For Mitterrand, the U.S. Consul General in Singapore, today's experience is legendary. After receiving a telegram personally signed by President Roosevelt and being asked to help the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia evacuate Singapore, he felt that this evacuation operation would not be smooth sailing.
Mitterrand's worry came from the Japanese. He was worried that once the Japanese saw through the compatriots' attempts to take military action, what would he do? Should he risk his life to continue to protect the compatriots, or should he just protect the interests of his own citizens?
The expected obstruction from the Japanese had not yet appeared, but the British intervened and actually attacked the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia with swords and guns. This caught him by surprise, and he was still unable to make up his mind on which side to side with.
The British army and the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia helped him make a choice - the battle soon extended to the US Consulate. The fierce fighting outside the US Consulate lasted for half an hour. Although both warring parties were very restrained, it was still unstoppable.
It avoided accidental injuries to American expatriates in the consulate. What is lamentable is that all of the injured people hold dual British and American nationalities. They became the focus of this battle for no reason. Mitterrand felt at first inexplicable and at a loss.
, and then after thinking about it for a while, he understood the reason. After figuring out the truth of the matter, the Americans were very angry - the British were too despicable. It was just that they couldn't defeat the Japanese on a frontal battlefield. How could they fight with unarmed civilians?
What about the people fighting for the right to flee the war zone? And the most abominable thing is that they didn't even say hello to them in advance - this is what allies should do. As a politician, Mitterrand looked at the problem more profoundly than a soldier. He therefore
Think about it, what will happen if the Japanese become aware of this and mistakenly believe that the Americans' evacuation is to help the British retreat? Is the safety of the two thousand American citizens and the evacuation fleet secondary?
Yes, if not done well, the United States will be dragged into this war! Earlier, he just thought that the British were too despicable. After thinking about this, he added another evaluation: The British are too bad!
Compared with the despicable and bad British, the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia are much kinder and friendlier. The Sing Hwa Volunteer Army drove away the British, and the overseas Chinese leader Tan Kah Kee found Mitterrand, patted his chest and promised him: In order to repay the United States
The government's goodwill will ensure the safety of American citizens no matter what happens next; if you have to sacrifice, please rest assured that our people will stand in front of you.
A distance reveals a horse's power, and a crisis reveals a true friend. Mitterrand was moved and shook Tan Kah Kee's hand: "Sir, please don't worry, we Americans are not British, and we will not abandon our friends when they are in danger."
. To use an old saying from your country, let us be in the same boat!"
Grant was the person in charge of the "evacuation fleet" and Mitterrand was the organizer of the "American expatriates". They both sided with the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia. At this point, the British had lost the opportunity to play the emotional card.
Bai Sihua didn't know this. After meeting Grant at the dock, he felt that he could gain sympathy from the Americans by virtue of his deep alliance, and behaved in an extraordinarily gentlemanly and low-key manner. He repeatedly apologized to Grant and explained that they had
This was really a last resort, so I asked Grant and Mitterrand for forgiveness, and finally made a request to help them evacuate some troops no matter what, and even if it didn't work, they would have to free up a 10,000-ton cruise ship or merchant ship for them.
"We will not occupy the cabins of your expatriates, but with so many ships, it is no problem for the Chinese to squeeze in, right?" Finally, he said.
Grant spoke very little and behaved politely. After all, the other party was a general. After all, Britain and the United States were allies. After all, this evacuation operation still needed the support of the British side. However, this did not mean that he would treat his superiors like a subordinate.
That way, he would absolutely obey Bai Sihua. Otherwise, he would not have supported Zhang Liangfeng in expelling the British troops to occupy the dock. After the unpleasant encounter before, and now he understands, the reason why the fighting broke out in the city was because the British felt that this
It was an excellent opportunity to retreat, and he wanted to deprive the countrymen of their chance of survival. Deep down in his heart, he had already looked down upon the British. He wanted to say: Sir, your army has the courage to risk the world's injustice and the countrymen.
To seize the opportunity to escape, why can't he fight to the death with the Japanese and defeat them? After thinking for a while, he still said without hesitation: "General, there is something I must explain to you. We only have six ships here.
Three of them are used to transport expatriates. If you want to take this opportunity to leave Singapore, you should ask the Chinese people. They have prepared enough ships. By the way, if you need it, I can introduce you to the Chinese authorities.
The person in charge, Mr. Zhang Liangfeng.”
Bai Sihua was stunned for a moment, then thought for a while and said: "Colonel, what do you mean? Don't the Chinese ships come under your command? We only agreed to your government's evacuation operation. If this is the case, then the Chinese people have illegally entered our territorial waters.
Already."
Bai Sihua was only halfway through what he said when Grant understood what he meant. After listening to what he said, he couldn't help but became anxious and said: "Of course the Chinese ships are under my command, but I don't have the power to distribute them. General, please
One thing I have to explain to you is that the reason why we agreed to the Chinese people in Singapore and Malaysia to rescue the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia in our name is because our government agreed to the country's request. General, as far as I know, you have just signed an agreement with the country and France.
We have signed a military cooperation covenant, and as an ally, I think we can discuss anything!"
"You want me to discuss it with the Chinese?" Bai Sihua looked at Grant with wide eyes and said, his displeasure evident in his expression. He came to see Grant in a low-key manner and apologized as soon as he opened his mouth. He already felt that he had given the Americans enough face.
He believed that as allies, the Americans should stop reciprocating favors and stand decisively on their side. But what Grant said was far from what he expected.
Bai Sihua's attitude suddenly became stiff and vaguely hostile. Grant became increasingly unhappy and simply stopped talking. Just as the expatriate team had already appeared in sight, he did not want to waste time here anymore, so he paid tribute to Bai Sihua.
He noted the military salute and said: "General, our expatriates have already arrived, so I won't accompany you!" Then he waved and led a group of his men back to the dock to greet Mitterrand and the others.
As soon as Grant left with his men, about a platoon of Jewish cadets stepped forward with guns in hand and stood in front of Bai Sihua and his men. The cadets did not have a good impression of the British, and because they were U.S. Marines
Their identities were fake, so they behaved extravagantly. They stared at Bai Sihua and others with eager eyes, pointing their guns directly at their feet, which immediately made Bai Sihua furious.
Nearly three hours after the "evacuation fleet" docked at the Sin Chew Pier, Grant and Mitterrand, the two leaders of the American evacuation operation, finally met. Grant saw the wounded immigrants and asked about them.
He was wounded by the British (this is not a slander, after all, the British started the battle), and his opinion of the British became even worse. And Mitterrand listened to him talk about the "requisition order".
Later, he became very disgusted with the tyranny of the British. When he learned that Grant had just rejected Bai Sihua's unreasonable request, he clapped his hands and said, "You are right. This is how you should deal with these British guys who bully the weak and fear the strong and have no morals."