Chapter 1578 The Commonwealth is a big fat piece of meat (Third update, please subscribe)
Superheroes are responsible for saving the world, while politicians and diplomats are responsible for dividing it up!
Even now, 20 years after the end of World War II, this has not fundamentally changed.
It's just that that kind of carve-up is no longer as naked as before World War II. Now this kind of carve-up is more in the name of "for your own good."
"This African conference is not to prevent Africa from becoming independent, but to give Africa a better future."
When the African Conference was held, Rab Butler, the British Foreign Secretary, declared so confidently to the outside world.
Although everyone knows that the reason why Britain convened this conference is to complete the integration of African colonies and thereby ensure British interests, this does not prevent Britain from claiming here that all they are doing is for Africa.
And this directly caused the meeting to be full of gunpowder from the beginning, especially those representatives of African descent.
"The colonies must gain independence. True independence."
When the African Conference was first held, these local representatives expressed their wishes in quite excited terms,
After all, no one wants to be inferior forever.
Of course, there are also many representatives of African descent who support the British initiative to establish an East African Federation. In their view, this will help safeguard their interests. They originally cooperated with the British as collaborators.
If they become independent, their interests will definitely be harmed because they have never been independent.
The East African Federation was established, with a British prince as king. Not only can the tradition be maintained, but their interests can also be maintained. After all, Britain is still here!
In this way, the supporters and opponents were constantly arguing. Both sides expressed their opinions to each other and attacked each other,
But the people who can really play a decisive role in this process have stayed out of the matter. These people are not the colonial commissioners, but the British Foreign Secretary, the Colonial Secretary and the Sea Foreign Affairs Commissioner.
"Let them argue, we just have to talk about interests."
So while the arguments continued at the African Conference, secret communications were still going on in private.
"Garrisoning troops is a necessary prerequisite to ensure the security of East Africa. Once the East African Federation is established, the UK will withdraw its troops from the Central African Federation in batches within three years. Of course, this is not a complete withdrawal. We will leave a symbolic force there. troops, and retains the right to use local air force and naval bases. ”
In the small conference room, Lab Butler said to Li Guoren.
"We will hand over the base to you, but accordingly you must ensure that there are no less than 15,000 troops stationed in the local area, and when a local rebellion occurs, you must intervene as soon as possible."
"Oh, 15,000 people is too many."
Li Guoren said with some embarrassment.
"Mr. Minister, you should know that stationing 15,000 people overseas means extremely huge expenses. After all, overseas subsidies are much higher than those at home."
As in the past, Li Guoren emphasized the difficulties he faced from the beginning. In fact, this was retreat in order to advance.
Although the two sides have reached a consensus on the East African issue, this does not mean that Sea will be Britain's thug in vain.
The UK is shrinking and the Sea is expanding, but this contraction must be the initiative of the other party, and this expansion must also be strongly requested by the other party.
After all, for Sea, he needs the Commonwealth!
The Commonwealth will need to play a role in the days ahead, especially given the potential for confrontation with the United States.
Just relying on Sea and a few Asian brothers, do you still have any confidence? If we can win over the Commonwealth,
At least 50-50.
Therefore, Sea is very active in maintaining common interests with the Commonwealth, but this does not prevent it from emphasizing its own difficulties.
This is to tell the other person that you are begging me.
It’s not that I want to expand.
"Based on the current situation in East Africa, 15,000 troops are already the minimum."
"We all know that this is the minimum, and if something happens in East Africa in the future, 15,000 may become 35,000. There may even be more."
Li Guoren pointed out the biggest problem straightforwardly, and then said:
"It's important that London takes a stand when this happens. We can't stay out of it, but London has to be involved."
Faced with such a request, Rab Butler felt a burst of complaints in his heart.
If London is very happy to station troops there for a long time, how can it possibly drag you there with it?
For London, stationing troops overseas not only costs money, but also requires political support.
Labor has always opposed this.
"You should know. There are political issues involved."
Rab Butler said with some embarrassment.
"We can make concessions on the issue of garrisoning troops, but in a few years, if it is someone else, they are likely to withdraw their troops. Of course, if the size of the army is relatively limited, I think we still have ways to stop them."
What does this relatively limited mean? It is the symbolic presence of the British garrison.
