White House, Oval Office.

US President Theodore Roosevelt sat behind a large desk, leaning back on the back of an office chair. On his desk, there were telegrams sent back by the US Consulate in Qingdao.

On the sofa and chair in front of Roosevelt's desk were seated by Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Secretary of State Elihue Root and War Secretary William Howard Taft.

Roosevelt pointed to the telegram and said: "The East China government has expressed its willingness to accept our mediation and conduct peace negotiations with Russia and Japan. What do you think?"

Fairbanks said: "Although the East China government is willing to accept our mediation, the conditions they offer are too much."

Rut shook his head and said, "Charles, I don't think the conditions of the East China government are too much, because they are the winners of this war. As winners, it is normal for the losers to ask for compensation from the losers, and this is not an exaggeration."

Fairbanks said: "But I think Russia and Japan cannot accept this condition. There has been a serious social crisis in Russia. We must maintain a tough attitude towards the outside world to maintain the authority of the government. If the Russian government chooses to compromise, it will inevitably trigger a greater social crisis, and even the government will find it difficult to maintain it. Although Japan has not had a social crisis, the domestic economy is on the verge of collapse. If we ask the East China government to pay a large amount of compensation, the economic crisis will inevitably turn into a social crisis, and the Japanese government will be in danger of collapse. Therefore, Russia and Japan cannot negotiate with the East China government based on compensation. I suggest that pressure should be put on the East China government to give up the conditions for compensation."

Roosevelt was silent for a moment before saying, "Elihue, what do you think."

Rut said: "I agree with Charles's speech. Russia and Japan have sufficient reasons to refuse to pay compensation to the East China government, but please don't forget that the East China government also has reasons to insist on obtaining compensation. They have paid a huge price for this war. They have issued bonds worth 60 million pounds in our United States and Germany respectively. Their annual fiscal revenue is less than 10 million pounds. This huge debt is of course paid with compensation. Moreover, as the winner of this war, the East China government has no reason to give up its worthy interests."

Roosevelt couldn't help but smile and said, "This is a bit difficult. All three parties have their own reasons to ask for compensation or refuse compensation. What should I do? It's so difficult that this mediation will not be successful?"

Rut said: "Of course not. Although the three parties have their own reasons, it depends on the strength of the three parties, or which party can persist more. In this regard, I am more optimistic about the East China government."

Fairbanks said: "But the war has not yet ended completely. The Russian army still occupies Shenyang and has 300,000 troops. Although Japan withdrew from the Far East battlefield, it still has the power to fight again. Now it has launched an attack on the Yalu River defense line of the People's Army. Therefore, it is probably a little early to say that the East China government has won the war."

Roosevelt frowned and turned his head and said, "William, do you think Russia and Japan still have a chance on the battlefield?"

Taft shook his head and said, "His Excellency President, I think Russia and Japan have no chance. Although the Russian army still occupies Chenyang, there is only this lonely city without any support or support. The reason why the People's Army has not attacked Chenyang is mainly because it does not want to consume its own troops and wants to use the 300,000 Russian troops as their bargaining chips for negotiations. And Japan is the same. The People's Army's navy has cut off the ties between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese, and the Japanese army has also not supplemented the support. Therefore, the Japanese attack is not With follow-up power, and so far, the Japanese attack has been launched for 10 days, but it still failed to break through the People's Army's defense line. This shows that the Japanese attack does not have much threat to the People's Army. I think in a few days, Japan will mainly withdraw its troops or the East China government will launch a counterattack. At this time, unless the People's Army itself makes a major mistake, Russia and Japan will not have any chance. Judging from the performance of the People's Army after participating in the war, it is probably difficult to wait for them to make such mistakes."

Roosevelt thoughtfully: "So Japan and Russia can only accept the conditions of the East China government?"

Lute nodded and said, "Otherwise they will lose more."

Fairbanks said: "There is still a way. We can put pressure on the East China government to give up compensation."

Rut looked at Fairbanks and said with a serious expression: "Charles, is this going to make the United States give up its notarization position in this mediation?"

