Chapter 943: The New Foreign Secretary

“You, a colonial high commissioner, looking out for the global strategic interests of the British Empire?” The corners of Marshal Mountbatten’s mouth twitched, all he could say was that the heart was good, but something seemed wrong.

“I am responsible for overseeing overseas assets and must consider it as such.” Not exactly correcting the marshal’s words, Alan Wilson’s words changed, “In fact, strategic bombers or strategic missiles, without nuclear warheads, can’t claim to be much of a threat.”

“And you want nuclear warheads?” Field Marshal Mountbatten asked in astonishment, “Do you know what that represents?”

“It represents the gap between Britain and the non-nuclear nations. It represents that the world is unfair, and it represents the international order.” Alan Wilson said ***** in a row, asked, “Other than that I really don’t know what it can stand for, I heard that the United States is carrying out a project in Turkey, sneaky, not even five eyes to pass the news, it may evolve into a conflict of hidden danger.”

The sneakiness of the U.S.’s Turkey was actually speculated by all parties, only there was no evidence.

But the UK had received a nuclear sharing policy promise from the US, wanting to bring the UK’s nuclear weapons into the NATO framework.

“Marshal, here’s some data on the industrial capacity of the Malayan colony.” Allen Wilson had prepared for this, he had brought back a batch of data this time to emphasize the importance of the Malayan colony.

In fact, it was not really an emphasis, London had already recognized the role of the Malayan colony to the homeland. Bringing back the information was to convince Whitehall, but also to convince the military to protect the security of the Malayan colony.

Field Marshal Mountbatten flipped through the data and said slowly, “Give me a weighty reason or it may not work.”

“After an open and honest discussion, my subordinates have suggested that I find a well-capitalized group for the Malayan Colony to operate the Malayan Colony’s hydroelectric system.” Alan Wilson’s face did not change, “Pamela has previously acquired the right to operate the hydroelectric system in Western Australia and is the best choice.”

“We all agree that the Malayan colony is strategically important globally, there is no doubt about that.” Field Marshal Mountbatten coughed softly, “Sending in strategic bombers is justified.”

“Mainly to protect Australia.” Alan Wilson struck while the iron was hot, “Canberra would certainly be in favor of it.”

“Yes, that’s right. Blood must be considered thicker than water.” Marshal Mountbatten smiled in agreement, “Since it’s an allied demand, it would be very unkind if we didn’t oblige.”

“It might hurt the feelings of the Australians. Disappoint them.” Alan Wilson clapped his hands together, applauding the very humane decision.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs needs to work on that.” Field Marshal Mountbatten glanced at his son-in-law, pointing borderline to the crux of the matter.

“I believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Alan Wilson understood, of course, that it wasn’t as simple as that, that this wasn’t something that could be done at Field Marshal Mountbatten’s word, and that the Foreign Office couldn’t say anything to get around it.

He wasn’t prepared to let the strategic bombers fly to Australia tomorrow either, just take his time and plot and expect the desired outcome to occur.

“The Cabinet has been very lively lately, with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary always breaking out into squabbles, as there has been some talk that Prime Minister Adderley is not prepared to continue as leader of the Labor Party and expects the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lead the party. This might also have something to do with the Labor Party’s consistently low approval ratings, and to be honest, Prime Minister Airdrie’s image is just like Churchill’s in previous years.”

Alan Wilson nodded, grateful for his father-in-law’s mention, and helplessly said, “Prime Minister Adderley is seventy-five years old, and in 1945, he gave the impression that he was full of energy, and now as Prime Minister? A little too old indeed.”

“In fact, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer is able to lead the Labor Party to remain in power, it will not be without benefit to you, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not a stranger to British India, and his father was the regional high commissioner of British India. Sort of some similarities with you. But then, there are some things that, although it is considered early to say, are not good for the Labor Party to win.”

Field Marshal Mountbatten hinted to his son-in-law that the infighting in the Labor Party was no longer a dark tide, but had reached a more to the point.

By preferring the Chancellor of the Exchequer as head of the Labor Party, Adderley was trying to block Morrison’s path to the prime ministership. Because of this, the Cabinet is quite lively now.

The conflict involving the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary can be described as a godsend.

The two men also understand that the winner has already been predetermined, with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer adopting a common position, and the chances of the Foreign Secretary being able to turn the tables are almost non-existent.

Off to Seventy Whitehall to present Norman Brooke with a comprehensive program for the development of the Malayan colony. It was a very memorable afternoon, an afternoon which for Alan Wilson was a switch of roles with Richard.

