Chapter 75 More in line with the interests of the United States
However, although on the last night before entering the Northeast, a sharp blow was made to the amount of material and equipment assistance allocated to the Anti-Japanese Alliance in the two years starting next year, it cannot exceed the requirements of Chongqing standards. Hope Jinzhi did not implement it thoroughly, leaving a certain amount of room for the Anti-League to a certain extent.
According to the amount of assistance Hopkins has been considering for Chongqing's military equipment, military raw materials and other materials, in addition to aircraft, the amount of heavy equipment discussed today also exceeds, although the Anti-Japanese Alliance only requires Heavy equipment, but Chongqing even needs pistols and bullets, and light weapons and ammunition account for a large proportion.
It is obvious that compared to Chongqing, this Communist Party army hopes to produce enough equipment for its own use. Therefore, in addition to the large demand for heavy equipment, they also ask for more indirect military raw materials and so on. If the combat supplies were based on the number of weapons allocated to the National Government, then they would get nothing.
The quota of materials and military raw materials left for the Anti-Japanese Alliance was decided after repeated research based on the military industrial capabilities of the Anti-Japanese Alliance provided by the Soviets. In his opinion, it could increase the military strength of the Anti-Japanese Alliance without exceeding the quota given to the Anti-Japanese Alliance. As for the amount of assistance from Chongqing in two years, he will make a decision based on the development of the entire world situation.
However, he did not mention this matter to the British. He did not care much about how much equipment the British gave to the Anti-Japanese Alliance, because Hopkins knew very well that the British would spend some money to assist the Chinese. Although they Apart from a loan of 20 million pounds, they insisted on not giving any weapons and equipment to Chongqing, but it was obvious that the British were much more interested in this army.
But at the moment, the British, who also need a large amount of blood transfusions from the United States to maintain the war, must give priority to aiding the Soviet Union and ensure their own use before the arrival of large quantities of American aid supplies. Then they can only provide assistance to the Anti-Japanese Alliance. Staying in a symbolic sense, what we can provide now is just a batch of old British-made tanks that have been replaced with American-made tanks.
But what Yang Zhen said before made Hopkins, who had never changed his mind easily, feel a little hesitant about this drastic reduction. The young guy was right. Compared to Chongqing, What they faced was the most elite Japanese military strategic group.
Judging from the current limited information, the Japanese army in mainland China is incomparable in terms of equipment and strength. In terms of elite level, it is far from comparable to the Japanese army in other directions. The pressure they bear is almost More than the American and British armies in the entire Southeast Asia.
If they do not receive assistance with heavy weapons and a sufficient amount of materials, it will be difficult for the United States to realize their expectations. Once the Japanese army in Manchuria moves south in a large scale, the United States and Britain, which are weak in Southeast Asia, will be in trouble. It would be a disastrous consequence.
Moreover, what he said is not wrong. They now only have the strength to barely confront the Kwantung Army. Once the Japanese army comes out in full force, it will be an unbearable pressure for them. Once they collapse, the situation of the entire world will be affected. It would be extremely detrimental and would affect the fundamental interests of the United States.
In other words, for the current interests of the United States, the stronger they are, the more in line with the interests of the United States. As the main maker of White House policy, Hopkins knows that for a long time to come, the strategic focus of the United States must be On the European battlefield, because Europe is the root of Americans.
In the eyes of Americans, the Japanese cannot compete with the Germans in terms of national or military strength. The Japanese are just a plague of scabies. The Germans are the focus of the Americans to deal with. On the future battlefield , Americans are destined to put most of their energy on the European battlefield and will not invest major forces in the Pacific battlefield against Japan.
If at this time, neither Chongqing nor the Anti-Japanese Alliance are defeated, it will not be in the strategic interests of the United States, especially on the Chinese battlefield. This lone army, located in a corner of the Northeast, has contained the largest strategic group of the entire Japanese army and enhanced their strength. , for Americans there are only advantages and no disadvantages.
Because even if they don't attack, the Japanese will not be able to increase their military strength in Southeast Asia. The United States still knows about the industry in South Manchuria. They know about the coal and iron resources left in South Manchuria, as well as the military industry in Fengtian and the oil in Fushun. Shale refining, special steel industry, steel from Anshan and Benxi Lake, magnesium from Jinxi, grain from Manchuria, coal from Fushun and Fuxin, the Japanese simply have no ability to challenge the Americans.
Even for the sake of South Manchuria's industry, the Japanese must eliminate this anti-Japanese armed force that has now reached a very close distance from South Manchuria. The Japanese are a scabies problem to Americans, and this force has threatened The military, whose war capabilities have been compromised, has become a serious concern for them.
At this time, any plan to weaken or reduce their combat capabilities and continuous offensive capabilities is not in the interest of the United States. As for Chongqing, they are too far away from the core of Japan. It is more appropriate to maintain their basic combat capabilities for now. Some.
