"The Palvaliso has just arrived in Quincy and is docked at the docks of the Fore River Shipyard." The greenery of the White House is devoid of the tension of Europe, but the leaders of the United States are still watching every move in Europe, especially at this time, when the Germans do not seem to want them to be too calm.

"What do you think the Germans are up to?" President Woodrow? Wilson asked everyone in his office.

"The Germans said that in view of the increasingly tense environment in Europe, Germany could no longer afford to continue the construction of the Parvaleso, and in order to maintain Germany's credibility and the cooperation between the United States and Germany, it was decided to have the Parvaliso complete the follow-up work at the Fore River shipyard and then hand it over to the Chilean Navy." Secretary of State William? Jennis? Brian said, then quickly added: "Obviously this is just a human scene, and the Germans are definitely not happy to do so." ”

Wilson raised an eyebrow and then made a "continue" gesture, and Brian continued: "First of all, there is a stealing concept in this passage, the Fore River shipyard only has a commercial relationship with the Germans to undertake the Chilean Navy battleship order, but the Germans claim that it is a cooperative relationship between the United States and Germany, which is really misleading, and makes people think that there is political cooperation between us and them.

Secondly, the Parvaleso has actually been basically built, her main guns and turret are installed in place, she has undergone 2 sea trials, and is able to cross the Atlantic on her own, in fact, at this time she has no problem even if she goes directly to Chile, the Chileans themselves can handle the rest of the construction work, if there is really any equipment, the Chileans can provide it without us, but the Germans let the battleship drive directly to us. ”

"The Germans want to pull us into the water?" Wilson asked, albeit in question. But this tone is very certain.

"I think so, Your Excellency." Navy Secretary Josephus on the side? "Now that Germany has declared war on Russia and France, and Colonel House has visited Europe as a special envoy, we all know what an ignominious role the British play behind this war, and the Germans will not fail to understand this," Daniels said. The only countries on Germany's side now are Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and the Kingdom of Slovenia, and Germany needs someone who can help them contain the British. At least to distract the British. ”

"So they chose us?" Wilson's tone was somewhat unpleasant, and it didn't feel good to be calculated.

"It can only be us, Your Excellency, because in the Atlantic, now only our Navy can put pressure on the British." Daniels's tone was full of pride, and he was not at all angry at being calculated by the Germans, because the strength of the U.S. Navy was recognized by the German Royal Navy, which was the second largest in the world? Or is it because of its own strength that it is already able to put pressure on the British Royal Navy, which is the number one in the world? Or both?

"And that's not all, Your Excellency." Brian added: "The Germans are still making a big fuss about it, and they are using the British to seize the Greek naval warships. Compare that to what they did for the Greek Navy's Navarino and the Chilean Navy's Parvaleso. And then deliberately guided, and then the image of the whole German country in the media is honest and trustworthy.

Their emperor was the first and only European leader to visit our country, and we had a large number of German citizens, and perhaps the French would still have a good impression among our people, but to the British and Russians, a large number of people wished they would have been beaten by the Germans.

Moreover, the trade cooperation between Germany and China for a long time has allowed them to have very good relations with many enterprises in China. BMW, for example, has occupied more than half of China's automobile market for a long time. They have a very good reputation, and the companies they work with are very willing to speak for the Germans. In addition, the farmers in the central part of the country were clearly inclined towards the Germans. ”

"I think it's because the war in Europe has affected the export of their agricultural products to the Germans." Wilson said angrily that he knew that the domestic capitalists had milk and were mothers.

