Britain possesses the most extensive empire in the world, spanning from Africa to Asia and extending to the Americas. Wherever the sun shines, British territories abound. Hence, Britain is often referred to as the Empire on which the sun never sets.
Other nations gaze enviously at the vastness of the British colonies, particularly Germany and the United States, the two rising powers. By the time they emerged, much of the world had already been divided among established empires, leaving them with only the remnants deemed undesirable by others. They watched as countries like Britain and France amassed great wealth from their expansive colonies, while they toiled to develop their industries and economies, naturally fueling a sense of imbalance and resentment.
By the late 19th century, the United States chose the decaying Spanish Empire as its target, wresting Cuba and the Philippines from its grasp to establish its own colonies.
Germany, with grander ambitions, set its sights directly on Britain and France. If victorious in war against these two nations, the colonies belonging to them would rightfully fall into German hands, catapulting Germany to the status of the world's foremost colonial power.
Although America's industrial prowess was notable, its military might paled in comparison to Germany's. Thus, the Americans could only look on with envy as Germany initiated its military campaigns. Naturally, for the sake of American interests, they did not wish for a German victory; a formidable Germany would bring no advantages to the United States. Consequently, they engaged in covert actions, supporting Britain and France in their struggles against Germany. However, much like the proverbial figure incapable of standing on their own, even with substantial financial backing, Britain and France faced defeats on the battlefield. As their impending downfall loomed, anxiety gripped the Americans.
Prime Minister Asquith understood all too well that the overseas colonies were the bedrock of the British Empire, representing its most valuable wealth. Without these colonies, the Empire would cease to exist. Yet, in the face of impending defeat, Asquith was willing to use these territories as bargaining chips to enhance the chances of victory for the British Empire.
"Churchill, we could transfer some colonies to the United States in exchange for their warships. However, I hope these would be the least significant colonies. Our core territories must remain intact. Furthermore, the Americans will undoubtedly drive a hard bargain. We must minimize the losses to the British Empire as much as possible," Asquith stated.
"Indeed, Prime Minister," Churchill nodded in agreement. Asquith's willingness to negotiate was encouraging, as it meant he could continue with his plans. If he could procure those capital ships from the Americans, the Royal Navy would regain its strength to confront Germany once more.
"Mr. Churchill, the Americans possess only twelve new battleships. Even if we acquire these, we would still only have twenty capital ships, which remains a significant disadvantage compared to Germany," remarked Richard Haldane, the Minister of War.
"True! Our previous superiority in capital ships did not allow us to defeat them, let alone now that our fleet is smaller. What will we do if we fail again?" echoed the Colonial Secretary, expressing concern.
Asquith turned his gaze to Churchill, sharing his apprehension about risking such a significant investment only to face defeat. That would render their efforts futile.
"Prime Minister, the American battleships differ from ours. Our designs prioritize speed and firepower at the expense of defense—a strategy that has proven flawed. The Americans, however, focus on defense and firepower, sacrificing speed. This means their ships should perform comparably to the Germans. When we engage Germany, we need not worry excessively about those aspects," Churchill argued.
"Additionally, beyond purchasing warships from the Americans, we could request the French navy to cooperate with us. As of now, the French navy has commissioned ten capital ships, including four 'Colbert-class' battleships, three 'Bretagne-class' battleships, and three 'Normandie-class' battleships. In this critical moment, it is imperative that the French navy joins us. Should we be defeated, they too would face ruin. With the French fleet's ten battleships, we would then possess thirty capital ships, significantly narrowing the gap with the Germans," Churchill continued.
"Furthermore, we must consider the Italian navy, which also boasts several battleships, including the 'Dante' and three 'Cavour-class' battleships, along with two 'Duilio-class' battleships. If the Italians choose to ally with us, we could assemble a total of thirty-six capital ships. In terms of numbers, we would match the Germans, and in quality, we would not fall short either. With a stroke of good fortune, defeating the Germans could become a reality," Churchill unveiled his vision of a multinational naval coalition.
In truth, even before the onset of this naval conflict, Churchill had contemplated how to recover should the Royal Navy falter. Initially, he had hoped that even in defeat, the Royal Navy would inflict substantial losses on Germany. However, the strength of the Germans exceeded his expectations. Just as he was prepared to abandon this plan, he found himself reluctant to capitulate to Germany, which compelled him to seize this opportunity. This was the only viable strategy he could conceive to counter the Germans.
The Cabinet ministers were intrigued by Churchill's proposal, primarily because they were unwilling to submit to Germany. If defeating Germany was within reach, even at great cost, it would undoubtedly be worthwhile.
"Acquiring warships from the Americans while also forging alliances with the French and Italians could prove exceedingly difficult," Prime Minister Asquith cautioned.
"Yet, Prime Minister, no matter how daunting the task, if it allows us to vanquish the Germans, then it is worth every effort," Churchill replied.
Asquith nodded thoughtfully before addressing his fellow ministers: "What are your thoughts?"
"Prime Minister, I believe we should attempt it. After all, even if we fail, it cannot possibly be worse than our current situation," Richard Haldane, the Minister of War, affirmed.
The other ministers echoed his sentiments. To them, the present circumstances were undoubtedly the worst they could envision; it could scarcely get any more dire.