Chapter 1235 – Sunset Industry

The Free Officers Organization, after a few failures, was looking more and more like the model of an organization like the MBS. Many Arab countries were aware of the existence of this organization, and even believed that it was a Soviet-backed organization.

It doesn’t matter whether it was actually supported by the Soviet Union or not, the British thought it was and spread public opinion about it.

It was also said, with a good sense of humor, that the Free Officers organization was trained by Syria, a pro-Soviet stronghold in the Middle East.

So that they could prove to the reactionary feudal forces in Arabia that the Soviets were really coming to hang your streetlights, that in this world the Soviet Union was going to kill you, that the United States could not be trusted, and that only the United Kingdom, as a monarchy, could be relied upon to do the job.

Not coincidentally, Alan Wilson is also talking to Dixon about Britain’s policy in the Middle East, “Our policy in the Middle East has two points, the bottom line is that we can’t let Egypt become an anti-British country, and after making this clear, it is to stabilize the presence in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, these small sheikhs are rich in resources, and it’s easy to control, and the strength of the good Jordan, Iraq, we take a cooperative relationship, considered to be treated as a regional power in the same way as the Kingdom of Egypt.”

The current British withdrawal in Yemen is the withdrawal of British troops in Aden to the Persian Gulf, the placement of the Middle East Joint Operations Command in Bahrain, the Persian Gulf Commission in Qatar, and the establishment of bases in Kuwait and Oman to complete the arrangement of British forces in the Persian Gulf.

With this contraction, Yemen became much less important, and Socotra Island was selected as a place to balance against Yemen offshore.

East of the Suez Canal, then, the British setup became the Joint Middle East and Far East Command, with the former in Qatar and the latter in Singapore, to maintain Britain’s world influence.

Beyond the Suez Canal, the places still under British control or partial influence were Aden, the Persian Gulf bases centered on Qatar, Goa, run jointly with Portugal, British Malaya, and Hong Kong.

Dixon said he had no objection, and Foreign Secretary Rab Butler agreed that the arrangement preserved Britain’s traditional influence to the greatest extent possible, and that with the Middle East as an energy base and two of the world’s largest markets, it was in Britain’s best interest to maintain the situation as long as possible.

“The minister thinks so, really gratifying.” Alan Wilson nodded smilingly, and then asked, “the biannual meeting of foreign ministers of the European Community was convened, on the matter of Japan’s exchange rate manipulation, to try to reach agreement with the member states. If necessary, let the Germans off the hook first. The most important thing is to gain the understanding attitude of the French.”

“Secretary-General, French-controlled Algeria?” Dixon lowered his voice, things had gotten complicated since France took control of Algeria, did that count as home territory?

“We and the French can talk about a quid pro quo, if the French believe Algeria should be treated as mainland France, then the Malaya and Rhodesia Crown Dominions, and Algeria must be recognized as having equal status. But this is not yet suitable for publicity, and it would be better to wait until the Dutch and Portuguese colonies are independent before it is appropriate to talk about it in the EEC. For the time being, our goal in the fight is to understand each other in private.”

It’s not just about Britain and France, but Portugal and Holland if you want to count the colonies? Are these two countries to be given equal treatment as well? Two countries controlling the EEC is annoying enough, add two more?

That’s why the Algerian issue, is better suited for London and Paris to reach a consensus in private, rather than bring it to the stage for discussion.

Alan Wilson believes that the French would not like to see this happen, and how could Portugal and Holland be treated equally with Britain and France?

Fighting for Rhodesia and Malaya does not mean that it is also necessary to fight for the other colonies that are not yet independent as well. Alan Wilson is really Malaya as a local construction, he is sorry for the other places, but to Malaya is definitely enough.

Nowadays half of the life of the British Empire in Malaya, this rhetoric is not excessive, Malaya has been separated from the British colonial system, than the former British India status are higher.

Once upon a time, the British Empire, in addition to the British mainland has the industrial capacity to fight and resist, the other colonies are raw material sources, nothing when the colony is the place to be harvested, but to have something, waiting for the mainland to go to the rescue.

British India was nothing more than a meat shield in the first place, and now Malaya has almost become a community of interest. Don’t think that at this point Malaya does not have the slightest responsibility, really something happens, the local must go to the chopping block together with Britain.

Britain think important things, think about it is only these two things, accusing Japan of exchange rate manipulation, to Japan closed to the local market equivalent tariffs to counteract, and then and France secretly talk about mutual recognition of interests.

Dixon opened his mouth apparently thinking there was something else, and Alan Wilson cocked his head inquiringly, “What is it?”

“There are voices in Ireland wanting to join the EEC.” Dixon said carefully, “Just voices.”

