Roosevelt said: "Mr. Ambassador, please be honest. Under the current circumstances, Japan faces difficulties that seem to be smaller than Russia, but it has almost no chance to win, because Japan is an island country and the navy is basically the navy. However, the Japanese navy has suffered a devastating blow and cannot be restored in a short period of time. This is doomed to Japan to lose the capital to win. Therefore, in this case, I think it is Japan's wisest choice to negotiate with the East China government as soon as possible, reach an agreement on the armistice, and sign a truce treaty."

Kentaro Kaneko smiled bitterly and said, "Of course we hope to sign a truce treaty with the East China government, but the President knows the conditions of the East China government. They insist on demanding compensation from Japan, which is a condition that Japan will never accept."

Roosevelt shrugged and said, "I don't think this is an unacceptable condition. Mr. Ambassador, I can understand that the conditions for accepting compensation will be a very difficult decision, but as a politician, you should have the courage to take responsibility for national interests. Now the East China government needs to deal with Russia, so as long as Japan negotiates with the East China government now, it can sign a truce treaty at a smaller price, and Japan can also restore its national strength in a short period of time. If Japan negotiates with the East China government after defeating Russia, it may have to pay a considerable price. Of course, if the East China government cannot defeat Russia, Japan does not need compensation, but I think this possibility is very low. It is really not necessary to place hope on this opportunity similar to gambling."

Kentaro Kaneko said: "Mr. President, Japan also has its national conditions. In Japanese culture, it is very important to surrender. It is better to die in battle than to surrender to the outside world. Therefore, it is impossible to accept the demand for compensation from the East China government."

Roosevelt said: "It is necessary to maintain respect for traditional culture, but as a politician, it is the first thing to do to ensure national interests and guide the country on the right path. I have no intention of evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of Japanese culture. However, when traditional culture and national interests conflict, politicians must have the courage to take responsibility." After a pause, he said: "If the Japanese government is willing to accept the conditions for compensation, I can deal with it and ensure that Japan's compensation amount is controlled within 100 million yen."

In fact, Kentaro Kaneko knew very well that what Roosevelt said was correct. Japan should indeed exchange for a ceasefire at a smaller price. If only 100 million yen compensation was paid, it would still be affordable for Japan. However, Kentaro Kaneko knew better what was happening in Japan. If the ceasefire is now, the domestic force could be accepted by the country, then the compensation would be absolutely unforgivable. Whoever led the negotiation of the compensation would be afraid that he would be punished by heaven before he could silently penetrate it.

Kentaro Kaneko could only smile bitterly and said, "Can Mr. President exert influence on the East China government and make them give up the claim for compensation."

Roosevelt was stunned for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Sorry, Mr. Ambassador, I really can't help this, and I don't think the East China government will give up the claim for compensation due to the influence of the United States. After all, they have paid a huge price for this war. In Germany alone, the bonds issued by the United States reached 60 million pounds. These efforts must be compensated with compensation. Moreover, they are now the winners of this war, and it is also an international practice to claim compensation."

Kentaro Kaneko said: "Well, Mr. President, I will convey your opinions like the country. I will say goodbye first. Thank you very much for your help to Japan."

Roosevelt also said: "Okay, the United States will always be a friend of Japan."

Kentaro Kaneko stood up, bowed deeply to Roosevelt before turning around and leaving.

After Kaneko Kentaro left, Roosevelt sat in a chair and pondered.

Although the United States supported Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, this does not mean that the United States was on Japan's side in any case and chose to support Japan was entirely based on the interests of the United States. On the one hand, Russia's expansion in the Far East has seriously threatened the interests of the United States in the Far East; on the other hand, the United States hopes that its capital can enter Northeast China. But the situation that is most in line with the interests of the United States is that both sides suffered losses in the Battle of Russia and then restrain each other. There is no super government force in the Far East, so that the United States can differentiate from it and strive for the greatest interests.

Originally, after Japan won the Battle of Fengtian, it aroused the United States' vigilance, because Japan had the potential to defeat Russia and win at this time. However, the East China government then acted too strongly in the war and defeated the navy and army of Japan and Russia in one fell swoop. Therefore, the United States had already targeted its next opponent at the East China government.

