the only thing where Mexico could surpass the United States was in moral aspects like human rights.

Mexico had greatly stolen the spotlight this time. The Mexican President immediately called his deputy, "Immediately have the newspapers publish the news of the formation of the International Human Rights Organization, and have them publish the full text of the telegrams from the four East Asian nations."

Just as the Mexican President expected, American newspapers were finally forced to reprint the news from Mexican newspapers. Major newspapers in the United States and Europe immediately sent personnel to Mexico City. Even newspapers that could not arrive temporarily due to travel schedules immediately hired local journalists in Mexico to conduct urgent reporting.

In London, this news even briefly ranked ahead of the news that Prime Minister Baldwin was about to visit China. Prime Minister Baldwin had already prepared his itinerary; he was taking a special plane to China. Just as he was about to board at the airport, his secretary ran over quickly and breathlessly handed the latest newspaper to Baldwin.

Baldwin just glanced at it, then put away the newspaper and led the delegation onto the plane. When he reached the top of the gangway, Prime Minister Baldwin stopped, took off his hat, and waved a few times to the somewhat distracted journalists below the plane. As the journalists took photos, Prime Minister Baldwin entered the cabin.

The space inside the special plane was much more comfortable than commercial flights, but even so, the roar and vibration of the takeoff still made Prime Minister Baldwin feel uncomfortable. It was not until the plane reached a certain altitude that Prime Minister Baldwin had enough attention to read the newspaper.

Among the latest news in the newspaper, besides Mexico, China, Japan, Korea, and the Republic of Ryukyu joining the International Human Rights Organization, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Thailand, and several South American countries had also submitted applications to become founding nations of the International Human Rights Organization.

Seeing Thailand, Prime Minister Baldwin felt a burst of displeasure in his heart. In the strategic layer currently constructed by Britain, Thailand, as a member of the Sterling Bloc, belonged to Britain's peripheral organizations. He had not expected that Thailand would actually apply to become a founding nation of the International Human Rights Organization, an international organization completely uninfluenced by Britain.

But this was also the reason why British Prime Minister Baldwin was visiting China. In the past nearly ten years, the speed of China's development had exceeded Britain's imagination. After the end of the Sino-British War in 1927, Britain had been forced to accept the East Asian order reshaped by China.

Now, with the rapid development of China's economy, Britain's demand for the Chinese market had become very strong. Moreover, China's strength had once again compelled the British Prime Minister to go to China to have a frank conversation with China's leader, He Rui, to attempt to understand China's future direction.

Foreign Secretary Chamberlain (the elder) took the newspaper the Prime Minister had put down and read it. Soon, Foreign Secretary Chamberlain put down the newspaper and said, "Prime Minister, in the program of this International Human Rights Organization, there is an item about striving to eliminate various slavery systems in the world. It seems very targeted. In the French colonies, there are massive slavery systems."

Baldwin did not react; these small matters could naturally be left to the newspapers to handle. Currently, all countries with colonies had various slavery problems. Just like Britain—it had indeed abolished slavery domestically and in white colonies. But in British India, slavery based on local systems still existed. The British side had absolutely no ability to solve it, nor did it have any idea of spending huge costs to solve it.

Looking at this group of countries wanting to become founding nations of the International Human Rights Organization, they were all left-wing governments in Britain's eyes. This made Baldwin more certain of one question: did China have plans to overthrow the existing international order?

Current European planes could already cross the Atlantic. Britain went all the way east, where there were very many British colonies. The plane could arrive in China with only four landings. When the plane passed through France and Italy, the air forces of both countries sent planes to escort the British Prime Minister's special plane.

Two days later, Prime Minister Baldwin arrived at the Chinese border. Just after crossing the border, four planes flew over head-on. According to aerial radio communication, it was confirmed to be Chinese fighter jets coming to escort them.

