熊貓外交簡史 A Brief History of Panda Diplomacy

43 YEARS AGO

43年前

Two musk oxen for a pair of giant pandas. Who would make that trade?

兩頭麝牛換一對大熊貓，誰會做這樣一筆買賣？

The Chinese did, when President Richard M. Nixon was on his world-changing trip to China in 1972.

中國人就是這麼幹的，這件事發生在1972年，理查德·M·尼克松總統(President Richard M. Nixon)那次改變世界的訪華之旅過程中。

Thus renewed the American love affair with these jumbo creatures, the newest of which — twins — were born to the teenage panda Mei Xiang at the National Zoo in Washington on Saturday (one did not survive the week).

於是美國人重新愛上了這種吃竹子的動物，就在8月22日，華盛頓國家動物園的熊貓美香還產下了雙胞胎寶寶，不過其中一隻在一週內夭折了 。

Panda diplomacy has had a long history, but before Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in the United States (not long after Nixon returned from his trip), there hadn’t been a giant panda here for more than 20 years.

熊貓外交歷史悠久，但在大熊貓玲玲和興興抵達美國之前（尼克松從中國歸來後不久），美國已經有20多年沒有大熊貓了。

At The New York Times, this was front page news, and it began with a vigorous debate about where the pandas would reside. In an article on March 1, 1972, Murray Schumach reported that “with the intensity of politicians bargaining for presidential convention delegates, zoo directors are bringing every kind of pressure to get one of the furry clowns with the black-patched white bodies and the black-ringed eyes.”

玲玲和興興的到來成了《紐約時報》的頭版新聞，先是一場激烈的爭論，討論它們到底應該住在什麼地方。在1972年3月1日的文章中，默裏·舒馬赫(Murray Schumach)寫道，“衆家動物園園長爲得到一隻黑白相間、帶黑眼圈的毛絨小丑使盡全身解數，就像政客爲了成爲總統會議代表一般激烈。”

The Bronx Zoo had a compelling case: “We still have the panda house with its sprinkler and swimming pool,” its director, William G. Conway, was quoted as saying in the article. “It is now inhabited by wallabies,” Mr. Conway was further quoted. “But we’d send them back with the kangaroos in 10 minutes if we could get a panda.”

布朗克斯動物園有個很棒的熊貓舍：“我們仍然保留着帶灑水器和泳池的熊貓房，”文中引用園長威廉·G·康韋(William G. Conway)的話說。“現在那個房間被沙袋鼠佔了，但如果能夠得到一隻熊貓，我們可以在十分鐘內把它們送回到袋鼠那裏。”

By March 13, Nixon had made his decision: The pandas would live at the National Zoo. The conversation then turned to another urgent question:

3月13日，尼克松做了決定，兩隻熊貓將入駐國家動物園。接下來討論焦點變成了另一個棘手的問題：

“The sexual identity of the pandas has been discussed at the highest levels,” Robert B. Semple Jr. wrote in an article on March 14. “While sunning himself in Key Biscayne, Fla., John D. Ehrlichman, Mr. Nixon’s top domestic policy adviser, received a call from a zoologist who said he feared that the Chinese might send two males or two females.”

“最高層人士曾爲熊貓的性別展開討論，”3月14日，小羅伯特·B·森普爾(Robert B. Semple Jr.)撰文寫道，“尼克松的最高國內政策顧問約翰·D·埃利希曼(John D. Ehrlichman)在佛羅里達州基比斯坎度假曬太陽時，接到一個動物學家的電話，說他擔心中國人會送來兩隻雄性熊貓或兩隻雌性熊貓。”

They did not. The girl panda, Ling-Ling, and the boy panda, Hsing-Hsing, arrived in early April and made their public bow on April 20. In another front page article, Nan Robertson reported that “the first to pay a call” was “Mrs. Richard M. Nixon, who giggled her way through introductions.”

他們並沒有這樣做。女熊貓玲玲和男熊貓興興在4月初抵達美國，並於4月20日第一次對公衆亮相。在另一篇頭版文章裏，娜恩·羅伯遜(Nan Robertson)寫道，“第一個去看望熊貓的是理查德·M·尼克松的夫人，整個介紹過程中一直咯咯笑個不停。”

Ms. Robertson quoted Mrs. Nixon as saying: “They give you an extra dimension of joy.” The first lady added, “I think everyone would like to cuddle them.”

羅伯遜引用尼克松夫人的原話：“它們帶給你特別多的快樂。”第一夫人還說，“我覺得所有人都想抱着它們。”

For her part, “Ling-Ling lay on her log sofa, daintily nibbling on a piece of honey-bread toast clutched in a forepaw.”

與此同時，“玲玲斜倚在她的圓木沙發上，用一隻前爪拿着一片蜂蜜烤麪包，慢條斯理地啃着。”

And what about those musk oxen?

那兩頭麝牛又怎樣了呢？

“Frankly, I just don’t think musk oxen have the sex appeal pandas do,” the National Zoo director, Theodore Reed, was quoted as saying in another Page 1 article by Ms. Robertson. “You like musk oxen, but pandas can steal your heart away.”

“坦白地說，我覺得麝牛不如熊貓那麼性感，”羅伯遜女士在另一篇頭版文章中引用國家動物園園長西奧多·裏德(Theodore Reed)的話說。“你可以喜歡麝牛，但熊貓卻能偷走你的心。”

The article reported that Mr. Reed had personally escorted the musk oxen, Milton and Matilda, to Peking (now Beijing), returning with the pandas.

這篇文章還報道，裏德親自護送兩頭麝牛——米爾頓和馬蒂爾德——去往北京，並且帶回了兩隻熊貓。

“He confirmed that Milton was suffering from postnasal drip, possible depression, a cough and falling hair in the Peking zoo. Matilda is also reported to be feeling poorly.”

“他證實，米爾頓在北京動物園有點流鼻涕、咳嗽和掉毛，可能有點抑鬱。據說瑪蒂爾達狀況也不好。”

But thanks for the pandas.

但是幸好我們得到了熊貓。