Chapter 326 Negotiation

From 1934 to 1937, the United States successively issued three neutrality laws, stipulating that the United States should remain "neutral" in wars in other parts of the world and should not transport arms and strategic materials to the warring parties.

Roosevelt used the burning of part of the Capitol in 1814 to persuade Congress to abolish the embargo clause. After fierce debate inside and outside Congress, Congress passed the Neutrality Amendment, abolished the embargo clause, and implemented the principle of cash purchase and self-transportation, that is, cash purchase and self-transportation.

On the other hand, Eden, who rushed to Moscow, met Molotov again. "Mr. Molotov, I want to continue to talk about the content of the last discussion." After the two sides exchanged polite greetings, Eden went straight to the point.

Molotov vaguely guessed Eden's intention this time, and a flash of excitement flashed in his eyes. "Are you going to cede the Indian colony?" Although he tried his best to suppress it, his slightly trembling voice still exposed his excitement.

As early as 1715, Peter I sent people to explore whether there were any rivers in Iran that could be navigated to the Indian border, and in 1722, they reached the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Just as the Russian army was preparing to expand its victory and continue to move south, it was suppressed by the Ottoman Turks. The Turkish army entered Persia from the west and told the Tsarist Russia that if the Russian army dared to move south again, it would mean war. Because the Tsarist Russia's front line was too long this time, and Peter I had been worried about being trapped in the Prut River 12 years ago (1711) (Peter the Great was almost captured alive by the Turks); he was forced to stop this military action.

In 1795, Empress Catherine finally realized Peter the Great's last wish and opened up the passage from Persia to India. But it was because of the existence of the Ottoman Empire that the Russians were never able to get involved in the Persian Gulf (mainly restricted by Turkey to the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea coast), and the biggest achievement was to control the northern half of Iran's territory.

During the reign of Alexander I, he attacked Iran in 1804, but soon after, Russia was deeply involved in the Napoleonic Wars and had no time to look east. After that, the Tsarist Russia fell into a long-term economic stagnation, and the Crimean issue was very tense with Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire.

Although Russia defeated Iran in the war of 1826, Britain firmly opposed Russia's expansion in Iran in order to ensure the connection between its African colonies and its Indian colonies. The dual pressure of politics and economy made Russia never have a chance. On the eve of World War I, Russia's domestic contradictions had intensified, its relations with Germany in Europe deteriorated, and it lost the Russo-Japanese War in the Far East. It was a daydream to march into Iran. So in 1907, Britain and Russia signed a treaty, and Russia's sphere of influence was limited to northern Iran, losing the opportunity to establish an Indian Ocean fleet.

Now the British Empire is about to hand over the whole of India with both hands, how can it not be excited. Moreover, the current Indian colonies include a large area of ​​territories such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar in later generations. These territories form a loose colony, which is connected into a large area and is also called the Indian subcontinent. The area reaches more than 4 million square kilometers and the population is close to 400 million.

Eden sighed deeply. "Yes, Prime Minister Churchill has agreed. However, you need to declare war on Germany and send troops to invade Germany before we can hand it over."

"Oh?" Molotov narrowed his eyes slightly and snorted coldly. "Are you kidding, Mr. Envoy? Declare war first? At that time, even if you go back on your word, there will be no room for redemption between us and Germany, and only you will benefit from it!"

Eden said hurriedly. "We can sign an agreement..."

Before he finished speaking, Molotov waved his hand to interrupt him. "Last time, I told Mr. Envoy very clearly that your country's credibility is unconvincing, and we must get actual benefits. IOUs like agreements are almost like farting."

Eden couldn't help but be a little annoyed. "Then how can we trust you? If we hand over the colony to you, and you don't declare war, or declare war but don't fight? Wouldn't we lose an important colony in vain?"

"..."That's right. Now neither side trusts the other's credibility.

How should this deal be carried out?

The negotiations could only be temporarily adjourned. Molotov reported to Stalin, and Stalin convened a high-level meeting to discuss the matter.

In fact, Stalin really lied to the British. So his original plan was to agree to the British first, and when the British handed India over to him, he could still use various excuses to drag it out.

After all, there is no need to be too honest with Britain. The British did a lot of bad things in the past.

But now it seems that the British are obviously not so easy to be fooled. They asked the Soviet Union to fight Germany to the death before handing over India. How could the Soviet Union agree to such conditions? But if they refused directly, it would be like throwing away the meat at their mouths, which is really a pity.

"Comrade Marshal Budyonny, tell me what you think." Stalin looked at Budyonny who was sitting on his left and said.

Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny was one of the five founding marshals of the Soviet Union. He had a military career of 70 years and participated in almost all major wars of the Soviet Union, including the two world wars, with outstanding military achievements. Zhukov, Timoshenko, Rokossovsky and other famous Soviet generals during World War II were once Budyonny's subordinates.

Budyonny made outstanding contributions in the Soviet-Russian Civil War, and his position naturally rose after the war. In just a few years, he was promoted from deputy commander of the North Caucasus Military District to the second in command of the People's Commissariat of Defense.

Budyonny was in charge of cavalry construction. While he worked hard, he also improved relevant military theories and made indelible contributions to the construction of the Soviet army.

However, people were not very fond of Budyonny. There was a "stain" that had a great impact.

During the turmoil in the 1930s, his wife Mikhailovna was suspected of "espionage". The notorious Yezhov ran to Budyonny to ask for someone. As the confidant of the supreme leader and a Soviet hero, he actually humbly sent his wife to Lubyanka in person.

You know, Mikhailovna was a famous singer and radiant. Such a weak woman was not released until Stalin's death. In contrast, Timoshenko's approach in similar situations is admirable: if he thinks someone should be saved, Timoshenko will personally plead with Stalin, without any ambiguity.

And now this marshal is not living very comfortably, and even a little trembling. Of the five marshals who were promoted with him (Voroshinov, Budyonny, Blucher, Yegorov, Tukhachevsky), he is now the only one left, which makes him worry that it will be his turn someday.