Chapter 714 Mountbatten and Ridgway
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave to cheering crowds after the coronation ceremony.
As the evening wore on, the Queen appeared in public alongside her mother, husband and two children. Later in the evening, Elizabeth turned on the switch, and the lights lit up the ancient city, and the fountains in Trafalgar Square glowed with strange brilliance. People once again strongly experienced the feeling of one family.
The rest of the time is personal, and while British citizens talk about the coronation during the day, Buckingham Palace invites celebrities and elites from all walks of life to come here to attend the royal meeting.
On this rare occasion, of course, the Queen and her husband only showed up once, but it was enough to show the importance that the royal family attaches to all walks of life. Alan Wilson looked at his sister-in-law warily.
Here he is multitasking, because Vivien Leigh is also here as a representative of the entertainment industry, so this is actually not a big problem. The problem is that the invitation list also includes her ex-husband Laurence Olivier, as well as Vivien Leigh’s predecessor, Gloria Garson, the representative of British actresses, and Gloria Garson’s first talent in the entertainment industry, Laurence Olivier.
Although he was not worried about what was happening under the audience in the hall, Alan Wilson couldn't help but stare at the situation over there.
Finally, he squeezed in with his wife and introduced Pamela Mountbatten, "Ms. Vivien Leigh helped the Governor-General a lot when she was in British India. She used her kindness and love to resolve the Hindu hatred of the Governor-General. There is a lot of hatred in the government.”
"I've heard of it!" Pamela Mountbatten said to Vivien Leigh with a face of admiration, "Congressman Churchill said that you are a national treasure of the British Empire. This appearance is really enviable."
"Not everyone is envious." Vivien Leigh's eyes flickered, and she glanced at the faces of Pamela Mountbatten and Alan Wilson without stopping. She knew exactly why this man came over. It was because her ex-husband was here. this.
Jealousy and possessiveness are both correct descriptions. Vivien Leigh did not reject this feeling. She greeted her with a smile, and the threesome turned into a group of five, chatting happily.
"It's hard to imagine that Gloria Garson is still so young." After the session at Buckingham Palace, Pamela Mountbatten drove home and shouted to her husband in the co-pilot.
"Indeed, it's so surprising. There is a kind of person in this world, even when he is old, he can still see the splendor of his youth." Alan Wilson nodded in agreement with his wife.
Of course, it's not like he hasn't seen similar people before. Greta Garbo is the same type as Gloria Garson.
In the silent film era, it was obvious that people in their early twenties could play roles in their thirties and forties. Now that we have reached the age when ordinary women are old, not much has changed.
The difference is that at this age, the face of this kind of woman will become more fierce and less soft than when she was young. Alan Wilson thinks that this may be the difference between natural and unsurgery.
"If Gloria Garson wasn't twenty years older than you, I really doubt that my husband would be able to hold it." Pamela Mountbatten joked.
"No!" Alan Wilson said resolutely. He was really embarrassed to say that as long as he was beautiful enough, age would not be a problem at all. He also spared Greta Garbo.
It's just that he is not like when he was in British India, where he couldn't walk when he saw a beautiful woman. When I saw the first British Treasure this time, I just marveled at how someone who was almost fifty years old could still be in such a state.
At this time, the Comet airliner on the same route had already transported the daytime coronation ceremony and fleet review videos to various countries for broadcast, to promote Britain's entry into the Elizabethan era.
"Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other territories and possessions, by the grace of God, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Anglican Church." Will become the Head of the British Empire at this time!
If nothing else happened, Alan Wilson would definitely have an in-depth communication with Vivien Leigh the next day. But there is indeed something wrong with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The problem lies with one of the visiting heads of state, King Farouk I of Egypt.
Before leaving Cairo, Farouk I warned that without a practical solution, he would stay in London. Regardless of whether these words were hypocritical, the Egyptian people were indeed very moved and eagerly awaited the good news.
The harsh words have been released. With the importance of the Suez Canal to Britain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now facing a formidable enemy.
Prime Minister Attlee's lifelong enemy in his party, the current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison, was helpless against this menacing king.
As early as before World War II, among the top two colonial protectorates in the hands of the United Kingdom, British India and Egypt were the top two. By today in 1953, British India had become independent. The independence of British India is now It proved that there were no substitutes, and British Malaya shouldered some of the functions.
