Chapter 543 Attracting Investment

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It is normal for industrial development plans to cause controversy. Britain has never taken the initiative to transfer any industry, at least not at the government level. Although the development of the United States in the late nineteenth century was largely due to British capital, that was Nor is it an initiative of the London government.

Even though British India had such an important role in the former British Empire, London did not transfer any industry.

Of course, India's industry is second only to Japan outside white European countries. That is why India must have some industries that meet its own needs. The British-Indian Governor's House has carried out some basic construction to meet this demand.

But dominate the transfer industry and make the colonies a powerful complement to the British mainland? It is a novel matter for this cabinet.

At the Cabinet meeting, a heated debate arose over the report on Malaya's industrial development. Opponents believe, “Is it really at this point that the UK must use other forces to share the pressure on its homeland.”

Those who think we can give it a try also have their own reasons: "The facts are obvious. Local citizens cannot work in worthless jobs forever. As the report said, it is impossible for us to sell clothes to compete with the United States and the Soviet Union. Some jobs are bound to become obsolete as the times progress. Do we still expect water carriers from the Middle Ages to still be active in the streets of London today?"

Mountbatten arrived at the cabinet under such circumstances. He did not think there was anything wrong with this. He had a trump card named George VI. Although he would not usually use it, he could move the king out at any time. Achieve your own goals.

The fact that the king does not interfere in government affairs does not mean that the king is just a decoration. He also has military influence. Even for the army, although the UK does not have the title of Royal Army, there are countless troops with the prefix Royal in the army.

The army, like the navy and air force, is loyal to the king, not to which government it is.

"Louis, I didn't expect you to come too. How is your work in the Admiralty? I heard that you, the newly appointed Sea Lord, have shown extraordinary energy." Seeing Mountbatten come to the door, Prime Minister Attlee said: Come out with a lot of tolerance.

Attlee, like Churchill, had known Mountbatten for a long time and of course understood Mountbatten's important position within the royal family. At the same time, he also knew that Mountbatten's dream was to be the First Sea Lord, and he was equally happy to see it come true.

There was no essential difference between Attlee and Churchill in supporting Mountbatten to become First Sea Lord.

"Oh, dear Prime Minister,

It's a great pleasure to meet you. Of course I have my purpose this time! General Mountbatten skillfully expressed his intention in the tone of a civil servant whom he had never heard of before, "I heard that the cabinet is intensely discussing the overseas construction plan. Of course, as a soldier, I don't know the situation, but I think the Privy Councilor's opinion is very reasonable. According to a new saying, some industries are sunset industries, and their remaining value is little. "

"Louis, do you think so too?" Prime Minister Attlee was shocked when he heard this. He seemed to have underestimated the last Governor-General of India. Even he, the Prime Minister, had only recently clarified the definition of sunset industry. The key is the British Empire. This word always appears on Malayan telegrams.

"Of course, the textile industry is a basic industry that can be developed by any country and is also the easiest to break through." Mountbatten said with a smug look based on the content of the long-standing telegram with Alan Wilson.

After expressing his understanding of the economy, Mountbatten changed the topic and said, "Of course, what I am most concerned about is the construction of the Royal Navy."

General Mountbatten's dream was to be the First Sea Lord, not to be the Commissioner of British Malaya. Just use the term "sunset industry" to pretend that his love is unfathomable. The key is also to optimize the use of the Royal Navy.

Logistics and expenditure were among his responsibilities as the Fourth Sea Lord. General Mountbatten was convinced by an argument in Alan Wilson's telegram that once the overseas territories of the British Empire could not be maintained, the role of the Royal Navy would naturally become smaller and smaller.

Especially British Malaya, which can supervise the Strait of Malacca. Once such an important colony becomes independent, the Royal Navy's status will become increasingly insignificant.

This has always been a historical development trend. With the disintegration of empires and the growth of the navies of the British Commonwealth, traditional overseas rivals Japan, the United States, Italy, and even the Soviet Union have either turned into allies, or their threats have declined, so overseas defense is no longer needed.

Maintaining a vast global empire was the most crucial motivation for the expansion of the Royal Navy in the nineteenth century, and that motivation no longer exists today. The large number of warships that maintain commuting and trade routes have naturally lost their role and will sooner or later completely withdraw from the stage of history.

In turn, the need to protect the British Isles has shrunk dramatically: even today's navy is still about the same size as the French Navy. France, traditionally the number one threat to the British Isles, has ceased to be a threat since the twentieth century. Other traditional European threats also became allies against the Soviet Union.

