Chapter 53 Chapter 52

Lestan.Sloot wakes up in his old apartment in Georgetown and puts on a pair of old trousers.Then take out the tweed coat hanging in the closet and wear it in L—in order not to be occupied by the third tenant, the closet is locked.Then, as he had done a thousand times, he baked bread and made coffee in the airless little kitchen.As usual, he carried his bulging old briefcase full of official documents, and walked to the State Department in the usual midwinter weather in Washington; the clouds were low, the wind was cold, and snow might fall at any moment. At this time, he felt as if he had just recovered from a long illness and had just returned to his normal life.The sights, sounds, and smells of this section of West Pennsylvania Avenue, which had always been banal and monotonous, were now to him lovely and lovely.The passers-by, all Americans, stared at his Russian fur hat, which pleased him; if it had been Moscow or Bern, no one would have noticed.He was home, and he had nothing to worry about.He realized now that he hadn't breathed comfortably since the German invasion of Moscow had begun.Even in Bern, the pavement seemed to vibrate with the sound of the boots of the Germans approaching.But now, the Germans are no longer only separated by an Alps, but far beyond the ocean; the howling wind on the Atlantic Ocean sends out a ruthless roar to the desperate people on the other continent.

The long column of small columns on the front of the State Department Building no longer looked ugly to Slote at this moment, but was wonderfully simple and kind; it was a monster of American architecture, which was its charm. place.He was stopped by armed guards inside, and he had to pull out a Saipan pass.This was his first small encounter with the war in Washington.He stopped in the office of the chief dealing with Vichy to look at the classified list of some two hundred and fifty Americans trapped in Lourdes, most of them diplomats and consulate personnel. Hamer, Frederick, Friends Refugee Committee Henry, Mrs. Natalie, Journalist Holliston", Charles, Vice-Consul Jastrow, Dr. Ellen, Journalist still there; not listed Her first baby's name, hopefully it's an oversight, like the London embassy list.

"Ah, there you are," said the Director of European Affairs, standing up, scrutinizing Slote with a curiously excited expression.Usually he was a cold and blunt professional diplomat, even when they played roller tennis together a few years ago, he was as cold and quiet.He was wearing a shirt, and when he shook hands across the desk, he showed his belly, which was starting to get a little fatter.His hands were a little sweaty and trembling during the handshake. "Look at this thing." He handed Sloot a two-page typescript with several strokes in red strokes. December 15, 1942 (unfinalized)

Joint Statement of Confederate Nations on Zhikook's Anti-Semitic Atrocities "What the hell is this?" "What is it? It's a small barrel of explosives. The official document has been approved and will be announced soon. We have been working day and night for a week. It is all finalized here. Now we need to call from the Ministry and the Russians to approve it. Then it will be announced simultaneously in Moscow, London and Washington. Maybe tomorrow if it's fast." "My God. 'Fox', how fast!" People in the State Department have always called this director "Fox".This was his nickname when he was a student at Yale University.Sloter had first met him as an alumnus of the university's secret society.At that time, "Fox" Davis was still a carefree, slightly reserved, romantic figure, a professional diplomat who had just been transferred back from Paris.But now, he is exactly the same as those officials in gray clothes and trousers who walk in and out of the corridors of the State Department: gray hair, gray face, gray character.

"Yes, what a breakthrough." "It seems that my crossing the ocean this time is superfluous." "Not at all, you came back with these materials"—"Fox" said, prodding Sloter's leather bag on the desk with his thumb—"this incident itself has a lot of impetus. We know what you're bringing with you from Tuttle's memo. You've made a difference. Besides, you're needed here. Take a look at this, Leslie." Sloter sat down in a hard chair, lit a cigarette, and looked intently. The old habit of "Fox" has not changed, he still bites his lower lip and deals with letters at the desk. "Fox" also noticed that Sloot was still the same, and while reading, tapped the drumbeat on the back of the document with his fingers; he also saw that Sloot's complexion was yellow, and wrinkles appeared on his forehead like an old man.

Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom: The Government of the Soviet Union and the United States take note of the reports from Europe which give the unquestionable conviction that the German authorities are not content to deprive the Jewish people of the minimum human rights in the territories of the countries to which his barbaric rule extends, and now Hitler's repeated desire to exterminate the Jewish people in Europe is being realized.Jews, men, women, and children, were being transported from all countries to Eastern Europe under appalling conditions of terror and brutality.In Poland, which had been turned into the main slaughterhouse of the Nazis, all Jews had been systematically expelled from the Jewish ghetto, except for a few highly skilled workers needed by the war industry.Those who were taken away were never seen again.Those with labor are dying in slow slavery in labor camps.The old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled were either left alone to die of cold and starvation, or they were mass-executed and deliberately killed.

His Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of the Soviet Union and the Government of the United States have condemned this policy of extermination in the strongest possible terms.They declared that such incidents could only strengthen the resolve of peace-loving peoples to overthrow Hitler's barbaric tyranny.They reaffirm their solemn determination to ensure with other allied Governments that those responsible for such crimes will not escape punishment; to this end they will take the necessary practical measures. Sloot threw the papers on the desk and asked, "Who drew these bars?"

"What's the matter?" "The whole thing was cut off. Can you change it back?" "Rice, in the way it's worded, it's a pretty drastic document." "But these deletions are malicious surgery. 'Believe beyond doubt', which means our government believes it to be true. Why delete it? 'Neither sex nor age', that's the point. These German People are killing women and children in droves. Anyone will react to it! Otherwise, it's just a 'Jewish' thing. Bearded Jew out there. Who cares?" "Fox" looked embarrassed. "It's an exaggeration to say that. No, you must be very tired, and, I think, a little extreme, and at the same time—"

"Tell me, 'Fox', who edited it? The British? The Russians? Can we fight it again?" "These deletions are all made on the second floor here." Two serious eyes met. "I've fought them hard enough for this, my friend. I've knocked down a lot of other redactions. This statement is going to set off an explosion in newspapers all over the world, Leslie. Three governments It was a hard job to come to an agreement on the wording, and it's a great thing to get to the end." Sloter bites on a knuckle. "Okay. So what are we going to back up this statement with?" He patted his briefcase. "Can I select some material from here and publish it as an annex to this statement? They are all solid evidence. In a few hours, I can cobble together a compilation of excerpts of heavy bullets."

"No, no, no." "Fox" shook his head hastily. "Then we'll have to—wire London and Moscow again. Another debate. It'll take another few weeks." "'Fox', there is no supporting material, the statement is nothing more than a propaganda poster. A bureaucratic article. The press will definitely take it that way. Compared with what Goebbels concocted, it is nothing more than a fluffy bubble. Milk bread." The chief spread his hands. "But your material is either from the Zionists in Geneva or the Jews from Poland, right? The British Foreign Office will pick up the Zionist material when it sees the Zionist material, and the Soviets will hear Poland mentioned. The government-in-exile will foam at the mouth with anger. You know this, so let’s talk about it practically.”

"Then you don't need to prove the materials." Sloter was frustrated, and he raised his fist and thumped the desk. "Nonsense. It's all bullshit. That's the best thing civilized nations can do against this monstrous massacre, with all the damning evidence in their hands." "Fox" stood up, slammed the door shut, and turned his face towards Slote, stretching his arms and pointing a finger at him. "Listen to me. As you know, my wife is Jewish"--Sloter didn't actually know--"Mr. Hull's wife is also Jewish. How many nights I've been awake thinking about it painfully. Don't It's a stroke of luck to erase what we've done here. It's going to make a big difference. The Germans are going to have to think twice if they're going to continue with these atrocities. It's a signal to them, and it works." "Will it? I think they'll ignore it, or laugh it off." "I see what you mean. You want the whole world to protest and allied governments to launch a massive relief campaign." "Yes. Especially to the Jews gathered in neutral countries." "Okay. But you'd better reconsider according to the situation in Washington." "Fox" fell down in the chair, angry and sad, but he still said in a calm tone. "You know, too, that the Arabs and the Persians have gone over to Hitler's side. In Morocco and