Chapter 741 A Popular National Treasure

The economy was Britain's biggest problem after the war. Historically, the country's increased dependence on the United States had brought not all benefits to Britain, and the British knew this very well.

By the accounts of the time, Britain had become more inward-looking, with an uncertain role in world affairs.

Although the Commonwealth still has important functions, such as the operation of a unified pound area and the operation of the trading system, it is indeed increasingly ritualistic. The relationship with the United States is in many ways bittersweet and increasingly fraught.

Although it is difficult to reverse the decline of Britain after the war, it is not impossible. Although the population of Great Britain is limited, the population of the entire British Empire is not large. The United Kingdom can completely implement industrial layout and division of labor in the British Empire, and allocate eliminated industries in Overseas British territories carried out industrial upgrading locally, forming a flying goose pattern with Great Britain as the leading goose within the British Empire.

As long as the distribution is reasonable, it can not only avoid territorial expansion, but also strengthen the cohesion within the British Empire.

Among the remaining colonies, only British Malaya still has this industrial function. Moreover, the environment for industrial development in Australia and New Zealand is also very poor, and they can be used as a force to assist the United Kingdom in accomplishing this goal.

In fact, this industrial transfer is even more advantageous than before World War II. World hegemony before World War II was still in the hands of the United Kingdom, and the complete British Empire still included high-quality colonies such as Canada and Australia.

These colonies were rich in resources, and even if they were taken away a little, the British mainland could still live a very easy life. Britain has, in a sense, fallen into the Dutch disease, and has been fighting it.

Now that Australia and other autonomous territories have become independent, they no longer put Britain's interests first, which is actually a good thing for Britain.

You don't need to look at other countries to see how great the interests of the UK were before the war. Just look at China, which still has 250 million pounds. Even after the war, the UK has continued to be the largest investor.

In fact, even with Alan Wilson constantly filling the loopholes, Britain's decline continued. In 1950, Britain's total manufacturing exports accounted for 25% of the world's total. Three years later, although The total volume is still growing, and Malaya's exports are even more, and it has also fallen to 22%.

The shipbuilding industry, which accounts for one-third of the world, has also fallen below 30%. However, this slow decline is a positive performance, and the total volume has not declined, just because European countries have started the recovery process.

Compared with the aftershocks that are still in the throes of the mainland, Malaya, which has no foundation to begin with, is much luckier. One advantage is that a weak foundation can bring about high growth. Another advantage is that the happiness of being surrounded by a group of novices is reflected in the comparison.

Standing out from the crowd will certainly cause some smuggling problems, but it can also consolidate the resistance of most people in British Malaya.

Regarding 1953, the first year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation, Alan Wilson's personal summary is still OK. It survived the storm surge and the London Smog incident without any danger, just as the country thrived after adversity.

Alan Wilson was not planning to return to the country at the end of the year because of a series of events involving his return to the country to participate in the reconstruction of London and the Queen's accession to the throne.

Rather, let’s look at how France will perform in the coming year of 1954, a year when France’s colonial power in Asia collapsed.

"The French are really inefficient. Can't the Vietnamese be more brave and take the initiative to drive the French into the sea?" The Malayan commissioner hiding in Kuala Lumpur specially ordered French newspapers and also told the British advisory group that had arrived in Saigon. Keep in touch.

Waiting and waiting for the big drama to not be staged. All you can do is talk to the French people who have to pay blood from thousands of miles away. Standing and talking does not hurt your back.

At this time, the expression is vivid and vivid. Pulling up the pants means being tough.

Since the French still need time, Alan Wilson can only continue to live a life of self-expression. Many years ago, he also did this in New Delhi, the capital of British India, telling Indians every day that India's future is not a small good but a big good. .

But now his optimism about British Malaya is much more sincere. He really feels that the time for laying the foundation has passed, and British Malaya is about to enter the accumulation stage, and the accumulated wealth will slowly climb. This is what is needed Time is also an inevitable step.

In this process, the role of the United Kingdom was to provide protection for Malaya's economic development. This is also inevitable. In the original history, Japan actually played this role. Of course, according to the time, it should be Japan thirty years later.

After Japan developed, it began to propose the Flying Geese strategy, and independent Malaysia became Japan's little brother.

At that time, Malaysia had similar advantages to the current British Malaya. It had oil and natural gas resources, port dividends brought by the Malacca Strait, and tin mines were conducive to the development of semiconductors. Raw materials are abundant, including wood, oil and palm; the climate is pleasant and there are no natural disasters; transportation is convenient and workers are sufficient. Everything seems to be developing in a good direction.

