Chapter 295 – I’m Demanding

Now that Edward Bridges was in a good mood, he decided to find Norman Brooke, who was about to succeed him as Cabinet Secretary, to go for an afternoon drink and relax, and it had to be said that the haze was a bit bigger these days. Going to Scotland to play golf would actually be nice if you have the time.

With the Prime Minister’s approval, it was basically certain that Alan Wilson had the support of the British Empire.

Of course as the direct person in charge, he was not idle, similarly, all the forces in British India were busy with their own affairs, Sir Barron was regulating the dispute within the Congress Party, mediation was limited to verbal.

It was Gandhi, not Sir Barron, who was really able to mediate on the differences between Nehru and Pacer on the issues.

In the same period of history, when General Mountbatten had assumed office, British India had been reorganized, and Nehru had become the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel could not afford to part company with Nehru under such conditions.

But history took some controlled turns, Mountbatten was not yet in office, and the reorganization of British India was nowhere in sight. The Congress Party was not part of British India and was still in the stage of resistance.

Just in time for the drought in the subcontinent, the Viceroyalty seized the opportunity to openly and impartially put part of the problem, into the whole of British India, from the political environment of the recent year in British India is very lively, lively a lot of people are feeling tired.

Definitely not among those who are feeling tired is Patel, who has returned from London, where Patel’s toughness with the PMLN has cheered the conservative forces of the Congress, a coalition-type party with all ingredients.

How could Sir Barron genuinely mediate when an internal problem was a great thing for the Viceroyalty of British India?

Change into a hundred years ago, the Congress Party is the nail in the coffin of the traitors, Sir Barron all think, are the harmonious society to save the Congress Party, change into the old days, the cannons are set up.

So Sir Barron’s mediation, nothing more than understanding understanding, and even through the discourse implied Patel, in fact, London is not all optimistic about Nehru, there are some Conservative MPs, very optimistic about Patel under the leadership of India.

This is not a lie, it is true that there are such voices, Patel advocates liberalism, after this trip to London, indeed, some MPs are very recognized, but the MPs who recognize it are in the opposition party.

On the contrary Mr. Churchill’s Conservative Party in opposition was suspicious of Nehru’s so-called Labour component, believing that the so-called leaning towards Labour was camouflage, and that instead there were shades of Bolsheviks within.

Alan Wilson of course knows, alone on this matter, in fact, the British Conservative Party judgment is not wrong.

However, he did not need to get involved in this matter, Sir Barron’s recent work enthusiasm is very high, as an assistant he can not at this time, let the British India Commissioner upset.

What’s more, Allen Wilson really don’t have time, London’s return telegram this time is sent directly to the Governor General’s Office, telegram Edward Bridges taking into account Sir Barron’s feelings, will be described as an ambiguous matter of the iron ore, seemingly not particularly important, is the Cabinet to Allen Wilson a try to see the task.

At the same time did not say that things on the board, such wording so that Sir Barron is not much touch, is not just a U.S. company to negotiate it, which is not as important as the mediation of the two giants of the National Congress Party, but also to recognize the Cabinet Secretary to let Allen Wilson to handle the instructions.

Sir Barron felt that things have only just begun, how do you know are already almost to the end.

During Sir Barron’s so-called mediation, Gandhi enjoyed a walk every morning, always accompanied by Nehru. They talked about many past, present and future issues.

Speaking of the future of the Congress Party, Nehru envisioned that after the motherland was free, Congress parties like the present one would wipe themselves out and be replaced by parties more in the interest of the workers and peasants.

Gandhi, on the other hand, was of the opinion that the Congress party should continue to exist under the following conditions, namely, that the Congress party could pass a self-regulatory ordinance that all its members should not accept a remunerated post in a state organ; and that if any person wished to obtain such a position of power in a state organ, he must resign from the Congress party.

Gandhi’s intention was to keep the Congress party in a position of supremacy and disinterestedness, so that it could exert a great deal of supervisory pressure on the executive as well as on the other branches of the government, so that they would not be derailed from their proper course.

Gandhi’s thinking was markedly different from the modern conception of political parties, which are established with the aim of seizing power in order to transform politics and the economy in accordance with the party’s guiding philosophy. That is what Nehru thought.

But Nehru, who as Gandhi looked favorably on leading post-independence India, did not put his true thoughts into words. Gandhi was a more important figure within the Congress party and indeed within the subcontinent than any Congress president.

He was the man who had the chairmanship built in, and his advice was consistently taken. Gandhi repeatedly declined the chairmanship, preferring instead to have one of his colleagues or aides, but Gandhi’s support was pivotal, especially after Patel’s return, and Gandhi’s support was extremely important to Nehru.

