All parties accept that at certain periods some factories may need to increase production for arms exports. A suitable mechanism for this has been agreed upon.
All members of the Alliance, and the Soviet Union, have now confirmed that we have a workable arms limitation strategy. Accordingly, I now propose that we ratify the agreement.”
This important development between ‘the west’ and the Soviet Union would have been unthinkable while Stalin was alive. Von Altendorf earnestly hoped that the east-west thaw would continue.
The Germans and Soviets had been unable to draw the Chinese and Japanese into the arms limitation treaty. The two Far East powers still remained too suspicious of each other, as well as having little trust in the Soviet Union. It was hoped that time would change this attitude.
The United States, perhaps with a President still smarting from the rebuff of the UN organisation by Europe, had also declined to enter into any kind of arms limitation agreement. They had, however, indicated that they would watch developments and be guided by them in the future. ‘A message somewhat similar to that which the Germany gave the US about the United Nations.’ von Altendorf thought with a rueful smile.
Von Altendorf had another interesting announcement. “There was a surprise development at the Politburo meeting in Moscow last week. In an open meeting, Khrushchev criticised Stalin for his terror purges! Would you believe it? Are we seeing the beginning of enlightened rule in Russia? I sincerely hope so.
Another item of interest is the impending trial of Charles de Gaulle for treason, in France. It seems that there is little sympathy for him from any quarter. His insufferability has caught up with him. Apparently the state will not seek the death penalty, or even a long prison term. But banishment to one of their overseas island territories will almost certainly be part of his sentence.”
The Aviation Minister waxed eloquently in his praise of the Kaiseradler, or Canberra, as the British called it. The test pilots reported it as a vice free, sweet aircraft to fly. It had already flown faster and higher than any other aircraft. Even the Americans, needing to replace their existing obsolete light bombers, realised that no future home produced aircraft designs could get close to what the Anglo-German aircraft could already offer. They wanted four hundred of them, but wished to build them in America under licence.
The British wanted one hundred and thirty aircraft, and the Australians forty nine.
Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Ecuador, France, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Sweden and Venezuela had confirmed they wanted the aircraft.
“Germany has a world beating aircraft industry, gentlemen. We must ensure that we never lose this pre-eminent position.”
The Economics Minister told the Council about a number of the smaller, poorer countries that constituted most of the membership of the United Nations were demanding — not asking, but demanding — that the rich countries of the world spend a fixed portion of their yearly budget on aid to the poor countries.
“It seems that such a notion may have been put in their collective heads by liberal American politicians and churchmen, who are preaching that it is the quickest and surest way to reduce poverty and uplift poor nations, so eliminating the cause of wars.” Erhard looked to the sceptical Council for comment.
It was von Altendorf that spoke. “An American president once said ‘the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant. It’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.’
I personally regard such envisaged transfers of wealth as a quick and sure way to personally enrich the ruling elites of the poor countries.”
It was the Defence Minister who asked if Erhard knew what portion of budgets these people had in mind?
“I believe they see one percent yearly as the minimum acceptable.”
“ONE PERCENT. ARE THEY CRAZY? Our country’s defence budget is only three percent, and that is set to reduce next year.” He looked away, disgusted.
Von Brauchitsch had the last word. “By agreeing to such a nonsensical idea, the richer countries would chain themselves to ever increasing demands for aid, which will drain resources from them and gradually affect their strength over a period of time. And I think, there would be little impact on the countries receiving such aid.
You do not make the weak strong by making the strong weak.
I also agree that much of this aid will be stolen or misspent by corrupt or inept politicians in these third world countries. I have no personal objection to the principle of aiding deserving nations. But it should be in a way that is accountable.
I recommend that the Foreign Minister lets the appropriate people at the UN, and our friends in the Alliance, firmly know that Germany will not be party to such a scheme”.
This received the unanimous support of the council.
The Defence Minister had little to report; Professor von Braun expected to test fire his latest rocket in November. This particular missile, the A5, was much bigger than the A4, and was designed to have an estimated range of one thousand kilometres. The distance between Alliance territory and Moscow in Russia.
Progress with the stand-off bombs and air-to-air missiles was continuing but slow.
The keels for the new carriers had been laid. They were expected to be operational in 1952. They would be the most up to date and powerful carriers in the world.
The investiture of the German Chancellor was without doubt the most popular public event held in Britain that year. The British populace were generally well informed, and there had been innumerable publications and radio talks on the events in Europe and China in the years since mid-1940. There was a widespread understanding that the German soldier had been the leader in Germany from the instant of Hitler’s death.
He was also, in the minds of many conspiracy theorists, the mastermind behind the fall of Hitler and the Nazis, and the acknowledged architect of the peace in Europe and the Far East. The man who had successfully negotiated arms limitations with the feared Soviet Union. His prestige was sky-high in Britain.
The honour bestowed on him by the King was justly deserved. Many public figures in Britain had called for him to be given a British peerage. At least an Earldom. Such was the high regard for the German Chancellor that prevailed across Great Britain.
The King had held a Royal banquet in honour of his German guest. The German Foreign Affairs Minister had accompanied von Brauchitsch on his state visit.
The ties between the two countries were unbreakable.
Jeremy Blackstone and his wife Erica were spending Christmas with Katherine and Jamie. It was the first time they had all been together since the MacLellan’s had relocated to the United States.
Jeremy had resigned his commission in the British Army. After an unprecedented seven years as British Military Attaché in Berlin, the army had denied his requests for any further extensions of his stay. Jeremy had no wish whatsoever to leave the city which he had made his home. He left the army and was now a civilian.
As soon as he got back home to Berlin from this holiday in the US, he had an appointment with General Sieckenius. The General wanted the Englishman as part of his team! Jeremy didn’t let it show, but he was very, very excited about this!
His brother-in-law Jamie had also offered him a job in San Francisco, but Jeremy and Erica did not want to leave Europe. Besides which, Jeremy was looking forward to being in the arms and army training business with the Germans! It was more to his liking.