Chapter 1148 Convince Portugal
Arriving in Lisbon, the person who came forward to communicate with Alan Wilson was Caetano, Salazar's assistant.
Alan Wilson thought of this man, who seemed to be the Portuguese Prime Minister after Salazar, and greeted him in a friendly manner, "Mr. Caetano, as people say, is full of scholarly demeanor."
"I am also the president of the University of Lisbon now." Caetano replied happily, "Sir Wilson, welcome to Lisbon. We attach great importance to Britain and have always done so."
"The United Kingdom can also feel this importance. I have been in contact with Portugal for the past ten years. Mr. Caetano should know that I have really helped Portugal a lot." Alan Wilson did not mean to show his credit. But the fact is that he really helped Portugal a lot, from Goa and Macau to Timor Island and even Portuguese Africa.
Speaking of the relationship between Portugal and Britain, it’s a long story. Ever since Portugal followed Britain and joined the Habsburg camp in the War of Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, Portugal has become a vassal of Britain...
The Portuguese economy was controlled by the British, and many national industries were unable to compete with the British. They relied on cheap British industrial products. The economy relied heavily on the export of primary products such as wine, barrel cork, and sardines.
Salazar himself is also from the old times and has a certain understanding of the economy. He served as the Minister of Finance during the Great Depression. He strengthened the state's guidance and intervention in the economy, strengthened the state's control and management of key industries, banks, and railways, and strengthened the national industry. , protect agriculture, increase tariffs, strengthen the control of agricultural product prices, and ensure food supply.
External relations strengthen relations with Germany and Italy. However, Alan Wilson does not think that Salazar is not a person like Mussolini. This kind of ruler of the old era, conservativeness is his label, similar to the monarchs of my Qing Dynasty.
In fact, there are many leaders like the Qing Dynasty in Europe. There is a group of people in Eastern Europe who are obsessed with small-scale peasant economy. It turns out that the pro-German forces in Croatia are one representative, which is not so strange.
Salazar protected Portugal's feudal estates and emphasized cooperation. Wasn't this what Gandhi did before the independence of British India? Want to make independent India a large rural area.
It is hard to imagine that Lisbon is the capital of a European country. Whether it is the NATO countries in Western Europe or the Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe, at this time in 1962, there were few places as dilapidated as the capital of Portugal. This has lowered Europe's status in the world.
Seventy percent of the residences in Lisbon do not have electric lights, 80% of the people do not have access to tap water, and 50% of the people meet the definition of illiterate. The current per capita living standard in Portugal is on par with that of a large country in East Asia.
If Alan Wilson remembers correctly, the situation in Goa looks better, at least Portugal is really investing money,
Sold a lot of iron ore to Pakistan.
"We are also improving! The oil revenue from the Gulf of Guinea has been invested in construction." Facing the revolutionary issues that Alan Wilson was worried about, Caetano also explained.
"I hope so. If the confrontation with the Soviet Union was not Germany, but Portugal, we would be really worried." Alan Wilson breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Portugal has traditionally not restricted foreign investment.
He even wanted to discuss with his wife about using the privileges of foreign capital to carry out some external reforms in Portugal.
Salazar knew the purpose of the British coming, so he was not prepared to come forward in person and let Caetano receive Alan Wilson to clarify what the British wanted to do.
From this point, we know how conservative this old-era ruler was. Fortunately, Alan Wilson had done his homework. He was not unfamiliar with Portugal's overseas interests, and he was able to establish a certain sense of trust.
"I believe Mr. Salazar should know the purpose of the United Kingdom." Alan Wilson said without any nonsense, "Avoiding the question is not the best way. We want to know Portugal's thoughts."
"Goa has been in the hands of Portugal for four hundred years. At that time, there was no place called India." Caetano pondered for a while and said frankly, "This is unacceptable to Salazar."
"Actually, Portugal still doesn't trust the UK very much, right?" Alan Wilson sincerely probed, and Caetano nodded, indicating that there was a reason for this, and then continued, "It's no wonder, the UK's previous offshore balance, It certainly leaves that impression.”
"Sir Wilson, Portugal and the United Kingdom have a long-term alliance." Caetano was halfway through speaking. Alan Wilson reached out to dissuade him, "The British just wanted to make a gesture of negotiation. It doesn't matter whether it succeeds or not. The reason why We do this because we know Indians very well, you should believe this."
"Yeah!" Caetano opened his mouth and nodded solemnly, "Did you find something?"
