I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 856: We Have No Choice

Clemenceau understood Gallieni’s thoughts; he always supported Shire.

Knowing this was enough; as long as Gallieni stood by Shire’s side, no one could oppose them.

Clemenceau originally intended to end the conversation there, but then he asked with some concern, "Minister, France also has many colonies that provide important resources and wealth. Are you sure this won’t affect France?"

It’s not a problem to dismantle British colonies; this aligns with France’s interests.

As the Prime Minister of France, Clemenceau had to stand firmly with France, even if he was not patriotic.

However.

Dismantling British colonies would also impact France’s colonies.

Just like during the French Revolution, the anti-feudal movement spread rapidly from France to other European countries, leading to the rise of parliaments.

Gallieni hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply and asked rhetorically, "Do you think this is what we want?"

"We" included Shire.

Clemenceau was taken aback: "I don’t understand what you mean, Minister. Who could force you to do this?"

Gallieni walked back to his desk, took a document from a drawer, and handed it to Clemenceau: "This is the result of an investigation in the United States by the second bureau, Prime Minister."

Clemenceau glanced at the document and instantly understood.

It was the United States; it planned to do this!

This was what Shire had said to Gallieni a week ago.

"We have no choice, General," Shire said. "This is the only way that aligns with France’s interests."

"Don’t take me for a fool, Vice Admiral!" Gallieni responded. "Without colonies, France couldn’t have lasted until now. And yet you say dismantling them and letting them become independent is in France’s interest?"

Gallieni’s voice was cold, with a deep anger beneath.

Shire’s approach had touched Gallieni’s bottom line, and he would not let anyone interfere with France’s colonies, as it concerned France’s future.

No one was exempt, including Shire.

Shire maintained a calm tone: "But what if I told you, if we don’t do this, the United States will?"

"No one can..." Gallieni paused, suddenly looking at Shire in astonishment: "The United States? Why would they do this?"

"To become the world’s number one, General," Shire answered. "To rewrite the rules of this world, to dethrone England as the top global power, to undermine the future of European countries, and shift the world’s center to the Americas!"

Gallieni was momentarily unable to comprehend: "But what does dismantling colonies have to do with that?"

"It’s very much related." Shire handed Gallieni an apple: "You can sit down and talk slowly; there’s no problem that can’t be solved."

A warm feeling arose in Gallieni’s heart as he realized Shire was concerned about him agitating his old injury.

Yet Gallieni remained unsettled, placing the apple back on the table: "Tell me what you know."

"I got this information from the ’Lady in White,’" Shire replied. "America is blocking peace talks in Europe while playing the ’peace mediator.’ Do you know why?"

Gallieni asked puzzledly: "Is it not because of loans?"

"Not just loans, General." Shire took a sip of coffee to ease his throat: "It’s more about seizing the narrative. The United States wants to be the nation that resolves world conflicts, upholds justice, and judges right from wrong among countries, you understand?"

Gallieni was shocked into silence.

He had never thought of this, not even when Britain was at its peak. It merely waged wars globally to grab colonies, defeating anyone who opposed it.

But upon reflection, he found that America’s tactics were more sophisticated.

Because once America became this "narrative high ground" as Shire suggested, controlling the discourse, it could become the "World Judge," the "World Police."

In the future, countries would become its playthings, shaped as it wished, and those disobedient would face sanctions and condemnation from a coalition of so-called "civilized nations."

It might not even need to act directly.

Shire continued to analyze: "And to achieve this worldview dominance, that is to say, for America to hold the high ground on discourse, it must first gain the support and recognition of most countries."

Shire then slowed his speech, asking Gallieni: "General, what do you think will allow America to gain support and recognition from most countries?"

Gallieni immediately thought of the answer: "Support for colonial independence?"

Shire nodded gently:

"First, America has very few colonies; the land taken from Mexico is considered territory, not a colony."

"The European countries possess vast colonies."

"England, France, Holland, Portugal, and others."

Gallieni understood, and he continued:

"America will issue a call to support the independence of colonies worldwide."

"This poses almost negligible harm to itself yet gains tremendous national prestige."

But Gallieni remained skeptical, turning to Shire: "But this is just your speculation, isn’t it?"

Shire took a photo from his pocket: "This was taken by the ’Lady in White’ at an American congressman’s home; I’m not sure if it can serve as evidence."

Gallieni examined it, and it was a document with a line written in English: "Fair handling of colonial disputes, adherence to the principle of national self-determination...".

(Note: The principle of national self-determination had been proposed before, but it was publicly introduced internationally in a document format by U.S. President Wilson in his "Fourteen Points" in 1918. Ironically, Wilson proposed self-determination but refused to grant self-determination to American colonies.)

Gallieni, his thick eyebrows furrowing in anger, snorted and slammed the photo onto the table: "I always thought it (meaning the United States) wanted the status of Britain. Now it seems it wants all of Europe to bow to it, and the entire world besides."

Shire leaned back in his chair, speaking lightly:

"Now, General, please tell me, what else can we do under these circumstances?"

"If we don’t compete for this narrative high ground, don’t grant freedom to the colonies, don’t give them more power, what will the consequences be?"

"And in the end, who will benefit?"

By this time, if one still thought of strictly suppressing the colonial independence movement, they had fallen into America’s trap.

The more suppression, the more Europe would be pushed to the world’s opposite side; the hearts of the colonial people would lean toward America, even if America merely spoke words and did nothing.

In the end, European countries would gain nothing; the consumption from suppression and war wouldn’t match the income from the colonies. They would lose the narrative and become puppets of the United States.