British Civil Servant

v1 Chapter 165: Anglo-Soviet friendship

"According to the itinerary, it is after the third performance, the cultural exchange symposium between the two countries and the subsequent reception." Alan Wilson flipped through the itinerary with his head down, turned to ask the diplomat behind him, "Is that so? ?"

"That's right. London attaches great importance to the cultural visit of the Soviet song and dance troupe, which reminds us of the years when we fought side by side." The diplomat named by Alan Wilson spoke eloquently, expressing his position very much in line with the current Anglo-Soviet friendship general direction.

From the anti-French alliance to the First World War, and this gang fight against Germany, Britain and Russia have always stood together on key issues, and the two countries are natural allies.

Alan Wilson agreed with this conclusion with a sullen face. Of course, the Crimean War and the previous alliances in which the United Kingdom blocked imperial Russia from gaining access to the sea were all misunderstandings. Even the best friends will inevitably have a quarrel one day.

"This is an era of reconciliation. We focus on the future, seek common ground while reserving differences, and reach a consensus. Discover each other's strengths!" Alan Wilson said a lie to the teeth, his face was as usual, and he had to admire his thick skin to surpass the city wall.

Alexander Alexandrov, who is essentially a soldier, doesn't understand the language of diplomacy. But he still understands that he shouldn't speak when he shouldn't, even if he already remembered the Crimean War.

So on the surface, Alan Wilson's official statement has worked well, at least he thinks so.

The first performance of the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe was set at the Royal Opera House in London. The Royal Opera House has a history of hundreds of years. The period before the war was a glorious period for the Royal Opera House. They came here to perform on stage one after another, and the theater also ranks among the world's first-class opera houses.

Debussy, the great French composer, once praised it as representing the best aspect of the British. It is not only magnificently decorated, but also has perfect sound effects. Listening to music here is a great enjoyment.

Originally, according to the plan, the Royal Opera House in London would not be opened until next year, but since foreign friends are coming to London to perform, the Opera House, which was not damaged during the war, was opened in advance. The Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe, Became the first performing group.

This has fully demonstrated London's courtesy and efforts to improve relations between Britain and the Soviet Union.

On October 18, the Royal Opera House in London was full of people outside, and the audience lined up to enter the theater. The opera house, which can accommodate 2,200 people, was full.

Alan Wilson smiled and greeted Furtseva, who was attending with him, in the box. This made the future Soviet cultural czar unclear, so he asked, "What conspiracy do you have?"

"You Soviets don't do this, this is London!" Alan Wilson frowned, reminding Furtseva where this is, and now it's not Potsdam in the Soviet-occupied area. Fortseva had better be respectful when she spoke.

As for the reason why Alan Wilson is happy, it is nothing more than selling a few scalper tickets. In the arduous task of receiving the Soviets, he made a small sum of money, realizing the original intention of not delaying public and private work.

No more, because many people in the upper class have also bought tickets. As a manifestation of the importance attached to the visit of the Soviet Union, British Prime Minister Attlee, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, some conservative newspapers said Pro-Soviet elements also attended the first performance of the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe in the UK.

On the stage of the Royal Opera House in London, the Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Ensemble officially started its first performance in the United Kingdom. When the chorus of the Hongqi Song and Dance Troupe began, the lively London Royal Opera House was silent.

In the box of Prime Minister Attlee and Foreign Secretary Bevin, it had nothing to do with the performance at this time, and the issues discussed by the two were still related to the current situation in Europe.

"Luxembourg intends to participate in the Brussels Conference and become a member of it." While listening to the chorus, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin turned to Prime Minister Attlee to discuss this matter, "How do we respond?"

"Is Luxembourg's attitude very enthusiastic? I believe that joining one more country will not attract the attention of the United States and the Soviet Union. Luxembourg is so small." Attlee returned his gaze on the stage and replied, "Then let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have a good talk. "

Had Alan Wilson been in this box at this point, he would have found that the correctiveness of history was at work.

After World War II, Europe's first military alliance was not actually the well-known North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but an organization called the Brussels Treaty.

Initiated by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and other countries participated. After the four foreign ministers meeting of Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and France failed to reach an agreement on the German issue, the United Kingdom advocated that Western Europe should jointly strengthen its defense to deal with the Soviet Union.

With the support of the United States, the United Kingdom began to hold negotiations with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Rwanda and other countries. The five foreign ministers signed the 50-year "Brussels Treaty" in Brussels. In order to "not offend the Soviet Union and cause trouble" at that time, Britain and France stated in the preamble of the treaty that the purpose of the alliance was to prevent the revival of Germany's aggression policy. In the event of an armed attack, the State party shall provide all military and other assistance.