Algeria, we are paying a terrible price at this moment for our so-called pro-Jewish policies simply because our military authorities have repealed Vichy's anti-Semitic laws." The price. Muslims took up arms. Eisenhower's army is now surrounded by Muslims, and many more are waiting for him in Tunisia. If a worldwide protest sparks a huge wave demanding the opening of Palestine to the Jews, it will be true It's going to blow up the whole Mediterranean and Middle East. That's for sure, Leslie! Not only that, but it's going to offend Turkey. It's a political adventure, and it's not going to happen. Don't you agree?" Sloter frowned and remained silent: "Fox" sighed, and continued to speak little by little while wringing his fingers. "Also, did you pay attention to the domestic elections abroad? President Roosevelt has almost lost control of Congress. The bills he passed in Congress were all flukes. The nominal Democratic majority has deserted. A huge Opposition is building up across the country, Rice. Isolationists are making a comeback. A record defense budget is coming up soon. The Lend-Lease loads, especially to the USSR, are unpopular. Still Restoration of price controls, rationing, conscription, etc.—to fight wars, the president cannot live without these essentials. Now to call for more Jews in our country, Rice, and lo and behold, Congress will Oppose all war efforts?" "You're right, 'Fox,'" Sloter said wryly. "I know all about that. But do you really believe it?" "I fully believe it. These are the facts. It's unfortunate, but true. The President once witnessed how an unchecked Congress thwarted Woodrow Wilson and brought his peace plan to naught. I'm sure the ghost of Wilson Must have haunted him often. The Jewish question has always been a liability in the basic political and military strategy of this administration. There is very little room for maneuver. In these handicapped conditions, this document is at least an achievement. It is British drafted. My main task was to try to preserve its substance. I think I did that..." Sloter suppressed the age-old sense of despair and asked, "Okay, so what should I do next?" "Assistant Secretary Breckinridge Long will receive you at three o'clock." "Do you know what he intends to do with me?" "Not at all." "Tell me about him." "Lon's situation? Well, what do you know?" "I just heard Bill Tuttle say something. Long once asked Tuttle to organize the Roosevelt Republicans in California. Both of them used thoroughbred horses to participate in the horse races. That's probably why they knew each other. Yes. Besides, I know Long was ambassador to Italy, so I guess he's a rich man." "His wife is very rich." "Fox" hesitated, then sighed. "He's having a hard time right now." "what happened?" Fox began pacing up and down his small office. "Okay, here's Breckenridge. Long's biography. You know it's good. He's an old-school gentleman-politician. Well-to-do Southern. Princeton graduate. Lifetime Democrat from Missouri. Wilson's No. Third Assistant Secretary of State. He once ran for the Senate and was defeated. He was eliminated in the politics of the campaign." "Fox" stopped, stood next to Slote, and poked him on the shoulder. "But—Long was a very, very old man on Roosevelt's team. Get to know Breckenridge. Long, that's the point. If you worked for Roosevelt before 1932, you counted It was on his staff, and Long had been working for him as far back as 1920 when he was running for vice president. Long had always been a little ringleader for him at the Democratic convention. Ever since the Wilson days He's been a big benefactor of the Democratic campaign since then." "I understand." "That's good. Remuneration, mission to Italy. Grades, mediocre. I admired Mussolini. Then I was disappointed. I was called back to China. The apparent reason was gastric ulcer. Actually, I think it was because of incompetence at work during the Ethiopian war. After returning home Playing his thoroughbreds and attending jockey clubs. But of course he'd love to get back into