Chapter 1423 – Landing in Bengal

Twenty nautical miles away at the forefront were the five outgoing battleships with the Vanguard as the centerpiece, the battleships, although they were a product of the previous era, the King George V class battleships were even more typical treaty battleships, which could only be described as middle of the road.

But undeniably, even to the seventies, there are not many countries have the strength to build out.

In front of the United States and the Soviet Union, the battleship is the representative of backwardness, but in front of other countries, the product of the previous era can still reign supreme. And in the rear of the battleship formation was the Eagle-class aircraft carrier strike group, which was surrounded by a cloud of anti-aircraft and anti-submarine fleets.

These big guys alone, with a total tonnage of nearly 300,000 tons, five times the size of the entire Indian Navy, were squatting in the Bay of Bengal at the moment, watching the idlers coming out of the Ganges estuary.

India’s Vikrant aircraft carrier, also known as the British sold to India’s giant-class Hercules, has returned to Calcutta.

Even if the carrier Vikrant had been there, it would not have been able to confront such a powerful enemy, and the Indian military, which had just finished fighting in Bengal, did not hesitate to report the news of the presence of the British fleet offshore to New Delhi.

Since independence, India’s greatest fear is the British comeback, to ten years ago to focus on a major power, but did not expect, this time the Royal Navy really came back.

Even if the body of the old battleships, need to carry far less than the United States aircraft carrier Eagle-class aircraft carrier, my Great Britain as invincible world ……

Pakistan’s capital, just from the military to take over the power of Ali Bhutto, at this time is in the middle of the anxiety, have to say that the military government left a mess that is really bad.

Bhutto can be said to have assumed office at a time of crisis for Pakistan. Externally, India was occupying 5,000 square miles of West Pakistan, East Pakistani soldiers were being held captive in India, and the state of war between India and Pakistan had not yet ended; internally, the economy had been severely damaged, and industrial and agricultural production had come to a standstill, resulting in chaos.

Ali Bhutto was born into a typical upper-class elite family in the colonial period, and was admitted to the bar in England, he certainly knew Britain, and after busying himself with his own affairs, he asked the guards to let in the British commissioner who had boarded the door, William, the High Commissioner in Pakistan.

But well, ready to depart from Sikkim to return to the good old son David, also met his father’s mouth Ali Bhutto.

David was supposed to return to London to heal his parents’ strained relationship, but was given a new task by the supreme authority of the birth son, who was not used for nothing, to follow the High Commissioner to Pakistan to meet the newly appointed President Ali Bhutto and to tell him frankly about Britain’s ideas.

What an opportunity to rub in seniority, not used for nothing, which is absolutely good for the road ahead.

“Rahman cannot be released now, President Bhutto, this time we have come to help Pakistan. The war may be over, but the consequences of the war are far from over.”

High Commissioner William directly stated his intention, “There is no doubt that this Indo-Pakistani war was a fiasco for Pakistan, half of the tax revenues and foreign exchange relied on East Pakistan to generate, and the loss of East Pakistan would be fatal for Pakistan. But Britain can find a way to make Pakistan’s loss smaller.”

“The Royal Pacific Fleet, just off Dhaka, now needs a reason for us to go into Bengal, and that reason lies with Rahman. For the rest of the country to account for, it’s a levee against India’s ambitions to annex Bengal.” David followed the core instructions given by the old man helpfully, “Obviously, Britain is better equipped than India in the matter of bringing Bengal on the right track.”

David realized only when he reached Pakistan and contacted his father who was the supreme authority that the old man had started designing the city of Dhaka, he really wanted to ask if he had ever been to Dhaka, did he know how many people were there?

“The release of Rahman can be released to us, and Britain will definitely keep Rahman pending in Dhaka. I am sure, in a religious perspective, Rahman also certainly does not want Bangladesh after independence, to become a vassal of India, it is Britain who can solve this dilemma.”

William said this rhetorically asking Ali Bhutto, “President Bhutto, I don’t think the choice is difficult before India and Britain.”

Working with the former colonizers was certainly something Ali Bhutto was reluctant to do, but if India was factored in, it wasn’t something that couldn’t be considered. With Pakistan’s power it was certainly impossible to get East Pakistan back again, the loss of East Pakistan had become a foregone conclusion, and since Britain was willing to step in and settle the matter, he certainly would not oppose it.

“Gentlemen, do we need to see Rahman now?” Aliberto spoke after a brief moment of reflection.

“That would certainly be more than fine.” William and David looked at each other and nodded, “Britain is willing to play a good role in the development of relations between the nascent Bangladesh and Pakistan.”

At this moment, the busiest department in Whitehall was undoubtedly the Foreign Office, which had been stirred into a frenzy by the Chinese, Soviet, American, Indian and Pakistani radios since the Royal Pacific Fleet had blocked the mouth of the Ganges.

