Chapter 1474 – Toughness and Appeasement

“Secretary General, we have been informed by the EC side to attend a meeting on the response to the oil crisis.” The next day at work, Wick was already waiting, “The Prime Minister’s private secretary just called, the Prime Minister also wants to hear a report on Whitehall’s preparations for the oil crisis.”

“Got it Wick, relax.” Alan Wilson replied with a smile, “The EC meeting is indeed very important, but for the Foreign Office, the more chaotic the world gets, it’s rather an opportunity to reflect the value of the work, our relationship with the Arab countries is still okay isn’t it, although not all of them.”

Before going to work, Alan Wilson also talked to his wife, who was about to meet with the representatives of the four major grain merchants, about the European side’s response to the oil crisis.

Most European countries are not much resistance, that’s for sure, Europe in the resource reserves of even a certain big country level, are not always taken in energy.

But the problem is that Europe is not to say that it is a certain big country level in this, on the contrary, it is very similar to which big country that has a reputation.

Can we fight this oil crisis from a position of strength? I can only say that France can, but other countries will be difficult.

Do not look at the African Gulf of Guinea seems to be a few former colonial powers seem to have layout, simply useless, in addition to Portugal, other countries in Africa colonies have become independent, even Portugal may not be when it can not hold out, Angola and Mozambique, these Portuguese colonies are in the midst of guerrilla warfare.

Already independent energy countries, will not because of the European countries a sentence will not increase prices, which involves the problem of having to add money. Sell at cost because you want to have good relations with Europe?

Let’s say the recent Libya, Italy as not do not let the Kingdom of Libya to take care of Italy’s interests, in front of money, who and you to maintain traditional friendly relations.

Only real control in their own countries, belonging to their own resources will be used, the North Sea oil, Algerian oil belongs to this list, as for the oil in the Gulf of Guinea, Portugal is estimated to be bad enough, the Lisbon government to deal with the guerrillas has been very reluctant to raise the price of oil, the Portuguese army will not become the hope of Europe, followed by the Saudis together with the price of balancing the military expenditures to alleviate the financial pressures, it is very likely.

Britain and France can solve the problem is part of the oil embargo, as for the price of oil, what unity of Europe are bullshit, that are the results of the market economy, of course, follow the Arab countries together with the price.

“Is the spring of the Foreign Ministry, Secretary General, but there are too many things.” Wick shook his head and smiled bitterly, it was enviable that the Supreme Authority was never so subdued.

“There could be more going on, attending meetings before and after the EC’s response to the oil crisis, and a visit to Chile, as well as maybe we could represent Europe and have a good talk with the Arab world.” Alan Wilson raised an eyebrow, “The British Empire is at least the leader of Europe, and maybe there are many countries that have put their hopes in us by now.”

The glory days are back, Alan Wilson said schadenfreude and went into his office, then came back out a second later, making it clear that he wasn’t late before walking to 10 Downing Street.

“Your Honorable Prime Minister, you are looking well.” Arriving at Ten Downing Street, Alan Wilson greeted with a refreshed look, expressing his respect for the current Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

“Alan, what a joke.” Harold Wilson muttered in a low voice, “The Arab League announced an oil embargo, such a big thing, but you acted as if nothing had happened, Whitehall has any suggestions yet.”

“No.” Alan Wilson replied dryly, and then explained, “The oil crisis may be the first time for other countries to see, but the UK is an exception, in the period of Prime Minister Aidley, the UK has fought the oil war with Iran, India was embargoed because of the Indo-Pakistani war for oil, or we helped. All the preparations also preplanned, many years ago we have completed.”

Alan Wilson smiled and sat down, a kind of Chang Gong attached to the decision to win in a thousand miles away, hurry to pan the oil gun twenty meters of hesitant aura in the body, “the North Sea oil production increase needs time, but as it happens, after the Iranian oil crisis, the United Kingdom has established a hundred and eighty days of the oil reserve system, can completely get through the oil embargo, not to mention that the oil embargo list among the list does not have the Britain.”

“That seems to be fine.” Harold Wilson became relaxed all of a sudden and seemed to have thought of a bright future with his support rising.

“More than no problem, in fact the problem is the price increase, not the embargo. The oil-producing countries have always felt that the valuable oil resources were being utilized cheaply by the industrial countries.”

Alan Wilson shrugged, “In fact, on the issue of oil prices, the Middle East, including Iran, itself has a delicate relationship with Europe and the United States. Even without this Middle East war, sooner or later, because of the energy price issue, both sides will still showdown. The good thing is, no matter when the showdown, Britain is certainly the European country that will be hit the least, because the Middle East war showdown is better, Britain will not be affected.”

