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Chapter 1694 National Strategy (Ask for a monthly pass!) ）

United States, White House. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Roosevelt was reading a book in the garden when he heard footsteps, looked up and saw that it was Secretary of State Hull, smiled at him and nodded, and asked, "Has Congress passed the bill?"

Hull replied with a serious face: "Yes, several bills submitted by the State Department have all passed, and I have instructed Wells to formally summon the Japanese ambassador and announce to them the solemn position of our US government...... However, can Japan really be forced to withdraw from its British colonies simply by abrogating the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, freezing Japan's shipbuilding programs in the United States, and banning the trafficking of scrap steel to Japan? ”

"Kodel, we're just doing what we're supposed to do. Last month we repealed the Arms Embargo and started selling weapons to belligerents, and while the 'buy and ship' clause was still retained, it cannot be denied that this is a positive sign! ”

Roosevelt looked at his old friend, who was leaning on his right and left hands, pointed to the rattan chair next to him, and motioned for him to sit down:

"The people of America don't want to go to war, and that's all we can do right now. Alas, I don't know when the Japanese began to become cunning, and even used all the funds borrowed from our country, except for the order of warships, to buy production lines and machinery and equipment for military production, and now their assets left in the United States are less than 10 million, and the move of freezing assets will not be of much use to them, but will stimulate them to do stupid things. The United States is not ready now, and this step must be saved for the moment of truth. ”

"But...... Dear Benjamin Franklin, since we made concessions on the Lan-India issue a year ago, Japan has obtained the oil they coveted, and together with the oil and steel of the Soviet Far East, Japan now has a relatively complete war system, and I have to admit that Japan has now become the most important enemy of the United States! ”

Hull sat down on a wicker chair next to Roosevelt and asked worriedly, "My Mr. President, you say that we are now at war and can we stop the expansion of the Japanese army?" ”

Roosevelt put the book on his lap and shook his head: "Japan has chosen a good time to expand...... It's hard to believe that the Japanese are on the verge of reaching the door, but last month's amendment to the Arms Embargo was passed by only a narrow majority, and any bill proposed by the government that could lead to the involvement of the United States in the war has sparked strong public protests and led to the fragmentation of the country's major political forces...... Dear Kodel, as long as I am given two years, as long as two years, once all the production lines in all the factories in the United States are up and all the men and women are in the factories, I am confident that I will suppress the ambitions of the Japanese by all means, but not now...... The defense program of the United States has not yet had time to be launched, and it is not yet capable of becoming an arsenal of the democratic camp......"

After a pause, Roosevelt's expression became extremely solemn: "Last night I was with Secretary of War Harry. Woodlin, Secretary of the Navy Charles. Edison, Chief of Army Staff General Marshall, and Chief of Naval Operations William Murphy. Admiral Leahy had a small meeting. At present, the situation in our country is not optimistic, with an army of only 110,000 men, and a navy ship that has to carry out neutral patrols from the East Port of Maine to the Panama Canal -- at least not to allow German submarines to disturb the peace of American waters, so we cannot move the fleet to the Pacific Ocean.

"Looking at our opponents again, because Japan has completely received the navy of the Dutch, and has also salvaged and repaired the warships sunk by the Soviets in the ports of Vladivostok and Petropaplovsk, plus they have used the merchant ships ordered from our country to carry out the transformation of warships, and now in the Pacific Ocean, the number of Japanese warships is actually superior to ours, which is quite a helpless change.

"That's why, Harry. Woodlin and Charles. Both Edison ministers were resolutely opposed to getting involved in the war at this time, and they believed that the best strategy at present was to ensure the security of the line from Hawaii to Australia, so that the United States could stay out of the situation and make every effort to recover and develop the economy.

"Our Secretary of the Navy told me that even if the pace of construction is accelerated, it will not be until at least the middle of next year, when all the warships under the Second Vincennes Act will be completed, and then we will be able to increase the number of warships to a relatively safe ratio...... What is particularly unbearable is that the current army may not even be able to compare with the army of the Chinese government in Nanjing, let alone the German and Japanese armies.

"General Marshall told me that the Army is in a very bad situation right now, that of the nine infantry divisions that exist in the imagination, only the first, second and third divisions have divisional shelves, the other six infantry divisions are only understaffed brigades, and the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions, each with only 1,200 men in peacetime, and it is difficult to estimate their value even by the standards of twenty years ago. Moreover, now our infantry is generally armed with the Model 1903 Springfield rifle, although we have developed better 81 mm and 60 mm mortars, but due to financial problems, the infantry continues to use the inaccurate 76 mm Stokes mortars made during the last European war, and the 50 mm machine gun is still the basic anti-tank weapon of the division, so far all units are armed with only one 37 mm gun, and the most basic field gun is still 75 mm artillery, Although it is also planned to replace the 75mm gun with a more versatile and advanced 105mm howitzer, this is only a long-term plan and not for the near future.

