Chapter 1319 250 Million Budget

Mediating the war between India and Pakistan was former Prime Minister Eden's trump card to ensure victory in early elections. Of course, the current results have proved that early elections are indeed a risky thing, and it is best not to do it.

But it cannot be denied that Britain has indeed contributed to the security situation in South Asia. The Conservative Party's defeat came from Zipperton's classic saying, "Idiot, the problem is the economy."

There is one thing that can be used to make a fuss about the drought in eastern India. Oil can not only be used to refuel cars, but is also an important raw material for fertilizers.

In fact, the Soviet Union's aid to foreign fertilizer companies was generally in the fertilizer industry that used petroleum as raw materials, such as North Korea.

The reason why North Korea experienced agricultural regression after the disintegration of the Soviet Union was related to the loss of oil sources for North Korea's petrochemical industry, which caused agricultural regression and entered a march of suffering. The oil embargo caused by the India-Pakistan war greatly harmed India's industry and agriculture.

As a coincidence, drought has occurred in the middle and lower reaches of the Ganges River in India since last year.

The weather in countries with a monsoon climate is unstable, and droughts caused by the monsoon coming early or late are considered force majeure natural disasters. Who knows that the climate in India is not hot and rainy at the same time?

Had he known that India would experience drought in the past two years, Alan Wilson might have regretted not coming up with such a harmful suggestion as an oil embargo.

At the Stockholm Conference, Indian Prime Minister Shastri mentioned India's difficulties facing the oil embargo. Alan Wilson, the best friend of the Indian people, cannot forget this matter just because the government has changed. Arriving at No. 10 Downing Street , Brest led his immediate boss into the Prime Minister's Office, and Alan Wilson asked with a dull face, "Brest, does the Prime Minister approve of your decision?"

"It seems to be fine so far." Brest was a little confused. "Secretary-General, I am a reliable civil servant."

"The British Water Company is in preparation, and the deputy secretary-general is temporarily leading this work. Of course, the deputy secretary-general's concern about water affairs is only temporary. In the long run, the water company will still need someone to take charge. The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs is already close to retirement age. I mean, having a former permanent secretary sitting in charge of the water company represents Whitehall's determination to nationalize the water system. If you don't mind, the Home Office does need a reliable person to run the business."

Alan Wilson explained his views as he walked, and Brest beamed with joy. What does he mean by supreme authority? It was he who had this opportunity to become the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. "Thank you very much, Sir..."

"Don't be too happy yet. The nationalization of the water supply system will take a year anyway, involving thousands of institutions, and there are still many things to do." Alan Wilson shook his head slightly and said, "You first do the best job at hand, and the Prime Minister If the principal private secretary is promoted to deputy secretary, then that won't be a problem."

As soon as he finished speaking, Alan Wilson was already standing at the door of the Prime Minister's Office. Brest opened the door with his hands and watched the supreme authority walk in with reverential eyes.

Harold Wilson had just sat on the throne of Prime Minister and was still in a state of high motivation. He believed that the Water Resources Act would be enacted soon. In his spare time, he listened to the words of the Cabinet Secretary, "Aid to India? India appeared last year. Drought? It doesn’t mean there will be a drought this year, right?”

"We need to include the superimposed impact of the oil embargo." Alan Wilson explained that oil is a raw material for fertilizers, and then said, "India's climate instability mainly has the following aspects."

It is a cliché to talk about the different periods of rain and heat. There is a problem with heat in India. Why Indians like to use curry and spicy seasonings is also related to the climate.

If a meal cannot be finished in a short time, the best way to preserve it is of course the refrigerator. Obviously, every household in India cannot have a refrigerator. Oil can also be used as a normal preservation method. A dish requires a lot of oil, such as braised in soy sauce. Meat can be kept longer in summer, which is obviously not possible in India.

Many Indian dishes look like a lake of pulp, so you can only use spicy seasonings to keep the food from spoiling.

Curry is so popular in India for a reason.

India's food production is threatened by climate instability, oil cannot be used, and individuals cannot store food for a long time. These are all objective difficulties. What's more, according to the Indian ambassador's telegram, a plague broke out in India this year. All in all, India is indeed in difficulty this year. .

"I wonder how Eden decided to respond at that time, use the food reserves?" Harold Wilson became interested and asked whether he would use the food reserves to aid India.

The British grain reserve system was a cover-up trick used by the British under the Soviet Union's desire to use gold to buy grain. However, it has to be said that the British did establish a grain reserve system and had a grain reserve system that could last for 180 days. , of course the White House strongly supports it, because it can arrange civil service positions. The intensity of support is the same as support for the nationalization of the water supply system this time.

