One minute and thirty seconds later, Alan Wilson had arrived at No. 10 Downing Street, three and a half minutes faster than his normal walking speed. Norman Brooke had entered the conference room, and under the support of supreme authority, Alan Wilson
Len Wilson entered the cabinet meeting as an expert on India.
He took the document drawn up from the beginning of the Forward Policy, which stated the prediction that war would break out and the conclusion that India might suffer losses. This was used to establish his identity as an expert on India. After all, he will be in charge of Whitehall in the next year.
.It is very important to have the confidence of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
The assessment document in October was no different from the current development of the situation, which made Aiden sigh, "Alan, what do you think we should do. You have already foreseen the current result."
"Immediately provide all-round support to India, including diplomacy and public opinion. Now India has suffered a complete defeat. All its previous halo will be disillusioned. It is no longer a powerful and powerful country, nor is it a leader of the Third World or the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement."
Alan Wilson said without thinking, "Then he publicly stated that he wanted military intervention. The Mediterranean Fleet is near Aden and is mobilizing British troops stationed in Africa to prepare for war."
"Did you react too fiercely?" Defense Minister Profumo gulped. Military intervention was about to take place. Was an expeditionary force to be formed? Thinking about the consequences, he couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Dear Secretary of Defense, we need to create a strong image of Britain through this friction. From the British perspective, we must show a tough attitude when necessary. Otherwise, many countries really think that the British era has passed.
However, Britain has both reason and obligation to intervene in the affairs of the subcontinent."
"The most important thing is that Nehru is in the current situation now, and he must accept it even if he is unwilling to do so."
"The subcontinent has been subject to frequent conquests since ancient times. It is difficult to comment on the rights and wrongs. It has determined the rise and fall of many empires. If nothing else, there is a saying that the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets is essentially an Asian country, which fully reflects the importance of India to Britain."
Alan Wilson looked like he was immersed in the glory of the empire on which the sun never sets in the past, and unfolded a grand narrative in front of the cabinet ministers. Although he certainly did not believe it himself, maybe Eden believed it. This prime minister was the previous one.
Antiques of the era.
"At that time, the East India Company established a foothold in Bengal and used it as a stronghold to annex the entire subcontinent. From then on, the Mughal Emperor saw that the situation was over, and the glory of the empire on which the sun never sets was achieved, and Queen Victoria also became
The Queen of India. During this period, we also faced resistance from the Marathas and finally won a great victory."
"I don't understand why the current government has doubts about intervention in the subcontinent, as if once it intervenes, Britain will be in trouble. Just twenty years ago, I arrived in British India from Xiangjiang in disgrace. At that time, the Pacific War had already begun.
After the outbreak, Xiangjiang had also fallen, and British India became a place that the British tried their best to protect, and eventually became the base for the British Empire's counterattack."
"When Japan surrendered, the whole of India felt the joy of victory in the war. It can be said that it took full advantage of the sky. The state of vigorous vitality and all things competing is still before our eyes. Just twenty years later, could it be that the subcontinent has reached such a state?
Has it become our burial place?"
Norman Brooke was a little surprised. This was the first time he discovered that the cabinet secretary he chose not only had the potential to be a civil servant, but also had the potential to be a politician? These words were very good. He clearly saw it.
Aiden's expression was obviously immersed in it.
Rab Butler also saw the change in the Prime Minister's expression and said directly, "It is always bad to get involved in a war."
"My minister, think about the Cuban Missile Crisis, why did the United States use the navy to demonstrate? Because the navy is the slowest in mobilizing, it can give the Soviet Union enough time to consider the causes and consequences." Alan Wilson changed the topic, "The United Kingdom also
We can do this. We dispatched the Royal Navy and said they would mobilize troops from British Africa. It will take at least a month to reach the subcontinent. By then the war will be over."
"Now it can be basically judged that this is a disciplinary war. Apart from embarrassing India, it will not have much consequences. The consequences are mainly concentrated in invisible places. What India will say internationally in the future will probably not be like
It turns out that he responded to everything he asked."
Aiden was flipping through the October report on the Forward Policy, and he had something in his mind. He said, "Alan, Norman is very optimistic about you being the cabinet secretary. Are you very serious about making suggestions to us?"
"Of course!" Alan Wilson replied resolutely, "I think not only us, but the United States and the Soviet Union will also express concern and support for India immediately. If the Prime Minister has doubts about this, he can communicate with President Kennedy."
Now is the time to communicate with the United States. I believe that the U.S. Embassy in India can also see the chaos in New Delhi, the capital. If the Indians are so panicked, why is the United States indifferent?
