Chapter 943 The New Foreign Minister
"You, a colonial high commissioner, are considering the global strategic interests of the British Empire?" Marshal Mountbatten's mouth twitched. He could only say that his intention was good, but something seemed wrong.
"I am responsible for supervising overseas assets and must consider this." This was not a correction to the marshal. Alan Wilson changed the topic, "In fact, whether strategic bombers or strategic missiles, without nuclear warheads, they cannot be called a threat."
"You still want a nuclear warhead?" Marshal Mountbatten asked in surprise, "Do you know what this means?"
"It represents the gap between the UK and non-nuclear countries. It represents that the world is unfair and it represents the international order." Alan Wilson said ***** one after another and said with a clear conscience, "Besides that, I also I really don’t know what it represents. I heard that the United States is carrying out a project in Turkey. It’s so secretive that no one has even reported it to five eyes. It might turn into a hidden danger of conflict.”
All parties actually have speculations about Turkey's sneakiness in the United States, but there is no evidence.
However, the United Kingdom has received a nuclear sharing policy commitment from the United States and wants to integrate British nuclear weapons into the NATO framework.
"Marshal, this is some data on the industrial production capacity of the Malayan colony." Alan Wilson had already prepared. This time he brought back a batch of information to emphasize the importance of the Malayan colony.
In fact, it is not an emphasis. London has realized the role of the Malayan colony on the mainland. Bringing back information not only convinced Whitehall, but also convinced the military to protect the security of the Malayan colony.
Marshal Mountbatten flipped through the data and said slowly, "Give me a big reason, otherwise it might not work."
"After frank discussions, my subordinates suggested that I find a well-capitalized group for the Malayan colony to operate the water and electricity system of the Malayan colony." Alan Wilson said without changing his face, "Pamela has already obtained The right to operate the hydropower system in Western Australia is the best option."
"We all agree that the importance of the Malayan colonies in global strategy is beyond doubt." Marshal Mountbatten coughed softly. "It is reasonable to send strategic bombers to station."
"The main purpose is to protect Australia." Alan Wilson struck while the iron was hot, "Canberra will definitely approve."
"Yes, that's right. We must take into account the relationship that blood is thicker than water." Marshal Mountbatten agreed with a smile. "Since it is the demand of the allies, it would be very unkind if we did not agree."
"It may hurt Australians' feelings. Let them down." Alan Wilson clapped his hands in applause for this very humane decision.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to work hard on this." Marshal Mountbatten glanced at his son-in-law and pointed to the key points in an irrelevant manner.
"I believe that where there is a will, there is a way." Of course, Alan Wilson understood that things were not that simple. This matter could not be accomplished by Marshal Mountbatten in just one sentence, and nothing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said could get around it.
He was not prepared to fly strategic bombers to Australia tomorrow. He just planned slowly and hoped for the desired results.
"The cabinet has been very lively recently, and quarrels always break out between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary, because there is some news that Prime Minister Attlee is not prepared to continue to be the leader of the Labor Party and expects the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lead the Labor Party. This may also be related to the Labor Party's low support rate. , To be honest, Prime Minister Attlee’s image is the same as Churchill’s in previous years.”
Alan Wilson nodded, grateful for his father-in-law's advice, and said helplessly, "Prime Minister Attlee is seventy-five years old. In 1945, he gave people an energetic impression. Now he is the Prime Minister? Definitely a bit older.”
"Actually, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer can lead the Labor Party to continue to be in power, it will be beneficial to you, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer is no stranger to British India. His father is the Regional High Commissioner of British India. He has some similarities with you. But, Although it is too early to talk about some things,
But it's not easy for Labor to win. "
Field Marshal Mountbatten hinted to his son-in-law that the internal strife in the Labor Party was no longer an undercurrent, but had reached a higher level.
Attlee prefers the Chancellor of the Exchequer as the leader of the Labor Party because he wants to block Morrison's path to becoming Prime Minister. For this reason, the current cabinet is quite lively.
The conflict involving the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs can be described as a fight between gods.
Both Weng and his son-in-law also understood that the victory or defeat had already been decided. The prime minister and the finance minister adopted a common position, and the foreign minister had almost no chance of making a comeback.
Proceeded to No. 70 Whitehall and presented a comprehensive plan for the development of the Malayan colony to Norman Brooke. It was a very unforgettable afternoon, an afternoon that for Alan Wilson was a role reversal with Richard.
