Chapter 657: Firefighters

“If I were to handle this, I would probably take a softer approach to negotiating with Iran.” As soon as Alan Wilson heard that the matter of the Mountbatten Oil Company was involved, he smiled bitterly and spoke, “Honorable Sir, are you going to grant me authorization?”

“It’s been two years of drama, and Washington is conservative about Iran. Not to mention the fact that there’s the Soviet Union to the north of Iran.” Norman Brooke mused, “The state has a high regard for Iranian interests.”

“I understand, but I don’t think it’s actually out of the question to split the benefits equally. It just has to be tied to the pound.” Alan Wilson thought for a moment and said, “That’s my personal thought.”

“The oil pound, you mentioned this in the middle of your assessment report a few years ago. Keeping the pound in circulation through the circulation of oil.” Norman Brooke knew Alan Wilson’s idea as soon as he heard it and hesitated, “I have to think about it.”

The matter of Iran wanting to change the distribution of profits had been in the air for several years. It was after the First World War that Britain gradually recognized the value of the Persian Gulf region. And through the power of the state entered Iran for oil exploration.

The Persians were dissatisfied with the terms of the oil rights signed with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, from which Persia could only obtain sixteen percent of the net profit. During the period Persia changed its name to Iran, and after the Second World War, which hit Britain hard, Iranian nationalist leaders became increasingly influential, seeking to minimize foreign intervention in Iran in the long run, especially since the oil exploitation patents obtained by Britain robbed Iran of the wealth it would otherwise have received.

The British-manipulated Anglo-Iranian Oil Company refused to allow others to audit its accounts, the Iranian government had no way of knowing whether the payments made by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company were in line with its promises, and Britain’s intransigence exasperated the Iranian public.

It was against this backdrop that Mossadegh came to power and played into the conflict with Britain around the oil issue.

Alan Wilson, returning home with his troubles, mentioned to Pamela Mountbatten that he himself had received a major new burden.

“Darling, I’m so sorry!” Pamela Mountbatten said with an apology, “The problem is really with me.”

“The matter would have arisen just as well without your march into the Persian Gulf.” Alan Wilson shook his head slightly, leaning back on the sofa with some fatigue, “The fundamental source is the Aramco of the United States and Saudi Arabia, which shares the profits equally. And the Anglo-Iranian company’s distribution is that Iran only has sixteen percent, and after you marched into Iraq, you signed a contract according to the Aramco model. It’s normal for Iran to be dissatisfied, but the root cause is not you.”

Suffice it to say that Britain and Iran have been engaged in a struggle for a whole year around the distribution of oil profits. Both countries had paid the price, and it would certainly be best if they could resolve the issue peacefully.

“Is there a way?” Pamela Mountbatten waited for a while and couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s still necessary to think of a way from the imperial preferential system, the embargo on Iran has already lasted for almost half a year. Production at local refineries is also plummeting, with cumulative layoffs exceeding ten thousand.” Alan Wilson opened his eyes and cocked his head at his wife and said, “The most important raw materials among the embargo are sugar and iron and steel respectively, did you think of anything.”

“Iron ore I have in my hands, and Malaya one of the mainstay industries you planned are all sugar.” Pamela Mountbatten’s eyes lit up with surprise, “You’re going to use those two embargoed raw materials to talk to the Iranians aren’t you?”

“Well, from Britain’s point of view, stability is greater than anything else. If we can talk out a good result. Of course it is the best.” Alan Wilson nodded, “But can you let the Royal Navy make its presence known first so I can talk to the Iranians.”

“I’ll talk to Father!” Pamela Mountbatten stood up at once and was about to go out the door, but was stopped by Allen Wilson, there was no hurry on such a day.

Since this burden has fallen to Alan Wilson, he must make some assessment of the current situation, clear the bottom line of this negotiation, the first thing is to get the data, which of course is to take from Whitehall.

The best quality Iranian oil and the least expensive wells to extract are along the western coastline of the Persian Gulf. Just as all of Saudi Arabia’s oil is located along the eastern coastline, the oil of both countries is on both sides of the Persian Gulf.

It’s not as if the rest of the two countries don’t have oil resources, but it’s cost prohibitive compared to what’s on both sides of the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia’s oil is in the hands of the United States, at least the vast majority of it. Iran’s, on the other hand, is in British hands.

And it’s not just Iran, but also Iraq, Kuwait, and the Omani region. It would seem that Britain is above the United States when it comes to influence in the Persian Gulf as a whole. What Alan Wilson wonders is how a Saudi Arabia was left behind for the United States.

Of course, the problem of Saudi Arabia is not a priority, after all, this country is not really a traditional military power. As long as Britain maintains its influence throughout the Arab world, there are countries like Egypt and Iraq in front of the support, the Arab world is not the turn of the Saudis to say.

