"Your Excellency, even if we express our support for the Portuguese government, in fact, the support we can provide them is still very limited. Therefore, it may be difficult to prevent them from selling or leasing the Azores to Germany. After all, The threat posed by Germany to them is too great. For their safety, they may have to submit." US Secretary of War Garrison said.

President Woodrow Wilson nodded solemnly. He knew that what Minister Garrison was worried about was very likely to happen.

"Everyone, what should we do?" President Wilson asked.

"Your Excellency, once the Germans really occupy the Azores, they will directly pose a great threat to us. Therefore, we should do our best to prevent them from occupying the Azores." Secretary of the Navy Daniels said.

"Your Excellency, I think that if the German occupation of the Azores is a foregone conclusion, can we send troops to occupy the Azores before the Germans? I have studied the terrain of the Azores, as long as we dispatch With a small number of troops, those small islands can be occupied. At that time, it will not be easy for the Germans to occupy there again." Garrison continued.

"God! Your Excellency, are you planning to make us go to war with the Germans? If we send troops to occupy the Azores, the Germans will definitely send troops to attack. At that time, we will be involved in a big war It will be very detrimental to us!" Secretary of State Bryan exclaimed.

"The Germans are now trying to digest the fruits of victory after the last world war and the demise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They may not necessarily go to war with us. If they want to go to war with us, the last time we sent a fleet to the Eastern Atlantic, they Attack us," Garrison said.

Obviously, this is a fluke. If Germany does not want a large-scale war to break out at this time, it may give up the Azores. Of course, this possibility is not impossible, but the possibility is relatively small.

"This is too risky! What should we do if the Germans attack the Azores?" President Woodrow Wilson said.

"If the Germans really launch an attack and we can't hold it, it's better to give up the Azores. I believe that even if a war breaks out, the scale of the war will definitely be controlled around the Azores. Germany People won't be stupid enough to attack our homeland. They simply don't have that kind of strength, nor do they have that kind of courage." Minister Garrison said.

Woodrow? President Wilson seems to be persuaded. After all, although such a plan is a bit risky, if it succeeds, they will be able to gain a bridgehead in the east-central North Atlantic Ocean. At that time, it will be relatively easier to attack the European continent.

"This plan can be considered. If the Germans really want to occupy the Azores, we can try it. However, the prerequisite is that the scale of the war can only be limited to the Azores!" President Woodrow Wilson said .

"Yes, Your Excellency the President." Garrison, Daniels and others replied.

After the meeting, the U.S. government immediately issued an order to the embassy in Portugal, asking the ambassador to Portugal to contact the Portuguese government immediately, hoping that the Portuguese government could refuse to sell or lease the Azores to the German Empire.

The U.S. ambassador to Portugal urgently met with Portuguese Foreign Minister Castro and told him the attitude of the U.S. government.

"Your Excellency, the United States of America hopes that the Portuguese Republic will remain neutral in the confrontation between us and Germany, instead of getting involved and providing convenience to Germany. In this case, there is no benefit for the Portuguese government!" said the American ambassador.

"Your Excellency, we don't want to sell or lease the Azores to the Germans, but Germany has exerted strong pressure on us, and we simply cannot resist their pressure!" Castro looked innocent.

For the Portuguese, it is true that people sit at home, and disaster comes from heaven. They just want to live their own small life and don't want to get involved in the great powers' struggle for hegemony. But unfortunately, those big countries seem to be unwilling to let them go.

"Your Excellency, you can completely reject the Germans. In that case, the Germans will not do anything to you. The Germans have just established an image of maintaining world peace in front of the whole world. I think they are not willing to Slap yourself in the face immediately!" said the US ambassador.

Castro's eyes brightened, but he was still a little worried.

"Minister, if the Portuguese government finally sells or leases the Azores to Germany, then it will be an enemy of the United States of America. Although Germany is the world's hegemon, the United States is not easy to bully. Especially Germany Now it is almost an enemy of many big powers. The future war will inevitably be a war in which many big powers unite to besiege Germany. At that time, Germany may not be able to win. If Portugal gets on the German chariot because of this, then once Germany Your Excellency should be very clear about what defeat means." The American ambassador began to threaten Castro.

Castro could not help but smile wryly. This is undoubtedly what the Portuguese government is worried about. If this were not the case, they would have sold or leased the Azores to Germany long ago.

"Minister, I hope your government can think about it carefully and don't make a decision lightly. After all, this is about the future of Portugal." The American ambassador continued.

After seeing off the American ambassador, Castro went to the presidential palace and reported the situation to President Sidonio Pais.

President Sidonio Pais once again convened senior officials of the Portuguese government to discuss this.

It took a whole afternoon for the Portuguese government to unify everyone's thinking, which is to reject Germany's request.

The reason why they dare to do this is that the Portuguese government also believes that Germany has just expressed its desire to maintain world peace. If it uses force against Portugal because of this, it will be a slap in the face. What's more, Portugal doesn't want to offend Germany, but just wants to remain neutral and doesn't want to be involved in the confrontation between major powers.

On November 11, 1918, Portuguese Foreign Minister Castro officially represented the Portuguese government and rejected Germany's request to buy or lease the Azores.historical