There is an old Chinese saying that "a hundred years can be repaired in the same boat, and a thousand years can be repaired to sleep together". From this point of view, John and Halifax are really close to each other. The two people who met for the first time were unexpectedly able to chat. In just a few minutes from the Augusta to the Prince of Wales, John and Halifax had established an initial friendship. It's just a nod in the head, but it's a good start.

Before boarding the "Prince of Wales", Halifax also kindly pointed out this American "young man" who was on a diplomatic mission for the first time. It was suggested that he should meet Ambassador Wynant before going to meet Churchill.

Halifax's original intention was for John to find himself a "nanny". When I met with Churchill for a while, there was a veteran diplomat on my side to help him make up for some minor mistakes.

For this suggestion from Halifax, John would naturally be kind and gladly accepted. It was not that Ambassador Wynant could help him "embolden" him when he met Churchill, and it was not the first time he and Churchill had met. But because of this suggestion, it happened to help him solve a big problem. Before leaving, Hopkins intended to explain that the incident he had reminded Churchill could be left to Wynant. I believe that the ambassador to the United Kingdom will find a suitable channel for conveying information.

Boarding the "Prince of Wales", John and his party were first warmly greeted by the captain, Colonel Richie.

"Hello, Viscount Halifax, Colonel Vanderbilt!" Colonel Ritchie gave a palm-outward British military salute, "Your Excellency Prime Minister has received the message and is waiting for you in your cabin." My quartermaster will take you to him. ”

"Long time no see, Captain Richie." Halifax apparently knew Richie, "I'm going to see the Prime Minister right now." This Colonel Vanderbilt has something to do with Ambassador Wynant, and I would like you to send someone to bring him there. ”

"Yes, Viscount Halifax. Colonel, please follow me. After a brief pleasantries, Richie handed John over to a handsome brown bearded officer on duty. John followed him across the deck, through the dimly lit corridors, to Ambassador Wynant's bedchamber.

"Hello, Colonel Vanderbilt. Is there anything I can help me with? Unlike the average foreign envoy (the U.S. ambassador to a developed country is generally used by the president to reward "sponsors," that is, the so-called social elites who contribute more money and effort to the campaign), Wynant is a career diplomat who has risen through the diplomatic service. After John explained his intentions, his modest attitude of taking the initiative to ask for advice immediately made Wynant have a good impression of him.

"No problem, Colonel." Wynant readily agreed to John's request, "That's my duty. ”

"That's great." With that, John handed Wynant, in his briefcase, the agenda that Hopkins had drawn up, "This is the final agenda, do you need to pay attention to it when I meet with Prime Minister Churchill for a while?" ”

Wynant pulled his eyes out of his jacket pocket, "You just follow the plan, there's no need to be nervous." By the way, how's Hopkins doing? Things were not going well when he left the UK, and Mr. Prime Minister and I were worried about whether he would be able to make it to the country. ”

"It's much better now. I don't know how you are doing, Mr. Prime Minister, but I heard that your voyage this time was not easy. ”

"That's right, there was a storm on the first night of departure. Those old destroyers couldn't keep up their speed at all, so we had to go in a zigzag pattern alone. Later, a whole fleet of German submarines was encountered and had to make a long detour. Wynant is still haunted by what happened to them on the road, "but Mr. Prime Minister is in a good mood." Along the way, he won me at least £10 at the table. ”

"That's God forbid!" Crossing the Atlantic without air cover and sea escort, John could see on his toes how much Churchill had taken on his trip. "I suppose that when you return, every German submarine will be ready to meet you. Maybe we should talk to the president about that. ”

"That's right. However, I am afraid that the British side will not take the initiative to speak, and it is better for us to take the initiative to raise this issue ourselves. Wynant approved John's proposal, "Let's go, don't let Mr. Prime Minister wait." He had been looking forward to his first meeting with Mr. President for a long time. ”

Wynant returned the agenda to John, and was about to take him to Churchill, but found John standing there unmoved, and could not help asking, "Why, do you have anything else?" ”

"Well, there's a tricky little problem. I'd like you to help me with an idea. With that, John told Wynant about the little task that Hopkins had given him.

"Hahaha, there is such a thing." Listening to John's account, Wynant smiled unkindly.

It turned out that Churchill, who had always regarded Roosevelt as a lifesaver, accidentally slapped the horse's fart on the horse's foot. Before leaving, the "former navy" sent Roosevelt an impassioned telegram. In the telegram, Churchill described in flowery rhetoric his anticipation and excitement for the first meeting between the two sides. But Churchill forgot that he and Roosevelt had met many years earlier.

It was at a social dinner in Paris, France, just after the end of World War I, when the two men had a brief exchange. It's just that at that time, Churchill, who was both Secretary of War and Secretary of the Air Force, was the focus of the audience, and Roosevelt was just an ordinary American official with little reputation. Churchill had apparently forgotten the chance encounter.

Although this matter is not a big deal, and it is impossible for Roosevelt to care about such a small problem, he still feels uncomfortable in his heart. In a private chat, he talked to Hopkins about it, apparently unhappy with Churchill's "forgetfulness".

Hopkins was worried that Churchill would bring up the topic of the "first meeting" again when he met with Roosevelt, which would affect the atmosphere of the talks, so he hoped that John would remind Churchill privately through his own channels.

John took on the task, but was not sure if he would find the right time to communicate the matter with Churchill. After all, such a humiliating thing obviously could not be said in public, and this time he only stayed on the "Prince of Wales" for an hour or two. Wynant is different, as Churchill's "card friend", he can find an opportunity to remind Churchill before today's welcome dinner.

"I'll leave this matter to me." Wynant smiled and took on the task for John, "Maybe I can take the opportunity to get Mr. Prime Minister to forgive my £10 debt." ”