Chapter 835 – Alan’s Grand Blueprint

“That, and it has been discussed in Whitehall, could be slowed down a bit, now that the financial pressures are not so great. The operation of the Imperial Privilege System coupled with the EEC has initially got us out of the toughest of days.” Norman Brooke nodded in recognition, “There is no longer any need to think about giving up colonies to save costs, at least in principle.”

“In principle the only difficult Imperial territory left now is Nigeria, which, if our statistics are correct, should be the most densely populated place in Africa at the moment. We are of course unwilling for any of the colonies to easily become independent, but we should come up with a plan to deal with it, to prevent us from being caught off guard when the time comes.”

While speaking, Allen Wilson took out a survey report of Nigeria, which contained a response plan for Nigeria.

Britain’s colonies in Africa, now still remaining mainly on the east coast, West Africa is Britain’s weak link. It was French territory, the Gold Coast and Nigeria, surrounded by a cluster of French colonies.

Who let Germany lose the war, German Cameroon was divided between Britain and France, and eighty percent of the land became French Cameroon. So on the map, British Nigeria and the Gold Coast in West Africa were all alone.

However, the natural conditions of the two colonies in British West Africa are not bad, otherwise they would not be able to afford to support the population of more than 200 million people in Nigeria in later times, and the population is also the greatest value of Nigeria.

The reason why Nigeria has a high status in Africa and is treated with courtesy by the Big Five is not unrelated to its huge population.

In fact, when China entered Africa during the Cold War, the three key areas in which it invested its strength were Nigeria, another was Tanzania, one in West Africa and one in East Africa, and the remaining one was Angola, which later caused a conflagration.

Nigeria was chosen because of the size of its population, even if the population is useful in modern times.

Apart from China, Nigeria also maintains good relations with other major powers, which of course includes the UK, and indeed other countries, generally new countries after the independence of a British colony, send diplomats called ambassadors.

But many Commonwealth African countries, British diplomats there are not called ambassadors, they are called HIGHCOMMISSIONERS, HIGH COMMISSIONERS, the same name as Alan Wilson’s post in Malaya.

These ambassadors, called high commissioners, are spread among the Commonwealth African member states including, but not limited to, Commonwealth Africa.

For the record in Nigeria, the main point was how to maintain British influence in Nigeria in case independence could not be prevented.

It was a set of business Alan Wilson was already familiar with, having experienced it first hand in India and in Sudan. Knew what Britain needed.

In later times Nigeria is also a country where Britain maintains its influence is not bad, in fact, after the wave of revolution faded, African countries one by one rotten, Britain’s influence is still recovered.

Norman Brooke just flipped through it casually and asked rhetorically, “It just involves the West African colonies?”

“West Africa is surrounded by French Africa, and even if we don’t continue to invest in it, we won’t be able to break away from our dependence on Britain anytime soon. East Africa is a different matter, requiring the continued presence of British troops overseas.”

Alan Wilson’s point is not hard to understand; West Africa can be contracted, and even if Britain does there is still France holding out. And East Africa Britain couldn’t borrow from France anymore and needed to maintain British interests on its own.

Good thing Allen Wilson went to Northern Rhodesia before he came back, thinking that Northern Rhodesia could be used as a stronghold for Britain to intervene in Africa in the future. Moreover, the position of Northern Rhodesia could also be borrowed, and this borrowed power was borrowed from the power of Rhodesia and the white South Africans.

Times were changing, the investment needed to maintain the colonies was getting bigger and bigger, and at the moment East Africa was quite easy to deal with compared to Nigeria, which was too populous. Alan Wilson of course knew that there would be a new player coming in, the main dangerous lot being Tanzania, but he had previously supported the expulsion of blacks from the Sultan of Sanibar.

Turning the Sanibar Islands into a stronghold of offshore balance, Sanibar currently has a garrison of two nations.

One is British and the other is an Egyptian garrison, and yes, after the end of the Anglo-Egyptian co-administration of the Sudan, the British and Egyptians are present again in the same country, Sanibar, which has the task of keeping an eye on East Africa.

In the event that Tanganyika took an unfriendly turn towards Britain, Sanibar would blockade the Tanganyika coastline.

British West Africa would borrow strength from French Africa’s suzerainty, France, while British East Africa, with Northern Rhodesia at its core, would need the help of South Africa and Rhodesia, with the weak point in Tanganyika, cutting off the link between Zanzibar and Tanganyika in advance, so that it could react in time once there was a change.

As for the British direct garrison colonies, still mainly in South Sudan and Kenya, which is also the original arrangement of British East Africa.

“So it seems that after the independence of Sudan, the African colonies will have a period of smoothness.” Norman Brooke was still very pleased with the blueprint.

