Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 197 The Alliance is Shutting Down (15)

Though the First Lord of the Admiralty bore responsibility for this incident enough for General Kitchener to rage and demand his dismissal.

Winston Churchill hadn't turned completely anti-Russian without any thought.

His choice wasn't just for the British Empire's long-term future, but also for the immediate political crisis.

'If I stay still like this, I'll just be abandoned. Just be cut off like a tail!'

Rather, Churchill had known things would turn out this way from the moment the Tsar stepped forward.

While Kitchener was agonizing between two choices.

Churchill also had two choices before him.

Either be cut off as a sacrificial tail of the pro-Russian faction, or live as the head of the anti-Russian faction.

His view of the nation. The future he foresaw.

'This country... cannot fundamentally coexist with Russia.'

Along with the surrounding circumstances, his mindset made him choose the latter.

Anti-Russian sentiment is trendy.

Anti-Russian sentiment is tradition.

Though the mood might be temporarily eased through negotiation, as long as they have that land called India.

As long as they claim ownership of the sea routes through Suez and the Mediterranean.

Ultimately the British Empire would be hostile to Russia.

Thus Churchill decided.

"We've won the war anyway. Prime Minister Kokovtsov has shown the atrocity of unilaterally breaking promises between nations, and the Tsar is ruining things with personal emotions. How could we share the post-war period with such a country?"

Russia might be medicine during wartime but is poison during peacetime.

And whether long or short, wartime eventually ends and peacetime arrives.

"Has, has this one truly gone mad! Did you receive instructions from the Kaiser! You dare, you dare to destroy the friendship that this Kitchener built risking his life twice going to Petrograd!"

Field Marshal Kitchener, a born soldier, might not understand.

'Thinking about the delayed elections after the war, would there be any politician who would take Russia's side?'

Though everyone keeps their mouths shut now as if sewn with needles, Churchill could guarantee just from this atmosphere.

After the war ends, no British person will be friendly with Russia.

That was impossible for this island empire from the start.

==

"What happens now with what's already happened?"

"Sigh, I don't know much more than the Commander-in-Chief. They say a Supreme Council meeting will be held soon, so we'll have to see then."

"If it's this Supreme Council meeting..."

"What else, a Prime Minister level meeting."

Not the ones held once a week on average, but a meeting of those who can make immediate decisions about all fronts.

"Kokovtsov and Asquith are coming to Versailles."

Would only Prime Ministers come?

All sorts of personnel coming with them, decision-makers and experts too.

They'll be stuffed into one room and continue arguing until reaching a conclusion.

If no conclusion is reached and it breaks down, that too will be considered a conclusion.

Clemenceau's role there is one.

"Whatever happens, we must start a counteroffensive when spring comes."

Whether pushing away one side and pulling in the other deeper or making them reconcile, first ending the war.

France's backbone was breaking from Britain and Russia's fight.

==

The Supreme War Council has Permanent Military Representatives (PMR) semi-permanently staying in Versailles leading all armies.

Of course, while they say leading, it was a half-baked organization that couldn't get core military authority like command, personnel, and disciplinary rights, but nevertheless they were nominally an organization comparable to Germany's OHL.

However, sometimes there are things these Permanent Military Representatives cannot handle.

That is, when political issues arise that are close to interfering in internal affairs beyond military matters, higher-ups must step in.

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That was the .

French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.

British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith.

Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando.

U.S. President Wilson's representative Colonel Edward House.

"I've come with full authority delegated from His Majesty the Tsar for this conference. I want to believe you all have done the same."

And Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Kokovtsov gathered in one place.