Messy mess, the whole planet is in disarray because of Britain’s move, no one expected that the Bay of Bengal standoff, which had just cooled down, would heat up again because of the presence of the Royal Navy.

“Britain is due to enter Bengal and maintain local stability in Bengal.” Foreign Secretary Patrick, facing the swarming media people, answered decisively, “Although the war is over, the wounds and pains caused by the war are far from stopping, and many countries in the Commonwealth hope that Britain can help the poor Bengalese people and restore peace as well as prosperity.”

At the same time as Foreign Secretary Patrick was spouting off, the Foreign Office was replying one by one to the interests involved, saying to one of the major powers, “British involvement would be beneficial to the balance of the situation in South Asia, preventing the annexation of Bengal by India, which would be equally beneficial to you.”

The reply to the Soviet Union stated, “Britain has no intention of stirring up trouble, otherwise it would have been out with the U.S. task force at the time of the standoff in the Bay of Bengal. The action at this time is purely for peaceful purposes.”

The answer to the United States emphasized the special Anglo-American relationship, and the rest was pretty much the same as what was said to a major power.

As for Pakistan it was a routine informative, and what had to be said had already been conveyed clearly through both the High Commissioner and the good Dahl.

As for India, Britain shouted that human rights were above sovereignty and guaranteed Bengal’s independence, while reminding India from a position of strength that it had violated the agreement signed between India’s independence and Britain, both that India’s imports and exports had to be in pounds sterling, and that the ruble to rupee acted as a breach of the traditional relationship between the two countries.

Alan Wilson turned off the TV and took the telegram sent back by David, “Your good son will be back soon, and also asked me inside the telegram if I had been to Dhaka, well, it seems that I, a British Indian official, will have to accept my own son’s professional assessment?”

“He’s just asking, not that he doesn’t believe in your abilities.” Knowing that her son is about to return to the country, Fei Wenli also not and her husband’s equal status with the men lost their temper, aggrieved muttered in a small voice, “You should also talk to me, South Asia is at war, you let him so past, as if it is not your son like.”

“Is it aggravating to run around for the good of the country?” Alan Wilson cold face, directly and proudly stood up his chest and said, “If one day the British Empire needs me to sacrifice, I also ……唔!”

The declaration of going through the fire without hesitation was directly muffled by the palm of the Great British Treasure.

The TV then interjected an important news item, “The High Commissioner to Pakistan and Pakistani President Ali Bhutto conferred on the Bengal issue and after frank communication from the High Commissioner, President Ali Bhutto announced the release of Awami League leader Rahman. Here is Rahman’s statement.”

“The newborn Bengal will be a prosperous and peaceful country, we are very conscious of British feelings and Bengal needs British help to lead us out of the mire ……”

Rahman’s business-as-usual message was spread all over the world through British public opinion, and at the same time it was the best note to give to the Royal Navy, off Dhaka, for this operation.

This time the Royal Navy went out, is in the downhill picking peaches, in fact, everyone in the heart of the clear, the United States understand, a major power understand, the Soviet Union also understand, not to mention is the two countries involved in Pakistan and India, but everyone understands the understanding, but also must be recognized that this time a fleeting opportunity was seized by the British, out of the knife cleanly and effectively.

Even Indira Gandhi in the Prime Minister’s Office have to smash things to vent their anger, but also have to admit that this usually play dead colonial sovereignty, suddenly rise up out of the knife and give India a lesson.

Less than twenty hours later, the British fleet from Malaya docked at Chittagong, and the beige flag-wielding marines, and Chinese Malay troops, brought the beige flag back to South Asia.

British troops landed with a long time, after all, Chittagong is not in good condition, before being ravaged by the Indian engagements, in the British landing forces stepped on this familiar land, some, Bengalis hiding in the distance to watch all this, has been ready to candy the landing of soldiers, a good experience of the military and civilian fish and water love.

India itself is not much richer than Bengal, themselves have to rely on the Soviet Union to benefit it, how can in turn benefit Bengal? Not to steal in Bengal is good, the United Kingdom can be different, not to mention the Malayan sugar industry is a pillar industry, sprinkle some candy is not a problem at all.

Harold Wilson in the House of Commons questioning, firm commitment, “Britain will ensure that the independence and integrity of Bangladesh, the country has been subjected to the largest post-war war waves, pulled out of the quagmire, this is the British Empire should have the leadership.”

The House of Commons applauded, even the Conservative Party did not raise a hair and tie a thorn in their side at this point in time, and they admitted that the maneuver had been a beautiful one, and that Prime Minister Wilson had done a good job.

“There is no heck of a good fighter, you know that, don’t you?” Alan Wilson, who had already hit a shotgun, looked at the bbc and took all the credit in front of Monroe.

Perhaps India has the most mixed feelings right now, but what can be done about it? How about pulling out the carrier Vikrant and doing battle with the Royal Navy. Since you don’t dare, don’t say anything.