Chapter 1123 Checks and Balances in the Southern Mediterranean

The UK has an industrial base in its hands, and the Suez Canal remains open. If the volume is increased, the cost will not be higher than that of Italy, not to mention that Italy is closer to Libya.

If urbanization is not supported by relevant industries, it will directly lock the development ceiling of a country.

Take Malaya as an example. Urbanization started very early. If he had had a little bad intentions when he was the High Commissioner, Malaya would have followed the path of Brazil and Argentina.

The reason why it can continue to develop still depends on the subsequent industrial transfer of the United Kingdom. After all, it is a colony, and the United Kingdom can still deal with it. There is a slight mismatch in development steps, which is not a big problem.

It is not a big problem for Libya. The population of Libya is only 1.5 million. As long as the capital Tripoli and Benghazi are built into county-level cities. Most of the country's population has been accommodated, and urbanization has been completed.

Idris I was able to be persuaded mainly by the argument that centralized management would help avoid revolution and make it easier to control Libya's long-standing tribal politics.

"Mr. Wilson, there are recent rumors that Britain has issued threats to His Majesty the King..."

At the critical moment, the media people who had already been arranged officially started this round of double act performance.

Let’s bring the topic to the question of how His Majesty the King defends the interests of the Kingdom of Libya and is not afraid of power.

"A very pointed question!" Alan Wilson raised his eyebrows, and then said according to the script, "The United Kingdom did not threaten Libya, it was my personal behavior. Even now, I do not believe that Libya can complete urbanization and transform into a North African country. Switzerland, although Libya is rich in oil resources and has a small population, it looks somewhat similar to Switzerland."

"But the weakness of the Kingdom of Libya is also very obvious. Libya definitely has no chance of becoming a powerful country. The population base of 1.5 million is probably equivalent to the number of French troops in Algeria. The concept of large-scale armed defense definitely has no chance of becoming a strong country. And similar The British route of elite troops? In fact, it is also very difficult for Libya."

Alan Wilson launched into his own tirade, reducing Libya to its worth a penny. All the reporters at the venue found this sound very harsh, even the British reporters.

Before this kind of speech full of imperialist arrogance aroused people to the extreme, the long speech that first suppressed and then advanced finally came to an end, "However, His Majesty Idris I finally convinced me that stubbornly insisting on unequal distribution will not help. In order to ease the situation, the UK is willing to give Libya a chance and we will provide some help. We hope that Libya can follow the path of Switzerland and realize its theoretical talents."

"His Majesty the King firmly explained to me,

He will definitely take back Libya's share of oil and use it to build Libya. The attitude was very tough. I asked back at the time, were we not afraid of British troops landing? "

"The king's answer is that he is afraid, but the king's responsibility requires him to do this. Thank your king."

Alan Wilson looked solemn, as if he was really impressed by the toughness of Idris I. In fact, this was not the case at all. For most of the conversation, the two just talked about the distribution of oil interests.

On the issue of profit distribution, Alan Wilson recommended Malta as an escape route for the Libyan royal family. Once the consequences of the revolution occur, the Libyan royal family can quickly evacuate and wait for British intervention.

In fact, this is the thought of many monarchs. He remembered that in history, when the Kingdom of Egypt and the Kingdom of Iraq were overthrown, the royal families of both countries once counted on the British army to protect them, but in the end they failed to do so.

Now, he has assured the king of the Kingdom of Libya that Britain will try its best to preserve the existence of the Libyan royal family.

After he finished speaking, King Idris I said, "Actually, as Sir Wilson said, I know that the Kingdom of Libya only has a population of more than one million, which is not as good as a city in the United Kingdom. Libya is a peaceful country, I have no ambition to establish my own order. My wish is to get the oil back and provide Libyans with a guarantee of living in a modern society."

"Libya will definitely become a peaceful country. The oil benefits recovered will be invested in construction and education. Libya will coexist peacefully with other countries..."

Only God knows how difficult it was for Idris I to be proficient in Professor Alan Wilson's words. He has been in office for forty-five years and is now an eighty-year-old man.

However, from the appearance, Idris I is indeed a person with a very deceptive appearance, like a highly respected imam. In fact, he is indeed the imam of the Senussi Order.

Witnessed by the media of both countries, King Idris I promised to use the oil profits to set up an oil fund to promote the development and education of Libya. He looked like a kind-hearted elder, and his black-rimmed glasses only enhanced his speech. credibility.

