Unlike John's previous life, in the thirties and forties of the twentieth century, most Americans had a more positive view of China. Although most of them regard this ancient oriental country as a place of ignorance, backwardness, and xenophobia. But there is a market for its long history, ancient and mysterious art culture in the United States. Otherwise, Pearl Sai, Lin Yutang, and Mei Lanfang would not be so popular.

Especially in recent years, as Japan, which was the first to integrate into Western society, has become more and more insatiable and has begun to threaten the security and interests of the United States, the public's favorability towards China has increased considerably. Sympathy and support for China against Japan have gradually become mainstream.

However, this does not mean that the United States has begun to see China as an ally or partner. John remembers hearing a friend who has studied Asia say at a banquet: "In the eyes of most Americans, China is like a circus dwarf clown." You don't want to be friends with him, but that doesn't stop you from standing by with pity and enjoying his antics and then offering polite applause and a little bounty for psychological pleasure and moral satisfaction. ”

This sentence sounds a bit harsh, but it is very to the point. This is clearly reflected in the materials that China acquired through the Lend-Lease Act.

Although as early as May this year, the US Congress announced that the Lend-Lease Act would apply to China. However, the vast majority of the $45.1 million in supplies delivered so far are transportation equipment, construction equipment and medicines. The $120 million in arms that China strongly demanded has not only been approved for less than $50 million, but has remained on paper so far.

Clearly, the authorities in Washington still treat China as a wretched creature who has been bullied by its neighbors and has come to beg for help. They could "generously" provide the poor man with his clothes, food, and medicine, but would never lend their guns to the other party, lest they set themselves on fire and irritate the neighbor, who was getting worse and worse-tempered.

So, when Roosevelt said he wanted to do something for the citizens of Chongqing, who were being bombed by the Japanese army, Hopkins' first reaction was: "I think we can help them with a group of British family bomb shelters." ”

"Good idea, Harry." Roosevelt nodded and said, "It shouldn't be difficult to produce, John?" ”

"I'm afraid it's useless, Mr. President." "Chongqing is different from London, where residents rarely have enough space in their homes to bury bomb shelters. ”

"That's right. Chongqing is a mountain city, and it is crowded with people who have fled from the war zone. Many people don't even have a house, so they can only live in simple shacks, and there is no courtyard for them to bury bomb shelters. John's view was supported by Davis.

"John, what do you think should be done? Do you leave those poor people alone? Hopkins asked rhetorically.

"I think that first of all, we should find a way to prevent the Japanese from carrying out long-term fatigue bombing of Chongqing so unscrupulously." John gets straight to the point of the problem. He knew that this was exactly what Roosevelt and Hopkins had been deliberately avoiding, but he didn't care. Whether as an army officer or as Hughes's aircraft boss, he had good enough reasons to do so.

"That's harder, John." After a moment's hesitation, Hopkins spoke first, "You know, whether it's planes or anti-aircraft guns, it's in short supply right now. The last stock of the army had already been given to Stalin. ”

"That's right. And a significant part of that shipment was originally planned to be allocated to China. John unceremoniously debunked the truth. I think this matter will not be hidden for long, and the Chinese will soon find out. It is impossible for us to cancel the original aid program on the grounds that it is really out of stock, and at the same time quickly announce that we are sending large quantities of arms to the Soviet Union. ”

Hopkins also sighed, "In fact, Mr. Song (Song Ziwen) of China has already lodged a euphemistic protest. He presented a memorandum this morning urging us to fulfil as soon as possible the commitments we made in June this year. I'm having a headache how to reply to him. ”

With that, he removed a document from the room's safe and handed it to Roosevelt. Roosevelt glanced at it and said no more.

According to the agreement reached between the White House and the government of the Republic of China, the United States would deliver 350 fighter planes, 150 fighter planes, 720 37mm anti-tank guns, 600 75mm howitzers, 120 M3 light tanks, 100 3-inch large-caliber anti-aircraft guns, and 1,400 50mm small-caliber anti-aircraft guns to China by the end of 1941. But two months have passed, and the American side has delivered only 44 75mm howitzers and 100 50mm anti-aircraft guns.

After a moment of silence, John spoke again, "If we always only give China non-offensive assistance and delay in providing materials that can deliver a substantial blow to Japan, this will give the Chinese the illusion that we are only using them to eliminate the Japanese threat to ourselves, as well as to Britain and Russia." This is contrary to our original intention of bringing China into the scope of the Lend-Lease Act. ”

"More importantly, this period may be the last time we can provide arms aid to China. Mr. President, I think it is clear to all of you that since we started imposing an embargo and economic sanctions on Japan, the Japanese really have only two paths to go. If the negotiations between Secretary Hull and the Japanese envoy are successful, it will certainly be the best. But if the negotiations break down, they will inevitably send troops south to grab the oil, rubber and other war resources there. At that time, the land and sea routes between us and China will be temporarily cut off, and they will no longer be able to provide them with any material support for a long time. ”

John began to get agitated as he spoke; "We can imagine how the Chinese government will react then. Will they, who lack a sense of trust in us because they did not receive arms aid as agreed, be willing to help us contain the Japanese? If they want, do they have the ability to do so when they lack war supplies? Once the main force of hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops in China moves south, will the Indochina Peninsula and the Philippines be able to hold on? ”

Roosevelt took off his glasses, wiped them with a piece of deerskin, and put them back on. "I approved the transfer of the arms to Moscow. The situation of the Russians is critical, and they urgently need these things. The Chinese and the Japanese have been fighting for several years, and the generals of the army told me that the current stalemate is to continue. But what you just said does make sense, John, and it is time to speed up arms aid to China. ”

After speaking, he turned his head to Hopkins and said, "Harry, you go and contact the War Department and ask them to implement the arms aid agreement with the Chinese government as soon as possible." At the very least, a batch of fighters and anti-aircraft guns will be supplied to the Chongqing side first. ”

"Okay. But ......," Hopkins said hesitantly. He knew in his heart that the transfer of this batch of arms and materials to the Soviet Union was actually his idea to Roosevelt. Having seen and heard in London and Moscow, he naturally saw the Germans as the main threat, and subconsciously put aid to Britain and the Soviet Union at the forefront. As for China, which he has never been to, of course, he can only be ranked last.

Roosevelt's words just now were tantamount to taking the mistakes he had made before on himself. In this case, he should not say anything more. However, after hesitation, he couldn't help but remind Roosevelt: "Will this stimulate the Japanese and affect Secretary of State Hull's negotiations?" ”

John had been prepared for Hopkins' concerns. In fact, he is familiar with the current situation of military production in the United States, and he never thought of waiting in line for goods at the beginning, and intercepting the British Hucai is his first choice. "This is easy to solve. Last month we just delivered a shipment of arms to General Parwasir (British Lieutenant General and Commander-in-Chief of Malaya) in Singapore. I remember that there were 120 aircraft and 200 50mm caliber anti-aircraft guns. We can ask the British to give this batch of supplies to China first, and then we will replenish them. ”

"That's a good idea!" John's point was immediately grasped by Hopkins, "This would allow Chinese to get aid earlier, and at the same time avoid irritating the Japanese." Even if they have doubts, we can push it on the British. I think the British will be willing to help with this. ”

"Very well, Harry, write it down. I will personally communicate this with Prime Minister Churchill later. Roosevelt put an end to the affair with satisfaction. It was getting late, and Morgenthau (Secretary of the Treasury) had an appointment with me at four o'clock. Harry, thank you for the afternoon tea. Edgar, your report is interesting. And you, John, did a good job. We'll talk about it when we have time. ”