Chapter 476 Newfoundland Fishing Fleet
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"Hankey, Boris, I don't know what's going on in London this time." Alan Wilson gave a warm hug as soon as he saw the visitor. Hankey is a member of the Newfoundland Committee, and Boris is a tax haven. The person directly in charge said, "Is something going on in Newfoundland?"
"Sir Allen, from what you said, everything is business as usual in Newfoundland." Boris smiled. Compared with a few months ago, he finally got rid of the feeling of forced composure and practical embarrassment. It can be said that he has become completely different. General changes.
Alan Wilson was very enthusiastic, and it was a place where he had tried his best, so he asked how Newfoundland had developed after he left.
When talking about the Chinese workers, Boris said that after this batch of Chinese workers leave, the Newfoundland Parliament will decide whether to hire a second batch of Chinese workers based on the needs of the European market.
"It's best to replace a group of new people. This is true for any worker. Once he starts to adapt to the environment, he will start to cheat." Alan Wilson gave himself the advice after hearing this.
This reason is certainly justified, but it is definitely not the main reason. The main reason is that replacing a group of Chinese workers to improve their lives can expand the base. Finally, he did not forget to emphasize, "Peranakans cannot be trusted. If you continue to employ them, , are looking for new immigrants, and by the way, the High Commissioner of Malaya, Gerald Edward, is in London. You have come at the right time. If it is so late at night, the other colonial commissioners may have to leave."
"Thank you so much, Chief Allen! If Commissioner Gerald is here, we can talk." Hankey, who is already the Speaker of the Newfoundland Parliament, nodded happily, "Actually, when we come to London, we have some other things to do. thing."
"Please tell me, if I can help, I will definitely help. Newfoundland has an extraordinary affection for me." Alan Wilson said, with a completely responsive attitude.
"It's a proposal about a five-nautical-mile no-fishing zone. The parliament has already passed it. However, there are an endless stream of ships of unknown nationality near the fishing ground, and there are even ships from many European countries." Boris said hurriedly, "Among our royal territories, there are only The fishing boats are incomparable in terms of tonnage with these fishing boats from afar, let alone expulsions. This time, on the one hand, it is hoped that London can test the pressure on the distant water fishing boats of European countries, and on the other hand, it also wants to improve Newfoundland itself. self-defense capabilities and see if we can strengthen our defense capabilities.”
Alan Wilson was quite relaxed at first, but after hearing this, he asked with confusion, "Newfoundland fleet?"
If he remembered correctly, he seemed to have mentioned this idea on the radio one day when he was in Newfoundland. But it’s just a casual comment. If you are used to reporting good news but not bad news, there will always be times when you can’t find something to brag about.
I really didn't expect that one day, my casual words would receive feedback. In a trance, Alan Wilson seemed to see the Cod War waving to him.
He seemed to remember that he was talking about using battleships to deal with poaching fishing boats on the radio. Thinking of this, Alan Wilson lowered his voice and said, "Oh, my friends, you are not really interested in a battleship, are you?" ? Not to mention the purchase, even the cost of use is quite high."
Although Alan Wilson was not opposed to it in principle, for the population of Newfoundland, it was still unimaginable to actually own a battleship, which could only be explained by the fact that they had money and no place to burn it.
"How is that possible? We just heard that there are many warships in a state of abandonment in the local shipyards. Let's see if there are any that are suitable for Newfoundland. We are not going to fight with anyone." Hankey quickly shook his head and said that in fact, if they are used to protect fisheries, use Not as big as a battleship.
This made Alan Wilson breathe a sigh of relief, and his frown relaxed, and he said with a smile, "Let me go to the Ministry of Defense and have a look. If you just want to protect fisheries, then you have found the right person. Come to the mainland. Find something more suitable. There are several aircraft carriers and battleships for sale in China.
I can also try to find a suitable price! "
The current financial problems in the UK make it difficult to maintain normal changes. Selling aircraft carriers and battleships everywhere is completely helpless. However, the meaning of rhetoric depends on how you say it. In Alan Wilson's mouth, this It is because of the need to conduct new technology research that valuable naval officers and soldiers have to be used on cutting-edge warships.
He was the one who sold German submarines to India. The Junagadh princely state admired these German submarines very much. These submarines even came back once, including but not limited to the wealth of the Maharaja of the Junagadh princely state, from India. Shipped to London.
"I still need to ask the Cabinet Secretary for his opinion on this matter first." Alan Wilson said to the two Newfoundland representatives in front of him.
"The cabinet secretary is also in charge of this matter." Boris was quite surprised. This seems to have nothing to do with the cabinet secretary's powers.
