I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 118



Only Noblemtl

EP.118 Each’s Calculation (1)

Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, was lost in thought.

He began to formulate a plan for how the United States would govern the world after the war.

As for Europe, compromise with the Soviet Union was inevitable.

Moscow shed too much blood in this war, and its contribution was also the greatest.

It seemed that we had to tolerate their hegemony in Eastern Europe, even if we did not give them their full share.

In fact, even if they did that, the United States wouldn’t suffer much loss.

Europe was already the territory of the old powers.

‘Even if the Soviet Union were to gain influence in Europe, they were continental countries and could not be our competitors.’

Roosevelt did not see the Soviet Union as a threat, even though other Americans might have thought otherwise.

Rather, he thought that Britain, competing for a share of the same free world, was a greater obstacle to American hegemony.

Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca.

Three of the four largest waterways on Earth.

Vast colonies and interests under which the Union Jack flies.

Although Washington had long since surpassed the United States in terms of national power, it was unable to replace London in terms of global influence.

If America wanted to become a true loser, it had to destroy Britain.

Roosevelt had his own ideas about that.

The enormous lend-lease provided to Britain during this war.

Roosevelt intended to use it as a leash to enforce decolonization, slowly weakening the old lion that was the British Empire.

Britain could no longer be the enemy of the United States if only it could accept decolonization.

Britain was America’s rival not because of its vast world empire but because of its great power at home.

Losing the empire would mean Britain could no longer be a rival to the United States for hegemony.

The problem was Korea.

When he thought of Pyongyang, Roosevelt’s eyes darkened a little.

Korea was a headache for Roosevelt.

This old empire, which had gained hegemony in the Western Pacific, took advantage of Europe’s disarray to grow in size and swallow up China.

Despite Britain and the United States giving subtle hints, Korea did not back down even an inch.

What does that mean?

It was meant to challenge the order the United States was trying to build in the Pacific.

Honestly, I found that attitude very annoying.

It seems like they are trying to adjust the line while keeping an eye on the situation, but fundamentally, Korea is a country that should not grow large.

What would happen if a Prussia in the Far East, no less dangerous than the fascists, grew bigger?

No one could say for sure that it was not war.

That is why Roosevelt wanted to coexist with Pyongyang while appropriately restraining South Korea’s growth.

But since the dog refused to wear a leash, the United States had no choice but to change its attitude.

South Korea is a potential rival to the United States for hegemony.

From this perspective, there were two major opponents that the United States would have to keep in check in the future.

This was the case with Britain, our competitor within the free world, and South Korea, our competitor in the Pacific.

Of course, there were many within the administration who did not agree with Roosevelt’s perception.

A representative example was Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

Hull argued that South Korea, which at least pretended to compromise with the United States, was less of a threat than the Soviet Union, which was exporting communist revolution.

Hull’s argument was gaining considerable traction within the administration as well.

Even Roosevelt could not completely ignore this trend.

‘Of course, what the Minister said is not entirely wrong. But the Federation is not an immediate threat.’

It was not Roosevelt who ignored the Soviet Union’s power.

A population larger than that of the United States, a military force that defeated the Nazis, and the world’s second-largest industrial power.

The Soviet Union was objectively a more threatening power than either Korea or Britain.

But in this war the Soviet Union suffered severe damage.

Roosevelt estimated that it would take at least ten years for Moscow to fully recover from the devastation of the war.

From this perspective, Roosevelt saw no need for this or the next administration to deal with the Soviet Union.

‘So, our biggest threat for the next 10 years is Korea.’

Roosevelt shared his vision with leading figures in the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party’s senior leaders were frankly taken aback when they heard the president’s thoughts.

“Are you saying that Korea is an opponent that must be checked first before the Soviet Union? Are you saying this after seeing how powerful the communists are?”

“Your Excellency the President has gone too far. The Germanophobia has spread to Korea.”

Senator Harry Truman thought Roosevelt had grossly underestimated the Soviet Union.

‘I can’t say that the president’s thoughts are completely wrong, but isn’t the trend of the times obvious? The world from now on will be an arena of ideological competition between the free world and the communist world.’

It would not have been wise to needlessly provoke Korea in preparation for that era.

Even when restraining, it was necessary to appropriately adjust the intensity so that Korea would not think of joining the Soviet Union.

Roosevelt didn’t seem to think so.

Or maybe, given the risks, they felt it was necessary to press Korea.

Truman also acknowledged that Korea was a difficult country.

A militaristic society full of expansionist ambitions under military dictatorship, and even belligerent diplomacy that invades neighboring countries whenever it gets the chance.

