Chapter 529: Commissioner of Malaya

“By the way, my dear, there is news that father will be transferred back home within six months.” Pamela Mountbatten, who was leaning close to the man’s body as an afterthought, said softly, “But unexpectedly, it would be as the Fourth Sea Minister.”

“That would be the Sea Minister of Logistics and Finance.” Alan Wilson muttered to himself then looked at his fiancée and received a nod in response from Pamela Mountbatten.

In fact, the Secretary of the Navy of the Royal Navy was a civilian official and was held by someone like Churchill.

The First Sea Lord was effectively the full-time head of the Navy; the reason why Mountbatten had aspired to be it early on. The Second Sea Lord was in charge of personnel; the Third Sea Lord was responsible for ship design and construction; the Fourth Sea Lord was responsible for logistics such as supply and pay; and the Fifth Sea Lord was responsible for the aviation units in the navy.

For General Mountbatten, who was full of self-confidence and had returned from the Mediterranean Fleet, wanted to start as Second Sea Lord. Alan Wilson is not good to evaluate this behavior, come up to manage the personnel work, is not the overconfidence a little?

“In fact, this is good, logistics and financial work is also very important. Although not come up to manage personnel, I believe it is just a short period of time excess, Admiral Mountbatten will definitely become the first sea minister early.” Alan Wilson lowered his head and kissed Pamela Mountbatten, and a certain part of him even started to move again.

A small hand accurately grasped the handle, Pamela Mountbatten grasped the handle at the same time a pair of beautiful eyes whitened the man a glance, softly pouted, “You bad thing, you’re not honest at all times. Father is not enthusiastic about logistics and finance, and you are also aware of it, the current Labor Party imposes austerity, although not as serious as in 1945, but it is not good news for the Royal Navy’s logistics and finances, do you have any ideas?”

“Let’s see!” Alan Wilson thought back to what could be done to save costs, and certainly didn’t think of the idea of just enough that was later practiced in the UK.

The idea of just enough was one of the major reasons why the Royal Navy retired its heavy carriers in favor of light carriers, “That’s a good problem to have, if Admiral Mountbatten doesn’t mind, we can talk about the most expensive to maintain battleships and cruiser formations and attach them to British Malaya. If possible, I will the Japanese Southern Army’s 600,000 prisoners of war, select the naval service in the logistics operation of the non-commissioned officers will be released, and then cultivate Chinese workers to receive logistics maintenance work.”

“Of course the scope of application is limited to battleship and cruiser formations, and the huge savings in maintenance expenses from these warships should keep Admiral Mountbatten’s position as Minister of the Navy secure.”

“Will it cause a technology leak?” Pamela Mountbatten paused at that, “The Cabinet is calling a trip to the major airlines next month, and in addition to us and Rollo, there’s Avro, Armstrong-Whitworth, Bristol, Handley-Peakey, Gloucester, and Schott Brothers.”

“There is such a thing?” Alan Wilson mused, in a tone of uncertainty, “It may be that the authorities are going to have to take on the Americans in the field of aviation, and if my words come true, you will insist that simplicity and reliability are the most valuable items. Now I’ll answer the question about what just happened. Actually the trend of naval discoveries shows that battleships are obsolete, including many of the cruisers entering the Royal Navy.”

The current smoothest Air Force project, however, was not any of the three strategic bombers, but the Canberra tactical bomber, which Alan Wilson remembered as the first post-war tactical bomber, and which, because of its extreme reliability and stability, had remained in service well into the twenty-first century.

As for the Navy, the current Royal Navy still exists with five George V class battleships as the core of the battleship and cruiser formation, in the long run, these are sooner or later to be eliminated.

And in terms of logistical expenditure, battleships are also a gold-gobbling behemoth, making it normal for General Mountbatten to be at a loss.

Looking for inspiration from the motherland in the previous life, Alan Wilson felt that a few cities should be bound, the local ones may not work, and a few cities in British Malaya should be bound to embrace the army.

Because of this election, the major colonial commissioners were once again recalled to London by Norman Brooke, unlike the previous time, this time the colonial commissioners from all over the world to return to improve the efficiency of a lot, within a few days, they have to carry the Comet airliner back to the mainland.

Before this, Norman Brooke, in the Cabinet Secretary’s office, summoned a trip to Alan Wilson to ask the very bullish young official how he was feeling at the moment.

“I am going to decide to make Gerald Edward Commissioner to Germany. As to the choice of a new High Commissioner for British Malaya?” Norman Brooke surveyed Alan Wilson for a moment and said uncertainly, “Actually, it hasn’t been thought of yet.”

