Chapter 984: OPEC Established

However, this is good, if Britain can not even resist the sixty million dollars of economic assistance, then all the efforts are unnecessary, this time the United States did so can be regarded as a test for Britain.

This test although pulled a little late, but it is necessary to go through, compared to the Suez Canal War kind of once lost the reputation of the test compared to the Iranian oil crisis can only be regarded as a month test.

Among the Gulf dignitaries who came to Basra were Princess Badia of Iraq, the Emir of Kuwait, Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and the sheikhs of what in later times was collectively known as the UAE, which are still separate and independent, including Qatar and Bahrain. This is where Britain still has control over the Persian Gulf states, with Iraq at the top of the list in terms of strength.

Coming to meet with these pro-British monarchs was itself the purpose of the Foreign Secretary’s trip to the Middle East this time. The Iranian oil crisis was a purely unexpected event that caught the minister off guard.

Alan Wilson knows in his heart that only one of these Gulf countries is more difficult to deal with, and that is Iraq.

Like Kuwait, Qatar, these countries, Britain just say a word, they can only do as they are told, there is no resistance, Iraq is different after all, the strength of some.

However, since the Princess Badia came to this old acquaintance, I believe that at least the two sides will not have misunderstandings, depending on whether Alan Wilson can make the Iraqi royal family, see the serious situation now.

In Tehran cheering, feel the United States sent a shot of cardiotonic at the same time, the southern town of Basra, Iraq, this time the market and energy security conference opened.

Head a piece of cloth global my richest Alan Wilson, a light-colored Arab robes, appeared in front of the royal family of the Gulf States, which makes the Foreign Secretary Harold Wilson was very surprised, even if it is to follow the customs of the country, but also a little too much.

No more suffering can not suffer the royal family, although these days the Gulf States is not like the latter days as lying on the oil depot drunkenness, but the royal family’s platoon is still very amazing, some come to the big man is not much, but a lot of entourage.

It was not difficult to ascertain the identity and status of a big shot, and apparently that was a conspicuous target, dressed in a proper Arabian robe, which was of a much better texture than the average man wore. The pleats were wide, yet wrapped around his somewhat chubby, but still graceful body, they did not look bulky.

The visitor’s face had very little of the air of peaceful poverty, just as his clothing showed no sign of contempt for worldly pomp. His appearance could be considered decent, except that there was always a glint of pleasure lurking faintly at the corner of his eye, which showed that he harbored a carefully concealed lust for drink and sex.

In other respects, his position taught him to control his expression at all times, and he could at a moment put on a face and become dignified, in spite of the natural ease and cheerfulness of that face, and the pleasure-seeking nature of his temperament.

None of the religious precepts could restrain this nobleman, who, up and down his turned-up sleeves, held in his hand a fine Damascus steel knife.

His whole attire, though in keeping with his faith, was unmistakable in the fineness of his clothes and the magnificence of his ornaments, and, though kept very much in the national dress, yet the exquisite material and workmanship of the garments added a showiness to the simplicity of the garments, and gave a whiff of too much of the worldly vanity of the style.

“The Emir of Kuwait, Abdullah Salem Sabah.” Dixon warned in a whisper.

“I said why is there an air of nobility welcoming.” Alan Wilson decisively bowed to the supreme authority, took two steps forward and greeted Princess Badia who appeared, “Honorable Princess, haven’t seen you for such a long time, you are still so elegant, looking back to the past, thinking carefully, always can’t forget the Princess’s magnificent style.”

“Mr. Wilson is not like a gentleman at all, not afraid that Pamela will find you in trouble.” Princess Badia opened her mouth with intention, using Pamela Mountbatten to scare the man in front of her.

“Honorable Princess, what Pamela appreciates the most about me is that I am a very honest person and never say something against my will just because of the other person’s identity and status.” Alan Wilson pretended to be serious, “That’s not what I’m after.”

“I think she appreciates your mouth.” Princess Badia covered her mouth and flirted with a light laugh.

This is also a fact that Allen Wilson, who suspected that the car was unfounded, opened the gap from Princess Badia, and then communicated with Kuwaiti Emir Sabah in a smooth manner.

Not only was Dixon admired, even Harold Wilson was full of marvel, the son-in-law of the Mountbatten family really also has a wide range of friendships.

With good wishes for the many monarchs, Alan Wilson for these representatives of feudal reactionary forces, introduced the current British Foreign Secretary, do not know when it is not Harold Wilson.

Alan Wilson knew that the only difficult thing was Iraq, what Kuwait, Qatar in front of the British defenseless. Once Iraq was taken care of, things would be settled.

Historically Britain lost control of Iraq in the same way that the US lost control of Iran, because Iraq revolutionized.

When the Soviet Union was at its most powerful in the Middle East, the major Arab states, excluding Saudi Arabia, which could not be fought.

