Chapter 16:
“I believe in only one thing, the power of human will.”
― Joseph Stalin
Chapter 16
“Ah, George. I’ve read your report carefully.”
“Your Excellency, please call me ‘General Marshall’.”
Roosevelt chuckled and ignored Marshall’s earnest request.
He’s too friendly... Marshall thought as he tried to guess why the president had summoned him.
And he soon realized the reason.
“It’s about what Molotov said...”
Molotov had said many things before he left.
The possibility of a post-war conflict between the US and Britain, the Soviet’s active approach to the US, and the gold that the Nazis possessed.
But if Roosevelt had to call him so seriously, there was only one thing that Marshall could think of.
“It could be a counterintelligence from the Soviets, Your Excellency.”
“Yes, George, I feel the same way, but a politician has to consider all possibilities. And the information on Japan’s power is too detailed.”
“‘General Marshall’, Your Excellency.”
Roosevelt laughed again and then became serious.
“Let’s say the Soviets leaked us counterintelligence. Then what is their goal?”The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
Marshall had to think hard for a while before answering.
“If they wanted to benefit Japan, would they give us such detailed information? And if Japan doesn’t act according to this information and the Soviets lose our trust, would they gain anything equivalent by leaking counterintelligence?”
“It could be that Germany moved Japan to break through the Eastern Front. Or the Soviets could have approached us in this way to divert Japan’s attention or attack the US under a secret pact with Japan.”
“Selling their top-secret information on their own fleet? George, you hate the Soviets too much.”
“‘General Marshall’, Your Excellency. And I don’t hate the Soviets, Your Excellency.”
Marshall didn’t think he needed to think too deeply about the authenticity of the information.
It was hard to create information out of nothing, but it was relatively easy to verify the information that came in.
Such a huge plan couldn’t be hidden even if they tried.
There must be some clues somewhere that reveal its identity.
If he knew nothing, he might miss or spend all his energy on finding out what it was, but with such detailed information... verifying it was much easier.
But Marshall was constantly suspicious of the Soviets’ purpose of doing this.
Why would they cooperate so actively with the US, when they were dreaming of expanding their power and antagonizing the world?
The US had supported democracy as a weapon and cooperated with Britain’s war against Germany, but that was largely due to Roosevelt’s intervention.
Roosevelt might not be president forever, but most Americans didn’t want to get involved in ‘Europe’s war’.
No, rather than Europe, it was worse for those terrible Scythians, Bolshevik Reds who were neither European nor Asian.
“America is an island, George. Since Monroe Doctrine, we have been working to make America a backyard of the US, which is no different from an island or a continent. And we succeeded. Britain promised to give up their old junk ships in the Caribbean Sea. But America has a manifest destiny.”
Marshall gave up on pointing out ‘General Marshall’ altogether.
Roosevelt emphasized ‘manifest destiny’. He knew America’s power well.
Many people thought America was just one of the great powers, but in terms of national power, America had long surpassed the level of superpower.
So he wanted America to get its rightful place in the world order.
“But that doesn’t mean we have to build a colonial empire like Britain or France. Colonies require a lot of costs.”
“Is that so, Your Excellency?”
“Just look at how Churchill is struggling to keep his colonies. Colonies cost too much to maintain and manage compared to what they can bring in. It may seem better to steal than to buy raw materials at a fair price.”
Roosevelt imitated Churchill’s coughing and laughed.
He wasn’t just talking about Churchill.
“That’s right! The blacks never worked hard as slaves. They only worked to avoid death. They had no motivation, no vigor at all. But when we gave them wages and freedom, they started working for this great nation! Can you see the patriotism and enthusiasm of the many black youths who volunteer for our army now? Would they have shown that when they were slaves?”
That was the question.
Why waste valuable manpower like that?
Roosevelt smiled as he said that.
It was not only immoral but also inefficient to keep potential and capable humans in a state of slavery.
It was the same for black slaves or colonists.
It was good for everyone that they were freed from subjugation and worked harder.
Except for the lazy colonial imperialists or greedy capitalists who sucked their marrow with a straw attached to their spine.
Oh, and maybe the people who were soaked in great-empire chauvinism?
“What we have to do is clear. Mr. Hitler will break up the colonial empires of Britain and France, and try to build a new colonial empire. But we can stop him with the help of Comrade Stalin.”
That’s why Roosevelt did not hate the Soviet Union.
The Tsar had made them peasants, but the Bolsheviks had made them masters of the nation.
The colonial empires were wary of the rapidly growing Soviet Union, but Roosevelt was not.
No, how could he be?
How could he be wary of such a ‘customer’ who bought so many of our goods?
The businessmen must have thought so too.
When they saw the order form and gold that Molotov brought.
“And when the war in Europe is over... we have to make the colonies free nations, where the people love and work willingly for their own country. While they rebuild their country from the ruins, we can teach them the brains they need, sell them the factories and facilities they need, and sell them all kinds of things.”
That was the point.
If the colonists lived better, they became a better market.
A country that was dirt poor and had no people willing to work was useless. But what if everyone worked hard to make their country prosperous?
It was a good market.
The colonial empires like Britain and France had monopolized and wasted this market.
And they had used their national power to justify their actions.
But Roosevelt was not going to let this go on any longer.
He might have despised the greedy capitalists, but he could not deny their entrepreneurial spirit.
It was the basic idea that built America, and selling goods was good for all Americans.
The only difference was how to sell them. America did not want to sell with guns or cannons like old Churchill.
America wanted to sell by making them love America.
The fatheads in Congress did not understand this at all.
They loved the ‘simple’ way of making and selling guns, and plundering the colonies by squeezing them.
Some capitalists or bankers also liked to erase huge debts and rip off various interests, but anyway.
They had not fully grasped the American continent – some parts of Central and South America – in their hands, so they had put forward the Monroe Doctrine to exclude interference from across the Atlantic, but they all wanted to reach out to the world if they had a chance.
“I think we’ve held on too long. Let’s send everything they need in the Soviet Union as soon as possible. I’ll take care of convincing those stupid fatheads in Congress, especially that Taft bastard. George, you... By the way, what’s with that mustache?”
Marshal smiled awkwardly.
He had always shaved cleanly, but he had started growing a mustache a few days ago.
He didn’t expect the president to point it out like this.
“Oh... this mustache is... ahem... my ‘friend’ wanted me to grow a mustache.”
“Is that so? Haha, you have a friend too, huh? It looks good on you. Anyway, I’ve told you my intentions, so... work hard.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
He rubbed his nose under which his mustache was starting to grow prickly.
When would he see her again?