Korea was like a ticking time bomb that was too unstable to watch alone.

In that context, it was not an incomprehensible judgment that Roosevelt designated Korea as the next target after the Nazis.

If Korea really was a country that would provoke the United States, Roosevelt’s judgment was not wrong.

However, Korea was not such a crazy militaristic country.

If that were the case, when Germany was struck, they would have joined the Axis and caused chaos by trying to divide the world up.

‘Rather, provoking us in this way is the way to make Korea a headache.’

Truman felt it necessary to send a signal to Pyongyang before it was too late that everyone in American politics was not unnecessarily hostile to Korea.

“So, you are saying that the congressman will visit Korea in person?”

Secretary of State Cordell Hull was taken aback by Truman’s request for permission to visit.

“Rather than watching the relationship between the two countries cool down like it is now, wouldn’t it be better to try something?”

“I won’t deny what you said, but your departure won’t change anything unless the President changes his mind.”

“I know. I’m just trying to pave the way in advance through personal exchanges with the Korean government. That way, if something happens later, wouldn’t we have room to deal with it?”

“If that’s what you think, Congressman, I won’t stop you from going to Pyongyang.”

Cordell Hull granted Truman permission to visit Korea.

As the schedule in Korea was announced on short notice, Truman landed at Pyongyang Sunan Airport as an ordinary VIP.

“Welcome, Congressman.”

However, the reaction of Koreans was a bit strange.

When a single senator visited Korea, he was immediately given the opportunity to meet with high-ranking government officials and even had a meal scheduled with Lee Sung-joon at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Truman was so confused by the situation that he asked his interpreter, but the answer he got only confused him more.

“This is a special instruction from His Excellency Lee Seong-jun.”

Why Lee Seong-jun?

Truman was not acquainted with Lee Seong-jun.

However, it is not like there was anyone in Truman’s network who was close to Lee Seong-jun.

“Your Majesty is coming.”

Truman treated South Korean Prime Minister Lee Sung-joon with courtesy.

Contrary to his reputation as a brutal military dictator and warmonger, he was a man with a likeable impression and a manly demeanor.

Her belly was a bit protruding, but that was typical of most people her age.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

“Never mind.”

Lee Seong-jun was very outgoing, which did not match his status.

Plus, he had a sense of humor.

“Congressman, do you know anything about physiognomy?”

“I don’t know much, but I think it’s an oriental mysticism where you can predict the future by looking at a face.”

“You know a lot about that. I can read faces quite well.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I think you will become a great person. Let’s see. In about a year, you will become the highest-ranking public official in the United States.”

The highest-ranking official is the President.

Truman just laughed at that.

“I don’t have any experience in politics, so how can I become president? Hahaha.”

Lee Seong-jun’s joke was very funny for a joke.

Truman had lunch with Lee Seong-jun in a friendly atmosphere.

Truman asked why he had been welcomed to the luncheon.

“In fact, since the Casablanca meeting, the US attitude has become colder, and I have been feeling uneasy. In the midst of all that, when I heard that you were visiting Korea, I was so happy. I even slept two hours less.”

Lee Seong-jun’s expression was serious.

It didn’t sound like a joke.

Truman got the impression from Lee Seong-jun’s attitude that the Korean government really cared about its relationship with the United States.

During lunch, Truman heard a lot about Lee Seong-jun’s philosophy and thinking about state affairs.

Although Lee Seong-jun was a military dictator, he was still a politician who knew how to keep the line.

It is difficult to make a hasty judgment about the country of Korea, but its leader, Lee Seong-jun, was a very rational and reasonable opponent.

I wondered why Roosevelt would have thought of Lee Seong-jun when he met him in Casablanca.

After lunch with Lee Seong-jun, Truman toured major Korean facilities under the guidance of the Korean government.

I also saw an aircraft carrier at the shipyard.

Truman got the strong impression from seeing the attitude of the Korean side that this country did not want to turn the United States into an enemy.

During these two days, Truman developed his own confidence about Korea.

‘Unlike the communists, Korea is a country with which we can coexist. The military dictatorship is a bit of a problem, but compared to the communists, aren’t they gentlemen? It makes no sense to distance ourselves from such a country.’

It was decided that it would be in the future interests of the United States to bring Korea, if possible, toward the free world.

I wish Roosevelt would change his mind, but the old man was very stubborn.

The only thing to look forward to is the next president.

‘The next president will have to make the right decision.’

Truman returned to the United States with those thoughts in mind.