Aiden said coldly, "What do you mean? Declaring war on France or the war of independence? Should you declare war on the United Kingdom? ”

Hopkins almost didn't come back in one breath, and after thinking about it, he felt that there was no need to be as knowledgeable as Aiden, so he said with a smile: "However, Mr. Prime Minister's proposal to send a fleet to occupy the French colonies in the Western Hemisphere, we agreed, and the government of the United States agreed to the government of Charles de Gaulle to take over these places, and also agreed to provide arms, materials, and equipment for arming the Free France." Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"With regard to the establishment of a Jewish state, the President believes that the German conspiracy cannot be allowed to succeed, and that the Jewish groups in contact with Germany do not represent Jewish organizations, but we still insist that the Jews must establish a state in Palestine, and that Germany must return the property of the German Jews and compensate for the damages." "That's what the Balfour Declaration is about, can you agree with that?" Hopkins asked. ”

"I think I can agree." Churchill immediately chimed in.

Aiden sighed: "I also think it's acceptable, but the Jewish people have to pay the Arabs to buy land." ”

"I think that's okay." "The third problem is that the U.S. Army Airlines wants to get 200-300 experienced pilots in the Royal Air Force, especially fighter pilots. ”

"This would greatly weaken our defenses." Aiden glanced at Churchill, "But I don't understand the military issue, so let's ask His Excellency the Prime Minister to decide, right?" ”

Churchill didn't directly say whether it was good or bad, but only asked people to make a phone call to the Air Force, and the reply was that the Royal Air Force agreed to transfer 200 people, but hoped that the United States could support an additional 500 P-51s, to which Hopkins hurriedly agreed, 500 P-51s are less than half a month's current production, and there is nothing to be reluctant to. However, Churchill immediately said that due to the recent heavy losses of escort carriers, he hoped to get another 8-10 ships as soon as possible.

This time it was Hopkins' turn to frown, and after thinking about it, he said: "Although the current production progress of escort aircraft carriers is much higher than before, there is still a period of time before large-scale launching, and this number may be a little difficult......

Due to the existence of the Azores base and the German surface ship forces have mastered the sea control of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, the German anti-submarine forces in the Atlantic Ocean have risen very quickly, coupled with the collapse of super secrets, the current output of British and American escort aircraft carriers has increased a lot compared with the same period in history, but the losses have increased more, the early escort aircraft carriers, including the Long Island class, Sangamon class, etc., have all been lost, and the most mass-produced Borg class has so far produced a total of nearly 50 ships, and the remaining number is less than 15 ships, In addition to the remaining 9 ships in the direction of Australia and the Pacific Ocean, only 5 ships remain in the Atlantic area, and the first batch of Casablanca-class escort aircraft carriers began to be commissioned in early June, and by the end of July, a total of less than 12 ships were put into service, but four more were sunk.

Admiral King's Admiralty has calculated that while escort carriers are being built at a rapid pace -- the average time taken to build the larger Casablanca class is less than 180 days, their life span is even shorter -- less than 140 days, forcing the Navy Commission to further accelerate the pace of construction. The original number of construction units for the Casablanca class was 50, with an additional 75 ships planned. Equipping the ships with equipment, aircraft, and personnel alone will cost billions of dollars. However, judging from the current war damage, there is a vague fear within the Navy that another 100 ships may be added by 1944, and the Admiralty does not dare to report this plan to the Congress.

"If 8-10 ships are in difficulty, how many can you squeeze out?" Aiden added, "There is a very urgent need for supplies in China right now......

"Maybe 3-4." Hopkins didn't get the relevant authorization before leaving, but now he didn't want to show his timidity, so he had to grit his teeth and say, "In order to support the Pacific theater, half a month ago, we transferred 1 light aircraft carrier and 2 escort aircraft carriers to maintain supplies in the Pacific Ocean, and the front line of Australia and New Zealand is also very important. In addition, the president said that the Royal Navy could get another fleet aircraft carrier this year. ”

"Essex-class?" Aiden doesn't want to fool people with the independence class.

"Yes, Essex!" Hopkins looked pained, but gave an affirmative answer.

The frowning brows of the British top brass finally relaxed: by the end of this year, Britain and the United States expect to have 8-10 aircraft carriers in the Atlantic waters, and can finally establish a military superiority over the German and Italian navies, but it still seems that there is no solution in the Pacific direction. Hopkins vaguely responded to the British request for the United States to provide support to India.

Early the next morning, the two men, who were very worried, immediately returned to Washington and reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for talks: General Arnold was overjoyed to hear the news that Britain had agreed to support 200 pilots, and 500 P-51s were not a big deal, and when it came to 3-4 escort carriers, Admiral King couldn't help but speak out against it, but President Roosevelt expressed his approval. But when it came time to report on the last topic, the atmosphere suddenly became eerie.

