Chapter 0475: Capitalizing on Chaos
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Early the next morning, Secretary of State Bryan and Secretary of the Navy Daniels once again met with Churchill. The appearance of Churchill was disheveled; his hair was unkempt, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had not slept at all the previous night.
"Minister, did you not rest well last night?" Bryan inquired with genuine concern.
"Secretary, how could I possibly sleep before receiving your response? The current situation is increasingly dire for the British Empire. If we cannot procure warships from your country promptly, matters will only worsen," Churchill replied, his face etched with anxiety.
"Minister, I have good news for you. The President has, in principle, agreed to sell your country our active fleet of battleships," Bryan announced.
"What? Is this true? This is splendid news!" Churchill exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. Although he had always believed that the Americans would not likely refuse their request, their swift agreement delighted him nonetheless. If the transfer of ships went smoothly, they could soon organize a formidable fleet to engage the German Navy in a decisive battle. The outcome remained uncertain.
"Indeed, Minister, we can sell your country these battleships. However, given that they are vital to the strength of the United States Navy, selling them will significantly diminish our naval power. Thus, the cost will be considerable. Additionally, your country will require a number of armored cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers, which the Republic can also supply," Bryan continued.
Churchill nodded, understanding that the Americans would seize this opportunity; acquiring those twelve battleships would necessitate significant financial sacrifice.
"Secretary, in addition to the twelve battleships, we will need to procure six armored cruisers, twenty light cruisers, and fifty destroyers from your country," Churchill stated.
"That sounds excellent. The specific prices can be discussed between you and Secretary Daniels," Bryan concluded, falling silent.
Churchill turned his attention to Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
"Minister, after our discussions, we propose a price of eighty million dollars for each battleship, forty million dollars for each armored cruiser, twenty million dollars for each light cruiser, and five million dollars for each destroyer," Daniels articulated a series of figures.
Upon hearing these prices, Churchill's eyes widened in disbelief. He had anticipated the Americans would demand a high price, but he never expected such outrageous figures. At a five-to-one exchange rate between dollars and pounds, eighty million dollars for a battleship equated to sixteen million pounds—an astronomical sum. The British Navy's "Queen Elizabeth" class battleships cost only two million pounds each. The Americans were effectively pricing their battleships at eight times that amount, treating Britain as a mere lamb for slaughter!
"Minister, I must have misheard. These prices are simply preposterous!" Churchill exclaimed.
"No, Minister, these prices are entirely justifiable. Selling these battleships entails significant risks for the United States. If Germany were to declare war on us, it would pose considerable trouble. Thus, we must prepare accordingly," Daniels replied steadfastly.
"Germany will never declare war on you simply for selling us warships!" Churchill insisted.
"That remains uncertain," Daniels retorted, standing firm.
"Very well, Minister. This price is exorbitant; the British Empire cannot accept it," Churchill stated.
"Minister, if your country cannot accept this price, we can only express our regrets," Bryan responded.
Clearly, the Americans were confident that the British had no alternative but to purchase the warships. Thus, they felt no concern that the British might walk away from the deal. Should this happen, the British would have no chance of recovering against Germany.
"Secretary, the sale of warships to us holds immense benefits for both our nations. If your asking price is too high to enable our purchase, it will only serve to advantage the Germans," Churchill argued.
"Minister, that is not our concern. The United States is a neutral nation; Germany cannot declare war on us. Even if they wished to, they lack the capability. The Republic is fully capable of thwarting any threats," Daniels asserted.
Churchill was rendered speechless; the Americans were clearly taking advantage of the situation, seeking to profit from their predicament. He felt inclined to refuse, but he knew that doing so would spell disaster.
After contemplating the matter, Churchill realized there was no other option but to swallow his pride. He vowed that once Britain weathered this crisis, he would make the Americans pay.
Of course, this did not imply that Churchill would accept the Americans' price without contest. Negotiating was essential, akin to bargaining at a marketplace.
As Churchill and Daniels haggled over the prices, it resembled a lively exchange between market vendors. However, the British found themselves in a disadvantageous position; despite Churchill's strenuous efforts, he could not lower the prices significantly. Eventually, Daniels conceded to his final limits: fifty million dollars for each battleship, twenty million for each armored cruiser, ten million for each light cruiser, and three million for each destroyer.
Seeing no alternative, Churchill reluctantly accepted these terms. If he did not, the deal would collapse entirely.
When Churchill nodded in agreement, surprise flickered in the eyes of both Bryan and Daniels. Even though the American economy was flourishing, the funds from this deal would still represent a substantial windfall for them!
Based on the agreed prices, the British would pay one billion seventy million dollars for twelve battleships, six armored cruisers, twenty light cruisers, and destroyers—equivalent to two hundred fourteen million pounds or five billion three hundred fifty million marks!