office, and Roosevelt was good at taking care of his own people. When the war broke out, he created a post just for Long—Emergency War Affairs at the State Department. Special Assistant Secretary of State. That's why he's having such a hard time. Since the Visa Division is under his control, the refugee issue is a tough job for him. Delegations come and go - labor leaders, rabbis, business owners, Even the Christian pastor—kept urging him to hold his hand high to the Jews. He could only be polite and ambiguous, always telling people there was no way, no way, no way. His thin skin couldn't stand the cursing that came about. .Especially the expletives from the liberal papers." "Fox" sat down at his desk. "The presentation on Breckenridge. Long, that's over. Rice, before your work is settled, if you want an office—" "'Fox,' Breckenridge. Is Long an anti-Semite?" "Fox" let out a long sigh, stared at the sky for a long time, and didn't even look at Slote. "I don't think he's an inhuman person. He hates Nazis and fascists. He really does. He's certainly not an isolationist, he's a staunch supporter of a new League of Nations. Bad, but the attacks from all directions wounded his feelings and made him cringe. He's as hard to mess with now as a bear with a broken nose." "You avoided my question." "Then let me answer. He's not. He's not an anti-Semite. God knows why he's called that, but I don't think he's. He's in a very difficult situation, and he's got a lot of other things weighing on him. Dare I say He doesn't know anything about the actual inside story. He's one of the busiest guys in Washington, and personally, one of the nicest guys. I want you to work for him. I think you'll at least be able to He cuts some of the most vitriolic swearing in the Visa Division." "God, this alone is enough to attract people." "Fox" said, flipping through the papers on his desk, "Do you know a Mrs. Thelma Asher. Walter Weller? Used to live in Bern?" It took Sloter a while to remember. "Yes. Of course I do. What's the matter with her?" "She wants you to call her. It's urgent. Here's her number in Baltimore." Thelma, with a big belly, followed the head waiter to Sloter's table, followed by a short, red-faced, almost bald young man.Slote got up quickly from his chair.She was dressed in all black, and on her breast was a brooch with several large diamonds in it.Her hands were cold and wet, as if they had just rolled a snowball.Although she has a big belly, her resemblance to Natalie is still very obvious. "This is my husband." "It's a pleasure to meet you." Although it was a cliché when we met, he said it cordially and sincerely.As soon as he sat down, Walter Weller called the waiter and began to order wine and food.He said he still had a few congressmen and two senators to meet, so if he could, he wanted to eat and leave, leaving Sloter and Selma to catch up.The waiter brought wine and tomato juice for Thelma.Walter Weller raised his glass to Sloter. "Please, have a drink for the Confederate announcement. When will it be announced? Tomorrow?" "Ah, what statement are you talking about?" "A statement about the Holocaust, what else?" Walter Weller had a smug look on his healthy face because he knew the inside story. That being the case, Sloter immediately decided that it would be best to let him show his cards first. "I see you've got a private way through to Cordell Hull." Walter Weller smiled. "Do you know how that statement was made?" "To be honest, I don't know." "British Jewish leaders finally met Churchill and Eden with some indisputable evidence. Appalling stuff! Churchill was a good man, but he had to talk back to the damn Foreign Office, and this time he did By the way. Of course, we have someone to inform." "us?" "The Zionist committee here." The restaurant was full, so there was a wait for the food to be served, and Walter Weller talked a lot, over the loud noise around him.His manner is forceful and likeable, and he speaks with a slightly southern accent.He was a member of several protest or