"The NATO framework does not include colonies. You should be able to see this from France's appeals to the United States in the past two years. The NATO framework is limited to the mainland of European countries. Let's talk about the problem of Goa. Goa is alone. Overseas, thousands of miles away from mainland Portugal.”
"It is also different from the environment in Africa and Timor Island. In the above places, Britain and France can help. As for the Indian subcontinent, we have been unable to respond in time. The initiative lies in Nehru's hands. Our observations in the past two years, Extreme sentiment is on the rise in India and the local defense strength is small compared to the value of Goa."
"We can increase our troops!" Caetano blurted out, expressing his confidence to defend Goa.
"It is useless to increase troops, but we have discovered a very favorable trend. Of course, everything can be regarded as an illusion before it happens. Portugal must also keep it strictly confidential. No one can predict the future, right?"
"I'm willing to listen!" Caetano finally relaxed and pretended to sit upright.
"Then I hope that the news can be kept within a small area. From the end of last year to now, the Indian military has been implementing an adventurous policy called the Forward Policy, wishful thinking in the form of military advancement to push the military forces of neighboring countries. force to expel disputed areas."
Nehru issued an order to the troops stationed in Ladakh and the Northeast Border Zone: the garrison troops should do everything possible to advance forward and actively occupy the entire border. Wherever there is a gap in the border defense line, patrols will be carried out, or outposts will be established, and troops from neighboring countries on the border will be cleared by force.
Internationally, there is also an unwritten rule: the rule of recognition of actual occupation. Any place or territory that has been actually occupied by other countries or ethnic groups for a certain period of time can be recognized through a referendum.
Then, it will successfully establish its own sovereignty in this special region, because nine out of ten times its actual sovereignty will be recognized by international law!
The whole of India is convinced, filled with righteous indignation, never forgets, and chatters endlessly, urging the Nehru government to adopt tough policies.
"Sir Wilson, do you mean that a border war might be triggered?" Caetano asked with half doubt and half expectation.
"I didn't say that I would definitely do it, but I was an assistant commissioner to British India, so I know a lot about Indians. I also served as a high commissioner in Malaya, so I know a lot about Chinese people. In fact, there is no need to know them. It goes too deep, and the Korean War is visible to the whole world.”
Alan Wilson's tone cannot be said to be 100%, but it can be said to be stable. Through two different tenure experiences, it is suggested to Caetano that his judgment is absolutely correct.
"The most important thing is that even the United States dared to confront the country Nehru wanted to touch. There is no reason to be afraid of India. Isn't it?"
This was the first reason that impressed Caetano, but now Alan Wilson does not know this. A scholar-type official, his glasses alone can hide a lot of emotions.
"I am willing to truthfully convey Britain's views to Salazar. If Sir Wilson is not in a hurry, he can stay in Lisbon for two days." Caetano did not say yes or no, but his attitude was not like that just now. It started out so stiff.
"No problem, I'm happy to." Alan Wilson happily agreed, because Ingrid Bergman of Woodpecker Pictures has arrived in Portugal and wants to shoot here to see the original European feudal main manor scenery. That’s rare in Europe now.
In order to prove that his statement was justified, Alan Wilson used some information left by the British before leaving British India and handed the blueprint of the order issued by Nehru into the hands of Caetano.
Then he waited for news at the manor arranged for him in Portugal. Waiting was always painful. If Ms. Ingrid Bergman hadn't been there to accompany him during this time of suffering, he might not have been so calm.
"The manor here is very good. How about I buy one and keep it as a support for our daughter?" Ingrid Bergman asked the man's opinion.
"As long as it's okay with you." Alan Wilson said to himself, didn't you buy a palace in France? But when the words came to my mouth, I instinctively realized that Ingrid Bergman was the only one in my heart.
At the same time, the quiet Salazar sat silently in the simple office, holding the orders issued by Nehru to the army that Caetano brought in his hand, and asked Caetano, "What do you think?" How’s the credibility?”
"British policy is questionable, but for more than ten years, Sir Wilson has been a model for Portugal." At the critical moment, Alan Wilson's reliable history of being linked to the Six Nations helped him a lot and was brought up by Caetano.
"Huh?" Salazar hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded, "Let's arrange a time to meet."
It was rare for the conservative Salazar to be willing to meet. Caetano was a little surprised, and then replied, "I'll make arrangements right away."
The office fell silent again, but Caetano didn't make a fuss, as was Salazar's character. To provide you with the fastest update of British Civil Servants, Chapter 1,148 Convincing Portugal is free to read.