Chapter 1080 Protecting the Foreign Minister

Alan Wilson, who came back to report the latest developments, happened to encounter a scene where public opinion exploded.

Aiden's encounter with a quack led to drug dependence. This was a historical fact. Alan Wilson knew it, but he didn't know whether his presence would affect Aiden's condition. Obviously it did not, because Aiden met that quack again.

"It is impossible for ordinary people to know this. And the timing is too coincidental." After letting Hepburn take away the antiques given to him by Iraq, Alan Wilson got off the plane and went straight to Whitehall. The current government is scrambling to figure out how to get through the sudden scandal.

Before he showed up, Norman Brooke had launched a leak investigation to find out who leaked the Prime Minister's personal privacy. This was also Eden's first reaction.

"What domestic citizens are now concerned about is whether this matter is true or false." Alan Wilson, who had traveled a lot, had already made a judgment in the taxi arriving at Whitehall. Considering that the number two figure of the Conservative Party is McMahon, Lun, the Prime Minister still needs to be rescued.

"If it is well-founded and there is nothing shameful, there is actually no problem in telling the truth. If you use lies to cover it up, the opposition parties will also hold on to it, and now citizens know that there is no point in lying. .”

In front of a crowd of colleagues at No. 70 Whitehall, Alan Wilson gets to the heart of the crisis.

How to survive a crisis, the chances of covering it up with lies are slim, it's best to be honest. Of course, Aiden needs to make his own judgment.

"I'm going to talk to the Prime Minister." Norman Brooke picked up the microphone and said, "Talk to No. 10 Downing Street. Is the Prime Minister here? I want to talk to the Prime Minister face to face about the leak investigation."

Only those closest to him knew that Aiden was addicted to drugs due to the surgery. The scope of suspicion was not wide. It was either Aiden's family members or high-ranking members of the Conservative Party. It couldn't have been the doctor himself who had leaked the news, right?

Alan Wilson had just taken up the post of Secretary-General of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and this matter was his responsibility. He first informed the Prime Minister of his suspicions through Norman Brooke, and then he went directly to the MI5 spokesperson and the Cambridge Five. Philby, the central character, is discussing a leak investigation.

He believed that Philby was quite credible as long as the Soviet Union was not involved, and the two had a pretty good personal relationship.

Alan Wilson is nominally Philby's boss. Philby was born into a noble family, but in this era, nobles cannot decide everything, but what if nobility and wealth become one? Equal to Pamela Mountbatten…

According to historical time, Philby has already begun to be suspected. How can he be as carefree as he is now?

And became the head of British counterintelligence?

"This matter is so important that it made you run back from Basra?" Philby was a little surprised by the arrival of Alan Wilson.

"Coincidentally, I was about to return to China to report on the progress of the negotiations. This happened." Alan Wilson shrugged, then talked about the leak investigation and speculated on the scope of the leak.

"It should be a leak within the Conservative Party. However, at this sensitive moment, we cannot rule out the possibility that the United States will embarrass the Prime Minister after knowing it." Philby agreed with Alan Wilson's reasonable doubts, and added, "Of course we do not want to doubt Anyone, but it’s definitely possible.”

You look like a Soviet spy! Alan Wilson sneered in his heart, but at this moment, people with Philby's status were needed to push things forward.

Alan Wilson actually had a suspicion, but he couldn't say it directly. The person he suspected was Foreign Secretary Macmillan. Because Macmillan had an American background and was a senior member of the Conservative Party, he was likely to know that Eden was addicted to drugs.

When the two discussed launching a leak investigation, Norman Brooke from No. 10 Downing Street had already arrived at the Prime Minister's residence to discuss with Eden how to deal with this government crisis. Eden himself also suspected that the top management of the Conservative Party had leaked the news, but it was just that Don't know who it is yet.

"Dear Prime Minister, if there is a problem with the operation, my advice is to admit this reality, because it is not your fault and you are also a victim."

Norman Brooke was relieved when he heard Aiden explain the whole story clearly, "Using lies to cover up another lie won't last long, not to mention that the Labor Party has been following up on this matter. I want to bring the matter to this point. Until then, it’s best to express your attitude immediately.”

"An honest and credible response and questioning from public opinion are the best way. For the rest, we can help communicate with the media and reduce the heat of public opinion first."

"The key is that I still don't know who leaked the secret!" Aiden was very angry. Someone wanted to drive him away from the position of prime minister. This was not a small problem. He now doubted almost everyone.

This is also very normal. On such a big issue of right and wrong, you actually tell the truth? What is the intention?

"There will be a result." Norman Brooke made a solemn guarantee. As the Cabinet Secretary, he would definitely stand by the Prime Minister's side, and he would stand by whoever is the Prime Minister.

