Emery, the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, said: "As for the Burma Highway issue, I strongly oppose compromise with Japan. Compromise can only lead to new demands from the Japanese, just like Germany did in previous years. We are in a difficult situation.
The only thing we have to do is to make a brave gesture to the world and reject any threats!"
British Foreign Secretary Halifax also said: "I support Mr. Emery. I think Japan is just bluffing and the UK does not need to be too nervous. As long as China holds Japan back, they will not have enough troops to invade Southeast Asia. What we need to do is
, which means to provide China with certain help, rather than pushing China into the fascist camp."
Lord Chancellor Attlee continued: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, what we are engaged in is not a local war, nor a European war, but a world war. Any potential allies need to be won over, including China, the Soviet Union and the exiled government of Charles de Gaulle.
Indeed, it is unfavorable to start a war with Japan now, but what if we continue to compromise and China is annexed by Japan? I think it is not advisable to exchange the ease now for a worse situation in the future."
Everyone expressed their opinions one after another, and more than 80% of cabinet ministers supported the reopening of the Burma Road.
You know, Halifax was Chamberlain's designated successor as Prime Minister, and he has always advocated the appeasement policy of foreign compromise. But now even the appeasers want to be tough on Japan, which shows that the British gentlemen look down on Japan, let alone
How much of a threat could Japan pose to Britain?
The real compromiser against Japan happened to be the always tough Churchill. Without his insistence, Britain would not have closed the Burma Road.
Churchill appeased everyone and said: "Japan is a beast, just like Nazi Germany. Reopening the Burma Road will easily lead to Japanese attack. At that time, all the burden will fall on the shoulders of Britain, not where it should."
It rests on the shoulders of the United States. The United States has made it clear that it will not intervene in conflicts in Europe and Asia. We must delay time. Even if it delays China's surrender to Japan, as long as the United States is willing to participate in the war, there will be room for maneuver."
Emery, the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, immediately asked: "If China chooses to surrender, and the Japanese and Chinese armies attack the Far East colonies together, or even invade India, how will Britain face it?"
Churchill laughed and said: "The United States is more anxious than we are when China surrenders to Japan. To be irresponsible, I hope that China will surrender as soon as possible, and the United States will inevitably join the war early. I would rather give up India in exchange for the entry of the United States!"
Attlee was so angry that he slammed the table: "We cannot place all our hopes on the United States. Victory must be won by ourselves!"
Halifax also said: "First of all, Your Excellency, if you follow your strategy, even if Britain wins the war, it will lose its international reputation and status. At that time, Southeast Asia will belong to the United States, and India will also belong to the United States.
, you are a sinner of the British Empire!"
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Butler added: "According to secret cables from the special envoy visiting China, Japan has slowed down its offensive against China, and the German ambassador to China is also actively lobbying Chinese officials in Chongqing. The diplomatic situation is very unfavorable to us, and China is likely to be
We really want to surrender. In addition, according to a secret message from Mr. Clegg, the Ambassador to Japan, the Japanese cabinet is already revising the so-called "Co-Prosperity in Greater East Asia" policy. Their latest formulation is "Co-Prosperity in Greater Asia" and even includes West Asia.
Once Japan penetrates India and invades West Asia, our colonies in the Middle East and North Africa will be attacked by Italy and Japan."
Attlee said: "The Burma Highway must be reopened immediately to prevent China from falling into the arms of Japan!"
Churchill said against all opinions: "Gentlemen, I think there is no need to make a decision too early. The United States also has a mission to visit China. We can wait and see what their measures are. Britain cannot save the world independently now."
As time went by, Churchill's speech in the cabinet became more and more tough. It is hard to imagine that he was coerced by the diplomatic department to sue for peace with Italy just two months ago.
Seeing that the cabinet officials were still opposed, Churchill gave another two-hour speech, constantly talking about Britain's difficult situation, successfully shifting everyone's attention to homeland security, and the topic of the Far East was dropped.
That night, Zhou Hexuan took Ma Jue to Churchill's house for a dinner.
The Prime Minister’s wife Clementina cooked herself and served some traditional British delicacies, as well as some American dishes. Well, the Prime Minister’s wife lived in the United States for two years and lived with a handsome young man. Churchill chose this
Forgive.
Churchill was not at a loss either. He had a mistress six months ago, but he broke off contact after he became prime minister. After all, reputation and career were more important, and he didn't have that much energy to take care of women. It wasn't until the war eased that Churchill paid to take his mistress back.
The mistress married away to the United States and her life was not satisfactory.
Churchill's children have all grown up and have their own lives and careers, so they do not live in Downing Street. Today's dinner is just for the four of them.
Clementina took the initiative to chat with Ma Jue: "I heard that Miss Ma has a PhD from the London School of Economics. That's really amazing. They rarely have female PhDs."
Ma Jue smiled and said: "Thank you for the compliment. I just study hard and am not too smart. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, is the one with great wisdom."
Clementina smiled and said: "He has no talent, only perseverance that others do not have."
Zhou Hexuan said: "What Britain lacks most now is perseverance, so Mr. Churchill became Prime Minister. This is the right choice for the British people. The same is true for China. We are far behind Japan in terms of military, economy and technology. Only
The perseverance has sustained me until now.”
Churchill frowned and said: "Zhou, today we only talk about literature and art."
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "Of course, I won't spoil the fun."
Clementina eased the atmosphere and said: "When Winnie (Churchill) was young, he thought that when he was a writer, you should have many common topics."
Churchill said with a smile: "I still retain my dream of being a writer. Maybe after the war is over, I will put down all my duties and write a great work."
"Then I wish you the Nobel Prize for Literature." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
Churchill said happily: "No one can say for sure. Maybe we will win the prize."
To be honest, Churchill's literary skills are very strong, but he later won the Nobel Prize for Literature. I am afraid that his social value is higher than his literary value. Apart from Churchill, who has seen historical books win the Nobel Prize for Literature?
At the dinner table, everyone was chatting about literature, as if the shadow of the world war did not exist at all.
After the dinner, Clementina took Ma Jue to chat, while Churchill and Zhou Hexuan entered the study.
Throwing a cigar over, Churchill lit a match and asked: "Zhou, when do you think the United States will be able to enter the war?"
Zhou Hexuan said: "When Japan is fully expanding to the Pacific region."
Churchill said: "If Japan does not expand the war, will the United States never participate in the war?"
Zhou Hexuan said: "Roosevelt must convince members of Congress."
"That's difficult," Churchill said.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "We can help."
"How can I help?" Churchill asked.
Zhou Hexuan said: "For example, print a map in the name of the German government. In that map, all of South America and Central America are Germany's territory, while all of Asia and the Pacific are Japan's territory, and Italy eats Africa.
,Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.”
Churchill clapped his hands and said: "When the time comes, find another American newspaper to publish this map and publicize it. Although it may not fool American politicians, the reaction of the American people will definitely be interesting."
