After Chiang Kai-shek and his wife left, Roosevelt took a teacup and drank it. \\。 Qb(5).cOM\\ water, calming down the waves in his heart, the biggest surprise he received from this Cairo meeting was the strong self-confidence shown by China.

They were anxious to change the world's perception, so they raised the banner of national independence, which would attract the attention of all colonial and semi-colonial nations in the next ten years, and make them the center of the world's attention: they did not hesitate to propose to regain the lost territory of the past, to liquidate Japan, and to completely crush this feud.

Roosevelt had a strong feeling that after the war, China would express its views more strongly, and it was likely that there would be sharp contradictions with Britain and France in Southeast Asia and Indochina. As China's economic power rises, its deep historical heritage will allow him to regain control of East and Southeast Asia in a very short period of time.

"What is Mr. President thinking?"

Roosevelt looked up to see that Hopkins was already seated across from him, staring at him with a teacup. Roosevelt smiled and said lightly: "I think about Prime Minister Churchill again." ”

Hopkins shook his head slightly, as an old friend of Roosevelt, he knew what the other party was thinking, and a faint smile appeared on his thin face: "Do you know what I was thinking just now?" Under the pyramid, I am reminded of Napoleon's quote "China is a sleeping lion, and when it wakes up, the whole world will tremble for it; Now the lion has woken up, and even though he has just woken up, the world has heard his voice. ”

"Mr. Churchill probably wouldn't agree with that," Roosevelt pushed the wheelchair, and Hopkins was about to stand up Roosevelt waved his hand to stop moving, and Roosevelt said as he pushed: "Do you think we should spare a few hours to hear what the Burmese or the Indians want?" ”

Hopkins understood that Roosevelt wanted to give Burma and India a chance, but he had some concerns, and in Roosevelt's planned strategy, Britain was an important ally of the United States, not only in this war but also in the aftermath. Although Roosevelt did not reveal his post-war global strategy, Hopkins was already vaguely aware that in Roosevelt's post-war global strategy, the main partner in Europe was Britain, and the main partner in Asia was China.

"I think it is okay, in the last ten years, the independence of the colonies of Southeast Asian countries will be blown around the world, Mr. Chiang Kai-shek is right, the national independence movement will be vigorous, and Britain will become the enemy of the public if it does not change its position, and it will be exhausted."

Roosevelt looked at the dazzling sunlight outside the door, and nodded slightly after a long time: "Does Harry's Burma battlefield need to be adjusted?" ”

There is a reason for this, after the offensive focus is on the Chinese mainland, the allied ** team in Burma will be transferred to defense, Stilwell will have nothing to do, but in the future, Burma will still concentrate 200,000 Chinese expeditionary forces and more than 100,000 British ** teams, the Chinese will definitely not be willing to hand over the army to the British, and the British will not accept the command of the Chinese generals, which determines that only the American generals can serve as the commander-in-chief, but in such a world war, the general will stay in the corner where there is no war?

Hopkins thought for a moment and said, "Let's ask General Marshall about this, if Stilwell is transferred there?" Who to send to take over? These two issues must be addressed. ”

"yes, it's nerve-wracking." Roosevelt sighed and said no more.

Roosevelt still did not make up his mind whether to accept the demands of the Burmese delegates at the summit of the three countries and to find time to discuss the colonial question.

Now the European battlefield is at a critical juncture, in last year's Battle of Stalingrad, the German army suffered a heavy defeat, after rectification and supplementation, Hitler launched another offensive in the spring of this year, in March to conquer the Soviet Russian town of Kharkiv, eliminated the Soviet Fifth Army, now the two sides are engaged in a fierce battle in Kursk, the Soviet army has successfully contained the German offensive, is turning into a counteroffensive.

In the south, Mussolini's rule in Italy was crumbling when the Anglo-American allies, who had won the North African campaign, landed on the Italian island of Sicily on July 10, taking the first steps toward a return to Europe.

"Harry, you go and talk to Prime Minister Churchill, and I think we can take a few minutes to hear what the representative of Myanmar has to say."

Hopkins did not hesitate, put down his teacup and stood up, the result of Roosevelt's deliberation and foresight, and the United States had to respond to the fact that after this war, the movement for colonial independence would flourish.