Gandhi had that kind of influence, so as long as he had Gandhi’s support, Nehru had the confidence to deal with Patel’s challenge, and as for the mediation of the Viceroyalty of British India, Nehru also voiced his thoughts, “The old British way, divide and rule.”

“But Patel should be certain of one thing, that the British will be gone in two years, so he wants to be the one to lead India after the British leave.” Gandhi frowned; no one was perfect, and while he favored Nehru, he wasn’t all against Patel’s claims.

Patel’s defense of the Hindu faith, for example, was very comforting to Gandhi, but the rest? It was pretty ordinary.

Patel’s supporters were predominantly conservative, and Hindu conservatives were in fact Gandhi’s enemies; more than a decade ago, Gandhi had engaged in a polemic with conservatives because Hindu temples were not allowing Dalits to enter them for pilgrimage.

Even in that argument, the conservatives said that some of them would go on hunger strike to see who would go on hunger strike for a longer period of time.

Gandhi engaged them in open warfare. In the end, after a plebiscite, the majority of Hindus remained in favor of Gandhi, agreeing to the entry of untouchables into temples and the elimination of discrimination.

Of course certain Viceroys say that this is because Gandhi was challenged in the area of hunger strikes in which he excelled, and that is why he has been suppressing the conservatives in favor of Nehru’s so-called enlightened faction.

Sir Barron and Gandhi, both mediating between Nehru and Patel’s claims within the Congress Party, and Alan Wilson, of course, was not idle, having been given written instructions by the Cabinet Secretary to take charge of the negotiations with the wily Americans on the iron ore question.

The negotiations were quite difficult, but the most difficult was the trial of Greta Garbo, who was always afraid of being broken up as a thief, and, as he had done, made a customized gold serpent ring to tell Greta Garbo’s fortune.

“That’s what I found out by seeing the ring.” Greta Garbo glanced at Alan Wilson with a thinly veiled gaze, pointing directly at the civil servant’s blunder, “We are all actors who entered the industry very early, Vivian is not in Hollywood before she was easily fooled by you, as for Ingrid, that’s her character problem. That’s why I judged that you’ve got it.”

Alan Wilson who was holding the golden snake ring was now quite embarrassed, the hand that was pinching the ring didn’t know whether to continue handing it over or draw it back, he simply wanted to introspect himself, usually how careful a person he was, how come there was such an obvious loophole as soon as he saw some beautiful actresses?

Greta Garbo, who was half lying on the sofa, continued with an indifferent smile, “Do you also want to do as you did, and get a cheap shot at me? Realize your star collection?”

“To say it was a complete lack of thought would be a lie, of course.” Alan Wilson was a little embarrassed, hard to say, “Let’s just say that I still have something to learn, and I could have been a little more secretive, but there’s no way to tell anything just by virtue of the rings, and it’s not like they’re wearing them on their hands.”

“I used to act in silent movies, conquering the audience through my expressions. Silent movie eyes are extremely important, just look at how a few people look at you and everything is clear.” Greta Garbo stretched and answered the question absently.

There was a reason for everything, and then Greta Garbo mentioned where Hedy Lamarr, Joan Crawford looked at Allen Wilson.

He’s always been the one to tell the others about the play, and now it’s Greta Garbo’s turn to coach him. Although Greta Garbo, like Hedy Lamarr, has not won an Oscar, “If Katharine Hepburn were here, you couldn’t hide it for a day.”

Referring to Katharine Hepburn, who had once been a rival to herself, Greta Garbo said with an indifferent smile, “Guess she’d advise Vivian to stay away from you.”

“Eh, looks like I got lucky.” Alan Wilson still maintained the position of handing over the ring, his wrist was already a little sore.

“I’ll take the ring first, it’s a precious gift after all.” As she spoke Greta Garbo had already taken the ring away and said with a condescending tone, “Young star collector, you should have heard that Ingrid, who can’t hide a secret, say that I’ve made up my mind to remain celibate.”

Greta Garbo then heard a statement that nearly broke her defenses, “You can have children without being married.”

For the first time, the face of Greta Garbo, who had been maintaining her iceberg status, changed expression, she still underestimated the young civil servant, that this could be said.

“Want to have a child with me? I’m very demanding.” Greta Garbo almost gritted her silver teeth to let this brazen person know what to do.

“I’m sorry!” Alan Wilson apologized repeatedly, and at that exact moment Ingrid Bergman, who came over for dinner on time, came to the door and met a half-lying Greta Garbo and a serious sitting Alan Wilson, before which Greta Garbo had already put the ring away.

“Waiting impatiently!” Ingrid Bergman went straight to the table without guilt, and that was how she saw Garbo. At all times careless, as if refusing to be seen.