Fairbanks said: "If you are for the national interest of the United States, you can stand any position."

Roosevelt said slowly: "Charles, give up the notarization position to help Russia and Japan. What is the benefit of doing this for us in the United States."

Fairbanks said: "President, let's first look at the gains of the East China government on the battlefield. They will obtain vast land in Northeast China and seize Russia's last port in the Far East - Vladivostok, and at the same time, it is possible to expand its power to the Korean Peninsula. Before that, they have forced the Qing Kingdom to formally recognize that they are an independent regime and also obtain the territory and population of Henan Province. Therefore, it is only income from the battlefield. The East China government will be a huge political body with a territory of more than 1 million square kilometers and a population of 60-70 million. If he If we get compensation again, we will not only pay off our foreign debt immediately, but also get a large amount of development funds. Russia not only loses all the interests of China's northeast China, but also loses Vladivostok and completely loses its foothold in the Far East. It will be almost impossible to affect the situation in the Far East in the future. Japan has already suffered huge losses in this battle. If we still have to compensate the East China government, it will be difficult to restore its national strength within 10 years. Therefore, the East China government will dominate the world without any restraint in the Far East. Our United States has major interests in Asia, which is a very unfavorable situation for the United States."

Roosevelt sneered for a while and said, "Then what can we change by putting pressure on the East China government to force the East China government to give up its compensation requirements for Russia and Japan?"

Fairbanks said: "We can delay the development speed of the East China government. If we do not receive compensation, the East China government will have to use most of its finances to pay the principal and interest of bonds in recent years. In this way, there will be no funds to invest in construction, and the speed of its development will naturally be delayed. During this period, we can vigorously support Japan, so that Japan can restore its national strength as soon as possible, and restrain the East China government. This is our interests."

Roosevelt thought for a while and said, "Charles, your idea is good, but I have another question, that is, have you considered, how can we use to pressure the East China government to force them to give up the claim for compensation?"

Fairbanks has not answered yet, and Rutt has said: "President, I think there is no other effective way except for us to go directly to the war."

Roosevelt immediately shook his head and said, "It is absolutely not feasible to participate in the war directly, and the people will never agree. Therefore, we can only adopt non-war means."

Rut shrugged, spread his hands and said, "Then there will be nothing."

Fairbanks hesitated for a moment and said, "Is it okay to use economic means? The East China government has issued 30 million pounds of bonds in the United States. We can ask the East China government to repay in advance, or terminate the trade relations with the East China government and impose economic sanctions on them."

Rut shook his head repeatedly and said, "Bonds themselves are commercial activities and have fixed periods. As long as the East China government pays interest on time and returns the principal, the government has no right to ask the East China government to repay in advance. To terminate trade with the East China government and impose economic sanctions on them, these will not only harm our interests, but will not be enough to make the East China government surrender. It will only make the United States establish an additional enemy. Since our pressure is ineffective, why do this useless work? It is better to take this mediation as an opportunity to strengthen and even expand the economic and political relations with the East China government. This is also to protect our interests in Asia."

Roosevelt nodded and said, "It is a wise choice to be with the winner, not as enemies."

Fairbanks said: "But..."

Roosevelt waved his hand and interrupted him: "Charles, I understand your concern. It is indeed not in the interests of our United States to make the East China government dominant in the Far East. But as Elihu said, we really have no good way to curb the development of the East China government. The economy alone cannot stop the East China government. Moreover, a strong East China government is not the only one that is not conducive to the United States, but also Britain, and France. They have greater interests in Asia than us. Moreover, because Britain and France support Japan and Russia respectively, and have had bad relations with the East China government, we have at least maintained good relations with the East China government. Therefore, the emergency should be Britain and France now. They will naturally find ways to curb the East China government. We do not need to come forward to be this "evil man", just watch the show."

While he was talking, he heard a knock on the door. Roosevelt's secretary came in and handed Roosevelt a black folder. Roosevelt opened it and smiled, saying, "Look, Britain and France have taken action faster than we expected."
Chapter completed!