Chapter 303 Appeal for Help

The First World War lasted for 4 years and 3 months, involving over 30 nations with a population of around 1.5 billion, constituting 67% of the world population at that time. The casualties reached a staggering 30 million. In terms of contemporary US dollars, the direct economic losses for the participating nations amounted to a whopping $180.5 billion, with additional indirect losses reaching $151.6 billion. The war primarily occurred in Europe, and some estimates suggest that Europe's industrial production level regressed by at least 8 years.

After the war, both the Allied and Central Powers advocated a slogan in just 6 words: "The war that ends all wars."

In just 6 words lay the world's greatest lie.

Evidently, Britain was also deceived by this lie. After World War I, the British investment in national defense decreased progressively, to the extent that even their once-proud naval fleet was mostly remnants from the First World War.

The consequences unfolded 20 years later when Germany suddenly posed a threat, leaving Britain in disarray.

Now, the British Empire is in a state of wartime mobilization, concentrating all resources for national defense. As a venerable old empire with a rich heritage, Churchill is confident that, within a year, the British Empire can organize a formidable army. In two years, the navy can dominate the German navy. In three years, the British Empire will be mightier than at any period in history.

However, they need time.

The recently victorious German army is in high spirits, and it's possible they may launch a cross-sea landing operation in a few days, putting the British Empire in imminent danger. No matter how formidable their heritage, it might not be of any use.

Therefore, Churchill is sending emissaries everywhere to seek help. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, whether it's the formidable Red Empire or Italy, which is about to declare war on France, they are the objects Churchill is eager to win over.

It's worth noting that due to ideological differences, Britain has always been extremely hostile to the Soviet Union. Even in the case of seeking help during the Polish issue, it was merely a superficial move. Internally, Britain, even if recognizing Germany, would never align with the Soviet Union.

But now, facing a critical moment of life and death, Britain can't afford to consider ideological differences. As long as they can survive this crisis, forming brotherly ties or even closer relations with the Soviet Union is not a problem.

Although Germany and the Soviet Union appear to be friendly on the surface, with Germany constructing aircraft carriers for the Soviet Union, the British believe that the relationship between the two nations could change at any moment, possibly turning hostile.

Take the Spanish Civil War a few years ago as an example; although they didn't explicitly state their identities, the whole world knew that the Soviet Union and Germany clashed, with the Soviet Union even suffering defeat.

Can the Soviet Union swallow this humiliation?

Moreover, Churchill analyzed that during the Polish campaign, the original plan for the Soviet Union and Germany was to divide and conquer Poland. However, due to the lackluster performance of the Soviet military, Germany ended up annexing the entirety of Poland.

Wouldn't the Soviet Union feel envious?

Furthermore, the Soviet Union has long sought to extend its influence into Europe, promoting its color ideology, as seen in the Spanish Civil War. Now that Germany has occupied vast territories in Europe, what should the Soviet Union do? Continue to stand by?

Perhaps by slightly provoking the situation, the Soviet Union could be persuaded to join the war. If the Soviet Union can distract Germany from the east, Britain might be able to survive!

With this mission, British envoy Robert Anthony Eden was sent to the Soviet Union.

Robert Anthony Eden can be considered a "rising star." He participated in the Royal Infantry during World War I, fought on the front lines in France, and was awarded the Cross of Honour for his military achievements. At the age of 26, he became a Member of Parliament, at 34, an Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at 37, the Lord Privy Seal of the British Empire, and at 38, he served as the Foreign Secretary for the first time. This time, he is negotiating with the Soviet Union in the dual capacity of Foreign Secretary and head of the British delegation. Reflecting on the world situation in recent years and looking at the vast Russian land outside the window, Eden couldn't help but feel a bit emotional!

Previously, he had to travel through continental Europe to Moscow. This time, he was forced to take a detour through the Middle East, giving Eden another glimpse of Russia's vastness and seemingly endless war potential, unmatched by the British Isles.

Since 1933, he had been dispatched multiple times to Paris, Berlin, Rome, Geneva, and Moscow, conducted visits to Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and held talks on the international situation with leaders of many countries. In February 1934 and March 1935, Eden met the German Foreign Minister twice; he was not deceived by Germany's promises of peace, concealing its aggressive intentions. Eden advocated efforts to establish a collective security system in Europe. Eden's views were notable in British politics, and even Churchill, who was not part of the government at the time, referred to him as the "sole outstanding member of the government."

In 1935, when Eden assumed the position of Foreign Secretary, he adopted a stance towards Germany that was somewhat more assertive than his predecessor: "We must not concede just to appease Germany, as doing so would be counterproductive, encouraging its ever-growing appetite." Despite this, he remained conservative, leaning towards a conservative approach on issues such as the "Rhine demilitarized zone" and the Spanish Civil War—like exchanging a memorandum with the French government on an arms embargo, agreeing to prohibit the export of weapons to Spain, hoping to reduce the risk of war through "non-intervention."

In February 1938, he resigned from the position of Foreign Secretary due to Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy. As a result, Lord Halifax, known as the "first mate on the appeasement ship," succeeded him as Foreign Secretary.

Less than a month after Eden's resignation, Chamberlain, together with France's Daladier, signed the "Munich Agreement," betraying Czechoslovakia to Germany. Eden and three other Conservative Party members strongly opposed this agreement, and they believed that forming an alliance with the Soviet Union was necessary to achieve peace. Under the pressure of the situation and public opinion, representatives from Britain and France were sent to negotiate with the Soviet Union. Eden volunteered to go to Moscow for the negotiations but was rejected by Chamberlain.

In 1939, as Germany invaded Poland, Britain was forced to declare war on Germany. Eden returned to the Cabinet, serving as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Later, Churchill succeeded Chamberlain as the Prime Minister, and Eden, highly regarded by Churchill, once again became the Foreign Secretary.

Finally, he arrived at the Kremlin and met Stalin, who appeared somewhat grim.

Stalin didn't harbor favorable feelings towards Britain. After the October Revolution, the Soviet Union successfully overthrew the feudal rule of the Tsar and transitioned from a dictatorship to a form of governance dominated by the Soviet system. After Stalin took over the Soviet political power, the so-called Soviet socialism was not particularly well-established. In a Europe dominated by capitalist countries, the unique political regime of the Soviet Union was undoubtedly a provocation to the then-European powers, mainly Britain and France.

The facts supported this perspective. As the Soviet political power grew, causing concerns among European powers, especially Britain and France, they implemented an extensive policy of isolating the Soviet Union, almost wishing to eliminate them while they were still in their infancy. Moreover, they secretly supported the White Army during the Russian Civil War, prolonging the conflict.