Beiyang reactionaries

Yosuke Matsuoka's diplomatic strategy is the German-Italian-Japanese Alliance. If he withdraws from the German-Italian-Japanese Alliance, how will he safeguard his own interests.After all, all his diplomatic strategies will be denied by then.

Another point.

When Yosuke Matsuoka was foreign minister, he had a privilege.At that time, Matsuoka Yosuke and Konoe Fumimaro had important powers, that is, the decision-making power of foreign policy.This is a power that Japanese foreign ministers have never had before.

But Fumimaro Konoe gave it.

At that time, the Japanese political circles were very surprised, and even the emperor personally asked Fummaro Konoe.Because a foreign minister has the decision-making power of foreign policy, it is easy for things to happen.Just like the foreign minister negotiating outside, there is no need to discuss with the country at all, and he can sign some agreements by himself.What to do when something big happens.

But Fumimaro Konoe believes in Yosuke Matsuoka, and more importantly, the two have many ideas in common.When Konoe Fumimaro became prime minister, he and Matsuoka Yosuke exchanged views on each other.Fummaro Konoe supports Yosuke Matsuoka's view of maintaining the German-Italian-Japanese alliance, winning Southeast Asia, and becoming the leader in Asia.That's why Konoe Fumimaro made an exception and gave Matsuoka Yosuke this power.But now this becomes a problem.Yoshizaburo Nomura, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, and the Secretary of State of the United States met to discuss this issue, but Yosuke Matsuoka failed. This is problematic.

So he is strongly against it.

"I also think it's too hasty."

The 55-year-old Hideki Tojo became Lu Xiang in just half a year, and his upward momentum is amazing.Moreover, his views are gaining more and more support from the radical officers of the military department.He straightened his glasses and said: "Our army has waited for a long time and made a lot of preparations. In a little more than a month, we will launch the Burma campaign and prepare to deal with the British and Indian troops in Burma in one fell swoop. By then the entire Southeast Asia is in our hands, and the strategic initiative is in our hands. Wherever we want to attack, we can attack. As long as Southeast Asia is pacified, we will have enough strength to compete with Britain and the United States at that time, and we will not even need to look at the face of China. This is a crucial step for the empire, how can it be postponed because of some vain negotiations."

Hideki Tojo's ambitions are great.

Not only to expel the influence of Britain and the United States in Asia, but also to make Japan the only big country in Asia.If you want to become the only big country in Asia, you must defeat China.So Myanmar must be won.

Only by taking Burma can the British army be blocked.At that time, the entire Southeast Asia region will no longer have British influence, and Japan can integrate Southeast Asia.Then solve Australia and the Philippines, and then Japan's power in Asia will reach a peak.As long as Southeast Asia is well managed, Japan can completely get rid of its dependence on Chinese materials.Then concentrate the power of Japan and compete with China to see who is the boss in Asia.

Therefore, the Burma campaign must not be given up.

"I think our negotiations with the United States have not reached a dead end, and there is still room for mediation between the two parties."

Seeing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Lu pressing Fumimaro Konoe one after another, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Koichi Kido, spoke.

Minister of Internal Affairs is a very important position, especially Koichi Kido.The Minister of the Interior is the link between the cabinet and the emperor, and the emperor often listens to the opinions of the ministers of the interior.Kido Koichi is very respectable with the Japanese emperor.

When supporting Konoe Fumimaro as the prime minister of the cabinet, Kido Koichi also played a very important role in the emperor.The emperor trusted Kido Koichi very much.

"Your Excellency Kido, the United Kingdom and the United States are one. The Empire has been fighting Britain for two years, and the United Kingdom is already in a state of life and death. Whether it is from the perspective of the German-Italian-Japanese alliance or our interests, the Asian Empire and the United Kingdom are only There can be one. So there is no room for maneuver between us and the United States. It is completely wishful thinking to make peace with the United States. And the United States is far away, as long as we control Australia, the Philippines, and Pearl Harbor, then the United States can only It can be hopeless, and there will be no threat to the empire. Even if we don’t negotiate with them, they will negotiate with us. Only by defeating Britain and the United States can the empire truly become a big country in the world, and this is the future of the empire.”

Hideki Tojo made a tough statement again.

Neither Fumimaro Konoe nor Koichi Kido knew what to say.Because Hideki Tojo's current attitude is actually the attitude of the headquarters, the attitude of the staff headquarters.This is not the attitude of Hideki Tojo alone.

Konoe Fumimaro looked at Haishang and Kawakoshiro.

Because the navy has always been not very in favor of conflicts with Britain and the United States.But Oikawa Koshiro didn't speak, but sat there quietly.This made Fumimaro Konoe very angry.Although he is also a radical, he still hopes to be able to negotiate with the United States and does not want to have a military conflict with the United States.But looking at the attitude of Minister Lu Tojo of the cabinet, the Army must fight the United States.

There was no objection from the Navy either.

The meeting fell into silence, and the atmosphere was very tense.

"Foreign Secretary, Washington Telegraph."

While everyone was silent, someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in and sent a telegram to Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka.After looking at it for a while, Matsuoka Yosuke raised his head and said with a sneer, "Prime Minister, Washington Telegram."