Churchill was a little annoyed by the news brought by Hopkins, but he did not object, regardless of the current dependence of the British Empire on the United States, even if it was voted at the meeting, two votes from China and the United States would be enough to bring the Burmese representative into the meeting.

"What is left of the British Empire after this war?" Churchill seemed to be talking to himself as much as asking.

The British delegation lived in the villa of the British ambassador Casey, a beautiful place surrounded by woods, where many Egyptian nobles and wealthy people built their own houses.

Now Egypt is nominally an independent country, Fajik I rules the country, but the main state affairs are under the control of Britain, including the army and diplomacy, which belongs to the ...... of semi-colonial countries, Foreign Secretary Aiden feels Churchill's chagrin, in fact, from the beginning of the conference to the present, the situation of Britain has not been very good, Roosevelt is quiet, Chiang Kai-shek is aggressive, and they are all cutting off a few pieces of meat on this behemoth that never sets the sun.

"Tradition, tradition of the British Empire." Churchill turned to face Aiden, his voice firm and powerful.

"The summit is likely to adopt a statement on the colonies, Prime Minister, and we have to take note of that." Aiden reminded.

"We can allow Myanmar to become independent, but this can only be read between us and Myanmar after the war, not now, this is our bottom line." Churchill's attitude was very resolute.

Aiden nodded in agreement, this opening cannot be opened, otherwise, the chalk movement of independence in India, the Middle East and other places can no longer be suppressed, and the war is not over, and the British Empire's domination in the world will collapse.

At the summit meeting the next day, the three heads of state agreed to have the Burmese representatives read out their requests at the meeting, and after the decision was adopted, the Burmese representatives, who had been waiting outside, were brought into the meeting.

The two Burmese representatives were Dechin Party leader U Nu and Ne Win U Nu as prime minister of the newly formed independent government of Myanmar as foreign minister. It was the first time for Wu Nu to stand in front of so many heads of state, and he was a little excited and a little nervous. He was well aware of the importance of this speech to their cause.

"Thank you to President Roosevelt, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek, Prime Minister Churchill, for giving us time to expound our voice at this meeting on behalf of the Burmese people", U Nu wore a Burmese national costume, but he spoke in English, he spoke very slowly, but his attitude was very solemn: "The Burmese people have always yearned for national freedom and national independence, I ** oppose any aggression and war, fascist Xin Yi trampled on all the goodness and justice in the international and human world, so we chose to stand on the side of the allies in this war, Support the just cause of the allies. But the people of Myanmar have been deeply hurt by decades of colonization, and we want independence, we want national freedom, we want national independence in this war, and we will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal ......... "......"

In just a few minutes, U Nu recounted the decades-long efforts of the Burmese people to seek national freedom, expressed unwavering and unhesitating support for the allies in their quest for independence, and concluded: "We are encouraged by the attention paid to the aspirations of the colonial people in the Atlantic Charter issued by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. We believe that there is justice and justice in the world! We are here to ask for your understanding and support, and no matter what the outcome is, it will not change our belief in the pursuit of national independence, and we firmly believe that Myanmar will eventually gain independence and freedom! ”

After U Nu finished speaking, the meeting room was cold for a few minutes, Churchill was expressionless, Chiang Kai-shek was somewhat relieved, Roosevelt smiled incomprehensibly, and then said: "Mr. U Nu, Mr. Ne Win, I think we have clearly understood the efforts of the Burmese people on the road to national independence, as we expressed in the Atlantic Charter, we respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government they wish to live in; It is hoped that a nation that has been robbed of its sovereignty and autonomy by force will regain its sovereignty and self-government. Hearing this, Wu Nu and Ne Win's faces showed joy, and Churchill's face sank to the ground. Roosevelt then changed his words: "However, we also hope that you can understand us, our priority now is to defeat fascism, this force is very powerful, it has been raging in the world for a long time, we must concentrate all our forces to stop and destroy them." So, I hope you can be a little more patient......"