Donovan called Hoover and asked him to control the scene, and all unrelated personnel were cleared, and even the adjutants, including Marshall, Admiral King and other high-ranking officials, were also cleared out.

"What's the matter, suspicion that we have spies around us?" Marshall had long been angry about the recent series of small moves made by the FBI in the civilian and military circles, but he did not dare to say it in front of Roosevelt, so he could only use such an occasion to knock it.

"Worse than a spy, Admiral ......" Donovan explained the situation in a few words, "...... In short, this is the case, and Prime Minister Churchill is ready to use force as a last resort. ”

"What?" All the congregations were stunned, and Marshall muttered, "70% against him?" How bad has the situation in Britain become? ”

"He's going to learn from Cromwell?" Admiral Kim sneered, "Joke, don't look in the mirror, just his fat face, as much as one ten-thousandth of Cromwell?" ”

Shi Tingsheng frowned: "Even if we do it, it is impossible to purge 70% of the top management, that is not consolidating his power, it is subverting the country." ”

"You don't have to kill them all, his goal is to kill about 20 leaders of the two parties, and then find a way to get rid of the Duke of Windsor, which can basically control the scene."

"It's not easy." Marshall sighed, "We have troops stationed in the four Dominions of South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, once this precedent is set, what will other allies think of us in the future?" They will think that we offered it and that Winston is nothing more than our puppet! ”

Roosevelt felt a storm in his heart, but his face seemed to be very calm, and he thought for a long time and said, "Can changing people solve the problem?" ”

"You can change people, but you can't solve the problem." Hull filtered through the top brass of the two parties in Britain one by one, "As far as I have come into contact with, there are many figures who can serve as political leaders in Great Britain, but there are very few politicians like Winston who resolutely fight to the end and unswervingly pursue the line of Anglo-American cooperation. ”

"If Great Britain withdraws from the war, will the United States be able to win on its own?" Roosevelt first turned his attention to Admiral King.

"If the four Dominions can still be with us, I think we can win." Admiral King thought for a moment and came to the conclusion that "the withdrawal of the British mainland from the war means that we will no longer have to provide support to them, and we will not have to devote more energy in the direction of the Azores, we can devote all our attention to the Far East, and those resources will be used all for the war against Japan." The logic of victory would turn out to be this: we would first take out Japan, take over all of East Asia and the Pacific, and then join forces with the Soviet Union and launch an all-out counteroffensive using the vast manpower and land forces of China and Russia, plus our navy. Of course, that would take a lot longer, and I expect you to have to run for two more presidential cycles in 1948-1950. ”

Marshall argued: "If Britain were to withdraw from the war, the people would probably demand that we punish and destroy Japan, but they might no longer support us for hostility against Germany." Our strategic policy will change to eliminate Japan and control the Pacific, confront Germany across the Atlantic, and perhaps another world war in 20 years' time: it will be a decisive battle between the European and African blocs led by Germany and the Americas and Asian blocs led by us; There is also the possibility that there will be no fight - for example, the appearance of weapons of destruction! ”

"Is it necessary to make peace with Germany in exchange for Germany giving up its support for Japan?" Stingson made a suggestion, "You can stabilize them for the time being." ”

"Germany may accept, but it will not really abandon the Axis alliance, for example, it will continue to export weapons, materials and technology, Germany needs Japan to hold us back, buy time for them to integrate Europe and digest Africa and the Middle East."

Someone outside sent the new telegram in, Hull sighed after reading it, and said helplessly: "The Chongqing authorities rejected the request to send additional troops to India, but agreed to our contact with the Chinese communist regime, and at the same time put forward a proposal, since the Chinese communists have repeatedly expressed a lack of materials and equipment, and also expressed a strong desire to resist Japan, he suggested that the Chinese communists send 3-5 divisions to India to be armed by us; We were in contact with the CCP's foreign liaison representatives in Chongqing, who expressed no objection to sending some troops to fight in India, but demanded that the British government commit to giving independence to the Indian people, and that Hong Kong be returned unequivocally. ”。

"In addition, the CCP proposed that if he sent troops, he would request an independent political status and be managed separately from the army of the Chongqing authorities, and at the same time asked us to provide security guarantees and promised that after the CCP troops were put into India, the Chongqing authorities could not exert military pressure on the CCP, and at the same time the economic blockade of the Yan'an area must be lifted......"

"In the end, they pointed out that they could send about 30,000 men, no more, and if they contributed to the Allied cause, they hoped to form a coalition government and accommodate the CCP after the war, and promote the process of democratization in China......" (To be continued. )