Out of some common stance towards the Soviet Union, the British and American diplomatic delegations had a brief communication before the arrival of the Soviet delegation, so that they knew each other's basic bottom line, especially the bottom line facing the Soviet Union.
Alan Wilson is not a direct negotiator. His current role is much the same as before, that of liaison between Foreign Secretary Robert Anthony Eden and the negotiating diplomats, including Eiful.
In other words, he is a messenger who conveys the intentions of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary to the diplomats directly participating in the negotiations.
Alan Wilson cherished this opportunity very much, as if he was inspired by the glorious years of the British Empire for three hundred years.
For example, the relationship between civil servants and politicians in elections cannot be too rigid.
If politicians want to have a bad relationship, they can also attack the cabinet secretary, but they usually don't do this.
The photo of Churchill and Truman standing side by side will immediately appear on the pages of major British newspapers. Alan Wilson has no doubt about this. The general election is coming soon, and Churchill will not miss this opportunity.
"Actually, the Americans are still most concerned about the war against Japan. They have communicated with us on this issue and hope that we can take a common position here and promote the Soviet Union's war against Japan." Alan Wilson reported the first-hand news to the Foreign Secretary.
Robert Eden.
"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 understanding of Eastern issues.
I know, what do you think?"
Then it depends on what exactly the Eastern problem is? The East is huge! Although he thought so in his heart, Alan Wilson could not stop answering, "It seems that the Soviet Union does not have decent maritime power. How can it swim to Japan?"
"Yes, that's the problem." Robert Eden smiled and said, "I knew it during the negotiation."
Alan Wilson nodded. Historically, the general trend of the Potsdam Conference regarding the war against Japan was that the United States asked the Soviet Union at the beginning of the negotiations. After the nuclear bomb was successfully detonated, the Soviet Union asked the United States.
On the subject of the war against Japan, the British attitude was happy to see the results, but would not be particularly interested in it. Of course, Alan Wilson knew that General Mountbatten, who was still in British India, was actually interested and advocated an invasion.
Complete liquidation of Japan itself.
Churchill and Robert Eden had different views. They had no interest in attacking the Japanese mainland, but they could support the Americans morally. The huge casualties caused by attacking the Japanese mainland could make the Americans pay a little more.
I just want to think so, but I cannot say it out loud. I hope that Japan and the United States will fight to the end, and that the United States and the Soviet Union will attack Japan together. This is the future that the British Empire hopes for.
As for what the Americans think, if they want Japan to surrender, they must give Japan a major military blow, otherwise Japan will not surrender. The main countries fighting Japan are China and the United States. The United States has the ability to counterattack, but the price it pays is too high
, the United States is not willing either.
There is also the fact that Britain also fought Japan in the Far East, but failed. Britain, which had just finished fighting in the European battlefield, had no ability to fight Japan in the Far East. Therefore, the United States could only ask the Soviet Union to declare war on Japan at this time, which could reduce its own
pressure to make Japan surrender as soon as possible.
On the issue of war 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 train bound for Berlin, in Stalin's own carriage, Molotov held a stack of documents, which were also the Soviet Union's position prepared to express at the Potsdam Conference.
"Comrade Molotov, when it comes to the issue of fighting Japan, the United States must have been very eager at the beginning. Although we have decided to join in, we cannot easily agree. We mainly emphasize the division of Europe to divert Truman's attention.
Stalin said indifferently, "Beria said that with our current merchant ship strength, it is actually very difficult to support the war against Japan. We cannot let the Americans transport our soldiers to Japan, otherwise we will lose the initiative."
"I think we can find a way from Germany!" Molotov thought for a moment and said, "request Britain and the United States to deliver all remaining German merchant ships to the Soviets as compensation."
The Soviet Union is really not good at maritime power. Before the war broke out, the number of commercial transport ships was 1.3 million tons. Now after the war, it has become 1.4 million tons. Not to mention that it is incomparable with Britain and the United States, but only with Germany and Italy.
Compared with the tonnage of the Japanese and Axis powers of four to five million each, they are not on the same level.
The war has continued for many years, and the commercial transport ships of Germany, Italy and Japan have almost lost. Maybe the Axis powers, which each had 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 purpose, we must pay attention to the methods." Stalin nodded in approval and said, "With the addition of the German fleet, the transport capacity for the war against Japan should be enough."
The first communication between Britain and the United States in Berlin has been completed. It is impossible to know what the Soviets who are still on the road think.
However, regarding the tonnage issue of this fleet alone, Alan Wilson really knows clearly that Germany currently has a fleet of 800,000 tons that can be used. Compared with the pre-war scale of nearly 5 million tons, it is a loss of hundreds of millions.
It's more than 80%, but it depends on how you use it.
Whether the Japanese Navy still has fuel or not is a problem. The warships can’t even get fuel, so what can the warships do?
On June 28, the train carrying the Soviet delegation arrived in Berlin. Then Stalin and Molotov led the Soviet delegation to Potsdam and arrived at the Cecilienhof Palace. At this point, Stalin, one of the Big Three, arrived at the Potsdam Conference
on site.
On the lawn of the Cecilienhof Palace, the three giants of the Allied Powers, Stalin, Churchill and Truman, stood side by side, smiling and allowing reporters around them to take photos.
"The kind father of all nations!" Not far away, Alan Wilson twitched the corners of his mouth and said words that only he could hear.
While the leaders of the three countries were taking photos 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, simply put, everyone talked about their own things. Because of the different issues raised, the division of camps also changed at any time. The United States did not side with the British on all issues. The previous special relationship between Britain and the United States was changed at the meeting.
After it started, it was gone.
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 meeting on the first day basically made no progress.