Each One's War (2)

Roediger, who would remain as Russia's PMR on the Supreme War Council, came to ask Kokovtsov.

"Prime Minister, doesn't this mean Britain ultimately pays no price except for a symbolic removal of a few people?"

"It may seem that way for now. But I confirmed one thing by coming here. Do you know what that is?"

Though agreeing that the young Roediger was saying the compensation was insufficient, Kokovtsov was smiling.

"...I'm not sure."

"It's that encircling Russia will be impossible after the war."

"Why is that?"

"Because now no one will step up for Britain's sake."

The reason they had to be wary when America joined the war.

The reason the Empire had to react strongly even to such a worthless protocol.

It was all due to fear of postwar isolation.

Fear of being excluded from Western Europe.

Fear of being simultaneously blocked from both the Far East and Europe.