The leader of the Arab world was Egypt during Nasser’s time, and Iraq under Saddam’s rule after Nasser’s death. When Saddam was cleaned up by the United States, the Arab world is the turn of Saudi Arabia, the oil kingdom to say.

Alan Wilson, who had returned to Whitehall again, sat down again in front of Norman Brooke, and the Cabinet Secretary, surveying Alan Wilson from top to bottom with a searching gaze, coughed softly and said, “Why, there’s no hurry to return to Kuala Lumpur.”

“Your Honor, I want a solution for my wife, which of course is in line with the goals of the British Empire.” Alan Wilson said with a bitter smile on his face, “And it’s not like this is not related to me, I’m the Deputy Secretary General of the Overseas Assets Management Committee, everything that involves the British Empire’s overseas assets is related to me.”

“Very well!” Norman Brooke nodded approvingly, “It’s very admirable that you have such an understanding. Though I don’t know how your wife organizes exploration teams to search for anything in the North Sea.”

Searching for oil, of course, to be used for Britain’s own resource reserves, and then to lead the formation of that OPEC cartel.

However, this matter is not even eight, now even a shadow of the North Sea oil has not been found, Alan Wilson naturally can not say, shaking his head, “Pamela’s matter I will not ask, after all, exploration is a thing with a high rate of failure, she has been very fortunate in the past few years, a slight setback is also good.”

OPEC, also known as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is the earliest established and most influential raw material producer and exporter organization in the Third World. Oil is the most dominant energy source in the post-war world.

The main purpose of the establishment of the natural deal with, exploration, extraction and sales almost entirely controlled by the Western oil monopoly consortium.

But who said that this organization Britain can not enter, as long as the United Kingdom first proposed, Britain can be a founding member. Moreover, before the oil crisis, OPEC did not show much power at all. As long as Britain joined early, Alan Wilson didn’t believe that the U.S. could still kick Britain out.

Norman Brooke also accepted this statement of Alan Wilson, after all, how can there be a business that can dig out oil by just circling a piece of land, it is too magical.

This Iranian conflict, Norman Brooke was handed over to Allen Wilson, the beautiful name of who caused the trouble who solved, after all, Mountbatten Oil’s contract in the Kingdom of Iraq, was seen by the Iranians is very hit the face of the move. Incurring the dissatisfaction of the Le Iranian government can indeed be counted on the Mountbatten family.

“Honorable Sir, I have to make a trip to the major colonies to get first-hand information before I can talk to the Iranians.” Alan Wilson promised the matter of the Iranian oil crisis, “And now that there is a call for autonomy in Nigeria, as well as the Egyptian side, I want to get a clear picture of the current situation of the colonies and allies so that I can talk to the Iranians. Let’s see if we can make up for it with some raw materials, after all, it’s not like Iran is a country like Soviet China, and it’s unrealistic to expect any kind of resources to exist on their own soil.”

“Yes, there are calls for autonomy in Nigeria. Indeed it’s a nuisance as well.” Norman Brooke nodded, trouble after trouble, it seemed as if, like His Majesty’s deteriorating health, Britain was facing more and more problems.

Although not superstitious, Norman Brooke terminated the idea that His Majesty the King had fallen ill. Wouldn’t that association mean that England was doomed.

This time out of Whitehall, Alan Wilson is sort of taking the trouble into his arms and turning on a copy of wiping his wife’s ass.

He will be in the name of the Deputy Secretary General of the Overseas Assets Management Board, to British Africa to turn around, turn around and then go to Egypt, and finally arrived in Iran for negotiations.

On the way home, Alan Wilson was still thinking about what favorable conditions can be borrowed, the most favorable conditions are of course the Imperial Preference System, after all, numerous raw materials control in the hands, of course, is considered favorable conditions.

“To go to so many places, dear, because the company is really hard on you.” Pamela Mountbatten, hearing that her husband, had officially accepted the task of negotiating with the Iranians, gave a long heartfelt kiss.

“It’s nothing, it’s just a good idea to turn around and see what’s wrong. I’ve always had my eye on Malaya, I hadn’t realized the problems in the other colonies, and this is a good opportunity to do so.” Alan Wilson naturally couldn’t show any timidity in front of his wife, his heart was half-assed, but he was just able to make a grand gesture.

He would not need to use the name of the launch of the investigation to go to the colonies, the colonial commissioners are concurrently members of the Overseas Assets Management Board, he himself is still the Deputy Secretary General, this kind of excuse can not fool other people, with the excuse of the Olympic Games to go more appropriate.

What Prime Minister’s Cabinet Secretary, the critical moment, the firefighter is still he Alan Wilson.