He continually demonstrated before Norman Brooke all the fine qualities possessed by Whitehall civil servants, especially reliability ……

“Our esteemed Foreign Secretary may be in for a relaxing, cozy retirement.” Norman Brooke, seeing Alan Wilson mention this, commented flatly, “He’s a passionate man, and would probably do very well as Prime Minister, he’s so attached to public opinion, and his own image in the papers.”

“The Foreign Secretary seems to have a lot of support amongst the Labor Party.” Alan Wilson sighed, “I didn’t think it would come to this.”

“Politics is not a simple arithmetic problem, anything can happen.” Norman Brooke had obviously seen all sorts of contingencies in the course of his long Whitehall career, and showed no surprise at all, “The Malaya report, and some of the appointments and removals of officials you recommended? Out of the protective nature of long-term development, I also believe that the stability of the officials will help policy coherence, but whether overseas civil servants, or local civil servants are a whole, we are seeking the interests of the whole, Alan, can you understand this?”

“Of course, an unbreakable whole.” Alan Wilson, like Richard before him, expressed his loyalty to the Cabinet Secretary.

“Go to the Foreign Office and see if you can help Sir Ismay.” Norman Brooke smiled and pointed out a clear path for his subordinates who had come to Seventy Whitehall.

As night fell, Alan Wilson, who had come out of the Foreign Office, visited Edward Bridges, who had retired.

Let Allen Wilson to the daytime things as far as possible to restore, the former Cabinet Secretary before laughing, “the problem is not big, Sir Ismay is also my old partner, that time I was the Cabinet Secretary, he is the private military adviser to Prime Minister Churchill, I am considered to be an understanding of him, coupled with the fact that once did the Secretary General of the British India, and Marshal Mountbatten’s relationship with the irreconcilable, if he went to NATO to do the Secretary General. The position that remains, you have a good chance of getting it.”

“Will everything go well?” Alan Wilson wasn’t as calm as he appeared, this was a crucial step.

“You relax, the Cabinet Secretary endorses it, the Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Office recommends it, there will hardly be any problems. You don’t show up in Whitehall these days, keep busy with your business.”

Edward Bridges said, unperturbed, “Playing the fool well also depends on talent; he has to peer into the moods of the people he’s making fun of, get to know who they are, and still see the right moment; and then, like the wild eagle that spies tep every bird and finch before it, he doesn’t let up at every opportunity. It is a work as hard as the art of the wise man.”

On average a Cabinet Minister doesn’t serve very long, but the likes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary, such heavyweight Cabinet Ministers, are not usually easily removed. There are a lot of unimportant ministers that pull down the length of time a minister serves.

The Labour Cabinet was also particularly characterized by this, with the Labour Party having little chance of governing until that 1945 election, leading to the defeat of Churchill’s rise to power with many of the Labour Party leaders holding several portfolios, and the emergence of a group of super-ministers.

Even then Adderley was not prepared at first to give such an important department as the Foreign Office to Morrison, a man who had once competed with himself for the party leadership, and if Ernest Bevan had not fallen ill and died, Morrison’s supporters were indeed numerous in the Labor Party, and he would not have allowed Morrison to lead the Foreign Office after Bevan’s illness and death.

From 1945 to the present, the Labor Party has formed a cabinet three times, and the super-ministers who wore several hats in the beginning have disappeared.

Adderley age, also head of the early sixties into seventy-five years old, for him, the current not optimistic support, forcing him to find ways to increase support at the same time, but also to think about who the next leader of the Labor Party is.

This question was thought about so much that Morrison, with whom he had once competed for the party leadership, could not be ignored.

Things have been simple enough, and it was Chancellor of the Exchequer Gaitschke who was the Labour leader after Prime Minister Adderley looked favorably upon himself. Instead of Morrison, then the fate of this Foreign Secretary was predictable.

After one Cabinet meeting, Morrison made the transition from Foreign Secretary to Labor Secretary.

“I thought how it would be given to a Minister of Palms and Ceremonies, or a Minister of the Seal.” Alan Wilson muttered at his wife, “But what I didn’t expect was for such a major department as the Foreign Office to be given to Harold Wilson.”

“Don’t you know him?” Pamela Mountbatten looked at her husband, “Didn’t we work well together?”

“It seems the Foreign Office is about to usher in the era of Wilson and Wilson.” Alan Wilson boasted, “I’m not much prepared for this, still being handed over to the next Commissioner of Malaya.”

“Look at the smugness, it’s not set in stone yet.” Pamela Mountbatten grunted softly and gave Alan Wilson a backhand.

“How do you talk to your husband?” Alan Wilson saw that he couldn’t do it without taking out the parental style, “Stick your tongue out or I’ll have your ass.”