It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 231 | A Tiger Falls into the Plains

Anthony Eden was speechless after the president said this.

His throat visibly moved, but he didn't utter a sound. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "I thought both our countries were making a difficult decision, but you seem to think it's easy. It's a pity."

"You Britons have enjoyed a glorious century since you rose to power, becoming great slave owners. As for us, we are just local tycoons, at most engaging in small-scale activities in our own backyard," the Grand Commander said. "Now, it seems that the situation in many parts of the world under your British rule is very bad, with poverty and people's lives in danger. So, it's time to change the administration."

Aiden's tone was quite dejected: "We had hoped to gradually achieve a power transition through a more moderate negotiation process..."

The president said, "We also proposed a peaceful solution, but unfortunately you cannot accept it."

“You deliberately proposed those (unacceptable) terms, knowing full well that the United Kingdom would never agree to cede so many territories.”

“Our country has spent a lot of energy mobilizing for war, and our industrial structure has changed. We have a lot of pent-up anger. If we don’t release it, this anger will backfire on us. We can only fight a war or use this anger to govern the new territories you have ceded. You can understand that.”

Although the talks had completely fallen apart, the two sides still exchanged a few more words.

Aiden sighed, hesitated, and remained silent until the meeting ended.

After he left, the president said confidently, "Heh heh, they didn't get what they wanted from us, so now they're turning to the Americans."

The president said nonchalantly, "You still won't get any credit."

If you were to surrender with courtesy and lay down your arms, you would still be granted a title of nobility. Unfortunately, you have no sincerity and still harbor unrealistic fantasies.

The ruling government's upper echelons likely intend to watch with amusement as the United Kingdom faces a dire situation.

Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden's trip to Western Capital was fruitless.

The bottom line for negotiations given to Eden by the Renton side was British India and South Africa, with the former providing resources and the latter providing the trade route, the Cape of Good Hope.

As for Persia, after the negotiations between the two sides two years ago, the United Kingdom gradually withdrew its forces and its influence quickly dissipated. The Pahlavi dynasty of Persia completely sided with the unified federation in a very short period of time.

For London, the preference for giving the Cape of Good Hope to South Africa over Suez in Egypt reflects the Union Jack's desire to retain control of the best territory. Naturally, the ruling government's upper echelons did not agree to this.

Having gained nothing in West Virginia, the impatient Renton side hurriedly sent people to Washington.

Sir Alexander Cadogan, who served as the secret envoy, was a seasoned diplomat of noble birth. He was efficient and tactful in his dealings with others, and was therefore highly regarded.

Sir Cadogan was burdened with a heavy responsibility, but he was also unsure whether his trip to Washington would yield satisfactory results.
During the talks, Cadogan sincerely invited the Americans to join the war, so that the two sides could work together to drive back the evil Ivanross and at least restore Marianne's independence. Valland could be abandoned.

In return, the United Kingdom will grant the United States several benefits:
(1) Trade preferential policies, reducing tariffs on industrial goods imported from the United States.

(2) Allow 'a portion' of transactions to be settled in US dollars.

(3) Transfer of naval bases in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, British Guiana, Bermuda and other locations free of charge.

This was clearly insufficient. Secretary of State Cordell Hull politely declined, saying, "The armed forces of the United States are not prepared to intervene in a war in Europe. To go against the Tsar's army now would be suicidal. We cannot explain the rationale to the taxpayers, and Sir, don't you think that such participation in a war is unnecessary for the United States?"

“Mr. Secretary of State, I do not think that tacitly allowing the Ivan Rus’s occupation of Europe is a good thing for you Americans.”

"At least it's not all bad."

Unwilling to give up, Cadogan pressed on, "When will the American army be ready to fight Ivan Ross's army?"

Hull replied vaguely, "Maybe next year, maybe the year after, sir."

In fact, the British upper class was really anxious, and even allowed Cannadia to be used as a bargaining chip. If the United States was willing, it wouldn't be impossible to give Cannadia away.

However, the men on Capitol Hill in America are not to be trifled with. They see this deal as unprofitable and wonder why they would do it.

Canaan, with its vast land and sparse population, is practically America's backyard. If you really want, you can go there anytime.

Moreover, launching a counterattack across the Atlantic to Europe is no easy task. It would be costly, exhausting, and result in heavy losses for the people and the army. While we are working ourselves to the bone here, let's not forget that there is a large, unified federation watching from the sidelines.

Even if they helped repel Ivan Ross and liberate Marianne, America doesn't seem to gain much in the long run.

Besides these, the president and secretary of state were well aware of what these scheming Britons were planning—as long as they dragged the United States out of the game, the Great Unified Federation would have to think twice before attacking the United Kingdom's colonies again, and it might even incite the two countries to become enemies.

In short, it would be utterly ridiculous if the cunning British were to reap the benefits in the end!
That's why the president and secretary of state didn't want to talk any further.

Most members of the House and Senate also maintained a neutral and isolated attitude, believing that remaining on the sidelines was the best option.

A few hawks even suggested taking advantage of the situation and launching an immediate attack on Cannavaro to the north, kicking a dog when it's down, so that the Great Unified Federation, the United States of America, and the Ivan Ross Empire could eventually divide the world into three, and the so-called British Empire could be swept into the dustbin of history.

In fact, the most crucial factor in diplomatic maneuvering is the existence of a unified federal government, which greatly influences the United States' decision-making.

If there weren't such a super-industrial nation in the East that was both an enemy and a friend, the United States could have agreed to the United Kingdom's proposal, since no third party could stir up trouble.

Unfortunately, the problem lies in the fact that a large unified federation is a huge variable that cannot be ignored.

Sir Cadogan was utterly helpless by the indifference of the Washington side. He had no choice but to persist, as he was burdened with a heavy responsibility.

Over the next few days, he visited more than a dozen high-ranking Americans, but to no avail.

Little did he know that while he was traveling northeast and west and getting nowhere, Washington and West London had already exchanged information and records of the talks between London's diplomatic envoys.

Both countries are watching the spectacle with amusement.

The United Kingdom's series of diplomatic moves can be described as utterly ridiculous. Its weakened national power made it difficult to protect the interests of its colonies, giving it a sense of desolation like a tiger fallen into the plains. If it weren't for the remaining power of the Royal Navy, it probably wouldn't have been able to hold on to the crumbling pound system.

(End of this chapter)