Because the comfort of the aircraft in this era cannot be compared with that of later generations, when the plane landed at the military airport in Washington, Andrei felt that he was finally liberated, and the plane of this era was not so comfortable as that of later generations. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Ambassador of the USSR to the United States Maxim. Litvinov hurried to the airport to greet the delegation, and after warmly shaking hands with everyone, Litvinov guided Molotov to the side of a limousine and personally opened the door for him. After Molotov got into the car, he followed.

Andrei and Khrulev, the head of the General Logistics Department of the Red Army, another big figure in the delegation, sat in a car in the back, and when they saw Litvinov, they couldn't help but ask Khrulev curiously: "Comrade Minister, how long has this Comrade Litvinov been ambassador to the United States?" ”

Khrulev pondered for a moment and replied: "After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, Comrade Stalin appointed Litvinov as the representative of foreign affairs, as well as the ambassador of the USSR to the United States. In 1942, after he became ambassador, he signed the Lend-Lease Treaty with the United States, and he was needed to assist us in our work when we were talking about military aid with the United States. ”

After listening to Khrulev's introduction to Litvinov, Andrei remembered the veteran of the three Soviet dynasties, the chairman of the Council of Ministers, Anastas? Ivanovich? Mikoyan's memoirs in his later years, "Litvinov was a smart and shrewd diplomat, and Stalin treated him well, of course, only before certain times." However, Molotov could not tolerate Litvinov at all, and when Stalin praised the latter, Molotov was jealous of him, and managed to get rid of Litvinov at the end of the thirties, although Litvinov was still able to do a lot of work for the state and the party. Molotov also did not like Chicherin. It was he who persuaded Stalin to get rid of Chicherin. And Stalin himself was not happy with Chicherin either. Unfortunately, this person's knowledge and experience are not fully utilized. He could have been, for example, a deputy minister for foreign affairs or an adviser to the minister. But he stayed in Kolyazmo's villa, playing the piano, and died early of depression and idleness. But after all, it is a good death. Litvinov's fate is even more tragic......"

This last sentence alerted me. What does "an even more tragic fate" mean? Because, according to the official version, he fell ill and died in his villa. At this time, Mikoyan continued: "Actually, when he was going to sign with Hitler, it was already decided to replace Litvinov. He was a Jew, and such a man who embodied our country's struggle against Hitler's Germany in the League of Nations, and in the international arena as a whole, it was clearly no longer appropriate to assume the post of People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. But he can continue to serve as Deputy People's Commissar. His experience can still be put to use. But Vyacheslav? Mikhailovich? Molotov tried every means to get him dismissed completely. Molotov knew nothing about international affairs, so he did not want to be surrounded by someone more experienced and familiar than he was. As a result, before the fall of 1941, Litvinov was dismissed. Only when our situation was very bad, when Stalin was struggling to get every straw, he decided to use Litvinov's experience and send him to Washington as an ambassador. Litvinov did a lot of useful work there. It can be said that he saved us in a moment of crisis, and won the extension of the Lend-Lease Act to the Soviet Union, raising a billion dollars. Now it's easy to say that the Lend-Lease Act doesn't make much sense. But in the autumn of 1941 we had already lost everything, and we really don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for Lend-Lease, without weapons, food, winter clothing for the army, and other equipment. So, here is the credit of Litvinov ...

It can be seen from this that Molotov is indeed narrow-minded! Andrei glanced at the driver in the front row, approached Khrulev, and asked in a low voice: "Do you think our results this time will meet expectations?" ”

"I don't think there's a problem." Khrulev said confidently: "Although you are responsible for communicating with the US side on specific military issues this time to discuss the opening of the second battlefield, Comrade Molotov has already laid the groundwork for you politically. As early as last year, when he met with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House, he held talks on the occasional opening of a second battlefield. At the meeting, he said: "The question of the second battlefield is both a military and a political issue, but it is primarily a political issue. 'Through negotiations. The two sides have also signed an agreement on the second battlefield, so this time you just need to communicate with the US side militarily. ”

Andre looked at the high-rise buildings on both sides of the street, and the crowd of people coming and going on the street, I had to say that the United States was already very developed at this time, and it was still a peaceful scene far from the battlefield, Andre looked at the prosperity outside and asked: "Where are we going, is it the embassy in the United States?" ”

Khrulev looked out the window. Then he shook his head and said: "I have been to Washington once before, and from the route, it doesn't look like going to the embassy, but it is a bit like the road to the White House." ”