He constantly demonstrated in front of Norman Brooke all the good qualities of a Whitehall civil servant, especially reliability...
"Our respected Foreign Secretary may have a relaxing and comfortable retirement life." Norman Brooke mentioned this matter when he saw Alan Wilson, and commented plainly, "He is a passionate person. , if he were the prime minister, he might do a very good job, because he attaches so much importance to public opinion and his own image in the newspaper."
"The Foreign Secretary seems to have a high level of support among the Labor Party." Alan Wilson lamented, "I thought it would not happen like this."
"Politics is not a simple arithmetic problem. Anything can happen." Norman Brooke had obviously seen all kinds of emergencies in his long career in Whitehall, and he did not show any surprise, "Malaya's Report, and some of the appointment and dismissal of officials you recommended? For the protection of long-term development, I also believe that the stability of officials is conducive to policy coherence, but both overseas civil servants and local civil servants are a whole, and what we are soliciting is Overall benefit, Alan, can you understand this?"
"Of course, an unbreakable whole." Alan Wilson, like Richard before him, expressed his loyalty to the cabinet secretary.
"Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and see if you can help Sir Ismay." Norman Brooke smiled and pointed out a clear path for the subordinates coming to No. 70 Whitehall.
As night fell, Alan Wilson emerged from the Foreign Office and visited Edward Bridges, who had retired.
Asking Alan Wilson to restore what happened during the day as much as possible, the former cabinet secretary smiled and said, "It's not a big problem. Sir Ismay is also my old partner. I was the cabinet secretary at that time, and he was Prime Minister Churchill's personal military adviser. I know him quite well, plus I once served as Secretary-General in British India and have a close relationship with Field Marshal Mountbatten. If he goes to NATO to be Secretary-General, you have a good chance of getting the position he retains."
"Will everything go well?" Alan Wilson is not as calm as he seems. This is a crucial step.
"Relax, the cabinet secretary approves, and the permanent undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends, there will be almost no problems. Don't appear in Whitehall recently, busy with your affairs."
Edward Bridges said calmly, "Being good at pretending to be stupid also depends on talent; he must spy on the mood of the people he is making fun of, understand their identities, and he must spot the timing; and then act like a spy Like the wild eagle to every bird in Khotan's sight, he does not let up at every opportunity. It is a job as difficult as the art of a wise man."
On average, the average tenure of a cabinet minister is not long, but such heavyweight cabinet ministers as the finance minister and the foreign minister generally will not be replaced easily. There are many unimportant ministers, which reduces the minister's tenure.
The characteristics of the Labor Party cabinet are especially like this. Before the election in 1945, the Labor Party had almost no chance of governing. As a result, when it defeated Churchill and came to power, many leaders of the Labor Party held multiple positions, and a group of Super minister.
Even so, Attlee was not initially prepared to give such an important department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Morrison, a man who once competed with him for the party leadership. If Ernest Bevin had not died of illness, Morrison's supporters would have There is indeed a lot of Labor, and he will not let Morrison lead the foreign affairs department after Bevin's death.
From 1945 to the present, the Labor Party has formed governments three times, and the original super ministers who wore multiple hats have disappeared.
Attlee's age has turned from his early sixties to seventy-five. For him, the current unoptimistic support rate forces him to think of ways to increase his support while also considering who the next leader of the Labor Party will be. .
If you think too much about this issue, Morrison, who once competed with him for the party leadership, cannot be ignored.
Things are already very simple. After Prime Minister Attlee took a liking to himself, the leader of the Labor Party was Chancellor of the Exchequer Gaeske. Instead of Morrison, then the fate of this foreign secretary can be imagined.
Morrison completed his transition from Foreign Secretary to Labor Secretary after a cabinet meeting.
"I thought that someone would be given the position of Lord Chamberlain or Lord of the Seal." Alan Wilson muttered to his wife, "But what I didn't expect was that such an important department as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be handed over to Harold Wilson. .”
"Don't you know him?" Pamela Mountbatten looked at her husband, "Don't we work together happily?"
"It seems that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is about to usher in the era of Wilson and Wilson." Alan Wilson boasted, "I am not mentally prepared for this, and I have to be handed over to the next commissioner of Malaya."
"Look at how smug he looks, he hasn't decided yet." Pamela Mountbatten snorted and gave Alan Wilson a slap on the back of the head.
"How do you talk to your husband?" Alan Wilson couldn't help but show his paternalism. "Stick your tongue out, or your ass will explode." High-speed hand-typing of British civil servants chapter list