Chapter 813: Washington Political Conspiracy (Continued)

ps: There was a writing error yesterday. The prisoner was John Kennedy, the American president who was assassinated in history...

After talking for a whole afternoon, seeing that Roosevelt began to show signs of fatigue, Leahy and Hopkins immediately stood up and said goodbye.

Although they did not ask and Roosevelt did not say, as long-term confidants, they could still feel that the president's mentality had undergone some subtle changes, especially the sentence - "This is the biggest concession I have made", which shows that he has been considering the post-war layout of the United States and thinking deeply about the possibility of ending the war, and is even prepared to tolerate the existence of Central European hegemony because of political and military disadvantages - the president began to retreat from the position of pursuing American world hegemony and completely defeating Germany, and began to consolidate the vested interests of the United States.

To be honest, since the World War, although the United States has been defeated on the battlefield and has suffered great losses in personnel and materials, the benefits are still very considerable. Even if the armistice is carried out according to Germany's harsh conditions, the United States is still in a net profit situation. Just firmly grasping the four major dominions of Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in the British Empire is enough for the United States to enjoy a good meal for a while. In addition, with the infiltration of Brazil, it still maintains the hegemony of South America. If you have to say that what is lost is the Philippines, part of South America represented by Argentina, and part of the Far East interests, the benefits are still greater than the cost.

But it is not so easy to consolidate interests. The problem of South America and Argentina alone cannot be avoided. As senior politicians, they clearly know how many capitalists, consortiums and even the middle class are involved in the back garden of South America. The United Fruit Company alone has gathered a large number of vested interest groups. This is a logical process that has been continuously strengthened since the announcement of the Monroe Doctrine. It is also a scene that Roosevelt's uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, has worked hard to manage. How could the president lose it? Ordinary people may not care about what Argentina, thousands of miles away, has to do with them, but how could the chaebols and political elites who really control the US regime not care?

To solve the Argentine problem, Germany is a hurdle that cannot be bypassed. Germany is currently unwilling to give up Argentina and the Falkland Islands. Assuming that Germany ceases war in Europe as it wishes, it will be easier for Germany to deploy forces to South America without the constraints of Britain and the Soviet Union. After all, Germany is not much farther away from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic route to the Falkland Islands than the United States.

Even if the United States has advantages in shipbuilding capacity, industrial production capacity, and shipping capacity, Germany will not be too far behind in the future after gaining the power of the entire Europe. Li Hai silently estimated that if the United States and Germany ceased fighting in other war zones now, the two sides would only compete around Argentina and the Falkland Islands. The performance of the German army, which is in a first-mover advantage and defensive position, would not be worse than that of the United States. In addition, the German ground forces have always had a significant advantage. If they must fight, it will be a protracted war. What's more, the United States cannot concentrate all its forces to attack the Axis forces in South America. There is also Japan in the Pacific waiting for the United States. The public may not be interested in continuing the war with Germany, but Japan is clearly not one of them! - Does this villain who dared to attack Pearl Harbor want to escape the punishment of the United States without paying a price?

Another strategy is to ignore South America first and just start a war with Japan, and then take back South America after defeating Japan. But when he went back to communicate with Admiral Jin, the latter shook his head like a rattle, thinking that it was absolutely impossible. The reasons he cited for rebuttal left Li Hai speechless:

First, the Panama Canal is currently paralyzed. Although repair and dredging work has begun in full swing, it will not be restored until at least June 1945. During this year and a half, this road is completely unavailable. Materials, personnel, and ordinary equipment can be transported through inland railways. How can warships, especially aircraft carriers and battleships, be deployed in the two oceans without passing through Cape Horn in the short term? To pass through Cape Horn, they must pass through the control and deterrence circle of the Falkland Islands;

Second, given the current status of the Pacific Fleet, if they want to fight Japan, they must strengthen their strength. It is not possible to gain an advantage by transferring a few warships over there. At least the main force of the current Atlantic Fleet must be pulled over there - but if the United States refuses to aid Britain, why should Great Britain hand over its precious warships and personnel to the Americans? Even if we take a step back and say that we still get all the reinforcements from Britain's current strength, Admiral King would not dare to say that he can overwhelm Japan with the current strength of the Atlantic Fleet, and the new forces of the Royal Navy will definitely not join the US military after stopping aid to Britain;

Third, from Germany's attitude, we can know that after the US-German armistice, Germany will continue to interact with Japan. It is estimated that the Germans will abide by their promises and not make trouble by directly sending people and fleets to cooperate with Japan to confront the United States, but Germany will definitely send some aircraft, warships, tanks and strategic materials that Japan urgently needs, and it does not need to be aid like the United States. Japan has more sufficient means of payment. In this way, it will eventually become a war of attrition in which Germany provides equipment and Japan provides people to confront the United States. Li Hai believes that the United States will eventually win, but at what cost? How about time?