"It can't be limited to the country, there are Americans here." It wasn't too long ago, and he could recall that he had just rejected the Americans' suggestion.

"We can't rule out this possibility. As far as Kennedy is concerned, we can certainly find ways to engage in a war of words." Norman Brook pondered for a moment and pointed out that there were already a lot of tidbits about Kennedy, and it was very easy to find material.

Of course, this requires the cooperation of the media. Britain is not timid at all in its counterattack against the United States in the media.

Having said that, except for the option of war and the unwillingness to fall out over economic issues, the UK does not seem to be afraid of the remaining areas.

The reason why the economic field is unwilling to have a falling out is mainly because it does not want the British economy to be affected, which may cause a backlash from voters.

The most important thing now is that Aiden first appeases voters’ doubts. Is he drug dependent? It's not really a big deal.

There is no word addiction in English, instead the neutral word drug dependence is used. Although most people know that drug dependence is not a good thing, it is possible to make a comeback.

In fact, among the languages ​​of various countries, the United Kingdom takes the lead in drug dependence, and similar words are similar, except for China.

Another name for International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The word "drug addiction" was first coined in China. It appeared around the time of the Opium War. Qing Dynasty officials regarded opium as a poison and appeared in a memorial to Emperor Daoguang. It later affected China's name for opium.

With this background, although Aiden is indeed addicted to drugs, it is not an unforgivable crime in the environment of most countries. After all, he met a quack doctor and became addicted to drugs during the treatment process. excusable.

After two days of heated public opinion, and after repeated consideration, Eden decided to follow Whitehall's advice and face the matter with an honest attitude. After all, Eden still has high support among Conservative voters. Face the problem head-on and do it. With an explanation, it won't be a problem to pass the test.

In two days, MI5 had found the doctor who had performed the surgery on Eden and was waiting for the outcome of the inquiry in the House of Commons. Eden admitted the authenticity of the report in the House of Commons, "I do have drug dependence. During an operation eight years ago, due to a medical error, the doctor used an overdose of anesthetic to relieve my pain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire House of Commons fell into a commotion. However, the British House of Commons has its own rules. The questioners still asked questions one after another in accordance with the tradition of the House of Commons. It was chaotic but orderly.

Unlike most so-called democracies, which sometimes stage full-scale military violence, this is absolutely prohibited by the British House of Commons.

Eden answered all the questions raised by Labor Party leader Gaitske and Shadow Chancellor Wilson. The entire questioning lasted for two hours, and they all revolved around Eden's personal questions. Eden, who was determined to be honest, did not shy away from it, " I could even give the doctor’s name, but I don’t recommend that because it could have consequences for the rest of that doctor’s career.”

Although he gritted his teeth against that quack, he was questioned in the House of Commons as the British Prime Minister. Eden had to pretend to be generous to win praise from the public opinion and treat this incident as a matter of stabilizing his approval rating.

Finally, the questioning ended, and Eden left the House of Commons as if he had been granted amnesty. He was about to return to the Prime Minister's residence and turn on the TV. As long as the clips on the TV showed him, he would know whether public opinion supported him.

"Reports on Kennedy focused on the relationship between men and women, such as his chaotic relationship with a woman. I heard that Kennedy was a quick shooter and it was his duty to dig out the truth."

Alan Wilson, who is presiding over the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is arranging counterattack missions without any personal bias.

"Isn't it a bit underhanded?" Dixon said with a wry smile. "The diplomatic counterattack focuses on the president and the relationship between men and women."

"This is the mildest counterattack. Do we want to counterattack the national policy of the United States?" Alan Wilson spread his hands, "This will destroy the special relationship between Britain and the United States. Even if we are dissatisfied with the United States, we must distinguish between The target, such as Japan, is very suitable for venting anger."

With a look of compassion on his face, Alan Wilson said with great restraint, "This is an internal conflict, not a conflict between ourselves and the enemy."

In the following two days, the doubts about Aiden gradually disappeared due to Alan Wilson's efforts to express one by one that you are not bowing to the government. There are more tidbits about US President Kennedy.

As for the identity of the quack, it has not been announced because of the prime minister's leading role in protecting citizens' privacy. But MI5 has confirmed the doctor's existence, proving that Aiden's statement is fact.

This is just the surface. The most critical question, and the one that the Prime Minister is most concerned about, is who leaked the secret? MI5 began to investigate suspicious candidates one by one.

"It definitely can't be Macmillan. He is the Foreign Secretary and the number two figure in the Conservative Party. And he is my minister. If something happens, it will affect the work of the Foreign Ministry."

Alan Wilson sternly supported his ministers and sternly warned that MI5's leak investigation could not be traced to the Foreign Secretary, but other ministers could be investigated.