However, the United States will not easily intervene in the war because the isolation in the United States is still very strong. Since the United States has a vast land area and a large population, the country can provide huge markets and resources for the economic development of the United States, and there is no need to plunder overseas colonies. Therefore, the American people are generally not interested in launching wars unless other countries attack the United States first.

But a group of American elites represented by Roosevelt knew that the United States could not only focus on domestic affairs, but should make its own voice internationally and show its strength so that it can better safeguard the interests of the United States. After all, the capital of the United States has poured out of the country in large quantities. Therefore, in 1898, when Roosevelt was still the deputy minister of the Navy, he declared war on Spain when he was arresting the "Maine incident". As a result, he defeated Spain in the United States and obtained colonies such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, which were originally part of Spain. They gained huge gains both economic and geopolitical.

However, Roosevelt was also very clear that the "Maine incident" was something that was hard to come by, and since it happened again, the United States may not be able to catch it. After all, Russia, Japan, and East China governments are not comparable to old Spain. Although the United States has enough national strength, its military strength is still quite insufficient. The country's army is only more than 100,000. Although Roosevelt vigorously developed the navy during his tenure as deputy minister of the Navy and finally allowed Congress to pass the navy's shipbuilding plan, most of the warships are still lying in the dock and have not been completed. Moreover, the warships are completed and need debugging and training. Therefore, it is estimated that it will not be able to form combat effectiveness until 1908. As for practical experience, I don't know when it will be. Therefore, the United States is not suitable to participate in the war directly. It is best to adopt the method of supporting agents.

But Japan's refusal to make peace with the East China government now means that it is possible to lose even worse, allowing the East China government to win more, will it still have the strength to restrain the East China government in the future? In addition, what will the East China government behave towards the United States after winning this war? Roosevelt also admitted that since the establishment of the East China government, it has been relatively open to the United States. Although it is impossible to obtain a lot of benefits like the Qing court, normal trade transactions are still very free, and the East China government can open up more Chinese markets. Therefore, if the East China government wins victory and controls the Northeast, it should also welcome the entry of American capital. It is of course a good thing for the United States in the short term, but in the long run, if the East China government dominates in the Far East, it will definitely be harmful to the interests of the United States.

At this moment, the secretary came over and said, "Mr. President, the time for the meeting has come. They have arrived and are waiting for Mr. President."

Roosevelt nodded and said, "Let them come in."

After the secretary left, the door of the Oval Office opened shortly after, and five people came in one after another. The front was Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Secretary of State Elihu Rutt, and then the back was General William Howard Taft, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Adena Chafe, and Secretary of the Navy Lieutenant General Charles Joseph Bonaparte.

Roosevelt said: "Sit down, gentlemen."

These people are also regular guests of the Oval Office, so they each sit down on the sofa or chair. There are 10 seats in the Oval Office. Generally, small meetings held by the US president are held in this office.

Roosevelt said: "Gentlemen, I just talked with the Japanese ambassador. It seems that our Japanese friends do not want to hold negotiations with the East China government on the premise of compensation, but insist on continuing the war."

Fairbanks said: "This is a pretty unwise decision, and it will only make Japan lose more in this war."

Roosevelt nodded and said, "I think so too."

Rutdau: "Maybe Japan believes that fighting with Russia has a chance to win, or it will force the East China government to give up its claim for reparations."

Fairbanks said: "The East China government will not give up the claim for compensation. According to our estimates, with the bonds issued this time, the East China government has borrowed foreign debt worth 70 million pounds, and their annual fiscal revenue is about 8 million pounds. Therefore, to pay off the foreign debt, we can only rely on the compensation of war."

Rutdau: "But if Japan and Russia join forces, the East China government may not have a chance to win."

Roosevelt said: "How are the negotiations between Japan and Russia going?"

Rut said: "It's not going well. According to the situation we have, both sides obviously think that they are in a more favorable position than the other party, or that the other party needs themselves more. Therefore, during the negotiations, both sides hope that the other party will give up more interests, although these interests are only in the famous discussion. After all, if you cannot win the battlefield, all interests will be gone."

Roosevelt smiled and said, "This is very interesting. What about the British attitude?"
Chapter completed!