Chapter 565: Waiting for a Better Offer
“Director, I think you might not yet understand the significance of this funding.”
Early December, Leningrad, State Optical Institute.
In the conference room, an American man in a dark gray suit was pushing a folder of English documents across the other end of the long table.
“Congress has approved considerable funds for this program. Next, the US Government will work with the relevant departments of the Soviet Union to establish an assistance mechanism targeting sensitive researchers.”
As the man spoke, he stretched out his finger and tapped lightly on a certain paragraph in the document.
“These funds will be used to maintain the basic operations of important research institutions, provide living allowances for related researchers, and prevent them from flowing to places they shouldn’t go due to economic difficulties.”
“This is a very serious international security plan.”
Director Nikolai Belov, sitting opposite him, nodded repeatedly.
“Of course, Mr. Harper, I fully understand the US Government’s considerations.”
He pulled the document a little closer to himself and lowered his head to take a look.
“We are deeply grateful that American friends are willing to provide help at such a difficult time. As you can see, the institute’s current situation is indeed not very good.”
Speaking of this, Belov purposely glanced toward the window.
The heating in the conference room was fully turned on.
To welcome this batch of American guests, the logistics department had temporarily brought in two electric heaters from the next-door experimental building yesterday, specially arranged for people to clear away the accumulated snow, and even re-wiped the propaganda slogans in the corridor that had been there for over a dozen years.
However, such treatment obviously could not be enjoyed by all the staff of the entire research institute.
Through the window, one could still see that several windows of the opposite experimental building were covered with thick frost patterns.
One laboratory had even had its broken glass sealed with wooden boards.
“I know your difficulties.”
Harper nodded in deep agreement.
He was the head of this American delegation, coming from the State Department’s department responsible for international scientific and technological cooperation, and among his entourage were technical consultants from the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
Over the past two days, they had successively visited several important research institutions in Leningrad.
The situation was much the same.
No funding, no salaries, and some research institutes couldn’t even afford the electricity bills to keep their equipment running properly.
Yesterday at another research institute, the laboratory director who led them on the tour was wearing a cotton-padded overcoat while explaining the equipment, and halfway through, he lowered his voice to ask the accompanying translator if he could trade a few packs of Marlboros for US dollars.
Harper was fifty-two years old this year.
When the Soviet Union sent the first artificial satellite into the sky in 1957, he was still in junior high school in Ohio.
At that time, the school practiced air-raid drills over and over again; as soon as the alarm sounded, the whole class would crawl under the desks and hug their heads.
Later, after entering the State Department, he read reports about the Soviet Union for more than twenty years: how many more missiles the Soviet Union had, how large objects on the ground the Soviet Union’s satellites could see clearly, and in which fields Soviet scientists had caught up with the United States.
The Soviet Union in the reports was always huge, always unfathomable, and always staring at the United States from the dark.
Like a giant ghost, it had cast a shadow over the entire United States for decades.
But now, the country that had made children all over America crawl under their desks for a dozen years had its best scientists begging Americans for a few packs of cigarettes.
Was that former red empire really only to this extent?
Harper had to admit that walking through these past few days, he indeed felt an indescribable sense of gratification in his heart.
The Cold War had been fought for the better part of a lifetime, and the United States had won; he watched his opponent fall with his own eyes.
But every time he walked past those frost-covered windows and saw those cyan-frozen faces, that bit of gratification would inexplicably fade away a little.
Even he himself didn’t know why he would feel a sense of emotional sigh over the destruction of an enemy country.
However, he didn’t lower his guard because of this. A considerable portion of the technology mastered by these places was enough to keep those responsible for national security affairs in Washington awake at night.
Especially the optical research institute in front of him.
Soviet reconnaissance satellites, military optical instruments, and some missile guidance systems all had direct or indirect connections with the researchers here.
Therefore, among Washington’s drawn-up priority attention lists, this research institute had a fairly high priority.
“Our visit this time is precisely hoping to resolve these issues as soon as possible.”
Harper said, opening another list.
“However, before formally discussing cooperation, I need to confirm one thing first.”
He raised his head.
“We heard that a Japanese company is contacting your institute’s researchers and has even offered job invitations to some of them?”
Belov’s fingers paused for a moment.
“Ah… this…”
He subconsciously looked toward the Japanese man sitting at the end of the conference table.
Hiroyuki Saeki.
This liaison from Japan had been in Leningrad for more than two months, and had officially met with Belov twice, on October 8th and November 5th, discussing issues of researcher job-transfer and cooperative projects.
The conditions offered by Saionji were actually quite generous.
US dollar salaries, long-term research funding, family relocation, and medical and educational guarantees provided by the Japanese side.
The research institute itself could also receive a cooperation fund for equipment maintenance and personnel transition.
Belov had originally been ready to agree.
But after the news of the upcoming American delegation’s visit arrived, he changed his mind again.
Since someone was willing to pay, why not wait a little longer?
What if the Americans offered better terms?
“There has indeed been some contact.”
Belov quickly regained his composure.
“However, it’s currently only preliminary communication, and we haven’t made any formal decisions yet.”
“Very good.”
Harper nodded with satisfaction.
“I think such caution is very necessary.”
He turned to look at Saeki, a polite expression typical of American officials in formal occasions on his face.
“Mr. Saeki, am I right?”
“Yes.”
Saeki bowed slightly.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Harper.”
“I think you should understand that what’s involved here is not entirely ordinary civilian technology.”