"And the issue of garrisoning troops is an agreement reached by the top leaders of our two sides," Rab Butler continued.
"We have not only reached an agreement on the issue of garrisoning troops, but also reached a consensus on political distribution. Now all we need is to discuss some details, a symbolic discussion."
When referring to the symbolic discussion, Rab Butler deliberately emphasized his tone, as if to tell the other party.
The two of us are just chatting here and reaching a consensus.
No need to argue too much about the details.
Just sacrifice yourself for the sake of the British Empire.
"Although a consensus has been reached, Mr. Minister, we still have to consider some practical issues."
In this way, the secret talks between Li Guoren and Rab Butler continued from the beginning of the African Conference to the third day.
For three days, they debated and discussed many issues, and finally reached a consensus bit by bit. At this time, the terrorist attack on the palace broke out.
Faced with the sudden terrorist attack, Rab Butler was surprised and then said:
There is no mistake in every song, one post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!
"Damn those chimps know what they did?"
Compared to Lab Butler's shock, Li Guoren said after being shocked:
"They did something stupid."
Then he changed the topic and sneered:
"But for us, this is not a bad thing."
Why do you think so?
This is indeed a good thing. The African Americans who were still arguing at the meeting suddenly fell silent in the face of such a tragic terrorist attack.
Even the most radical African-American representatives knew very well that the reason why they were able to attend this meeting and make their voices heard at the meeting was entirely because of Britain's permission.
In other words, tolerance!
But now after this terrorist attack, the tolerance towards Africans in the UK has disappeared in an instant.
In London, in almost every British city, the British police would rush into areas where Africans gathered. They were beaten and arrested under various pretexts. Many African Americans with expired visas and even Indians with darker skin were deported.
All politicians are realistic. Those representatives who were still accusing Britain of trying to maintain colonial rule immediately became realistic and began to consider African issues from a realistic perspective.
Almost overnight, these representatives began to agree with the establishment of the East African Federation. It seemed that all the previous debates disappeared at this moment, as if they had never existed, as if people had reached a consensus overnight.
However, for the whole world, it seems that no one is paying attention to the African Conference at this time. After all, they are more concerned about terrorist attacks than the fate of the colonies.
After all, the casualties caused by terrorist attacks are real. After this terrorist attack, Downing Street also stated that it will increase its efforts to combat terrorist organizations and illegal immigration.
This is not good news for Indians. After all, in the past decade or so, hundreds of thousands of Indians have illegally entered the UK through various channels and stayed here for a long time.
A terrorist attack changed everything. Although the UK needed cheap labor, in order to give the public an explanation, they deported a large number of illegal immigrants, the vast majority of whom were Indians.
Because the skin color of most Indians is also very dark, the Indians are naturally very angry about this. After all, the attackers were obviously Africans, but they were collateral damage.
Of course, this is all for later.
The African conference finally came to an end when the fate of Indians was directly affected by the terrorist attacks.
In consultation with the colonial commissioners and diplomats from many countries and indigenous representatives of the African colonies.
The resolution establishing the East African Federation was finally passed. Everything was done in accordance with British wishes.
At the end of the conference, Britain declared as Macmillan was there...that a new era in Africa had finally arrived.
No one will object to this, because the destiny of Africa has indeed been completely changed.
The United Kingdom has withdrawn from East Africa to a certain extent. Yes, this does not mean that the British Empire has withdrawn from East Africa. To a certain extent, with Prince Andrew becoming the King of the East African Federation, the relationship between Britain and East Africa has further deepened.
Sea, as the defender of the interests of the Commonwealth, has fully entered East Africa to safeguard the interests of the entire Commonwealth.
This day is undoubtedly a new beginning for Africa. It can even be said that the gears of destiny have turned on this day. As for the direction in which it will develop, no one knows.
"Whether we are willing to face it or not we have to face a reality - it is absolutely impossible for Britain to completely give up their colonies in Africa."
On the same day, in the Times of London, a commentator wrote:
"The United Kingdom will do its best to safeguard its own interests with the strength of the entire Commonwealth. And sea is the staunchest defender of the interests of the Commonwealth!"
For the world, all the world cares about right now is the superhero who saved hundreds of lives.
After all, for most ordinary people, they care more about legends than national events or the fate of other people.
And that superhero is undoubtedly a true legend.
(End of chapter)