“Then consider there are no voices, their voices are irrelevant, but now that we know.” Alan Wilson said with a pensive voice, “Let’s say that countries with territorial disputes are not fit to join the EEC. Let’s not say it, find a country to say it, we have a good relationship with Salazar, let the Portuguese say it for us.”

“Uh? Okay!” Dixon thought to himself, is the Supreme Authority someone who came over from the nineteenth century, treating small countries with a really consistent attitude of driving them out of business.

Dixon must have misunderstood, Allen Wilson not only dared to threaten small countries, he has threatened to organize the Chinese to go to Africa to slaughter, dare to have ambitions for Malaya, he dared to do so, what is the big deal, it is not just a smashing of the pot.

With the good wishes of Prime Minister Aidan and Cabinet Secretary Alan Wilson, Dixon accompanied the Foreign Secretary, arrived in loyal Brussels to talk about the relationship between European independence and autonomy of the first I do not know how many meetings.

On the fact that Japan is a semi-closed market, trade protection, Britain and France quickly reached a consensus.

But it is not enough for Britain and France to reach a consensus; if Germany does not recognize the judgment of trade protection for Japan, then there is one more Germany to add to the list of countries that are engaged in trade protection.

“You put your brain less on Germany.” Anna had a pair of hands on the man’s shoulders, “Is it because I see myself as a bully, I think it’s better to call my sister over and see how you explain.”

“My dear, you are mistaken. I have not the slightest prejudice against Germany, it is purely because I want Europe to be united.” Alan Wilson stifled a grunt and playfully explained.

“I don’t see that you’re good for Germany at all.” Anna cupped the man’s face and whispered close.

Placing a kiss against the red lips, Allen Wilson denied the woman’s accusation, “Germany and Japan are different, Germany is an integral part of Europe, how can they be the same.”

Can you say that Magic City is the same as a third-tier city? Can’t, the world is so unfair, how many times has it happened to my citizen Mr. Zhao and the suspect Northeast Zhao. Has it changed? No!

Although Germany is the same as the United States in the deliberate indulgence, but Germany is Europe’s own people, Japan is different, Japan can be dissatisfied, but who let you just so a position.

“If Japan’s statistics, growth next year, if it falls below six percent, this time the international market price of food increases, it is not a loss.” Draped in his shirt, Alan Wilson stood up, grinning and self-congratulatory, “If it lasts three or five years, it’ll show that Japan’s economy has been contained. As much as I would like that to be a fact of the future, it may not be so easy.”

“It would be good for you in Germany as well, France has Algeria and half of Africa, Britain has the Commonwealth and Middle Eastern influence, and the Malayan industrial base, Germany and Japan are on the same footing, the difference is that Japan’s three remaining islands are already extremely dependent on the international market, and Germany is still self-sufficient in some of its resources, and there’s no shortage of food next to France. ”

“Let Japan’s economy not overheat, steady development, is also beneficial to Germany, everyone has a bright future.”

“This time Krupp has a business crisis, you must help us out.” Anna was fully dressed, “The acquisition will be easy with your help.”

“I’ll take care of the loan, but honestly, the steel industry is already a sunset industry. It’s not just Germany, the American steel industry is also declining in the face of competition from the Japanese steel industry. Can you compete with the Kuching steel base? The truth is that it is unlikely.” Alan Wilson very conservative advice, it is best to wait and see, do not be so hasty to make a judgment, “look at the attitude of the Bonn government, if you let Krupp to solve the problem by themselves, then in the talk about the acquisition is not too late.”

Rough development is no longer suitable for Europe, not to mention Germany, the United Kingdom also appeared in the local steel industry profit decline.

“Well said!” Anna, the young Dragoon Rider, muttered, sitting down in a chair near her desk and yawning as she re-read a tedious story that had appeared in the Financial Times.

The story was about a blustery affair yesterday that had no real significance. More than half of those trading desks around the place were empty; some were away on business, others on vacation, and telephone sets and securities bills were strewn about on unattended countertops.

The rest of the place was a chaotic, disorganized mess. The office felt more like a library than a trading room.

Looking out of the window, the gray buildings of the City of London stood in silence, pointing straight up to the sky; the streets below were filled with a drowsy summer air. A kestrel was soaring through the air around the roof of the Chamber of Commerce Insurance Building.

Herculean financial centers lay dormant, and it was hard to believe what was going on in that sleepy world.

Anna, fresh from an intense workout, stretched her body in long stretches, putting her beautiful curves on full display, thinking about how to explain to Bokina that men of equal status with her husband judged that the Krupp family hadn’t reached the end of the road, and that talking about a takeover now would be a losing proposition.