英语词汇xyz affair的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

XYZ affair. In 1797 President John Adams sent three repre- sentatives to France to negotiate a maritime treaty that would prevent French pirates from attacking American ships. But three of Talleyrand’s agents (identified only as X, Y, and Z) in- tercepted them and demanded a $1-million “loan” for France before they would be received by the French government. The agents refused to negotiate on these terms and returned home. One of them, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, allegedly uttered the slogan “Millions for defense, sir, but not one cent for trib- ute.” Pinckney, however, always claimed he only said: “No, no, no! Not a single sixpence!”

词汇	xyz affair
词源	XYZ affair. In 1797 President John Adams sent three repre- sentatives to France to negotiate a maritime treaty that would prevent French pirates from attacking American ships. But three of Talleyrand’s agents (identified only as X, Y, and Z) in- tercepted them and demanded a $1-million “loan” for France before they would be received by the French government. The agents refused to negotiate on these terms and returned home. One of them, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, allegedly uttered the slogan “Millions for defense, sir, but not one cent for trib- ute.” Pinckney, however, always claimed he only said: “No, no, no! Not a single sixpence!”
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