Chapter 389 1 Generation of Dollars

This is the grandest event in Paris in recent years. Parisians have never seen anything like this since the Paris Peace Conference.

As for the American delegation, after all, they are rich people now, so of course they have the privilege of arriving late.

There was no doubt that the citizens of Paris were excited because of the opening of this international conference in Paris, as evidenced by the fireworks along the river.

Homes and shops closed their doors very early, and crowds of citizens, men and women, poured into the streets from all directions. Everyone already has a score in mind, some go to watch the fireworks, some go to watch the opera.

You don't need to feel the French's expectations carefully, Alan Wilson can also see the clues from the cold data.

Industry has always been a pain point for France. After Germany began to rearm, Britain began secretly preparing for war. Before the outbreak of the war, steel production increased by 64%, compared with a 5% decrease in France.

In other words, before Poland was wiped out by Germany, France not only failed to increase its steel production due to the approaching war, but its industry was even weaker than before the Great Depression.

Post-war French steel production is still weak. This year, France's steel production is 7 million tons, and Britain's is 15 million tons, plus 7 million tons in the British-occupied areas. As for steel production outside the British-occupied areas, France crushed this figure.

Because of the two-wing plan, the British-occupied area has unlocked the steel industry. According to the plan of the British-occupied area trade committee, the British-occupied area will fully start reconstruction next year and prepare to increase steel production to 10 million tons.

Therefore, it is true that steel production has always been a pain point for the French industry. If there are problems in meeting domestic demand, then what is the point of exporting? Historically, under such circumstances, competition in Germany became even more acute after the war.

He snatched away dam materials from Egypt, steel plates and bars for railways ordered from Australia, and business from China and India. Some products even compete with British and American ones.

This is still based on the framework of the Coal and Iron Community. Germany established an advantage over France under an unfavorable framework. Without this framework to face direct competition, it would be nothing more than a repeat of World War II in the economic field.

So it is understandable why France is obsessed with annexing the Saarland.

Alan Wilson took the initiative to invite the French to the opera, and decided to see if a certain consensus could be reached before the Americans arrived, so that there would be more room for bargaining.

In the theater, the upper panel is visible from the entire hall and serves as a stage. There is a curtain around the cage, which serves as the dressing room for the characters in the play. Outside, there is a ladder connecting the stage and the dressing room. Actors climb up and down the sturdy ladder to enter and exit. Randomly assigned characters, mechanisms and scenery,

Plot changes, etc.

It looked a bit messy, but it didn't hurt Alan Wilson's good mood at this time. He didn't mind the messiness of other countries, especially this country, France, so he chose such a theater that is close to the people.

There is no doubt that Britain is now stronger than all European countries. If Alan Wilson is to say, except for the situation in the Soviet Union which is not very clear yet, no country that can be observed at this time should be as good as Britain.

Several actors were reciting poetry on the stage, and the audience was more interested in the actors' costumes than in the roles they played.

"Pierre, the Americans will be here soon. We all know the purpose of the Americans coming this time, but how to divide the money and how to get the biggest share is what I believe you French people are most concerned about."

Alan Wilson took advantage of the poem recitation to discuss with France's designated negotiators.

"Of course, there is no doubt that we have some ideas, and we are not refusing to communicate with the United Kingdom to discuss this matter." Pierre said a typical nonsense. It seemed that he had spoken, but in fact it meant nothing. explain.

"Then I'll take the initiative!" Alan Wilson smiled and said, "There is no doubt that the only remaining big country in Europe will occupy the majority of this aid. Don't look at the Germans coming, I dare to conclude There must be a share of Germans. So the representatives on the surface are not just nineteen countries, but also Germany."

"According to calculations by the British-occupied Trade Committee, the war's reduction in industry in the Ruhr area was only about 10%. Therefore, after reconstruction, the Ruhr area quickly recovered to more than 80% of its pre-war levels. The war The progress of post-Reconstruction is certainly gratifying, but it also proves the war potential of the Germans. In the position of the United Kingdom and France, I believe it is not all happy."

Before the war, Germany was the second largest economic power in the West after the United States. During the war, German industry expanded again.

According to rough estimates, the reduction in industrial production capacity caused by the war in the entire Three Kingdoms occupied area was only about 10%. Germany originally had a relatively high level of science, technology and culture, and its indicators recovered very quickly once production resumed.