rescue committees.He has signed pledges for dozens of refugees and has been to Cordell twice with delegations.Hull's office.He said Mr. Hale was a perfect gentleman, but old and therefore very ill-informed. Walter Weller was not completely discouraged by these massacres.He believed that the Nazi persecution would prove to be a turning point in Jewish history and would create a Jewish homeland.He said that the Jews and their friends must now resolutely agree: Withdraw the White Paper!Open Palestine to European Jews!His committee was now considering a massive and outnumbered march on Washington after the Allies' joint statement, and he wanted to hear Slote's opinion on the matter.The name will be "March of a Million".Americans of all faiths are expected to attend.A petition with a million signatures is about to be sent to the White House calling for London to withdraw the White Paper - as the price of continuing to supply the British with Lend-Lease supplies.Many senators and representatives are willing to support the decision. "Please be frank in your opinion," said Walter Weller, munching on a cheese omelet, while Thelma forked fruit salad into her mouth grain by grain, casting her eyes at Slote. As if to give him a warning. Slote asked a few questions mildly and mildly.Assuming the British backed down, how could the Jews in German-occupied Europe transfer to Palestine?That was no problem, Walter Weller retorted; there were plenty of neutral ships; Turkish, Spanish, Swedish.In addition, the empty ships of the Allied countries carrying leased supplies can also fly the flag of truce to transport them. But would the Germans respect the truce flag or allow the Jews to leave? If, Walter Weller said, Hitler really wanted to purge the Jews from Europe, and if the plan would work, why wouldn't he cooperate?There is no doubt that the Nazis will extort a huge sum of money, and that's okay, Jews in free countries would rather lose their fortunes than save Hitler's prisoners.He himself would.His four brothers were willing too. Sloter was surprised to find that, faced with the man's naïve confidence, he could not help treating the matter in terms of "Washington conditions," as "Fox" said.He pointed out that the transfer of such a large amount of foreign currency would allow the Nazis to purchase large quantities of scarce war materials.In fact, Hitler would trade Jewish lives for the means to kill Allied soldiers. "I don't think so at all!" Walter Weller replied with a tone of impatience. "That is just a far-fetched military assumption, but now the fact is that a large number of innocent people are being brutally killed. How can this be the same! The problem now is obvious, that is, to rescue as soon as possible before it is too late." Slote mentioned that Arab sabotage might have rendered the Suez Canal unnavigable overnight.Walter Weller's scathing answer to this 9 cliché. The threat to the Canal is over. Rommel is fleeing Egypt. The pincers of Eisenhower and Montgomery are closing in on him. Touch it. They are now drinking coffee and continuing their conversation.Sloter reminded Walter Weller in as nice a tone as possible that the fanfare of the "March of a Million" calling for the opening of Palestine was too simplistic to be particularly effective.He didn't think the British would open up Palestine, and even if they did, the Jews of Nazi Europe couldn't get there. "Then you're a pessimist through and through. They're all dead in your opinion." Not at all, Sloter replied.We can work hard in two ways: from a long-term perspective, it is to destroy Nazi Germany, and in the immediate future, it is to frighten them and tell them to stop the massacre.Many thousands of square miles of the Confederate States were sparsely populated.Five thousand Jews were accepted at the beginning, distributed among twenty countries--including Palestine, if possible--and could be increased to one hundred thousand souls saved.The number of people trapped in neutral countries today is much higher than that.If the Allies