---

“Ho Chi Minh?”

I really don’t want to get involved with him.

If that Ngô Đình Diệm or whatever is approaching the U.S., that means we’re 100% under American influence, and Ho Chi Minh approaching us is just like saying we want to have a proxy war in Vietnam.

Yeah. The 625 from the original history could erupt here.

How about we moderately support the Chinese Civil War and sell some weapons to Ho Chi Minh’s side?

That doesn’t sound bad either.

“Hm. Separating Vietnam in half might be a method.”

The Korea of the original history is being created in Vietnam.

If we’re going to be picky, we could put Vietnam in the defensive line too.

Of course, that’s still in the realm of possibility.

If it doesn’t work, we can just retreat.

The Rome Treaty Organization is already projecting its influence across Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

There’s no rush to maintain the status quo.

“Yes. Since we’ve been a colony, we could ask for help in addition to power transfer.”

Hmm, yeah. That makes sense.

With Ho Chi Minh choosing the Rome Treaty and Ngô Đình Diệm choosing the U.S., a civil war is inevitable.

Of course, I don’t know if they can finish one side off before the civil war escalates.

“Since we might not be aware of the situation in Vietnam, let’s discuss support measures for Ho Chi Minh. Let’s aim for the route where we don’t end up doing anything if possible.”

“So, you’re giving up on Vietnam?”

Giving up on Vietnam? No way.

No, we have to keep our promise to the U.S. I plan to keep it. I mean, if we advocate for post-colonialism and say we liberated them, it wouldn’t be humanly right to ignore a formerly colonial country that’s asking for help to develop.

“I said going with not doing anything. There are many support options. We have governed Vietnam as French Indochina, and in that process, we have caused countless damages. Isn’t it a bit lacking to only use what the colonial government left behind to support such Vietnam?”

Support between nations is hard.

But compensating for the damages that Vietnamese have suffered with just what the colonial government provided is a different issue.

As much as the Vietnamese have suffered, extending support to the ‘legitimate government of Vietnam’ doesn’t sound bad.

“Indeed, that could work.”

No matter the wordplay, the U.S. will find it a bit annoying too.

At the very least, we should try to split it in half, and even if we have to hand over Vietnam to the U.S., we need to be prepared to impose damages.

Of course, sending our troops directly right now seems a bit much.

For now, providing weapons should be enough.

“If it’s urgent for us, it would be North Africa. For now, we can just let the Okhrana know that Ngô Đình Diệm might be a threat.”

North Africa is technically part of the Roman domain.

If they are freed from the colony, they should be brought under the Rome Treaty Organization.

Let’s just let Vietnam slip through.

* * *

Saigon, South Vietnam

In the original history, John Joseph Muccio, who was supposed to be sent to Korea as the U.S. ambassador, is currently dispatched as the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.

He had been focusing on the situation in Vietnam for a while, when one day, Ngô Đình Diệm, who is in a position resembling the second-in-command of the current Vietnamese provisional government, came to him asking for support, promising to be a sure pro-American state.

“Then, will the Republic of Vietnam remain a pro-American nation in our Asia and serve as a frontline against the Rome Treaty? That’s what you mean, right?”

“Indeed. Right now, that Ho Chi Minh disregards the independence fighters who fought alongside him and threatens the emperor to hand over the government only to his faction. Can you believe that?”

Ambassador Muccio was pleased with the proposal, but he still doubted whether it was right to choose someone other than Ho Chi Minh, who had rightfully succeeded a legitimate government.

“It’s unreasonable. Hm. But this is beyond the ambassador’s authority.”

Whether it makes sense or not. From the U.S. standpoint, whether it’s the emperor or Ho Chi Minh, they would have thought to use any perfect pro-American politician.

“Ambassador Muccio, contact the homeland and let them support me. Help me!”

“Isn’t this on the verge of civil war? Can you handle it?”

If this goes wrong, it could lead to a civil war.

“Doesn’t America also need a clear pro-American force? I will make Vietnam the vanguard of the U.S. in Asia. If we get military support, Ho Chi Minh will be defeated.”

The vanguard of the U.S. in Asia.

