Post by Diarist on Feb 25, 2017 11:19:00 GMT 1
I'd eaten lunch twice today so a few sandwiches for supper were enough. I sat on the sofa contemplating the changes my extra appointment would necessitate. In the end I came up with a simple solution. All the key people in the MoD and MCD need a 'deputy'. For example the Admiralty would either send Duff Cooper, the Admiral of the Fleet or this new deputy to Federal Defence Council (FDC) meeting. The deputy would also be responsible for managing FDC matters within the Admiralty. The Admiralty would also select this deputy. Simple solutions are always the best ones. Who do I select as my deputy?
Sally joined me. "Are we going to the hotel this evening?"
"If you wish. At 9 o'clock?"
"Have you finished?" I nodded and gave her my paper. "Do I get a deputy?"
"Of course. Have a chat with Winston's chief secretary on Monday if this proposal is accepted. Maybe she can recommend someone."
"Good idea."
The telephone rang and Mum said it was Lucy Miller for me. She's received a letter from Irvine and there is news for me too. We decided that she come to our house then we can go to the club together. It's Friday so Gertrude is working in the restaurant. Fifteen minutes later Lucy and Manfred arrived. Lucy gave me her letter. Irvine was highly impressed by the imposing power of the battleship. He also writes that the Rhineland crisis is big news on board the ship. Everybody was scrambling for newspapers when they arrived at Malta. (This letter was sent from there.) George sends his greetings. All the action is happening in Europe and he's on his way to Palestine. They should be arriving there at the weekend. Well I'm glad they are having a good time.
"We still can't go back to Germany even though the Nazis are gone, can we?"
"No. Erwin would be charged with desertion. You have a new life here, Lucy. Enjoy it. The Rommel family died in a car accident."
"Fish and chips?" Manfred asked.
"Not today. I've already eaten but let me get you a glass of stout." I got that disapproving look from Mum and Lucy again. At 9 o'clock Sally and I left for the Saffron Hotel while Mum and Lucy stayed to plan the work at our allotment. I haven't been there for a while so I promised to go there this weekend. We met Rab Butler who is now the Under-Secretary for India in the Baldwin government. He's a great supporter of the latest developments in Europe so we had a lot to talk about.
"If everything goes according to plan we are hoping for a formal agreement by the end of year. We have a Declaration of Intent at the moment and there is considerable detail in the document."
"So in this confederation British domestic politics would remain unchanged."
"That's correct. The Federal administration would only embrace defence, foreign and economic policies. The extent of this cooperation has to be decided and put in writing."
"How far would you go?"
"Well Rab, we are still preparing for war. Japanese and the Soviet ambitions still threaten the Empire so we shall need full cooperation at federal level. I'm in favour multinational tenders for military procurement. If the Germans have a significantly better medium bomber than we have then RAF should receive it and vice versa. I think we have good designs, in fact I know we have good designs which could be exported to our allies. We've had that policy before Germany became a potential partner. Arms exports will create jobs here and support economic growth. British know-how can generate export revenues. We also need a replacement for the Enfield rifle. I'm hoping that all three armies procure the same rifle. This would be a contract for 10+ million weapons. It would of course be manufactured under licence in the two countries whose offer didn't win the tender."
"There is an enormous economic potential here, isn't there?"
"Indeed there is and not just in the defence sector. We have a lot that we can offer Germany. The problem is the lack of capital which is hampering most nations. The effects of the depression still linger."
"When will you be meeting again?"
"There is no date scheduled at the moment because of events in Berlin. Getting a functioning German government has first priority."
We talked about that for a while then went home.
Sally joined me. "Are we going to the hotel this evening?"
"If you wish. At 9 o'clock?"
"Have you finished?" I nodded and gave her my paper. "Do I get a deputy?"
"Of course. Have a chat with Winston's chief secretary on Monday if this proposal is accepted. Maybe she can recommend someone."
"Good idea."
The telephone rang and Mum said it was Lucy Miller for me. She's received a letter from Irvine and there is news for me too. We decided that she come to our house then we can go to the club together. It's Friday so Gertrude is working in the restaurant. Fifteen minutes later Lucy and Manfred arrived. Lucy gave me her letter. Irvine was highly impressed by the imposing power of the battleship. He also writes that the Rhineland crisis is big news on board the ship. Everybody was scrambling for newspapers when they arrived at Malta. (This letter was sent from there.) George sends his greetings. All the action is happening in Europe and he's on his way to Palestine. They should be arriving there at the weekend. Well I'm glad they are having a good time.
"We still can't go back to Germany even though the Nazis are gone, can we?"
"No. Erwin would be charged with desertion. You have a new life here, Lucy. Enjoy it. The Rommel family died in a car accident."
"Fish and chips?" Manfred asked.
"Not today. I've already eaten but let me get you a glass of stout." I got that disapproving look from Mum and Lucy again. At 9 o'clock Sally and I left for the Saffron Hotel while Mum and Lucy stayed to plan the work at our allotment. I haven't been there for a while so I promised to go there this weekend. We met Rab Butler who is now the Under-Secretary for India in the Baldwin government. He's a great supporter of the latest developments in Europe so we had a lot to talk about.
"If everything goes according to plan we are hoping for a formal agreement by the end of year. We have a Declaration of Intent at the moment and there is considerable detail in the document."
"So in this confederation British domestic politics would remain unchanged."
"That's correct. The Federal administration would only embrace defence, foreign and economic policies. The extent of this cooperation has to be decided and put in writing."
"How far would you go?"
"Well Rab, we are still preparing for war. Japanese and the Soviet ambitions still threaten the Empire so we shall need full cooperation at federal level. I'm in favour multinational tenders for military procurement. If the Germans have a significantly better medium bomber than we have then RAF should receive it and vice versa. I think we have good designs, in fact I know we have good designs which could be exported to our allies. We've had that policy before Germany became a potential partner. Arms exports will create jobs here and support economic growth. British know-how can generate export revenues. We also need a replacement for the Enfield rifle. I'm hoping that all three armies procure the same rifle. This would be a contract for 10+ million weapons. It would of course be manufactured under licence in the two countries whose offer didn't win the tender."
"There is an enormous economic potential here, isn't there?"
"Indeed there is and not just in the defence sector. We have a lot that we can offer Germany. The problem is the lack of capital which is hampering most nations. The effects of the depression still linger."
"When will you be meeting again?"
"There is no date scheduled at the moment because of events in Berlin. Getting a functioning German government has first priority."
We talked about that for a while then went home.