Harper closed the list in front of him.
“We warmly welcome Japanese enterprises to participate in the economic reconstruction of the Soviet Union, and we also strongly support allies in carrying out scientific and technological cooperation in appropriate fields.”
“But if it involves strategic optics, military remote sensing, or other sensitive technologies that may affect international security, the situation is completely different.”
His tone remained very polite.
“Japan is a member of COCOM. The US Government attaches great importance to its relationship with Japan, and I believe Tokyo would not want unnecessary disputes to arise between the two sides on export control and technological security issues due to the commercial activities of a single enterprise.”
The Department of Defense consultant sitting next to Harper timely added a sentence.
“Especially those personnel who have participated in defense projects in the past. The information they hold has a special nature, and any arrangements involving third countries may need to be re-evaluated.”
Saeki listened quietly.
“Thank you both for the reminder.”
He bowed slightly again.
“We fully understand the US side’s concerns on security issues, and have no intention of hindering the assistance program your government is promoting.”
Harper had originally been prepared to continue explaining a bit more, but upon hearing this response, he saved a lot of effort instead.
It seemed the Japanese still knew the rules.
“That couldn’t be better.”
He looked back at Belov.
“Director, I suggest that before your institute makes any decisions, you fully communicate with our technical consultants. Especially those experts on the list who have worked on special projects.”
“Of course, of course.”
Belov agreed exceptionally readily.
In fact, he now regretted a bit that he had almost agreed to the Japanese offer initially.
The Americans obviously valued this place even more than he had imagined.
And judging from the other party’s tone, this matter had even involved Washington’s national security departments.
In that case, weren’t the researchers in his hands even more valuable than previously estimated?
Over the next half hour, the two sides discussed some issues regarding allowance distribution, verification of researcher lists, and future cooperation projects.
Until the meeting was nearing its end, Belov turned back to Saeki as if suddenly remembering something.
“By the way, Mr. Saeki.”
“We have studied the cooperation proposal you submitted last time once again recently.”
Saeki raised his head.
“Does your institute have any new opinions?”
“It’s mainly regarding funding.”
Belov pulled out the Japanese document at his side.
“As you know, our difficulties are even more serious than last month. Moreover, once some researchers are allowed to resign, the institute will also need to bear a considerable amount of follow-up work.”
“Therefore, regarding the institutional cooperation funding previously promised by your company, I think it is necessary to increase it appropriately.”
Saeki looked at him.
“How much do you hope to increase it by?”
“Thirty percent.”
Belov held up three fingers.
“In addition, personnel involving special research departments need to be reassessed by us. As for when the procedures can be handled, I’m afraid we cannot guarantee it for the time being.”
As soon as this figure came out, the translator sitting next to him couldn’t help but raise his eyes.
Just last month, Belov had privately indicated to Saeki that as long as the Japanese side could supplement a bit more equipment maintenance funding, the two parties could sign the cooperation documents immediately.
Now that the Americans had just walked into the conference room, the maintenance funding had suddenly turned into a comprehensive thirty percent price hike.
What’s more, he hadn’t guaranteed when people could be released.
“I understand.”
Saeki picked up his pen and wrote a few lines in the notebook in front of him.
“Regarding the conditions you just proposed, I need to report to headquarters.”
“Of course, such a big matter should be handled prudently.”
Belov nodded generously.
“However, I still hope your company can make a decision as soon as possible. As you can see, there are more and more foreign friends willing to help us now, and the research institute cannot wait indefinitely for the reply of a single company.”
Saeki closed his pen cap.
“Thank you for your candor, Director Belov.”
He stood up, packed up his documents, and bowed slightly to the American representatives present.
“Then, I will take my leave for today.”
From beginning to end, he didn’t even try to fight for it.
This made Belov even more convinced that his judgment was correct.
The Japanese obviously already realized that things were not as easy as before.
As for Harper, he also left a good impression of this tactful Japanese liaison.
At least the other party didn’t, like people from certain Japanese trading companies, rush to bring up lawyers, contracts, and trade freedom to argue the moment the US Government raised objections.
After Saeki left, Belov took the initiative to propose hoping that the US side would provide a clearer funding arrangement as soon as possible.
Harper did not agree immediately.
He only told Belov that congressional appropriations had a strict scope of use, and the specific amounts and disbursement procedures all needed to be audited; the institute should first submit complete personnel and project materials.
But even so, Belov was quite satisfied.
At least now he had two sides to choose from.
And judging from the performance just now, the Japanese were obviously more anxious.
He could completely drag it out for a few more days.
Maybe thirty percent was even asking too little.
…
Meanwhile, Saeki had already gotten into the car parked outside the research institute.
The driver closed the car door for him and turned back to ask a question.
“Mr. Saeki, should we return to the office now?”
“Mhm.”
Saeki took out his notebook from his briefcase.
“Go back first and organize today’s meeting minutes.”
He lowered his head to check the contents he had just noted down, and added the original words mentioned by the US representative regarding COCOM.
The order given to him by Saionji was very clear.
When encountering people from the US Government, no matter what conditions the other party proposed, head-on conflict was not allowed.
Even less should the US side know who was standing behind this seemingly ordinary Japanese trading company before their eyes.
As for the institute’s sudden increase in quotes…
Saeki put away his pen.
That was already beyond his processing authority.
All he had to do was send everything that happened here back to Tokyo verbatim.
As for what to do next, naturally someone would decide.