Chapter 860 We Have No Choice
Clemenceau understood Gallieni's thoughts and always supported Charles.
It was enough to know that as long as Gallieni was on Charles' side, no one could oppose them.
Clemenceau originally wanted to end the conversation, but after a second thought, he asked with some concern: "Mr. Minister, France also has many colonies, which provide France with extremely important resources and wealth. Are you sure that doing this will not affect France?"
The disintegration of British colonies is not a problem; it is in France's interest.
As the Prime Minister of France, Clemenceau could not betray his country even if he had no patriotism. He had to stand on the side of France.
However.
The disintegration of British colonies would also affect French colonies.
Just like during the French Revolution, the movement to overthrow feudalism quickly spread from France to various European countries, leading to the rise of the parliamentary system.
Gallieni hesitated for a moment, sighed, and asked, "Do you think this is what we want?"
"We", including Ciel.
Clemenceau was stunned: "I don't understand what you mean, Mr. Minister, who can force you to do this?"
Gallieni walked back to his desk and took out a document from the drawer and handed it to Clemenceau: "This is the result of the Second Bureau's investigation in the United States, Mr. Prime Minister."
Clemenceau took the document, glanced at it, and understood it instantly.
It’s the United States, the United States intends to do this!
…
This is what Charles had said to Gallieni a week ago.
"We have no choice, General," Charles said. "We have no choice but to do this, and this is the only way to serve the interests of France."
"Don't take me for a fool, lieutenant general!" Gallieni replied, "Without the colonies, France would not have survived until now. And you say that it is in the interest of France to dismantle the colonies and allow them to move towards independence?"
Gallieni's voice was cold, deep and filled with anger.
Charles's actions have touched Gallieni's bottom line. He will not let anyone touch French colonies under any circumstances. This concerns the future of France.
Not anyone, not even Ciel.
Charles said calmly, "But what if we don't do this, then the United States will do it?"
"No one can do this..." Then Gallieni was stunned and looked at Charles in astonishment: "America? Why would the United States do this?"
"To be number one in the world, General." Charles replied, "To re-establish the rules of this world, to pull Britain down from number one, to crush the future of European countries, and to pull the center of the world towards America!"
Gallieni was confused for a moment: "But what does the dismantling of colonies have to do with this?"
"Of course it matters." Charles handed Gallieni an apple. "You can sit down and talk slowly. Nothing is unsolvable."
A warm feeling rose in Gallieni's heart. He understood that Charles was worried that his anger would trigger old injuries.
However, Gallieni still couldn't calm down. He took the apple and put it on the table: "Tell me what you know."
"I got the news from the Lady in White," Charles replied. "Let me tell you what you already know. The United States is blocking the armistice negotiations in Europe while acting as a 'peacemaker' to mediate. Do you know why?"
Gallieni asked doubtfully: "Isn't it because of the loan?"
"It's not just about loans, General." Charles took a sip of coffee to moisten his throat. "It's also because of the high ground of public opinion. The United States hopes to be the country that resolves world disputes, upholds justice, and judges the right and wrong of various countries. Do you understand?"
Gallieni was speechless with shock.
He had never thought about this. Even during the period of Britain's heyday, it had no such idea. It was just greedy and unscrupulous in launching wars to compete for colonies around the world, and it would attack anyone who did not submit.
But on second thought, he realized that the United States' methods were superior.
Because once the United States becomes what Charles calls the "high ground of public opinion" and has the right to speak, it will be able to become the "world judge" and the "world police."
In the future, all countries in the world will become its playthings, and it can do whatever it wants with them. If anyone disobeys, it will gather a bunch of so-called "civilized countries" to launch sanctions and attacks against them.
It doesn't even need to take action directly.
Charles then analyzed: "And to achieve this, I mean for the United States to occupy the commanding heights of public opinion, the first thing to do is to gain the support and recognition of the majority of countries in the world."
At this point, Charles slowed down his speech and asked Gallieni: "General, what do you think will allow the United States to gain the support and recognition of most countries?"
Gallieni immediately thought of the answer: "Support the colonies to move towards independence?"
Charles nodded slightly:
“First, the United States had so few colonies that the land taken from Mexico was considered territory rather than colonies.”
"And it was the European countries that had the large colonies."
"England, France, Holland, Portugal, etc."
Gallieni understood, and he added:
"The United States will issue a call to support the independence of colonies around the world."
"It would do negligible harm to itself, but would gain enormous national prestige."
But Gallieni still didn't believe it. He turned his head and looked at Charles: "But this is just your guess, isn't it?"
Charles took out a photo from his pocket: "This is the photo taken by the 'Lady in White' at the home of an American congressman. I'm not sure if it can be used as evidence."
Gallieni took it and looked at it. It was a document with a line of words written in English: "Handle colonial disputes fairly and adhere to the principle of national self-determination..."
(Note: The principle of national self-determination had been proposed before, but it was not until the Fourteen Points of Peace proposed by US President Wilson in 1918 that it was publicly presented in the international community. Ironically, Wilson proposed national self-determination but refused to grant the right to national self-determination to the American colonies.)
Gallieni was so angry that his thick eyebrows were raised. He snorted and slammed the photo on the table. "I always thought that it (referring to the United States) wanted Britain's status. Now it seems that it wants the whole of Europe to submit to it, and the whole world."
Charles leaned back in his chair and said in a relaxed tone:
"Now, tell me, General. What else can we do in this situation?"
“If we don’t fight for the high ground of public opinion, if we don’t give the colonies freedom and more power, what will be the consequences?”
“Also, who will benefit in the end?”
If we still want to hold on to our own territory and suppress the colonial independence movement at this time, we will fall into the trap set by the United States.
The more suppression there is, the more Europe will be pushed to the opposite side of the world, and the more the hearts of the people in the colonies will turn towards the United States, even if the United States only says a few words and does nothing.
In the end, European countries will get nothing. The cost of suppression and war cannot offset the income from colonies. They will also lose their voice and become puppets of the United States.
(End of this chapter)
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