All the places where he could lend a hand had been mentioned, and he had gained a good deal from Alan Wilson’s present trip to Africa. A similar judgment had been made, and the first phase of post-war contraction had been completed.

It may not be the end of the line, but it’s an intermission of sorts, and by this point in the post-war decade, it was well understood by the British power centers that the United States wanted all of the colonies to be independent, it just wasn’t going to move to grab them militarily in an environment where the USSR was looking over its shoulder.

It was also impossible for Britain to do everything on the European front against the Soviet Union, and in the colonies that remained. There may be colonial independence in the future, which is kind of a big deal, but London still has a say in when it happens.

Norman Brooke was sure that Prime Minister Adderley would be happy with the news that the colonies would see a plateau.

“You have business?” Norman Brooke saw Alan Wilson wanting to say something, the Cabinet Secretary who was in a good mood took the initiative to ask, “If there is anything you need support for, you can just say it.”

“Honorable Sir, the independence of Sudan has entered the procedure. John, the High Commissioner, seems unable to utilize his abilities when he turns directly to diplomacy.” Alan Wilson has not forgotten that his purpose of coming to Whitehall is to find a comfortable next home for his colleague, “Our old boss, Sir Barron, has become tired of the heavy work, but Aden’s work is very important ……”

Norman Brooke stared at Alan Wilson with a smirk, smilingly saying, “So it’s this matter, Barron’s position is indeed very important, and needs a tolerant, open-minded and capable successor.”

“Especially reliable!” Alan Wilson followed the cabinet secretary’s words and continued, “With the current colonial position, compared to Africa where there are still colonies in various countries to lend a hand, the Asian direction is much more potent. Malaya, which I administer, and the Persian Gulf, where Commissioner Aden is located, need to support each other. I make no secret of the fact that John is a colleague of mine, we were both Tuban Commissioners once upon a time, and many of our ideas are in agreement, and communication is easy.”

Having stated his case, Alan Wilson kept his mouth shut, knowing that the final decision was still in the hands of Norman Brooke, who, after a long time, had finished his considerations, “Trust and reliability are mutual, and I hope that you will be worthy of Whitehall’s trust.”

“We never dare to forget the responsibility of the Empire that rests on our shoulders.” Alan Wilson was overjoyed, that was an agreement?

“Barron has been working for so many years, holding out for a few months shouldn’t be a problem. At that time, the Sultan Commissioner will be transferred to the Aden Commissioner, responsible for the Empire’s work in the Arab world.” Norman Brook hammered out.

Of course Norman Brooke was still concerned about whether the Malayan colony, shouldering imperial responsibilities, still had the potential to surpass the status of British India.

“I will prepare some orders.” Alan Wilson thought for a moment about taking the current year’s financial balance and using it to develop the chemical industry, he hadn’t forgotten that he was going to take the Formosa Plastics route.

Taking out the wealth to buy the UK’s local chemical industry, this is a very appropriate way.

“To develop the chemical industry?” Norman Brooke was quite hesitant and said borderline, “It seems that the local garrison has to be strengthened, otherwise it will be difficult to ensure local security.”

“Sir, I will use five to ten years to establish the chemical industry, of course legal trading anyone can’t pick a fault.” Alan Wilson stated that his top boss had misunderstood, there was no way he could empty the British chemical industry in a year’s time.

That would be impractical, the British government was not the Soviet government, again there was no money or support for the development of a place for no reason, the kind of stupid support that the Soviet Union was doing, Britain would never do it.

“Ten years from now, Malaya will join with Xiangjiang to produce an economic radiation belt for the whole of Southeast Asia. This will be used by Britain to take joint control with Australia and New Zealand, and also to bring the Commonwealth closer.”

“It would be so gratifying if it worked.” Norman Brooke listened to Alan Wilson’s grand blueprint, even if this matter is just now on the road, he couldn’t help but feel excited, “At that time, one of the important wings of the two wings will be considered to be built isn’t it?”

This trip to Whitehall harvested a lot, Malaya to develop chemical industry, Norman Brooke did not oppose. And also endorsed the candidate to sit in Aden after Sir Barron left office.

Then he went to the Ministry of Finance, looking for the permanent undersecretary Edward Bridges, although Edward Bridges and Norman Brooke relationship is delicate, but Alan Wilson did not hide.

Britain’s finances had improved considerably, but Labor still wanted to do something about military spending, or at least not continue to increase it.

And Mountbatten, the First Sea Lord, responded by reducing the number of British troops stationed at home and increasing the number of British troops in Germany. Whether that was feasible or not, nobody knew better than Edward Bridges.