In the year 1947 that was about to pass, Khrushchev's life was actually not good. After the war, he was the top leader in Ukraine until Kaganovich parachuted into Ukraine.
Kaganovich was a contemporary of Khrushchev, and the two were almost the same age. This made Khrushchev, who had stepped down from the top position to a supporting position, almost see no hope for the future, especially in response to the measures taken to deal with last year's drought.
The huge loss of points in front of Stalin made Khrushchev quite depressed this year.
Especially this visit to Berlin with Shepilov made Khrushchev even more pessimistic about his prospects.
Shepilov is a rising star in politics in every aspect, and he actually completed a task with Shepilov. No matter how he thinks about it, he cannot be optimistic about the future.
Before the two arrived in Berlin, Alan Wilson also received a list of the parties to the negotiation. Of course, Khrushchev's name was not included. The Soviet representative for this negotiation was Shepilov.
This name is also familiar to Alan Wilson. After Stalin's death, this man succeeded Molotov as Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, his time as Minister of Foreign Affairs was very short and he disappeared from the Soviet political arena.
There is no controversy. Just like Shelepin, Kosygin and other accomplished high-level Soviet cadres, people who are familiar with it may just sigh: "Would it be better if the country let him manage it?"
However, people like them cannot reach the highest position. They lack a fighting spirit, which is not a spirit of fighting against themselves, but a spirit of fighting against others.
In the appointment of cadres in the Soviet Union, excluding those who are promoted through normal channels, there are two extremes. One is evergreens like Mikoyan, Gromyko, Kunayev, and Andropov;
They stay in one position for as little as ten years or as long as several decades, until they finally retire or get promoted.
The other type is people like Shelepin and Shepilov, who have already knocked on the door of the central government in their thirties and entered the decision-making level in their forties.
If Shepilov successfully survives the Khrushchev period, he is likely to become Brezhnev's political opponent. Because the two are similar in age and have very similar political trajectories, Shepilov's resume during the war is still relatively good.
A little more outstanding.
The foreign minister who could later become the foreign minister was already a big shot in the eyes of Alan Wilson. He did not know that a bigger figure than Shepilov had arrived in Berlin, Khrushchev, who was in the stage of being beaten by Stalin.
Although he did not know about Khrushchev's arrival, he knew that the Soviet representative was Shepilov, and Alan Wilson was very happy. Although Shepilov passed by like a comet, he promoted détente during his tenure.
In the 1990s, the Soviet Union no longer existed. On his deathbed, Shepilov left his last words and concluded, "I have never relied on anyone. I have my own mind to judge things."
Such an opponent is at least sensible, and Alan Wilson feels that he will not face too many unreasonable demands.
There is no doubt that he now wants to knock on the door of the Soviet market. British India is about to become independent. Of course, Britain will definitely maintain its privileges over the subcontinent as much as possible, but after all, it does not have direct rule to do as it pleases.
If we can knock on the door of the Soviet market at this time, it will be another big boost to the UK's already improving economy.
Trade is nothing more than making up for each other's weaknesses. As a high-latitude country, the Soviet Union had no reason to reject Britain.
"There won't be any difficulties, right?" Eiffle already knew the purpose of Alan Wilson's visit to Berlin. As a British foreign affairs officer in Berlin, Eiffel certainly knew about the stubbornness of the Soviets, and expressed his worries at this time.
"I have experienced many battles and have seen many invincible opponents in the subcontinent from New Delhi to Mumbai." Although Alan Wilson was not very sure in his heart, he could not show his timidity in front of Aiful, and expressed his emotion that he was invincible in the world.
.
In the past two days, Alan Wilson also prepared some information and decided to scare the Soviet Union in this way.
He knew that in the early days after World War II, the Soviet Union focused on its postwar vested interests and did not actually want to fall out with the West.
The most critical thing is that the situation in Ukraine has not calmed down with the end of the war. At least there are still many anti-Soviet armed forces in Ukraine. The importance of Ukraine to the Soviet Union is clear to any key politician.
In the evening, news came from the Soviet Union that the negotiation point this time was still at the Potsdam Palace, which was equivalent to Alan Wilson facing the conditions of an away game, and the news was sent back to London at the same time.
Alan Wilson set out with a few diplomats and MI5 agents. The next day, he returned to the Potsdam Palace, the place where the Big Three had met, to continue negotiations with the Soviet Union.
"Dear allies, we meet again." This was the first sentence Alan Wilson said when he met Shepilov. The Cold War has not officially broken out yet, and there is no problem in calling the Soviet Union allies. At this time,
The Labor government also considered the Soviet Union to be a dubious ally.