A Consultative Council of Foreign Ministers was established. After that, the Defense Committee was established, the Supreme Command was established, and Montgomery was appointed as the commander-in-chief.

However, with the establishment of NATO, the Brussels Treaty Organization existed in name only, and military functions were merged into NATO. So it is not well known, but this organization has always existed.

Member States add Germany and Italy, as well as Spain, Portugal and Greece.

In this time and space, because of the clarification of the colonial issue, the Brussels Conference appeared two years earlier. However, after the Brussels meeting, Luxembourg expressed a desire to join immediately.

"What do you think about Paris?" Attlee thought for a moment and asked Ernest Bevin, "In fact, if de Gaulle agreed with this, there would be nothing to say. Doubt arises, knowing that the current member states all have extensive overseas interests, but Luxembourg does not. If Luxembourg joins, will it arouse Moscow’s suspicion of Western Europe, that we are taking a containment attitude towards the Soviet Union?”

"Moscow's attitude is indeed worth considering." Ernest Bevin nodded and replied, "But in a pocket country like Luxembourg, Moscow should not make a fuss. By the way, from the remarks of some senior officials in Moscow, it seems that there are four countries armed with arms. The idea of ​​withdrawing from Germany and turning Germany into a neutral country, what do you think?"

"It is absolutely impossible to agree! Even if we agree, the French will not agree." Attlee simply refused, "Once the four countries withdraw from Germany, the Soviet Union with the strongest ground power will not suffer any losses, but we can only prepare Fortunately, France resisted a possible invasion."

Under certain conditions, the Soviet Union could withdraw its troops from Germany to unify the occupied territories of the four countries. The premise is that a unified Germany must be strictly neutral, and another indispensable condition is that the Western camp should pay a huge compensation to the Soviet Union for this.

But in 1945, the condition was that when the Soviet Union withdrew its troops, the United States, Britain and France also had to withdraw.

Just when the two were discussing the situation in Europe, Guy Liddell, the deputy director general of MI5 and the security chief of this reception, knocked on the door and came in to report, "Members of the Soviet Union visit, want to come in to London. Thank you for the warm reception.”

"Let the Soviet comrades come in." Attlee put on a gentle smile and said to Guy Liddell.

After Guy Liddell turned to leave, he gestured to Ernest Bevin, "We'll talk about this later, it's not just about the United Kingdom, but also France and the United States, the countries involved are more and more The more people, the more complicated it is, the more people talk, there is no consensus, and there is a lot of saliva but nothing to do, then naturally there will be no results.”

"It's a loss for us in the UK to completely withdraw from Germany. Now the British-occupied areas have not paid off." Ernest Bevan agreed, how can the British mainland fully restore the situation before the war, and we will talk about it at that time. It's just that it can be talked about, but it doesn't say that there must be a result.

On the stage of the Royal Opera House in London, the performance of the Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Ensemble was still going on, immersed in the exciting, thunderous singing of the choir. The sound of balalaika and brass came one after another, and the 2,200 British spectators from all walks of life stood with bated breath, and the loud chorus sounded into the ears.

Not everyone has entered the battlefield, but all the audience seemed to feel that the battlefield was imminent, and the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe sang the chorus of the soul, bringing all the audience into it.

At the end of the stage~lightnovelpub.net~ 200 members of the Red Flag Choir sang "God Save the Queen", and countless audiences at the Royal Opera House in London stood up and danced to the music from the Soviet choir, Gao Chang, God Bless the Queen!

There is no doubt that the first performance of the Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe in London was a sensation.

"Thank you gentlemen for your warm reception!" Furtseva came to the Prime Minister's box and raised a glass to Prime Minister Attlee and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, "I hope this cultural exchange event will be able to To reduce misunderstandings between the Soviet Union and Britain, and to increase understanding between the two countries."

"There is no hostility between Britain and the Soviet Union, and I am a socialist myself." Attlee toasted while introducing Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, "When the news of the establishment of the Soviet Union came, I and I Bevin rejoiced that the working class had found its homeland, and for this reason we refused to help the armed forces hostile to the Soviet Union to deliver aid."

"But we hope that the Soviet Union can show conscientious competition, which is of great benefit to world peace." Ernest Bevin also raised his glass and drank the wine in the glass.

"Cheers to the Anglo-Soviet friendship!"