Very interested? What kind of interest is there? Alan Wilson thought this way in his mind. In the Dutch-Indian War in history, Britain participated in the war. It seems that this decision was not affected and the British army still had to participate in the war.
Sure enough, Edward Bridges said directly, "The Dutch East Indies and British Malaya are adjacent. Once a wave of independence breaks out, it will definitely have an impact on the stability of the British colonies. Therefore, the cabinet decision is that the Dutch army will not
Before arriving, first land on Java Island, maintain the situation and wait for the arrival of the Dutch army, just like Vietnam waited for the arrival of the French army."
Alan Wilson lamented that the Big Brother of the colonial empires was the British Empire at this time. It seems that during this period of 1945, the United Kingdom was still trying its best to hold on to these colonial empires.
However, one step of contraction later turned into a step-by-step contraction. By the time Wilson came to power as Prime Minister, he had almost lost all the colonies. Considering that the independence of the Dutch East Indies might have an impact on Malaya, Britain decided to help the main force first.
The Netherlands, who had not yet arrived, took the lead.
Helping France stabilize Vietnam and helping the Netherlands stabilize Indonesia, Alan Wilson recalls history and it seems that the British Empire has not been so sincere in hundreds of years.
After the war, it was not that the UK failed to recognize the danger of being eliminated, nor did it fail to make efforts. It was just because the British Empire was the largest colonial empire in the world, and it was inevitable that it would not be decisive enough to look forward and backward when shrinking.
Sometimes there is only one opportunity, and if you miss it, you will never have it again. Although Europe has been severely damaged after two world wars, and the United States and the Soviet Union are eyeing it, for the vast third world, it is still untouchable.
It's a huge thing, it depends on whether you can make a clear choice.
When Alan Wilson thought this way, Edward Bridges continued to narrate, "The cabinet also decided on one thing, that Italian Somalia will be independent within a year, and France will discuss this matter.
After all, part of Somalia is still in the hands of the French, and we need to obtain the understanding of the French."
During World War II, Italy invaded British Somaliland and Abyssinia, merging them with Italian Somaliland and Eritrea, also an Italian colony, to form Italian East Africa.
After the end of World War II, Somaliland was temporarily handed over to the British Mandate.
Italian Somalia is now in British hands. As for the part that belongs to France, it is actually a place called Djibouti.
The first is luck. Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa, on the west coast of the Gulf of Aden, with an area of only 23,000 square kilometers. From a geographical perspective, Djibouti happens to be at the node connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, blocking access to the international strategic Suez Canal.
Southern end. Most passing ships have to resupply in Djibouti.
"Independence? Is it too hasty? The local resistance is incomparable to our strength." Alexander Cadogan said anxiously, "There is absolutely no need to do this."
"It is to make Italian Somalia independent, not to make British Somalia in our hands independent. In this way, the Somali peninsula can be divided smoothly. When British Somalia becomes independent, it will naturally become two countries."
Edward Bridges calmly corrected and made it clear that the cabinet's position on the entire greater Somalia was not to allow the entire Somalia to become independent, but to allow the former Italian part of Somalia to become an independent country first.
"Dear Cabinet Secretary, I must say that the decision-making of the Cabinet meeting is very far-sighted. We can say without hesitation that once Greater Somalia becomes independent so soon, some unrealistic ideas may arise, just like the current situation.
Like a group of native elites in British India, such dangerous ideas should be curbed."
When Alan Wilson heard this, he immediately gave a chanting rainbow fart, thinking that this move was very far-sighted, and at the same time, he also expressed that he had a little bit of insignificant opinion on the Somali issue.
"Look, our energetic Allen also has an opinion on this matter." Reaching out for a glass of whiskey, Edward Bridges chuckled and nodded, "It's about dividing Somalia and letting Italy belong to Somalia.
Be independent and have opinions.”
"Including, but not limited to, the Somali issue." Alan Wilson was flattered and took over the cabinet secretary's wine glass. Unexpectedly, he also had a share for himself, and talked eloquently, "The partition of Somalia is definitely a good idea. It may solve the problem of the British
The empire is a huge burden. We can let Italian Somalia become independent first. In this process, of course, the local British civil servants must get their share of the British Empire. Now the country needs an injection of funds. I believe that the local tribal chiefs
, is very willing to use some insignificant metal to purchase the right to rule a place."