The United States will not sit idly by, regardless of emotion or reason. If the United Kingdom intends to provide certain support to India, the United States will definitely be happy to see it happen. The key is the attitude of the military.
Soon Field Marshal Mountbatten arrived at No. 10 Downing Street, bringing with him the attitude of the military. The full-time commander-in-chief of the British armed forces did not support his son-in-law's proposal, but considered the national interests entirely and believed that Britain should take advantage of this opportunity.
Show some care for the former colonies.
"This opportunity is also very suitable for Australia. The Australian Navy's Glory-class aircraft carrier Victory is docked in Perth for a long time." Marshal Mountbatten suggested, "We can communicate with Australia and act together. The advantage is that it can show that it is a joint operation.
It makes our UK stand out so much, and it can also bring us closer to Australia."
Based on the professional opinions of diplomacy and the military, Prime Minister Eden also made his own judgment, "It is indeed necessary to prove Britain's status through an operation. Although France has been fighting in Algeria for so many years, it finally suppressed the resistance.
, we also need an action to achieve the same effect."
"The Prime Minister is right!" Rab Butler was the first to express his agreement, as if he firmly supported Eden in launching the Suez Canal War in another time and space.
Saving India suddenly became the mainstream of British public opinion and was brought to the forefront of public opinion by major newspapers and periodicals. In fact, India's affairs have always been a hot topic of concern to the British media for a long time. It was just that it was upstaged by the Cuban Missile Crisis some time ago. Now it is just
It's back to the public eye.
While creating public opinion, Rab Butler declared the British government's attitude to the outside world. To put it simply, Britain will never ignore it and will use all its forces to assist India to achieve the purpose of ending the war. However, the free transit port of Hong Kong
Status cannot be erased...
At this time, India finally enjoyed father's love again after more than ten years. Nehru no longer had the capital to refuse. All he could say was that the international community was on India's side.
One day later, the Australian government responded and would send a Tejas-class aircraft carrier to operate together with the British Royal Navy, and the two countries would form a joint fleet to support India.
In the official announcement of the British Foreign Office, Alan Wilson explained this move as a move by the British to stop the continuation of the war, rather than as an act of bias. "We hope that the war will end and peace will return to the world. This is what Britain wants."
Purpose."
While the British Foreign Office used neutral language to cool down, the military announced the deployment of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, two Eagle-class aircraft carriers, two Centaur-class aircraft carriers, three cruisers, eight Valiant-class destroyers, and four weapons
-class destroyers, together with the HMS Dreadnaught nuclear submarine and a large fleet of eight conventional submarines, headed to East Africa to board the British troops stationed in Africa.
"If Prime Minister Nehru does not object, British Marines will land in Mumbai by then to ensure India's security."
The British Empire, like the United States Navy a month ago, used the Royal Navy to mobilize as the main force to assist India.
This navy with nearly a hundred warships began to gather, causing other countries to feel terrified, as if the empire on which the sun never sets was back, and the old imperialism was invincible.
"Many people are talking about it now." Princess Margaret, who looked at ease, leaned into her brother-in-law's arms. This warm embrace made her very nostalgic, "The military has made a lot of noise. Is there really going to be a war?
"
"How is that possible! The navy goes to East Africa first, and it will take a month to wait for the British troops stationed in Africa to assemble and board the ship. This does not include the voyage from East Africa to the subcontinent. Doesn't it take time for the troops stationed in East Africa to leave the camp? Doesn't it take time to sail? On the way.
It’s normal to delay a little time due to some things.”
Alan Wilson, who was holding his sister-in-law's delicate body, explained, "Doesn't this give others time? By then we will have gained international reputation and both of us will have a bright future."
"It turns out that I just said that I would support India, but I didn't actually go there." Princess Margaret rolled her eyes at her brother-in-law, "Then why do you pretend to go to war? It's better to do nothing."
"What do you know? Of course Britain is suitable for viewing international affairs with a conservative attitude, but it cannot always be unresponsive." Alan Wilson corrected his sister-in-law. "In ancient and modern battles, the pig's tactics have been successfully used by people again and again. When attacked, they will
The butt is nestled against the wall, so you can't grab the tail. Finally, it has no choice but to bite you with its sharp teeth. Once you bite it, you won't let go."
"There is no risk. After passing this level and gaining international prestige, it would be better for the UK to continue dormant."
"Good morning, Deputy Secretary!" the sister-in-law complimented with a smile, and then whispered softly, "Pamela is not here, so I have to take care of you for her, but I am a princess, so you can set my bones first."