had unanimously decided to provide them with immediate refuge, it would have taken the Germans by surprise.Until now, the Nazis are still constantly mocking the outside world: "If you really worry about the Jews, why don't you take them in?" But the answer to them is just shameless silence.This situation must end.As long as the United States takes the lead, twenty countries will soon follow.Once the Allies showed real concern for the fate of the Jews, it might scare Hitler's executioners, slow them down, and even stop the killing.It is useless to shout and demand the opening of Palestine, so that is not to use energy on the knife edge. Walter Weller listened, frowning, his eyes on Slote, who thought he had impressed him. "Well, I see what you mean," said Walter Weller at last, "but I totally disagree with you. One hundred thousand Jews! But millions are dying! With our little strength, once we support With such a plan, Palestine will be over. Your twenty shelters will not be accepted at the last moment. Besides, most of the Jews will not want to go." Walter Weller agreed, kissed his wife good-bye, invited Slote to dine in Baltimore in two days' time, and took his farewell in the most friendly way. "I like your husband," Sloter said boldly after the waiter had refilled their coffee. Thelma barely ate and became very pale.She said suddenly excitedly: "He has a very good heart and has donated a lot of money to the relief work, but his Zionist solution is just a dream. I will not argue with him anymore. He and his friends will arrive one day." After this plan and that plan, there are meetings, marches, rallies, marches, this and that, non-stop, their intentions are really good! There are also many other committees, and they also have their plans and their meetings. And rallies! It seemed to him that they were all on the wrong track. Oh, these American Jews! They were running around like poisoned rats, and it didn't help. I don't blame them. I don't blame Congress, or even And don't blame your State Department folks. They're not bad or stupid, they just don't get it." "Some people can be bad and stupid!" She raised a hand in protest. "That's the Germans. Those Germans are murderers. But strictly speaking, they can't even be blamed. They've been turned into beasts by a fever. It's all so sad and terrible! Really, we Don't talk about that at dinner. I'm really having nightmares tonight." She put her hands to her temples and forced a smile. "What about the girl who looks like me? Where's her doll?" After hearing Slote's answer, her expression became serious. "Lourdes! My God! Is she dangerous?" "No more dangerous than our consular officers." "Isn't it all right for a Jew like her?" Sloter shrugged. "I think so." "I would dream about her. I kept dreaming that I was back in Germany and we never escaped. I can't tell you how horrible, how horrible, I had these dreams. My father died and my mother was sick , and I'm in a foreign country now. It scares me every night." She looked around the hotel with a dazed expression, and then excitedly picked up her handbag and gloves. "But it's a sin to be ungrateful. I'm alive after all. I've got to go shopping quickly. Will you accept Julius' invitation to dine in Baltimore?" "Of course," said Sloter, a little too politely. Her expression was half-doubtful and helpless.Out on the sidewalk, she said, "Your idea about refugees is not a bad idea. You should try to make it happen. The Germans are losing the battle. Before long they will each have to struggle with their own lives. Germany Men are shrewd in such matters. If the United States and twenty other countries were serious about accepting a hundred thousand Jews from now on, it would surely disturb those SS demons. They would very much Might start looking for some excuse to save the lives of a few Jews. That makes sense, Leslie." "It's an encouragement to me that you think the same way." "Is it really possible?" "let me try." "God bless you." She held out her hand. "Cold?" "Like ice." "You know