Chapter 172 Ambassador Dobrynin

After receiving the news, the Soviet ambassador hurried to the White House.

Anatoly Fedorovich Dobrynin has visited the White House many times. As a qualified diplomat, he knows how heavy his burden is.

Dobrynin was born in a working-class family in Moscow Oblast in November 1919. After graduating from university in 1942, he became a designer at the Yak Aircraft Factory. In the summer of 1944, the 25-year-old Dobrynin was sent to study at the Diplomatic Academy. In September 1952, the 32-year-old Dobrynin was sent to the United States as a counselor. From that time on, he almost lived in the United States. With his outstanding judgment and mediation skills, he was promoted to minister-counselor.

In 1962, in that turbulent year, the 42-year-old Dobrynin was appointed ambassador to the United States, stepping onto the historical stage at the most appropriate time. He successfully mediated and resolved the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was during the tough Khrushchev era. If he had not been careful, it would have caused a world war!

From that time on, Dobrynin became a firefighter. He experienced too much, including the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, the Middle East crisis, the Vietnam crisis, and later the Afghan crisis, the Soviet Union shooting down a South Korean passenger plane crisis, the US-Soviet nuclear arms reduction and various summits. From Khrushchev to the six leaders, Dobrynin was the ambassador in the United States and coordinated them all.

At the same time, Dobrynin also established deep personal relationships with six American presidents and seven secretaries of state. To deal with the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States, it was necessary to recruit people trusted by both sides. Dobrynin first established good relationships with senior American officials and made them trust him before he could coordinate well.

In the past, Soviet diplomats always wanted to export revolution, and it was difficult for them to truly enter Western society. They could only serve as mouthpieces for Moscow. However, Dobrynin had excellent insight into American society and the American way of thinking. He made the other side believe in him, and then found a way to solve the problem.

And this time, it is time to test Dobrynin again.

The Soviet Union has launched a war. The war situation is very good at this time and it will soon occupy the entire Hokkaido. But what will happen after the occupation?

The territorial division after World War II has been recognized by the world. The Soviet Union has grabbed a piece of meat from the mouths of the Americans. How can the Americans give it up? If the Americans are unwilling to let go, it will be a new world war!

The United States cannot afford a new world war, but the Soviet Union cannot afford it either! The Soviet Union lost more than 20 million people in World War II! The Soviet Union has just recovered after more than 20 years. Now, another war?

This is absolutely impossible! However, since Hokkaido has been occupied and the Soviet Union has gained an important outlet to the sea, how could it give it up? Trying to find a solution that satisfies both sides is really a test of Dobrynin's brain.

"Mr. Warren, nice to meet you." When Dobrynin entered the White House, he did not see Carter. Secretary of State Warren met him. Obviously, Carter sent Warren out first to find out what Dobrynin had to say.

"Mr. Dobrynin, I am also very happy to see you, but I am not happy right now." Warren said, "You actually brazenly invaded the territory of Hokkaido. This is hard for us to accept. I called you here now because I want to express my strong protest to you on behalf of my country!"

Warren spoke in a harsh tone. Although the two of them had a good relationship in private, they were now discussing national affairs, and the Soviet Union was indeed going too far!

"I will convey your protest to Moscow," Dobrynin said. "But you were the one who started the war. If you hadn't used a civilian airliner to spy on our Sakhalin Island, there wouldn't have been this series of subsequent actions. You should first apologize to us for the 311 air crash and clarify the facts."

Why is the Far East in its current state? It’s all the Americans’ fault! The United States was the first to challenge the Soviet Union’s bottom line!

In fact, there have always been frictions on all fronts in the U.S.-Soviet rivalry, but it has never been as intense as it is now. If we look into it in detail, we probably have to start from the EP-3 that was shot down by the United States last year. Thinking of this, Dobrynin thought of the man named Andrei. This guy is simply the source of the trouble!

It is said that the top leaders decided to occupy Hokkaido this time, and it was Andre who first proposed the suggestion!

"My old friend, we are not calling you here to quarrel. We are here to solve the current problem." Seeing Dobrynin's tough attitude, Warren changed the subject and continued.

It could be said that what happened just now was just a formality. Now, the two began to discuss the current situation like old friends.

"Hokkaido is the territory of the island country, and we have signed a defense agreement with the island country. When the island country is invaded, the United States will protect the security of the island country." Warren said, "So, we hope that you can take the initiative to withdraw from Hokkaido and end this dispute. We can ask the island country to compensate you with a certain amount of money as the cost of your troop mobilization."

Take the initiative to withdraw from Hokkaido! The United States's contribution is to let the island nation pay a certain amount of war compensation to the Soviet Union! This sounds like a foolish dream!

Dobrynin said: "As a defeated country, the island nation should accept the punishment for defeat and should be occupied by the United States and the Soviet Union, just like Germany. At that time, our leader Stalin once proposed to occupy the area north of the Rumoi-Kushiro line, but unfortunately he was deceived by President Truman. We have never given up our claim to the Hokkaido territory. Now, we just use our military force to take back what originally belonged to us."

This was also Moscow's opinion, and now, coming from Dobrynin's mouth, it would not satisfy Warren at all.

"But now you have not only occupied Kushiro, but also Chitose and Otaru! Do you want to occupy the entire Hokkaido?" Warren said, "We Americans will never agree to this!"

"Because of the resistance of the islanders, we must eliminate the threat." Dobrynin said: "Chitose is the main air base of the island country of Hokkaido. The fighter planes that took off resisted our just occupation and posed a great threat to us. We must eliminate the threat. If there are still fighter planes taking off from the mainland and other places, we don't mind attacking those places, even Okinawa."

"It seems that the differences between our two sides are too great and cannot be reconciled at all." Warren said. Personal relationships are personal relationships, state affairs are state affairs, and the Soviet ambassador in front of him is still serving the interests of the Soviet Union.

The United States demanded that the Soviets withdraw from Hokkaido, but the Soviets would never agree to it. And the Soviet Union wanted the United States to acquiesce in its occupation of Hokkaido, but the United States would never agree to it!

What should we do? The only option is to start a war? Thinking of this, Warren felt a sense of fear. The American army, which had just experienced the Vietnam War, really had no confidence in entering a world war.

"I came here with sincerity," Dobrynin said, "and I ask you to show enough sincerity, otherwise our negotiations will not be able to proceed."

"Then how do you think we should show our sincerity? Acquiesce in your occupation?" Warren asked.

"How about we use our current crossfire zone as the demarcation line?" Dobrynin said, "If you agree, I will contact the country immediately. It should be possible to stop the army from continuing to move. But who knows, maybe the 7th Division has been destroyed and is advancing towards Hakodate."

Using the current crossfire zone as the dividing line? Warren was about to jump up: "How can that be possible? It has moved several hundred kilometers south of the previous Rumoi-Kushiro line! At least it has to be the previously agreed-upon Rumoi-Kushiro line!"

"Is this what President Carter meant?" Dobrynin said, "If it's the Rumoi-Kushiro line, we on the Soviet side have suffered a lot. However, I can report it to Moscow and see what Moscow thinks."

Divide along the Rumoi-Kushiro line? Damn, that's not what I just said! But...