But Egypt is not easy to replace. The Suez Canal alone cannot be replaced. If the Suez Canal is lost, it will not only be a problem for the UK itself, but the UK’s influence on Europe will also be greatly reduced. European countries need the Suez Canal. This canal It's not specifically for Britain itself.
In the eyes of other countries, especially the United States and the Soviet Union, Farouk I, who came to London with a purpose, would be Queen Elizabeth's first important test after her coronation.
Alan Wilson can think of it. It is estimated that these two countries have a joke mentality and see how the UK handles this matter.
Alan Wilson arrived at Whitehall and met Sir Ismay, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then the two went to meet the Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison. Alan Wilson took the initiative and said, "Let me receive His Majesty Farooq." Well, I have met him several times. When I inspected the African colonies, I spent a few days in Cairo, so I have a certain personal relationship."
"Are you sure?" Herbert Morrison and Sir Ismay both looked at Alan Wilson eagerly.
This kind of gaze gave Alan Wilson a sense of seeing the rise and fall of the empire in this battle. After a while, he replied, "It's too early to say this now. Ridgway is currently discussing with General Mountbatten. What I'm thinking of is General Ridgway." Returning to Paris, we are here to communicate with Farouk I about the canal."
If he could not communicate with Farouk I, no one in the entire UK could do it. At any rate, he had contributed to the eradication of Nasser's Free Officers Organization.
General Mountbatten was talking to Ridgway about rearming Germany and Italy, and he wanted to give his father-in-law time. This NATO commander-in-chief always makes people feel uncomfortable when he is in London.
The first thing is to arrange the itinerary of cocktail parties, tours, operas and visits. Once this is settled, Ridgway should have left. At that time, formal negotiations will begin to come up with a solution acceptable to both parties.
With the consent of the two giants of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Herbert Morrison and Sir Ismay, he took the itinerary and went to the hotel where Farouk I was staying. Since the Egyptian king was a decent man, he had to give it to them A decent itinerary must be arranged out of respect for the monarch of a country.
At the same time, this meeting is also to review the script, ask about the current real situation in Egypt, and unilaterally clarify Egypt's bottom line.
"His Majesty the King, welcome you to London with the hope of all Egyptians. The whole of Britain is happy for your arrival. You have seen the ship review with your own eyes." Alan Wilson expressed his gratitude to just now with great respect. Faruk I came out and said hello, and at the same time handed over the other party's itinerary.
King Farouk I took the list and looked at it very carefully. This made Alan Wilson curse in his heart. Could it be that he was dissatisfied? Is Gullfoss missing?
"Commissioner Wilson, we are old acquaintances. Please take a seat." Farouk I accepted the itinerary and motioned for Alan Wilson to sit down. The two of them were full of talks about their visit to the UK.
At almost the same time, General Mountbatten, the commander of the British Empire's Mediterranean Fleet and who was steadily moving towards becoming the First Sea Lord, also communicated with the current NATO Commander-in-Chief Ridgway on a major issue.
It is true that Ridgway was the Commander-in-Chief of NATO, but the contacts Mountbatten accumulated during the war played a role. He was the Commander-in-Chief, and Eisenhower was the President. Mountbatten’s relationship with Washington was never a problem because many military leaders there They were his old comrades and friends during the war.
NATO also has such U.S. generals. Curtis LeMay, who burned Tokyo, had a good relationship with General Mountbatten. Even the researcher of American nuclear submarines, Admiral Hyman Rickover, was also Mountbatten's friend.
"Mark, in fact, it is very difficult for the UK to maintain its current military strength. The most embarrassing thing is that even if it maintains its current military strength, it is still at a disadvantage when facing the Soviet Union."
General Mountbatten called Ridgway by his nickname, "Actually, Ike and I both have an idea, that is, Germany and Italy should be properly armed, just like you did in Japan, to help Japan establish basic self-protection capabilities. They all rely on the United States one-sidedly, don’t they?”
Mountbatten learned from his son-in-law that the emergence of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces involved Ridgway's great efforts and the training of the Korean army. From this perspective, he elaborated on the importance of Germany and Italy in Europe.
The current problem is actually very simple. After all, the United States is separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Together, Britain and France can stabilize their own security. As for containing the Soviet Union, they are absolutely unable to do so.
If Germany and Italy are added, NATO will have an advantage over the Soviet bloc in terms of manpower.
"If Britain is really so sincere, I am willing to communicate on this." Ridgway was overjoyed. In fact, this was also the idea of the United States, but he didn't know that high-end hunters often appear as prey, and Mountbatten was such a military general.
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