"Everything in the British Empire is related to Sir Norman." Alan Wilson shook his head slightly, indicating that you don't understand.
It has become very obvious that Norman Brooke is completely different from his predecessor and even his predecessor.
He is interested in everything, otherwise he would not have established so many committees to deal with the work of various ministers.
It can be said that Norman Brooke, the cabinet secretary, has two characteristics. The first is to establish a deep personal relationship with the prime minister and ministers, and then use this personal relationship to clarify the scope of authority with the prime minister and ministers.
Therefore, the external performance is that Norman Brooke is almost absolutely loyal to this government. Whether it is the Conservative Party or the Labor Party, as long as you win the election, Norman Brooke will support you wholeheartedly. As for how you win the election, that has nothing to do with him as the cabinet secretary.
But from the perspective of civil servants in Whitehall, Norman Brooke has almost an authority that can be described as absolute power. He will not allow the cabinet to interfere in Whitehall affairs. Also involved in all cabinet and official matters, including top secrets and nuclear war.
So I looked around without telling Norman Brook, but Alan Wilson didn't have the guts.
The most important thing is that Alan Wilson has the home phone number of the cabinet secretary and can ask for instructions first.
"This matter? Come to the Cabinet Office to talk about it tomorrow. We are doing carpentry, so that's it for now. By the way, you and Ismay come together." Norman Brooke held the microphone between his neck and a saw in his hand. After putting down the phone, he looked at the wood in front of him again, as if he was trying to figure out how to get it better.
Ismay was Churchill's chief military secretary until 1943, and later went to British India as secretary-general. Ismay knew all about the warships manufactured in Britain during the war, even better than the current Deputy Secretary of Defense.
Norman Brooke asked Alan Wilson to go with Ismay, also to get the views of the chief military secretary during the war.
Alan Wilson didn't know what the chief military secretary thought of Churchill's various blinding operations during the war. In his opinion, Churchill's skill in the field of micro-management was at least not inferior to that of Chang Gong. Considering the international influence, it is even better.
After learning about Norman Brooke's request, Ismay thought for a moment and said, "Looking at it this way, a battle-class destroyer is very suitable. The displacement of more than two thousand tons is enough for an ocean-going fishing vessel. The firepower is also more suitable. After all, Mainly used for short selling.”
On the eve of World War II, Germany's dive bombers rose rapidly. After the war began, the German "Stuka" raided Poland, bombed Dutch barracks, destroyed strong fortresses in Belgium, smashed the counterattack of French tank troops, and strafed the beaches of Dunkirk. The British Expeditionary Force and others waiting to retreat showed their prowess as the vanguard of the German blitzkrieg.
Because of the experience of World War I, the British Royal Navy had a large fleet at that time, but it basically did not have air defense capabilities. Instead, it focused on anti-submarine warfare. In addition, for slower targets such as surface ships, the Stuka was definitely a fatal threat. , just one heavy bomb is enough to scrap a large or medium-sized ship.
The British government held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. As part of the "Wartime Emergency Destroyer" plan, Churchill supported the construction of anti-aircraft destroyers, and the battle-class destroyers came into being.
When Churchill proposed the construction of anti-aircraft destroyers, Ismay was his chief military secretary, so he was very familiar with this batch of destroyers.
The "Combat" class air defense destroyer was a product of the war, but due to its late arrival, it basically failed to accept the baptism of World War II. It was originally designed to deal with German bombers. However, when these ships gradually entered active service after 1944, the Allied forces had entered the counterattack stage in Europe, and the "Combat" class was no longer useful.
Like many warships in the Royal Navy now, the performance is very good, almost brand new, but it is behind the times.
There are two batches of thirty-eight battle-class destroyers, of which twenty-four are completed and in service. The remaining fourteen are not unfinished, but not in service. Some of them have been dismantled, and five are in the process of being abandoned. status, four ships are used for other purposes.
"Five destroyers are in the shipyard. It can be said that they are completed, but they are not in service." Ismay said, "I think it is quite suitable if Newfoundland needs it. This is not an ordinary emergency warship. The construction standards are based on those of battleships, but it’s just not the right time. It’s not appropriate to leave it in the shipyard all the time. If we can raise some funds, it’s still acceptable.”
"Alan, you heard it. We don't expect to recover the cost. After all, Newfoundland is a royal territory, and the price is negotiable." After hearing this, Norman Brooke ordered, "Take Newfoundland's representatives to the shipyard." Let's see, if Newfoundland is interested, I believe the Prime Minister would be happy to facilitate this."