"Prime Minister, I believe that we must now prepare for a fight to the very end. Surrendering to the Germans would leave Britain no different from annihilation. Only through a desperate, unyielding struggle do we have the slightest hope," Churchill declared with unwavering determination.
"A fight to the end? That would turn the entire British Isles into a battlefield. Our lands would be reduced to ash, our cities to ruins, and our people would perish in the war. In the end, what would remain of the British Empire?" Sir Edward Grey shook his head, opposing Churchill's view.
"Sir, my desire to resist until the very end is to seize our last opportunity. If we can withstand the German onslaught—or perhaps inflict such heavy losses upon them on our shores that they are forced to abandon their plans to defeat us by force—then perhaps we can minimize our sacrifices. This would be of immense benefit to the British Empire. Of course, it would also demand greater sacrifices from us, but if we can achieve this, then every cost will be worthwhile," Churchill spoke with firm conviction.
Prime Minister Asquith nodded; he certainly hoped for a dignified peace. That way, even if he were to step down, he could at least save face.
"Do we have the strength to defend our homeland?" Prime Minister Asquith inquired.
"Sir, the forces on home soil have now grown to two million men. But we are lacking in equipment, and our soldiers are poorly trained. Should we face the elite German forces, it would be difficult to withstand their attack," said Secretary of War Richard Haldane.
The army had never been Britain's strength. Aside from having the world's foremost navy, the British army had always been modest in size. The only time it expanded was in times of great conflict. In such circumstances, could anyone reasonably expect the British army to be highly elite? That was, frankly, impossible.
Moreover, the most elite force in the British army—the Expeditionary Force—had been completely obliterated in France. This loss had taken over a million troops, the finest of the army. It was a devastating blow. With such a depleted force, Richard Haldane had little confidence in their ability to defend the homeland.
Prime Minister Asquith's brow furrowed. If the army could not hold the homeland, then resisting to the bitter end would only waste time and deplete the Empire's strength.
"Prime Minister, with two million men in the army, we have not yet reached our limit. Given the population of the British Empire and the fact that we are now at a critical juncture, the army could easily expand by another two million. As for weapons and equipment, we can gather them step by step. A larger force would allow us to endure longer in the war. The Germans must cross the Channel to attack us, and their logistical challenges will be enormous. This will limit the number of troops they can send. I predict that they will be able to land no more than a few hundred thousand men. Under such circumstances, our forces should be able to withstand their assault. If we can hold off the Germans, we may find room for negotiation and perhaps reduce the costs," Churchill continued.
There was no doubt that Churchill was prepared to exhaust every military resource the Empire had, staking everything on one final, desperate gamble. But if he succeeded, it would benefit the Empire greatly. At the very least, Britain could preserve its homeland and military strength, ensuring it was not constrained by the enemy. As for the colonies, how much could be saved was anyone's guess.
Naturally, to achieve this goal, the Empire would have to be prepared for immense sacrifices. No one knew how many British lives would be lost on the battlefield, how many families would be torn apart, and how many towns would be reduced to rubble.
"If we can successfully withstand the German attack, that would indeed be a great outcome. But what if we fail? What then?" Chancellor of the Exchequer Lloyd George asked.
"Even in failure, I cannot imagine things could be worse than they are now. The current situation has already reached its nadir," Churchill replied.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Prime Minister Asquith, waiting for him to make the final decision.
"We have given everything in this war, but the result is still not what we hoped. If we end the war now, the Germans will not let us off easily. After the lesson of the last conflict, everyone should know how insatiable the Germans are. Surrendering would reduce the British Empire to a third-rate power. I am sure no one here wants to see such a day. However, to resist to the end carries immense risks. The homeland will be ravaged by war, and the people will suffer tremendous losses. If we win, we can end the war at a lower cost, but if we lose, the British Empire will be utterly destroyed!" Prime Minister Asquith said, caught in a dilemma.
"Prime Minister, even if we cannot hold the homeland, we will continue the fight. The British Empire will never surrender to Germany, nor will we allow ourselves to be destroyed by them. If we cannot hold the mainland, we will retreat to the colonies—to India, Canada, or Australia. Far from the European continent, we can continue the struggle. The Germans may be strong, but they cannot cross the oceans to defeat us. Therefore, the British Empire will not be destroyed," Churchill declared with fervor.
These were ideas Churchill had already considered. While others believed the British Empire was defeated and had no choice but to surrender to Germany, Churchill had already envisioned a broader plan.
Upon hearing Churchill's words, the ministers were struck with a sudden realization. The Empire possessed vast colonies; if they could escape to those, it would be the best solution. At the very least, as cabinet ministers, they could continue to wield power and live comfortably.