Cold Peace

The Soviets appeared last yet in a larger group, and they instantly dominated the room. Dressed in breeches and boots, their footfalls pounded loudly on the wooden floors. Their upright collars and stiff shoulder boards flashed gold, while their myriad medals dangled and clanged on their chests whenever they moved. Priestman was reminded of the officers of certain Latin American countries who used to attend air shows when he was flying with the aerobatic team. At the time, he’d developed the theory that there was an inverse relationship between the ostentatiousness of medals for bravery and the courage required to obtain them. Since no one could question the Russians’ courage, however, he supposed he had to discard his theory. Despite their abundance of medals and hard, leathery faces, however, the Russians still managed to look like children dressing up in their parents’ clothes because of the ridiculously oversized design of their caps.

Beside him, Borisenko caught her breath, and he glanced over at her. In a low voice, she drew his attention to a young woman among the Soviet officers. The girl was shorter even than Borisenko and round-faced rather than elegant. She wore the same Red Army hat, tunic and boots as the other Russian delegates, but a straight skirt ended at the knee. “She’s wearing the star of a ‘Hero of the Soviet Union,’ sir,” Borisenko explained herself in a low, awestruck voice. “It’s the very highest medal given by the Soviets. It’s like a VC.” Priestman looked again at the Russian woman with greater interest, but already the French were moving to take their places.

After the formalities of calling the session to order and greeting one another were over, The French Governor General Koenig turned to the agenda. “The first item of business is the establishment of more official kiosks for currency exchange. General Clay, did you want to expound on your proposal?” In the annotations to Priestman’s agenda, it was noted that these were necessary to facilitate the ‘eventual’ introduction of a new currency. The existing number of official exchange offices was extremely limited, the notes explained. Such offices would be completely overwhelmed causing long lines and delays should the entire population be required to replace old currency with new.

“Yes,” Clay leaned forward to speak, but he was cut off by Marshal Sokolovsky with a flood of Russian starting with a firm “Nyet!” Priestman frowned at that. Sokolovsky reputedly spoke excellent English and was fond of quoting Jane Austen.

Borisenko leaned closer to Priestman, and he bent in her direction as she provided the simultaneous translation directly into his ear making it nearly inaudible to others. “There is no need for these new kiosks whatsoever. People don’t use the official exchange offices as it is,” Borisenko rendered Sokolovsky’s words in English.

Clay glanced at Robertson and might have responded had Sokolovsky not continued in a louder and more outraged voice. Boriskenko had to speak louder just to be heard. “This is all part of your machinations to subvert the German economy and make the Germans slaves of your capitalist industries! It is an insidious effort to pave the way for the introduction of your Marshall Plan! Well, we are not so stupid as not to see what you are doing! You are attempting to divide Europe in half, to carve it up into spheres of imperialist influence, robbing the Continental Europeans of their independence and making them dependent on hand-outs from you for all eternity!”

“Dear Marshal Sokolovsky, could you please explain to me how the European Recovery Act proposed by Secretary Marshall could possibly divide Europe when any European nation, including the Soviet Union, is welcome to apply for aid under its provisions?” Clay’s voice was the very epitome of calm and reason. His Southern accent gave it an almost “folksy” charm.

“That is a sham! A trick!” Sokolovsky slammed his palm on the table so sharply that some of those in the room visibly flinched. “It is only open to countries willing to accept your central-banking system — a tool of capital to restore the chains of the working class! Your Plan is intended to take from the workers their hard-earned currency and replace it with monopoly paper controlled entirely from Washington!”

The accusation was so preposterous that Clay and Robertson exchanged another look before Clay answered in the same tone of patient understanding. “The real currency in Germany today is cigarettes, most of which originate in the United States. A currency reform would replace this barter economy, which benefits American GIs more than anyone else, with a sound currency backed by gold reserves and controlled by a German — and an American — central bank—”

“Nyet! Nyet! Nyet! Next item on the agenda!” Sokolovsky ordered frowning furiously at the French.

The French General looked questioningly towards Clay, who with a subtle gesture indicated he did not want to pursue the discussion. Turning to his notes Koenig read the next item on the schedule.