"So..." Admiral Jin said with a gloomy face, "Although I thought that the policy of Europe first and Asia first was not necessary before, with the deepening of cooperation between Japan and Germany, especially the joint fleet coming to the Western Hemisphere for coordination After the war, I believe that neither Germany nor Japan will give up this coordination easily - it is beneficial to both sides. As long as the top leaders of both sides are not bad, they will not give up. In addition, whether it was Europe first, Asia first, or Asia first, Europe first. When making the decision, Great Britain and Russia can still contain Germany. Now Germany has taken over Africa and the Middle East, blocked Britain, and made Russia retreat. Once we withdraw from Europe, Europe will immediately enter total darkness when Germany begins to integrate Europe. , by then we will not even have a foothold - no matter warships or commodities.

In short, Germany is currently the core of solving all problems. We are either fighting Germany in the Atlantic Ocean, fighting Germany in the Falkland Islands and Argentina, or fighting Germany and its agent Japan in the Far East and the Pacific. Easy. You can pretend that Germany does not exist, but whether you see it or not, Germany is there, neither far nor near! "

“How can we force Germany to give up supporting Argentina and Japan?”

"Either defeat him or make a big sacrifice."

"For example?"

"Leave South Africa unscathed to Germany in exchange for Argentina's interests...or give Australia and New Zealand to Japan so that Germany will fear the rise of Japanese power and give up joining forces with Japan."

Li Hai smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You know this is impossible."

Admiral Jin spread his hands: "That's right...Germany is a country that cannot succeed through bribery, otherwise the appeasement policy would not have failed. There are only two ways to make Germany's decisions conform to our interests. The first is It is difficult to defeat him militarily; secondly, it is even more difficult for us to exchange for greater third-party interests. Aiding Britain was originally a good card to restrain Germany, but now Germany is stuck. The throat of Great Britain, facing a dying Britain, Hitler is no longer afraid of this card. In the eyes of Germany, our aid to Britain is just to cause more trouble for them. If we do not capture the Azores, we will not eliminate it. The main force of the Axis Navy cannot change this situation."

"Is there no other way?"

"There is another one, but it is more difficult than the first two."

"Say." Li Hai did not give up the last glimmer of hope.

"First reach an overall peaceful arrangement with the Axis, and then we will rapidly develop our military strength. We will wait until the Panama Canal is restored to navigation and the domestic inland navy strength will be strong before we can go out to fight." Admiral Jin mused, "We need the United States to do a few things first. We will become a turtle at this age, become completely isolationist, and then break out again. This time, regardless of others, we will fight to the end once and for all!”

Li Hai thought for several minutes and shook his head slowly: "I find it difficult."

"I also think it's difficult." General Kim said angrily. "With a fucked-up political system like the United States, once it falls into isolationism, it will immediately reduce its armaments and reduce its military. A four-year presidential term will provide the United States with real long-term peace and stability and the world." Who would do it if he sacrificed his political achievements during his term? If he withdraws his head now, it is not a sign of resignation but resignation. At this point, it has to be said that the Japanese or German systems are more suitable for war. Hitler came to power 12 years ago. , has been unswervingly promoting armament reconstruction and armed construction for 12 years. Whether it is dictatorship, deception, inducement, or coercion, in short, all available means have been used. The goal of conquering the world has always been clear. And now standing in the center of the world - there is no luck behind success. The president has prepared for America to participate in this war for so long. I am afraid that a leader with such a forward-looking vision will never be seen again in the future. If his body can support it, I hope. It’s a pity that he can serve for another three terms..."

Li Hai also sighed: Although the United States was passively involved in the war after Pearl Harbor, after the outbreak of the European War, Roosevelt carried out in-depth and extensive war preparations-armaments research and development, army and navy expansion, Lend-Lease Act, and almost all Regarding the actual participation in the war, it was a pity that the Pearl Harbor incident interrupted the process. If the United States could delay its entry into the war for 2 years, the situation would never be the same.

After thinking for a long time, he revealed to General Jin the news that he and Hopkins were going to the hospital today to visit and release the intention of peace talks. The latter was stunned for a moment, then smiled meaningfully and said with a pun: "The temperature has dropped rapidly in the past few days, and I feel that there will be an ice and snow storm in Washington in the next few days."

"Yes, I need to find a warmer room to rest for a few days."

Just when Hopkins quietly released the news of the "peace talks" through his power and public opinion connections on Capitol Hill, the daring Joseph Kennedy had left Geneva and secretly visited Berlin. The person who received him was the head of the Third Reich, Hoffman himself.