"The army is ineffective, and now there is a 'strange war' going on in Europe, pacifist and isolationist sentiments are rife in the country, and the people say that even Britain and France, which are directly facing the threat, are not in a hurry, so why should we be allowed to shed blood and die? The expansion plan is far away......"

Hull frowned: "As the soul of the Navy and Army, how can Harry and Charles say that?" Also, didn't General Marshall have a targeted plan? Could it be that their army and navy are ready to abandon the Philippines? ”

Marshall was a man of practical work, and although the issue of military spending and establishment had not been resolved until now, he nevertheless formulated a detailed army development plan, prepared a plan for the purchase of 6,000 warplanes, the purchase of enough supplies to equip the initial covering force of 730,000 men, and the rapid increase in personnel to bring the five infantry divisions to full strength in peacetime. In addition, General Marshall is seizing the time to train 200,000 National Guards so that, if needed, they can provide at least eighteen divisions of partially trained basic military cadres. Just last month, Marshall asked the War Planning Department to conduct a preliminary study on the issue of 'war in Europe and the steps that the president should take when adopting a policy of preparing for war'. ”

Speaking of this, Roosevelt had some helplessness in his eyes: "On the contrary, the two ministers, the peaceful and isolationist sentiments are too serious, I want to observe them for a while, if they can't show a positive side during this period, I am ready to change the generals, no matter what, the preparations for war in the United States cannot be left behind!" ”

"Change? Is there a suitable candidate? ”

Hull was taken aback, and it was too much of a risk to change the Minister of the Navy and Army at this critical juncture.

"There are people, but I'll have to watch for a while!"

Roosevelt was resolute: "Our main task now is to get the bill of 'Expanding National Defense Appropriations' passed in Congress, so that we can build a large number of warships and expand the army, so that the army and navy will have the capital to deal with the enemy within the scope permitted by the law and the national consciousness in a special state!"

"In addition, in view of Japan's frenzied expansionist posture, I have bypassed Congress and quietly asked MacArthur to set up the U.S. Army Far East Command in the Philippines, and I am prepared to have Marshall send a regiment of troops to him, plus the Philippine army he controls, even if Japan attacks the Philippines, it will be enough to last for a while, and it is a big deal to retreat to Australia. Now for us, what we need is time, time! ”

Hull calmed down, knowing that Roosevelt had an accurate judgment of everything, which is unsurpassed among current American politicians. He thought for a moment and asked, "If the Japanese occupy Southeast Asia, or even India, will the American people wake up?" ”

"Of course it will, but it's not safe!"

Roosevelt pushed the wheels of his wheelchair to put himself in the warm sun, closed his eyes, enjoyed the sunshine, and his expression fell into a certain thought:

"For American citizens, there are two psychological lines of defense to maintain peace and stability: France, the Philippines and Australia. As long as France, the Philippines, and Australia are safe and sound, Americans will feel safe and there is absolutely no need to join a war that has nothing to do with the United States.

"Southeast Asia and India, as important as they were, were only British colonies. All this time, the United States did not get any benefit from it, and the British guarded us like thieves, whether it was trade or investment, and set up barriers with many obstacles, for fear that we would usurp their interests. Moreover, the people were very disgusted with colonialism, and the wars that took place in these areas were mainly the replacement of colonial sovereignty, and whether the owners were British or Japanese, could not change the essence of their enslavement of the colonial people.

"But once there is a problem with the security of France, the Philippines and Australia, they will panic and even wake up from a nightmare, fearing that their survival is seriously threatened, and then everything will change fundamentally."

Hull thought for a while, and was a little helpless: "In this way, I don't want to change the status quo in a short time...... Germany and France are likely to repeat the scene of the last European war, facing the Germans at the Maginot Line, and it will not be so easy for Japan to conquer the British colonies in a short period of time, and it seems that a protracted tug-of-war will follow, at least until the United States is involved, and the war will not end. ”

Roosevelt smiled, opened his eyes, and turned to Hull: "Isn't that exactly what we need?" By restraining Japan and Germany and aiding Britain and France, we will gain ample time for economic development and arms expansion. The most important thing is that we can completely get rid of the effects of the hateful economic crisis through this war, and make the United States the largest arsenal in the world.

"Before that, there were three major economic circles in the world, one was the US dollar, the second was the pound, and the third was the franc. But with the outbreak of war, the British and French had to pay us with precious metals such as gold and silver in order to buy our arms. Later, if all these hard currencies are used up, we will have to borrow from us with colonial or even government credit, and the longer the war continues, the more obvious the dominance of the dollar will become.

"As long as there are two or three years, we can use the financial resources of Britain and France to fully develop, and then neither Germany nor Japan will pose a threat to us! Once we enter the war and win the final victory, the United States will become the creditor of the whole world, the dominance of the American dollar will be established, and the era of Britain and France as hegemons will be gone forever! ”

"I see!"

Hull suddenly realized, and admired Roosevelt's foresight.

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: The first chapter is driven out, the Son of Heaven is crazy about coding words, is there any hope for adding more today?

Brothers, take out your *** and smash it at "Iron Bone" to stimulate the Son of Heaven to work hard!