"Dear Ali Khan, please allow me, on behalf of the British Empire, to express my most sincere respect to you, a long-time loyal ally." Alan Wilson sounded like an old civil servant when he opened his mouth. With a smile that was just right, he looked at the Turkish emperor who was not a person by appearance.
Showing goodwill, "For three hundred years, Hyderabad, the royal family, and the British Empire have always cooperated very happily. This harmonious relationship has benefited us a lot, whether in the past or in the future. I hope our friendship will continue."
"
"The similarity between you and the previous commissioner is that you speak the same stylized words." Mir Osman Ali Khan smiled slightly, pointed out the common ground between the other party, and waved the servants in the palace to prepare the meal, "I just said
After the church service, I now invite the new commissioner from Hyderabad to have lunch with us to enhance our relationship with each other."
"I feel very honored. Dear Maharaja, your English proficiency surprises me." Alan Wilson looked disrespectful and agreed to the other party's invitation.
Due to the dimensional relationship, Hyderabad is located in South India, but due to the Deccan Plateau, the temperature here is not much higher than that of New Delhi. In the climate at the beginning of the year, people feel a bit cooler.
But it is obvious that Mir Osman Ali Khan, as a native Hyderabad monarch, has been accustomed to the climate here. He prepared tableware for Alan Wilson, and he grabbed food with his hands like an ordinary Indian, even with a knife and fork.
Place it next to the plate when ready.
It wasn't until he licked the silver plate clean that Mir Osman Ali Khan slowly said, "As the new Hyderabad Commissioner, I very much welcome your arrival. Whether it is New Delhi or London, I believe you have carefully considered it."
.”
Only then did Alan Wilson realize that although the Hyderabad monarch had never left his homeland, he was very well-informed and had fallen into the eyes of the other party before he even left New Delhi.
From asking whether the British and Indian Army's march into Burma went smoothly, to hearing that Prime Minister Churchill was about to go to Yalta to hold a meeting with the Soviets, everything was detailed and understood clearly. It was far from the licking of the plate just now.
After going around in a circle, Mir Osman Ali Khan asked indifferently, "I heard that Nehru and Ali Jinnah were having a bad fight, which caused a lot of trouble to New Delhi and London. To be honest,
I personally don’t like this kind of quarrel very much.”
"From a British point of view, of course I don't like it either, my dear Maharaja." Upon hearing this, Alan Wilson took a careful look at Mir Osman Ali Khan's expression. He always felt that the other party seemed to be referring to something, and he spoke slowly.
Tundu said, "It seems that the Maharaja is very concerned about some rumors and wants to get urgent answers."
"Well, I have heard some things. Although it is not good to ask before the war is over, please understand that this involves a big problem in Hyderabad." Mir Osman Ali Khan did not hide it either.
The thin body matched the loud voice and said, "I wonder what London thinks of the current independence movement in British India? Is it the advocacy of Ali Jinnah or Nehru?"
Alan Wilson just wanted to scratch his head. This question was beyond the scope of what he, the commissioner, could answer. As for whether British India would continue to exist, should we try our best to maintain it, or let India become independent. I believe that now in London, whether it is the Conservative Party
Neither the Labor Party nor the Labor Party has an accurate answer, and it should still be under discussion.
It seems that Mir Osman Ali Khan cares about this issue to an extraordinary extent, otherwise he would not have asked him, the newly appointed commissioner, who was too impatient.
But the key is that he really can't answer this question. But he just met the monarch here and he can't give a clear answer. This may damage the relationship. It's okay to damage the relationship between the British Empire and Hyderabad. It's not harmful to personal relationships.
It's something Alan Wilson doesn't want to see.
The other party is not just the ruler of Hyderabad. He will be driven away once India becomes independent. You must know that Mir Osman Ali Khan is also the richest man in the world who has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Even if he loses his status as a ruler and his huge wealth
It still makes people look up to it, even Alan Wilson, who dug up the Golden Temple, is no exception.
"In fact, there is no conclusion in London on this issue. Dear Maharaja, but in my personal name, I can imagine several possible situations to judge what attitude the Maharaja will adopt at that time." Alan Wilson said
He showed a very sincere expression and spoke in a private name.
"Oh? Please tell me!" Mir Osman Ali Khan's face was calm, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
"In fact, it is a well-known fact that the Congress Party, represented by Nehru himself, hopes that after independence, India can maintain the framework of a country. What it wants is the legacy of the British Empire in South Asia." Alan Wilson said
This added, "This is the premise for the establishment of India's final independent success. As for the Muslim League represented by Ali Jinnah, it is very resistant to the idea of living in the same country as Hindus. Judging from the current attitude, Ali Jinnah
His attitude is very tough and he would rather fight a civil war than compromise."
"I have also heard about Jinnah's attitude." Mir Osman Ali Khan nodded, obviously approving Alan Wilson's analysis of the two most powerful local politicians in South Asia. He changed the topic and said, "But including Hyde
What is the status of all the princely states, including Laba? I don’t know what the commissioner thinks.”
"Let's assume the worst possible outcome!" Alan Wilson also knew that now was not the time to hide and tuck in. He had to make the monarch of Hyderabad recognize him as the commissioner at the first meeting.
He is a human being, not a bribe-payer, even if he did pay bribes to become a commissioner.
Mir Osman Ali Khan was concerned about the issue of the ownership of the princely states, which involved his interests. Alan Wilson also knew that the issue of the princely states caused a series of disputes after India's independence.
Let’s not mention Kashmir or Hyderabad, let’s talk about two issues that have not attracted much attention, Sikkim and Bhutan. Later, one was annexed by India in the 1960s, and the other became a protectorate of India.
On the current map of British India, Sikkim and Bhutan are both part of British India and exist in the name of princely states. India continues to start wars because it also believes that it needs to restore the territory of British India. In other words
, India has been facing the territory of British India since ancient times.
Putting this issue aside for the first time, what Nehru thought was obviously not of concern to Mir Osman Ali Khan, the monarch of Hyderabad. In fact, their positions were completely opposite.