Chapter 68 Indian Granary

At the beginning, Alexander Cadogan, catering to Prime Minister Chamberlain's proposition, resolutely replaced the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who advocated a pre-emptive strike against Germany. Of course, he was impeccable in moral terms.

What's the problem with using food from British India to solve the current problems in the UK and even in the British-occupied areas of Germany? Isn't this a matter of course, otherwise what would colonial India do? I travel thousands of miles to do charity?

Just out of his usual caution, Alexander Cadogan still pretended to be reserved and looked at Alan Wilson with encouraging eyes and said, "Alan, analyze the feasibility of this matter."

"Permanent Secretary, I believe that no one here understands India better than me." Alan Wilson couldn't wait to stand up, and said in a confident and professional tone, "I believe that all colleagues are familiar with the prosperity of British India." I have heard that I have worked in British India for a period of time, and I dare not say that I know the local area very well, but it can also be said that I am not an outsider.”

"From a geographical point of view, British India is undoubtedly a very suitable place for agricultural development. This can be proved by the large local population. Some officials in British India even said that Indians reproduce like cockroaches, but they can still live. Gotta go down."

As soon as Alan Wilson's words fell, the entire conference room burst into laughter, unabashedly showing the high moral standards of the old imperialism.

"The arable land of British India is second only to the United States in the world. I believe everyone is impressed by the agricultural foundation of the United States. Since the United States entered the war, it has never been troubled by supplies. The local rainfall in India is abundant, and the temperature is suitable. The agricultural population Numerous, precisely because of various conditions, will become the jewel in the crown of the empire."

It is absolutely true that British India has a lot of arable land! It's just that it has a population no less than that of China. Even the officials of British India now don't know how many people are in the colony they manage.

It is true that British India has abundant rainfall. Like Africa, most of India is divided into a rainy season and a dry season. India, which is located in the monsoon zone, often experiences consecutive months of rain with few sunny days. Even in the 21st century, floods in India are often reported.

Moreover, once a flood occurs in India, it will generally appear in the Ganges River Basin, which has 80% of India's population.

After the rainy season comes the dry season, so after the floods, droughts are not new in India. Large areas of crop failure have led to a very high suicide rate among Indian farmers.

In the agricultural era, the climate is stable and the average rainfall is the real foundation. In this regard, India, which is in a monsoon climate, and the United States, which is regularly harvested by the cold current of the Arctic Ocean, actually cannot compare with China's natural conditions.

India's agricultural conditions are good, only on paper. In fact, the Ganges River Basin, the most populated place, is too close to the Himalayas. During the monsoon season, the monsoon is blocked by the roof of the world, and the Ganges River Basin receives a lot of precipitation in the rainy season. .

Of the annual rainfall of 2,000 millimeters, 1,600 millimeters fall during the rainy season, and because India is located in the tropics, with a huge amount of evaporation, this rainfall cannot be retained at all. There is no shortage of water in the country, but it has been rained for two months, and then evaporated again.

Of course, according to Allen Weir, none of these unfavorable factors existed. India is the jewel in the crown of the British Empire and the foundation supporting the glory of the British Empire. If you have difficulties, you can find India.

Alexander Cadogan nodded frequently, and said to himself, "I almost forgot that Allen is the liaison officer of the Colonial Ministry to British India, and he is very familiar with the situation in British India."

"That's not all familiar." Alan Wilson pretended to be modest, "Only in the environment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with so many outstanding colleagues, can we come up with a solution."

Although he looks humble on the surface, if Alan Wilson had a tail on his butt, he might be able to go to heaven at this time.

"If Alan thinks there is no problem,

After the meeting, you can contact the Indian side. I also don't know where the food producing areas in India are. "Alexander Cadogan nodded, ready to hand over the handling of the food shortage to the Foreign Secretary for decision.

Alexander Cadogan, who had not worked in British India, could answer questions about China if asked.

It doesn't matter, Alan Wilson, the commissioner who still receives Ali Khan's salary, knows very well that the grain-producing area in India, similar to the North Dacang, is the Punjab Province of British India.

The British Punjab Province actually has extremely poor conditions on paper, with little precipitation. It belongs to the climate of tropical grassland and tropical desert. It is almost a grassland close to the Sahara Desert, but the latitude is north, so the sun will not be too much.

As for most places in India, the agricultural environmental conditions are very poor, flooded to death, drought to death, and excess sunlight.

After the Partition of British India, India only snatched one-fifth of the Punjab Province. With such a small area, it has become the most important grain-producing area in India. Whether there is a famine in India depends on the fact that there are only 50,000 square kilometers Punjab is not going well this year.

"Okay, that's the end of today's discussion. Alan, please contact the Governor's Office of India." Alexander Cadogan breathed a sigh of relief. There are still many agendas, and today is just the beginning.

"I'll do it right away." Alan Wilson stood upright like a soldier about to be inspected.

After the meeting, Eifel looked at Alan Wilson, who seemed to be more energetic, and said strangely, "It seems that when you mention India, you suddenly become more active."

"Eifel, people can't be biased. Tens of millions of people in the British-occupied area don't have enough food. We are British gentlemen, how can we act like the Soviets or Americans? We are signatories to the Geneva Convention. "Alan Wilson said sternly, "Once there are large-scale abnormal deaths in the occupied area, it will have a negative impact on the reputation of the British Empire."

"What's wrong with the Americans? General Eisenhower is a good person, at least much better than Patton." Eifel chuckled, really not knowing where his colleagues heard the news.

"But it can't change Eisenhower's German accent!" Alan Wilson said without thinking. In order to show his loyalty to the United States, Eisenhower will only show greater loyalty than ordinary American generals.

Leaving the meeting room, Alan Wilson, who had been authorized, immediately contacted the Ministry of Indian Affairs. Punjab is a good place, where the Peace Church, Sikhism and Hindus gather.

After coming to Europe for more than a month, Alan Wilson finally had the opportunity to contact with a powerful country again, thinking about it, he almost cried with joy.