Chapter 309: Frightening Jinnah

The lower civil servants were not so strict about party affiliation, but the senior civil servants had always strictly avoided appearing at any party rallies, let alone taking a stand.

It was just that Edward Bridges had already found a successor and, with a little help from Prime Minister Airdrie before he stepped down, would complete a smooth handover of the head of the civil service.

Apparently, Airdrie himself received Edward Bridges’ goodwill accurately and spoke, “The opposition parties are also an important force in British politics, just as important as a smooth handover from the civil service.”

“It is always impressive when a great Prime Minister speaks.” A smile emerged from the corners of Edward Bridges’ mouth, heartily complimenting the Prime Minister on his great decision.

“What exactly are we going to do? Better make it not look like I’m begging that egomaniac.” The dignified Winston then figures a laugh that Churchill is still the same egomaniac in Airdrie’s eyes.

Likewise in Churchill’s eyes, the current Prime Minister, Adderley, is still the same bumbling mediocrity. Even if the British chose mediocrity over him.

“Before there was a drought in the subcontinent, Gandhi used to write to MP Churchill. The time is a little farther back, but it can be utilized just the same, and it is necessary to let the people know about it.” Edward Bridges remembered something; the letter did exist and was not a forgery.

Gandhi had indeed written to Churchill in the last year, hoping that Churchill would be able to temper the increasingly obvious hostility between the Congress and the PMLN.

Hearing about this, Prime Minister Adderley, whose mind was already clear, said heartily, “The people’s right to know is all too necessary.”

If Churchill that backbench MP, every day just in the parliament in the middle of Bibi chatter, take the British India issue to the ruling party to point fingers, but to Gandhi’s request ignored, this is a thing to destroy the persona of the matter.

Everyone knows that Churchill was vocal about defending the interests of the British Empire, and now when the interests of the British Empire need to be defended, he hides on the sidelines as if he didn’t see it? This seems to be difficult to link with the image of pointing the finger in the middle of the parliament.

Gandhi’s letter to Churchill was published as an exclusive in the Daily Telegraph, and the letter’s heartfelt plea for help appeared in front of the citizens of London in such a way.

Just before Churchill, who had learned of the news, asked the government to launch a leak investigation, Prime Minister Aidley first rushed in front of Churchill to take a stand, on the one hand, affirmed Churchill’s achievements in leading the British Empire in wartime, the prestige of the international community is indeed a valuable asset of the British Empire, and is considering whether to let the Churchill MP shoulder a more arduous task, the problem of British India to be resolved once and for all.

During this period, Prime Minister Adderley also used this incident as a reason to formally reject the American request for Britain to send more troops to Greece. Stating that there was nothing more important to the British Empire, now, than British India.

As well as the Near East position of such importance as a bridgehead to contain the Soviet Union, the United States shoulders the responsibility to lead the free world and so on.

In fairness Labor was just as unhappy with the Soviet Union as the Tories, but Labor preferred the US to take the main firepower, rather than Britain contributing as much as the US did, as the Tories did.

The Labor government believed the report previously submitted by Edward Bridges, actually submitted by Alan Wilson, both that in a short period of time, the only threat to the colonies of the British Empire was likely to be the much stronger U.S. Navy, not the Soviet Red Navy, which was better than nothing.

Europe is of course important to Britain, but this does not mean that the colonies are not important. Specific things have to be analyzed.

At this time in New Delhi, the capital of British India, gentlemen are enjoying afternoon tea, while in the Governor General’s office, the Governor General of British India, Mountbatten, accompanied by his wife, and the PML-N leader, Ali Jinnah, to discuss the future of British India.

“I wonder if our Viceroy, is happy with this meeting?” Sir Barron cupped his teacup with a look of relief, seemingly elevated to another level, although it may not be the right description, but that’s probably how it felt.

“Who knows, but …… should not be optimistic.” Alan Wilson took a big breath and turned a big corner. He had met Ali Jinnah before and knew that the PMLN leader was not an easy character to convince.

Governor Mountbatten was sociable, able to become friends with many people, and had an impressive charisma, but this also had to be differentiated to whom, not everyone ate this, especially since Ali Jinnah’s life was not long to go, so how could he possibly compromise on principle.

This is exactly what happened, although the talks were not yet over, Mountbatten had already recognized the problem, and his talks with Jinnah were never pleasant, because Ali Jinnah was unwilling to accept any other alternative than to fight for an independent Pakistan.

Even the tripartite formula for the reservation of the Turkish state was equally opposed by Ali Jinnah. For the Pacifists were a minority compared to the Hindus, both in terms of population and land.

