The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 809: 605: The United States' Response_1

Chapter 809: Chapter 605: The United States’ Response_1

If governments around the world were to rank the most headache-inducing event they face, most would likely choose protests over war.

For European nations, handling public protests is extremely challenging. Discontented citizens can lead to more severe civil unrest, and in some cases, even the overthrow of governments.

To unquestioningly follow public opinion may contradict the views of some officials in European nations, after all, the views of the people are not always correct.

In such circumstances, controlling public opinion becomes vitally important, as people tend to follow the crowd blindly and are easily swayed by certain opinions.

If it were genuinely the will of the people, it would be one thing, but when changes in public sentiment are influenced by foreign powers, it becomes a difficult choice for some nations.

This tough decision now falls on the American Government, which has caused President Coolidge and other officers considerable headaches.

Setting aside how the public feels, these two wars are definitely not conflicts to withdraw from lightly.

But if the commitment to the wars is maintained, then how should the government address the ire of the American People? Would steadfast prosecution of the wars truly turn the government into the villain as portrayed in news reports?

Especially for a government elected by its people, losing public support means not just that President Coolidge might not be re-elected but also that he could potentially face impeachment by Congress due to a significant drop in public approval.

September 8, 1924, at the White House.

President Coolidge looked grimly at the few people in the Meeting Room, his voice hoarse as he inquired, “Gentlemen, do we have any good solutions now?”

As the numbers of protesters grew, the American Government had to consider the public’s attitude.

Regardless, it was impossible for the American Government to completely ignore public sentiment. After all, the United States is a Republic, and government stability relies on the support of its people.

If this were a monarchy like Australasia, the prestige of the Monarch could withstand the pressure for a while.

Were Australasia faced with this situation, Arthur alone could cope, buying the government enough response time.

But clearly, the American Government does not have such a person who can bear the pressure of the people singlehandedly to afford the government more reaction and response time.

“President Sir, I believe that the first thing we need to do is to reduce the number of protesters as much as possible,” stated the United States Secretary of State, stepping forward to relieve President Coolidge’s concerns.

“How can we reduce the number of protesters?” President Coolidge turned his gaze to the Secretary of State, asking his own question.

“President Sir, we should quickly appease the people and make it clear that this war is not an unjust war,” said the Secretary of State. “At the same time, we should highlight the importance of Central America to us. Losing Central America would imperil the Panama Canal.

Should the United States lose control of the Panama Canal, it would be a heavy blow to our economy, industry, and all sectors, not to mention an adverse outcome for the people as well.

Only when they understand the consequences of losing Central America will they stop joining protests against us, and only then can this crisis be initially resolved.”

“But on top of that, we have no choice but to make some concessions. Australasia has long coveted the Philippines, and we are out of reach there.

Why not sell the Philippines to Australasia in exchange for Australasia’s withdrawal of support for El Salvador?

As for the United Kingdom, without Australasia’s support, we can take on Britain alone.

If I remember correctly, relations between Honduras and the United Kingdom aren’t good. As long as we promise British Honduras to them, I believe Honduras would be interested in joining us against Britain.

This way, we’d have an ally in Central America, and the losses wouldn’t be so great.”

“Mr. Erick, do you really think the Australasians would give up their cooperation with the British over a single Philippines?” The United States Secretary of State could hardly bear it and sarcastically rebutted.

The situation was already clear, the Americans were at a disadvantage.

If Australasia continued its firm support for the British, they were likely to gain both the Philippines and El Salvador.

While accepting the American proposal would prevent war, it would only mean obtaining a Philippines that was effectively already secured, which wasn’t much of a gain for Australasia, especially since it would mean damaging relations with Britain, obviously not worth the loss.

A conclusion so obvious, Australasians would understand; the likelihood of them accepting the American terms was virtually zero.

Caught off guard, Erick clearly felt embarrassed, but still replied sheepishly, “We have to try. Doing nothing will only make the situation worse.”

President Coolidge, feeling extremely weary, rubbed his forehead again and stopped the bickering between his confidants, saying helplessly, “Do our best to get Australasia to stop supporting the British.

If necessary, we can let them have El Salvador. Compared with El Salvador, it’s the entirety of Central America that’s more important.”

“Yes.” Hearing President Coolidge’s statement, the two stopped arguing and turned their attention back to the current situation in Central America.

On September 9, the United States Ambassador to Australasia conveyed President Coolidge’s thoughts, wanting to exchange the Philippines for Australasia’s neutrality in this incident.

When this proposal arrived on Arthur’s desk, it was already noon on the ninth.

Arthur found it somewhat amusing because the American concessions were made out of desperation. The Philippines was already effectively under Australasia’s control, making this concession nothing more than a nominal gesture.

Clearly unimpressed by such terms, Arthur decided to end the talks with the American Ambassador.

“Your Majesty!” The American ambassador hastily stood up, continuing to press his conditions: “If Australasia maintains neutrality in this affair, the United States will no longer intervene in El Salvador’s situation, accepting your country’s occupation and management.”

El Salvador was still quite far from Panama, and it didn’t have a strong presence among Central American nations.

For the Americans, losing El Salvador was acceptable, certainly far better than losing all of Central America.

Arthur just smiled and shook his head, speaking to the expectant American Ambassador, “Clearly, Mr. Ambassador, these terms are not enough to compromise our friendship with Britain.”