Glorious Mission 1937

But the Japanese soon stopped laughing. On August 8, US President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Chinese Nationalist Government Chairman Jiang held the first face-to-face meeting after the outbreak of the Pacific War on a warship in the Atlantic Ocean. On the same day, the three countries signed a wartime joint declaration, the full name is "Sino-US-UK Joint Declaration on Response to Global War".

The full text of the declaration consists of 8 articles, declaring that the three countries will not pursue territorial or other expansion, do not recognize the territorial changes caused by fascism through aggression, respect the right of the people of all countries to choose their form of government, and restore the sovereignty of the people of all countries deprived of violence. Equal treatment in terms of trade and raw materials, promoting the most comprehensive economic cooperation among all countries, rebuilding peace after the destruction of the Nazi tyranny, freedom of navigation on the high seas, all countries must abandon force and reduce armaments, and disarm aggressive countries.

Later, Stalin, who was organizing the defense of Moscow, also made a public speech on the Soviet radio station, saying that the ongoing Patriotic War of the Soviet Union was not only to defend the Soviet Union, but also to help those European peoples who were moaning under the yoke of German fascism. The Soviet government's attitude towards resisting fascist aggression.

The attitude of the Soviet government was quickly responded by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The relationship between the four countries has become closer, and there is a strong tendency to unite against Japan and Germany.

On August 8th, which was exactly one month since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States sent invitations to the countries that were mainly invaded by fascist countries in the world, inviting these countries to send representatives to the World Conference of Allies scheduled for September 20nd. .

For a while, the world situation was once again turbulent. Although the Allied Powers achieved a huge and brilliant military victory in the early stage of the war, it prompted the major countries in the world to unite, laying a huge hidden danger for future wars.

Regarding the changes in the world situation, Chen Feng was the most shocked. This "China-U.S.-U.K. Joint Declaration on Responding to Global War" did not exist in history, but Chen Feng read the content of the declaration jointly issued by the three countries, and it was almost the same as in history. The contents of the "Atlantic Charter" are consistent, that is to say, it is very likely that this three-nation declaration has replaced the Atlantic Charter.

The Atlantic Charter occupies a very important place in the history of World War II.The purpose of fighting against fascist countries and the goal of progressive democracy to rebuild post-war peace proposed by the charter embody the general principles of bourgeois democratic politics and played a positive role in the formation of the international anti-fascist united front and the defeat of the German and Japanese invaders. into effect.

More importantly, the "equal opportunities" and "freedom of the seas" proposed in the Charter are very conducive to the United States' postwar struggle with the United Kingdom for spheres of influence and its "leadership" in the world. [

Historically, this matter has nothing to do with China at all.The time when China really participated in this group was the Cairo Conference in 1943.Unexpectedly, Lao Jiang is now the first to go abroad and join this club. This will be very beneficial for China to compete with the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union and other countries for world status in the future.

The Chinese are happy.The Japanese are dissatisfied. This is the prelude to the joint resistance of China, the United States, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and other countries. If these countries really unite, even the powerful Japanese Empire will not be able to contend. Therefore, the Japanese government and the base camp immediately held a meeting to discuss the matter.

Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo

Because Hideki Tojo met the monstrous Chen Feng in this era, and the huge failures in many battles made him lose the chance to become the Prime Minister of Japan, so the wartime cabinet at this time is still the Konoe cabinet.

As one of the few evergreen trees in Japan's political arena, Konoe Fumma has always been disapproving of going to war with the United States, Britain and other countries, but when the Japanese navy and army's success stories were sent back to Tokyo one after another.Konoe Fumma, like all Japanese, was excited, and his attitude towards this war has also undergone a huge change.

Therefore, after the news that China, the United States, and Britain were preparing to jointly resist Japan, Fumma Konoe immediately notified major Japanese military and political officials to hold a five-phase meeting at the Prime Minister's Office to discuss countermeasures.

Because what was held was a five-phase meeting.So in the entire conference room, apart from Konoe Fumma, there were only Minister Umezu Yoshijiro Riku, Minister Kai and Shiro Kawako, Internal Minister Tanabe Haramichi, Foreign Minister Togo Matoku, and a secretary in charge of meeting minutes.

As the initiator and host of the meeting, Konoe Fummo first got up and said: "Masters, the brilliant achievements of the imperial warriors in the south are brilliant. They have rewritten the history of the empire and are the greatest achievements of the Japanese Empire in the past hundred years." victory!"

Then Fumma Konoe said again: "However. In the case of smooth military progress, there are still some issues that we must make timely decisions. For example, how should we deal with the large number of Western leases and embassy areas in China? One is how to deal with the alliance of the United States, Britain and China?"