what? America hasn't changed me much. I want your friend and her baby to be saved." The sky was clear and blue. Facing the bitter cold wind, Sloter walked back to the State Department with his body huddled.He stopped on the way, staring across the snow-covered lawn into the inside of the White House fence, trying to imagine Franklin.Roosevelt was hard at work somewhere inside this magnificent mansion.Despite listening to his fireside chats and speeches, watching newsreels, and reading millions of words about him in newspapers, Sloter's Roosevelt remained elusive. people.Is there really no hypocrisy in a statesman who can appear merciful and helpful to Europeans and whose policies—if the “fox” is true—are as ruthless as Napoleon’s? where? Tolstoy's great theme--Slote thought as he hurried along--was Napoleon at Peel.Bezhukhov's mind plummeted, from a liberal savior who saved Europe to a bloodthirsty invader who invaded Russia.According to Tolstoy's shaky theory of war, Napoleon was nothing more than a hozen on an elephant, an impotent egoist driven by circumstances and history.He gave orders only because he had to give them; he was invincible only because some little incident on the field which he neither understood nor could control made victory inevitable; The "genius ideas" that caused him to lose repeatedly are no different from the "genius ideas" that brought him successive victories before, but the trend of history has changed its direction and ran counter to him, and finally made him fall into failure. If the "fox" really reflects Roosevelt's policy on the Jews, if the president is not even willing to risk a confrontation with Congress to stop this heinous crime, then the president is really a Tolstoy Hozen,--an insignificant man, a colossus blown up by the tempest of history, who seems to be able to win the war only because the great power of industry is rolling in that direction; a puppet of the times In the face of Hitler's terror, his self-determination ability is not even comparable to that of a Jew who fled across the Pyrenees alone, because that Jew can at least reduce the number of people killed by one. Slote didn't want to believe that sort of thing. Breckenridge.Ron strode across the room like a young man to shake hands.The sunlight that streamed in through the tall windows of his office was as unpleasing or genial as the assistant secretary himself.Lang's majestic face, thin lips, neat iron-gray curls, and short athlete figure, matched with the well-cut dark gray suit, well-manicured nails, gray silk tie, and There is a white handkerchief in the breast pocket, which fits neatly.He is simply the standard image of an assistant secretary of state; meanwhile, Bray Rich.Lang didn't look distraught, disaffected, or on pins and needles at all; on the contrary, he seemed to be welcoming an old friend at his country house. "Ah, Leslie. Slote! We're long overdue. How's your father?" Sloter couldn't help but blinked twice. "Oh, he's fine, sir." It was uncomfortable at first.Sloot could never recall his father ever mentioning Breckenridge.Lang. "God knows how long I haven't seen him. Ah! He and I do pretty much everything at the Ivy Club, play tennis together almost every day, row boats, get into trouble with girls—" With a charming and melancholy smile, he waved his hand towards a piece of sand. "Ah, really! You know what, you're more Timmy now than your father himself was. Slote, dare I say it. Ha-ha." Sloter sat down with an awkward smile, trying to recall in his mind.His father, who later taught at the Harvard Law Institute, developed a contemptuous sense of remorse for his "wasted" years at Princeton: he used to say it was just a country club for playboys who wanted to skip school.He has tried hard to persuade his son to go to school elsewhere, but has said little about his own college experience.But it was very strange that he never mentioned to his diplomatic son that he knew an ambassador, an assistant secretary of state! Lang handed Sloot a cigarette from the silver case, then leaned back on the sofa, fingered the handkerchief in his breast pocket, and said jokingly, "How do you go to that crappy Yale?" School? Why didn't Timmy Slote firmly stop him?" He looked at Slote with a fatherly look and said with a smile. "However, for all your shortcomings, you are an excellent diplomat, and I know your achievements." Is this sarcasm? "Well, sir, I do the best I can. Oftentimes I can't." "I know that feeling all too well! How's Bill Tuttle?" "Excellent, sir." “比尔是个稳重的人。