My own war game

Chapter 249 President's Staff Meeting
August 1942, 8, Washington.

Inside a conference room in the White House, where the president's staff holds regular meetings.

A team of staff led by Harry Hopkins was already there waiting for their president.

Army Chief of Staff Marshall, economist Tugwell, political expert Raymond Morley, and hardliner William Joseph Donovan were all Roosevelt's most capable assistants in daily life.

And today there is one more person in the room, former US Ambassador to the UK Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr.

The door opened and Roosevelt walked in, supporting himself with his cane.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen!" Roosevelt walked to the first table and looked at his staff.

"Good afternoon, Mr. President!" Since the president did not like complicated etiquette, everyone else just bowed slightly to Roosevelt.

"Well, I know everyone's time is tight, so let's start with the most recent question."

"William, how is the progress there?" The president looked to Donovan on his right, who was the first head of the Office of Strategic Services, which had just been established less than two months ago.

"It's terrible. We just sent fifty intelligence agents to Britain for training. These people performed very poorly. Most of them are not as skilled as the French woman around Charles de Gaulle. Menzies just sent me a telegram to complain." Donovan made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the quality of current American intelligence personnel.

At this time in 1942, the United States had just reorganized its intelligence agencies and proposed a solution to the problem of the generally low capabilities of its own intelligence officers, which was to learn from the old hands of the British MI.

A large number of personnel were sent to the UK for training, and the Sixth Department, which had already become famous at that time, was also invited to send teachers to the United States for on-site exchanges.

"Relax, my friend. After all, Rome was not built in a day. We have to give those young people time." Then Roosevelt looked at old Kennedy and nodded slightly.
"Joseph, can I ask you for help in this regard? You are more familiar with the situation in the UK. I hope you can coordinate the relationship between the two sides and prevent potential conflicts from occurring."

"Mr. President, although I have retired, if America still needs me, I have no reason to refuse." Old Kennedy showed an attitude of obligation.

"Thank you, I know you are a trustworthy partner." Roosevelt smiled mysteriously, which made old Kennedy a little puzzled.

"Okay! What I'm going to talk about next may involve our policy toward Japan in the next half century, so I hope everyone will be cautious when considering the issue. As long as anyone present clearly expresses opposition to the following proposal, I will shelve it and not raise it to Congress." After saying this, the president's assistant began to distribute sheets of paper filled with words.

Everyone received a document, and when they saw the contents, their expressions became solemn without exception.

"Support the establishment of Japan's second government?" Marshall was the first to read out what he had in his hand.

"Strictly speaking, it is to support the establishment of a formal Japanese anti-government armed force, which will help us gain an advantageous position in propaganda." Chief of Staff Harry Hopkins corrected his colleague's statement.

Of course, everyone knows that the two people are actually saying the same thing, and the grammatical difference cannot change the essence of the matter. "Is it too hasty to talk about this now? After all, we have not yet gained a strategic advantage over Japan. Wouldn't it be a joke to do so rashly?" Political expert Raymond Morley was the first to express doubts. In his opinion, puppet governments are operations promoted by the party that has gained an advantage in the war to expand its political influence. With the current US-Japan combat situation, both sides are far from reaching this level.

"My opinion is just the opposite. If handled properly, this plan can help us solve a big problem." Another aide, Tegwell, spoke on the opposite side.

The economist stood up and spread his hands to everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, there are probably hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans in the country now. According to Executive Order 9066 signed by the President, about 12 of them on the West Coast have had their property confiscated and are being placed under surveillance in WRA internment camps." (WRA: Wartime Civilian Resettlement Administration)

"So what? Aren't these necessary measures to prevent spies and saboteurs?" Donovan, director of the Office of Strategic Services, obviously didn't take these people seriously.

"My dear Director, it costs money to house and manage so many people! The budget spent on them this year is roughly equal to the cost of building two Essex-class aircraft carriers." Tegwell said, spreading his hands.

"Just use the confiscated property to pay for it," Donovan said.

"Unfortunately, their main assets are real estate, which is also the most difficult thing to cash in nowadays." Tegwell shrugged and continued to pour cold water on them, then continued

"As far as I know, quite a number of these people have a wavering attitude towards the war between the United States and Japan, recognizing their American identity but also being concerned about their Japanese ancestry."

"If we can raise another flag representing Japan and give these people even a formal excuse, we can get them to come over to our side."

"This way we can reduce the cost of managing these people, while at the same time freeing up some wealth. Even a small number of them may become our source of soldiers. This is a good thing that kills three birds with one stone." At the end, Tegwell himself became excited, as if he saw a bright future.

"But this flag cannot be put up casually, right? There should be someone who has appeal to the Japanese community to speak up, otherwise how can we gain their trust?" Marshall raised the key question.

"We have prepared this person." First Assistant Harry Hopkins came over and said, "We captured Japanese Navy Admiral Nagumo Chuichi in the Battle of Midway. Although he is only a vice admiral, it is enough to just issue a statement of separation from the Japanese government."

"Is he willing to cooperate?" Others expressed doubts. In their opinion, the Japanese were very stubborn.

"No, he is totally uncooperative and has attempted suicide at least three times."

"What's the use of this? We can't really make a statement on his behalf, can we?" Donovan expressed his doubts.

"Why not?" First Assistant Harry Hopkins stood beside the President and smiled mysteriously, "We have invited a disguise expert from MI6 in London. We plan to create a Nanyun Zhongyi and then take him to Solomon to join the troops."

Then Hopkins seemed to have just remembered something, and turned to old Kennedy, "By the way, your son seemed to have had a conflict with an important person in the Sixth Bureau. I'd like to trouble you to do some work and get John to compromise, such as writing an apology letter or something..."

(End of this chapter)