Limiting the Chinese Empire is undoubtedly something that can be agreed upon by Britain, France, the United States, and Japan. However, there are some differences. For example, France, apart from the Indochina colonies, does not have many interests in the Far East and the Pacific, and even the Indochina colonies are not indispensable for France. Even if the colony of Indochina is lost, the impact on France will not be great.

However, Japan and the Chinese Empire were mortal enemies, and it was clear that only one of the two countries could exist. Therefore, the Japanese were eager to limit the Chinese Empire as much as possible, so that they could defeat the Chinese Empire and win the war in the future.

As for the United States and Great Britain, they have huge interests in the Far East and the Pacific. The rise of the Chinese Empire will inevitably threaten the interests of Britain and the United States. Therefore, the two countries also tried to weaken the power of the Chinese empire and protect their interests. Supporting Japan and containing the Chinese empire has become the main strategy of the two countries in the Far East and the Pacific.

After the conspiracy was over, French Prime Minister Aristide and Japanese Prime Minister Masatsuki Terauchi left first, while US President Harding and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George had other things to discuss.

"Your Excellency, with regard to limiting the naval strength of the Chinese Empire, we have considered it this way. The tonnage of the capital ships of the navies and other ships of the leading world powers should be limited by one. For example, how many tons is the total tonnage of a capital ship, how many tons is the total tonnage of a cruiser, and how many tons is the total tonnage of a submarine. In this way, there is a clear data, and it is also a little more intuitive. U.S. President Harding said.

David Lloyd George accepted the idea with a slight sigh: "That's a good idea. ”

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the United States and Great Britain, as the most powerful countries in the world. The tonnage of our capital ships should be the same, and after our estimates, it is better to control the total tonnage of our capital ships at 500,000 tons. It won't have much of an impact on our financial resources. President Harding said with a smile. Obtaining the same tonnage of capital ships as Britain is only the first step in the struggle for world hegemony for the United States. Only after parity with Britain in this respect will the United States continue to compete with Britain in other areas.

Sure enough, I heard President Harding say this. David Lloyd George's face suddenly didn't look good.

"Your Excellency the President, we agree with the fact that the tonnage of US capital ships is controlled at 500,000 tons. However, the British Empire has vast colonies in the world, and we need a fleet that will always be strong to safeguard our interests. Therefore, I personally think that the tonnage of the capital ships of the British Empire Navy is more appropriate to control at 800,000 tons. David Lloyd George said.

This time it was President Harding's turn to look bad, if the British had 800,000 tons of capital ship tonnage, the United States sent 500,000 direct mail. Doesn't that mean that the capital ships of the US Navy are only 60 percent of those of the British? In addition, the United States also needs to carry out two-ocean deployments. In this case, they would be able to deploy a fleet in the Atlantic equivalent to a third of the size of the British Navy's capital ships. Even because of the threat of the Chinese Empire, most of the main forces of the U.S. Navy had to be deployed in the Pacific. In this way, it is even more impossible for the United States to compete with Britain for world hegemony.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this plan is absolutely unacceptable to the United States. Our bottom line is that the United States and the United Kingdom jointly own 500,000 tons of capital ship tonnage. The US Navy will not pose a threat to the British Navy, we need to deploy in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Even. The Pacific is the focus of our deployment. President Harding said.

David Lloyd George hesitated, if that was the case. Then the U.S. Navy really posed no threat to Britain. However, the British Navy now has too many capital ships. There are more than 30 capital ships with main guns of more than 343 mm in caliber alone, with a total tonnage of nearly one million tons. If only 500,000 tons are retained, doesn't that mean that half of the capital ships of the British Navy must be abandoned? Those capital ships, but the British Empire spent a lot of pounds to build!

