Ch.304The Guest from South America (2)

* * *

The proposals sent to South American countries were, unsurprisingly, rejected.

Though they all expressed it in various roundabout ways, their position was ultimately negative.

The United States naturally refused as well, and it seems the South American countries are likely watching for America’s reaction.

“What’s this about the Argentine presidential couple coming personally?”

“They demanded the Falklands in exchange for accepting all the Black people.”

They demanded the Falklands? Did the Falklands remain British in the original timeline?

“The Falklands. Hmm.”

Won’t Britain have a fit?

If Churchill foams at the mouth over this, the Falklands War might break out earlier than in the original history, or it might even take place on Argentine mainland.

“Honestly, it’s not a bad condition.”

If I’m being strict about it, our “cannibals” issue is simply for appearances.

Because Congo would later experience multiple Congo Wars, even earning the title of “Africa’s World War.”

There’s no guarantee it won’t happen in this world either.

How horrific were those African wars in the distant future? It’s not like the West supported all of them or maintained order.

Perhaps that’s to be expected. Anyway, that’s why I wanted to reduce the Black population as much as possible.

I don’t really want to massacre Black people again, and the last time was somewhat buried because of China. If we do it openly, there will likely be much criticism in the future.

“That’s right. If they take all those Black people, it would be more convenient for us.”

“Mr. Churchill will have much to say.”

But wouldn’t the Falklands be at risk if the US eventually dominates South America?

Is returning the Falklands the right move? This is something I should discuss with Churchill directly.

Speaking of which, I contacted Churchill.

-“No matter what, this is unacceptable. Ceding the Falklands? Even from Russia’s perspective, you need the Falklands, don’t you?”

Right. With the Falklands, we can always check the United States from the front of a South America that has fallen to American influence.

Giving the Falklands to Argentina now would mean American troops stationed there in the future.

Or Argentina might have other intentions.

Well, this is a sensitive issue for me to accept as well.

After all, this could be known as “Anastasia’s blunder” in the future.

And if that happens, what then?

“If Prime Minister Churchill doesn’t like it, there’s nothing we can do. Then, where should we relocate the Black people?”

At my words, Churchill sighed, then cleared his throat as if he’d had a good idea.

-“Ahem. If we must consider options, there’s always India, isn’t there? Perhaps Argentina’s demand for the Falklands was just an excuse to reject our proposal. Above all, we have our pride.”

“Hmm.”

India. That’s not wrong. We could push the Black people into regions with insufficient population.

It might be interesting to use those Black people to instigate internal conflicts.

-“Or we could hand over the Black people to that woman Song Meiling as a condition for supporting them in the war.”

Yes, that’s right, but there’s a reason we initially wanted to entrust them to South America.

We chose South America to make it look like a more humane deal. It’s no different from putting pressure on India and China.

Besides, how do we know what will happen to Black people sent to India and China?

“Who knows what will happen to them if they go there?”

What will become of those people?

-“Sigh, Tsar, Your Majesty of Great Byzantium. Let’s think about it this way: from the moment we hand those Black people over to another country, they are no longer our concern.”

“And then?”

Yes, I know that, but what are you suggesting?

-“Whether they live or die, whether they establish a new barbaric nation in those barbaric lands of India and China, it’s not our concern. Isn’t that right? After all, Your Majesty doesn’t care how many Black people die as long as it doesn’t happen before your eyes. Our goal is decolonization, not protecting Black human rights. That’s a job for the Yankees who nearly got overrun by the Black Chicken Revolutionary Army.”

“There’s some truth to that.”

Yes, that’s somewhat true.

As long as we send them somewhere else, whether they live well or poorly is not my concern.

So you’re saying we should send the Black people elsewhere?

-“There are various ways to approach South America, aren’t there? If the presidential couple has already come, you can take the initiative in diplomacy. The Falklands are absolutely non-negotiable. We already need to stabilize Normandy and Brittany. If we give away the Falklands, my political life is over.”

Yes, I understand that.

In fact, I truly admire how you’ve held on since becoming Mr. Dunkirk.

We can’t give away territory.

“I understand, let’s stop here. My ears are tired.”

Click-

I hung up the phone.

If Churchill is this adamant, there’s nothing to be done. Since we’ve already handed over most of the Pacific, it makes sense to keep the Falklands, if only to check South America.

Though it’s quite far away, unlike the original history, we could intensively develop it into a military base.

Yes, let’s see what happens.

I’ve only heard about them, so I don’t know what kind of people they are.

I just know that Eva Perón is supposedly a promiscuous woman who sleeps around, yet remains popular.

They say even her corpse was stolen.

Come to think of it, I’m more curious about Eva Perón than Juan Perón.

* * *

Juan Perón and Eva Perón.

Before meeting the couple, I looked at the empty lot where the Anastasia Palace would be built, the site where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior once stood.

A construction site where foundation work had begun.

Since the original site was a swamp, they said the foundation work needed to be done thoroughly.

“How long will the foundation work take?”

“Since we’re building a high-rise, it will take quite a while. We estimate about three years just for the foundation.”

Three years just for the foundation. This will truly be a massive construction project.

So I’ll have to see foundation work going on here almost every day?

“Then how long until completion?”

“Since we can’t do shoddy work, we’re looking at a maximum of 10 years.”

“Well, yes. That makes sense.”

The Soviet Palace was also supposed to be completed in the late 1940s.

We started in the 1940s, so that’s reasonable.

“Your Majesty, Juan Perón and Eva Perón have arrived in Moscow.”

“Is that so?”

Looking from a distance, I could see two distinctive figures in Moscow.

