Chapter 380 Recovering Britain
"But you must be careful and don't get carried away by love." Princess Margaret reminded her uneasily. In later generations, the British royal family was a famous love brain, and she boldly reminded others not to fall in love.
"I know, I will pay attention." Pamela Mountbatten couldn't help but smile and took Margaret around.
At this time, Alan Wilson quickly took out the small notebook he carried with him. This was a habit he had retained in British India. Although no serious person keeps a diary, this is not a diary, but a reminder to himself not to miss a good opportunity.
Although not everything has been fulfilled so far, it can be said to have been of great help. Being thoughtful does not come in vain.
The situation in the Middle East is still quite complicated. The Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Iraq belong to the same family, two brothers of the Hashemite family that was originally hostile to the Saudi royal family. The first king of the Kingdom of Iraq also served as the king of Syria, but was driven away by the French.
King Faisal I of Syria, who was driven out by the French, was later arranged by the British to become king of Iraq.
In fact, it is less than forty years since the Hashemite family decisively fought against Ibn Saud. It can be said that the Jordanian royal family and the Iraqi royal family should be relatively close. I don’t know what the Jordanian royal family thought when the Kingdom of Iraq fell.
The situation in the Middle East is often like this. It cannot be viewed only from the perspective of one country, because once something happens, it is often not one country involved.
For example, when Nasser called for Arab nationalism, Gaddafi in Libya and the Arab Baath Party in Syria and Iraq were deeply affected. The Arab Social Baath Party even seized power in Syria and Iraq respectively.
At least there is indeed some trend towards the unification of the Arab world. Of course, that is something that will happen later. For now, Alan Wilson still has to think about it carefully. He still owes the Prime Minister a detailed colonial analysis report.
Needless to say, the wedding of the Crown Prince of the British Empire had repercussions all over the world. For Alan Wilson, it did not have a big impact. His main job was to eagerly wait for his father-in-law, General Mountbatten, the Great British Dragon. Can the problem of the Nasser-class battleship be solved in the short time after returning to attend the crown prince's wedding?
From this point of view, he has higher trust in Portugal than in Britain. Salazar was a nationalist dictator. In a country like this, the consequences of losing cities and territory are unbearable.
Until Salazar died of illness, he did not recognize Portuguese Goa as part of Indian territory, even though India had sent troops to occupy Goa for almost twenty years.
A leader like Salazar who received aid from the Marshall Plan was likely to use it to upgrade armaments. This was not an issue at all for Salazar himself. On the contrary, the domestic situation
Far less predictable than the Portuguese side.
"I'm back!" As the whole family was there, Mountbatten pushed open the door and walked in with a sudden stride, directly attracting the attention of his wife, two daughters and son-in-law.
Alan Wilson almost jumped up, thinking about the Nelson-class battleship.
Before I could say anything, I heard Mountbatten say happily, "I went to the Admiralty, and they said that after I finish my work in India, I can return to the Mediterranean Fleet to continue working."
Mountbatten's determination to return to the navy never wavered. His ambition was simple - to inherit his father's legacy and eventually become First Sea Lord. To realize his ambition, he had only one way to go - to return to the Royal Navy.
"It would be a good thing if my father returned to the Mediterranean Fleet, but it seems that there are many of your subordinates in the Mediterranean Fleet." Patricia Mountbatten leaned on the shoulder of her husband John Brabourne, first expressing congratulations, and then Said, "Human relationships are not indifferent, right?"
"No, we have a very good relationship. We all have different opinions." Mountbatten understood what his daughter meant and gave an answer.
Mountbatten was under the Mediterranean Fleet. After he returned to the Mediterranean Fleet, he would definitely change his name and call him "Governor".
Mountbatten served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southeast Asian Theater, and is now the Governor-General of British India. The position arrangement is inappropriately low, and the few high-level positions are now full. He cannot be replaced as soon as he returns. Remove others? Besides, no one else was negligent in their duties or at fault.
Judging from the positions he held, Mountbatten could have directly become the Minister of Naval Affairs upon his return, but in terms of military rank, there were many people with higher ranks than him in the Royal Navy.
Returning to the Mediterranean Fleet would certainly only be a reinstatement, a position that was insignificant compared to when he served as supreme commander or governor of a major Allied theater.
The current Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, General Arthur John Ball, was the Commander-in-Chief of the East India Fleet under Mountbatten when he was the Supreme Commander in the Southeast Asian Theater; Douglas Pennant, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, also served under Mountbatten. .
