Chapter 85 Potsdam Conference

Out of certain common positions in dealing with the Soviet Union, the team of British and American diplomatic representatives, nonetheless, had a short communication before the arrival of the Soviet delegation, to sort of know each other’s basic bottom line, especially in the face of the Soviet Union.

Alan Wilson was not a direct negotiator, his role now was much the same as before, a liaison officer between the Foreign Secretary, Robert Anthony Aiden, and the negotiating diplomats, including Ivor.

In other words a messenger, conveying the meaning of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, to the diplomats directly involved in the negotiations.

This opportunity Alan Wilson very much cherish, the heart is like a three hundred years of the British Empire’s glorious years of inspiration.

Like the relationship between civil servants and politicians in election countries, of course, can not be too rigid.

If the politicians want to tear their faces off, it is also possible to take action against the Cabinet Secretary, just generally do not do so.

The picture of Churchill and Truman standing side by side will immediately appear on the pages of every major British newspaper. This Alan Wilson has no doubt that the general election will soon be held, and Churchill will not let go of this opportunity.

“In fact, the Americans are still most concerned about the issue of war against Japan, and have communicated with us on this issue, hoping that we will take a common position here and facilitate the Soviet Union’s war against Japan.” Alan Wilson took the first-hand news and reported it to Foreign Secretary Robert Aydin.

“It’s pretty much as I thought, and this should be the main demand of the United States on the Soviet Union at this stage. It can be expected that the Soviets won’t agree so easily.” Robert Aydin nodded, “Sir Edward said you have a keen understanding of the Eastern Question, what do you think.”

That depends on what exactly is the Eastern Question? The East can be big! Although the heart thinks so, Alan Wilson is good without stopping to answer, “It seems that the Soviet Union does not have a decent sea power, is it swimming to Japan?”

“Yeah, that’s the question.” Robert Aiden smiled, “We’ll see when the negotiations are done.”

Alan Wilson nodded, historically the general direction of the Potsdam Conference regarding the war against Japan was actually that the negotiations began with the United States begging the Soviet Union, and after the successful nuclear bombing, the Soviet Union begged the United States.

On the subject of the war against Japan, Britain’s attitude was to be happy to see it happen, but not to be particularly attached to it. Of course Alan Wilson knew that General Mountbatten, who was actually still in British India, was quite taken up with the idea, and advocated attacking Japan itself for a complete liquidation.

Churchill and Robert Aiden belong to another proposition, not interested in attacking the Japanese mainland, but can morally support the Americans, attacking the Japanese mainland produces huge casualties, can make the Americans pay a little more.

Just think so, can not be said to expect Japan and the United States to fight to the death, by the United States and the Soviet Union together to attack Japan, is the British Empire’s desired future.

As for the American idea, if you want Japan to surrender you must deal a major blow to Japan militarily, otherwise Japan will not surrender. The main countries fighting against Japan were China and the United States. The US had the ability to counterattack, but the price to pay was too great for the US to pay.

Then there was Britain who also fought Japan in the Far East but failed. Having just finished the battlefield in Europe Britain would not have the ability to fight Japan in the Far East again. So the United States at this time only asked the Soviet Union to declare war on Japan, which could reduce its own pressure and make Japan surrender as soon as possible.

On the issue of war against Japan, Britain was hoping that the United States and the Soviet Union would attack Japan, and the United States also hoped that the Soviet Union would help them share the burden, as for the attitude of the Soviet Union at present on the unclear.

On the train to Berlin, in the middle of Stalin’s own compartment, Molotov was holding a stack of documents, which were also the position that the Soviet Union was going to state at the Potsdam Conference.

“Comrade Molotov, the attitude of the United States must have been very eager at first in dealing with the Japanese campaign. Although we have decided to join in, we cannot agree easily. We will mainly emphasize the division of Europe and divert Truman’s attention.” Stalin spoke indifferently, “Beria said that with our current merchant marine strength, it’s actually very difficult to support a war against Japan, and we can’t allow the Americans to transport our soldiers to Japan so that we lose the initiative.”

“I think we can think of something from Germany!” Molotov thought for a moment and said, “Ask Britain and the United States to deliver all the remaining German merchant ships to the Soviets as reparations.”

The Soviet Union was really bad at sea power, before the war broke out there were only one million three hundred thousand tons of commercial carriers, now after the war had ended it had become one million four hundred thousand tons. Not to mention that it was not comparable to Britain and the United States, it was not in the same league as the German-Italian-Japanese Axis bloc, with their respective tonnages of four or five million.

The war continued for many years, and Germany, Italy and Japan had lost almost all of their commercial transports, so perhaps the Axis powers, which each had a fleet of four or five million tons before the war, were not as good as the current Soviet Union.

“A good idea, although that is our aim, but we have to be methodical.” Stalin nodded approvingly, “This, together with the German fleet, should probably be enough capacity for the war against Japan.”

The first communication between Britain and the United States on this side of Berlin had been completed, and it was impossible to know what the Soviets, who were still on their way, thought.

But alone on this fleet tonnage, Allen Wilson also really clear, Germany can still use the fleet there are 800,000 tons, compared to the pre-war scale of close to five million, is the loss of more than eighty percent, can see how to use.

The Japanese Navy still have no oil to add are a problem, warships are not supplied with fuel, warships have what to throw?

On June 28th, the train carrying the Soviet delegation arrived in Berlin, and then Stalin and Molotov led the Soviet delegation to Potsdam, arriving at the Cecilenhof Palace, where Stalin, one of the Big Three, arrived at the Potsdam Conference.

On the lawn of the Cecilianhof Palace, the Allied triumvirate, Stalin, Churchill, and Truman, stood side by side, smiling for the surrounding journalists to take pictures.

“Loving father of all peoples!” Not far away, Alan Wilson, the corners of his mouth twitching said words only he could hear.

Just as the leaders of the three countries accepted a group photo to show the unity of the Allies, the negotiators from the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union walked into the meeting room. The Potsdam Conference officially kicked off.

The first round of talks began, and simply put, it was a case of each side talking to the other, as different issues were raised, and the division of camps changed at any time, and the U.S. was not on the side of the British on all issues. The special Anglo-American relationship that existed before was wiped out when the meeting began.

Britain and the US were against the USSR, the USSR was against Britain, Britain was against the USSR, and the first day of the conference was basically a non-event.