"I have this idea, but the taste of British food conflicts with the people of the subcontinent. What we need is wheat, and Indians mainly eat rice." Alan Wilson emphasized this, "The Malayan colony was also in conflict with the local people at that time. We have also established a grain reserve system, which is very close to the taste of India."

"You were already the Secretary-General of the Cabinet at that time, right?" Harold Wilson asked with a smile, "Whitehall is really interested in the Malayan colony."

Of course, it's all about creating jobs, but the Prime Minister doesn't need to know about such trivial matters. Alan Wilson said, "We can allocate Malaya's grain reserves to help India. Of course, this is not a unilateral aid. India is a As a big country, we must take care of the dignity of Indians.”

The Indians must not be allowed to take advantage. In Alan Wilson's case, it became the dignity of the Indians. Harold Wilson actually recognized this statement. He was the foreign minister in this time and space, and he also knew that from a diplomatic perspective, Ai Len Wilson is right.

"This is also to compete with the Soviet Union for influence. When there is war in Southeast Asia, India still needs to appease the British interests. Otherwise, it will only harm British interests."

Alan Wilson explained another important reason for doing so and brought the topic to the Vietnam War. "In addition to the military's combat effectiveness being the backbone of Britain's global interests, we cannot ignore the use of traditional influence."

"The military plays an important role in safeguarding Britain's global interests. We have never denied it. Britain's border is in the Himalayas." Harold Wilson's answer gave reassurance to the cabinet secretary in front of him.

Alan Wilson breathed a sigh of relief. Britain's border is in the Himalayas. This was Harold Wilson's campaign slogan this time. Alan Wilson did not expect the Prime Minister to keep his word. But don't just withdraw the 100,000 British troops overseas. Retreating is easy, but if you go back, you will never have a chance.

"I hope the United States can solve Vietnam immediately and then bring things back to Europe." Harold Wilson asked, "Do you think the war can end within two years?"

"We are cautiously optimistic. We are also happy that the export of our Tiger armed helicopters reflects the role of the special relationship between Britain and the United States." Alan Wilson smiled. This is the first battle where the military-industrial complex is showing its fangs. How could this happen? It ends so easily?

The Soviet bloc didn't want it to end so soon. The Soviet Union would pay one dollar, and the United States would have to take twenty dollars to balance it. Wouldn't the Soviets count this deal?

If the United States were in the position of the Soviet Union, it would do this even more. It would spend tens of billions without batting an eyelid, but it would be interesting to win over ASEAN. The landlords have no food left, so they can spend it all Just order 500 million US dollars to kill the beggars.

After all, giving to Ukraine will satisfy military industrial companies, but giving to ASEAN will never come back.

We have to admit that the US military-industrial complex in later generations is even greedier than during the Vietnam War. In less than three months, how much additional aid has been spent? It is just a joke to say that a certain major country is an unprecedented competitor. The only opponent that really deserves the attention of the military-industrial complex is Russia.

Walking out of the Prime Minister's Office, Alan Wilson was very happy. He chatted for a long time. He at least knew that the Prime Minister was not ready to disarmament, and expressed his appreciation for the export of Tiger helicopter gunships.

Although it is trivial to say that the British border is in the Himalayas, as long as there is no disarmament, we will all be good friends.

In April, the Ministry of Finance officially released the budget for the nationalization of the water supply system. The total expenditure was 250 million pounds, involving 29 river basins and 1,400 institutions. The one-year nationalization budget, Harold Wilson was shocked, not expecting so much money.

"Actually, the nationalization during Prime Minister Attlee's period also came at a huge cost." Frank came with Finance Minister James Callaghan and explained the first round of nationalization during the Attlee period. The Labor government at that time came up with Nearly two billion pounds of funding was provided to achieve the target. Compared with that nationalization movement, this time's nationalization of the water supply system can only be regarded as a small trial.

In the House of Commons in early April, Harold Wilson put his own water resources bill to a vote, and naturally it was passed with an overwhelming majority of the Labor Party.

"Secretary-General, I heard that Eden of the Conservative Party intends to retire. Who do you think will be the next leader of the Conservative Party?" Markins looked away from the live TV vote in the House of Commons and asked Alan Wilson, who was watching TV together. .

"Now the conservative giants are about the same age as Eden. Profumo and the others seem to have no chance of replacing Butler and Home." Alan Wilson dragged his head with one hand, his face written all over How do I know, "As for Meddenin?"

"Don't even think about him. Medening has accepted the appointment of the financial group, and the group director has done a good job." Makins said with a chuckle.