Ch.171MacArthur’s Courtship

* * *

However, since history might be different here, I skimmed through the law’s contents.

“Hmm, let’s see. Article 1, Section 1: The abuse or mistreatment of animals is prohibited. Section 2-“

As I continued reading, I realized it was exactly identical to Nazi Germany’s animal protection laws.

Nazi Germany’s animal protection laws are actually worth referencing.

Now, onto the next document.

The next document showed that cigarettes were selling well in Russia lately. It expressed concern about the excessive number of smokers.

Wait, didn’t Hitler also ban smoking?

That’s another policy I actually approve of among Hitler’s actions, along with animal protection laws.

“Did Hitler perhaps also launch an anti-smoking campaign?”

Remembering Hitler’s anti-smoking efforts, I asked the Prime Minister while skimming through the smoking-related documents.

“An anti-smoking campaign?”

“Yes, nothing major—just things like imposing higher tobacco taxes, prohibiting smoking in public places, or regulating tobacco advertising in various ways.”

I know Hitler implemented such measures.

Considering original history, these are actually initiatives that would happen further in the future.

“Hmm, since there’s been no mention of such things, it seems those laws haven’t been enacted yet.”

I wonder if Hitler has already established such laws.

Though I recall he worked hard to strengthen anti-tobacco laws until the late 1930s. Since I’ve brought it up, should I enact something similar?

Hmm, should we try it first?

“Do we have many smokers in Russia too?”

“Yes. Female smokers in particular have increased considerably since the civil war.”

“Why is that?”

Is it because people became dependent on cigarettes due to the devastation of civil war?

But by that logic, every country in civil war would be filled with smokers nationwide.

As I pondered this, silence fell over the Duma.

“Well, since Your Majesty is a smoker, women trying to emulate you have learned to smoke as well.”

They shouldn’t be copying that particular habit.

Originally, Anastasia was such a heavy smoker she could match Nicholas II, but it’s problematic if citizens simply imitate that.

I’m actually a tanghulu, so smoking doesn’t affect me much.

But other Russians are different. Shouldn’t we prevent problems that smoking could cause for pregnant women?

In that case, since we’re already referencing the animal protection law, establishing an anti-tobacco law would be good too.

If people are smoking more because of me, that means I need to take responsibility.

I’m fortunate that Hitler has already implemented something I had forgotten about.

Who would have thought the animal protection law would remind me of this?

“Let’s implement it here too.”

“Pardon?”

Everyone’s making stupid expressions. What’s wrong?

Ah, it must be because I smoke. Well, it’s not like I do it often.

I’ve just gotten used to Anastasia’s taste for it.

“Just because I smoke doesn’t mean we shouldn’t implement necessary measures. Of course, since I’m a smoker, I can’t force people not to smoke, but raising cigarette prices would be good. And we should also teach that smoking is harmful to pregnant women. Of course, I’ll try to set an example by quitting myself.”

People in this era are too insensitive about tobacco.

They smoke freely without knowing it’s harmful to their health.

If Nicholas II knew tobacco was bad for health, would he have smoked with his young children?

“Understood.”

It’s fortunate that Hitler has created some useful things.

It’s good for Russia to have something worth referencing.

An anti-smoking campaign is definitely necessary among those measures.

It’s problematic if women, especially pregnant women, learn to smoke just to imitate me.

Especially with the Great War approaching, we need to protect our human resources.

* * *

The White House, United States

The White House under the US Military Government had been quite busy lately with system reorganization.

Monitoring the situation in neighboring countries was the government’s main task recently, and someone pounded a fist on the desk.

“Damn it. The British are sending support to the KFC?”

“Nothing has been confirmed precisely yet, but circumstances suggest so.”

“Nothing confirmed? They’re clearly supporting that quasi-communist Huey Long. Look at their history! Those British bastards always have to meddle everywhere. They’re trying to divide America by supporting not just Huey Long but the KFC too!”

MacArthur was a thorough anti-communist.

The Bolsheviks, Communist Germany, and the communes spreading throughout France.

He disliked all of them.

Thus, he intended to ignore whatever happened in Europe.

Above all, he considered those who incited people to overthrow the system as the axis of world evil.

And this anti-communism had intensified recently due to Britain and France supporting the KFC and Huey Long’s government.

“I don’t know the truth behind these rumors, but we’re isolated right now. People are anxious, which might be why such rumors are spreading. We need to develop countermeasures.”

“That’s right. Above us is Canada, which might do anything; beside us are those chicken-obsessed commies; and below us are more quasi-commies.”

“Fortunately, Russia is favorable toward us. They were the first country to recognize us as North America’s official government. The Tsarina herself has expressed direct support for us.”

“As they should. We’ve provided them with so much support.”

How much have we supported them over the years?

Of course, with three governments in America, supporting any of them would amount to the same thing.

“Moreover, they’re using their intelligence service to inform us about what’s happening in the Western US.”

“Is the West definitely neutral right now?”

MacArthur frowned as he asked Eisenhower’s question.

Depending on which way the West leans, this divided America could head toward catastrophe.

“They’re neutral, but I understand some governors support the KFC.”

“Communist bastards. They should all be eliminated.”

This civil war could become serious if it drags on too long.

For the civil war effort, military power needs to be built up quickly.

“What about receiving support from Russia?”

“Support from Russia?”

Receiving support from Russia.

Yes. Russia surely wouldn’t want to see this military government fall to communists.

After all, didn’t they survive thanks to America’s massive support?

So it’s only natural for them to help.

Unlike Anastasia’s need for meticulous planning, the MacArthur military government was willing to accept support from anyone with a reasonable justification.

Especially Russia, which, unlike Britain or France, was perfectly positioned to deploy troops in the current situation.

