Chapter 323: Cession of India

In the meeting room of the Prime Minister's Office in London, Eden, who had returned from the Soviet Union, was reporting the Soviets' demands to Churchill and the people present.

"These greedy bears!!" William Edmund Ironside, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, said angrily. "They should have been strangled in the cradle at that time." He seemed to have forgotten that when the Soviet Union was just established, these capitalist countries joined forces to besiege the Soviet Union, attempting to strangle the spark in the cradle.

As early as before the "October Revolution", Lenin pointed out that the First World War was a war of imperialism and proposed a peace proposal of "no cession of territory and no compensation" in the hope of withdrawing from this unjust war.

As both sides of the Allied Powers, Britain and France were absolutely unwilling to see such a situation. The Russian bourgeois provisional government that was in power before the Soviet Union came to power advocated continuing to participate in the war as a member of the Allied Powers, which further deepened the Allied Powers' hostility towards the new Soviet regime.

Less than three months after the establishment of the Soviet regime, Francis, the US ambassador to Russia, suggested that his country conduct armed intervention, and British Foreign Secretary Curzon also called for action against Russia in Congress. Such hatred and opposition forces in Russia resonated on the surface.

After the end of World War I, the Allies freed up their hands and decided to gather troops to jointly fight against the newly established Soviet regime; the United States even suggested to support the establishment of a military dictatorship first. The Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Germany, the ally of the former Allies, which provided the Allies with a reason to intervene. The Allies just used the "Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty" as evidence of Soviet-German collusion to openly interfere in Russia.

At the beginning of the military strength of the Allies and domestic opposition forces, their military strength was far superior to Bushevik, but what the Allies did not expect was Bushevik's strong organizational ability and fighting will. Due to the intrigues within the Allies and the independent White Army, the Soviet Red Army eventually defeated the White Army one by one and drove the foreign intervention troops out of the Russian border.

Now these bastards have grown wings and are asking for the Indian colony? ! This is really outrageous! !

Churchill smoked one cigar after another. The air in the conference room had long been polluted, but those generals and marshals didn't care and just waited quietly.

If it was just Germany, Churchill could still grit his teeth and insist, and sneer at the Soviets' demands. But now Germany, Italy, and Vichy France have formed an alliance, and Churchill has to treat it with caution. What's more terrible is that Italy and Vichy France now hate Britain to the bone, and they want to eat its flesh and sleep on its skin; especially Italy, the fighting will of the whole army is unprecedentedly high; the new little girl queen who took office two days ago officially declared war on the British Empire and issued a war mobilization order, and Italy is stepping up its armaments.

Thinking of this incident, Churchill felt absurd. Are all Italians pigs? Such an obvious frame-up can't be seen? !

But it's useless to say anything now. Churchill put out the cigar in his hand and said very seriously. "We need time now. At this time, only the Soviet Union can give us time. We must let the Soviet Union join in!"

Italy, which was originally intended to be won over, has become a deadly enemy with no room for negotiation. There is no clear news from the United States. For Britain now, the only thing it can rely on is the Soviet Union. If the Soviet Union can join in and provoke a war in the east, then the Germans will definitely have to deal with the threat in the east with all their strength, which can give Britain a chance to buffer.

As mentioned earlier, India is very important to Britain.

India has a vast territory, rich resources, a large population, and fertile land in the Ganges River Basin. It can be said that India is an important source of cheap raw materials for Britain and an important dumping ground for British products. At the same time, India's geographical strategic position is very important. It controls the main transportation route from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and is the frontier position of Britain's invasion of Southeast Asia.

But now it has reached the most critical juncture. For future victory, all colonies can be abandoned; in order to preserve the British mainland, all kinds of interests can be abandoned!

"If the British mainland is taken by Germany, what's the use of those isolated overseas colonies? The British Empire is gone!" Churchill's words are already very clear. He is ready to give up India in exchange for the Soviet Union's troops.

But just relying on a verbal promise to send troops, the Indian colonies will be handed over to the Soviet Union. Such an approach will not be passed by the parliament at all! Fortunately, it is now a war period. According to the British Empire Emergency Act, Churchill can bypass the parliament when necessary, but at least he must have the support of senior members of the wartime cabinet.

Of course, everyone present also knew this procedure, but they looked at each other, and no one was the first to stand up and agree.

For the glory of the empire, it is difficult to accept the loss of the Indian colonies, and if this kind of decision is spread, people will definitely point at their spines and call them traitors. Even if they win in the future, they may be liquidated.

Just when the atmosphere was so heavy that it was almost suffocating, a hoarse voice sounded in the corner of the conference room. "I support the Prime Minister's opinion." This person was Montgomery, who had luckily escaped the German torpedo attack and returned home safely. Although he was a defeated general, he at least had the experience of fighting the German army, and this experience was quite valuable, so he was still promoted one level.

Montgomery also knew that what Britain needed most at the moment was time, so he supported Churchill's decision. "However, we must take precautions. After all, the Soviets and we are not in the same trench. We must prevent the Soviets from taking our India but not going to war with the Germans, or just fooling us with small harassment on the border."

Montgomery considered it very carefully. Britain could not trust the Soviet Union. Even if Britain agreed to this deal, it would have to wait until the Soviet Union really launched a large-scale attack on Germany!

Otherwise, the Soviets would take this opportunity to swallow India, and then turn their faces and deny it. Wouldn't Britain lose a lot?

Churchill nodded: "Yes, we must consider these issues."

It is worthwhile for Britain to use India to exchange for the Soviet Union and Germany to go to war, but if India is given to the Soviet Union and the Soviets do not send troops, then the Churchill government will become a laughing stock of the world, and even a sinner of the British Empire!

"Okay, now, I sign the Prime Minister's order to fully promote this agreement!" Churchill ignored the objections of his subordinates. Now, he must be responsible for the empire!

If the Soviets had any brains, they would know that once Germany completed the process of annexing France, it would become a giant, and at that time, it would definitely be a threat to the Soviet Union!

Taking advantage of the emptiness of eastern Germany, launching an attack on Germany and destroying Germany is the best choice for the Soviet Union!

I hope Stalin can make a wise move!

With the order signed by Churchill himself, Eden hurried to the Soviet Union again.