Chapter 371 Starting From the Movie Market
"Norman, what do the Portuguese want battleships for?" Prime Minister Attlee looked at the cabinet secretary, showing no particular emotion about this request. "As far as I know, the Portuguese navy is very weak."
"Maybe it's for the safety of Portuguese Goa?" Norman Brook pondered for a moment and gave the answer. "Other than that, there should be no explanation. Prime Minister, have you seen the earlier withdrawal route of the British troops stationed in India? of."
"Oh, yes. Part of it was withdrawn to the Persian Gulf, and part of it was withdrawn to Malaya." Attlee nodded clearly. He had indeed seen such a withdrawal report, but was there any content about Portuguese Goa in it?
Alan Wilson stood aside and retreated partly to the Persian Gulf and partly to Malaya? Didn’t you write this report yourself?
"The Portuguese government, and Salazar?" Prime Minister Attlee muttered something inexplicable, and then asked, "What is the current state of the Nelson-class battleship? What are the technical problems?"
"It has been lying on the slipway for more than a year. Technically, there is no problem. Because the Portuguese Navy no longer has experience in operating large warships. If it is rented, the Royal Navy may need to send a group of naval officers to help with training." Norman Brook tells the truth, purely from a technical perspective.
After the war, the two Nelson-class battleships were withdrawn from active service. The "Rodney" was transferred to reserve service in the same year, and was deregistered the following year. The "Nelson" was changed to a training ship the following year. Just this year It was also deregistered, and the two battleships were already lying in the shipyard waiting to be scrapped.
Prime Minister Attlee's dissatisfaction with Portugal is only with Salazar and his government.
"Does Alan know anything about Portugal?" Attlee did not mention the battleship lease, but asked Alan Wilson whether Portugal was a country that could be trusted.
"When I was in British India, I also had a lot of contact with Goa." Alan Wilson said everything without hesitation. "The local Portuguese officials in Goa also told me many times that Portugal has been a country for hundreds of years. An ally of the British Empire. During the World War, Portugal was a small country and was close to Spain, so some decisions were made involuntarily. It was also willing to sign an agreement with us, and the British army could use the port of Goa for repairs at any time. This time the US aid plan, There should be one for Portugal.”
"Let's discuss this matter. I want to see how the Americans judge." Prime Minister Attlee scratched his smooth forehead. His extremely smart head was very bright, showing that he was thinking.
Germany attacked Poland, World War II broke out, and Britain declared war on Germany. Salazar found himself in a rather awkward situation. Portugal and Britain are traditional allies and should stand on the same side as they did during World War I; but Italy and Germany also have certain common interests with the Salazar government.
Salazar, however, is wary of both. Remaining neutral seemed to be the only option, and this choice also brought many benefits to Portugal. In addition to selling war supplies to both warring parties, free ports along the Portuguese coast also prospered.
But in fact, this is not a big deal. Not many good friends can even take advantage of the fire, let alone the country. After all, Portugal eventually joined the Allies, but only after the war became obvious.
Alan Wilson remembered that Portugal had a share in the Marshall Plan, but the amount was just like what he said before. Not at all, but basically nothing. He remembered the amount of aid Portugal received in the Marshall Plan.
It is only higher than Iceland, which currently has a population of 120,000.
But this is much better than Spain. Apart from Franco's factor, Mexico, which has a new president who has stated that he wants to live in harmony with the United States, is fiercely attacking Spain and wants to be the leader of the Spanish-speaking world.
Even considering the attitude of the Mexicans who have finally given up their anti-American stance, the United States will not include Spain in the Marshall Plan at this time.
Prime Minister Attlee did not want to lease the battleships to Portugal, but he was not determined. He only said that he was considering it.
Alan Wilson actually really wants this thing to succeed. If he leaves it alone, it will be dismantled. Maybe he can make a profit by renting it out. We can share some costs in the name of helping the Portuguese Navy train. Can two battleships that are no longer young still pose a threat to Britain?
And there is another reason. Salazar also invested considerable energy in colonial policy. In his early years, Salazar served as Minister of Finance and Colonial Secretary, and issued detailed decrees. The decree required strengthening colonial control, canceling the colonial rights of autonomy, encouraging colonization and sending missionary teams, in order to strengthen the connection between the colonies and the Portuguese mainland.
Such leaders and the countries they control are exactly the thugs the British Empire needs right now. If the colonialist family wants to be united, it should unite such countries.
It seems that this matter still has to wait for Mountbatten to come back to see if there can be a turn for the better. Alan Wilson does not have the ability to influence the Prime Minister's judgment.
