"The German Empire dominated Europe and achieved extraordinary achievements in the naval field; Considering that the Berlin government had acquired a large number of overseas colonies through the war, it was absolutely necessary to have a main fleet of 500,000 tons. The United Kingdom of Great Britain has a territory that covers the world and has the largest merchant fleet, and retaining a main fleet of 300,000 tons to maintain shipping is a desirable consequence of national conditions. The Japanese Empire was becoming more and more actively involved in international affairs, and it was necessary to have a fleet of 200,000 tons to assert its status. Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy, on the other hand, were the pillars of security in the Mediterranean, and they also established their interests overseas, and each side kept a fleet of 150,000 tons, which was an understandable share of the peace in the region! ”

Wilson's sonorous voice echoed in the venue, directly pushing the atmosphere that was still a group of harmony just now to the peak of the battle with bayonets: "The United States has risen in North America, dominates the two oceans, and its economic and industrial strength has reached its peak: from the perspective of the role it will play in the world in the future, we should at least have a navy of 600,000 tons of capital ships." However, as a sign of goodwill for the disarmament talks, the Government of the United States is willing to voluntarily reduce the main force of the fleet to 500,000 tons. For the United States, which needs to spread its navy across two oceans, the amount of 500,000 tons is already the minimum amount required for our defense requirements. ”

Listening to Wilson's words, Qingying couldn't help but sneer in her heart. The Americans really dared to make a request, and they opened their mouths to demand the world's largest proportion of capital ships; Although it is true that they have achieved the same position as the British after the war, it was the result of an era when Britain was exhausted by four years of world war and could not afford to usher in a new round of shipbuilding competition. The current strength of the United States has not been increased by the explosive growth of the following three years of war, nor has its navy expanded to the level of the German High Seas Fleet at the end of 1918, when the armistice was not inferior; That's why. Qing Yingcai is ready to use this negotiation to restrict this open country.

"Regarding the ratio of capital ships proposed by your country. The German Reich could not approve. The naval status that Germany has today. It is not by the charity of any one country, but by the sword in our hands, and by the arduous and magnificent naval battles that have been finally created! In addition to this, we currently have more than 700,000 tons of dreadnoughts; This amount, far greater than any other country today, is also a treasure created by the 67 million Germans in the previous decade. "German Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Kidren" was the first to strike back, with words full of pride and toughness of an emerging power that had defeated the Royal Navy: "The division of troops between the two oceans mentioned by your country will have little practical significance in the future situation: because the Panama Canal, which connects the two oceans, is about to be completed. It will take only two months for your country to complete the assembly of its entire fleet. If your navy, which currently has less than 250,000 tons of dreadnoughts and has not experienced a single battle, also demands to have the same world status as Germany, then there is no need for this meeting to continue. ”

"As the sole representative of the countries of Asia, the Imperial Japan is also responsible for maintaining peace and stability in the Western Pacific; A capital ship of 200,000 tons is simply not enough to meet our needs, and at the same time, it is also a distinction and discrimination against the whole of Asia. The Japanese ambassador to the United States, Kishigero Bihara, followed up and raised sharp objections to the Americans' proposal. Not to mention that the total tonnage of the "44th Fleet," which they are about to complete, has exceeded this limit, and the 5 to 2 share ratio proposed by the Americans alone is absolutely unacceptable to Japan, whose ambitions have swelled sharply after its victory in the war against Russia. If this plan is implemented, then Japan, which has only 40% of the strength of the other side, will lose any confidence to dare to expand in the future; Even the Japanese land minister, who is least welcome to see the navy. It is also impossible to sign such a treaty with the Americans!

At the same time, Italy and Austria-Hungary were resentful. Current. The lineup of the Italian fleet, which had just been copied from the French, had swelled to 7 dreadnoughts; If the proportion of the Americans is accepted, then not only the two Da Vinci-class super-dreadnoughts that are about to be completed will be dismantled, but also the four Caracciolo-class ships that have not been completed for a long time will be abandoned. In addition, the fact that Austria-Hungary was on par with Italy on capital ships was difficult for Italians, who always felt superior, to accept. Although the Austro-Hungarian side had little objection to the fact that they had the same tonnage as the Italians, the total tonnage did not meet their psychological expectations. The reason why they had given up their request for French reparations was that they were prepared to build new ships in the future; However, the share of 150,000 tons is very limited, and it is difficult to get a stage where they can play to their heart's content.

