It is normal for industrial development plans to cause controversy. Britain has never taken the initiative to transfer any industry, at least not at the government level. Although the development of the United States in the late nineteenth century was largely due to British capital, that was
Nor is it an initiative of the London government.
Even though British India had such an important role in the former British Empire, London did not transfer any industry.
Of course, India's industry is second only to Japan outside white European countries. That is why India must have some industries that meet its own needs. The British-Indian Governor's House has carried out some basic construction to meet this demand.
But taking the lead in transferring industries and making the colonies a powerful complement to the British mainland? This is a novel matter for this cabinet.
At the cabinet meeting, the report on Malaya's industrial development caused a heated debate. Opponents believed, "Is it really at this time that Britain must use other forces to share the pressure on the mainland."
Those who think we can give it a try also have their own reasons: "The facts are obvious. Local citizens cannot work in worthless jobs forever. Just as the report said, it is impossible for us to sell clothes to compete with the United States and the Soviet Union.
Some jobs are bound to become obsolete as the times progress. Do we still expect water carriers from the Middle Ages to still be active in the streets of London today?"
Mountbatten arrived at the cabinet under such circumstances. He did not think there was anything wrong with this. He had a trump card named George VI. Although he would not usually use it, he could bring the king out at any time.
Achieve your own goals.
The fact that the king does not interfere in government affairs does not mean that the king is just a decoration. He also has military influence. Even for the army, although the UK does not have the title of Royal Army, there are countless troops with the prefix Royal in the army.
The army, like the navy and air force, is loyal to the king, not to which government it is.
"Louis, I didn't expect you to come too. How is your work in the Admiralty? I heard that you, the newly appointed Sea Lord, have shown extraordinary energy." Seeing Mountbatten come to the door, Prime Minister Attlee said
Come out with a lot of tolerance.
Attlee, like Churchill, had known Mountbatten for a long time, and of course he understood Mountbatten's important position within the royal family. At the same time, he also knew that Mountbatten's dream was to be the First Sea Lord, and he was equally happy to see him.
become.
There was no essential difference between Attlee and Churchill in supporting Mountbatten to become First Sea Lord.
"Oh, dear Prime Minister, I am very happy to see you. Of course I have my own purpose this time!" General Mountbatten expressed his intention in a skillful tone of voice that he had never heard of a civil servant. "I heard that the cabinet is having a heated discussion about overseas construction.
Plan, of course I am a soldier and do not understand the situation, but I think the Privy Councilor’s opinion is very reasonable. According to a new saying, some industries are sunset industries, and their remaining value is no longer great.”
"Louis, do you think so too?" Prime Minister Attlee was shocked when he heard this. He seemed to have underestimated the last Governor-General of India. Even he, the Prime Minister, had only recently clarified the definition of sunset industry. The key is the British Empire.
This word always appears on Malayan telegrams.
"Of course, the textile industry is a basic industry that can be developed by any country and is also the easiest to break through." Mountbatten said with a smug look based on the content of the long-standing telegram with Alan Wilson.
After expressing his understanding of the economy, Mountbatten changed the subject and said, "Of course, what I am most concerned about is the construction of the Royal Navy."
General Mountbatten's dream was to be the First Sea Lord, not to be the Commissioner of British Malaya. Just use the term "sunset industry" to pretend that his love is enigmatic. The key is to optimize the use of the Royal Navy.
Logistics and expenditure were among his responsibilities as the Fourth Sea Lord. General Mountbatten was convinced by an argument in Alan Wilson's telegram that once the overseas territories of the British Empire could not be maintained, the role of the Royal Navy would naturally become smaller and smaller.
Especially for British Malaya, which can supervise the Strait of Malacca. Once such an important colony becomes independent, the status of the Royal Navy will become increasingly insignificant.
This has always been a historical development trend. With the disintegration of empires and the growth of the navies of the British Commonwealth, traditional overseas rivals Japan, the United States, Italy, and even the Soviet Union have either turned into allies, or their threats have declined, so overseas defense is no longer needed.
Maintaining a huge global empire was the most critical motivation for the expansion of the Royal Navy in the 19th century, but this motivation no longer exists. The large number of warships that maintained commuting and trade routes naturally lost their role and sooner or later completely disappeared from the stage of history.
In turn, the need to protect the British Isles has shrunk dramatically: even today's navy is still about the same size as the French Navy. Traditionally, France, the first threat to the British Isles, has ceased to be a threat since the twentieth century. And other traditions
European threats also became allies against the Soviet Union.
