On February 8, 1941, with the support of the Holy Alliance, the Kingdom of Ireland was established, and the world's gaze turned once more toward the British Isles.
Any sensible person knew that the British were finished this time. One only had to look at the Irish enthusiasm for enlistment to know that Ireland could not be held.
If Ireland was lost, could the British Isles still be defended?
At this moment, even those most confident in the British Commonwealth did not believe it could turn the tables. The clearest sign was that nations across the Americas were declaring their withdrawal from the Pan-International Front.
No one wished to stand with the losers. If they did not scramble out of the mire now, they could forget about escaping the postwar reckoning.
Pessimism had also begun to spread within the United Kingdom government. Demonstrators in the three North American countries had clogged the streets, while several kingdoms controlled by the British broke free from the London government's grasp.
Even the major dominions were no longer so obedient. South Africa went without saying—it had already been occupied by Bulgaria, so whether it obeyed or not had nothing to do with London.
The Dominion of Australia was busy fighting the Japanese and could barely look after itself. Where would it find the energy to concern itself with the London government?
The Dominion of New Zealand was busy aiding Australia. They understood well enough that when the lips were gone, the teeth would feel the cold. The question of the British Isles could wait.
The Dominion of Canada and the Dominion of Newfoundland still had strength to spare, but at a time like this, they had no desire to wade into the muddy waters of the British Isles.
(Note: The Dominion of Newfoundland had