"Last time I went to the Mediterranean Fleet, the commander-in-chief always called me sir, and I also called him sir. In fact, it didn't matter."
Mountbatten went directly to his wife's side, sat down and said quite relaxedly, "After I go back, I will finish the affairs of British India. I finally completed the cabinet's instructions. Since Ali Jinnah insisted on ignoring the possible future of East Pakistan, There is nothing I can do about the warning independence that will disintegrate."
"Well, Governor, about Portugal?" Alan Wilson asked in a roundabout way, if he was worried about the Nelson-class battleship.
"That matter, in principle, is not a problem. In fact, it is not difficult." General Mountbatten waved his hand casually and said, "This is not the first time we have sold warships. As long as there is no problem with Portugal, there will definitely be no problem with us. "
"On this matter, if the Portuguese government does not award the Governor a great medal, it will be a shame for your mediation." Alan Wilson let out a sigh of relief and finally settled the matter.
Then he turned on the rainbow fart mode with a look of longing, indicating that no one except Mountbatten himself could do this so neatly. Only Mountbatten in the entire British Empire could settle the matter so quickly.
Mountbatten was indifferent on the surface and said that although this was an objective fact, he would not show it off. He was doing things for the British Empire and could not take credit for himself.
Alan Wilson said that he had learned a lesson and must follow Mountbatten's example and work hard for the glory of the British Empire.
Are battleships useful? Depending on how you look at it, it is still useful to colonial empires.
Even decades later, battleships are still a very threatening weapon to most countries in the world.
The two battleships are in the hands of the Portuguese. Once Goa is threatened, they can bombard Bombay and replicate the brilliant results of the Dutch Navy in Jakarta. So why are they useless?
Bomb Mumbai into ruins. Even if Goa is lost, India will not be able to benefit.
"Actually, there is no reason for the Prime Minister to worry." While the women were cooking, Mountbatten called aside Alan Wilson, who looked at things objectively, talked about the details of the matter, and then asked, "What do you think? When is a deal likely to happen?”
"Portugal also has no money, but according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal is among the countries that the United States provides aid to Europe. After the meeting in Paris next month, it will probably be possible." Alan Wilson said truthfully, " The current job of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to get the largest share of U.S. aid to Europe."
"The domestic financial problem is still serious?" Mountbatten frowned and asked, "But when I came back this time, I felt that the atmosphere in London was much better than the last time I came back."
"If we can get assistance from the Americans, it shouldn't be a problem." Alan Wilson paused and said, "I'll ask Sir Edward."
It was absolutely right to ask Edward Bridges about this, because Edward Bridges, who had given up the Cabinet Secretary to Norman Brooke, was also the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and directly captured the Treasury.
"Oh, Alan." Edward Bridges was a little surprised by Alan Wilson's arrival, and immediately asked with a smile, "Why do you have time to come to the Ministry of Finance?"
"Sir Edward, I originally thought that the financial issue that was focused on by Prime Minister Attlee must be a mess. I didn't expect that you would manage it yourself." Alan Wilson greeted with a respectful smile, and waited until Edward Bridges He nodded before sitting down and said, "What a surprise."
"There is no surprise, because the Ministry of Finance is important." Edward Bridges said with an expression that you still don't understand, "Why do you want to be transferred to the Ministry of Finance? As long as you are willing, I can arrange it."
"That's it, Sir Edward. General Mountbatten asked about domestic financial issues. Of course I know it's inappropriate to reveal it, but he is Pamela's father." Alan Wilson said with some embarrassment.
"All domestic indicators have returned to pre-war standards. The current fiscal deficit is mainly due to the expenditure of the National Assistance Act. Prime Minister Attlee wants to announce the construction of a welfare state in the UK next year."
Edward Bridges said familiarly, "In a short period of time, the National Assistance Bill will become the source of financial pressure. However, judging from the current recovery speed, it is not a big problem. According to statistics from our Ministry of Finance, this year's domestic The growth rate is 6%, which is quite optimistic.”
Becoming a welfare state next year? It’s not even 1948 yet, Alan Wilson complained in his heart, but welfare has its own standards for each era, and it is not impossible to build a welfare state.
"What I tell you must be kept secret." Edward Bridges emphasized with a smile, "Especially to General Mountbatten, otherwise the Navy will ask for an increase in military spending, and the Prime Minister's scanty hair will fall out. .”