Chapter 478 Secret Transaction

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 and corners. Compared with a core colony like India, it is nothing at all. Churchill believed that if the Americans could agree to exchange these three colonies for those warships, there would be no opposition in Britain.

Minister Brian and Daniels, after thinking about it, said to Churchill: "Your Excellency, I need to report to 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, may we have a happy cooperation." Brian said.

Although, Bryan would love to get more colonies from the British, or better yet. But he knew that although Britain was in crisis, they were not so easy to surrender. You know, they have always cherished those colonies very much. Now, the British have actually agreed to take out the colonies in exchange for warships, which is already a great improvement.

After Minister Brian and Daniels left the hotel, they rushed to the White House to report the results of the negotiations to President Woodrow Wilson.

President Woodrow Wilson was very satisfied with being able to sell those warships for a high price of one billion and seventy million dollars. This is undoubtedly a huge sum of money for the Republic of America.

However, President Woodrow Wilson was a little dissatisfied with the British payment method, which was replaced by colonies. After all, although the locations of the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Grenada given by the British are very good, the area is too small.

"I agree in principle with the British exchange of colonies for those warships. However, it is not enough to exchange the Bahamas, Jamaica and Grenada for our many warships. Tell the British that it is best to send the special Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda are also on board," said President Woodrow Wilson.

In this case, the United States is equivalent to taking all the British colonies in the Caribbean Sea into its pocket. This also allows the United States to occupy a great advantage in the Caribbean Sea. It can even use these islands in the Caribbean Sea as a springboard to further expand to South America.

"Your Excellency, the British will probably not agree to adding two more colonies." Brian frowned.

"The British are asking us now. Even if they are dissatisfied, they should not refuse our request! After all, apart from us being able to help them, there is no other country in the world that can provide them with such What's more, if they lose the war, all these colonies will be owned by the Germans. That will be a huge threat to the American Republic, and we must try our best to avoid such a situation from happening. said President Woodrow Wilson.

"Yes, Mr. President. Once the Germans have these colonies, it will be very bad for us. However, Mr. President, I think we can adopt some strategies, such as making an agreement with the British, 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 Germans, then these two colonies will naturally belong to us.” Daniels suggested the minister.

"This is a very good way. Your Excellency, even if the British bought warships from us and joined forces with the French and Italian fleets, it would undoubtedly be very difficult to defeat the Germans. Therefore, the two In the colony, it must belong to us in the end." Brian said.

President Woodrow Wilson nodded: "Okay, let's do this!"

At the same time, Churchill was also in contact with the country. To buy warships from the United States at such an expensive price, he must obtain domestic approval. Besides, such a major event as the transfer of colonies 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 the Americans had actually offered such a sky-high price of one billion and seventy million U.S. dollars. The Americans clearly regarded them as fat sheep and slaughtered them fiercely! At such a price, if Britain built its own warships, it would be enough to build a more powerful Royal Navy.

But Prime Minister Asquith also knows that now it is Britain begging the United States to buy those warships, rather than the United States insisting on selling them to them. Therefore, no matter how harsh the conditions of the Americans are, they can only agree. Otherwise, there would be no way for Churchill's plan to continue to be implemented. That undoubtedly means that Britain has completely lost the war, and there is no chance of a comeback. At that time, Britain will lose a complete defeat, and not only everything they have will be taken away by the Germans.

As for the exchange of colonies for those warships, Prime Minister Asquith agreed. Most of the senior officials in the British cabinet did not object. After all, although colonies are very important to Britain, ensuring Britain's victory in 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 the terms of the Americans.

However, Churchill was equally dissatisfied when he learned that the Americans had made new demands. However, the Americans were very firm, and he had no choice but to accept the conditions of the Americans after consulting the country.

Subsequently, the United Kingdom made a secret agreement with the United States. The British used the colonies of Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua and Barbuda for one billion seventy million U.S. dollars. 12 battleships, 5 battlecruisers, 20 light cruisers and 50 destroyers were purchased from the United States. At the same time, Britain will also transfer 381mm main gun technology and new steam turbine technology to the United States.

These warships will be transported by the United Kingdom from within the country to find a way to transport a group of naval sailors, plus the sailors they recruited from Canada to drive back to the United Kingdom. The U.S. government will keep the deal secret until the British bring the fleet home. Of course, in order not to leak the news, the United States required the British to drive these warships away within one month.