Oh, so that's how it is," Roosevelt said without hesitation. "That's no problem at all. Just coordinate with the military. I don't think Ike would mind someone helping him solve some problems." So he was just following the Allies to pick up scraps! Thinking of the "Overlord Plan" that was about to be implemented. Once the plan succeeds, a large amount of supplies will definitely be seized. The military has no interest in the German scraps at all. At most, they will transport some of them for testing. If someone is willing to transport the scraps, it will save the military some trouble. As for the cost of collection and transportation, it will definitely be much cheaper than re-production. After agreeing, Roosevelt smiled. "Does he have any other requirements? "
As a politician, Roosevelt knew very well that this small request could not exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars in reputation, and the other party's request was not just that.
The guy's real request might be yet to come, but with the request, there is no need to worry about other things. After all, the exchange of interests is mutual and also a mutual guarantee.
"Transport ship,"
Truman looked at the president and said.
"He hopes that the US government can provide 50 Liberty ships to the North Borneo Shipping Company under the Lend-Lease Act. "
Instantly, the Oval Office fell silent, and the smile on Roosevelt's face slowly disappeared, and his brows were slightly locked.
After Truman made that suggestion, he immediately sent someone to investigate George. His ancestral home was in Nanjing. He fled to French Indochina to avoid the war, and later went to France. Because of the war, he stayed in France and fled to Britain until last year. Then his life was like a cheat. He acquired many companies including North Borneo Company at a low price and became a supplier to the Pentagon. Among all the companies under his name, North Borneo Company is the most special.
The reason why he frowned was not that 50 Liberty Ships were worth $100 million, but... the meaning of it!
"Sir, North Borneo Company is a British chartered company with administrative functions. If we provide it with ships under the Lend-Lease Act, it will undoubtedly indirectly recognize his control over North Borneo, which is bound to cause Churchill's dissatisfaction. "
Hopkins reminded on the side.
Oval Office.
The air conditioner was humming, and although the cool breeze was pleasant, the mood of several people was a little confused.
"So, he hopes to provide ships to North Borneo Shipping Company, not North Borneo Company. "
In fact, everyone knows that this is a word game. As long as merchant ships are provided in the Lend-Lease Act, it is to show the attitude of the United States - while recognizing the North Borneo Company, it also recognizes his ownership of the company.
Roosevelt frowned.
In fact, he knew that this matter must have a certain price to pay, but he did not expect that the guy was plotting a colony.
Will this affect the relationship with Britain?
It will definitely cause Churchill's dissatisfaction.
When Roosevelt speculated about the possible consequences in his mind, he found himself in a dilemma.
He even subconsciously wanted to refuse, perhaps he could give the other party more compensation in other ways.
However...
Roosevelt stared at Truman and thought about it.
"Harry, do you think we should agree to him?"
"Among the recipients of the Lend-Lease Act, there are both French colonies and British colonies. Mr. President, no matter what we give them now, it will not affect the attitude of Britain and France towards colonies after the war. "
Looking up at Truman, Roosevelt understood what he meant, but he turned his eyes to Hopkins.
"Mr. President, I think Prime Minister Churchill will understand, especially at this time."
The time he mentioned refers to the "Overlord Plan". Now the plan has reached the implementation stage. At this critical period, Churchill will never let anything affect the plan.
North Borneo... is just a tropical rainforest far away in Asia.
Roosevelt was silent for a while.
The office seemed unusually quiet for a while.
Then he waved his hand and smiled.
"He is indeed a very good negotiator. He knows how to make the right conditions at the right time. Harry, if you have time, you can invite him to the White House. "
As the president's agent, how could he not go to the White House?
Everything that followed was simple. Under the arrangement of the White House, George accepted an interview in which he revealed the inside story of donating arms - a secret operation arranged by the president.
President,
Secret operation,
These words themselves are very eye-catching. When several major newspapers reported on his interview, reporters naturally "dug" out more detailed inside information through various channels.
What intelligence agencies intercepted Japanese military intelligence, what the president had to use friends to avoid bureaucratic influence and provided a large number of arms to China in the name of donations, even including Italian pilots, that was also the result of the president's foresight.
In a word, the total The president did not do nothing as the outside world said, but did a lot of things, but it was not known to the outside world.
Under careful planning and packaging, the rumor of "Europe first, no fighting against the devils" was broken, and Roosevelt easily survived the crisis.
As the president's agent, George naturally appeared at the White House reception and chatted cordially with Roosevelt. Of course, all this was a show, a show for outsiders.
As the person involved, George was naturally very clear about this, but other people at the reception did not know this. The uncle who thanked the president naturally did not know it. Of course, the British ambassador did not know the inside story. He even took the initiative to find George and told him that he hoped to discuss the matter of North Borneo with him at the right time, and And said that the Colonial Office has considered that his acquisition of North Borneo is in compliance with British law.
This is the effect of the tiger skin. Britain recognized his control over North Borneo. This result was within George's expectations, because of the time - it is now May, and Britain and the United States will implement "Operation Overlord" next month. At this time, for Churchill, what he fears most is complications.
He will never let a North Borneo company affect his grand plan to counterattack the European continent. When the plan was first formulated, George had already included Churchill and Roosevelt in it. One of them wanted to win the fourth re-election, and the other wanted to counterattack the European continent!
The time... This time is just right!
After chatting with the British ambassador for a while, another Russian ambassador came over, and the other party told I quit and left the space to them. But I didn't have any common topics with the other party, just a polite greeting.
At the White House banquet, George was definitely not the protagonist, the real protagonist was still Roosevelt, looking at Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair like a star and Truman who was not noticed in the corner.
Who would have thought that the real winner would be someone else?
Thinking of this, George cast his eyes on Truman and smiled slightly. This guy is the real winner.
And for himself, all he needs is to stand with the winner.
But the big winner at the moment is still Roosevelt. Thinking so in his heart, George walked in front of Roosevelt with a glass in his hand. When Roosevelt greeted him with a smile, he whispered.
"Mr. President, do you want to bomb Tokyo? Right now!"