Chapter 676 Mountbatten’s Support

Cyprus remains extremely important to Britain, or rather the Mediterranean is extremely important to Britain itself.

Otherwise Britain wouldn’t be occupying Gibraltar, and as long as the situation in the Mediterranean is under British control, Britain has enough incentive to hold up the framework of a global empire.

Alan Wilson seems to be remembering that there has always been a British military base in Cyprus. The number of British troops in Cyprus is only less than the number of British troops in Germany, even in the twenty-first century.

There is a saying in British politics that the borders of the British Empire are on the roof of the world, which of course does not mean that British India still exists.

Rather, it is because of the presence of a British garrison in Nepal that such a phrase has been circulated.

As for the military bases in the Middle East, they are within Oman, and in Southeast Asia, Brunei, which is of course quite a shabby thing to say when compared to what is happening today, when in a couple of decades the UK will be left with these military bases.

Comet airliner landed in Cyprus, Alan Wilson will change into formal dress to find just arrived in the Mediterranean Fleet Commander Mountbatten, after all, is a family, he no matter in the sense of reason should do so.

To the father-in-law expressed congratulations, Mountbatten very happy, and asked his son-in-law, the situation in the Middle East is very hurt, Allen Wilson replied, “everything done at present is delayed, the fundamental problem I can not solve. Can only choose the impact on the United Kingdom to minimize the delay program, I hope that after the end of the Prime Minister’s second term, the United Kingdom can not rely on the financial support of other countries, and focus on their own interests.”

After implicitly expressing his distrust of the United States, Alan Wilson asked his father-in-law how he was feeling. How far away was it from the long-held dream of being the First Sea Lord?

“One step short, I should say!” As soon as Mountbatten heard this question, the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up and said, “If I can become an admiral within six months, then the next time I return to London, I can be the First Sea Lord.”

“That’s really delightful.” Alan Wilson bowed in front of the powerful, Mountbatten was still too modest for just setting his goal at First Sea Minister.

He remembered that Mountbatten had retired with the rank of Field Marshal and had succeeded in establishing the Joint Committee of the Three Services Staff, becoming the full-time head of the British military, and disregarding the elected Secretary of State for Defense, Mountbatten was the man in charge of the British military.

Britain’s constant contraction since the Suez Canal War, and the situation of pressing on, has not delayed Mountbatten’s trajectory of promotion, and Alan Wilson has reason to believe that it will be the same in this time and place.

“It’s not really all that much, and it’s also dependent on the Cabinet recognizing me in a way that just happens to overlap with my dreams.” Mountbatten was amused that his youngest daughter’s husband, though always on the move, was clearly much more career-oriented than his other son-in-law.

It was a scene of harmony between son-in-law and husband, and Mountbatten also mentioned his daughter’s situation, saying he was ready to be a grandfather to the new addition.

Alan Wilson likewise expressed his anticipation, but also hinted in an oblique way that since modern times weapons were becoming more and more expensive. It may be that the future British Empire will have to consider downsizing its armed forces, and it may not be possible to run away from all branches of the military. I wondered if Mountbatten had any preconceptions.

“Pamela said you’ve always had uncountable preconceived notions about the future, so it seems my daughter wasn’t lying.” Mountbatten froze, then shook his head and laughed bitterly, “Are you really not going to try an election? Actually, elections aren’t that hard, first you have to find a constituency that is very easy to win, then make a good relationship with the party leader. Once your party wins, all ministerial appointments are in the hands of the party leader, and this is the time to compete in personal relationships. If your party leader thinks highly of you, you can make it to party number two in an instant.”

What Mountbatten said was simple, in fact this simplicity is divided into to whom, join a political party choose a constituency that traditionally supports that party, wait for your party to win, and then just become a minister.

The theory is such a theory, everything goes well if there is no problem, but this no problem is no problem in the eyes of Mountbatten.

Seeing his son-in-law is not interested, Mountbatten also no longer talk about his son-in-law’s mouth, if Britain has to contract the background, he himself on the British army layout planning.

Only to do the Mediterranean Fleet Commander began to consider the Secretary of State for Defense, if Alan Wilson asked someone else so, there may be a big problem, but this person is Mountbatten, then there is no problem.

Doing the fourth Minister of the Sea on the work of the Navy, and now stand in the overall perspective of planning the arrangement of the British army, Mountbatten did not feel at all where it is not right.

In front of his son-in-law, Mountbatten made no secret of the fact that, against the background of a shrinking establishment, he indicated that, in terms of the reform of the leadership structure, he might propose the abolition of the various military staffs and the creation of a joint planning staff for the unification of the three armies, with him as the permanent chairman of this body.