People somewhat familiar to me from my past life knowledge.

Juan Perón and Eva Perón.

The couple was now strolling through Moscow, sightseeing.

Argentina must not be so bad either.

“So this is Moscow. It’s truly beautiful. What is that?”

“It’s a skyscraper being built to commemorate the achievements of my mother, the Tsar, for generations to come. It will be so tall that it can be seen from anywhere in Moscow.”

“Do the people accept this willingly?”

“Yes, my mother the Tsar is praised by everyone throughout Russia. It’s different from the old Tsarist era.”

“I see.”

The couple seemed to be touring various parts of Moscow, starting with the main road leading to the Kremlin Palace.

“So that woman is the one called the Saint of the Poor in Argentina.”

Is age really that powerful? Or was she originally beautiful?

I can understand why she’s revered as a saint despite her promiscuity—she is indeed beautifully formed.

But that’s all there is to it.

“Is that so?”

“She implemented policies for the poor, workers, and the lower classes.”

I answered Maria’s question simply.

In the original history, she secured food ration promises from France, went to Spain for relief activities, and established the Eva Perón Foundation with donations from labor organizations and businesses.

In other words, she’s like the Argentine version of that Romanian queen who had an affair—what was her name? I can’t even remember—but an even more remarkable figure?

But I cannot forgive being treated similarly to me.

I greeted the Perón presidential couple in front of the State Duma building.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for such a warm reception.”

“How can you be so young? You seem about my age.”

Come on, I’m younger than you. She’s subtly taking a jab at me.

Indeed, women must always be jealous of appearances.

Well, she didn’t come here to see me.

“The Black migration issue alone wouldn’t have moved you to come; the fact that the presidential couple came all the way to Moscow in person—is it to become friends of our Roman Treaty?”

“That’s correct.”

“Unfortunately, it’s difficult to hand over the Falklands. European countries have already quelled various domestic complaints by decolonizing.”

Would citizens simply accept decolonization with a “Yes, I understand”?

In reality, Britain and France, which make up the largest portion of the Roman Treaty signatories, have exerted much effort internally for decolonization.

In Churchill’s case, given the current state of the British Empire, it’s not just a Roman Treaty issue but that maintaining the British Empire’s colonies itself is difficult. He blamed everything on the now-fallen communist Goebbels, saying they lost strength in the last Great War because of communist Germany.

France had to decolonize for internal reorganization since the country was divided, though they managed to hold onto Algeria.

As for the Netherlands, what can they do if they don’t listen? Anyway, they gave up decolonization for various reasons, but they don’t want to give up other miscellaneous territories.

Especially the Falklands—for Churchill, it would be very difficult to give up. He may have taken Normandy and Brittany, but what about the abandoned colonies?

Normandy and Brittany merely erased the shame of Mr. Dunkirk.

As a Roman Treaty member, there’s no reason why they can’t station soldiers in the Falklands.

“I understand that completely.”

“But the fact that you brought up the Falklands means you’re either rejecting Black migration or seeking grounds for talks with us.”

For popularity, or because you really want to take the Falklands. It’s probably a mix of complex reasons.

“Your Majesty has seen right through us.”

“We’re focused on European affairs and know little about South America. The fact that the presidential couple has sought out Russia in this situation probably means something is happening in South America.”

I think I know what this is about, but let’s hear it.

I suspect the United States is involved.

“The United States is the problem.”

“The United States?”

That makes sense. The US is trying to extend its influence all the way to South America.

“Yes. The US has moved southward, bringing Mexico and Honduras under its influence, and now it’s targeting Venezuela and the rest of South America.”

“That makes sense. To stand against our Roman Treaty, they would need to conquer from North America all the way to South America.”

The United States is moving as quickly as possible.

Feeling threatened by this, Argentina wants to become South America’s hegemon to stand against the US. Is that it?

Considering the US’s status, this isn’t something to take lightly. Even with nuclear weapons, large-scale air support, and Roman Treaty backing, Operation Downfall was expected to take years, but it ended within a year.

America’s combat power is at a level that Argentina simply cannot handle.

They’ve even seen the US mass-producing ships and weapons to defeat Japan, yet they think they can stand against America?

That’s really something.

Let me think about this carefully. What does this mean?

In the end, they want to receive our help to defeat America and become a new axis of world power.

But that’s a bit much.

“Our Argentina plans to secure South America before the United States swallows it up and targets us. Then wouldn’t the Falklands, a base to check pro-American forces in South America, be a bit more comfortable?”

Secure South America?

In other words, they want to unite all of South America into one.

“Secure South America. You’re thinking of unifying South America?”

Is unifying South America easy?

Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, and others—when will you subdue them all? Can you handle it if the US supports through Brazil in the meantime?

I don’t think so.

Argentina seems to want to gamble now.

They think our Roman Treaty will be a strong backing for them, and at the very least, it can prevent the US from taking direct action.

Even if that’s impossible, they might think they can defeat the US with our weapons.

Perhaps that’s why they’re insisting on the Falklands.

By mentioning the Falklands, they might be suggesting that if South America falls to the US, the Falklands could actually be in danger.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Whether we form something similar to the Roman Treaty or occupy territory, to stand against the US, we need to take at least South America.”

Alright, let’s say that’s the case, but there’s one more issue.

The fact that they’re speaking like this means they have some hope from us.

“We previously set Black migration as a condition for Argentina. Does this mean you can accept that as well?”

“If we become the hegemon in South America with the Roman Treaty’s support, what would be difficult about it?”

Yes, that’s what you’re saying?