Magestic 2, p.125
Magestic 2, page 125
‘The solution,’ Jimmy began, ‘is to keep the gold standard, not to trade oil in dollars, not to be too dependent on oil, and – in particular - not to trust future American presidents, those wishing to break from the gold standard.’
‘And the potential for this new-fangled coal to oil conversion?’ Churchill asked.
‘You have a thousand years worth of coal,’ I pointed out. ‘And now a cheap way to convert it to oil.’
He made a note. ‘Then it seems that I should take a far greater interest in coal, a far greater interest.’
The US President asked, ‘How would a future US economy fare, if dollars were not printed?’
‘You would not grow as quickly, not compared to others,’ Jimmy illustrated. ‘But I know where the oil is, and I’ll make sure that you get it cheaper. Still, there is only so much oil, so a dependency on it will always lead to a final day of reckoning.’ He faced Chase. ‘On your world, now that we have a peace and a good chance of increased trade, you’ll face this problem. I’ll drill African oil to help with it, but you could sleep-walk into the same problem.’
Chase made notes, and it was oddly amusing to see the young man, having known the older man.
‘Would it be seemly to enquire as to what directions our economy should be going in?’ the US President asked, getting a look from Churchill.
‘We’re here to help, so ask all you like,’ Jimmy replied. ‘And as for future direction, you simply need to make things and sell them overseas; so long as you keep that principal in mind you’ll do OK. You can internalise your markets well, and go some way to avoiding the problems that your future Presidents will face, namely importing too much and exporting too little. You’ll build up a deficit, and a debt that you could never repay.’
They took notes.
‘And of Britain?’ Churchill nudged.
‘The same,’ Jimmy said. ‘You need to make things, and import less in the future. At one point in the future, a full quarter of British income comes from your banking sector, a huge mistake. By then your manufacturing base will have been eroded, and your future European partners will be happy to see that happen.’
‘And who gets access to Africa?’ the Americans asked, Churchill seeming a little put out by the question.
‘You will all get access to Africa,’ Jimmy insisted. ‘But the people of Africa from the future will take a keen interest in how the continent develops. You would not wish to upset them.’
‘Africa is a strong nation in the future?’ the Americans asked.
‘It’s the strongest nation,’ I corrected him. ‘Black Africans. They have the highest education standards, and best quality of life. White people ... go to work or study in Africa a good career move, studying under black teachers.’
The US President again cleaned his glasses, the ones for effect. ‘You’ve made no mention of how Negroes in this country are treated.’
‘You’re primitives,’ I said with a shrug. ‘We don’t expect you to behave any other way.’
There followed a long silence.
‘Primitives,’ the US President repeated. ‘And how long will it be before your people don’t consider us to be ... primitive?’
‘You reach that level around 2020,’ I said. ‘Eighty years.’
‘Eighty years,’ he repeated. ‘Would it not be desirable to accelerate that process?’
‘That’s down to you,’ Jimmy told him. ‘Your social development is your concern.’
The President faced Chase. ‘And how are Negroes treated in your world?’
‘We have black soldiers, pilots, teachers. But we also have race riots in the south in many cities,’ Chase admitted. ‘Things are better than they were, but ... obviously not where they should be in an ideal world.’
‘And what should Britain do in this matter?’ Churchill asked.
‘Keep black and Asian immigrants out,’ I told him. ‘A few immigrants can be absorbed and can actually help with relations, but too many always causes a problem – in many nations. Here in America, millions of South Americans will cross the border. That will lead to problems later on.’
‘We’ve already started tightening the border controls,’ the Americans admitted.
Chase put in, ‘We forcibly expel illegal immigrants; we have a tight border.’
‘That’s because you have a small economy, not one that’s booming,’ Jimmy pointed out to Chase. ‘But when you do boom, educate those living in trailer parks - don’t use immigrants.’
Chase added, ‘On our world you’re supplying electric vehicles to do away with oil dependency. Would that not work here?’
‘The use of oil here is not a problem,’ Jimmy explained. ‘It’s the over use, and the financial stupidity of future Presidents.’
‘Should we not look at electric vehicles?’ the Americans asked.
‘It would be premature,’ Jimmy told them. ‘And unnecessary at the moment.’
‘It can’t hurt to have them ready,’ the US President suggested, and I hid a smile.
‘You’re welcome to examine them on Mister Chase’s world,’ Jimmy offered. ‘But at the moment you don’t have the engineers to understand them and to make them; we’d have to educate your people.’
‘Are they expensive?’
‘No,’ I responded. ‘Not comparatively. For the same cost as a tank of gas you could drive six hundred miles. We use electric buses a great deal.’
They keenly took notes, and I had to wonder about the future of this world; they could end up way ahead of any other comparable world.