But the telegram from the White House put him in a dilemma again. He knew that the owner of the White House, who was always known for his strong will, could change his mind at such a critical moment. He must have thought carefully and not simply. It was so easy for Chongqing to exert pressure, so he brought Pearson over to have a detailed discussion with him about how much of the responsibilities this army can bear that the United States hopes they can bear, and how to do it to be more in line with the interests of the United States. .
After returning to his station, Hopkins did not beat around the bush and said directly: "Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, now you are the person who knows this army best among all Americans, and you also have the most say and suggestions. Yes, I want to ask you about your attitude and opinions on this matter."
In response to Hopkins' question, Pearson hesitated slightly and said: "Sir, regarding my evaluation of this army, I have formed a complete report in Moscow and made a detailed report to you and Ambassador Harriman. Now, I don’t have anything more to say.”
"However, I personally think that if the influence and attitude of Chongqing are not considered, if they obtain advanced weapons from the United States, then this army will give us more help on the battlefield, because the environment they are currently in determines that they will not only fight There is no way out except to the end.”
"They are isolated in a corner of Manchuria, semi-surrounded by Japanese troops in the east and south directions. They are not directly bordered by any area in China. They do not have any room for maneuver. In other words, they can only defeat them on the battlefield. There is no way out except the enemy."
"If they want to survive, they can only fight the Japanese army to the end and survive in the battle. Mr. Hopkins, personally, this is a trustworthy army. Their fighting will and determination, He is extremely tenacious. It can be said that I have never seen him in other armies."
"And judging from the environment they are in, their awareness of active attack is even stronger. Because their geographical location determines that they have almost no capital to fight a defensive war. Once a certain line of defense is breached, their core control area will be destroyed." They will be directly exposed to the gunfire of the Japanese army, and this loss is unbearable for them."
"Although their leaders at all levels appear to be too young, they are good at coping with various difficulties and learning. Whether it is strategy or tactics, they are very targeted. It can almost be said that they study Japanese tactics specifically. They The thorough study of Japanese strategy and tactics far exceeds that of the U.S. Army."
"Sorry, Mr. Hopkins, you have also met their leaders. Apart from being young, I can't think of any other adjective, but they are a group of eagles that are growing rapidly. Through the results of several battles, Look, their fighting power is far beyond our imagination."
"The most important thing is that although they have their backs to the Soviet Union, they have been trying to get rid of the influence of the Soviets on them. They are extremely defensive about the Soviets. Although they have the same beliefs as the Soviets, they obviously do not We don’t trust the Soviets, so it would be in our interests if we could increase our assistance to them.”
"Whether Manchuria is stable or not, and how important it is for Japan to maintain this war, the White House should be very clear. The Japanese will never give up on Manchuria, especially the industrial base in South Manchuria. The Chinese have a saying called "The side of the couch" , How can we allow them to sleep soundly? The meaning of this sentence is that we will never allow others to threaten us in any way."
"Japanese culture is deeply influenced by Chinese traditional culture. They know this very well. At present, the Anti-Japanese Alliance has threatened its industrial base in southern Manchuria, posing a huge threat to the Japanese to maintain their war potential. Even in order to ensure the stability of Manchuria , becoming a stable rear area for the Japanese in the war."
"Judging from the current position of the confrontation line between them and the Japanese, they have already posed a direct threat to South Manchuria. After the Kwantung Army is replenished, even if they do not deploy all the troops to attack this army, the strength of the Kwantung Army will be strengthened. Hold on to their strategic positions in southern Manchuria."
"Mr. Hopkins, think about it. If we maintain their offensive capabilities, it will only benefit us and not cause any harm. Although General Yang Zhen is a bit too strong, there is one thing he has not said Wrong, think about it, once all the hundreds of thousands of well-equipped and well-trained Kwantung Army troops in Manchuria go south, what will happen to the United States."
"Even if we have to impose certain restrictions on the number of ground weapons, I think we should increase the number of combat aircraft. If they can launch strategic air strikes against Japan after the war breaks out, it will be quite beneficial to us. , especially Japan’s shipbuilding industry and steel industry, will play a considerable role in destroying Japan’s war potential. After all, they are the anti-Japanese armed force closest to Japan at the moment.”
In response to Pearson's answer, Hopkins was silent for a moment, quickly drafted a telegram of several thousand words in length and handed it to Pearson, and then said: "I still need to think about this matter more carefully. You go back first, draft a telegram of our conversation today, and together with this telegram, have the embassy in Moscow forward it directly to Washington."
"Remember, go through the Moscow embassy, not the embassy in Chongqing. Your Excellency the President is about to send a special envoy to visit Chongqing. I don't want anything unpleasant to happen at this time. Some of the people in our embassy in Chongqing are not Very reliable.”
"When Major General Stilwell comes back, tell him that I need a detailed observation report from him. It will be from the perspective of a U.S. Army major general, not an intelligence officer. As for the rest, the Chinese and I will meet tonight After the talks, we are studying, let’s see how big an appetite our Chinese friends have.”