Post by Diarist on Feb 24, 2017 7:28:24 GMT 1
I hadn't eaten much at Downing Street so I was still hungry. Nothing against Luxembourg City but it's nice to be home again. "Will anybody be here this evening?" John Gort asked.
"I'm staying in Saffron Walden with Sally. She was hoping that I would accept a position in Berlin. I wasn't very successful in explaining why that isn't a good idea. I'm glad the Defence Council is earmarked for London. We have a lot to offer. To be honest I believe that we have the better designs whether it's for the army, navy or air force."
"You seem confident that the Confederation will be established, Bob."
"The Germans are enthusiastic about it, Wilfrid. Ask Winston. We had a very interesting conversation with Beck and Adenauer at lunch yesterday."
"That's true. The Germans don't want war against either Britain or France. They made that quite clear. It's communism that they detest. We'll have no difficulty recruiting them against the Bolsheviks."
"So we take on Hirohito next?" I suggested.
That got Louis started. "Are you suggesting we plan an operation against Japan, Bob?"
"Well we can't do much against Joe Stalin at the moment so Japan is the obvious next target. Japan has huge ambitions in China so we need to block them if only to protect Hong Kong."
"We've talked about an alliance with China before. We need to seriously consider it." Winston added. "The Germans already have good contacts there. We can build on that."
"We can add China to list of countries that Anthony & Co. should visit when they are in southeast Asia."
"I'll suggest that at next Monday's cabinet meeting."
"We need to transfer the bulk of the Royal Navy to Australia and the South China Sea. We don't need it in Europe anymore."
"Isn't that a bit hasty?"
"I didn't mention the word hasty, Louis. Why can't we have two fleets show the flag, each with three battleships and an aircraft-carrier. One visits Spain, Italy and passes through the Suez Canal and eventually arrives at Singapore. The second goes to the United States then passes through the Panama Canal, visits Pearl Harbour and eventually arrives at Sydney. The French can send a fleet too. That'll mean nine battleships and three aircraft-carriers near to Japan. If they start something we can blow their navy out of the water and without a navy they will be limited to land warfare against either Russia or China with no hope of winning either."
"We respond to their aggression just like we responded to Italian and German moves."
"Yes, Winston. Let's face it. Neither the League of Nations nor the United States will do anything if Japan attacks China. The fleets will need to refit when they arrive. Do we have the capacity down-under, Louis?"
"I believe so but I'll check to make sure. We have a large naval base in Ceylon too."
"We'll also need to expand our air force at Hong Kong, Darwin and maybe northern Borneo."
"We need to organize a European defence before we make a commitment on that scale. The Soviets haven't reacted yet to our Confederation proposal."
"That's one reason why we have to show the flag in Spain and Italy, Winston. We need them as associate members."
"I can support that. We could have the Royal Navy visit while you are there."
"I'll travel there on one of our battleships to Corunna. I can ask General Franco to meet me there."
"Do that."
"Next weekend?"
"Why not?"
"I'm staying in Saffron Walden with Sally. She was hoping that I would accept a position in Berlin. I wasn't very successful in explaining why that isn't a good idea. I'm glad the Defence Council is earmarked for London. We have a lot to offer. To be honest I believe that we have the better designs whether it's for the army, navy or air force."
"You seem confident that the Confederation will be established, Bob."
"The Germans are enthusiastic about it, Wilfrid. Ask Winston. We had a very interesting conversation with Beck and Adenauer at lunch yesterday."
"That's true. The Germans don't want war against either Britain or France. They made that quite clear. It's communism that they detest. We'll have no difficulty recruiting them against the Bolsheviks."
"So we take on Hirohito next?" I suggested.
That got Louis started. "Are you suggesting we plan an operation against Japan, Bob?"
"Well we can't do much against Joe Stalin at the moment so Japan is the obvious next target. Japan has huge ambitions in China so we need to block them if only to protect Hong Kong."
"We've talked about an alliance with China before. We need to seriously consider it." Winston added. "The Germans already have good contacts there. We can build on that."
"We can add China to list of countries that Anthony & Co. should visit when they are in southeast Asia."
"I'll suggest that at next Monday's cabinet meeting."
"We need to transfer the bulk of the Royal Navy to Australia and the South China Sea. We don't need it in Europe anymore."
"Isn't that a bit hasty?"
"I didn't mention the word hasty, Louis. Why can't we have two fleets show the flag, each with three battleships and an aircraft-carrier. One visits Spain, Italy and passes through the Suez Canal and eventually arrives at Singapore. The second goes to the United States then passes through the Panama Canal, visits Pearl Harbour and eventually arrives at Sydney. The French can send a fleet too. That'll mean nine battleships and three aircraft-carriers near to Japan. If they start something we can blow their navy out of the water and without a navy they will be limited to land warfare against either Russia or China with no hope of winning either."
"We respond to their aggression just like we responded to Italian and German moves."
"Yes, Winston. Let's face it. Neither the League of Nations nor the United States will do anything if Japan attacks China. The fleets will need to refit when they arrive. Do we have the capacity down-under, Louis?"
"I believe so but I'll check to make sure. We have a large naval base in Ceylon too."
"We'll also need to expand our air force at Hong Kong, Darwin and maybe northern Borneo."
"We need to organize a European defence before we make a commitment on that scale. The Soviets haven't reacted yet to our Confederation proposal."
"That's one reason why we have to show the flag in Spain and Italy, Winston. We need them as associate members."
"I can support that. We could have the Royal Navy visit while you are there."
"I'll travel there on one of our battleships to Corunna. I can ask General Franco to meet me there."
"Do that."
"Next weekend?"
"Why not?"