Chapter 576: Spending Money on Ali Khan

At the same time that America’s military power was tied up 10,000 kilometers away, the current Cabinet Prime Minister Adderley’s need for the U.S. had become much greater, and the four occupied territories in Germany, because of the Soviet Union’s troop reinforcements in the Soviet-occupied territories, Britain, the U.S., and France had correspondingly expanded their own troop garrisons.

Europe is a must for all parties, even if war has broken out in the Far East, will not change this point.

In view of this, Britain also had to strengthen its investment in military power, which was a painful and happy situation.

On the one hand, Britain’s increased investment in the military would certainly drag down economic development. Even if this investment is not for the purpose of going to war, on the other hand this proves that Britain is still an integral part of today’s world situation.

And after a short period of communication, it is now agreed in Washington and London, in Britain and in the United States, that Britain’s imperial industries have a strategic role to play in the global balance in which the West prevails. This is true, and revolutions could break out in certain areas of strategic value.

Thus, in a changing climate, British and American foreign policy will indeed continue to use imperial industries and strategic bases, even if Britain’s power has been relatively weakened.

The war in the Far East gave the present Britain more room for maneuver, but instead of cutting back, Britain’s wariness of the U.S. grew even more, due to the fact that it had been warned in advance of the war’s expansion.

And America’s failure to heed the advice with indifference made London realize that the America of 1950 was quite different from the America of 1945, that the United States had adapted to the role of world hegemony, was becoming more belligerent, and that policy was leaning more and more toward preemptive action.

There are some worrisome aspects. The Soviet Union could overreact to American pressure and destabilize Europe while the international community is preoccupied with Asia.

But between Britain and the United States, Britain is, after all, the relatively weaker party, and even if there are grievances, it is important to try to manage the differences between Britain and the United States.

If Alan Wilson knows that the honorable prime minister thinks so, may think that Adderley is too greedy, the current situation has been much stronger than in history, are not bound by the United States must enter the war, but also want what?

From Britain’s point of view, a cold war turned into a hot war is definitely not an outcome Britain wants to see. But in 1945, Britain rushed ahead of the Americans to express hostility to the Soviet Union, and successfully dumped the defense of Greece and Turkey on the United States.

The world is such a big chessboard with so many players that Britain cannot take all the benefits without paying any price.

If it could do that, there would be no reason for Britain to decline, and it would not be the turn of the United States and the Soviet Union to perform on the stage today.

Regarding Japan’s desire for the colonial government of British Malaya, with the endorsement of the American occupation forces, to release Japanese prisoners of war, while it cannot be said to be a small matter, it is really not that big in relation to the war.

The Honorable Prime Minister and the distinguished Foreign Secretary, after consultation, have referred the matter to the Colonial Government of British Malaya. A repatriation itinerary was worked out with the Japanese.

“The Americans are hitting it big in the East, and the pressure on European defense has increased. Emanuel must be happy.” Adderley said this suddenly as if he remembered something, “Morrison, remember that earlier report on the Trinity Nuclear Strike Force.”

“Of course I remember, General Mountbatten was a strong supporter of that report.” Morrison nodded his head, obviously also knowing the report very well, and had definitely read it.

“Before I was not willing to invest in it, originally the proportion of financial expenditure military expenditure was too high. But now it seems not to invest in it is not possible, among the trinity of nuclear strikes, we lack the submarine as well as road-based missile inputs. The Strategic Air Force on the contrary no longer requires too much investment.” Edley scratched his big glossy forehead and helplessly said, “Alright, let’s discuss this with the Defense Minister. Unilateral support for the air force is not an option, to safeguard the security of the British Empire, military spending inputs need to be balanced.”

If it was not for the Soviet Union eyeing, Adderley wanted to cut the army, throughout history, Britain has not maintained such a large-scale ground force in peacetime, but now it is not possible not to maintain.

Defense Secretary Emanuel, certainly on the military investment is happy, maybe a few sea ministers are also happy. Although not related to surface ships, the submarine program is also informative enough.

Kuala Lumpur, Alan Wilson, who has long used the telegraph as instant communication, got from the Honorable Mountbatten, the Fourth Sea Lord, information about the subsequent effects on the European side of the war in the Far East while the United States was deep in the middle of it.

The upshot was that the Trinity nuclear strike force, which had previously been underappreciated, or at least not as much as it was now, had the backing of the current Cabinet.

In Alan Wilson’s view this was a good thing, because sooner or later the money was going to have to be spent, and it might as well be initiated while the United States had no time to worry about it in the midst of a big fight. The more it was delayed, the more it would only result in increased investment, and the easier it would be to get it halfway done.

