I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 689 Fighting Fire with Fire
When US President Wilson arrived in Paris, Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Nicolas the Younger had been arguing for more than half a month over the division of the fruits of victory.

The result of more than half a month is that each side knows each other's requirements.

France wanted Alsace and Lorraine, as well as the Saarland, and also wanted to seize the east bank of the Rhine.

Russia wants Galicia and Jutland.

Britain wanted Germany's colonies in Africa.

After arriving in Paris, Wilson immediately threw out a big news: the establishment of the League of Nations.

Wilson claimed that the purpose of the League of Nations was to resolve disputes through negotiation.

In fact, the United States hopes to expand its international influence through international alliances.

Compared with Britain, France and Russia, Wilson was indeed a little alone and weak.

The Commonwealth is a large group of countries, including India, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc.

Russia has a large number of younger brothers, not to mention East India and Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Japan and other countries, which also made great contributions to the world war and all have a certain say.

Because France has no younger brothers, it holds high the banner of democracy, attracting a large number of countries that want to find a big brother to get closer to France.

There are also some regions that hope to win independence through the Paris Peace Conference and hope to get France's support.

This is the situation Wilson is facing now.

If this situation is not broken, the United States will have no say.

As soon as Wilson proposed the League of Nations, he was opposed and ridiculed by Lloyd George and Clemenceau.

The League of Nations wanted all countries to send representatives to discuss and resolve international disputes.

This idea is good.

But why do we need to bring a large group of people together to discuss something that can be solved between two or three people behind closed doors?

Wilson was too naive. He actually used something invented by Europeans to fool Europeans. This showed that he did not take the wisdom of Europeans seriously.

Lloyd George and Clemenceau were both shrewd men. With a quick turn of their eyes, they set a trap for Wilson.

Since it was Wilson who proposed the establishment of the League of Nations.

Wilson will be responsible for its establishment.

Since all countries can participate in the League of Nations, representatives from all countries should sit together and discuss a charter first.

Wilson didn't know enough about the insidiousness of old Europe, so he threw himself into the job with great enthusiasm, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

It cannot be said that there has been no progress this month.

At least all countries reached a consensus on the necessity of establishing the League of Nations.

However, Wilson encountered unprecedented resistance in the organizational structure and operating model of the League of Nations.

Wilson's idea was that if there was a conflict, it would be resolved by voting.

Dejan, who represented the Grand Duchy of Yuriev at the meeting, raised a question: How are the votes counted?

The ideal situation would definitely be one country, one vote.

But this is impossible. Can a vote of the Abyssinian Empire (Ethiopia) be the same as a vote of the British Prime Minister?

How about Abyssinia counting as one vote and Britain counting as two votes?
This is blatant injustice.

What if one day Abyssinia becomes strong and Britain becomes weak, will the situation be reversed?

You can’t even play house like this.

For a whole month, Wilson hadn't even solved the problem of voting.

Looking back, Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Nicolas the Younger, hiding in a small dark room in the Palace of Versailles, had already begun discussing the division of Germany's colonies in Africa.

Wilson suddenly woke up from his dream and asked Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Nicolas the Younger to participate in the preparation for the establishment of the League of Nations.

Little Nicholas was the most straightforward: "I would rather go to the theater to see white thighs than argue with those people."

Lloyd George and Clemenceau rolled their eyes and asked, "How could you tell the truth?"

Wilson was angry, feeling that Lloyd George and Clemenceau did not give him enough respect.

Clemenceau, nicknamed "The Tiger," ignored Wilson, having been impressed by the Americans' conduct during the world wars.

At the beginning of the World War, Americans made huge profits under the banner of "free trade", and jumped from a debtor country to a creditor country. Until they could no longer squeeze out any more money, they personally went out to get the last penny.

These Americans still have the nerve to call themselves "saviors". They really have no shame at all.

The United States' behavior after entering the war was equally despicable. Millions of troops ran to Europe empty-handed and launched a new round of blackmail against Britain and France.

Pershing refused to allow the U.S. military to participate in the war for a whole year on the grounds that the U.S. military needed training. It was not until the German army was about to break through the British and French defense lines that Pershing was forced to send the U.S. military into battle.

The world war lasted four years and caused serious damage to the French economy.

When the Americans came to France, they were like a bull entering a porcelain shop, bringing not only the Spanish flu but also leaving behind countless seeds.

Although Clemenceau required that restaurants in Paris must provide the same service to everyone, there were still restaurants in Paris that refused to serve Americans.

Even special workers, who were known for not being picky eaters, refused to serve Americans.

