"You want to make peace with Germany alone?" Churchill's face sank suddenly. "Mr. Prime Minister, do you understand what that means? France will lose its empire as much as Germany did in 1919! ”

"In fact, what the Germans wanted was a European community, a community that could eliminate European wars forever, and the French overseas empire, the colonies of Belgium and the Netherlands, and the original colonies of the Germans, would become peripheral members of the European Community......"

"What?" Churchill looked at Renault, "You have already started secret negotiations with Germany?" ”

Paul. Renault shook his head and said, "There is no such thing as secret negotiations...... In fact, the Germans made the peace talks public. They submitted a request to the League of Nations for mediation and also put forward public terms for peace. ”

"When?" Churchill's eyes widened, "How did I not know?" ”

"This morning, just over 1 hour ago." Paul. "It was the French representative to the League of Nations who called me and said it," Reynaud said. ”

It turned out that Churchill was on the plane when the German representative asked for the mediation of the League of Nations, so he did not know.

"What conditions did they offer?"

"The first is the abrogation of all unequal treaties resulting from the First World War, including the Treaties of Versailles, Saint-Germain, Trianon, Sèvres and Lausanne......"

"This, this, this ......" Churchill was stunned and stunned before finally exclaiming: "This is a trap, a very despicable trap!" We must not fall for Germany...... Those treaties were not unequal treaties, but treaties that were binding and in accordance with the principles of international law, recognized by the whole world, and could not be abrogated in any way. ”

"International law?" Paul. Renault smiled wryly and said, "Are these treaties made because of international law?" Could it be the decision of the International Tribunal in The Hague? Mr. Prime Minister, those treaties were the result of a world war, and now we are defeated......"

Churchill shook his head, "No, we haven't beaten yet!" But if we agree to abolish those treaties, then our two countries are really going to fail! ”

Paul. Renault just shook his head, France had already failed, and it was a complete defeat, with or without these treaties it was the same. Could France, which had been occupied by Paris, still use the Treaty of Versailles to sanction Germany?

Churchill seemed to see through Paul. Renault's thoughts, he said in a solemn tone: "The key is not the Treaty of Versailles, but the Treaties of Saint-Germain, Trianon, Sèvres and Lausanne...... These treaties, which dismembered the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, were the cornerstone of the international order in Central Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, and if they were all abolished, Yugoslavia would be dismembered, Greater Hungary would reappear, Romania would lose Transylvania, and Turkey would regain de jure sovereignty over the Arab region of the Middle East! ”

British privileges in Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, and French privileges in Syria, were based on the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne (which were later repealed and replaced by the more lenient Treaty of Lausanne).

And once these two treaties were abrogated, the British and French colonial rule in the Middle East would lose its legitimacy. At the same time, the Turks, who had lost their empire to the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne, would have become more pro-German, pushing Turkey, which had been willing to remain neutral, toward Germany. Once Turkey falls to Germany, several oil-producing countries in the Middle East will inevitably become vassals of Germany, and the problem of oil supply, the biggest bottleneck of the German war machine, will be completely solved.

In addition, the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Trianon were used to dismantle the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is certainly impossible for Austria-Hungary to be restored now, but once these two treaties are abrogated, Greater Hungary can be restored de jure terms. Both Croatia and Slovenia, dissatisfied with the rule of the Serbs, could take the opportunity to withdraw from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia would then form a federation with Hungary, and Slovenia would probably join the German Empire (Slovenia was the crown territory of Austria). Pro-British Romania would lose its northern barrier, the mountains of Transylvania, leaving its hinterland completely exposed to the tracks of German armored forces, and Romania would have to submit to Germany.

At that time, Germany's sphere of influence will extend from Central Europe, the Transnational Balkans, to Iraq and Iran, and even India! With the resources of the Middle East and the Balkans, Germany had the means to maintain the economic prosperity of the European Community, and Britain's attempt to use the blockade to impoverish Europe and shake German rule was completely frustrated.

On the way to the Martignon Palace, Churchill talked all the way, finally convincing Chancellor Reynaud that there was no way out of a compromise with Germany. The only way to save France was to merge with Britain and then force German rule in Europe to collapse with a long blockade and air raids.

