Chapter 429: Tolerant Heart

"Europe belongs to us Europeans, and we should be the ones to decide our own Europe." In Paris, a meeting was in progress. On the rostrum, French President Giscard d'Estaing made an impassioned speech: "Our economy should be controlled by us, and in the economic field, the most important thing is currency! If we want Europe to continue to develop, we should have a unified currency!"

The United States is powerful and almost dominates the entire European affairs. But now, the United States is gradually losing their leadership. The United States has shown their stupidity in the Far East and the Middle East. This is the time to win more autonomy for Europe!

With this idea in mind, Giscard continued to play France's role as a troublemaker. In European affairs, France has always advocated independence. France does not join NATO and often plays against the United States in international affairs. Now, it is an opportunity for them!

The United States, which is in a mess, should have let go of its tentacles in Europe long ago! Without the restrictions of the United States, Europe will have better development! Moreover, if Europe wants to develop, unification is a necessary choice! This unification is not the military unification of the Hitler era, but coming together economically first!

Therefore, Giscard was the first person to advocate European monetary unification. It is precisely because of this contribution that he was later called the father of the euro.

"Yes, in the long run, it will be very beneficial for us to use a unified currency. It can fully coordinate the development of our European countries, achieve common progress, and realize economic take-off." German Chancellor Schmidt is also one of the advocates of the euro. He and the French President want to finalize the euro at this European conference. Although there are still many difficulties to overcome in the future, this is a solid first step after all.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we can put the European currency issue on hold for now. We have more important things to deal with." Margaret Thatcher, the newly appointed British Prime Minister, said to her European colleagues: "Recently, a lot of foreign populations have appeared in our country. These people have caused great security risks in our country."

It's not just in Lyon, France, and it's not just in France. The whole of Western Europe has seen an increasing number of outsiders. These people have no jobs, they are lazy and like to eat and sit around. They are the cancer of European society and a destabilizing factor!

"Yes, we all know the origins of these people." French President Giscard said: "These are all the work of the Americans!"

It's all the Americans' fault! As a country that advocates independence, it is quite normal for France to complain about the US's actions. Moreover, there is every reason to blame the Americans now, because 90% of these foreign populations come from Iran!

If there hadn't been American interference and the change of regime in Iran, there wouldn't have been so many Iranians traveling all the way to Europe! It's all the Americans' fault! Moreover, if the Americans attacked Iran, they might as well have solved the Iranian problem once and for all! What was the result? They took down half of Tehran, but then they retreated! The Americans are playing with fire!

"It's not the Americans' fault. It's mainly because Iran's HMN government is too domineering and dictatorial. Their people cannot live there. Moreover, in the past few years, our Western lives have affected the Iranians. So now that they have escaped from Iran, they can only integrate into our Western big family," said Mrs. Thatcher.

It was strange that Mrs. Thatcher, who always liked to take a hard line, was extremely tolerant and understanding in this matter! Giscard was stunned at first, but then he understood. It was very simple. Britain had always been a follower of the United States. Now, with these things happening, Britain had to clean up the mess for the United States!

However, there is some truth in what he said. In the past few years, life in Iran has long been westernized. Now, after HMN came to power, what is he doing? He is using Islamic law to rule Iran. The Iranians who are used to freedom and democracy certainly don't like it. That's why they fled to the Western world!

Integrate into the big family of the West? This sentence made more people ponder. German Chancellor Schmidt couldn't help asking: "Mrs. Thatcher, what do you mean by this? Do you want us to accept these Iranians?"

The West is a society with high welfare, but this high welfare is based on high taxes. Now, taxes and welfare are just equal. If these Iranians are integrated into their own society, the welfare of their own residents will definitely decline! This is simply a stupid approach that will put a heavy burden on Western European countries!

So, no one would agree with this statement.

"Yes, they are all Iranians who have suffered from the persecution of the HMN regime, and these people will be the elites of Iranian society in the future." Mrs. Thatcher said: "They come here because they yearn for our Western world. We need to accept them with our broad minds, so that they will better integrate into us. When they return to Iran in the future, they will become friends of our Western world. Ladies and gentlemen, the current high oil prices are not a good thing for our economy."

The outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War has led to a reduction in global oil production, and as a result, oil prices have started to rise, placing a heavy burden on all countries. In fact, it does not matter to the UK. Relying on the North Sea oil fields, the UK is now also one of the oil-producing countries. The high oil prices are good for the UK, while other oil importing countries have long begun to complain.

"The HMN government is unpopular and will eventually collapse. These Iranians in exile will eventually return to Iran. Now, isn't it better for us in the Western world to accept these people with an open mind?" Mrs. Thatcher said: "Everyone should take a long-term view. Moreover, if we accept them, we can ask the United Nations for material assistance to these refugees."

"Finally, I would like to reiterate that the United States supports us in accepting refugees," Mrs. Thatcher said. "This is what the US government wants."

America! This is a European conference, and Americans have no right to participate. However, for the British, the American follower, bringing up America is a big banner. Who can disagree? The simplest way is that whoever disagrees, the United States will withdraw its troops from that country! Let's see if they can deal with the Soviet Union's armored torrent alone!

There was total silence in the meeting room. Only Giscard was quietly complaining that France would never be a follower of the Americans!