Chapter 1230 Kennedy’s Dissatisfaction

"When it comes to matters in the Middle East, we support the Arabs, which is different from the United States." Philby asked the supreme authority in front of him. Britain's policy in the Middle East is slightly different from that of the United States. The current fulcrum of the United States in the Middle East is Iran and Israel, the hidden fulcrum is Saudi Arabia.

"Of course, the consequences of supporting Israel are too serious. At this time, Britain's diplomatic work must be more pragmatic." Alan Wilson nodded, "Everyone can understand the situation in the Middle East. The Arabs can lose countless times and stand up countless times." Get up, it will be over if Israel loses. And to be honest, what Israel has done in the Middle East is just to do to the Arabs what the Germans did to the Jews."

The UK has never supported Israel. If there had not been the Suez Canal War in history, it would have kept its distance from Israel for a long time. It just so happens that there would be no Suez Canal War in this world...

Even decades later, Israel's advantage remains dangerous. Even though his American father has helped him to go through a series of Arab secular powers, including Egypt, Iraq, and Syria.

But there is still Iran left, and even the United States is exhausted and cannot do anything to Iran. And Iran is not the last problem. If Iran is also finished, there will still be Turkey in the Peace Church world.

Can’t the Turks oppose Israel? Iran or the Persians? Once Iran falls, Turkey will be the only powerful country left in the Peace Church world. The easiest way to win people's hearts is to raise a banner against Israel.

Israel's troubles are destined to be endless, and Britain cannot support it, let alone Britain's interests in the Arab world.

"Pragmatic diplomacy?" Philby almost laughed. The cabinet secretary's pragmatic diplomacy is to continue imperialism in another place? For example, in Indonesia?

"Pragmatic diplomacy. As pragmatic as the Soviets." Alan Wilson could hear the traitor mocking him, but he could also pretend not to hear it and let the other party think whatever they wanted. "It is a historical fact that Britain is a colonial empire. , so in the current world, the attitude is softer than that in the United States. It does not hurt to stand together in other places, but the Israeli issue is not a trivial matter."

Britain's natural resources are exceptionally gifted in Europe, but Europe is a barren continent with natural resources that are no different from India. Eastern Europe is rich in resources, and they are all under the control of the Soviet Union.

If you want to develop, you cannot rely on Europe itself. Colonization is almost a must for European colonial countries. No one can go hungry and shout about universal values, right?

But precisely in the process of colonization, Europe can be said to have offended countless nations. If the United States and the United States wear the same pants when it comes to the Middle East issue, what will the United Kingdom do if the United States sees the opportunity and leaves? Although Britain despises its defeated enemies in Europe, it cannot avoid the fact that it is geographically part of Europe.

"Same as the Soviet Union?" Philby raised his eyebrows and said sincerely, "I didn't expect that we would still stand with the Soviet Union. This world is really amazing."

"Who says it isn't?" Alan Wilson muttered without saltiness as he picked up the glass and drank the whiskey. "We can do better than the Soviets at the diplomatic level, not worse."

In Alan Wilson's view, this is not difficult at all. The Soviet Union and its predecessor, Imperial Russia, can be said to be the most diode countries in the world. Like the Russians, the contrast between the wild appearance and fragile heart is similar.

The entire country has always recognized that the military is the most important, but it has also made cultural construction very impressive.

In terms of diplomatic performance, it is extremely easy to be subjectively influenced. If it really encounters a country that comes to seek refuge, Moscow will be delighted with a few good words and directly provide tens of billions of subsidies.

And once the little brother disobeys, he raises a big stick and shouts to beat and kill, which reflects the father-in-law side.

As long as Britain does not decline to the point of being held hostage by the United States, it will not be difficult to deal with the Soviet Union's diode diplomacy. Think about how many benefits India received from the Soviet Union during the Cold War? Alan Wilson wished that the Soviet Union would benefit Britain.

The grand blueprint of the current government's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Reginald Medernion, was sent to Alan Wilson through Frank, and it is good in other aspects. The Conservative Party is not like the Labor Party, which wants to nationalize all industries.

Only at this point in the pound policy, Alan Wilson feels that it is open to question. Reginald Medening hopes to take advantage of the good financial situation to regain the glory of the pound.

Alan Wilson disagrees. The United States' gold reserves are two and a half times those of the United Kingdom. The same is true in terms of military strength. In every aspect, it is a completely strengthened version of Britain.

In this case, it is unrealistic to challenge the monetary hegemony of the United States. It is better to quietly wait for the de Gaulle government to get back the gold belonging to France from the United States, and then make a decision after waiting and watching.