Allen Wilson stirred his ten fingers together and carefully said, “The new commissioner should have the ability and energy of a countryman, the solution to complicated matters, and the determination to maintain the British Empire.”

“And above all reliability!” Norman Brooke smiled slightly and pointed out the most important point, “Alan, you do know that Malaya is currently the world’s largest producer of rubber and tin mines, so what do you need the mainland to be able to help you with if you go?”

“I don’t want anything but nukes.” Alan Wilson said firmly, “I just want the honor of the first nuke going off, placed in Kalimantan.”

“Actually, the Cabinet recommended that it be placed in Australia, but yeah, it’s not something that can’t be fought for.” Norman Brooke nodded his head in agreement, then the conversation turned, “Prepare to deal with the meeting of the Colonial Commissioners, we’re the ones who have to answer the Prime Minister’s call to make Britain great again.”

Britain is a reason to let go of the war, the end of the war, Britain’s total economic output in the western countries, second only to the United States, the best economic situation in European countries, last year, the scale of British imports and exports accounted for about fourteen and twelve percent of the total world trade, Britain’s foreign trade accounted for eighteen percent of the total economic output, this ratio is higher than the average of the western countries, the export value of nearly half of the United States, the The shipbuilding industry was substantially ahead of the U.S. The U.S. relied on the free-wheeler to take the lead over the U.K. for a short period of time just after the end of the war.

After the independence of British India, the British Empire still had tens of millions of square kilometers of overseas territories, close to 100 million overseas population. It was spread over Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, and the Persian Gulf was still under British power. Half of the British army was stationed in the overseas territories.

During the first term of Prime Minister Adderley, the Air Force, a major wartime British development, had a technological reserve not unlike that of the U.S. Air Force, and was budgeted to override the traditional Royal Navy. The Air Force was vigorously developed with the approval of three strategic bombers by the Airdrie Cabinet at the same time.

After the introduction of the Comet airliner, diplomats of the Foreign Office in various countries became promoters of the Comet airliner, and two hundred of them have already been sold at a price of two hundred and seventy thousand pounds, and Pamela Mountbatten is going to be involved in the Cabinet’s air force development program this time.

The Malta carriers, of the same class as the Midway class carriers, have not been cut and are being rushed non-stop through the shipyards.

The Royal Navy was not able to match the strength of the United States, but it had not been left behind by too much; there was a gap in size, not in technology.

The first thing Norman Brooke asked at the Whitehall Overseas Territories Conference in March was whether the skeleton nationalized enterprises in the colonies had been established.

The answer to this was obvious, the major colonial commissioners were literally treating the enterprise as their own asset, and it certainly reflected an unprecedented level of efficiency, with the British colonies in Africa, all of which had been nationalized according to their local resources.

“At present the situation in Africa is largely stable, after all, European countries have colonies in Africa, other countries are also our cover, as for the other key area is not so optimistic.” Norman Brooke said indifferently, “Although there is also assistance from the Netherlands, Portugal and France, the direction of Asia is not stable.”

“In addition to the overseas territories to create benefits for the British Empire, the next stage of work is to support the development of Malaya, Malaya’s position is extremely important, we can help France to hold up the war in Vietnam, to suppress Indonesia to the south, and to form an alliance with Australia, which is not only Malaya’s own business, but also the work of the colonies you manage. ”

“Now that the previous plan has come to a conclusion, this is your job for some time to come.” Norman Brooke emphasized as he spoke, “Of course I don’t know the specifics of the colony, but this is a matter of great importance as to whether or not Whitehall considers your colleagues to be reliable, and theoretically we all hope that it will be successful, but practically? Failure is not permitted!”

“Sir Norman has made it quite clear that Africa is in a state of security at present, but Asia is already in a precarious situation. Malaya, with its tin mines and rubber, is of the utmost importance to the British Empire, and must, on all conditions, become an overseas territory to supplement the total deficiency of the British mainland. This is a matter not only for the local commissioners, but for the commissioners of the other colonies, and it is the duty of all of you to assist.”

Ismay, after Norman Brooke had finished speaking, held out a sheet of appointments and read, “Gerard Edward, High Commissioner for Malaya, is appointed Commissioner to Germany. The new High Commissioner for Malaya, Alan Wilson, will be charged with the duty of developing a consolidated colony in Asia, and all of his colleagues will be obliged to assist.”

“Taking up their duties before April arrives, then gentlemen, prepare to run to your new posts.” Norman Brooke concluded, “This may be one of the rare times you have free time, so you can take the last few days off first.”

“Yes, Sir!” The colonial commissioners in the entire conference room replied in unison and watched Norman Brook’s magnificent back leave.