But then Malaysia’s eldest brother, Japan, was hit hard by the United States with the Plaza Accord. Even the eldest brother knelt down. Naturally, Malaysia could not avoid being crushed to death by the collapsed body of the eldest brother, just like the collapse of the Soviet Union would crush the socialist countries in Eastern Europe.

Malaysia's leading industries, including electronics, automobiles, chemicals, and energy, are almost closely related to Japan and have sunk directly.

In the current British Malaya, the United Kingdom provides industrial transfer and military protection, there is also Dutch military power nearby, and Australia and New Zealand are not far away to the south to provide help. The conditions are much better than when Japan took it. many.

Now we are no longer waiting for Japan to lead, but to keep pace with Japan.

Alan Wilson didn't believe that after all, Britain had been the world's hegemon for hundreds of years and led a colony to develop its economy. How could it be worse than a defeated country with no military power at all?

Even if Britain did not have the size of Japan's economy, Alan Wilson believed that he was definitely better than the Japanese.

While visiting the newly established major factories, Alan Wilson listened to the self-expression of the regional commissioners, and his optimism was slightly restrained. He began to express optimism, and the regional commissioners below followed suit. This thing seems to be called exaggeration. wind?

"The optimism is directed at the Malayan subjects. We ourselves cannot believe it. Alfred, you have never worked in British India and you don't know that we used deceptive tactics to fool the Indians."

Alan Wilson immediately changed his focus and said that Malaya's development still had a long way to go and he could not be optimistic at all.

He used fake data to confuse the Indians who were suffering from drought in British India and compared it with the current public opinion. Finally, he said, "Of course, compared with the Vietnamese, Malaya was still very happy back then. , at least you don’t have to eat bombs.”

"I understand, Commissioner!" Alfred immediately expressed his consistency with his immediate boss, and his attitude became humble.

"Even if we are really developing a fast track, we should not be complacent. You see, the Governor of Hong Kong is crying to London about poverty every day. The more profits we hand over, the less we keep. Of course, 100 million pounds is still the bottom line. We cannot It is lower than British India, so in order to increase the funds we can control, we must try our best to make this colony rich."

Sharing the financial pressure for the British mainland is what the British should do. After all, he came here to take office after he patted his chest and promised to let British Malaya replace the role of British India.

But he will not give more. Once London's requirements are exceeded, the remaining wealth will remain in the colony. He also hopes that Malaya will remain in British hands for a long time and cannot be like British Africa.

Isn’t this kind of advanced experience retained by the Hong Kong inspectors? Applying what you learn is not a bad thing.

At the end of the year, Alan Wilson thought he might just get through it, but finally, the logistical support he had been longing for finally arrived. Vivien Leigh flew from the United States and brought her son to meet Alan Wilson.

"Vivian, you are the best to me." Alan Wilson hugged Vivien Leigh's petite body and did not let go. At the critical moment, the British treasure was the best to him. This cannot be replaced by anyone.

"What's wrong? I'm here, aren't I?" Vivien Leigh put the man's head in her arms and comforted her softly. She came all the way to complete the logistics support work, which in the eyes of the national treasure was a matter of course.

One day is like three autumns without seeing each other, let alone how many days have passed since then. Our eyes met each other, and the heat in their eyes exceeded the temperature in Malaya.

The desire to play with national treasures remains as strong as ever, and Alan Wilson wishes he could be with Vivien Leigh every day.

"By the way, I have a friend who will come over as a guest for a few days if he has time." Vivien Leigh tied up her messy hair, her face flushed, and talked about this matter with the local local snake.

"Your friend!" Alan Wilson glanced at Vivien Leigh suspiciously. He could understand Vivien Leigh's good popularity. In fact, Vivien Leigh's popularity itself was very good. This had nothing to do with the binding suggestion he made. There was no golden zodiac binding. The national treasure's popularity is also first-rate. The relationship between Garson and Vivien Leigh is very good.

Is it just this friend? Alan Wilson asked insinuatingly, "You'd better not have male friends. If female friends come, I will provide convenience in Malaya. You may not believe it, in this colony of 500,000 square kilometers. "My words are more effective than God's."

"I know, God! I may not have time yet." Vivien rolled her eyes at Alan Wilson, "My friend will go to South Korea to work in the army after the new year. If he has free time, he might come over."

"That's it!" Alan Wilson nodded. There was no need to ask. Since it was Lao Jun, there was a high probability that she was a woman.

The New Year of 1954 finally came with firm steps. Alan Wilson no longer talked about logistical support. The people who came to deliver logistical support were already a bit overwhelming for him. At such an important moment, his wife Pamela Mountbatten Of course I'm coming, but Hedy Lamarr and Ingrid Bergman are also coming.

I am always full of confidence before starting a war. I have never fought such a rich battle. When the war starts, I will find that no amount of preparation is enough.