"Very good." Edward Bridges nodded happily, "The Partition Plan was accidentally inspired by the materials of Ali Jinnah and Nehru that I saw coming from British India recently. It seems that I
There was no decision...oh, wrong advice."
"Decision-making is the business of politicians. We are just loyal executors, and mistakes cannot fall on us. Politicians are chosen by citizens. If politicians make mistakes, doesn't it mean that the citizens of the great British Empire have made mistakes again? So
All are without error."
Alexander Cadogan's eloquent talk showed that civil servants have always been a group that cannot make mistakes. Once a mistake occurs, it will definitely be the mistake of the elected politicians.
"In the process of allowing Somalia to become independent, if Italian Somalia cannot develop due to their own reasons and lives a worse life than before independence, the British Empire is definitely not responsible for this. Even if it is responsible, it belongs to the Italians.
Responsibility. Moreover, if Haile Selassie I, the Ethiopian emperor, wanted the independent Italian Somalia to bear the losses caused by the plundering of Ethiopia during the Italian war, it seemed feasible.
foot."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Are things in Somalia related to Ethiopia? Of course they are. The Ogaden is part of the Somali state in eastern Ethiopia, with an area of about 180,000
square kilometers, also known as Ethiopian Somalia.
Once Italian Somalia becomes independent and makes some instigations, a war is likely to break out, especially after Haile Selassie I restored his country to Ethiopia, it can be said that he has extremely high prestige in Africa.
Like many resistance forces during World War II, Haile Selassie I also chose to live in exile in London after Ethiopia was occupied by Italy. The United Kingdom certainly has this influence on Ethiopia.
"Once Ethiopia invades Italian Somalia after its independence, the British Empire may be burdened from a moral perspective." After listening to Alan Wilson's words from beginning to end, Edward Bridges said meaningfully, "Although this
The war between two African countries essentially has nothing to do with the British Empire."
"The British Empire has given the Somalis as much freedom as possible. People must learn to live independently. We have already taught Africans everything we can teach them. If they fall into war, it is only the Africans' own problem."
Alexander Cadogan then expressed his agreement with the cabinet secretary.
Then the natural development of Somalia's future is that Italian Somalia became independent, and then became impoverished due to Italian exploitation, which also triggered the invasion of neighboring countries. Compared with this, British Somalia was like living in paradise.
Even in the distant future, British Somalia will become independent. In the process of British management of British Somalia, mature local decision-makers have emerged and will not merge with Italian Somalia.
At the end of the report, Edward Bridges suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "There is news from the Far East about the handling of the Japanese Navy. The British Empire and our close allies, the Americans, agree on one thing.
To do this, destroy and sink all Japanese warships above cruisers! All unfinished warships and submarines were cut by electric welding."
"That's such a pity. Many warships are still powerful." Alan Wilson said with regret.
"This matter is the final decision of the United Kingdom and the United States!" Alexander Cadogan saw Alan Wilson's reaction and added, "Alan, think about it and you will understand. If the remaining cruisers, battleships and aircraft carriers are retained, they must
Distribute them according to the plan on the European side. If the Soviets want the remaining battleships and aircraft carriers of the Japanese Navy, should we give them to them or not? Therefore, all large warships must be destroyed, so that the Soviet Union will have nothing to say."
"Only retaining some thousand-ton destroyers poses no threat to the Royal Navy. Therefore, it is best to destroy all the large battleships of the Japanese Navy! The remaining junk can be made tolerant and let the Soviet Union and China choose at will. The British
The Empire has no objection."
"Dear Sir Edward, Sir Alexander." Alan Wilson's heart moved. It was not that he suddenly wanted to have an internationalist spirit and fight for the Soviet Union and a certain big country in Asia, but that he thought of the unfinished submarine in Hamburg, which he wanted to sell.
For the princely state of Junagadh.
After saying this, Edward Bridges' expression changed. It was no small matter to complete and sell the German submarine. However, the Hamburg Shipyard was the wealth of the British-occupied area. The United Kingdom had the right to handle this matter independently, and other countries could not interfere.
"Alan, the Junagadh state you are talking about? Is it rich?" Seeing that Edward Bridges remained silent, Alexander Cadogan understood and asked.
"It is not simply a question of whether one is rich or not, it is a rare one." Alan Wilson introduced the Junagadh state in detail. "The strength of the Junagadh state is greater than that of the British Indian state."