Chapter 1060 The Settlement Share of British Pounds

In the city of Basra, the flags of the Six Nations have been prepared at the venue. However, when he saw the Indian flag flying high, Alan Wilson still found it difficult to calm down. A strange thing was mixed in, but he believed that history would be corrected.

The High Commissioner for the Persian Gulf and the High Commissioner for Malaya also came to Basra, corresponding to the Middle East and Far East Joint Operations Command, responsible for British interests east of the Suez Canal.

The main reason is that Alan Wilson is bored. Although Vivien Leigh also came to provide logistics support, he can't just sit on the Rockets and do nothing.

Other countries have not yet arrived. John and Richard, accompanying Alan Wilson around, mentioned their current work difficulties by the way, "I heard that German capital has entered Iran, called Hellman Oil Company. It is said that it is The two sisters control a very powerful organization in the Federal Republic of Germany."

"I know these two women, the white gloves of the British-occupied area." Alan Wilson did not deliberately hide anything. Pretending not to know each other seemed to be a guilty conscience. "Yesterday's friends have become today's opponents. The world is so wonderful. "

Richard shook his head and said, "Not to mention that Germany is not weak in the first place. Even the colonial elites will not be so obedient for a long time. As the Chinese businessmen in Malaya begin to contact neighboring Southeast Asian countries, I am a little worried. I heard There is a voice that the Chinese think highly of themselves and think they are better than the natives of Southeast Asia."

"In the entire British colonies in Africa, Indian businessmen are wealthier than the locals. It seems that Indians are as good as Chinese?" Alan Wilson said with a cold smile, "Don't say it, Indians really think so. I hope India We can think so in a few years, and then Africa’s strategy will be easier.”

"The main purpose of Southeast Asian colonies is generally to introduce Chinese to balance the locals. Just like the African colonies introduce Indians to balance the black Africans." John said in a strange tone, "It's all based on their own abilities? Without us tilting our policies, can they stand still?"

"It's not a big deal!" Alan Wilson stopped the discussion on this issue. "It's not that important. The key depends on who has the gun. Not only does Malaya have guns, but it also has forty red beard nuclear warheads. , Australia also has Vulcan strategic bombers, let’s talk openly and honestly, I believe no one is willing to risk their heads and cause trouble.”

Alan Wilson looked relaxed and did not take the two people's worries as a big deal. Instead, he said, "If India's attitude makes us dissatisfied, I can now be a prophet and ethnic cleansing may occur in Mauritius."

Richard and John raised their eyebrows at the same time, and then nodded understandingly. The main ethnic group in Mauritius is Indian.

John still raised his doubts, "The second largest group is French-speaking. Will the French take advantage?"

“That’s why I waited until today and didn’t attack Mauritius.

If only France had not made French Africa independent now. I will not use strong methods to force India to make a choice. Alan Wilson flicked his turban, "If Nehru doesn't stand on the same front as us, we can only send back all the Indians in the colonies. He chose it himself." "

This kind of thing is not difficult for the UK. It just depends on whether anyone has done it for a reason. If the Indians in Mauritius are repatriated, will the balance on the island be unbalanced? Was this a problem for the colonists? He can also recruit Chinese to fill the role of Indians. The most indispensable thing in the world is people.

"I had a good talk with them. In fact, there are only a few who complained. Most of the Justices of the Peace have a good relationship with us." Richard nodded and said, "Some friends always ask about the situation in the UK."

"Distance brings beauty. After the gap between Malaya and its surroundings has widened, I wonder what the British mainland is like." Alan Wilson said with a wry smile, "The nominal per capita income in the UK is six times that of Malaya. Plus With the exchange rate between the British pound and the Asian pound, the subjects of Malaya don’t think that the citizens of the British mainland are thirty times better off than they are?”

Is Paris Syndrome about to happen in Malaya? Alan Wilson couldn't help but shake his head. Statistics can't determine everything. The Asian pound used in Malaya was undervalued in terms of exchange rate.

In the 21st century, the average monthly income of Americans is US$3,000, while the vast majority of people in China earn RMB3,000. Is it possible that the living standard of Americans is six times that of China? This is of course impossible. This is all based on the premise that the United States is an agricultural empire and the prices of many basic agricultural products are low.

If we switch to Japan and South Korea, this comparison will shrink a bit, and the statistical data and the real level cannot be the same.

Now the living standard of British citizens cannot be thirty times that of Japan, because the exchange rate of the Japanese yen is also undervalued, and the British pound has a strong monetary policy, which is stronger than any currency in the world.

"Spread the news among the residents of Malaya through the grapevine. Let's just say that the exchange rate of the Asian pound is undervalued and is used to promote export trade. Compared with the local income in Malaya, there is not such a disparity with the British mainland. Malay Asia’s competitor is Japan, not Britain.”

