In The Name Of Peace - Part Two

Potsdam July 1945

"We should be allowed to occupy all of Germany and exact reparations for the damage they did to our country the peace loving people of the Soviet Union!" Stalin proclaimed once more in harsh sounding Russian that sounded equally harsh in English.
"And your concerns are justified," Wallace remarked soothingly, the two of them had ironed out all the problems between themselves last night. Now they were just restating the situation for Churchill, whose unnatural fear of communism was proving a roadblock to these final negotiations. "The Nazis wrecked terrible destruction on your people. You have the right to exact payment for the damage."
Winston Churchill's eyes widened at the new American President's concession to Stalin's greed. "It was reparations in the First World War that helped lay the foundations for this conflict," he warned. He hoped to see Germany returned to the fold of civilized nations and maybe serve as a bulwark against Communist aggression.
"The Germans must pay for the pain they caused, and as long as we allies stand together there would be no threats to world peace," Wallace assured him.
"Yes, those who would dare oppose the will of peace loving peoples will be utterly crushed. Of course, it is only Fascists who should fear," Stalin injected forcefully in Russian, the interpreters racing to translate. "That is why in the name of peace Soviet troops should be allowed to occupy all of Germany to make sure they pay reparations,"
Wallace sighed another compromise met. Well at least Stalin was a progressive and they did lose a lot of people in the war. "Yes Chairman Stalin, Germany will be jointly occupied and administered. We have already agreed to your security conditions, Germany east of the Elbe river will be run by the Progressive peoples of the Soviet Union and west of the river by a joint commission of the Soviet Union and the US/UK,"
"What are you doing?" Churchill remarked, he heard the two had met behind his back, but he never thought the American would stab freedom in the back. A follower of real politic, Churchill understood trade offs, but Wallace was giving Stalin the store and getting nothing concrete for it, just the vaguerities of promises, as fleeing as the wind.
"Securing the peace and stability of Europe," Wallace assured Churchill. "Peace can only be achieved by meeting the legitimate concerns of the Soviet Union."
"But what about free elections and self determination?" Churchill asked stunned.
"Non Fascists political parties will be allowed to form in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union is after all committed to progressive ideals and wars and oppression are only caused by reactionary regimes," Wallace reminded Churchill.
"Your idealism blinds you to the threat communism represents," Churchill warned him, not concerned that Stalin overheard.
"It is a needless fear that causes wars not understanding and cooperation," Wallace shot back. It was after all European mismanagement of the peace that caused the Second World War.
"Now President Wallace tell me again about this Atom bomb," Stalin's translator spoke up, while Stalin smiled like the cat that ate the canary.
For a rare moment Winston Churchill was unable to speak. In the darkest days of the blitz he could find words, when Chamberlain sold out the Czechs he found words, this was beyond him though. His mouth fell open in shock and the trade mark cigar fell from his lips.