Before he came, Chiang Kai-shek had already told them that it might be difficult to gain independence immediately, and Wu Nu was prepared. Despite his disappointment, he replied without humility or arrogance: "We can understand this, but we hope that Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency the Prime Minister, will hear the voices of the people of the small countries of Southeast Asia, who have been waiting in despair for decades, not to let their hopes turn into despair." "Mr. U Nu, Ne Win ...... first" Churchill did not call them in the provisional government, Britain and the United States have not yet recognized the interim government of Burma, Churchill erupted a puff of smoke, and said with pride: "Today we have made clear your request, we also give you time, we know the situation in Burma, now there is a government in Burma, the Japanese-backed Ba Mo government, is there any connection between your interim government and Ba Mo?" I remember that he seemed to be a member of the Dechin Party as well......"

This Bhamo government was propped up by the Japanese after the occupation of Burma, but this government had almost no power, and the political, diplomatic, and military affairs were all controlled by the Japanese.

"The people of Burma oppose aggression and oppose fascism...... U Nu replied unequivocally: "All governments that cooperate with the Japanese do not have the support of the Burmese people!" I have come here to prove that the Burmese people will follow the allies and do their best to defeat the fascists. Churchill suddenly proposed the Bamo conquest, so that Chiang Kai-shek was worried about an accident, so he hurriedly opened. "Prime Minister U Nu, Minister Ne Win, I think your wishes have been implemented, we are well aware of the hopes of the people of Myanmar, and I am confident that this meeting will respond to the call of Myanmar ......"

Wu Nu and Ne Wen understood that although the two of them were unwilling, they were helpless, and the fate of weak and small countries was like this, in the hands of a strong and powerful country. China, the United States, and Britain are about to discuss the fate of Burma, but as the masters of Burma, they are not qualified to participate in this meeting.

After Unu and Ne Win left, Roosevelt slowly spoke: "Mr. Chairman, Mr. Prime Minister, I think that at this conference, which is destined to affect the world, we should discuss how to face the voices of the colonial and semi-colonial peoples, and at the same time implement the ideas set forth in the Atlantic Charter. Chiang Kai-shek immediately expressed his support: "......The movement for the independence of the colonial nations will be the main problem after the war, and if it is not solved well, the post-war world will remain turbulent." Churchill was bitter in his heart, but the two agreed that Britain was and will be heavily dependent on the United States, and he had to say: "I agree, but I think that what is being discussed now should be an intentional thing, not a specific content, and the specific situation should be placed after the war, and we now have no time or energy to deal with the independence of the colonial nations, which is a very complicated issue......

"Mr. Prime Minister, my old friend, I very much agree with you." Roosevelt did not insist, but smiled mildly.

Aiden's heart was sad, he looked around the room, the huge ceiling fan rotated vigorously, creating a stream of hot air, everyone's faces were with a relaxed smile, and at the round table, the heads of the three kingdoms were gentle, calm, smiling, and warm; But in this gentle, without the slightest sword light and without the slightest murderous aura, the history of the Empire on which the sun never sets is over, and as the largest colonial power on the planet, it has to sign its name under this statement that it is destined to collapse the empire.

The British Empire had fallen, and Churchill's gaze was somewhat moist. This empire that once led the world, this empire that once abandoned the industrial revolution, his fleet once ran rampant in all corners of the world, his cannons once destroyed one regime after another, and the world order he established once ruled the world for a hundred years, but now, under the impact of the once conquered lands and peoples, round after round, he has divided and collapsed.

Where is the British Empire headed? Churchill had to begin to think that the only way to save the remnants of imperial pride was to rely on imperial traditions, on the perseverance of the British people, yes, yes, this was the only thing on which the British Empire could rest.

Looking at Chiang Kai-shek's satisfied smile, Churchill's heart swelled up with anger for no reason, his bright head glowed with pride, and the elegant woman next to him, whom he called yesterday, had a hypocritical smile on his face, that poor and weak country, which had become a world power overnight, could talk about how to divide the world in the club of great powers, and trampled the pride of the Anglo-Ukson people under his feet.

Heaven is unfair! Aiden lamented in his heart, the British Empire, the glory is no more!

When Churchill signed the papers, a phrase welled up in his heart: an era is over!

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