Alan Wilson gave today's report. Although he also spent four hours in today's meeting to supplement yesterday's colonial issues, the main topic has changed.
This cannot be blamed on Alan Wilson for being too lazy. Colonial expert is his current persona. He must act like no one knows better than me. The more people discuss, the more stable the establishment will be.
The main topic of today's meeting is that Britain hopes that Belgium, the Netherlands and even Luxembourg will send domestic troops to the British-occupied areas for defense, because the British army is currently undergoing disarmament.
Although there is only one Grand Duke's Guard in Luxembourg, it has only two battalions. But people like Alan Wilson have never known what it means to be embarrassed. Even if there is only one battalion, they should fulfill their obligations and send out occupation troops, let alone the establishment of the Grand Duke's Guard is passable, with two battalions.
Even when Americans go to India, he is personally responsible for exchanging U.S. dollars and rupees. People who have never thought that flies are too small will never neglect to mention that the benefits are small. Now the British Empire must also be diligent and thrifty.
Naturally, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg expressed difficulties. Now that the world war is over, what is the purpose of stationing troops at home? Domestic matters can be left to the police department. The army is stationed in Germany. When it is time to take a vacation, the army soldiers can take the train back home.
"Now that the surrounding countries are all allies, such as the troops of Belgium and the Netherlands, there is no need to be stationed in the country. We must prevent Germany from rising again, but the most important thing is to fight against the Soviet Union."
Repeating what he said at today's meeting, Alan Wilson reported, "After patient communication, the three countries have agreed to send most of the troops remaining in the country, except for the colonial troops, into the British-occupied areas to fill the British-occupied areas." We can have a little bit of peace of mind by reducing the gap left by the reduction.”
This is very much appreciated by Prime Minister Attlee. It is not that he is unwilling to show the military power of the British Empire, but showing military power costs money.
The United Kingdom is indeed unable to compare with the United States and the Soviet Union now, and must find a solution in terms of military spending. Disarmament is necessary, whether it is to save military expenditures or to consider post-war reconstruction.
Post-war reconstruction requires labor, and the remaining money saved from military spending can give Prime Minister Attlee more money to promote national health care, the alloy tube plan, and nationalization.
If the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are willing to help the UK, this will certainly be a good thing for the current UK.
"Very good. The representatives of the two observer countries should return to Brussels tomorrow. It is best to produce a result for the meeting proposals involving people's livelihood and economic revitalization." Attlee nodded with satisfaction, "After all, The original intention of the Brussels Treaty Organization was not only to prevent Germany, but also under the banner of post-war revitalization."
The two observer countries mentioned by Prime Minister Attlee are Sweden and Denmark. Alan Wilson did not know that the Brussels Treaty Organization still had two observer states.
After all, it had been two years. After attending the first meeting, Alan Wilson returned to British India and contributed to the peace of the subcontinent. I wonder if in addition to the six colonial countries plus one Luxembourg, he has now absorbed Sweden and Denmark have become observer states.
The current Brussels Treaty Organization has seven member states and two observer states, Sweden and Denmark. Of course, this is normal. An organization always needs to expand.
"It is difficult to reach an agreement on civilian issues, especially negotiations on fishery agreements and the division of fishing grounds." Prime Minister Attlee said in a very embarrassed tone, "Every country has its own ideas, especially the French who are unwilling to make concessions."
"You can't have a meeting with no results at all. In fact, you can think of ways to make concessions on the surface but without actually making concessions." Norman Brooke suggested, "Industries such as steel and coal are too difficult to negotiate."
"Yes, industrial issues such as steel and coal are not as easy to reach consensus as the colonial issue." Prime Minister Attlee smiled bitterly. Now it seems that the Brussels Treaty Organization can reach consensus best on the colonial issue.
Not to mention steel and coal, even the fishery agreement has not made much progress. He sighed, "But is there any industry where consensus can be reached so easily?"
"Actually, movies can be considered an industry, right?" Alan Wilson said cautiously, "Nowadays, even traditional industries in various countries have not fully recovered, let alone movies that entertain the public. Let's finish talking about the integration of the film industry first, and treat it as It is the outcome of this meeting, just announce it to the public.”
"Won't the French cause obstacles?" Prime Minister Attlee also remembered the stubborn attitude of the French when it came to fisheries.
"Probably not. Cinema was invented by the French." Norman Brooke nodded and said with a smile, "France also believes that it is a powerful film country in Europe and will not oppose this issue."
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