British Civil Servant - Chapter 7 The position of the state

"Dear Ali Khan, please allow me, on behalf of the British Empire, to express my truest respect to you, a long-time loyal ally." Alan Wilson was an old civil servant as soon as he opened his mouth, with a just-right smile, facing the unbelievable soil emperor "For three hundred years, the cooperation between Hyderabad, the royal family, and the British Empire has always been very pleasant. This harmonious relationship has benefited us a lot. Whether it is in the past or in the future, I hope our friendship will continue. "

"The similarity between you and the previous commissioner is that you speak the same stylized words." Mir Osman Ali Khan smiled slightly, pointed out the common ground of the other party, and waved the servants in the palace to prepare the meal, "I just said After the service, I am now inviting the new commissioner from Hyderabad to have lunch with us as a way to strengthen our relationship with each other.”

"I feel very honored. Your Excellency, your English proficiency surprises me." Alan Wilson accepted the invitation of the other party in a disrespectful manner.

Because of the dimension, Hyderabad is considered to be in South India, but because of the Deccan Plateau, the temperature here is not much higher than that of New Delhi. In the climate at the beginning of the year, people feel a little cooler.

But apparently Mir Osman Ali Khan, as a native Hyderabad monarch, has become accustomed to the climate here, and prepared tableware for Alan Wilson, while he pilgrims with his hands like ordinary Indians, even with knives and forks. Ready to put on the side of the plate.

It was not until the silver plate was licked clean that Mir Osman Ali Khan said slowly, "As the new Hyderabad Commissioner, I very much welcome your arrival. Whether it is New Delhi or London, I believe it has been carefully considered. ."

Only at this time did Alan Wilson know that although this Hyderabad monarch had never left his homeland, he was very well informed. As early as before he left New Delhi, he had already fallen into the eyes of the other party.

From inquiring about the success of the Anglo-Indian Army's march into Burma, to hearing that Prime Minister Churchill was about to go to Yalta to hold a meeting with the Soviets, everything was well understood. Far from the look of licking the plate just now.

After walking around, Mir Osman Ali Khan asked indifferently, "I heard that Nehru and Ali Jinnah had a lot of trouble, causing a lot of trouble to New Delhi and London. To be honest, I myself don't like the quarrel very much."

"From the British point of view, of course I don't like it either, my esteemed majesty." Alan Wilson took a careful look at Mir Osman Ali Khan's expression, and always felt that the other party seemed to mean something, and slowly Tun said, "It seems that Your Majesty is very concerned about some rumors and wants to get urgent answers."

"Well, I heard some things. Although it's a little bad to ask when the war is not over, please understand that this involves a big problem in Hyderabad." Mir Osman Ali Khan did not hide it. The thin body matched the loud voice and said, "I wonder what London thinks of the current independence movement in British India? Whether it's Ali Jinnah or Nehru's proposition?"

Alan Wilson almost wanted to scratch his head, this question was beyond the scope of his commissioner's answer. As for whether British India will continue to exist, is it to do its best to maintain it, or let it go and let India become independent. I believe that now in London, neither the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party has an accurate answer, and it should be still under discussion.

It seems that Mir Osman Ali Khan is very concerned about this issue, otherwise he would not have asked him, the commissioner who had just arrived, and he was too impatient.

But the key is that he really can't answer this question, but just meeting the monarch here, he can't give a clear answer, this may destroy the relationship, destroying the relationship between the British Empire and Hyderabad is nothing, destroying the personal relationship. It's something Alan Wilson doesn't want to see.

The other party is not just the ruler of Hyderabad. Once India becomes independent, he will be expelled. You must know that Mir Osman Ali Khan is still the richest man in the world who has been on the cover of Time Magazine. Even if he loses his status as a ruler, his huge wealth It is still impressive, even Alan Wilson, who dug the Golden Temple, is no exception.

"In fact, there is no conclusion in London on this issue. Dear Maharaja, but in my own name, I can imagine several possible situations to judge what kind of attitude the Maharaja will take at that time." Alan Wilson said With a very sincere expression, he spoke in his own name.

"Oh? Please say it!" Mir Osman Ali Khan's face was calm, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

"In fact, the idea of ​​the Congress Party represented by Nehru himself is a well-known fact. It hopes that after independence, India can maintain the framework of a country, and what it wants is the heritage of the British Empire throughout South Asia." Alan Wilson said. This added, UU reading www.uukanshu.com "This is the premise of the establishment of India's final independence and success, and as for the Muslim League represented by Ali Jinnah, it is very contradictory to the idea of ​​living in the same country as the Hindus, from the current In terms of attitude, Ali Jinnah's attitude is very tough, and he would rather fight a civil war than compromise."

"I've heard of Jinnah's attitude, too." Mir Osman Ali Khan nodded, apparently agreeing with Alan Wilson's analysis of the two most powerful local political figures in South Asia, and then changed the subject, "But including Hyde What about the status of the native states, including Rabah? I don’t know what the commissioner thinks.”

"Let's imagine the worst outcome!" Alan Wilson also knows that now is not the time to hide and tuck in. He must let the monarch of Hyderabad recognize him at the first meeting. He, the commissioner, has A person, not a bribe, even if he did pay a bribe to become a commissioner.

Mir Osman Ali Khan was concerned about the ownership of the state, which involved his interests. Alan Wilson also knew that the issue of the native states caused a series of disputes after India's independence.

Not to mention Kashmir and Hyderabad, just two issues that did not attract much attention, Sikkim and Bhutan. Later, one was annexed by India in the 1960s, and the other became a protectorate of India.

On the current map of British India, Sikkim and Bhutan are both part of British India and exist in the name of the state. India continues to start wars, and it also believes that it needs to restore the territory of British India. In other words, India is facing the territory of British India since ancient times.

Putting this issue aside first, what Nehru thought was obviously not what the monarch of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was concerned about. In fact, the two had diametrically opposed positions.