Chapter 163 – Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe’s Visit

“That’s very much appreciated.” Alan Wilson touched his glass with Burgess and smiled sardonically, “I’ve always thought that the relationship between Cambridge and Oxford is actually a symbiotic relationship, if the two universities don’t see each other as a benchmark. There would be no common ground, just as the international situation is now.”

“That’s a very original way of looking at it.” Burgess said meaningfully, knowing that Alan Wilson’s reference would be to the United States and the Soviet Union, “Perhaps.”

“But I’m also more of the opinion that triangles have stability. To just distinguish between the enemy and our camps would likely be a repeat of the two world wars, and for that reason I am willing to defend the Empire’s set of claims with full fervor.”

Talking to a spy was actually quite interesting, Burgess didn’t know that Alan Wilson knew he was a spy, likewise he didn’t know that the champion of imperialism in front of him wasn’t a big fan of the United States either.

Likewise in turn, Alan Wilson didn’t know exactly why Burgess served the Soviet Union; his copper-filled head was incapable of comprehending that idealists existed.

Allen Wilson, who had been given the important task of receiving the Foreign Office, did not completely drop his job. Still keeping in close touch with New Delhi, he received good news yesterday.

That is that the negotiations for the cession, oh no, transfer, of the Isthmus of Krakatau have come to a head.

After the Brussels Conference, the six countries of the Brussels Conference showed an atmosphere of European solidarity, and even Belgium, which has little to do with it, is willing to join in the solidarity of returning to Asia.

Not to mention Spain, which urgently needs to integrate into the international community and change its total isolation.

Positive effect is still very obvious, the European side of the sharpened knife, as well as Thailand around the British army opened all over the surrender, so that Thailand understands that the old European imperialism may not be as strong as before, but in front of Thailand is still so strong.

Even the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok can do little more than try to fight to preserve Thailand’s main interests from being jeopardized, nor can the Americans be expected to do more than that at this point in time.

In front of the United States because of the Korean Peninsula and Hokkaido, and the Soviet Union suspicion, the unity during the World War, is gradually fading, the United States still need Britain and France, these fallen aristocrats, to be able to give a certain amount of solidarity at this time.

What’s more, it’s not like Britain wants the whole of Thailand, just a piece of the isthmus extending out of southern Thailand. The Kra Isthmus certainly has value, but it depends on how you look at it.

The military value of the narrow Kra Isthmus is self-evident, but the Kra Isthmus is actually occupied by two places in a dog-eat-dog fashion, one side of course being Thailand, and the other being British Burma.

The narrowest part of the Kra Isthmus is 50 kilometers, but the isthmus where British Burma meets Thailand is only 20 kilometers, so if troops were sent from British Burma, it would be easy to cut off the connection between mainland Thailand and the south.

Also because of the presence of British Burma, the Kra Isthmus itself is partly in British hands. This puts a discount on the military value of the Kra Isthmus, and the Americans are considering it with the idea that even if they fight to keep it, the initiative is in the hands of the British.

This left the United States, currently on the Korean Peninsula and Hokkaido and in diplomatic friction with the Soviet Union, less enamored.

Thailand, which had lost the support of the Americans, was defenseless against the British and the French, and the British and the French had already publicly announced that they should consider holding democratic elections in Thailand to discuss whether or not to retain the Thai royal family and return the country to the hands of the Thai people.

This was very embarrassing to the Americans. During the period just after the end of the Second World War, the United States hated democratic elections very much because the whole world was full of devastation, and a pro-Soviet country was likely to be elected after the election.

But the United States was not in a position to say openly that the United States opposed the emergence of democratic elections in Thailand and could only communicate with the Thai royal family and military. Transfer the Kra Isthmus to quell Thailand’s disrespect for Britain and France during the war.

In short, the Isthmus of Krakatau is considered to be in hand, in exchange for the British and French not to pursue the disrespect of Thailand to the civilized world during the war period, and no longer insist that Thailand in Japan, is the relationship between Austria and Germany.

The ownership of the Isthmus of Krakatau was decided and the Foreign Office building was in a state of euphoria, the glory days were back.

My Great Britain is clearly at the peak, can still fight another three hundred years, how can this retreat, “the British Empire’s borders in the Himalayas ……” I do not know who said so, caused the Foreign Office colleagues of a piece of agreement.

Before the forward journey to San Francisco, the attribution of the Isthmus of Krakatau was negotiated, so that Alexander Cadogan was even more bottomless.

Alan Wilson is not excited, but is Thailand during the war really suspected of Japan, was caught by the British to play on the subject, in the context of the Allies against the Axis victory, even the Soviet Union can not be disputed on this.

