U.S. Secretary of War Harry Woodlin, who had been sitting next to Marshall, suddenly broke his silence at this time, and while vigorously extinguishing the cigarette butt on the coffee table, he said in a deep voice: "Gentlemen, I have to solemnly remind you that the most important thing for us at present is to find out as soon as possible whether the Donghua Empire is still maintaining its war position against Britain and France!"

If Donghua still maintained a state of war with Britain and France, why did they sell a large amount of active weapons and equipment to Germany and Japan at a low price? Is there something implicit in this that is good for us? The Donghua Empire can inherit everything from the original Donghui Kingdom, or it can negate some things from the original Donghui Kingdom. This makes perfect sense at the level of international diplomacy and politics! ”

Roosevelt's face was gloomy and he said slowly: "Mr. Woodlin, doesn't the First Army of the East China Army land in Jakarta on July 12 and force the Dutch East India Fleet to surrender to East China?" ”

"Mr. President, it is a fact that the East China Army did not make a move against the British and French colonies in Southeast Asia, right?" Woodlin insisted on his opinion, and said in a rather serious tone: "If it were any other belligerent, they would certainly cooperate with the Japanese army in an all-out attack on the British and French colonies in Asia. And not in such a hurry to dispose of all the weapons and equipment of the Navy and Air Force to Germany and Japan. This does not correspond to the logic of war! ”

"Mr. President, in fact, it is not so much that the Dutch surrendered to Donghua, but that the Donghua Army took over Jakarta from the Japanese army without blood." "I think the reason why the Dutch chose to surrender to Donghua instead of Japan may have something to do with Cheng Gong's lease of Dutch New Guinea from the Romanov consortium in the first place," Marshall said. Because, now the whole world knows that the controller behind the Romanov consortium is Cheng Gong! ”

"The performance of the Japanese army in the Southeast Asian battlefield is much stronger than that of them in the Chinese battlefield." Secretary of the Navy Knox said worriedly: "I don't think it's because the British army is inferior to the Chinese army, but because the Japanese army has greatly increased its combat strength after obtaining a large number of advanced weapons and equipment."

Two Yamato-class aircraft carriers, built at the Japanese Kure Port Shipyard, have completed the construction of the main body and begun to inhabit the armor plate superstructure and armament. At the latest, the two Yamato-class aircraft carriers will be able to officially join the Japanese Navy. By then, the Japanese Navy will have six Yamato-class heavy aircraft carriers, which can form six aircraft carrier battle groups! This is already a serious threat to our Pacific Fleet! ”

"According to reliable information, Cheng Gong and Hirohito have reached a secret agreement." Old God Hoover whispered, "The Dutch simply don't have the strength to keep their colonies in Asia. Neither Donghua nor Japan could stop the attempt to carve up the Dutch East Indies. The island of Kalimantan came under Japanese control, and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi were all owned by Donghua.

Cheng Gong did not spend a single soldier to expand his sphere of influence into the Indian Ocean. If Donghua continued to maintain a state of war against the British, they could rely on Sumatra as a springboard to attack the Malay Peninsula, the Indochinese Peninsula, and even the Indian subcontinent. However, apart from sending the First Army of the Donghua Army to land and take control of Jakarta, Cheng Gong had no other military operations and arrangements. From this, I can infer that Cheng Gong intends to accept it when he sees it, and Donghua is actually already releasing a signal for peace talks to the UK! ”

"Chamberlain has stepped down, and there is no result of a new round of general elections in the United Kingdom." Secretary of State Hull said sarcastically: "As things stand, former British Admiralty Winston Churchill has the highest call for success in his bid for prime minister." With Churchill's usual attitude towards Cheng Gong, after he became the new prime minister of Britain, it was absolutely impossible for him to choose to end the war with Donghua. ”

"Not necessarily." Roosevelt slowly pushed the wheelchair behind the president's desk, and said with a calculated smile: "Churchill is a pragmatist guy, and I even suspect a little now that Churchill lobbied the British cabinet to sanction Cheng Gong, and it is very likely that he wanted to use Cheng Gong to oust Chamberlain from power." ”

"Bell bell bell ......"

Before Roosevelt's words could be heard, the phone on his desk suddenly rang.

At this time, the person who can make a direct phone call to the office of the President of the United States will definitely not be an ordinary person.

Roosevelt did not hesitate, directly picked up the microphone, and said in a slightly majestic tone: "Hello! I'm Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ”

"Hello, Mr. Roosevelt, I am Winston Lunders Spencer Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain!"

Churchill's voice was so loud that anyone close to his desk could hear it with the slightest attention.

Roosevelt put his palm on the microphone and said to Secretary of State Hull: "Check immediately to see if the British election has already been decided!" ”

After speaking, Roosevelt let go of his left palm and continued quietly into the microphone: "Mr. Churchill, I personally extend my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ”

At this time, a staff member came in from outside the president's office, holding a telegram in his hand, and handed it to Secretary of State Hull.

After reading the message, Hull looked at Roosevelt and nodded slightly, and said softly: "It's Churchill." ”

"Mr. Roosevelt, Britain is now in a state of war, so I will not go around in circles with you, I would like to ask Mr. President to intercede and end the state of war between Britain and East China through peace talks! Strive to pull Donghua into the camp of the Allies! ”

"What's the bottom line for the UK?" Roosevelt asked very dryly: "Mr. Churchill, with the character and means of Emperor Cheng Gong of Donghua, what cannot be obtained on the battlefield is estimated to be more difficult to obtain at the negotiating table." ”

"Keep it as it is!" Churchill seemed to have thought about it for a long time, and replied directly without hesitation: "As long as Cheng Gong promises not to intervene in the Southeast Asian battlefield, we can give up the interests of Oceania." ”

"Hehe, Your Excellency Prime Minister, I have seen the pragmatic style and sincerity of your government." Roosevelt smiled with satisfaction: "Although I am very reluctant to deal with Cheng Gong's cunning little fox, but for the benefit of the Allies, I can give it a try." ”

Churchill's pragmatic style forced Roosevelt to re-examine his attitude towards Cheng Gong.

After slowly putting down the phone, Roosevelt turned his eyes around the faces of Secretary of State Hull, FBI Director Hoover, US Army Chief of Staff Marshall, US Secretary of the Navy Knox, US Secretary of War Woodlin, and others, and said in a particularly solemn manner:

"Gentlemen, Churchill wants me to intervene as President of the United States to mediate the war between Britain and the East. The British were very pragmatic this time. I wonder if the United States should be more pragmatic than the British? Before I make a final decision, I want to hear your views. ”

"The United States needs Donghua's technology and capital!" Secretary Hull's position is very decisive.

"A pro-Donghua America is more in line with the interests of the American people!" Hoover was the second to make his point.

"The U.S. Navy should establish military exchanges and cooperation with the Donghua Navy!" Knox was quite straightforward.

"The Allies need East China to join in!" Woodlin said solemnly: "A new round of world war has broken out, whether the United States enters the war or not, if Donghua falls to the Axis camp, it will definitely be a disaster for the Allies!" ”

(To be continued.) )