Tupang also exists in the area under the control of the Pacifists, and in proportion to the land it occupies, it is not at all easier to deal with than the Tupang of the Hindus, if it is weakened in the same proportion as the present base. While the Hindus with their thick base could carry the day, Pakistan would be weakened more visibly by the turf states, and the two sides would not be on the same level of foundation.

If all these independent turf states were in places occupied by Hindus, Arijana would not have objected.

But the problem lies in the fact that apart from Hyderabad, Mysore, Indore, Jammu and Kashmir, Travancore, Junagadh, which are a few of them, the rest of the big Tupangs are actually within Pakistan.

But on the issue of the Tupangs, Ali Jinnah only voiced his opposition but did not speak out vehemently. Because he believed that Nehru was in agreement with himself on this matter, and the job of refuting the new governor, Ali Jinnah decided to leave it to Nehru.

It was not as if there were no leaders in favor of retaining the state, for example, Gandhi, who had not yet met with Governor Mountbatten, was not in fact particularly strong on the existence of the state, but Gandhi’s point was that the whole political system of British India could be retained so that the state would be allowed to exist, in other words Pakistan could not be independent.

Nehru’s attitude is the fact that is known to everyone, surely he must have thought that the Tupang was a feudal residue that must be eliminated or else an independent India would be nothing more than a fragmented country. Only now Nehru would not say it openly.

As for Ali Jinnah certainly still fight for independence, this Alan Wilson can even communicate with Ali Jinnah, help each other out.

While thinking so, Ali Jinnah has come out from the Governor’s office, face as usual looks no different.

Governor’s office door was opened at the same time, a white smoke then floated out of the office, people who do not know thought it was a fire in the office, but for fifty cigarettes a day Ali Jinnah, this is a small scene.

Governor Mountbatten’s tall figure likewise appeared, with a cold face, Sir Barron and Alan Wilson glanced at each other, each other’s hearts were clear, the previous guess was correct, the sociable Governor, this time in front of Ali Jinnah did not have the sociability to understand.

“Mr. Jinnah is a very gentlemanly man, and knows the customs of London very well.” Mountbatten spoke dryly, “I have left him for the dinner.”

“Very good decision.” Sir Barron agreed painfully, it seemed that the so-called gentlemanly manner and the customs of London was all that was gained from this meeting between the Governor and the leader of the PMLN.

It was only logical to organize a dinner party out of welcome for Arizona, and the civil servants of the Governor’s Office were in deep agreement with this. Look at Arijana’s poise, so much smoother than the strangely dressed Gandhi.

Ali Jinnah was no stranger to the British-inspired Viceroy’s House, in fact for most of his life he was far more pro-London than any of the Congress leaders, leading the PMLN to emphasize pacifist identity, and that was after a falling out with Gandhi.

“Mr. Jinnah, while smoking is not a major problem, one must take care of one’s health.” Alan Wilson, who was carrying a glass of wine and leading Pamela Mountbatten around, walked up to Ali Jinnah just in time to see the PMLN leader, standing by the window and busily lighting one.

“It’s a personal hobby of mine.” Ali Jinnah turned around and saw Allen Wilson and Pamela Mountbatten, and opened his mouth to compliment, “What a beautiful scene, a young man and woman, immersed in sweet love.”

“Not really.” Pamela Mountbatten sniffed and squirmed with a flushed face, “How can a leader of a political party be like that.”

“I was young too, studying in London. My first wife died of illness while I was studying from London. The standard of sanitation in the subcontinent is so far from London.”

Ali Jinnah was full of emotion; Jinnah was sixteen years old at the time, and Jinnah had married a fourteen year old girl according to tradition, but just after arriving in England he received news that his mother and his recently married wife had died of cholera.

“Health is really the number one priority.” Allen Wilson paused for a moment at that and cocked his head to Pamela Mountbatten, “Pamela go wait for me over there, I have some things to talk to Mr. Zenner about, okay?”

“Got it.” Pamela Mountbatten blankly glanced at her, but still very obediently walked to the side, leaving private space for Allen Wilson and Ali Jinnah.

Ali Jinnah saw this scene, waited until Pamela Mountbatten left and then directly spoke, “Allen has something to find me?”

“A streptomycin was discovered over in the United States that can be used to treat tuberculosis.” Alan Wilson stuck his hands in his pants pockets, tilted his face to the sky, and said borderline words.

This filled Ali Jinnah with shock, he had a very serious case of tuberculosis, but it was a secret. Hardly anyone knew about it!