"The Permanent Secretary said that we need Malayan industrial products to stabilize the pound area." Richard asked with curiosity, "I don't know how much we have left with the current trade settlement."

Alan Wilson hesitated and whispered, "Thirty-eight percent of the global settlement share. Specific to some countries, 95% of Australia's foreign exchange reserves are pounds sterling, and 80% of New Zealand's foreign exchange reserves."

At present, it seems that the work of stabilizing the pound area is very effective, which is actually inseparable from Britain's post-war efforts to get out of the quagmire of war.

So far, many independent British colonies still use pounds as foreign exchange reserves. Of course, the influence of inertia must also be considered. When the British economy is in good shape, other countries do not need to sell pounds and exchange them for dollars.

But the real test has just begun. Alan Wilson remembers that in the 1960s, the pound went from being a strong currency clinging to the US dollar's settlement share to falling to one-fifth of the global settlement share in less than ten years.

Subsequently, its position in Europe was replaced by the Mark. The Mark can be understood as the later Euro, which was endorsed by German industrial power as a credit.

The most important thing is that the pound must not depreciate one after another. France can continue to depreciate. Anyway, the countries in French Africa that have currencies pegged to the franc are within the range of the French.

The scope of the pound is much wider than that of France, and the UK cannot force other countries to pay for the devaluation of the pound over and over again. Otherwise, how could Harold Wilson's Zurich Goblins be spread by word of mouth among British citizens? If there is any exchange rate fluctuation, the pound area will not be stable.

"It seems that the stability of Malaya is extremely important." Richard's face was solemn. "It is related to the value of the pound."

"Isn't it very important to connect Oceania, where Australia is located, and the East Asian market corresponding to Hong Kong, with Malaya in the middle?" Alan Wilson said in a long tone, "So transfer some industries to ensure Malaya's economic development. We still take advantage.”

"In two months, the automobile production line will be set up." Richard heard the implication and promised, "At that time, I will inform the Executive Secretary of the news of the start of construction via telegram."

"As long as the United States and the Soviet Union don't go to war with Britain, they can't do anything to Britain." Alan Wilson said with a lazy smile, "As long as there is no war, we will accompany the two countries and slowly grind it out. Anyway, our industrial layout has been completed Well, it’s not that easy for us to eat it.”

War is terrible. France went from fighting Germany, the world's largest army power, in World War I, to having its throat cut by the Third Reich, whose national power was inferior to the Second Reich, in World War II. It only took more than 20 years, but because of the casualties in World War I, It was so tragic that French society was generally war-weary.

It is too common for the outcome of a war to change the fate of a country, so it is best not to fight.

For example, in this time's six-party talks, the UK is prepared to use all means other than war, but is not prepared to attack Iran.

At the Mountbatten Building in Basra, Alan Wilson gave a gift to the Iraqi royal family on behalf of his wife who was not present. He thanked the Kingdom of Iraq for its help in providing a meeting venue this time. He also signed an arms sales contract to sell an aircraft carrier of the Kingdom of Iraq for one pound. , but there is a modification fee. As for the short coastline of Iraq? This is not a problem, it can all be overcome.

"On behalf of His Majesty the King, I would like to thank Sir Wilson for the gift." Princess Badia was very happy and reached out to put on the ten-carat diamond ring given to her. "Is Pamela so busy? Why don't you come together?"

"She has some business to discuss!" Alan Wilson smiled and nodded, looking at the diamond ring on Princess Badia's finger.

The business that Pamela Mountbatten is planning recently is to have a good discussion with the South African De Beers Company in South Africa.

Can we use diamonds from the British Gold Coast, which is not yet independent, to form a cartel alliance with De Beers, whose main production area is in South Africa?

The diamond output of the British Gold Coast is naturally not as rare as that of South Africa, but diamonds are not as rare as they appear on the surface. The diamond output of the Gold Coast is enough to make diamonds no longer of such high value.

The diamonds produced in the UK are not only produced in the Gold Coast, but also in the African Great Lakes region. British Botswana also produces diamonds, and De Beers itself is a British brand. It is normal that Ms. Pamela Mountbatten, the upstart empire, also wants a piece of the pie.

In the following days, delegations from various countries arrived in Basra one after another. The six-party talks prepared by Alan Wilson finally began. On the first day of the formal meeting, various countries began to talk to each other, each explaining their own response to the Iranian oil crisis. view, just like the United Nations, each has different interests and becomes increasingly fragmented.

Apart from India, the only country that truly feels that it is important is Iraq, where Basra is located. The Iraqis are very concerned about this international conference and consider it a symbol of Iraq's status.

The Kingdom of Iraq's internal propaganda is that Iraq joins the talks by taking advantage of the location of the host country and does not need to care whether it is a participant in the name of a country.