Yeah. I really like that statement, but…

“Hm. For now, I will check with the homeland.”

MacArthur in the U.S. homeland fell into thought upon receiving the news from Ambassador Muccio.

“Vietnam. Conversely, isn’t it possible that Ho Chi Minh might beg the Rome Treaty for support?”

In the first place, although arrangements have been made to consider Vietnam as under U.S. influence since it became independent from the colony, it’s a different story if they’re only providing weapons.

Moreover, Ho Chi Minh received power from the high-level Asian commissioner of the Rome Treaty Organization and the emperor, having no contact with the U.S.

Of course, once he establishes a solid foundation, things may change, but as soon as the Rome Treaty Organization pulls out, the U.S. quickly established embassies in Indonesia and Vietnam and sent ambassadors.

This was to firmly insert influence.

At the same time, they hoped for contact from them.

In Indonesia, aside from the exceptions of a couple of small countries that genuinely became pro-Rome Treaty because of the Rome Treaty Organization’s support in gaining independence, the rest established diplomatic relations with the U.S. and opened embassies, but Ho Chi Minh was still in the dark.

Then, it means that at least in Ho Chi Minh’s heart, America might not be a priority.

But Ngô Đình Diệm is different.

Ngô Đình Diệm needs the U.S.

If he gains power with the help of the U.S., he would have no choice but to rely on them.

The problem is that this could lead to a civil war. Whether the U.S. situation can handle Vietnam’s civil war is another matter.

Unexpectedly, Eastern Japan has been beaten so badly that maintaining a government there is almost miraculous.

Eastern Japan needs to be rebuilt as an agricultural state to serve as a U.S. base in the Pacific; how much money would be needed for Vietnam too? This is something to think about for the future.

“We will support them. Surely, a civil war won’t break out.”

The U.S. choice was Ngô Đình Diệm, and they supported Ngô Đình Diệm, but…

“I was worried it would happen!”

Suspicious Russians who had already been informed and were preparing warned Ho Chi Minh to flee to Hanoi while Vietnam was split between North and South.

* * *

Rome Treaty Organization

Now that Vietnam is in such a state, it’s time to finish the decolonization on this side as well.

Over the past decade, we have calmly supported the independence of colonial countries while organizing our group.

Among them, India, Indochina, and Indonesia ended up happening surprisingly quickly.

Of course, India had to undergo some surgery, and Indonesia had to be beaten a bit because they made a fuss, but they were quite well separated, and it seems the U.S. drove the stakes in there.

As for African independence, it seems to take a bit longer due to all the groundwork laid in the past. Let’s see the list of national independence.

“Why is Spanish Morocco excluded from independence?”

But why is Spanish Morocco excluded from independence? It seems like French Algeria will also gain independence.

“That’s because Morocco was allowed a lot of autonomy, so it seems they simply want to remain part of our territory.”

“Really?”

What’s that about? Isn’t that a lie?

“Yes. We didn’t aggressively pressure them. Morocco currently has a military organized by locals. Our military was also pulled out when we sequentially withdrew troops from Africa last time.”

“So I guess the colonial assimilation work was well done.”

I see. That’s why when we first brought up decolonization, they seemed to be laying some breadcrumbs.

As long as it wasn’t done at the point of a gun, it doesn’t sound too bad.

“More than likely, they don’t want to be isolated and would rather stay as a Spanish territory.”

The African organization is below Ethiopia, but Ethiopia doesn’t quite reach the level of European powers.

Here, European countries are bonded by the Rome Treaty Organization.

Strictly speaking, Morocco is also an area where the Romans expanded, but it raises the question if that territory truly belongs to Rome, so I think we’ll leave it as a partner country in the Rome Treaty Organization.

Similarly, we planned to keep Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya as partner countries.

Of course, this is largely due to the Spanish government making an effort to care for the colony to at least preserve their remaining land, but upon reflection, isn’t the fact that the Spanish army holds its ground against the Moroccan army also significant?

“Well, as long as it’s not done with force, it doesn’t sound too bad.”

If they consider themselves part of the Spanish territory, I won’t stop them.

However, from a bit earlier, de Gaulle seems to have many things he wants to say, clearing his throat repeatedly.