If Argentina had not suddenly wanted to compete with the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom would have regarded the shrinking Royal Navy as even more insignificant. It was the Falklands War that caused the United Kingdom to put a sudden brake on the continuous shrinking of the Royal Navy.

General Mountbatten naturally did not know about the war decades later, but he wanted to be Sea Lord, and at the same time he did not want to see the Royal Navy, which he had pursued throughout his life, become insignificant when he became Sea Lord.

So he had to use his special position in Britain to make British Malaya very important so that the Royal Navy would have the need to continue to develop. As for Alan Wilson's statement that the Malayan colony could be used to cover part of the logistical expenses, that was just incidental.

General Mountbatten came to the Prime Minister's Office today to accomplish a goal that coincided with his son-in-law's interests. Even if we cannot make a final decision, we must try to get Prime Minister Attlee to seriously consider this issue.

When Mountbatten was doing his persuasion work, Norman Brooke was also blessing it, and Whitehall was also supportive of this development plan. It was entirely for the influence of the British Empire and was completely selfless, even if there were some , which can be regarded as taking into account both public and private matters.

"Actually, considering the cost reasons and the current European Common Market, I am not that opposed to it." Attlee pondered for a moment, frowned slightly and said, "It's just that the Foreign Secretary may have some doubts."

The current Foreign Secretary is not Ernest Bevin, but Labor Party deputy leader Herbert Morrison. He is Prime Minister Attlee's opponent within the party.

Because the Labor Party does not have much experience in governing and does not have many available talents compared with the Conservative Party, the Labor government has multiple super ministers, who hold the positions of two or more ministers at the same time. Ernest Bevin was no longer fit for the heavy diplomatic duties due to his physical condition and was replaced by Herbert Morrison.

If he had not lost his seat in Parliament at the 1931 election, it would not have been Clement Richard Attlee but Clement Richard Attlee who became leader of the Labor Party and later Prime Minister. Can't let go.

"Perhaps I think that what Herbert objected to was not a plan, but a certain person." When General Mountbatten heard this, he had a look on his face, but he immediately took back his words, "Of course, I don't care about party affairs. I don’t know, and I don’t understand the specific situation, but as many people in Whitehall say, the most important thing in serving the empire is reliability!”

reliable! Prime Minister Attlee pondered for a moment and nodded. This is a trait that politicians also consider important.

Alan Wilson's report, as usual, was very informative and took up a lot of space, elaborating on the important position of British Malaya. Even before issuing it, he should have revised it once, removing all the words about industrial transfer and replacing it with industrial support that is more harmless to humans and animals.

He said that under the current background of European countries starting to recover, once these countries with a good foundation recover, the textile industry with the lowest threshold will bear the brunt of the impact. Supporting the textile industry in British Malaya, within the framework of the Imperial System of Preferences, was equivalent to having a reliable external force that could compete with European countries within the European Common Market at a lower cost.

It can also unite the Commonwealth, considering the location of Malaya and the centripetal force of Australia. With one hand holding the Commonwealth and the other holding the European Common Market, wouldn't it be wonderful to fly together?

Attlee saw this telegram that support was greater than transfer, and he also recognized this content.

After General Mountbatten left the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Attlee had already made a vague decision in his mind.

In British Malaya, Alan Wilson was taking Boris, Newfoundland's guests, to visit rubber plantations and tin mining areas. Its main purpose is to persuade Newfoundland to invest.

Although he had previously patted his chest and promised that London would charge a pound, Newfoundland was not London, so he had to speak when he should.

Returning to the High Commissioner's Office, Alan Wilson said as he walked, "I'm not saying that it's wrong to keep the funds, but since Newfoundland has sufficient funds, it should have relevant investment concepts. Although the current life in Newfoundland is definitely very difficult. Finnish citizens are satisfied, but who would dislike having more money?"

"Commissioner Allen, this time it is also an eye-opener for us. Judging from the several industries we observed, our fishermen's vision is still too small." Boris was obviously convinced, and several Newfoundlanders who accompanied him also nodded. .

"Commissioner, call back from London." Not long after, Alyssa came with a swaying figure, holding a telegram from London and reported, "It is the approval of the industrial support plan."

"Change support into transfer, translate it and publish it to the society. Don't do good deeds without leaving a name. We should praise ten points for every part of the work we do. This is the work experience left in British India." Alan Wilson With a happy face, he still did not forget to remind his subordinates to pay attention to details.

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