Churchill's Hour by Michael Dobbs

diminutive Lady St John purred across a forkful of fish. ‘What exactly does it mean?’
    â€˜It means “all the world one family”. At peace.’
    â€˜How beautiful. It’s a religious idea, is it? That when we’ve all finished being beastly to each other on this earth, we go to the same heaven?’
    â€˜No, no,’ Shigemitsu protested. ‘Peace on this earth. All one family. On this earth.’
    â€˜Oh, I see. I’m so relieved. There are so many rumours that Japan wants to attack us in the Far East. Tell me, Your Excellency, that’s not going to happen, is it?’
    â€˜Japanese wish British people nothing but harmony,’ the Japanese responded, picking over his words as though he had a mouthful of bones.
    â€˜And the Chinese?’
    Shigemitsu swallowed his trout unchewed. He examined his plate, not wishing to catch Lady St John’s eye for fear of betraying his annoyance. Her bluntness was ill-mannered; was she female and stupid, or simply Western and therefore incorrigibly rude?
    â€˜Our only wish is to create what we call a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.’
    â€˜Ah, so that’s what you are doing in China. Trying to make them all prosperous. Now I understand.’
    The ambassador laid down his knife and fork. Of course she didn’t understand, and the silly woman was probably incapable of doing so, but it was his duty to try to bring her to some form of awareness.
    â€˜The European powers—French, Dutch, British—have many colonies in Asia. Control all oil and other raw materials. We consider the position…unbalanced.’ He gave a little bow, as if to indicate that he was entirely satisfied with his selection of the word. ‘Japan wants only similar influence in our owncontinent. Access to raw materials in Asia like Britain—even America.’
    He made it sound so reasonable, but he had unwittingly opened up a new flank. The unknown American took it as an invitation to join in.
    â€˜And you make war in order to get them,’ he stated.
    The ambassador’s colour darkened. ‘We do not want war. War would not continue if Britain and America did not keep sending weapons to China along the Burma Road. My government believes that is very unfriendly act.’
    â€˜More than ten million dead Chinese since the war started four years ago, most of them civilians. Three hundred thousand killed in Nanking in a single winter. If you want to talk about unfriendly acts, maybe we should start with that.’
    â€˜Perhaps, sir, and begging your pardon’—he gave another little bow—‘you are not aware of the full facts of war.’
    â€˜I guess you’re right, Mr Ambassador. I don’t know enough about war. But since I arrived in London a few days ago, I’m beginning to catch on fast.’
    â€˜Perhaps, sir, you will permit me to suggest that you discuss the matter with your European friends, who have been fighting colonial wars for hundreds of years. They might be able to hasten your understanding.’
    There was another little bob, like a karate chop.
    â€˜Mr Ambassador,’ the American said, refusing to use the honorific title of ‘Excellency’, ‘Americans hate all colonial wars. Which is why we insist on the right to continue sending supplies to China.’
    â€˜You will forgive me, sir, if I see American history in a slightly different colour. I believe—I ask you to correct me if this is not true—that your country purchased the entire territory of Louisiana from the French.’
    â€˜Not the same thing at all. Louisiana isn’t a colony, it was a natural extension of the United States.’
    â€˜A very understandable argument, sir. And it was certainly closer to the United States than Alaska, which I believe you purchased later.’
    â€˜The territory of Alaska was practically empty. Full of nothing but fish and ice. I think there