Clemenceau is a typical example of someone who uses people forward and does not use them backward.

When the French army needed the American army, Clemenceau praised Pershing to the sky and called him the savior of France.

After Germany surrendered, Clemenceau did not even give face to the US President.

Just after Wilson proposed the League of Nations, French newspapers described Wilson as "a toad wanting to eat swan flesh."

Compared with Clemenceau, Lloyd George, who was a lawyer, was better at communication.

"Mr. President, it is precisely because of our respect for you and the importance of the International Alliance that I let you take charge of our top priority."

“Since the International Alliance is so important, everyone should be involved.”

Wilson was also a lawyer. He was an extremely confident idealist who hoped to use the League of Nations to break the international system built mainly by Britain and France. "Democratic problems should be solved in a democratic way—"

Wilson was greatly encouraged by little Nicholas' words.

"--President Wilson should continue to be in charge of this matter, please raise your hands."

Little Nicholas's second sentence made Wilson furious.

"As it should be!"

Lloyd George raised his hand first.

Clemenceau laughed and raised his hand.

Wilson broke through the defense before little Nicholas raised his hands.

"If you treat my request in this manner, the United States will withdraw from the negotiations."

After Clemenceau, the second person who wanted to quit finally appeared.

Although Germany has surrendered, American troops are still arriving in Europe in a steady stream, and there are now as many as 200 million American troops in France.

If Wilson withdraws, what will happen to these two million American troops?
It is easy to ask God but difficult to send Him away.

Wilson did not really want to withdraw, he was just threatening to withdraw.

So the next day, Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and the yawning little Nicholas appeared at the preparatory meeting of the League of Nations.

When there are a lot of people, even if they are all elites, it is as lively as a vegetable market.

The meeting hall was in chaos and disorder. Italian Prime Minister Orlando, who was presiding over the meeting, was about to break his hammer, but no one paid any attention to him.

The Italian army's performance in the world war does not deserve respect.

With the arrival of winter, the reconstruction work in St. Petersburg came to an end, and George asked Alexander to follow little Nicholas to gain experience.

"Gentlemen, please be quiet. We are about to start a meeting—"

Orlando shouted at the top of his lungs at the podium.

Lloyd George was chatting in low voices with Young Smuts, a South African-born Boer general.

Clemenceau was greeting someone he knew in his loud voice.

Wilson crossed his arms and sneered, "Now you guys finally understand what I've been through."

Alexander secretly poked little Nicholas to remind him not to sleep.

Prince Sto, who was attending the meeting on behalf of the Kingdom of Montenegro, came over to greet Alexander and said that there would be a magical show in Paris in the next two days and he would take Alexander to broaden his horizons in the evening.

Alexander's horizons were indeed broadened.

This is the stage for the elite.

Seeing that Orlando was unable to maintain order, Clemenceau slammed the table and yelled, "Shut the fuck up!"

Alexander was speechless.

It was you who had the loudest voice just now.

Clemenceau still had prestige, and the meeting room immediately became so quiet that you could hear your heartbeat.

"what--"

Little Nicholas stretched and yawned as loudly as he could.

Alexander covered his face, feeling a little embarrassed, and wanted to sit next to Boris.

George doesn't have to come.

Polis had to come.

This time, Polis is asking for a lot, not only Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Croatia and Slovenia.

It is okay not to give it. First, support a few countries in the above-mentioned regions, and then hold a referendum to annex them openly. No one can find fault with the procedure.

Dejan also had great demands. He and Sultan Lisa of Aceh not only wanted Germany's colonies in the Pacific, but also wanted to complete the task assigned by George and expand their influence to the coast of the Red Sea.

When the Russians could not get access to the Black Sea, they were worried and unable to sleep or eat.

Having gained access to the Black Sea, the Russians began to talk about the Suez Canal, their greed being insatiable.

"Gentlemen, we are now beginning the 65th discussion—"

Orlando followed procedure.

Alexander frowned. This was the 65th time this had been discussed, and what had they come up with?

On the table in front of Alexander was a stack of documents concerning the charter of the League of Nations.

"Okay, no more discussion, let's vote now."

When it comes to cooking, the French are the experts.

"You don't even take a look at the contents of the document?"

Wilson reminded Clemenceau not to regret after the vote.

"Ah--"

Clemenceau chuckled and used his actions to show Wilson and Alexander how to play the game.

"——If the content is not suitable, it can be modified until it is suitable."

Let’s not talk about what Wilson thinks.

Alexander was enlightened.

A simple solution to a simple problem.

(End of this chapter)