Post by Diarist on Jun 24, 2016 17:03:51 GMT 1
When we arrived at TRADOC HQ General Gort was still there despite it being after 7 pm. "Have you heard about Abyssinia?" He asked.
"They are scheduled to sign the Peace Treaty today. Did everything happen as planned?"
"Yes and No. The Peace Treaty was signed alright but then there was a joint French-Abyssinian statement about a British proposal to unify Somalia in exchange for the Eritrean port of Assab. London is denying any knowledge of such a proposal. Anyway, Churchill is expecting your call. What's going on, Bob?"
"Haile Selassie asked my opinion about what he should do next. The proposal was my idea and the PM quickly changed the subject. There is a lot more to it than that. I gave a five minute appraisal of my view of things and that was the last 10 seconds of it. It might be a good idea for me to go to the exercise and disappear for a week. By the way, the Abyssinian idea is a good one. I'll call Winston Churchill. This young gentleman is Edward Mitchell III and my third half-brother."
I called the MoD and Churchill asked, "You've heard the news?"
"General Gort just informed me. Any comment from the PM or the Foreign Secretary yet?"
"Not to the press but Anthony Eden called me asking where you are."
"I didn't tell anybody. Not even Sally or General Gort. I thought the idea was squashed."
"Haile Selassie obviously suggested it to the French and they accepted it at face value."
"To be honest, Sir, it is a damned good idea. We have to learn to win the peace not just the war. Anyway, France and Abyssinia are sovereign nations and they don't need our permission. Britain doesn't have to accept it. I'm sure France would gladly form a united French Somalia-Ogaden with a French-Abyssinian administration in Djibouti."
"Things don't happen that quickly in diplomatic circles."
"Sir, we can receive Ogaden for nothing at the useless League of Nation's expense. Where's the problem?"
"The comments to the press in London have caused quite a stir."
"Then someone needs to tell the press that the statements were made by junior pesonnel who aren't privy to all information. The proposal was discussed with Emperor Haile Selassie in London but nothing was finalized because it needed to be discussed with the French. It's that simple, Sir."
"I wish it were. I'll get back with you."
"You don't wish me to go to Salisbury Plain and disappear for a week?"
"No, but stay in Saffron Walden. Good evening."
"Good evening, Sir."
General Gort was at the door looking at me. "Well?" He asked.
"I should stay available in Saffron Walden."
"Did Edward tell you about this afternoon's meeting?"
"He did. It's good news."
"Hopefully we'll soon get good news from the U.S. too. Merlin engines made in the USA. That would be fantastic."
"You have a letter from Irvine."
"Any news about his status?"
"Intelligence people will talk to him when he comes back from the exercise but there shouldn't be a problem. I've recommended that he can work for us and I explained how useful he was in Africa last month. He might have to accept a lower rank but I'm hoping for temporary-LTC."
"This is about the house offers I sent to him. He says that they are all good. Let Lucy decide. If the weather is fine on Saturday how about a BBQ at our new allotment?"
"Why not?"
"They are scheduled to sign the Peace Treaty today. Did everything happen as planned?"
"Yes and No. The Peace Treaty was signed alright but then there was a joint French-Abyssinian statement about a British proposal to unify Somalia in exchange for the Eritrean port of Assab. London is denying any knowledge of such a proposal. Anyway, Churchill is expecting your call. What's going on, Bob?"
"Haile Selassie asked my opinion about what he should do next. The proposal was my idea and the PM quickly changed the subject. There is a lot more to it than that. I gave a five minute appraisal of my view of things and that was the last 10 seconds of it. It might be a good idea for me to go to the exercise and disappear for a week. By the way, the Abyssinian idea is a good one. I'll call Winston Churchill. This young gentleman is Edward Mitchell III and my third half-brother."
I called the MoD and Churchill asked, "You've heard the news?"
"General Gort just informed me. Any comment from the PM or the Foreign Secretary yet?"
"Not to the press but Anthony Eden called me asking where you are."
"I didn't tell anybody. Not even Sally or General Gort. I thought the idea was squashed."
"Haile Selassie obviously suggested it to the French and they accepted it at face value."
"To be honest, Sir, it is a damned good idea. We have to learn to win the peace not just the war. Anyway, France and Abyssinia are sovereign nations and they don't need our permission. Britain doesn't have to accept it. I'm sure France would gladly form a united French Somalia-Ogaden with a French-Abyssinian administration in Djibouti."
"Things don't happen that quickly in diplomatic circles."
"Sir, we can receive Ogaden for nothing at the useless League of Nation's expense. Where's the problem?"
"The comments to the press in London have caused quite a stir."
"Then someone needs to tell the press that the statements were made by junior pesonnel who aren't privy to all information. The proposal was discussed with Emperor Haile Selassie in London but nothing was finalized because it needed to be discussed with the French. It's that simple, Sir."
"I wish it were. I'll get back with you."
"You don't wish me to go to Salisbury Plain and disappear for a week?"
"No, but stay in Saffron Walden. Good evening."
"Good evening, Sir."
General Gort was at the door looking at me. "Well?" He asked.
"I should stay available in Saffron Walden."
"Did Edward tell you about this afternoon's meeting?"
"He did. It's good news."
"Hopefully we'll soon get good news from the U.S. too. Merlin engines made in the USA. That would be fantastic."
"You have a letter from Irvine."
"Any news about his status?"
"Intelligence people will talk to him when he comes back from the exercise but there shouldn't be a problem. I've recommended that he can work for us and I explained how useful he was in Africa last month. He might have to accept a lower rank but I'm hoping for temporary-LTC."
"This is about the house offers I sent to him. He says that they are all good. Let Lucy decide. If the weather is fine on Saturday how about a BBQ at our new allotment?"
"Why not?"