“But a lot of European countries? You know, Alan, energy is a big problem in Europe.” Harold Wilson signaled that even if the UK was not affected, it was inevitable that the UK would not be affected if other countries were affected and experienced a recession, the economies of the countries were inextricably linked.

“The Prime Minister means that we sell the North Sea oil to European countries at cost price, in exchange for the praise of the countries?” Alan Wilson asked rhetorically with a wry smile, “A very bold idea.”

“Of course not.” Harold Wilson shook his head directly upon hearing this, “Although European unity is very important, countries must pay for their own behavior.”

“That would be to follow the price increase, this would balance the government’s expenses and the oil companies could make money.” Alan Wilson nodded his head, “Adopting a price that balances the interests of all parties and fully allows Europe and the Arab League to understand Britain’s position, the Foreign Office looks like it will be busy for some time to come.”

Oil price increase this matter how simple that, either play a leading role in understanding the material power of Great Britain to tie the hearts of the European Community, to get the European Community countries all interests beyond the thanks.

Either in business, the oil price increase after selling to European countries, the embargo problem Britain can not be solved, but can give money after the sale of oil.

“Depends on what France thinks, Algeria also produces oil.” Alan Wilson still reminds the Prime Minister to be careful of the French, judging from common sense France will not sacrifice itself to stabilize Europe either, on what grounds? But there is also a tiny possibility that the French are really stupid.

This possibility Alan Wilson that is still not very big, the European side in the aspect of collectivism has never been missing, concessions this kind of thing does not exist, otherwise it will fight two world wars?

Although the slogan of European unity after the war shouted loudly, but really involved in the interests, or can be said to be huge interests, really for the sake of European unity on the sacrifice of their own?

“This matter, I can inquire about Total’s side through Pamela to find out the news.”

“There is no doubt that this oil embargo is a feast for the oil companies.” Harold Wilson let out a sigh of relief, if it wasn’t for the fact that the UK had North Sea oil, he would even want to rob the rich to help the poor.

Even now that the head of the civil service said that Britain would not be affected, he could not help but feel enthusiastic about the lucrative profits that would follow for several British oil companies.

Alan Wilson understands the Prime Minister’s feelings, and the Sleeping King also accuses the American energy giants of taking advantage of the opportunity to enrich themselves and make more money than God.

This is all very normal, if Britain is also deeply plagued by inflation, it is estimated that Harold Wilson will not think about it, but pay it into action.

“I’ll arrange a diplomatic itinerary right away and will send it to the Prime Minister when I do.” Alan Wilson nodded his head in greeting to the Prime Minister, ready to leave a mark on the Foreign Office’s glory days.

Before the matter at hand, with the oil crisis and the mining crisis, such as Chile, which occupies a large share of the world’s copper, Alan Wilson asked his wife, who was in the middle of negotiating the sale of grain, to ask the French Total Group what it thought.

After all, in the distribution of Libyan oil, Britain and France are one and a half, after a series of integration and adjustment, the French part is now in the hands of Total.

“Leave it to me, I have cooperation with Total in the business of the Kingdom of Libya.” Busy female richest man, gave the district civil servant a face, “The Soviet Union is buying grain again this year, and a few grain companies talk well, everyone benefits equally.”

“At the critical moment, it is still his own wife who is reliable.” Alan Wilson gazed blearily at Pamela Mountbatten, “It may not just be a harvest of grain, now that Chile has a change of heart, Rhodesia’s days are good, able to a few years of good times.”

“We are not enemies with the Soviet Union.” Pamela Mountbatten covered her mouth and snickered, before the Chilean coup was crushed, the price of copper was maintained at a low price, Allende crushed the coup, and this price of copper went up all of a sudden.

“There’s also oil driving up the price of commodities, you’re in for a treat for the next few years.” Alan Wilson reached out and rubbed Pamela Mountbatten’s cheek, “The good times are just beginning for Australia.”

While Pamela Mountbatten was colluding with Total with unprecedented vigor, Alan Wilson began to map out his diplomatic itinerary, with the EC meeting, of course, at the top of the list, and the heads of state and government of the member countries of the European Community meeting in an extraordinary session in Copenhagen.

The experts produced a report on “the potential for more serious inflation, deficits and unemployment as a result of the embargo”. According to the report, the total number of unemployed in the Community countries would reach four million in the coming year.

The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and the French President, Pierre Mesmer, engaged in a frank exchange of views on whether the embargo was a manifestation of Europe’s great power? Or is it a purely market issue, both men finally agreed that the oil price increase is just a market issue.

The in-depth exchanges between the two heads of state reflect the long European political tradition of appeasement.