Foreign Minister Togo Matoku was the first to say: "China has a long-standing Western lease. In China, in addition to the exclusive concessions of Britain, France and other countries, there is also the Common Concession in Shanghai and the embassy area in Beijing, and there are still rights and interests of Western powers in various places. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that these places must be reconsidered. After all, there are many countries involved. If they are not handled properly, it is likely to cause diplomatic difficulties for the empire!"

General Lu Prime Minister Umezu Yoshijiro retorted: "Your Majesty Dongxiang is serious. In fact, since the moment the empire decided to go south, the empire's diplomacy has been limited to a limited number of countries such as Germany and Italy. It has completely turned against Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union. The diplomatic woes will not be alleviated by the Empire letting go of those Lend-Lease and Legation Quarters."

"More importantly, these leases have in fact become strongholds that threaten the empire's rule in China, especially the common concession in Shanghai and the concessions of Britain and France. These concessions are hostile strongholds against the Great Japanese Empire. Plan the anti-Japanese base areas. In order to resolve the incident in China, eradicate the hostility of these concessions, and if possible, bring these hostile concessions under our power, this has been the wish of the Imperial Army for many years.”

Internal Minister Tanabe Osamu said: "In fact, the government has also discussed the issue of concessions. As early as July 15, Showa 7 and January Showa 27, when the new national policy was decided, the issue of accepting hostile concessions was also raised. However, because of this The nature of the problem also involved the determination to go to war with the United States and Britain, so it was impossible to implement at that time. Now that the United States, Britain and the Netherlands have been at war, the treatment of hostile concessions and rights and interests, as long as the target is the other country of the war, that is, It can be raided militarily, and of course it can be dealt with.”

In the end, Fumma Konoe concluded: "What Skyrim Neixiang said is very reasonable. Since we have already started war with Britain, the United States and other countries, then don't worry about it. As long as it is beneficial to the empire, it should be boldly implemented. But what should I do? Implementation also requires a complete plan!"

Umezu Yoshijiro said: "The Ministry of the Army has already formulated the plan. It is an aspect of the Army's war against China in the next stage. The main points are as follows: [-]. Eliminate the armed forces of the United States and Britain in China. [-]. Remove the hostile concessions in China. (including the embassy area in Beijing) and hostile important rights and interests (customs, mines, etc.) To bring it under the control of our power, but because it is mixed with the rights and interests of friendly countries, it does not take the form of taking over. [-]. In order not to expose our intentions, the above items should start as soon as possible. [-]. Exercise the right to belligerent against Chongqing , do not deliberately adopt the form of a declaration, etc., and actually achieve its effects by launching a war against the United States and Britain. Fifth, in the rights and interests of the Chinese enemy system, even the parts related to the National Government should be temporarily controlled under our power according to needs , other measures should be taken to adjust it.”[

After listening to Umezu Yoshijiro's plan, Konoe Fumma stood up and said, "The Ministry of the Army's plan is very detailed and highly enforceable. Now that you are expressing your own views, should colleagues who oppose the plan express their opinions first?"

Seeing that no one spoke, Konoe Fummo continued: "Since no one objected, I agree with the Ministry of War's plan in principle. After the meeting is over, the headquarters will be responsible for the specific implementation of the plan! Now let's discuss how to deal with China and A joint response from the United States, Britain and other countries!"

The one who spoke this time was still outward-looking Matoku Togo, and the old man said with half his head bald: "It should be a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deal with the alliance between the empires, but as His Excellency Meizu said, since the empire and these countries have already In a de facto state of hostility, and both sides have declared war on each other, so before the war is decided, the diplomatic efforts are not very maneuverable, so I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not capable of solving this matter !"

Konoe Fumimo said: "Mr. Dongxiang is right. This matter cannot be solved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone. The best solution is to achieve a decisive victory in the military, just as Senior Hirobumi Ito said to Li Hongzhang of China. , When strengths are equal, diplomacy is strength; when strengths are unequal, strength is diplomacy! This is what the diplomacy of weak countries says!"

Umezu Yoshijiro said: "After the war, the army's operations against Chongqing have not changed much from the past. The base camp has assigned a new mission to the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force on August 8. The main content is to maintain the current situation in general, especially It is necessary to strengthen the blockade against the enemy, smash and weaken the enemy's intention to continue the war of resistance, and restrict the outline of the operation in Chongqing after the war. And the General Command of the Chinese Expeditionary Army has also reported their combat plan to the base camp!"