Chapter 257 Firefighters

"If I were to handle this matter, I would probably negotiate with Iran in a gentle way." When Alan Wilson heard that Mountbatten Oil Company was involved, he smiled bitterly and said, "Dear Sir, you have to give me authorization. What?"

"It has been going on for two years, and Washington has a conservative attitude towards the Iranian issue. What's more, there is the Soviet Union in the north of Iran." Norman Brook pondered for a moment and said, "The country values ​​Iran's interests very much."

"I understand, but I think it's not impossible to share interests equally. It just has to be tied to the pound." Alan Wilson thought for a moment and said, "This is my personal idea."

"Petro-pound, you mentioned this in your evaluation report a few years ago. The circulation of oil ensures the circulation of pounds." Norman Brook knew Alan Wilson's idea as soon as he heard it, and hesitantly said, "I It must be considered.”

Iran's desire to change profit distribution has been raging for several years. Britain gradually realized the value of the Persian Gulf region after World War I. and entered Iran for oil exploration through state power.

The Persians were dissatisfied with the terms of the oil exploration rights signed with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, from which Persia could only obtain 16% of the net profit. After World War II, during which Persia was renamed Iran, and which devastated Britain, Iran's nationalist leaders became increasingly influential and sought to reduce long-term foreign interference in Iran, particularly British oil patents. Looting the wealth that Iran could otherwise obtain.

The British-controlled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company refused to let others audit its accounts. The Iranian government had no way of knowing whether the fees paid by the British-Iranian Oil Company met its commitments. The British intransigence also angered the Iranian people.

It was against this background that Mossadegh came to power and clashed with Britain over the oil issue.

Alan Wilson, who returned home in trouble, mentioned to Pamela Mountbatten that he had a new and significant burden.

"Honey, I'm so sorry!" Pamela Mountbatten said apologetically, "The problem did arise with me."

"Without you entering the Persian Gulf, this matter would still have happened." Alan Wilson shook his head slightly and leaned on the sofa tiredly. "The fundamental source is Aramco in the United States and Saudi Arabia, and the profits are shared equally. And Britain and Iran The company's allocation is only 16% for Iran. After you entered Iraq, you signed a contract according to the Aramco model. It is normal for Iran to be dissatisfied, but the fundamental reason does not lie with you."

Suffice to say, Britain and Iran have been fighting for an entire year over the distribution of oil profits. Both countries have paid the price. It would be best if the problem could be solved peacefully.

"Is there any way?" Pamela Mountbatten waited for a while and couldn't help asking.

“We still have to find a way through the Empire’s preferential system.

The embargo against Iran has lasted for almost half a year. Output at local refineries has also plummeted, with more than 10,000 layoffs. "Alan Wilson opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at his wife and said, "The most important raw materials in the embargo are sugar and steel. Did you think of anything? "

"I have iron ore in my hands, and one of the pillar industries you are planning in Malaya is sugar production." Pamela Mountbatten's eyes lit up and she said in surprise, "You want to use these two embargoed raw materials and Iran People talk about it, right?”

"Well, from the British perspective, stability is more important than anything else. If we can negotiate a good result, of course it would be the best." Alan Wilson nodded, "But can you let the Royal Navy show its presence first? It’s better to talk to the Iranians.”

"I told my father!" Pamela Mountbatten stood up immediately and was about to go out, but was stopped by Alan Wilson. She was not in a hurry on such a day.

Now that this burden has fallen on Alan Wilson, he must make an assessment of the current situation and clarify the bottom line of this negotiation. The first thing is to get the data, which of course must be obtained from Whitehall.

The oil wells with the best quality and lowest production costs in Iran are on the western coastline of the Persian Gulf. Just as Saudi Arabia's oil is distributed along the east coast, the oil of the two countries is on both sides of the Persian Gulf.

It is not that there are no oil resources in other areas of the two countries, but compared with the oil resources on both sides of the Persian Gulf, the cost seems to be too high. Saudi Arabia’s oil is in the hands of the United States, at least most of it. The Iranian ones are in British hands.

Not just Iran, but also Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman. It seems that in terms of influence in the entire Persian Gulf, the United Kingdom is still ahead of the United States. But what puzzled Alan Wilson was, why was Saudi Arabia left behind for the United States?

Of course, Saudi Arabia's problem is not a top priority. After all, this country is not actually a traditional military power. As long as Britain maintains its influence in the entire Arab world, with countries like Egypt and Iraq supporting it from the front, Saudi Arabia will not have the final say in the Arab world.