Mountbatten had always advocated the unification of the three services. Still during the Great War, he had said, “I personally believe that all officers should have the opportunity of going to serve in all the services. They should be rotated through Dartmouth, Cranwell and Sandhurst respectively, changing from one to the other in a year.

In this way they would receive general exercise as well as learn special skills.” He also advocated that cadets should normally be able to choose their careers, that the study of staff and tactical courses should be geared to the three services, and that staff officers of one service should spend some time in the other two. This is what he did while in charge of the Joint Warfare Headquarters in Southeast Asia.

“It could be difficult.” For Mountbatten to say that he himself was in charge of the three British armies, Alan Wilson was not against it, why would he be against his own backer being powerful, but where there are people, there is struggle, and it would certainly not be easy for Mountbatten’s idea to come to fruition.

“Good, Alan, there will certainly be resistance, really can not pass for a moment. It’s going to have to be also a roundabout way.” Mountbatten also nodded, mentioned another idea put it into practice in overseas garrison, respectively, in Cyprus established the Joint Near East Command, in Aden established the Joint Middle East Command, in Singapore established the Joint Far East Command. This new command structure went a long way towards improving the British Army’s ability to react quickly.

Mountbatten knew that, in a sense, his son-in-law’s trip to Iran was a run for his daughter’s estate. But to say he was interested, he was certainly interested in the colonies, and having spent most of this outward inspection in Africa, he asked if the trip had been rewarding.

“The takeaway is that one should never be soft on a race of people who are too backward.” Alan Wilson heard this question and directly took out the tone of an imperialist, gritting his teeth, “The move to merge the colonies is still lingering everywhere, we absolutely cannot do anything similar, the situation on this side of the Middle East is dominated by suppression, and in Africa, I’m going to look for a scapegoat. Use it to make an example.”

Mountbatten also knew that his son-in-law was a colonialist born in the wrong era, but such a scornful look still made his heart startled, “Something has come up.”

“General, you should be aware of the debate in this country over the Helsinki Olympic delegation. If the Labor cabinet hadn’t done such a good job over the last few years, it would probably have made waves.” Alan Wilson made no bones about it, “The proposal was suggested by me, its purpose was to see what public opinion was on the home front, and the response is now looking very satisfactory.”

“But national interests and civic will don’t always overlap, and once the aftermath of the colonial empire kicks in, it’s possible that in the future Britain will repeat what happened to the Roman Empire. I’ve been considering the question of whether to pull the strings or focus on deterrence. Neither seems to work well.”

Allen Wilson this time is clearly the complete body of the British Empire to form a delegation, in fact, want to give the citizens of the territory a wake-up call, don’t let your guard down in this regard, politicians for the sake of profit but can do it to let a different race of people in the thing.

To make an example of an unlucky man from the colonies was within Alan Wilson’s purview, and he had plenty of time to implement it, but dealing with the Free Officers organization was another matter, and he had to enlist Mountbatten’s support.

Now that the backer’s had arrived, it was time to pick the matter apart and save worrying about the mines of the Suez Canal War blowing up if something went wrong; the Suez Canal was, after all, too important to Britain, and now was not the time to let it go.

With the existing strength of the British Mediterranean fleet, to support Farouk I, even do not have to provide support, just pass over a sentence, to give the hands of Farouk I increased confidence, will be able to play a thousand times the return.

The Free Officers Organization only had a few hundred people when they staged the coup in history, and after the successful coups in many countries, people recalled the strength of the coup team as a joke.

Even if it is impossible to remove the existence of those who have slipped through the net, it is always not a bad thing for the current UK to be able to keep a few years is a few years.

Hearing his son-in-law say this, Mountbatten, who had no knowledge of this free officer organization, was silent for a moment, and decisively agreed, “I don’t think there is any problem, the Mediterranean Fleet has a base in Alexandria Harbor, and so far it is still in operation. Some assistance can be given to Farouk I. Of course what I would prefer is that the thief take care of his own affairs without our help.”

“I certainly don’t want that either, it’s best that we don’t get involved in this kind of thing openly, it’s just that the Suez Canal is so important that we’re forced to give Farouk I our unwavering support.” Alan Wilson breathed a sigh of relief that this trip to Cyprus had not been in vain.

Any other general in the Mediterranean Fleet as commander would not have agreed so easily. Only Mountbatten could, on one hand he was Mountbatten, on the other hand Mountbatten was really Alan Wilson’s father-in-law.

“So much for the Prime Minister!” Allen Wilson let out a long breath, what Nelson, Wellington, probably not as worried as he is now.