Even the British, who were limited by the Treaty of Amsterdam and who had difficulty making more demands in the naval sphere, sided with Germany in the struggle this time. The reason is simple: if the United States acquires the same tonnage as Germany, then there will be two powers in the world that greatly surpass Britain in navy; At that time, how can Britain, which has to be called big brother when he sees people, still mix in the road? In addition, Britain now has a bit of disdain and contempt for its Saxon cousins: these peasant nouveau riche are good for nothing but money, and they are simply not comparable to their own in the naval field, which has been inherited for hundreds of years. It is true that they have suffered many heavy defeats at the hands of the Germans in previous naval battles, but the British, who have suffered from the pain, have learned from this and made improvements: in the latest Battle of the Atlantic, the three battle cruisers of the former Fast Fleet have withstood the test of actual combat again, and none of them have the tragic scene of fireworks in the decisive battle in the North Sea.

For Germany, which had effectively defeated them, the British, who knew that they were invincible, could still bear to accept the loss of sea power; In the face of the fledgling U.S. Navy, whose strength was not as strong as the remaining remnants of the army, the British obviously could not accept that their fleet was significantly superior to their own. If it weren't for the fact that they still had some intention of stirring up the confrontation between Germany and the United States after the war so that they could improve their own situation, they would even directly ask the Americans to control the main ships of the Navy in a situation where they were less than themselves.

"Whether it is the present size of the navy or the brilliant achievements it has achieved, the German Empire should have no doubt about obtaining the rights and interests to which it is rightfully entitled. Germany needs to keep 550,000 tons of capital warships, which is the respect that a new Trident holder deserves, and at the same time the minimum force we need to defend the interests of the world. The United States of America straddles two oceans and maintains peace and stability in hundreds of millions of square kilometers of seas, and a 400,000-ton main fleet is sufficient to shoulder this mission. The United Kingdom of Great Britain, in accordance with the previous agreement with our country, should not exceed 330,000 tons of the main fleet; Fifteen years ago, the Japanese Empire was the most powerful naval force in the western Pacific, and it deserved to have a main share of 280,000 tons. As for Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy, each side could keep 180,000 tons of capital warships. Taking advantage of this emotional atmosphere, Kidren took advantage of the situation to put forward the German government's proposal.

Hearing this distribution, the faces of the delegates of all countries except the United States were relieved. The tonnage that Britain can have has increased with the increase of Germany, and the increase of 30,000 tons can add a first-class capital ship. Although the Japanese delegates were still reluctant in their hearts, being able to reach 70 percent of the United States was just enough to meet their basic needs for warfare. Italy only needs to choose one of the warships and its own ships to be scrapped, and the space for new ships that Austria-Hungary can get has been further improved. Admiral House, commander of the Austro-Hungarian fleet, was stunned and began to whisper to the foreign secretary beside him: if this plan is approved, then they will have a rich hollow of 70,000 tons after the completion of the two St. Istvan-class battleships!

The beep sounded, and the whispers buzzed. In the large and comfortable seats, Qing Ying was closely watching the heated discussion of the American delegation not far away: some of them had excited expressions and foaming at the mouth, while others looked calm and spoke slowly. The distribution plan proposed by Kidren just now was formulated by himself: it had quite comprehensive considerations for the German Navy's warship reservation, Austria-Hungary's new shipbuilding plan, and the suppression of the United States to promote Japan. Although the main role of battleships will be gradually replaced by aircraft carriers in the future, they will still be indispensable for the next three decades, and Qingying also needs to devote enough attention to this field.

"The United States agrees in principle that the German Navy occupies the position of the first in the world in terms of tonnage of capital ships. However, the United States should also have a larger share than 400,000 tons. Although the Panama Canal will be opened in a few months, the basic national conditions of our division of troops and oceans have not changed, and the United States' requirements for the navy are not extravagant expectations, but are derived from the practical needs of the national strategy. If your country insists on keeping a capital fleet of 550,000 tons, then we should also get no less than 480,000 tons of capital warships. In addition to this, some of the new ships we are building should also be built. After a period of discussion, U.S. President Wilson finally spoke again in the room. In fact, he did not think that he would be able to put butterflies and the Germans in the naval field on a par, and now is the time to really start to sit on the ground and pay back.

"Your Excellency, the tonnage share we have proposed is already extremely considerate of your country. As a result, Germany will scrap a large number of dreadnoughts, and all you need to scrap are a few former dreadnoughts, which are almost useless in modern naval warfare. Qingying's flat voice finally sounded, and Deng Shi became the focus of most of the people in the venue, "As for the fate of the unfinished battleship, maybe we should make a proper decision about it now." (To be continued......)

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