The others were either pro-Soviet or neutral. After the Iraqi revolution, it was sort of neutral and pro-Soviet, not like Syria or Egypt where it was just so obvious that Saddam had only visited the Soviet Union in his life.

Faced with a request to talk alone, Princess Badia, who had left the home front to the men, accepted Alan Wilson’s invitation.

“Mr. Wilson, while we have a good relationship with Mountbatten Oil, turning against a neighboring country? It’s still something to think about more.” Since Princess Badia came to Basra, she naturally knew what Britain’s purpose was.

“Well.” Alan Wilson unhurriedly took his eyes back from the leaf-chewing guard.

Arabic tea? It was the same effect as drugs, and he had seen the locals as walking dead in Aden. He didn’t expect to see it on such a solemn occasion, this couldn’t be Princess Badia’s lover, could it?

“Mr. Wilson, you don’t seem to be as sharp as before.” Princess Badia interrupted Alan Wilson’s thoughts.

She didn’t know that the man in front of her mind jumped to drugs, wondering if the stuff was proliferating in the Arab region. Maybe it was the genes in his bones that were having an effect.

“Oh, Your Highness, I apologize for just trying to figure out how to answer your words.” Alan Wilson shook off his disorganized thoughts, now was not the time to think blindly, and borrowed the question he had just asked, “In the Middle East, in addition to the long decadent Turkey, the Arabs have two major enemies, the Jews and the Persians, and the Persians and the Arabs have been neighbors for a thousand years.”

“Yes, we are good neighbors.” Princess Badia nodded, “More than a thousand years of friendly relations.”

“Yeah, over a thousand years of friendly relations.” Alan Wilson looked the other way and turned the conversation around, “Good enough that the majority of Iraqi nationals are Shia, but what a coincidence that the royal family is Sunni. Honestly under religious influence who would Iraq support if they were hostile to Iran? Not as credible as Christians yet, right, after all, Christians are a minority and could easily become royal fans if they had the inclination to support them, what does Princess Badia think of that? Hasn’t the security of the royal family been greatly improved since the establishment of the royal guard?”

Even the guards chewing khat stopped moving, this was because of the fact that Alan Wilson said it. The Shiite dominance was not brought by the British colonizers, it was the legacy of Sassanid Persia, which had been left to this day.

This was a statement that went to the heart of Princess Badia, Christians turned into royal guards, did the Kingdom of Iraq have fewer mutinies? Is the link between Shiites and Iran a fact?

Is it true that Egypt, the most powerful country in the Arab world, with a population less than that of Iran, let alone Iraq, with a population of only a few million, is facing a heretical country with a population of more than 20 million people, and is it really like a 1,000-year friendly relationship?

While Princess Badia was thinking, Alan Wilson took out the sincerity, “The United Kingdom has just passed the decision to establish a one hundred and eighty day national oil reserve. This is of course perfectly doable by virtue of North Sea oil, but this decision is actually used to give concessions to oil-producing countries that are friendly with Britain. This of course includes Iraq.”

“We support the strength of the Kingdom of Iraq by being able to open up a range of military purchases, as well as supporting Iraq’s national development. What the US can do to help Iran, the UK can only do more easily, as there is still a small half of Africa in British hands. Iraq’s needs, whether it be the technology market or raw materials, Britain will be able to address.”

“Perhaps we are meant to talk.” The guard who was chewing khat spoke up, “Father is actually thinking about it, how to face Iran, to introduce myself, my father is Regent Said, Princess Badia’s brother.”

“So it’s a prince, no wonder it looks unusual.” Alan Wilson modified his look at a junkie into the explanation that the man who catches the knife is the real hero.

The exchange turned out well; after all, Britain still had influence over Iraq at the moment. As the men returned to the group, Alan Wilson gave the Foreign Secretary a triumphant gesture.

Harold Wilson put his head down and swam up with equal ease, not leaving the traditional British-Arab relationship out of three sentences. And a willingness to help the Gulf states develop.

“We can even say that with Britain’s drive, there are quite a few countries in Europe that may all try to establish national oil reserves, and the demand for oil will see a surge.” Alan Wilson added, “This will be an opportunity for the countries of the monarchs here to take off, and we can guarantee that everyone’s territories will definitely develop more rapidly than Iran.”

“That cannot be disputed.” Harold Wilson answered even more decisively, the double Wilson combination working well together.

Fixed Iraq, the remaining countries to the United Kingdom is no difficulty, three days later, about the market and energy cooperation agreement signed, respectively, the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Community, and including Iraq and Kuwait, Oman, including, along with Bahrain, Qatar’s eleven emirates for the two sides formally signed.

These countries, led by Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, then announced the formation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), claiming that they wanted to protect their interests and reach a fairer agreement with Europe.

The Foreign Secretary, Harold Wilson, before he had even left Basra, called this agreement a great example of cooperation.