Chapter 2152 The Decision of the British One

However, this suggestion did not get everyone's support after all. The military stated that it would not inquire about relevant intelligence, and Roosevelt also rejected this suggestion on behalf of the US government. It's not that the effect is not good after success, but that the probability of success is too low, and the price of exposure is too high!

In the end, although the meeting was a bit bumpy, it finally reached a basic agreement on some issues. The Americans actually asked very little for the outcome of World War I. On the contrary, their most important thing now is to prepare for war. After the end of the First World War, Germany can immediately launch a war against Japan with the Americans. The shorter the preparation time, the better! Leaving aside the decision of the Americans, at this time, the United Kingdom, which is in the center of the entire war, is making a very difficult decision. The war has already been lost, and the national strength of the United Kingdom is not enough to support it, so the peace talks have become the only way out.

At this time, at Buckingham Palace, King George V convened a meeting including Prime Minister Asquith, Secretary of State Lloyd George, Secretary of the Navy Oakland Campbell Jets, Minister of Munitions Chamberlain and Secretary of State Arthur Balfour. British top. At this time, the British Empire must seriously consider something that it has never encountered in hundreds of years-how to sign a defeated treaty!

"Is there any result in the negotiating note we sent to Germany through a third country?" George V asked.

"The Germans just said that they are willing to contact. According to the information we have collected from various aspects this time, the conditions of the Germans this time will be more stringent than last time. They not only require us to cede a large number of colonies, but also demand a large amount of compensation , the amount will be very large, possibly more than 2 billion pounds." Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour said.

"Two billion pounds! Are the Germans crazy? Do they take us for the French in the Franco-Prussian War?" exclaimed Admiralty Campbell.

"Actually, we are better than the French at the time. At least the French port was still operating at that time, while our port was full of submarines and mines. Submarines are really a despicable weapon. These little guys have caused great harm to the empire. The damage is no less than that of the capital ship of the High Seas Fleet!" Prime Minister Asquith said with a sigh.

"If we agree to the Germans' previous conditions, give up the British southern Africa, allow the Germans to deal with Belgium, and add a certain amount of compensation, can we sign a peace treaty with the Germans?" George V After thinking about it, he said.

Territory cession and indemnity are two links that cannot be bypassed in most wars. In the eyes of the British, it was a bit too much for the Germans to want the entire British Southern Africa before, but now, the British Expeditionary Force has been wiped out , when the Germans hold hundreds of thousands of British prisoners of war, then this condition is really not too much, even for the generation of the British Empire, the British must agree. As for compensation? The figure of 2 billion pounds is a bit too scary. The British don't want to agree to it yet, but it is impossible to get around it.

"But we are worried that the ambitions of the Germans will increase. What if the simple cession of southern Africa does not satisfy the Germans?" Prime Minister Asquith said.

"So you mean that the Germans will have higher and more demanding requirements? Make it difficult for us to accept?" King George V asked with a livid face. This condition alone can make him the most embarrassing British emperor ever!

"The Germans may want our colonies throughout Africa." Prime Minister Asquith said with some difficulty. "It's not just southern Africa, there may be Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria. The most critical issue is that it is difficult for us to refuse the other party's request. Because, if we refuse, it means the continuation of the war,

The Germans have solved the western front, so the next attack direction must be the homeland. Whether it is the blockade of our communication lines or the attack on the large fleet, it is difficult for us to bear. "

"Don't the big fleet have an advantage? I remember Admiral Jericho said that we have a 70% chance of winning against the German High Seas Fleet." George V said with a gloomy face.

"Even if we can defeat the High Seas Fleet, the Grand Fleet will be severely damaged. This kind of victory is worse than the Pinos-style victory. Because we still cannot solve the German submarine force. And because of the German blockade, our The supply of materials is already very bad. And if one day, the Americans completely cut off exports to our country, then we can only succumb. In the waters around the British Empire, only American merchant ships will not be attacked by submarines." Campbell said.

"The Americans should understand that Germany is a country with more potential than us. If we are willing to show weakness to the Americans at this time, can we get American mediation?" George V asked.

"It's hard, because now the British Empire doesn't have much leverage. The Germans can get war reparations from France and Russia after the war, which can help the Americans fight the Japanese. But what about us? The Americans have no reason for our friendship There is no reason to offend a victor by filling our financial loopholes, as long as the Germans’ demands are not excessive and do not exceed the bottom line of the Americans, then the United States will not interfere in the relationship between Britain and Germany.”

"And what I need to say is that the empire has no friends now, the French have defected to the Germans, the Russian government of Tsarist Russia is finished, and now we have only one friend left among the great powers, and that is Japan, and we have compromised with the United States , betraying Japan will not necessarily bring the friendship of the Americans, but we will definitely push Japan to the opposite side, and our colonies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific may be quite threatened.”

"The current British Empire is more like a patient who has been ill for a long time. Our policies should focus on stability and self-cultivation, and we should not adopt overly drastic policies, because if we are not careful, the empire may face unimaginable disasters. said Prime Minister Asquith.

"In fact, generally speaking, Japan is quite qualified as an ally of the Empire in the Far East. We share resources and markets in the Far East with Japan. The Japanese did not harm the interests of the British Empire because of their strength. Economically, we need Japan exports various resources. And the Japanese need our technology and industrial products. And if possible, the future US-Japan war is also an opportunity for our country, and war means money." Lloyd George said.

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