Bahamas, Jamaica and Grenada, these three colonies are only a very small part of the huge overseas colonies of the British Empire. Even, it can only be regarded as some corners. Compared to a core colony like India, it is nothing at all. Churchill believes that if Americans can agree to exchange these three colonies for those warships, Britain will not object at home.
Bryan and Minister Daniels, after thinking about it, said to Churchill, "Your Excellency, Minister, I need to report to His Excellency the President. Such a major matter needs to be decided by the President!"
Churchill nodded. "I can understand, because I also need to report to the country. However, I believe that as long as both of us are sincere, everything will be fine!"
"Okay, Your Excellency, Minister, I hope we can have a happy cooperation." Bryan said.
Although, Bryan would like to get more colonies, or better colonies, from the Britain people. But he knew that although Britain was in crisis, they would not give in easily. You know, they have always cherished those colonies. Now, the Britain people actually agreed to trade their colonies for warships. This is already a very big progress.
After Bryan and Minister Daniels left the hotel, they immediately rushed to White House to report the results of the negotiation to Woodrow President Wilson.
Woodrow President Wilson is still very satisfied with the high price he was able to sell 1.07 Billion Dollars for using those battleships. This is undoubtedly a huge sum of money for Republic of America.
However, Woodrow President Wilson was a little dissatisfied with Britain people's payment method, which was to use colonies instead. After all, although the locations of the colonies Bahamas, Jamaica and Grenada given by Britain are very good, their area is too small.
"I agree in principle that the Britain people exchange colonies for those battleships. However, they only need to exchange Bahamas, Jamaica and Grenada for me. We have so many battleships, that's not enough. Tell Britain people, it's best to add Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda," said Woodrow President Wilson.
In this case, United States is equivalent to taking all the colonies of Britain on the Caribbean Sea. This also allows United States to have a great advantage over Caribbean Sea. You can even use these islands on the Caribbean Sea as a springboard to further expand to South America.
"Your Excellency, the Britain people may not agree to adding two more colonies." Bryan frowned.
"Now the Britain people are asking for something from us. Even if they are dissatisfied, they should not refuse our request! After all, apart from us being able to help them, no country in the world can provide them with such great support. What's more, if they If we lose the war, all these colonies will be owned by the Germany people. That will be a huge threat to Republic of America, and we must try our best to avoid such a situation," said Woodrow President Wilson.
"Yes, Mr. President. Once the Germany people have these colonies, it will be very detrimental to us. However, Mr. President, I think we can adopt some strategies, such as reaching an agreement with the Britain people. If they can defeat Germany in the war people, then we will return Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda to them. If they are defeated by the Germany people, then these two colonies will naturally belong to us." Minister Daniels suggested.
"This is a very good idea. Your Excellency, even if the Britain people buy warships from us, and then join forces with France and the Italy fleet, it will undoubtedly be very difficult to defeat the Germany people. Therefore, those two colonies must eventually belong to us." Bryan said.
Woodrow? President Wilson nodded. "Okay, let's do it!"
At the same time, Churchill was also in contact with China. To purchase a warship from United States at such an expensive price, he must obtain domestic consent. Besides, such a major matter as transferring a colony must be authorized by the country. Otherwise, he would not be able to succeed at all.
Prime Minister Asquith was also very angry when he learned that Americans actually offered such a sky-high price as 1.07 Billion Dollars. Americans This is clearly treating them as fat sheep and killing them severely! Such a price, if Britain builds its own battleship, is enough to build a more powerful Royal Navy.
But Prime Minister Asquith also knows that it is Britain who is begging United States to buy those battleships, not United States who insists on selling those battleships to them. Therefore, no matter how harsh Americans's conditions are, they can only agree. Otherwise, there is no way Churchill's plan can continue to be implemented. That undoubtedly means that Britain has completely lost this war and has no chance to make a comeback. At that time, Britain will be completely defeated, and not only everything they have will be taken away by Germany people.
As for exchanging colonies for those battleships, Prime Minister Asquith agrees. Most of British Cabinet's senior officials did not object. After all, for Britain, although the colonies are very important, ensuring that Britain wins the war is the most important thing. If they lose the war, they will pay a greater price for it.
Therefore, after venting his anger, Prime Minister Asquith still instructed Churchill to agree to Americans's conditions.
However, Churchill was also very dissatisfied after learning that Americans had made a new request. However, Americans was very resolute, and he had no choice but to fully accept Americans's conditions after consulting the country.
Subsequently, Britain made a secret agreement with United States. Britain used Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and The colonies Antigua and Barbuda were priced at 1.07 Billion Dollars, and 12 Battleship, 5 Battlecruiser, 20 Light Cruiser and 50 destroyers were purchased from United States. At the same time, Britain will also transfer 381mm Main Gun technology and new Steam Turbine technology to United States.
These warships will be driven back to Britain by Britain trying to transport a group of naval sailors from China, plus the sailors they recruited from Canada. US government will keep this transaction secret until the Britain people bring the fleet back to their homeland. Of course, in order not to leak the news, United States asked Britain people to drive away these warships within a month.