"Your Excellency. Is 500,000 tons too little? Why don't you expand it to one million tons? David Lloyd George said. In this way, most of the capital ships of the British Navy can be retained. You know, there are many capital ships, but they are just warships that have been in service for a few years or more than ten years. If you do the math. These battleships also belong to the new ones. After all, Britain is now financially tight, and it is a little bit to save a little! As for the construction of newer capital ships, that's still about it. The UK does not yet have this opportunity.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, 500,000 tons is already a lot. There is no need to preserve the old capital ships of the British Navy. It's completely ready to be disassembled. In this way, you can also save a lot of maintenance costs. President Harding continued

David Lloyd George was a little undecided. It would undoubtedly be great if some military spending could be saved. However, this will inevitably make the Royal Navy very dissatisfied. After all, half a million tons seems like no less. However, a capital ship can easily build 340,000 tons or 500,000 tons, which is enough to build 15 or 6 ships. More than 70 percent of the Royal Navy's existing capital ships had to be dismantled. If it is a capital ship such as the Pangu-class battleship of the Chinese Navy or the Yamato-class battleship of the Japanese Navy, four warships of this type would have to occupy more than half of the tonnage.

"Your Excellency, if our two countries keep only half a million tons of tonnage. So, how many tons do these countries of China, Japan, France and Italy have for them? David Lloyd George asked.

"China is also one of the four great powers in the world. Their naval strength is not inferior to ours at all. Therefore, it is more appropriate to give them a plan of 400,000 tons. President Harding said.

"Four hundred thousand tons? Will the Chinese agree? This is obviously impossible. Their four 'Pangu-class' battleships alone are almost 300,000 tons. The three 'Three Emperor-class' battleships have a total of more than 120,000 tons, and the combined battleships of these two levels have exceeded 400,000 tons. Not to mention that the Chinese also had two 'Pinghai-class' battleships, four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, and a series of other battleships. In total, the total tonnage is probably more than 850,000 tons. David Lloyd George said with a smile.

"If they give up building the Pangea-class battleships, and then retire an old battleship. Well, isn't their planned tonnage enough? President Harding said with a smile.

"I'm afraid the Chinese don't listen to us so easily. After all, their strength determines their status and qualifications, and we can't tear up with them," said David Lloyd George.

The current Chinese Empire is not what they were twenty years ago, when they could be left to ravage. Even if the British Empire was the world hegemon, in the Far East, it did not dare to persecute the Chinese Empire too much. Otherwise, the two sides will tear their faces apart, and it will not do the British Empire any good.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, this requires us to work together to put pressure on the Chinese Empire. Although the Chinese Empire is very powerful, there is still a certain gap between it and our two countries. Especially on the naval side. If the Chinese Empire does not accept our good intentions, then we will join the frantic arms race at all costs. In the end, even if all countries can't hold on, it won't be good for the Chinese Empire. After all, there are many warships in various countries, and once the war breaks out and we unite to deal with the Chinese Empire, it will not be so easy for them to win. President Harding said. In order to achieve this, the United States and Great Britain, as well as other powers, must be tough.

David Lloyd George nodded, he also knew that officially everyone was blindly indulging in the Chinese Empire, which caused the current tail to be too big. If we continue to indulge, the interests of all countries will inevitably be affected. Therefore, this time I am afraid that I will have to put pressure on the Chinese Empire at all costs to ensure that their plan succeeds.

"Well, Japan and France, how much tonnage will they give?" David Lloyd George continued.

"If you say Japan, give them 300,000 tons." President Harding said.

"How is this possible? The four 'Yamato-class' battleships and the four 'Amagi-class' battlecruisers alone add up to a total tonnage of more than 400,000 tons. Not to mention the fact that the Japanese Navy also had four 'Kii-class' battleships and one 'Hiei' battlecruiser. Combined, the total tonnage of the Japanese Navy has exceeded 600,000 tons. David Lloyd George said in surprise. After all, the navy is Japan's only chance to turn the tables, and they will never agree to such conditions.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the Japanese, we can ignore it. For example, if Japan feels that our conditions are too harsh, they don't have to join in at all. We're not going to target them anyway. President Harding said with a smile.

This is the conspiracy of the Americans to limit the naval tonnage of the Chinese Empire, but not the naval tonnage of Japan. On the one hand, it tied the hands and feet of the Chinese Empire, and on the other hand, it allowed Japan to develop. As a result, the balance of power between the two countries gradually tends to be balanced or even reversed. In this case, it is undoubtedly more likely that Japan will defeat China. If Japan can defeat the Chinese Empire, then they will be able to sit back and relax. (To be continued.) )

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