Chapter 380 The Recovering England

“But be sure to keep a close eye on them, don’t let love go to your head.” Princess Margaret also reminded uneasily, the famous love brain of the British royal family in the latter days, loudly reminding others not to fall in love.

“Got it, I’ll pay attention.” Pamela Mountbatten couldn’t help but smile, taking Margaret around.

At this time Allen Wilson hurriedly pulled out the small notebook he carried with him, a habit he had retained since he was in British India. Although serious people who write a diary ah, but he this is also not a diary, but to remind himself not to miss a good opportunity tips.

So far although not all of them had been honored, it could be said to be a great help, doing things thoroughly was not for nothing.

The situation in the Middle East is still quite complicated, the Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Iraq is a family of two brothers of the Hashemite family that was hostile to the Saudi royal family. The first king of the Kingdom of Iraq was also the king of Syria, only to be ousted by the French.

Faisal I, the king of Syria who was ousted by the French, was later placed by Britain as king of Iraq.

It is actually less than forty years since the Hashemite family dueled in Ibn Saud. It can be said that the Jordanian royal family and the Iraqi royal family should still be considered close, and I wonder what the Jordanian royal family thought when the Iraqi kingdom was overthrown.

This is often the case in the Middle East, where you can’t limit yourself to looking at it from the perspective of a single country, because once something comes up, it often involves more than one country.

Like when Nasser called for Arab nationalism, Gaddafi in Libya, the Arab Baath Party in Syria and Iraq were all deeply infected, and the Arab Socialist Baath Party even seized power in Syria and Iraq respectively.

At least there is really some trend of unification of the Arab world, of course that is behind, for the time being, Alan Wilson still have to think carefully, he still owes the Prime Minister a detailed analysis of the colonies.

The British Empire’s Crown Prince wedding, the repercussions caused by the world is naturally needless to mention, for Alan Wilson, but there is no big impact, his main job is to wait with bated breath for his father-in-law, the British Long Ao Tian Mountbatten General, can not come back to participate in the Crown Prince’s wedding for a short period of time to the problem of the Nasr class battleships to be resolved.

In this matter, his trust in Portugal is even higher than his trust in England. Salazar was a nationalist dictator, and the consequences of losing a city and a country like this were unbearable.

Until Saracha fell ill and died, he did not recognize Portuguese Goa as part of Indian territory, even though India had been sending troops to occupy Goa for almost two decades.

A leader like Salazar, who received aid from the Marshall Plan, was likely to use it to upgrade armaments. This was not a problem at all for Saracha himself. Conversely the situation at home was far less predictable than on the Portuguese side.

“I’m back!” Just as the family was there, Mountbatten pushed through the door and strutted in, directly attracting the attention of his wife and two daughters and sons-in-law.

Alan Wilson almost jumped up, thinking in his heart that the matter of the Nelson-class battleships was getting somewhere.

Before he could say anything, he heard Mountbatten say, full of joy, “I went to the Admiralty, and they said that I can return to the Mediterranean Fleet to continue my work after I finish the matter in India.”

Mountbatten’s determination to return to the Navy had never wavered, and his ambition was simple – to follow in his father’s footsteps and eventually become First Sea Lord. And there was only one way for him to fulfill that ambition – to return to the Royal Navy.

“It would certainly be good for father to return to the Mediterranean Fleet, but it seems as though there are quite a few of your men in the Mediterranean Fleet.” Patricia Mountbatten leaned over her husband John Brabourne’s shoulder and expressed her congratulations before saying, “Relationships won’t be faded, will they.”

“No, we have a good relationship, we all talk to each other.” Mountbatten caught his daughter’s meaning and gave an answer.

Mountbatten’s men in the Mediterranean Fleet were surely going to have to change his name to someone else’s sir when he returned to the Mediterranean Fleet.

Mountbatten had served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southeast Asian Theater, and was still Viceroy of British India; it was not proper to have a low placement, and the few high-level positions that were available were now crowded, so he couldn’t just remove someone else as soon as he returned? Besides, the others were not derelict in their duties or at fault.

From the point of view of the position held, Mountbatten came back directly to do the Secretary of State for the Navy can be, but in rank, the Royal Navy than his high rank there are a lot.

Returning to the Mediterranean Fleet would surely only be a return to his official position, a position that pales in comparison to when he was Supreme Commander or Governor of a major Allied theater.

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, General Arthur John Power, was Commander of the East India Fleet under Mountbatten when he was Supreme Commander of the Southeast Asia Theater; Vice-Admiral of the Mediterranean Fleet, Douglas Pennant, had also served under Mountbatten.