Through the porthole, Prime Minister Baldwin saw the Chinese Air Force insignia painted on the skin of the Chinese fighter jets on both sides of the special plane, and he felt truly emotional in his heart. It had been less than 15 years since Britain won the European War. In these 15 years, the British Empire had not only failed to flourish, but its relative status had fallen even further.

At the end of the last century, the total industrial and agricultural output value of the United States had surpassed that of Britain. After the end of the European War, the industrial output values of France, the Soviet Union, and China had successively surpassed Britain. Although the industrial leads of France, the Soviet Union, and China over Britain were very limited, the fact that Britain had regressed to being the world's fifth-largest industrial producer caused quite a stir in Britain.

Britain's economy remained powerful, controlling the world's key shipping lanes and possessing the world's largest navy. But Britain's once world-leading industrial strength no longer existed. According to the British Cabinet's analysis, China, with a population of over 600 million, was undoubtedly likely to become the most powerful country in the future.

It was hard to accept emotionally that China, which had been beaten by Europe for 80 years, would become the world's most powerful country. Especially since China was a purely non-white country, this emotion was even harder to accept.

But calculating from cold hard data, China's population was five times that of the United States. As long as China's per capita industrial and agricultural output value was only one-fifth of the United States, the industrial and agricultural production organization of the two countries would be the same. If China's per capita industrial and agricultural output value were half that of the United States, China's total industrial and agricultural output value would be 2.5 times that of the United States.

It was only after hearing such a simple numerical calculation that Baldwin decided to come to China in person. China had already caused an imbalance in the international balance of power once, and in the future, it would probably cause the international balance of power to tilt again. Before such a decisive situation occurred, Baldwin had to determine China's position.

The reception China provided for Baldwin was standard. Chinese Premier Wu Youping personally received Baldwin. The status of a Prime Minister in China was equivalent to a Premier, while the status of the Chairman of the Republic of China was equivalent to the British King. So He Rui only had to wait for Baldwin to visit at his official residence.

This was Baldwin's first time entering No. 7 Renmin Road, and he was somewhat curious about the architecture here. He Rui's official residence was very traditional and did not have the magnificent appearance of Europe. But these buildings were very elegant and gave Baldwin a peculiarly modern feeling. Especially after taking the elevator to the third floor, Baldwin felt that He Rui was a person who quite enjoyed life.

In the study on the third floor, Baldwin met He Rui, who was dressed in casual clothes. Looking at this young leader in his early forties, Baldwin felt somewhat lost. Although he was 23 years older than He Rui, Baldwin was only appointed as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, a low-ranking official, in 1917. And in that same year, He Rui was already a General Zhen'an of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Northeast Government. In Britain, he would belong to the powerful figures second only to the Prime Minister.

Baldwin became Prime Minister in 1923, and He Rui also became the de facto ruler of China in 1923. The political seniority of the two was roughly the same. But by 1927, although Britain was still the most important great power in the world, Baldwin was slightly weaker than He Rui in terms of political influence.

By now, Baldwin had to come to China in person, and he had absolutely no intention of nitpicking He Rui's attire. In He Rui's official residence, even if He Rui wore pajamas, Baldwin had no way to express anything. This was the relationship between political strength and political seniority.

Thinking of this, the figures of a group of powerful people in British politics involuntarily flashed through Baldwin's mind. This made Baldwin feel a little uneasy. Although most of these people were older than He Rui, these future leaders of British politics had even lower political seniority compared to He Rui.

He Rui, on the other hand, did not think so much. He was wearing casual clothes because he was preparing a new book recently. This was a book for the National Defense Force, titled *Aviation Duty*. It described tactics for using large numbers of aircraft to fly continuously over the battlefield in future wars, attacking enemy large targets upon encounter.

He Rui had originally wanted to name the book *No-Fly Zone*, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. That name didn't sound murderous enough.

So He Rui had actually changed his clothes for Baldwin's visit. Seeing Baldwin lost in thought at this moment, He Rui smiled and asked, "I wonder what kind of tea Mr. Prime Minister prefers?"