Most other countries, save Germany, were less enthusiastic.
Even the British laid back on a bed of tired stoicism, understanding that their nation must do what the nation must do, but without huge enthusiasm for either course, preferring whatever would be quickest and least costly, although Churchill himself understood precisely which course he wanted to take.
Truman wound up his report on the rioting that had cost nearly two hundred lives, and destroyed property and livelihoods from San Francisco to Buffalo.
The universal joys of the Japanese surrender had not survived the last month’s heavy casualty figures from Europe, not for any of the Allied Powers The general public at home, democracy or no, had taken to the streets in protest. People had died in demonstrations supporting peace, as well as war, an irony wasted on few.
Except, perhaps, for the Germans.
There was no protest at the use of such devices, just the occasional call from some emerging politician or older but inactive elder statesman, seeking use of Atomic weapons against the Soviet Union, and the use of them immediately, a view which grew only within German borders.
Churchill listened, preparing his own message of gloom to his American friend.
“Quite, Harry, quite. For our part, you already know of the demonstrations in London and Birmingham. I regret that I have to add Glasgow and Edinburgh to that list. Regretfully, the former turned into a full-blown riot. Thirty-eight were killed before order was restored. Add that to those already lost and likely to succumb to their injuries, a round hundred deaths in a week.”
He puffed on his cigar, ignoring the whisky that called to him, promising himself full access once this important call had been completed.
“De Gaulle has more problems, of course. Have you spoken to him, Harry?
Churchill laughed at the response.
“Yes, I know, but sometimes one had to perform one’s duties, regardless of personal choice.”
His response was well received and he risked another puff on his cigar.
His eyes narrowed as Truman added more fuel to the fire, listing the steady procession of ambassadors that either had trooped through the Oval Office or were still on the list to attend, all of whom sought cast-iron assurances that there would be no use against the USSR, in the east or west of the vast land.
He had his own list of visitations to relate, a virtual mirror of the list of countries presently burning his ears.
The Polish, in particular, were caught between a rock and a hard place, as they had always rebelled against the use of ‘special weapons’ in Europe and, since the reports and interviews with survivors of the Japanese atrocities, railed against their use, period.
But they were also concerned that any deal struck with the USSR would leave them less of a nation than in 1939.
Truman finished his recitation of the disaffected nations and moved to personal comment.
“Not that we had any immediate plans to, of course, but there’s no way, no how, we can employ any such weapon at the moment, Winston.”
“I concur, Harry, but we can still proceed with our arrangement, can we not?”
It was something that Churchill had pushed for, agitated for, and that Roosevelt had constantly denied him.
Truman had acquiesced without too much effort on the British PM’s part.
“Yes, Winston, that will proceed, given the inevitability of it all.”
“Thank you, Mr President.”
Churchill mentally ticked his ‘want’ list and, whilst the deployment of a British equivalent to CG-509, and shared mission status with an agreement on use of an atomic device, was important, there were other fish to fry.
He had noted that Truman made no announcements regarding Sweden.
“Harry, I had the Swedish ambassador here, and I think it’s fair to say that we can expect no great assistance from them, openly or covertly, for the foreseeable future.”
Truman had not had an inkling of that from either the embassy, or his own ‘contacts’ in the Court of Bernadotte, both home and away.
The situation was crystal clear to both the major Allied leaders.
What had been a general wish to avoid using ‘enhanced’ weapons on mainland Europe had grown into a public outcry across the globe, supported and encouraged by every single Allied power, all save Germany.
“Mr President… Harry… I believe we find ourselves at a turning point, one that we must consider very carefully.”
Churchill leant back in his chair and closed his eyes.
“Our people have suffered a great deal, more than we had envisaged. Our prayers have not been answered, and we find ourselves, despite our stunning advances and domination of the sea and air, at a serious disadvantage. We both know that Secretary Stalin suffers from no such internal pressures and…” Winston added as an after-thought, “I daresay he has some hand in the domestic challenges and issues that beset us all at this time.”
There was, as yet, no clue that much of their political discomfort was being orchestrated from a city many thousands of miles away.
He drew on his cigar as Truman offered his agreement.
“Unless we remove the shackles that have been imposed upon us, I see no alternative but for us to prosecute this war at a low level, until such times as the public furore passes over or lessens…”
Truman interrupted, putting his own no-nonsense interpretation forward.
“Indeed, Harry, we cannot have those sort of casualties again, and we both know that use of the Atomic weapons would have helped in that regard.”
Churchill smiled at the response.
“Quite, nothing overt whatsoever… indeed… but, as agreed, we will continue to develop our own plans on the matter.”
Churchill puffed furiously as the President of the United States spoke at length, nodding and making noises of agreement as Harry Truman set out the world as he saw it.
He finished and, with an intake of breath, Churchill crushed the cigar into the crystal ashtray with genuine strength and finality.
“Yes, I agree, Harry, and I suggest that our agencies work together to root out any agitators. I will clear my diary for the second week in July immediately. Chequers first, then off to France… I should think two days here will be enough, don’t you?”
Churchill listened intently, chuckling to himself, Truman’s wit surfacing in a comment about one of their close allies.
A knock on the door went unanswered, although the Prime Minister checked the mantle clock and knew exactly who was stood outside the double doors.
“Yes, Mr President. I think we must include everyone. I will have my staff make the arrangements to… yes… indeed… agreed… agreed… erm… I will think on that one until we meet face to face, Harry. Now, I’m about to set Second Army Group in motion. They’re here now… yes… yes indeed…”
Churchill stood and eased his back.
“Come in!”
The door opened and the new arrivals were immediately greeted with an imperious hand, demanding silence.
“Yes, and to you too, Harry. Safe journey and Godspeed… yes, I hope so to… and goodbye to you, Sir.”
He replaced the handset and swept up the whisky, all in one easy motion.
“Good afternoon. Help yourselves, gentlemen.”
He indicated the decanter, but none of the four men wished for a spirit so early in the afternoon.
“Please, be seated.”
They took their seats, arranged in a semi-circle facing Winston’s desk, and waited to hear whatever it was that was so important that they had received orders to cancel everything and be here for one o’clock precisely.