If Argentina had not suddenly wanted to compete with the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom would have regarded the shrinking Royal Navy as even more insignificant. It was the Falklands War that caused the United Kingdom to put a sudden brake on the continuous shrinking of the Royal Navy.
General Mountbatten naturally did not know about the war decades later, but he wanted to be Sea Lord, and at the same time he did not want to see the Royal Navy, which he had pursued all his life, become insignificant when he became Sea Lord.
Therefore, he must use his special position in the United Kingdom to make British Malaya very important, so that the Royal Navy has the need to continue to develop. As for Alan Wilson's statement that the Malayan colony can be used to bear part of the logistics expenses, that only
But by the way.
General Mountbatten came to the Prime Minister's Office today to accomplish a goal that coincides with his son-in-law's interests. Even if he cannot make a final decision, he must try to get Prime Minister Attlee to seriously consider this issue.
When Mountbatten was doing his persuasion work, Norman Brooke was also blessing it, and Whitehall was also supportive of this development plan. It was entirely for the influence of the British Empire and was completely selfless, even if there were some
, which can be regarded as taking into account both public and private matters.
"Actually, considering the cost reasons and the current European Common Market, I am not very opposed to it." Attlee pondered for a moment, frowned slightly and said, "It's just that the Foreign Secretary may have some doubts."
The current Foreign Secretary is not Ernest Bevin, but Herbert Morrison, the deputy leader of the Labor Party. He is Prime Minister Attlee's opponent within the party.
Because the Labor Party does not have much experience in governing, and there are not many available talents compared with the Conservative Party, the Labor government has multiple super ministers, who hold the positions of more than two ministers at the same time. Ernest Bevin has limited physical conditions.
No matter how suitable he is for the heavy diplomatic work, the current incumbent has been replaced by Herbert Morrison.
If he had not lost his parliamentary seat in the 1931 general election, it would not have been Clement Richard Attlee but Clement Richard Attlee who became leader of the Labor Party and later Prime Minister.
Can't let go.
"Perhaps I think that what Herbert objected to was not a plan, but a certain person." When General Mountbatten heard this, he had a look on his face, but he immediately took back his words, "Of course, I don't care about party affairs.
I don’t know, and I don’t understand the specific situation, but as many people in Whitehall say, in serving the empire, the most important thing is to be reliable!”
Reliability! Prime Minister Attlee pondered for a moment and nodded. This is a trait that politicians also consider important.
Alan Wilson's report was as voluminous as ever and took up a lot of space, elaborating on the important status of British Malaya. Even before it was issued, he should have revised it once, taking away all the words about industrial transfer and replacing it with something more inhumane.
Harmful industrial support.
He said that under the current background of European countries starting to recover, once these countries with the original foundation recover, the textile industry with the lowest threshold will bear the brunt. Supporting the textile industry of British Malaya is within the framework of the Imperial System of Preferences
, which is equivalent to having a reliable external force to compete with European countries in the European Common Market with a lower cost advantage.
It can also unite the Commonwealth, considering the position of Malaya and the centripetal force of Australia. With one hand holding the Commonwealth and the other hand holding the European Common Market, wouldn't it be beautiful to fly together on both wings?
Attlee saw this telegram stating that support was greater than transfer, and he also recognized the content of this paragraph.
After General Mountbatten left the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Attlee had already made a vague decision in his mind.
In British Malaya, Alan Wilson was taking Boris, Newfoundland's guests, to visit rubber plantations and tin mining areas. The main purpose was to persuade Newfoundland to invest.
Although he had previously patted his chest and promised that London would charge a pound, Newfoundland was not London, so he had to speak when he should.
Returning to the High Commissioner's Office, Alan Wilson said as he walked, "I'm not saying it's wrong to keep the funds, but since Newfoundland has sufficient funds, it should have relevant investment concepts. Although the current life in Newfoundland is definitely very difficult.
Finnish citizens are satisfied, but who would dislike having more money?"
"Commissioner Allen, this time it is also an eye-opener for us. Judging from the several industries we observed, our fishermen's vision is still too small." Boris was obviously convinced, and several Newfoundlanders accompanying him also nodded.
.
"Commissioner, call back from London." Not long after, Alyssa came with a swaying figure, holding a telegram from London and reported, "It is the approval of the industrial support plan."
"Change support into transfer, translate it and publish it to the society. Don't do good deeds without leaving a name. We should praise every part of the work we do. This is the work experience left in British India." Alan Wilson
With a happy face, he still did not forget to remind his subordinates to pay attention to details.