After much talking, Chancellor Reynaud seemed to change his mind and promised that as long as he became prime minister, he would not let France make peace with Germany alone. But when the two arrived at the panicked Palazzo Martingnon, an unexpected piece of bad news made Paul . Renault's spirit was in a state of collapse.

"Mr. Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Italy has given us an ultimatum!" A secretary of the Prime Minister's Office who looked like he was about to cry out said to Paul. "The Italians demanded that we evacuate Iceland and the Faroe Islands within 24 hours and return them to Denmark...... Otherwise Italy will declare war on us! ”

"What? Iceland and the Faroe Islands? But it wasn't occupied by us...... "Paul. Renault turned his head and looked at Winston with a look of complaint and pleading. Churchill.

Churchill shook his head and said, "The Italians must have given the same ultimatum to Britain, but the British Empire will not give in to Italy!" ”

……

Of course, the British prime minister could not have feared Italy's ultimatum and refused to give up Iceland and the Faroe Islands - in fact, even if Britain had returned them to Denmark, Mussolini would have found other reasons to declare war.

But for the desperate French cabinet members, Italy's declaration of war was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the British "indifference" was chilling. As a result, Renault's proposal for the merger of Britain and France was unanimously opposed by the cabinet members.

In the view of the vast majority of the French ministers, it would be better to merge with Britain than to merge with Germany in the present situation. Merger with Germany would save the lives of at least millions of French people, and thanks to the mighty German Empire, France would be able to retain most of its colonies and continue to live in prosperity and comfort. And merging with Britain would drain the French of their last drop of blood!

Marshal Pétain, the Deputy Prime Minister, directly blamed Britain at the meeting, saying: "The reason why we in France have fallen to this point is entirely because of Britain!" The British have been our enemies for centuries, spending a lot of money on the continent to prop up proxies who can fight France, and Prussia is in fact the thugs they have raised. Even if we completely abandon the dream of dominating Europe after the dream of Emperor Napoleon was shattered, Britain still does not forget to contain us. The rise of Prussia and the rapid revival of the German Empire after the last world war were the result of British nurturing and connivance. Now that Germany is so strong that it is difficult to contain it, they want to use an Anglo-French confederation to keep us as cheap cannon fodder for them. If we agree to a union, it will be simply the stupidest government in the world, and there is nothing more stupid. ”

"Marshal, what shall we do then?" Completely overwhelmed Paul. Renault asked, "Is it necessary to surrender to the Germans?" ”

"The fighting must cease and a decent peace with Germany must be sought, as is between soldiers and soldiers." Marshal Pétain said, "The power to choose can also be given to the French people, if necessary." Let them choose between merging with the United Kingdom, joining the European Community, and taking all the blame for the defeat. ”

"Then can we hand over the fleet to the British?" Paul. Renault then asked Petain. On the way to the Martingnon Palace, Churchill also talked to him about the question of a separate peace "as a last resort": if France could hand over its fleet to Britain, Britain would agree to France's separate peace.

"Of course not!" Marshal Petain did not hesitate to refuse, "The fleet is our greatest bargaining chip, and the Germans will give good conditions for the class 'Richelieu' and 'Dunkirk'." And, if we gave the fleet to the British, the British would use them to blockade France, to leave the French hungry and impoverished, and this was the means by which they used to defeat Germany. Would our people agree to win the war for Britain at the cost of starvation? ”

Pétain's words convinced most of the cabinet members. In fact, everyone knows in their hearts that the French navy plus the Italian navy will change the balance of naval power between Britain and Germany. This is decisive for the outcome of the world war, and why should France not use this trump card well?

"Moreover, we are not at peace with Germany alone," Petain continued, "but by the mediation of the League of Nations...... This is absolutely in accordance with international law, and how can we, France, as permanent members of the League of Nations, not accept the mediation of the League of Nations? If the League of Nations ruled that the Treaties of Versailles, Saint-Germain, Trianon, Sèvres and Lausanne were contrary to public international law, France should naturally abide by the League of Nations' ruling, and this would not be a defeat, but a decent peace. (To be continued.) )