“The last time I was in the Mediterranean Fleet, the Commander-in-Chief always called me sir, and I called him sir, which is really all right.”

Mountbatten went straight to his wife’s side and sat down rather relaxed, “When I get back I’ll finish the British India business, I’ve finally fulfilled the Cabinet’s mandate, and since Arizona had to disregard the warnings of the possible future disintegration of East Pakistan to become independent, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“This, Governor, about Portugal?” Alan Wilson asked in a roundabout way if there was any worry about the Nelson class battleships.

“That matter, ah, it’s not a problem in principle, nothing difficult really.” General Mountbatten casually waved his hand and said, “We are not the first time to sell warships, as long as the Portuguese side has no problem, our side will certainly have no problem.”

“On this matter, if the Portuguese government doesn’t award the Governor a Grand Medal, it will be sorry for your good offices.” Alan Wilson let out a breath of relief, finally this matter is done!

Immediately after that is a face of longing to open rainbow fart mode, said that this matter in addition to Mountbatten himself, no one can do so neatly, the whole of the British Empire there is only Mountbatten, can be so fast to set things down.

Mountbatten, on the other hand, surface bashful, by the way, said that although this is an objective fact, but he will not be used to show off, are for the British Empire to do things, can not take credit for themselves.

Allen Wilson said he was taught, and must take Mountbatten as an example and work hard for the glory of the British Empire.

Is something like a battleship useful? It depends on how you look at it, it was still useful to the colonial empire.

Even decades later, the battleship is still a very threatening weapon for most countries in the world.

Two battleships in the hands of the Portuguese would have been perfectly capable of shelling Bombay once Goa was threatened, replicating the Dutch Navy’s brilliant results at Jakarta, so how is it useless?

Bombing Bombay into ruins, by then Goa even if lost, India also do not want to get the benefit.

“Actually, the Prime Minister’s concern is not justified.” While the women were cooking, Mountbatten called Allen Wilson, who was looking at things objectively, to one side and talked about the details in the midst of this matter, and then asked, “When do you think this deal might come to fruition?”

“Portugal doesn’t have the money either, but according to the Foreign Office, Portugal is among the countries that the United States is aiding in Europe. When the meeting in Paris is over next month, it will probably be a done deal.” Alan Wilson said honestly, “The Foreign Ministry’s job at the moment is to rake in the largest share of the U.S. aid to Europe.”

“The financial problems at home are still serious?” Mountbatten frowned, “But I came back this time thinking that the atmosphere in London was much better than the last time I was back.”

“If we can get American aid, it shouldn’t be a problem.” Alan Wilson paused for a moment and said, “I’ll ask Sir Edward.”

It was absolutely right to ask Edward Bridges about this matter, because Edward Bridges, who had ceded the Cabinet Secretary to Norman Brooke, was also the Permanent Undersecretary of the Treasury, and had the Treasury directly in his hands.

“Oh, Alan.” Edward Bridges was a little surprised by Alan Wilson’s arrival and immediately inquired with a smile, “How come you have time to come to the Ministry of Finance?”

“Sir Edward, I had thought that the financial issue that looks like it is being focused on by Prime Minister Adderley must be a mess. I didn’t expect you to manage it personally.” Alan Wilson greeted with a respectful smile and waited until Edward Bridges nodded before sitting down, “What a surprise.”

“It’s nothing unexpected, because the Ministry of Finance is important.” Edward Bridges had an expression of you still don’t understand and spoke, “How do you want to transfer to the Ministry of Finance? As long as you are willing, I can arrange it.”

“It’s like this, Sir Edward. General Mountbatten inquired about the financial problems in the country. Of course I know it’s a bit inappropriate to reveal it, but he’s Pamela’s father.” Alan Wilson spoke up with some embarrassment.

“The various indicators in the homeland have all been restored to pre-war standards, and the current fiscal deficit is mainly due to spending on the National Assistance Bill. Prime Minister Adderley wants to announce the construction of the declaration of Britain as a welfare state next year.”

Edward Bridges said as he counted, “In a short period of time, the national assistance bill will become the source of financial pressure, but at the current rate of recovery, it is not a big problem, according to our Ministry of Finance statistics, this year’s growth rate of the mainland is six percent, which is still quite optimistic.”

Becoming a welfare state next year? It’s not even 1948 yet, Alan Wilson’s heart slandered, but welfare this kind of thing an era has an era’s standard, it’s not impossible to say that it’s built as a welfare state.

“What I said to you must be kept secret.” Edward Bridges smiled and emphasized, “Especially to Admiral Mountbatten, or else the Navy will ask for an increase in military spending, and the Prime Minister’s already scarce hair will fall out.”