Alan Wilson also took the initiative to mention that Germany must have had a share in the Marshall Plan. Although it was once very difficult, the US$2 billion in aid to Germany in the first three years after the war eased the crisis in the occupied territories.

Of course, the effect of the money spent by the United States so far is not good, and it can even be said that a lot of it has been absorbed by the British-occupied areas. It has become the capital with which Britain can barely stand and make money.

But obviously this time the Marshall Plan is definitely not the previous tactic of adding fuel to the fire. Throwing money again has no effect. The United States will not do that kind of thing again, with such a large amount of aid. , the United States will definitely set up an agency to track the use of this large amount of aid.

"Germans?" Pierre frowned and said, "I don't understand why the Germans need to be rearmed. At this point, the United States' ideas are just like you British, very short-sighted."

"Um, dear Mr. Pierre, now it is no longer a problem for the United Kingdom, but a problem for the United States." When being confronted with the connotation of Britain's long-standing continental balance policy, Alan Wilson also felt a little hot, but he immediately pushed the matter to For Americans, "Times have changed. The British are not opposed to the French occupation of the Saarland, but the Americans cannot say it out loud, so we are opposed to it. If you can recall the British position in the past two years, you know that we are opposed to the French occupation. The Saar region is understanding.”

"It turns out that the United States is already able to command the British." Pierre sneered, "This is not like you."

"We owe the Americans a lot of money, and there is no way around it. Don't laugh so hard, the French will be in the same situation as us once the Americans arrive. If the United States uses the amount of the Marshall Plan as bait to get France to give up on the Saarland What will you do about the district’s merger idea?”

Alan Wilson looked directly at the Frenchman in front of him, and Pierre froze. This was indeed a difficult problem.

"You see, some things are not completely controllable by us. Chamberlain thought he could control Hitler at that time." Alan Wilson shrugged, "Can you refuse American assistance for the sake of the Saarland? Even if you Yes, can all French people do it?”

"Yes, it is indeed a difficult multiple-choice question." Pierre hesitated, and finally said in a strange tone, "Just like Chamberlain claimed to have achieved peace for a generation after returning to England."

"And the purpose of you and me is to get a generation's worth of dollars."

Alan Wilson turned a deaf ear to the sarcasm of the French and whispered without concealment, "Actually, I don't trust several countries in Eastern Europe. The thing is very simple. The more countries that assist, the less they can give to us. So Poland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Yugoslavia, these countries that have been deeply influenced by the Soviet Union, it is best to kick them out and spend the amount that belongs to them on us."

"It should have been used on us. With the population of their country, how could they have the ability to resist the Soviet Union? Only our two countries plus Germany and Italy have this ability. There are too many countries involved, and it is easy to achieve unfavorable results. kit, so Britain and France should be on the same page when it comes to the dollar of a generation."

"Although the truth is like this, you, the British, don't expect to help France just by talking, right? As we all know, the British are not so upright during the war."

"Dear Mr. Pierre, let us calmly think about how to face the future. Europe is the birthplace of modern civilization, there is no doubt about it, but now we are under the pressure of the two behemoths, the United States and the Soviet Union. , if you don’t think of a solution, what will be the consequences? Let me tell you a story. Originally, there were several beverages on the market, and two of them were stronger beverage companies. These two companies were hostile and fought each other every time. As a result, other drinks on the market gradually disappeared."

Alan Wilson changed the story where the eldest and the second oldest were fighting, and eventually the third oldest was lost. But it does not detract from the clarity of the story, and is even very suitable for the current situation.

The United States is anti-Soviet, and the Soviet Union is anti-American. If things continue like this, the United States and the Soviet Union will be the only ones left in the minds of people around the world. The United Kingdom and France are just small partners standing next to the United States.

"If France can stand firmly with the United Kingdom, London will not be as cold as it seems on the integration of the European market. I even have a plan in my mind. Of course, this plan is after France cannot get the Saarland backup plan."

"I'm very interested in this backup plan!" Pierre said in a low voice, indicating that France will not let go of the hawk before it sees the rabbit. Don't say some ambiguous words to prevaricate. If you have a plan, just say it directly.

Well, Alan Wilson sighed lightly and gave a rough idea of ​​how to suppress Germany's Coal and Iron Community plan to show Britain's sincerity.