Chapter 249 President’s Staff Meeting
August 22, 1942, Washington.
A conference room in the White House, where the presidential staff meets regularly.
The staff headed by Harry Hopkins was already waiting for their president.
Army Chief of Staff Marshall, economist Tugwell, political expert Raymond Morley, and hardliner William Joseph Donovan were all Roosevelt's most capable assistants on weekdays.
And there is one more person in the room today, former U.S. Ambassador to Britain Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr.
The door opened and Roosevelt walked in, leaning on his cane.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen!" Roosevelt came to the first place and looked at his staff.
"Good afternoon, Mr. President!" Since the president did not like cumbersome etiquette, everyone else just bowed slightly to signal Roosevelt.
“Well, I know everyone is pressed for time, so let’s start with the most recent questions.”
"William, how is the progress there now?" The president looked at Donovan on his right, who was the first head of the Strategic Intelligence Service that had just been established less than two months ago.
“It’s terrible. We just sent fifty intelligence officers to the UK for training. These people performed very poorly. Most of them are not as good as the French woman beside de Gaulle, Meng Xi. Steve just sent a telegram to complain to me. "Donovan made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the current quality of American intelligence personnel.
At this time in 1942, the United States had just reorganized its own intelligence agency, and proposed a solution to the problem of generally low capabilities of its own intelligence officers, which was to learn from the experienced veterans of the British Military Intelligence Service Six.
A large number of personnel were sent to the United Kingdom for training, and teachers from the Sixth Bureau, which was already famous at this time, were also invited to the United States for on-the-spot exchanges.
"Relax, my friend, after all, Rome was not built in a day. We have to give those young people time." Then Roosevelt looked at the old Kennedy aside and nodded slightly
"Joseph, can I ask you for help in this regard? You are more familiar with the situation in the UK. I hope you can coordinate the relationship between the two parties and prevent potential conflicts."
"Mr. President, although I have I'm retired, but if America still needs me, I have no reason to refuse." The elder Kennedy showed a duty-bound attitude.
"Thank you, I know you are a trustworthy partner." Roosevelt smiled mysteriously, which made the old Kennedy a little confused.
"Okay! What I am going to talk about below may involve our policy towards Japan in the next half century, so I hope everyone will be careful when considering the issue. As long as there is one person present for the following proposal If you express your objection clearly, I will hide it and not mention it to Congress." After saying this, the president's aide began to distribute the sheets of paper filled with words.
Everyone got a document, and when people saw the content above, they all became solemn expressions.
"Support the establishment of Japan's second government?" Marshall was the first to read out what was on his hand.
"Strictly speaking, it is to support the establishment of a formal Japanese anti-government armed force. This will help us occupy a favorable position in propaganda." Chief of Staff Harry Hopkins on the side corrected his colleague's statement statement.
Of course, everyone knows that the two people actually mean the same thing, and the grammatical difference does not change the essence of the matter. "Is it too hasty to talk about this at this time? After all, we have not yet gained a strategic advantage over Japan. Will it become a joke to do so rashly?" Raymond Morley, a political expert, first expressed doubts. It seems that the puppet government is an operation promoted by the party that gained the upper hand in the war as a way to expand political influence. With the current combat situation between the United States and Japan, both sides are far from reaching this level.
"My opinion is just the opposite. If done properly, this plan can help us solve a big problem." Another staff member, Tegwell, spoke opposite.
The economist stood up and spread his hands to everyone, "Everyone, there are probably hundreds of thousands of Japanese-Americans in the country. According to Executive Order 9066 signed by the President, about 120,000 such people have been confiscated on the West Coast. Post-property surveillance resides in WRA internment camps." (WRA: Wartime Civilian Resettlement Agency)
"So what, aren't these necessary measures to prevent spies and saboteurs?" Director of Strategic Intelligence. Donovan obviously didn't take these people to heart.
"My Mr. Director, the placement and management of so many people costs money! The budget spent on them this year is about equal to the cost of two Essex-class aircraft carriers." Tegwe Er spread his hands and said.
"Just use the confiscated property to pay for it." Donovan said.
"Unfortunately, their main property is real estate, which is also the most difficult thing to realize nowadays." Tegwell shrugged and continued to pour a basin of cold water on it, and then continued
"As far as I know, quite a few of these people have a wavering attitude toward the war between the United States and Japan. They both recognize their American identity and are concerned about their Japanese origins."
"If we can erect another A flag representing Japan can give these people even a formal excuse to come to us. Come on over."
"In this way, we can reduce the cost of managing these people, and at the same time release some wealth, and even a small number of people may become our source of soldiers. This is a good thing that kills three birds with one stone. "At the end of the story, Tugwell himself became excited, as if he saw a wonderful prospect.
“But this flag can’t be erected casually, right? Someone with appeal among the Japanese people should speak out, otherwise how can we win their trust?” Marshall asked. The key question.
“We have prepared this man.” First Assistant Harry Hopkins came over and said, “We captured the Japanese Navy Admiral Nagumo Chuichi during the Battle of Midway, although he was only one of them. However, just issuing a statement of separation from the Japanese government is enough.”
"Is he willing to cooperate?" Others expressed doubts. In the eyes of these people, Japanese people are very stubborn.
"No, he is completely uncooperative and has committed suicide at least three times."
"What's the use of this? We can't really make a statement for him, can we?" Donovan said solved his own doubts.
"Why not?" First Assistant Harry Hopkins stood next to the President and smiled mysteriously, "We have invited disguise experts from MI6 in London, and we plan to build a Nanyunzhong Once they come out, they will be brought to Solomon’s side to join the troops.”
Then Hopkins seemed to have just remembered something, and then turned to old Kennedy, "By the way, your son seemed to have had a conflict with an important person in the Sixth Branch. I would like you to do some work and let John Compromise, such as writing an apology letter or something..."
(End of this chapter)