Chapter 165 Anglo-Soviet Friendship

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

"It's like this. London attaches great importance to the cultural visit of the Soviet song and dance troupe. It reminds us of the years when we fought side by side." The diplomat named by Allen Wilson spoke eloquently, saying that his position is very in line with the current friendship between Britain and the Soviet Union 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 British alliances that blocked Imperial Russia from obtaining access to the sea were all misunderstandings. No matter how good friends are, there will inevitably be a day when there will be quarrels.

"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 calculated lie, his face was normal, and he had to admire his thick skin over the city wall.

Alexander Alexandrov, who was essentially a soldier, did not understand diplomatic language. But he still didn't speak when he knew he shouldn't, even though he had already remembered the Crimean War.

So on the surface, Alan Wilson's official speech has achieved good results, at least he thinks so.

The first performance of the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe will be at the Royal Opera House in London. The Royal Opera House has a history of hundreds of years. The period before the war was the glorious period of the Royal Opera House. The theater’s career is flourishing day by day, and artists with international reputation People have come here to perform on stage one after another, and the theater is also among the world's top opera houses.

The great French composer Debussy once praised it as representing the best aspect of the British. Not only is the decoration magnificent, but also the sound effects are perfect. Listening to music here is a great enjoyment.

Originally, according to the plan, the Royal Opera House in London will not be opened until next year, but since foreign friends are coming to London to perform, there was no opera house damaged during the war, and it was directly opened in advance. The Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe, Became the group performing for the first time.

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

On October 18th, the Royal Opera House in London was buzzing with people outside the venue, and the audience who came came lined up to enter the theater. The opera house, which can accommodate 2,200 people, was already full of seats.

Allen Wilson smiled and greeted Fultseva in the box, which made the future Soviet cultural tsar unclear, so he asked, "What conspiracy do you have?"

"You Soviets don't do that,

This is London! Alan Wilson frowned, reminding Fultseva what kind of place this is, and now it is not in Potsdam in the Soviet-occupied area. Fultseva had better be respectful when speaking.

As for the reason why Alan Wilson was happy, it was nothing more than selling a few scalpers. In the difficult task of receiving the Soviets, he made a small fortune and realized the original intention of the work without delay between public and private.

No more, because many people in the upper class also bought tickets. As a sign of the importance attached to the visit to the Soviet Union, British Empire 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 first performance of the Alexander Red Flag Song and Dance Ensemble in the UK officially began. When the chorus of the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe began, the Royal Opera House in London, full of voices, fell silent.

The box of Prime Minister Attlee and Foreign Minister Bevin has nothing to do with the performance at this time, and the issues discussed by the two are still related to the current European situation.

"Luxembourg intends to join the Brussels Conference and become a member state." While listening to the chorus, Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin turned to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Attlee. "How do we respond?"

"Is Luxembourg's attitude very eager? I believe that adding one more country will not attract the attention of the United States and the Soviet Union. Luxembourg is so small." Attlee replied, looking away from the stage, "Then let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs talk about it. "

If Alan Wilson was in this box at this time, he would find that the correction of history is at work.

After World War II, Europe's first military alliance was not 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 participated. After the meeting of foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, 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 defense to deal with the Soviet Union.

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

Establishment of the Consultative Council of Foreign Ministers. Since then, the Defense Committee has been established, the Supreme Command has been established, and Montgomery has been appointed as the commander-in-chief.

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

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

Because of the clarification on the colonial issue in this time and space, the Brussels Conference appeared two years ahead of schedule. However, immediately after the Brussels meeting, Luxembourg expressed its desire to join.

"What do you think in Paris?" Attlee thought for a while, and asked Ernest Bevin, "Actually, if de Gaulle agrees with this point, then there is nothing to say. I'm just afraid that the Soviet Union will respond to this. Doubts arise, knowing that the current member states are all in a wide range of overseas interests, but Luxembourg does not. If Luxembourg joins, will it arouse Moscow's suspicion of Western Europe, thinking that we are adopting a containment attitude towards the Soviet Union?"

"Moscow's attitude is indeed worthy of consideration." Ernest Bevin nodded and replied, "However, for 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 the four countries are armed. What do you think about the idea of ​​withdrawing from Germany and turning Germany into a neutral country?"

"This is absolutely unacceptable! Even if we agree, the French will not agree." Attlee flatly refused. "Once the four countries withdraw from Germany, the Soviet Union, which has the strongest ground power, will have nothing to lose, but we can only prepare for it." Fortunately, France resisted a possible invasion."

The Soviet Union can withdraw its troops from Germany under certain conditions to unify the occupied areas 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 huge compensation to the Soviet Union for this.

But in 1945 the condition was that at the same time as the Soviet Union withdrew its troops, the United States, Britain and France must also withdraw their troops.

While the two were discussing the situation in Europe, Guy Liddell, the deputy director-general of MI5 and the person in charge of security at the reception, knocked on the door and came in to report, "The visiting members of the Soviet Union want to come in and talk to London. Thank you for your hospitality.”

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

After Guy Liddell turned and left, he motioned to Ernest Bevin, "We'll talk about this issue later, it's not just a matter of the United Kingdom, but also France and the United States, the more countries involved The more people there are, the more complicated it will be. If there are too many people talking, there will be no consensus. If there is too much slobber but nothing to do, then naturally there will be no results.”

"It is a disadvantage for the UK to completely withdraw from Germany. There is no return for the British-occupied area." Ernest Bevin agreed. No matter what, the situation in the UK must be completely restored before the war. We will discuss it at that time. It's just that it can be discussed, and it doesn't say that the result must be discussed.

On the stage of the Royal Opera House in London, the performance of the Alexandria Red Flag Song and Dance Ensemble was still going on, immersed in the rousing, thunderous singing of the choir. The sound of balalaika and brass rose one after another, and 2,200 British audiences from all walks of life stood breathlessly, and the resonant chorus sounded in their ears.

Not everyone has entered the battlefield, but all audiences seem to feel that the battlefield is close at hand, and the chorus of the Hongqi Song and Dance Troupe directly hit the soul, bringing all the audience into it.

At the end of the stage, 200 members of the Red Flag Chorus sang "God Save the Queen". Countless audience members of the Royal Opera House stood up and danced to the music of the choir from the Soviet Union. Gaochang God Bless the Queen!

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

"Thank you gentlemen for your warm reception!" Fultseva came to the prime minister's box and toasted Prime Minister Attlee and Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin with a wine glass. Reduce misunderstandings between the Soviet Union and Great Britain and increase understanding between the two countries."

"There is no hostility between Britain and the Soviet Union. I am also a socialist." Attlee raised his glass and introduced Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevan. "When the news of the establishment of the Soviet Union came, I and Bevin was delighted by this, feeling that the working class had found their homeland, and for this reason we refused to help the armed forces hostile to the Soviet Union deliver aid.”

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

"A toast to Anglo-Soviet friendship!"