The news about the possibility that next year, 1951, Britain might increase its military spending to an expenditure of 1.2 billion pounds. Already circulating within Whitehall.

Although Alan Wilson was not in Whitehall, he had been using telegrams to keep in touch with the outside world, so naturally he had also heard the news.

After searching his own memory of his previous life in his mind, he seemed to remember seeing a similar figure somewhere, because of his involvement in the war, along with the expansion of the ground forces that were confronting the Soviet Union in Europe, during the years of the Korean War, Britain’s military spending soared to one and a half billion pounds.

This is of course much less than the twenty billion dollars in military spending converted to dollars during WWII, which at today’s exchange rate is just four billion dollars.

So much for not having the Korean War to send ground troops, and with the miscellaneous factors of this time and space, Britain’s military spending was reduced by three hundred million pounds.

“Even so, take sixteen million pounds to support the development of Asia, but also pull Canada and Australia, this is not?” Alan Wilson had an impression of the frugality of the present government. The penny-pinching may have been scared by the debt.

After all, Britain had spent twenty billion dollars a year on its military in the years leading up to the outbreak of World War II, comparable to the Soviet Union’s military support. A major war was on the verge of driving Britain to hang itself.

The alloy tube program had just come to fruition, and now it was about to be ramped up again, and Alan Wilson also knew that research on the alloy tube program was continuing, with research being done on the hydrogen bomb.

Originally, after the departure of the Japanese representatives, Alan Wilson was going to talk to a few optimistic, considered reliable Chinese about this matter.

But the previous attempts to contact Ali Khan, there is now feedback, Ali Khan’s son Saif arrived in Kuala Lumpur, for this son, Alan Wilson seems to have met, who let Ali Khan’s son has a lot of it, do not remember too clearly.

It is said that the most trusted heir has run away to Pakistan, and now the son who is trusted around is the one in front of him. Wearing a beard that could also be described as sexy, he introduced himself.

On behalf of Ali Khan, the former Maharaja of Hyderabad’s Tuktuk and now the Chief Minister of Hyderabad, came to meet the supernumerary minister.

“I am personally very saddened by the matter of my friend, Maharaja Ali Khan, losing his kingdom.” Alan Wilson, with a sincere face and no falsehood at all, expressed his indignation at the annexation of Hyderabad to India.

“Commissioner, I always hear my father mention you. Though Britain was very irresponsible in evacuating British India. But father was also able to understand your personal help to Hyderabad for a long time.” Saif immediately replied, “Father’s friendship with the Commissioner will not fade because of this turn of events.”

“It is for the best.” Alan Wilson nodded with satisfaction, “I wonder what the Maharaja has in mind for the future.”

“Father is still the Chief Minister of Hyderabad, but Hyderabad is now a sad place for father. When necessary father wants to leave India and go to live in England. Father is prepared for that day anyway. London has father’s vast wealth.”

That was true! Alan Wilson nodded, he knew this wealth very well, gold gems in cash, plus some stocks. Several billions of it, now that the development of British Malaya was in particular need, well, it was Ali Khan’s own domain that was in particular need of the monarch’s gifts ……

“Actually? Hasn’t the Honorable Maharajah thought of a different place to show his love and care for his thousands of subjects?” Alan Wilson stumbled over the hint, finally revealing a you-know-what look, “I wonder if you, Saif, have some knowledge of the origins of the Iraqi royal family?”

Having already hinted so obviously, Saif’s face instantly became extremely shocked, passing into surprise, busily saying, “Honorable Commissioner, is there any place like this in the British Empire?”

“Truth be told, the circumstances of the world have changed, and it is not as easy as it used to be. If the Maharaja wants to be the ruler of a country, it might be a bit difficult. But finding a place similar to Hyderabad’s status?” Alan Wilson haughtily looked at the other party and said, “There are actually nine sultans in British Malaya, so we can think of something from there. And there are also a few places where monarchs don’t exist, Saif you know, the local Malays also believe in the religion of peace. Of course this is just a vision of mine, you can just listen to it ……”

Don’t just listen to it ah, Saif was very anxious to take the initiative, “Commissioner, you are father’s best friend, the friendship between the two of you, even beyond the traditional Anglo-Indian relationship. Hearing this news, father will surely be very happy.”

“Oh, it may still be difficult on the difficulty. As you know, it’s not the same world situation that the Iraqi royal family is facing now. Probably if it’s going to cost money, and it’s going to cost a lot of money na.” Alan Wilson had a difficult look on his face, “Although it is said that this is using your money to do your business, but still, you have to have some heart preparation, this matter is not easy.”