Just as the two were acting in front of the media, they were in the same city and put on their European attire again. Otherwise, wearing a black Arab robe might make the photography team from Paris misunderstand what was going on with their boss.

"I want you to come to Libya to shoot a documentary." Hedy Lamarr put her legs together, looking like a lady, and told the arriving producer, "It is to shoot a personal documentary about the King of Libya."

For Alan Wilson, it is routine to be a villain and then publish a documentary to praise the spokesperson of the slave country's imperialism. He has previously praised Nigeria's Benjamin Nnamdi Azikwe, the king of the Kingdom of Egypt. Farouk I.

This time it was just a matter of habit, taking the protagonist as Idris I, and in terms of appearance, Idris I is indeed very photogenic, which is very deceptive.

On the evening of this day, on the streets of Tripoli, people in the capital celebrated the resumption of their oil share, holding the flag of the Kingdom of Libya, holding high the portrait of Idris I, and shouting long live the king...

Alan Wilson was watching the scene from his room at the Windsor Castle Hotel, his arm resting on the window sill.

"You British are the villain!" Hedy Lamarr's voice came from behind, and then she hugged the man's back from behind, her face full of comfort.

"So what, if you have to make your opponent a hero, it's better to find a controllable one." Alan Wilson said nonchalantly, "It depends on how you do it as a hero. Anyway, I got everything I wanted."

The development of any place cannot be separated from the factor of security. Malta, which is located between the Italian peninsula and Libya, will definitely have no problems in the north, but if Libya is in chaos, it will also affect Malta's security attributes.

If Malta is retained as a military base alone, Britain will inevitably continue to invest in it. This is not Alan Wilson's purpose. He hopes that Malta can in turn supply blood to the United Kingdom. Even if this is not possible, he must strive for self-sufficiency.

Under the premise that France has suppressed Algeria, Malta has a promising future. I believe that neighboring Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia will also be happy to be close to the United Kingdom to balance the oppression caused by France's annexation of Algeria.

Not only is Algeria a French colony, but Morocco and Tunisia are also colonies. France can suppress Algeria’s resistance today, but who dares to say that it will not come back tomorrow?

"History is written by people like you." Hedy Lamarr looked at Alan Wilson with tender eyes.

Some things require talent, such as Hedy Lamarr's face. Who can resist being looked at by such a person?

"Why don't you age?" Alan Wilson reached out and caressed Hedy Lamarr's cheek and couldn't help but sigh.

"I'm also old, but a little slower than others." Hedy Lamarr complained about herself, "Seeing Taylor is like seeing myself a few years ago."

"If I remember correctly, Ms. Elizabeth Taylor is not yet thirty years old this year." Alan Wilson suspected that Hedy Lamarr was bragging, but there was no evidence.

Before arriving in Malta, Alan Wilson had an aura. To the local British army, he was the son-in-law of Field Marshal Mountbatten. To the locals in Malta, his resume as the administrator of Newfoundland was even more eye-catching. .

"Lowering the registration threshold and building an offshore financial center are, of course, not enough. I want to talk to the Italian government about mutual visa exemption between the two places. Malta's development cannot be separated from Italy's friendly treatment. In fact, Malta should The UK will fully promote visa-free travel for all European countries at the next EC meeting."

"My current goal is to first obtain the friendly policies of the Italian government. "

Alan Wilson spent two days in Malta, and what he was most concerned about was the current unemployment rate in Malta. The unemployment rate is acceptable, but Malta is not Newfoundland. With an area of ​​more than 300 square kilometers, it is indeed a bit barren.

However, the British ambassadors to Morocco and Tunisia received good news one after another. The two countries accepted France's tough suppression of Algeria on the surface, but were dissatisfied in their hearts. It is also worried that France will use this to interfere in the internal affairs of the two countries in the future.

Tunisia, in particular, deeply feels the threat from France, and its expectations for Britain have reached a higher level.

“I remember the demarcation of the border between Tunisia and Algeria, which was the source of conflict between the two countries decades later.”

Alan Wilson suddenly remembered that the protagonists of the 21st century arms race in North Africa were Algeria and Tunisia. Alan Wilson immediately called back and asked the ambassador in Tunisia whether military cooperation could be reached.

When he completed his visit to Italy and tested Italy's views on the situation in the Southern Mediterranean, the British warship in Malta had already set off for this friendly visit to Tunisia.