At present, the pound's monetary policy is still limited to stabilizing its position in the pound area and not being exploited by the US dollar. Lay your own foundation and wait for the right time.

When discussing with Prime Minister Eden, Alan Wilson expressed a conservative attitude towards the pound issue, "It is too early to return to the past glory before the goblins in Zurich are surrendered. This risks breaking with the United States."

Eden nodded with deep understanding. As the Prime Minister, he had seen the time when the pound ruled the world. It was definitely not as simple as the de Gaulle government thought.

One ounce of gold equals thirty-five dollars. This exchange rate is guaranteed by the U.S. government.

In other words, any bank can hold U.S. dollars and exchange them for gold from the Federal Reserve (fixed exchange rate). As long as the short-term debt balance of the United States does not exceed 26.3 billion U.S. dollars and the U.S. dollars circulating around the world do not flow back in huge quantities, then the credibility of the U.S. dollar will be unbreakable.

These gold, totaling 750 million ounces, are held by the Federal Reserve (stored in the United States), Citigroup, ***, First Boston, and Americas. (Storage locations around the world, mainly Switzerland).

Therefore, the Zurich goblins mentioned by some British politicians do not refer to Switzerland at all. What can a mere Switzerland do to Britain? Rather, it refers to the United States that puts gold in Switzerland.

Although the French have strong financial strength, they have never occupied a large share in the international financial field. Before the Breston Woods system, it had always been a challenger to the pound. It is impossible to imagine how difficult it would be to shake this advantage.

For the franc to challenge the dollar, unless the entire Europe stands with the French, this is impossible. A dollar dominating the world may not be a good idea, but it would certainly be better than a franc dominating the world.

Last year, the settlement share of the pound fell to 38% in the world, and the circulation share of the US dollar has increased. At present, the liquidity of the pound should be stabilized, not other things.

On this day, something happened in Washington that made Kennedy very angry. Maxwell Taylor, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commended a commander in Vietnam and persuaded Secretary of Defense Robert McKenna Marat, together with him to appear before the U.S. Congress.

In front of both parties in Congress, Robert McNamara praised him, "To put it mildly, he is one of our best warriors."

"He graduated from a prestigious university and can speak the local language fluently. Lieutenant Turner's knowledge of Southeast Asia is no less than that of a research expert. But he is also an out-and-out warrior, a unique all-round warrior . This soldier can skillfully fly a helicopter, drive a tank, has superb skills, and can walk twenty-five miles with a heavy load."

General Maxwell Taylor had no reaction at first, but when he heard this, he frowned slightly and muttered, "People like these in Washington talk about military technology terms all day long, but they have never actually worn one. Military uniforms, and I have never smelled the stench of rotting corpses after a battle.”

But after all, the Secretary of Defense is also the spokesperson of the military. Maxwell Taylor could not expose the exaggeration of the other party and could only quietly make a glorious expression.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could only step forward, make a perfunctory opening statement, and then begin to read out the contents of the commendation order.

Most awards are classified and kept secret for years or even decades. Taylor knew full well that the entire award should not be kept secret, as the Pentagon had urged. They needed a hero to get Congress to pay attention to the situation in Vietnam, but the White House turned a deaf ear.

Regarding a jungle encounter, and the cunning of the North Vietnamese guerrillas were the focus of the commendation order. As for the soldiers who followed Turner, the sad death of Sergeant Kanfer was brushed aside, focusing mainly on the United States' efforts to defend the free world. sense of mission.

The commendation order has finally been read. The honoree trudged forward and stood beside the podium. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara also came over and turned to a neatly dressed Army officer holding a box with the lid open and the medals inside.

Amid the applause of members of Congress from both parties, this unique award will be remembered by everyone.

Kennedy actually knew that today in Congress, the Secretary of Defense would explain the United States' position in Vietnam. He did not expect that this would happen, and he was extremely angry about it, because it might lead to militant voices sweeping the political arena.

"It is enough to train the South Vietnamese army and add 16,000 troops to the garrison. What South Vietnam needs to do is to defend itself, not to sacrifice the lives of American soldiers in a place of little value."

With a solemn look on his face, Kennedy emphasized in front of Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, "The United States has never shied away from its responsibilities, but it will not fight for those Vietnamese. This is also not our purpose."

Robert McNamara responded, "I don't think the Pentagon has any special purpose. It just hopes that Congress can pay attention to the heroic soldiers who are dying and not be too harsh on them."