“We have Colonel George Patton of the US Army in Russia, appointed as a special military attaché there. I hear he distinguished himself in mobile warfare during the Russian Civil War.”

That’s right. Patton is in Russia now.

I had forgotten until now, but he definitely stayed in Russia for exchanges regarding mobile warfare. This might be a good opportunity to promote him to Brigadier General.

“I see. Hmm.”

MacArthur’s military government currently faced clear limitations.

They were isolated from all sides—above, below, and beside.

If the West could at least stab both sides from the flank, that would be different, but that’s unlikely. So they needed someone’s support.

“We have no choice. If we continue like this, we’ll have to surrender to the communists.”

MacArthur’s government had already mentioned Anastasia in its inaugural speech, promising to overcome the Great Depression.

They had actually used force to pass various necessary policies.

This was faster than Huey Long’s government, and above all, it was closer to Anastasia’s principles rather than communist-leaning, so MacArthur’s popularity was explosive within his sphere of influence.

In other words, as economic depression began in American society, Anastasia’s speeches had increased the number of anti-communists and Anastasia supporters.

So what’s the problem?

It would be natural for Russia to help MacArthur’s government.

But simply receiving help doesn’t seem right, does it?

Wouldn’t it look better to bind them with a treaty?

“Let’s establish a close military agreement with Russia. How about a mutual defense treaty?”

“I’ll try to get it passed through the Military Council.”

“Good. We have to try something. We must win this civil war. Just as Russia was divided into White Russia and Red Russia, we’re now divided into White America and Red Americas. We can form a bond over that.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Eisenhower withdrew, MacArthur looked out the window.

Under that clear sky and sunshine, Americans would end up fighting each other.

Given how things have turned out, taking Russia’s hand is only natural.

At least it would be better to grasp hands as equals rather than appearing desperate.

“Sir, the Tsarina of the United States of Greater Russia has highly praised our animal protection law and passed it in Russia as well.”

Austria’s Interior Minister Hermann Göring reported to Hitler.

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Recently, the Tsarina has been personally leading an anti-smoking campaign.”

Anti-smoking campaign.

This was one of Hitler’s targets due to the increasing number of smokers lately.

He was even conducting research to prove that tobacco is harmful to health for his anti-smoking campaign.

But the Tsarina was pushing forward with the anti-smoking campaign Hitler wanted to implement, using her own authority.

Hitler couldn’t help but admire this.

“The Russian Tsarina is truly remarkable. To think she would start the anti-smoking campaign I’ve been considering! Hmm, what a shame. What a shame indeed. She really should have become the Kaiserin of Austria.”

Unlike original history, Hitler had been influenced by the German communist revolution, the Russian civil war, and his meeting with Anastasia, and now showed unlimited respect for her.

He dreamed of becoming a German hero like Anastasia, who had become a Russian hero, liberating Germany from those communists and reunifying Germany under Austrian leadership.

‘It would be nice to secure living space for Aryans all the way to Russia.’

If he had been ruling a stable Germany, he might have considered it, but that Russia was ruled by the Tsarina, and in Austria’s current position, even German unification would be difficult.

Right now, Hermann Göring, who had come from Germany to become Austria’s Interior Minister, was busy crushing communists. There was a mountain of work to do.

“Sir.”

“Minister of War. What is it?”

Having worked with Gajda for a long time and considering him a political partner, Hitler showed respect to War Minister Gajda, if no one else.

Of course, this was also to gain favor with the Czech people.

In fact, since Gajda became Minister of War, Czech support for Hitler had been rising.

“Before Communist Germany builds up its army, I believe we need to fortify the border region like France’s Maginot Line. Fortification of the Sudetenland is urgent.”

If war breaks out with Communist Germany, Italy, the betrayer from World War I, would also join, so Austria would have to focus on defense for a while.

Then fortification of the border region would be essential.

“Yes, let’s do that. Let’s allocate the budget.”

Hitler’s Austria began fortifying the border region with Germany through the Sudetenland.

It might have been somewhat late, but with existing fortifications, they could achieve sufficient defensive effects, if not quite Maginot Line level.

* * *

MacArthur’s military government has requested a mutual defense treaty.

In other words, a system where we participate if the other is attacked. Hmm, I wonder if this is more common than I thought.

Well, even 21st century Korea has US troops stationed and an alliance with America, so it’s not a problem.

Fortunately, the military government’s approach aligns well with ours.

It’s good that they requested a mutual defense treaty on their own without needing more work from us.

Originally, I was only thinking about requests for support, but if they’re requesting such a treaty on their own, they must want to maintain their dignity by establishing an equal relationship.

One thing is certain.

By signing a mutual defense treaty, they want to naturally receive support when civil war breaks out.

There’s nothing bad about this for us either, which is probably why MacArthur proposed the treaty.

But you know.

From a Korean perspective, MacArthur is an incredibly impressive figure, right?

In this life, Hirohito seems likely to die while personally leading a campaign in China, while in original history, MacArthur took formal, solemn photos and even embraced Syngman Rhee.

It feels strange to think such a person is now in a disadvantaged position in America.

I should view this from the Russian Tsar’s perspective now.

“MacArthur seems to be struggling more than expected.”

“Since MacArthur’s government is a military government, it lacks both justification and legitimacy. And aren’t they isolated on the American continent? They could be attacked at any time.”

Can they fight freely against Huey Long, who receives British support, while having British-affiliated Canada behind them?

Yes. In that case, we’ll help.

“A mutual defense treaty. It would be good to accept it.”

After World War II, when the Cold War begins, we’ll maintain some distance from America.

But as much as we need each other’s existence, our relationship won’t weaken significantly.

Additionally, if we sign a mutual defense treaty, whether Japan attacks Russia or America, we can legitimately beat Japan together.

I wonder what role MacArthur’s government will play in World War II?