我收到过他的一些令人沮丧的信件。他在伯尔尼的处境非常敏感。”布雷肯里奇。朗的眼皮垂了下来，眼睛半睁半闭。“你们两人在那几处理问题都很稳重。如果换上两个激进派的年轻人去做那项工作，那你们搞到的那些材料说不定会在全世界的报纸上大肆渲染开了。” “助理国务卿先生——” “大有可为啊，小伙子，你是蒂姆。斯鲁特的儿子。叫我布雷克吧。” 斯鲁特的脑子一闪，突然想了起来，很久很久以前，他父亲有次和他母亲谈话时曾经谈起过一个“布雷克”，似乎是他放荡的青年时代的一个不体面的角色。“那么，好，布雷克——我认为我带来的那些材料是真实的，而且是骇人听闻的。” “这我知道，比尔也是这么说的。他把这一点说得很清楚。你们两人的责任感就更加应该受到赞扬。”朗用手指抚弄一下胸袋里的手绢，整了整领带。“我希望我们华盛顿的一些任性的家伙能象你们这样才好，莱斯里。你们至少懂得由政府养活的人不应该使他的国家为难。你们从发生在莫斯科的那桩小事情上吸取了教训。那件事还情有可原。纳粹对犹太人的迫害也很使我反感。非常可恶，非常野蛮。我早在一九三五年就谴责这一政策了。我那时候写的备忘录就在这儿的卷宗里。不过，年轻人，让我告诉你我希望你做些什么吧。” 过了好一会儿，斯鲁特才弄清楚究竟是怎么回事。朗先谈了他领导的那十九个处室。科德尔。赫尔实际上要他为战后成立新国联起草一份计划。这可是个大难题！他晚上和星期天都工作，他的健康已经受到损害，不过这都没有关系。他曾亲眼目睹伍德罗。威尔逊就是因为国会在一九一七年拒绝他有关国联的主张，才遭灭顶之灾。他的老朋友弗兰克林。罗斯福以及他对世界和平的宏伟展望绝不能遭到同样的下场。 同时，还必须使国会就范。国务卿已把和国会山打交道的大部分任务委托给他。这可是个累死人的差事！如果国会阻止向俄国提供《租借法案》援助，斯大林就有可能一夜之间食言变卦，去跟德国单独摘和。这场战争的前景就会吉凶难卜，非得打到最后一粒子弹才能定局。英国人也同样不可信赖。他们已经在玩弄手法，要把戴高乐送到北非去，以便战后控制地中海。他们打仗完全是为了自己；英国人的本性从来就很少改变。 发了一通有关全球大局的议论之后，布雷肯里奇。朗终于谈到正题。他说，欧洲事务司内应该有人专门处理有关犹太人的事宜，所有那些代表团、请愿书、信件以及必须虚与委蛇的名人显要等等，以后都不要往他那儿送了。形势需要一个适当的人选稳妥地处理这些事情，他认为莱斯里正是这个适当人选。莱斯里以同情犹太人著称，这是一笔宝贵资产。他在伯尔尼行事谨慎，这表明他为人稳妥可靠。他出身高尚的家庭，很有教养。他在国务院里前程灿烂。现在有个机会可以担负起一件真正棘手的任务，一显身手，赢得破格的升迁。 斯鲁特对此深感惊恐。充当布雷肯里奇。朗的一面挡箭牌，对请愿的犹太人“客客气气，模棱两可，总是告诉人家没办法，没办法，没办法”，实在是个令人憎恶的前景。他在国务院的前程的终点现在并不比这间办公室的门口距离他更远。这一点他倒也并不在意。 “先生——” “布雷克。” “布雷克，除非我能对前来找我的人有所帮助，我是不愿意被安置在这样一个职务上的。” “这正是我要你做的啊。” “但是我除了叫他们失望之外，还能做什么呢？绞尽脑汁，兜着圈子说'没办法'吗？” 布雷肯尼奇坐直身子，一本正经朝着斯鲁特严厉地瞪了一眼。“哪儿的话，你有可能帮助别人的时候，你当然要说'行'，而不是说'没办法'。” “但是现有的一切规定使这几乎不可能做到。” “怎么不可能做到？你说说看。”布雷肯里奇。朗问道，态度非常和蔼。他颚骨上的肌肉抖动了一下，用手指摸摸手绢，而后又弄弄领带。 斯鲁特开始解释说，要求犹太人出示他们所在国警察机构签发的出境许可证以及品行端正的证书，这是荒唐可笑的。朗打断他的话，皱起眉头迷惑不解地说：“但是，莱斯里，这都是一些必不可少的规定，是为了防止罪犯、非法逃亡者以及其他社会渣滓混进来。我们怎么能回避这些规定呢？谁都没有天生进入美国的权利。谁要进来，就必须拿得出证据，证明如果我们允许他们入境，他们会成为良好的美国人。” “布雷克，犹太人必须从德国秘密警察那儿领取这些证件。这显然是一条荒唐和残酷的规定。” “啊，所谓'德国秘密警察'，可是纽约那些悲天悯人的人造出来的一个可怕字眼。它其实和我们联邦特工机关一个意思——秘密国家警察。我跟德国秘密警察打过交道。他们和别的德国人并没什么不同。我确实相信，他们采取的方法一定非常严厉，但是我们自己也有一个非常严厉的特工机关。每个国家都有。再说，并非所有的犹太人都来自德国。” 斯鲁特感到一阵撕裂神经的冲动，他竭力克制才没一怒之下走出这间房间去另谋生路——因为他察觉到朗的这番奇谈怪论虽说是令人难以接受的，倒也是由衷之言，颇有道理，所以他便说道：“不论这些犹太人来自何处，他们都是为了逃命而来。他们哪能耽搁时间去申请官方证件呢？” “但是，如果我们取消这些规定，”朗耐心地说，“那又怎么能防止成千上万的破坏分子、间谍、从事爆破的人以及诸如此类的坏蛋冒充难民混进我们国家呢？你倒说说看。如果我在德国谍报机关工作，我是决不肯放过这个大好机会的。” “可以要求其他的品行证明。比如教友会的调查，个人经历保证书，当地美国领事馆的批准书，或者象联合救济协会这一类可靠的救济机构的证明。只要我们认真去找。总归是有办法的。” 布雷肯里奇。朗两手交叉撑着下巴坐在那里，带着沉思的神色望着斯鲁特。他的回答一字一顿，小心谨慎。“是啊，是啊，我看你的意见也有道理，这些规定会给那些理应人境的人造成困难。我还要为别的事情伤脑筋，比如战后世界的结构。我不是个顽固派，而且”——他现在的笑容显得他有难言之苦——“我也不是一个反犹主义者，不管报纸上怎样污蔑谩骂。我是我国政府及其法律的仆人。我要尽力做个好仆人。你能不能把你的意见写成一份备忘录，让我交给签证处？” 斯鲁特不敢相信他已说动了布雷肯里奇。朗，但是听他口气倒是一片诚心。他因此壮着胆子问道：“我是不是可以再提一点建议？” “说吧，莱斯里。我觉得这次谈话很有意思。” 斯鲁特把他的关于由二十个国家接受十万名犹太人的计划说了一遍。布雷肯里奇。朗仔细听着，手指从领带摸到手绢，再由手绢摸到领带。 “莱斯里，你是在谈论召开另一次埃维昂会议，关于难民问题的一次重要国际会议。” “我希望不是这样。埃维昂会议是徒劳之举。另一次那样的会议需要花费很长时间，而此时此刻人们正在惨遭杀戮。” “但是政治难民现在是个尖锐得多的问题，莱斯里，而且没有别的办法可以解决这个问题，重大的政策是不可能在国务院一级制定的，”朗眯起了眼睛，几乎完全闭上了。“这个建议是个富有想象力的很有分量的建议。你能就这个建议给我写一份机密文件吗？目前只给我一个人看。把你想到的所有具体细节都写进去。” “布雷克，你是不是真的感兴趣？” “不论别人怎么议论我，”助理国务卿回答说，宽容的态度里略带一点烦躁。“我不喜欢浪费自己的时间，也不喜欢浪费与我共事的人的时间。我们身上的担子都已够重了。” 但是这个人仍有可能是借此把他打发掉：“写个备忘录给我吧，”这是国务院里老一套的敷衍办法。“先生，我估计你一定知道那份关于犹太人的同盟国联合声明？” 朗默默点头。 “你是不是——也和我一样——相信事实确实如此？——德国人正在屠杀数百万欧洲犹太人，并且准备把他OJ斩尽杀绝？” 助理国务卿的脸上掠过一丝笑容，一丝空泛的笑容，仅仅是嘴部肌肉的一下颤动而已。 “对于那份声明我碰巧了解一点情况。安东尼。艾登因为受到压力，起草了那份东西，不过是给一些知名的英国犹太人一点甜头尝尝罢了，我看是弊多利少，只能刺激纳粹采取更加严酷的措施。但是我们无法对那个不幸的民族作出判断。在他们遭受苦难的时刻，我们必须在法律许可的范围内尽力帮助他们。这就是我的整个方针，所以我才要你把立即召开一次会议的主意写成一份备忘录。这个主意看来切合实际，有建设性。”布雷肯里奇。朗站起来，伸出他的手。“你愿意帮助我吗，莱斯里？我需要你的帮助。” 斯鲁特站起来，握住他伸过来的手，慨然应允说：“我试试看，布雷克。” 斯鲁特当天晚上给威廉。塔特尔写了一封长达四页的信，结尾是这样的：看来还是你说得对！我竟然有可能对局势发挥一点影响，根除一些最骇人听闻的暴行，并使千万个无辜者得以保全性命——在很大程度上这是因为我父亲碰巧是个普林斯顿一九零五届的毕业生，是个长春藤俱乐部的成员——这样的好事实在叫人难以相信，在这个有如艾丽丝历险记中的奇境似的城市里，有时候事情就得这样才能办得成。如果我是可悲地受了捉弄，不用多久我就会发现。但是，目前我将完全忠于布雷肯里奇。朗。谢谢你的一切帮助。我会把情况不断告诉你。