It’s as if they want to do the same with Algeria. I mean, with the mainland being torn apart, they probably want to grab something, right?

“Actually, we in France…”

“France too?”

“We have implemented a lot of autonomous systems in Algeria. There are many opinions within Algeria wanting to integrate with France.”

“Did you hold a referendum?”

“Yes. Algeria decided to stay with France.”

From what I know, Algeria had quite the independence mood. Isn’t that so?

No, no. During World War II, they were tough on the communists fighting among the French.

If the French, having killed all the communists and managing it so strictly, wish to see Algeria remain French territory, personally, I wouldn’t mind it.

Decolonization. Even if they say decolonization, since France has been ripped apart, they would have worked hard to integrate Algeria. If that’s true, it’s a bit funny.

Does this mean there won’t be a massacre in Algeria?

“Hm. Then, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, those could join the Rome Treaty as separate partner countries. Let’s make Libya independent as a kingdom.”

Libya, which was once Italian territory, will eventually gain independence, but there’s much to scoop from here.

For example, oil. Libya was surprisingly a poor country at first, but due to oil, they hit it big and temporarily exceeded U.S. GDP.

Well, there was the Libyan Civil War, and it wasn’t without chaos. Still, it wasn’t bad. With this oil, Libya should have no problem living.

We will take some oil as a condition for their independence.

“That side has already completed joining as a partner country.”

“Hm. That’s a bit disappointing, but it can’t be helped.”

“Is that so?”

“Never mind.”

To be honest, while I want to rip everything apart, if Libya doesn’t have oil, that vast land would be hard for them.

I can’t just run around saying ‘do this, do that.’ They should just be able to live well with whatever remaining oil they have.

“Now, is there no problem in the Middle East? With Vietnam in such a state, I reckon Turkey should handle any issues that arise.”

“Yes. There is no immediate problem.”

Well then. They should handle it themselves.

Turkey already took the Suez. They are receiving support from the Roman Treaty to manage the Middle East. If problems occur, they’ll handle them well!

“I’ve requested cooperation from Ethiopia to grant independence to Central and Southern Africa. It won’t be long before we withdraw our military from Africa either.”

“That sounds good.”

I think this might ease the refugee issue in the future.

If you really want to delve deeper, refugees nowadays tend to cause quite a stir.

“Vietnam has split between Ngô Đình Diệm in the South and Ho Chi Minh in the North.”

“Ng?”

They really split in half? North and South?

“Did they really split in half?”

“Yes. After Ngô Đình Diệm staged a coup with American assistance, it looks like Ho Chi Minh couldn’t suppress him due to the U.S. military support.”

I expected it, but I didn’t foresee it splitting like this.

It feels a bit different from the original history.

Similar, but without the red water? And the only difference is that the leader of South Vietnam is different.

Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Ngô Đình Diệm in Saigon.

I wonder which side will win. This should be quite interesting.

“It’ll be hard to send the Rome Treaty army. We’ve already dispatched troops to India and Indonesia and are also working on decolonization across North Africa and the rest of Africa, right?”

Sending the Rome Treaty army again isn’t a good idea.

Now that America has nuclear weapons, there’s no way they’d use them carelessly. Supporting troops to former colonies would violate our agreement with the U.S.

Support should be limited to weapons. It’s better to send troops from elsewhere.

For instance, we can send support from Israel, Balhae, or Western Japan, to which we’ve guaranteed independence.

“Yes.”

“Of course, we can’t say we won’t send troops, so it’s best to prepare sincerely and keep preparedness up externally.”

We just need to not send our military.

Support should be seen as sending medical assistance instead. We don’t have to send our troops.

I suppose the U.S. won’t be too eager to send their military either.

They may support more troops than we do, but they’ll provide just enough.

Then, we can indeed draw from outside.

“By external, you mean other countries?”

“Let’s propose to Balhae, Israel, and Western Japan. If we support industrialization as a condition, that doesn’t sound bad.”

We’ve already given them quite a bit, but receiving some extra would feel different.

It’s merely a proposal.

If all three countries support simultaneously, that wouldn’t be bad, but anyway, preparing in advance wouldn’t hurt.

 

---