"Hello, Mr. Allen." Shepilov took the initiative to extend his hand and shake hands with the other party as an expression of friendship.
That's all the goodwill that the two sides showed, and the subsequent negotiations were far from as friendly as the greeting.
Alan Wilson mentioned the Rolls-Royce engine contract and said that in view of the Soviet Union's record with intellectual property rights, it is completely reasonable for the United Kingdom to review this transaction, and the Soviet Union has nothing to complain about.
Because of this, there is unfairness in the trade issues between the two countries. Alan Wilson said that the Soviet Union should open up the import of rubber and tin ore to balance the trade between the two sides. Trade should complement each other's strengths rather than one country taking advantage.
"The Soviet Union has been exporting timber and food to help Britain and even Western European countries complete reconstruction." Shepilov frowned, "And Mr. Allen, I personally don't appreciate your wording. You seem to have a condescending tone.
Unilaterally making demands on the Soviet Union is not the way to solve the problem."
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Can you try buying engines from the United States?" Alan Wilson said disapprovingly, "Do you think the Americans care about you?"
Countries like the United States will never make some mistakes. How many fools like the Soviet Union in the world have managed to turn an agricultural country into an industrial country from scratch? Forget about civilian industry, and even help build military industry?
Regarding Shepilov's rebuttal, Alan Wilson acted as if he didn't hear it. It was just a question of whether you want to buy it or not. After passing this village, there is no such store. What I regret is the Soviet Union.
"I heard that Mr. Allen has been working in the colonies for a long time. This time he may have got the wrong target. The Soviet Union is a powerful country, not a colony." Shepilov sneered, "The United Kingdom is not that strong in the eyes of us Soviets.
, I know that some White Russians who escaped are walking around in European countries with the illusion of cowardice. This kind of behavior is nothing more than a bereaved dog begging its owner to throw two bones. After this war, I believe no one underestimates the power of the Soviet Union.
."
Wasn't this Stalin's response to European countries looking down on the Soviet Union before the war broke out?
"Mr. Shepilov has misunderstood. Of course I will not listen to the propaganda of some imperial Russian nobles one-sidedly like some people before the war." Alan Wilson waved his hand and said that he was not that kind of person, and then the conversation changed slowly.
He swallowed and said, "But I believe that a country that has killed 20 million of its core population does not have the ability to restart the war at present. Why doesn't the Soviet Union announce its population losses? Now we all know how many people were lost in Germany, and how many people were lost in the Soviet Union.
What? If you don’t announce it, you are being ulterior. If the Soviet Union releases the figures after this meeting, it can also be considered fake and just an official article to stabilize people’s hearts.”
"Do you think what I said is right?" At this point, Alan Wilson turned to ask the diplomats and detectives beside him.
"Of course." For different reasons, both diplomats and military intelligence agents believed that Alan Wilson's words were correct.
On the contrary, the Soviet representatives were completely silent. The Soviet Union did not announce the population losses after the war. The British in front of them were so sure, which inevitably made people feel unsure.
"This is just a confused guess." Shepilov said with a gloomy face, "British diplomats have always had a great reputation, but now they are very disappointing, using unfounded information for blackmail."
"This is not blackmail, isn't it? Isn't it a reasonable guess? Maybe Mr. Shepilov wants to tell me? When the German army attacked the Soviet Union, Qiu did not commit any crime. Except for the soldiers who died in the battle, no one in the Soviet Union died?
When the invaders’ troops saw the Soviet people, they loved them as if they were the people of their own country?”
Alan Wilson said sarcastically, "Then why do so many countries fight to the end? Let Germany rule the world, and maybe everyone will be better off."
In the first negotiation, Alan Wilson used the old blackmail method. Taking the Soviet Union's population loss as a starting point, it showed that at present, the Soviet Union did not have the conditions to open its mouth.
It was not until the meeting came to an end that Alan Wilson briefly mentioned the requirements in the engine export contract. For the first batch of 300 engines, full payment must be made first, and then Rolls-Royce will wait for shipment.
Shepilov was very indignant about this and said that this was an obvious blackmail. The two parties broke up unhappy and contacted each other at home. Before leaving, Shepilov solemnly declared, "The underestimation of Soviet technology may
It would cost the UK a very good contract."
"I have never underestimated Soviet technology, but some things are not a matter of technology." Alan Wilson said disapprovingly, "It's like growing corn in the high-latitude permafrost zone of Siberia. It's only a matter of success. Otherwise, you try it.