Read Online Churchill's Hour by Michael Dobbs - Free Book Online Page A

Roosevelt that if the Japanese were to attack our Far Eastern possessions, we would not have the military capability to resist them. No matter what I might be forced to say in public to shore up the general morale, you and your President must be under no illusion. On our own, we could not win such a war.’
    On their own, the British could not win…Littlewonder, Winant thought, that the old man was driven to drink.
    â€˜That’s why I have asked the President if he will send some part of the US Pacific Fleet to Singapore,’ Churchill continued. ‘As a sign that an attack on British possessions will not be tolerated. No words, no great declaration, no threats, just a symbolic gesture that even the Japanese will understand. A few American ships in Singapore could prevent the outbreak of the most terrifying tempest across the whole of the Far East.’
    â€˜I’m afraid the President can’t agree to that, Winston,’ Winant said quietly, as though the softness of his voice might in some way diminish the force he knew his words would have on Churchill.
    â€˜But…’ For the briefest of moments Churchill paused, buried beneath the weight of his disappointment. ‘My dear Gil, I’m not talking of a vast armada, only a few ships, even a couple of rust buckets would do, so long as they fly the Stars and Stripes…’
    â€˜I’m sorry.’
    â€˜It could prevent catastrophe—’
    â€˜Our commitment is to Britain, not to its colonies. I think Mr Roosevelt would argue—and with considerable force—that it’s not the job of the United States to steam around the world shoring up other people’s empires. We don’t like empire, no matter whose flag it flies.’
    That was Roosevelt speaking. The President camefrom a long line of radicals and revolutionaries; he loathed all empires and the British Empire as much as any—a kingdom of pigsticking and polo, he’d been heard to call it. There was no way he was going to shed American blood for that.
    Churchill couldn’t afford to be diverted. ‘But if the Japanese were to control the whole of the Far East they would become the most mighty power in the Pacific. Surely America could not tolerate that?’
    â€˜The Pacific is even wider than the Atlantic, Winston—and one hell of a long way from the Hudson.’
    â€˜In his State of the Union Address only a few weeks ago your President spoke of his ambition to lead the world from fear.’
    â€˜And you know what he also said to me, Winston? That the most terrifying thing in the world is to be a leader who looks over his shoulder and finds no one there.’ Winant leant forward from his armchair, as though trying to close the distance between them. ‘He hears you, Winston. But he also has to listen to the American people who are suspicious of everything to do with this war. You know, all the while Congress has been debating Lend-Lease, women have been marching outside carrying banners accusing the President of wanting to murder their sons. That hurt him, down deep. They even hanged his effigy. There’s a lot of steam behind the no-war protests, Winston, they don’t want any moreAmerican boys to die in Europe or anywhere else. Their voices are powerful. And Mr Roosevelt has had to listen.’
    â€˜Public opinion can be a most demanding mistress.’ He did not mean it kindly.
    And so they continued, the Englishman and the American, confronting each other, testing each other’s ideas, trying to find common ground but discovering their ambitions were as far apart as the continents from which they came. Churchill rose to his feet, his passion too great to remain seated, and he stood by the pale light of the window, his hand on his brow. It was what he had feared. Roosevelt wouldn’t move, not even an inch. He looked through the window and saw only disaster. If war broke out in the Far East, Britain would