After all, now Austria, and even Finland are in the Soviet Union’s interests under the influence, once in the Thailand issue to show double standard, then in Austria and Finland, the issue may be caught by the United States to feed the shit.

This is what the Soviet Union is now trying to avoid at all costs, and even the Soviet Union, which has been looking for trouble, pretends not to see it, and the United States is even worse for tearing its face off and singing a different tune from Britain and France at such a critical time.

The newborn world hegemon still has to show the ideal of a dragon slayer for a while, it’s not yet time for the brave to turn evil.

So Thailand was sacrificed in this matter. And it’s not like it’s an annexation of Thailand, it’s just a way for Thailand to hand over the southern part of the country where the pacifists live, and maybe even maintain stability in Thailand and reduce religious conflict, what’s wrong with that?

Really fits the definition of a throwback! When was the British Empire’s most extensive colony, not in the glorious Queen Victoria era, but after the disastrous World War I, when Britain and France divided the German and Ottoman territories, each reaching the maximum number of colonies.

And this time Britain forced Thailand to cede the Isthmus of Krakatau in the post-war flow, whether by trickery or not, whether because of the friction between the US and the USSR in the Far East or not, it was made anyway.

As long as nothing too humiliating happens next, within ten years the British Empire’s tiger frame won’t fall so quickly in the eyes of a wide range of Third World countries.

Alan Wilson congratulated Alexander Cadogan, who was about to depart, in the context of the current Foreign Office’s big win, making Mr. Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Office very happy, and opened his mouth to encourage, “Alan, you’re very happy too, aren’t you. After all, it took the cooperation of British India to do this.”

“We are all serving the Empire, we do not distinguish between the Ministry of Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the work of the two departments is inherently similar.” Alan Wilson humbled himself, then turned the conversation around and said, “Sir Alexander, if the two small countries of Sikkim and Bhutan could be given some courtesy at the San Francisco Conference, I believe it would make the people of South Asia happy. The Ministry of Indian Affairs also needs to bring these two small countries into the fold.”

“I understand that very well.” Alexander Cadogan said with a gentle smile, “Giving the current native Indian elite a hard time right?”

“Sir Alexander, I have no such thoughts.” Alan Wilson shook his head to indicate that he had absolutely no ill will towards the Indians, “And given the cheek of the Indians, I doubt that they have such a mindset as embarrassment or not.”

The British Empire of 1945 was still mighty, and placing Bhutan and Sikkim, at this point in time, as founding members of the United Nations, counted as a form of protection. It also facilitated future intervention!

There must be some sort of hindrance to India’s future annexation of Sikkim.

Don’t think that the US has no idea about India, if India develops all the way and poses a threat to the US. The United States would have long ago raised the Sikkim royal family in exile in the United States to find trouble with India.

Two days later, Alexander Cadogan left London and traveled to San Francisco to sign on behalf of Britain. The formation of the United Nations had been finalized back in June at the San Francisco Conference.

The very respected Sir Alexander, his mission to San Francisco this time was limited to signing officially on behalf of the British government, recognizing the establishment of the United Nations, and at the same time delivering a speech to brighten up the day of the official establishment of the United Nations.

To be honest, it was rather formalistic, but it couldn’t be omitted, and it was important to shine, especially for small countries like Sikkim and Bhutan, to at least have the opportunity to make themselves known to the major powers.

At the same time that Alexander Cadogan left London, the London airport, the British Foreign Office organized a welcoming ceremony, waiting for Alexander Red Flag Cabaret’s plane to land.

The Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe was founded in 1928, and has been around for seventeen years now. During its previous visit to Paris, the chorus performance of the Red Flag Troupe had caused a wide welcome from the citizens of Paris.

It was not the first time that the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe had gone to the old revolutionary area of Paris; it had traveled to Paris for a tour before the war, and it was equally popular, and while it was a great success, it won the gold medal at the Paris World Expo.

The plane landed and the first person to step out of the door was the troupe’s director, Alexander Alexandrov, and then the members of the troupe followed the director off the plane for their first appearance on arrival in England.

“The Soviets are all holding their heads up, are they demonstrating to us.” The corner of the diplomat’s mouth twitched beside Alan Wilson, a little irritated by the military mannerisms.

“Maybe that’s how the Soviets are!” Alan Wilson felt that it should just be a very pure emotion, that the working people can’t bow down in front of imperialism, so they acted more mechanically.

The British receptionists immediately came forward to shake hands one by one to express their welcome, Allen Wilson felt that he should not ask for an autograph or something, after all, the opportunity is rare.