The leader of the Arab world was Egypt during Nasser's time and Iraq under Saddam after Nasser's death. After Saddam was eliminated by the United States, it was the oil kingdom of Saudi Arabia's turn to have the final say in the Arab world.

Alan Wilson returned to Whitehall again and sat in front of Norman Brooke. The cabinet secretary looked at Alan Wilson from top to bottom with inquiring eyes, coughed softly and said, "Why, don't be in a hurry to return to Kuala Lumpur." ”

"Dear Sir, I want to find a solution for my wife. Of course, this is consistent with the goal of the British Empire." Alan Wilson said with a wry smile, "And this has nothing to do with me. I am the deputy chairman of the Overseas Assets Management Committee. Secretary General, everything involving the overseas assets of the British Empire concerns me."

"Very good!" Norman Brooke nodded in approval, "It's very admirable that you have such an understanding. Although I don't know how your wife organized the exploration team to search for something in the North Sea."

Of course, it is to search for oil, use it for Britain's own resource reserves, and then take the lead in establishing the OPEC cartel.

However, this matter has not been revealed, and not even a trace of North Sea oil has been found. Naturally, Alan Wilson could not say anything, and shook his head and said, "I will not interfere with Pamela's matter. After all, exploration is a task with a high failure rate." As for Gao, she has been very lucky in the past few years, and it’s okay to suffer a little setback.”

OPEC, also known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is the earliest and most influential raw material producer and export organization in the third world. Oil was the most important energy source in the postwar world.

The main purpose of its establishment is naturally to deal with the fact that exploration, mining and sales are almost entirely controlled by the Western oil monopoly consortium.

But who says that the UK cannot join this organization? As long as the UK proposes it first, the UK can be a founding country. Moreover, before the oil crisis, OPEC did not show much power at all. As long as Britain joined early, Alan Wilson did not believe that the United States could kick Britain out.

Norman Brooke also accepted Alan Wilson's rhetoric. After all, there is no company that can dig out oil just by enclosing a place. It is too magical.

In this conflict in Iran, Norman Brooke was left in the hands of Alan Wilson, euphemistically saying that whoever caused the trouble will solve it. After all, the contract of Mountbatten Oil Company in the Kingdom of Iraq was a very slap in the face to the Iranians. . The dissatisfaction caused by the Iranian government can indeed be attributed to the Mountbatten family.

"Dear Sir, I am going to visit the major colonies and get first-hand information before I can talk to the Iranians." Alan Wilson agreed on the Iranian oil crisis, "And now there is a call for Nigeria to be autonomous. , and things in Egypt. I want to find out the current situation of the colonies and allies so that I can talk to the Iranians. See if I can use some raw materials to make up for it. After all, Iran is not a country like the Soviet Union and China. It is also unrealistic to expect that all resources will exist in our own country.”

"Yes, there is a call for Nigeria to be autonomous. It is indeed a trouble." Norman Brooke nodded, one trouble after another, it seems that like His Majesty the King's deteriorating body, the UK is facing more and more problems. .

Although not superstitious, Norman Brooke put an end to the idea because the King had died. Doesn't this association mean that Britain is going to be doomed?

Leaving Whitehall this time, Alan Wilson took the trouble into his arms and started the copy of wiping his wife's ass.

In the name of the Deputy Secretary-General of the Overseas Assets Management Committee, he will go to British Africa for a tour. After the tour, he will first go to Egypt and finally arrive in Iran for negotiations.

On the way home, Alan Wilson was still thinking about any favorable conditions that could be borrowed. The most advantageous condition was of course the Empire's preferential system. After all, having many raw materials in his hands was certainly an advantage.

"I have to go to so many places, my dear, because the company's affairs are really hard on you." Pamela Mountbatten heard that her husband had officially accepted the task of negotiating with the Iranians, and she felt very distressed and gave her a long kiss. .

"It's nothing, just take a look around to see where there are problems. I always keep an eye on Malaya, and I don't know about the problems in other colonies. This is also a good opportunity." Naturally, Alan Wilson couldn't show timidity in front of his wife, and he was thinking I'm not sure at all, but I can still look heroic.

He doesn't need to go to the colonies in the name of launching an investigation. The commissioners of each colony are also members of the Overseas Assets Management Committee, and he himself is also the deputy secretary-general. This excuse cannot deceive others, and it is more appropriate to use the excuse of the Olympics.

As the Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, at the critical moment, it was he who was the firefighter, Alan Wilson.