"I'm afraid it's going to get even worse." Daniels went on to add wrinkles to the president's forehead: "If Britain ends up going to war, then the problems we face will be much more serious. Britain could have completely cut off Germany's ocean-going trade by virtue of its geographical location and the strength of the Royal Navy, and even if we wanted to export supplies to Germany through neutral countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, etc., it would probably be very difficult, and the Royal Navy would intercept and inspect all ships trying to enter the North Sea, and if they found out that they were transporting strategic goods. Then the ships will be detained. ”

"Then we will have to sell our supplies to the Entente, and then the capitalists will switch to supporting their new business partners." "It's another way to force us to take sides," Brian said. ”

"So I would have liked the Royal Navy to be beaten up by the Germans." Daniels was a little annoyed: "If the Royal Navy suffers heavy losses, what dare they have to intercept and inspect merchant ships flying the flag of the United States?" ”

"I'm glad to see this war come to fruition, gentlemen, no matter what the mad Europeans do. None of them could refuse our supplies, and we would be able to make huge profits from exporting them to either the Allies or the Entente, and help us solve our current problem of overproduction. Wilson said that such a statement lightened the faces of everyone in the office.

However, Wilson changed his words: "But just doing business does not maximize our interests, the United States should bear a heavier responsibility in the international community, we should have a greater voice, and this war is an opportunity, which is why we should be more cautious." ”

The United States has always aspired to have more weight in the international community, but under the suppression of the old European powers, the United States is still just an upstart, an emerging country with money but no power, which is not in line with the national strength of the United States, and now an opportunity to make the United States a significant member of the world is in front of us, and Wilson has no reason not to seize it.

"Even if Britain entered the war, the outcome of the war was uncertain, and although the Allies were far less powerful than the Allies, the war might not last long, at least for now, as Europeans judge. Then the Germans had a clear advantage over the Entente in terms of military equipment, tactical system and decision-making and command. Wilson continued: "It is not in our interest if the war does end soon, so it is not a bad thing that the Allies will be able to last longer by providing them with supplies only." Of course, if the Germans had a way to get the supplies back, we wouldn't have to refuse.

The longer the war lasts, the weaker the power of those Europeans will be, the more they will need the power of the United States, and the more we will have a say. ”

Wilson's calculations were good, and the situation in the European theater of history did develop according to his expectations, but he still miscalculated the shamelessness of the European powers. In the face of a defeat with the Germans, Britain and France could not wipe off the face of their old imperialist powers, and at the Versailles Peace Conference, Wilson, who thought he was a mediator in Europe, dug a big hole. As the victorious power, the United States made almost no political and diplomatic achievements at the Versailles Peace Conference, and its international standing barely improved.

"So we can't take a stand right now." Burian understood what the president meant: "Until the war situation in Europe becomes clear, we must remain neutral." ”

"According to the president, it seems more advantageous to be on the side of the Allies." Daniels joked: "If the Germans can really defeat Russia and France on land, we can join the Allies." We now have 8 dreadnoughts in service, the New York-class of super-dreadnoughts is about to be completed, the Nevada-class and the Pennsylvania-class are under construction, and when these ships are completed and put into service, together with the German Navy, there may not be no chance of defeating the British, so that we will become a truly significant force in the Atlantic.

But if Britain, France, and Russia end up winning because Germany is unable to support it, then our role will be small. And we did not get along well with our allies in the Pacific, where the strength of the Pacific Fleet did not correspond to the tasks it was supposed to undertake. ”

"The Japanese Kongo-class battlecruisers are making you sleep, aren't they?" Wilson smiled and said, "But I actually care more about the Philippines than the Japanese threat." If we get the Philippines, then convincing Congress to strengthen the Pacific Fleet is also a logical thing to do, isn't it? And wouldn't it be better for us and the Germans to join forces to defeat the Royal Navy and let them die together? ”

"Your Excellency, do we need to intervene now to quell the propaganda of the Germans against our population by borrowing the media?" After all, Brian asked, if this propaganda continued, and the American citizens were overwhelmingly in favor of Germany, it would be more difficult for the government to bet on the side of the Entente.

"If the Germans want to glorify themselves, let them go, we are a country of freedom." Wilson said with a smile: "But speech that is unfavorable to the Entente must be controlled, and I don't want to be accused by the people of doing business with 'warmongers' and 'hypocrites' or anything like that." ”

"Yes, Your Excellency." Brian nodded, "Now we just need to hope that this war will last as long as possible." (To be continued.) )