America 1919 - Chapter 769

Chapter 769: 264, Deal with the United States Navy

The establishment of the Tarot Society signified a new phase of Donnie’s influence in the United States, despite the fact that the membership of the Society was still very limited.

However, the energy that these four individuals could generate was immensely powerful.

In the following days, the four held several meetings to first determine the Tarot Society’s emblem.

The ‘Wheel of Fortune’ from the tarot cards was chosen as the symbol of the Tarot Society, denoting an organization capable of manipulating the fates of individuals, corporations, and nations.

Next, the Tarot Society established a hierarchical ranking system within its membership, dividing members into 13 levels, each with its own powers and responsibilities.

At the same time, they decided on the criteria for inviting new members, starting with politicians, military leaders, and financial magnates, and later, after deliberation, they added scientists and opinion leaders.

The membership requirements were by invitation during the initial phase of the Society’s foundation, where an invitation would be extended by one of the initial four members. For the invitation to be valid, three of the four had to approve.

Additionally, the four agreed that Tarot Society members had the right to help each other, but such assistance was not limitless.

If a member encountered a problem, they had the right to seek help from the Society. During their first request for aid, members were obligated to provide assistance within their capacity, without demanding any return.

But upon seeking help a second time, the members of the Society would render assistance with an expectation of an appropriate reward…

The rules and regulations of the entire Tarot Society were elaborate, and even the initial four members had only established a complete framework. As for the various articles, they would have to be explored gradually.

It was also stipulated that the addition of any new article had to be approved by the majority of the Society’s thirteen-tier membership to take effect!

After completing this work, Donnie and General Pan Xing met with the current Secretary of the Navy Robert Coontz and his successor, Edward Albert.

Like General Pan Xing, Robert Coontz would officially resign as Secretary of the Navy next year, and his successor would be Edward Albert, the Admiral and Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.

The three of them met at Donnie’s estate, as well.

However, this time their meeting was not in the tapestry gallery but in the estate’s wine cellar.

After General Pan Xing introduced Donnie to the two men, he closed his eyes to rest and stopped talking.

Donnie then expressed his gratitude to Robert Coontz and Edward Albert.

“Gentlemen, the United States Logistics’ ships have been able to safely traverse the seas thanks to your support!”

The cargo ships of United States Logistics, moving between Europe and America, encountered the United States Navy’s fleet, which indeed provided some assistance to Donnie.

Of course, senior United States Navy officials like Robert Coontz also gained a portion of the profits from private liquor dealings.

On this matter, Donnie did not shortchange them!

“Donnie, you’ve been to Washington quite a few times, but I never imagined this would be our first meeting!”

Robert Coontz said with a smile on his face.

Edward Albert also wore a smile, but it was clearly not as radiant as Robert Coontz’s.

Noting this, Donnie understood why Edward Albert’s expression was as it was.

It wasn’t because of his own arrival.

It was because of the situation he was about to face.

Although Harding is often rated as one of the most unsuccessful Presidents in American history,

Harding did have one accomplishment during his tenure,

which was initiating the ‘Washington Naval Conference,’ successfully negotiating international treaties with the United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries to curb the naval growth of these nations, thereby ensuring the United States Navy’s leading position.

The treaty stipulated that during the next 10 years—known as the ‘naval holiday’—none of the three countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, or Japan, should build large warships. Even ships that were already under construction, or halfway built, had to cancel their construction immediately. Furthermore, to reduce the existing naval forces, the three countries had to decommission a batch of battleships—a total tonnage reaching 2 million. The naval sizes of the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan had to be distributed in the ratio of 10:10:6!

Such an agreement was naturally unacceptable to Japan at that time.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Kaoru Inoue, a senior statesman of Japan, wrote in a letter to the joint meeting of the veteran statesmen and the Cabinet discussing whether Japan should join the war: “The turmoil in Europe is a heaven-sent opportunity for Japan to boost its fortune in the era of Taisho, and we must seize the moment to secure Japan’s rights in the Orient!”

It was with Inoue’s advice that Japan began to develop its full potential, naturally extending its national strength to the Far East and challenging American interests.

At that time, with Japan aligned with the United Kingdom and supported by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, the United States could do nothing.

The ‘naval holiday’ treaty was, in reality, aimed at the increasingly expansive Japanese Navy.

In such circumstances, Japan was definitely reluctant to agree.

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