647

"Prime Minister, Washington Telegraph."

Matsuoka Yosuke handed over the telegram just received to Konoe Fumimaro.

Fumimaro Konoe took a look at the telegram, frowned, and asked in surprise, "The 'Lend-Lease Act' passed?"

"Yes."

Yosuke Matsuoka sneered: "From the fact that the United States keeps adjusting the 'Neutrality Act', we can know that the United States will definitely support the United Kingdom. Seeing that they have passed the 'Lease Act' now, this is even more blatantly supporting the United Kingdom."

Matsuoka Yosuke was very angry.

The "Neutrality Act" itself is beneficial to a country with a powerful navy like Britain.But war broke out, and Britain was severely underfunded.It is already a bit powerless to continue to purchase US strategic materials on a large scale.At this time Roosevelt was already very anxious.

It is really because the three countries of Germany, Italy and Japan are aggressive.

If the military group headed by the United Kingdom fails to withstand Germany, Italy and Japan, then the United States will really nest in the Americas.After all, Germany and Italy control Europe, and Japan controls Asia, so there is no need for the United States.If the United States wants to intervene, it must also have a springboard.

Britain's defeat is equivalent to saying that the United States has lost its springboard.Without a springboard, the United States, which is thousands of miles away, has no ability to intervene in European and Asian affairs.This is completely contrary to the future of the United States in Roosevelt's mind.

So Roosevelt absolutely cannot watch Britain lose.

Roosevelt wanted to change the current foreign policy of the United States and support Britain, which was currently at a disadvantage.However, the isolationist tendency in the United States is very serious, and most people in the United States do not want to be involved in the war.Therefore, it is very difficult for Roosevelt to change foreign policy.

But Roosevelt was smart.

Slow change was chosen.First the "Neutral Act" was constantly changing, then the "Lend-Lease Act".Although the intention of the "Lease Act" is very obvious, at least it is much better than being directly involved in the war.

That's it, the "Lend-Lease Act" is also strongly opposed in the United States.The controversy over the "Lend-Lease Act" has always been great in the United States, and Japan did not expect the "Lend-Lease Act" to be passed so suddenly.

"Prime Minister, do you still think the United States is sincere? The United States has never negotiated with us in good faith."

Yosuke Matsuoka is aggressive.

The decision-making power of foreign policy is in his own hands, but Fummaro Konoe bypassed himself and ordered the ambassador to the United States. This is something Yosuke Matsuoka must not give in.If you give in this time, how will you protect your rights?

Konoe Fumimaro's face was ugly.

Just now he also said that the negotiation with the United States has not reached a dead end, and the two sides still have the possibility of negotiation.However, the United States passed the "Lend-Lease Act", which dealt a major blow to Fummaro Konoe.

Unlike in history, the United States and Japan negotiated in history, although the United States also passed the "Lease Act".But at that time, Japan had not yet been at war with Britain, and the "Lend-Lease Act" did not directly impact Japan.Even because of the existence of the "Neutral Act", Japan is a country that benefits.

In the early stage of China's Anti-Japanese War, Japan relied on the "Neutrality Act" and relied on its own naval strength to purchase a large amount of strategic materials from the United States.It can be said that without the resources sold by the United States, it would be impossible for Japan to launch a large-scale war of aggression against China.However, China's coastline is controlled by Japan, and the "Neutrality Act" of the United States is almost useless to China.Therefore, the United States later passed the "Lease Act", which did not have a great impact on Japan.It is also for these reasons that when negotiating with the United States at that time, there were also many domestic support forces in Japan.The United States and Japan still have the possibility to continue negotiations.

But not now.

Japan and the United Kingdom have been fighting for two years, and the relationship between the two sides is already incompatible.The Japanese Army had been preparing for it for months.After the French Indochina has been completely taken over and the army is ready, the Burmese campaign will be launched to completely eliminate the British and Indian troops in Burma.

At this time, the United States passed the "Lease Act", blatantly supporting the United Kingdom.Even according to the "Lease Act", Britain can get a lot of support from the United States.It doesn't matter if you don't have money for the time being, the United States can lend you money and rent it to you.That's why it's called "rent" and "borrow". The full name is "lease bill".

Supporting the United Kingdom in this way is a blatant slap in the face for Konoe Fumimaro, who wants to negotiate with the United States.

"Then what does Lu Xiang mean?"

"Continue to follow the plan of the General Staff Headquarters. After we are ready in French Indochina, we will attack the British and Indian troops in Burma from the east and the south together with the naval forces. First solve the British and Indian troops in Burma and take the British Go to India."

"and then?"

Fumiro Konoe asked Hideki Tojo indifferently.

Although Konoe Fumimaro is a fanatical radical, he does not have a radical head.Although Konoe Fumimaro doesn't like Tanaka Yoshiichi, he appreciates some of his policies.In particular, Tanaka Yoshiichi knows how to choose, and will not really take risks with the luck of the country.

The United States is the object of adventure in Fumimaro Konoe's heart.

Konoe Fumimaro has always hoped to reach a peace agreement with the United States.As long as the United States can guarantee Japan's interests in Southeast Asia, it's okay for some parties to give up some interests, which is completely acceptable.