Going to the White House, Khrulev's words did not come to an expectation for Andrei. He thought he would have to rest for at least one day before going to see Roosevelt the next day, but he didn't expect to get off the plane and go straight to the White House. But I still asked strangely: "Comrade Minister, if you really want to meet President Roosevelt, why is there no American representative at the airport?" In the capacity of Comrade Molotov, at least Secretary of State Hull needs to receive him. ”

Khrulev, apparently experienced, said lightly: "Comrade Yakov. Don't worry, according to my analysis, the US side does not want too many people to know about our visit, so the people who welcome us will wait at the door of the White House, and there may not only be Hull, but even Hopkins. ”

I thought that Khrulev was just guessing, but I didn't expect that when our motorcade arrived at the door, outside the White House, we were really received by Hull and Hopkins.

A few minutes later, when the delegation and Roosevelt sat around the same round table in the White House conference room. Andre also felt that he was fortunate to meet Roosevelt, the second of the Big Three. And he didn't know that Roosevelt was also very curious about him after knowing the list of delegations, the defender of Mamayev Hill, or a member of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs.

There were quite a few people sitting around the round table. In addition to President Roosevelt, Secretaries of State Hull, and Hopkins, there were Secretary of War Stimson and Chief of Staff General Marshall. And on our side, there are only Molotov, Khrulev and Andrey, as well as translators from the American side.

"Mr. President, first of all. I would like to express my gratitude to you and your country for your long-term support in the fight against the German fascist aggressors, and to hand over to you the letter of Comrade Stalin. Molotov first stood up politely, walked up to Roosevelt, and handed Roosevelt Stalin's handwritten letter.

Andrei looked at Molotov's opening is diplomatic rhetoric and acceptance, diplomacy is like this, no matter what, you must have a demeanor.

Roosevelt took the letter, flipped it in his hand, put it on the table without looking at it, and then said to Molotov with a smile: "Mr. Molotov, I think the most important concern in Generalissimo Stalin's letter is when and where we open up a second battlefield, right?" ”

To Roosevelt's question, Molotov replied in the affirmative: "Yes, Mr. President." If Britain and the United States can open a second battlefield as soon as possible, we will be able to defeat the Germans and end the war as soon as possible. ”

"Mr. Molotov, you have said before that opening up a second battlefield is a military issue," Roosevelt asked, leaning back on the back of his wheelchair and raising his eyebrows slightly, "Is it you who are here to discuss this issue with us on behalf of the Soviet military?" ”

"Mr. President," Molotov said politely, "the person in charge of negotiating with the military of your country this time was personally chosen by Comrade Stalin. After speaking, he pointed his finger at me and introduced Roosevelt, "This is Lieutenant General Yakov, and he will be fully responsible for discussing the second battlefield with your military." ”

Roosevelt's gaze followed the direction of Molotov's finger to Andrei, and when he met Andrei's gaze, he smiled slightly, and a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes. Then he said in a calm tone: "Mr. Molotov, I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?" ”

"Mr. President, please speak." Molotov said politely.

"It's a time of war, and some things can't be taken as they are in peacetime." Roosevelt said unhurriedly: "I know that you have come this time with a special mission, and in order to achieve the purpose of your mission as soon as possible, I propose to conduct decentralized negotiations to improve the efficiency of each other." ”

"Negotiate separately?" After Molotov heard Roosevelt say this, he couldn't help but glance back at Andrei and Khrulev, and then turned his head to the other party: "I don't know how to talk about it?" ”

Roosevelt kept a smile on his face and said: "You have come for the purpose of normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries, and you can talk to Secretary of State Mr. Hull about this; General Khrulev, on the other hand, came for the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act, which was the responsibility of the Minister of War, Mr. Stimson; As for the opening of the second battlefield, General Yakov and General Marshall will be invited to the war hall to discuss in detail. I don't know what you think? ”

So Andre followed Marshall out of the conference room and prepared to go to the war room in the war room. At this time, the Pentagon has not yet been put into use, so Andrei has no chance to appreciate it, and Marshall did not speak on the way, after all, the Soviet general in front of him is not a pure soldier, he is also a member of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs, because the Ministry of Internal Affairs also has intelligence functions, so Marshall is very careful, after all, anyone who is engaged in intelligence has to be careful.

In this way, there was no word all the way, the two of them came to the office, and as soon as Andrei entered, he first saw a soldier there who was not wearing a military cap and had a bare head, he turned around, his eyes were full of provocation, it was him, Andrei immediately remembered who this was, Patton, the person who quarreled with General Katukov of the Soviet Union at the drinking party. A real military man, but hardcore anti-Soviet!