Chapter 85 The Potsdam Conference
Out of some common stance towards the Soviet Union, the British and American diplomatic representative team had a brief communication before the arrival of the Soviet delegation, and they knew the basic bottom line of each other, especially the bottom line facing the Soviet Union.
Alan Wilson is not a direct negotiator. His role now is similar to before. He is a liaison officer between Robert Anthony Eden, the foreign secretary, and the negotiating diplomats, including Eifel.
In other words, it is a messenger who conveys the meaning of the prime minister and the foreign minister to the diplomats who directly participate in the negotiations.
Alan Wilson cherishes this opportunity very much, as if he was inspired by the glory days of the British Empire for three hundred years.
For example, the relationship between elected national civil servants and politicians should not be too rigid.
If politicians want to tear their face apart, they can also do it to the cabinet secretary, but they usually don't do so.
The photos of Churchill and Truman standing side by side will appear in the pages of major British newspapers immediately. Alan Wilson has no doubts about this, the general election is coming soon, and Churchill will not let go of this opportunity.
"Actually, Americans are still most concerned about the issue of war against Japan. We have communicated with us on this issue. I hope we can adopt a common position here to facilitate the Soviet Union's war against Japan." Allen Wilson reported the first-hand news to the foreign secretary Robert Eden.
"It's about the same as I thought. This should be the main request of the United States to the Soviet Union at this stage. It can be expected that the Soviets will not agree so easily." Robert Eden nodded, "Sir Edward said that you have a keen sense of Eastern issues. I know, what do you think?"
That depends on what the Eastern issue is specifically? The East is so big! Although he thought so in his heart, Alan Wilson replied without stopping, "It seems that the Soviet Union doesn't have a decent sea power, so why not swim to Japan?"
"That's right, that's the problem." Robert Eden smiled and said, "I knew it during the negotiation."
Alan Wilson nodded. The general direction of the war against Japan at the Potsdam Conference in history was actually that the United States begged the Soviet Union at the beginning of the negotiations. After the successful nuclear bomb explosion, the Soviet Union begged the United States.
On the topic of fighting against Japan, Britain's attitude is happy to see the results, but it will not be particularly concerned. Of course, Alan Wilson knew that General Mountbatten, who was still in British India, was very concerned, and he also advocated the invasion of Japan for a complete liquidation.
Churchill and Robert Eden belonged to another proposition. They had no interest in attacking the Japanese mainland, but they could support the Americans morally. The huge casualties caused by the attack on the Japanese mainland could make the Americans pay a little more.
I just want to think so, and I can't say that I expect Japan and the United States to fight to the end. The United States and the Soviet Union will attack Japan together, which is the future that the British Empire expects.
As for the ideas of the Americans, if Japan wants to surrender, it must deal a major military blow to Japan, otherwise Japan will not surrender. The main countries fighting against Japan are China and the United States. The United States has this ability to counterattack, but the price it pays is too high, and the United States is unwilling.
In addition, Britain also fought against Japan in the Far East, but failed. Britain, which had just ended the European battlefield, was no longer capable of fighting Japan in the Far East. Therefore, the United States can only ask the Soviet Union to declare war on Japan at this time, so that it can reduce its own pressure and let Japan surrender as soon as possible.
On the issue of fighting against Japan, Britain hopes that the United States and the Soviet Union will attack Japan, and the United States also hopes that the Soviet Union will help it share the burden. As for the attitude of the Soviet Union, it is currently unclear.
On the Berlin-bound train, in the compartment of Stalin himself, Molotov holds a stack of papers, which are also the Soviet Union's position at the Potsdam Conference.
"Comrade Molotov, the United States must have been very eager at the beginning when it came to dealing with the Japanese war. Although we have decided to join, we cannot easily agree. We mainly emphasize the division of Europe and divert Truman's attention. "Stalin said indifferently, "Belia said that with our current strength of merchant ships, it is actually very difficult to support the war against Japan.
We cannot let the Americans ship our soldiers to Japan and we lose the initiative. "
"I think we can think of a way from Germany!" Molotov thought for a while, "demand that Britain and the United States deliver all the remaining merchant ships in Germany to the Soviets as indemnities."
The Soviet Union was really not good at sea power. Before the war broke out, there were 1.3 million tons of commercial transport ships, but now it has become 1.4 million tons after the war. Not to mention that it is incomparable with the United Kingdom and the United States, it is not at the same level as the German, Italian and Japanese Axis Powers, each with a tonnage of four to five million.
The war has continued for many years, and the commercial transport ships of Germany, Italy and Japan have almost lost. Maybe the Axis countries, each with a fleet of four to five million tons before the war, are not as good as the current Soviet Union.
"A good idea. Although this is our goal, we must pay attention to the method and method." Stalin nodded in approval. "In this way, with the German fleet, the transportation capacity for the war against Japan should be sufficient."
The first communication between Britain and the United States in Berlin has ended, and it is impossible to know what the Soviets who are still on the road think.
However, on the issue of the tonnage of the fleet alone, Alan Wilson is really clear that Germany still has a fleet of 800,000 tons that can still be used. Compared with the size of nearly five million before the war, it is a loss of one million. Eighty percent or more, but it depends on how to use it.
Whether or not the Japanese Navy still has fuel is a problem. The fuel for the warships can't be supplied, so what's wrong with the warships?
On June 28th, the train carrying the Soviet delegation arrived in Berlin, and then Stalin and Molotov led the Soviet delegation to Potsdam and arrived at Cecilinhof Palace. At this point, Stalin among the Big Three arrived at the Potsdam Conference on site.
On the lawn of the Cecilynhof Palace, the Big Three of the Allied Powers, Stalin, Churchill and Truman, stood side by side, smiling for the surrounding reporters to take pictures.
"The kind father of all nationalities!" Not far away, Alan Wilson said words that only he could hear.
While the leaders of the three countries accepted a group photo to show the unity of the Allies, negotiators from the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union also entered the venue. The Potsdam Conference officially kicked off.
At the beginning of the first round of talks, in simple terms, everyone talked about their own opinions. Because of the different issues raised, the division of camps also changed at any time. Not all issues in the United States were on the side of the British. The previous special relationship between Britain and the United States disappeared after the meeting began.
The United Kingdom and the United States opposed the Soviet Union, the United States and the Soviet Union opposed the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom opposed the United States and the Soviet Union. The first day of the meeting basically made no progress.
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