The next day we attended the opening of the new temporary UN building, a handful of staff appointed already, the presidency to be rotating between Canada, America, Britain and France - so far. Sixty-five countries had representatives appointed and in place, many from the League of Nations, which would now be disbanded. Germany and Japan had representatives, at gunpoint I figured, and I took the time to chat with many of the delegations. Actually, they all wanted to talk to me and Jimmy, simply because we were time travellers.
An excitable Israeli team introduced themselves. ‘We have only been a nation state for a year, and we have a place in this new council,’ they pointed out in German accents.
‘How are things in your new state?’
‘We are developing a modest economy, as well as farming, and the jewellery business grows rapidly with your people in Africa.’
‘Do you have people in the Congo?’
‘No,’ they puzzled. ‘Should we?’
‘Yes, open an embassy in the Congo, and have your people working on gold and diamond supplies. Tell Governor Rudd that I sent them, he’ll find them offices and accommodation. There are plenty of jobs going, so there’s no harm in you sending unemployed men down there for a year each. They’ll bring money back with them. Send them by ship to Mombasa, then by train to the Congo.’
‘We do have many idle hands,’ they agreed.
‘And your neighbours?’ I broached.
‘There are some problems, but we put money in their hands, relations are not too bad.’
‘And the Arabs left inside of Israel?’ I nudged.
‘Fewer every day, but many who wish to stay and work. Those who we expel have money to start over.’
‘And the West Bank of the Jordan?’
‘We are negotiating to buy it, in a settlement with Trans-Jordan.’
‘Are the British still there?’ I puzzled.
‘Yes, but we deal with the ruling family.’
‘Do you have the money to buy it?’ I asked.
‘We will pay it off over many years,’ they assured me, less than convincingly.
‘Start building nice hotels around Jerusalem, and we’ll help you with tourists and pilgrims.’
I practiced my Russian on the Russian delegation, surprising them, and offered to expand the coal-oil technology deals they had from Baldy. After five minutes of chatting to me, they asked if we were related. ‘Twin brother,’ I explained, shocking them.
‘He is a time traveller as well?’
‘Yes. And we’re here to help you as much as anyone else. We’ll help with trade and technology, in particular mining. And aircraft, we’ll supply you with aircraft so that you can fly safely across your vast nation.’
They were surprised, to say the least, as they wondered off.
I was then in for a shock. The Chinese delegation turned up late, so I approached, practising my Chinese and stunning them, pleasantly stunning them. They did, however, both speak English, which I guess was why they had been given this task.
‘We are still concerned about the whereabouts of our intermediary, Mister Han. Has Mao found him, or what happened to him?’
They puzzled that. ‘Mao dead, bad health,’ they reported. ‘On march to Beijing.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, he was a great leader.’
‘Chairman Han now leader.’
I stopped and stared at them. ‘Han ... is leader?’
‘Han leader communist party.’
‘He’s a good man, a true son of China,’ I said. ‘Excuse me.’ I went and found Jimmy, dragging him away from a debate with the Brazilians. ‘There’s a Chinese communist delegation here.’
‘Ah, good, we did invite them, but didn’t hear anything back.’
‘Mao is dead,’ I carefully mouthed.
‘Dead?’
‘Dead. And Han ... has been appointed chairman of the communist party.’
Jimmy’s eyes widened. ‘Han?’
I nodded. ‘Han, now in charge of global enemy number two.’
‘If ... if he’s in charge, I’ve got the feeling that they’re going to be less book-thumping and more capitalist.’ He looked away. ‘Shit, that could seriously affect the world economy.’
‘Could affect it either way,’ I warned.
‘I’d like to think Han is still on board,’ Jimmy insisted. ‘And, if he is, it could remove a huge obstacle to progress. But...’
‘But what?’
‘What if he gears them up for trade early?’
‘The US economy would ... be altered early,’ I realised.
‘Han knows the dangers, he’ll not repeat that mistake.’ Jimmy took a breath. ‘Bloody hell.’
Doc Graham corned me ten minutes later. ‘Hello stranger,’ I offered him. ‘What you doing here?’
‘Rescue Force; it’ll be a UN body from the get go.’
‘Ah, good.’
‘I have four hundred people already. Just need a few Hueys!’
‘They’re slow to make, but we’ll get there,’ I offered. ‘We’ll get you a few Goose aircraft as well.’
‘Yeah, well Mawlini is full of soldiers,’ he complained.
‘Boot them across the runway as before, grab a compound,’ I encouraged. ‘Those soldiers work for us, remember.’
‘Ngomo and his son are there, organising the Rifles. But most of the modern era rifles have left for 1984 already. Oh, I saw Helen Astor again recently.’
‘How’s she doing?’
‘I’m not supposed to say, but she’s had a few kids by a few different fathers; I did the “C” Sections.’
‘She puts it about a bit then.’
‘She wanted kids, but not a father around, so she raised them herself. Three now.’
‘Headstrong woman.’
An hour later, everyone assembled in a large room, two rows of concentric tables, a dedicated building already under construction, designed by Jimmy. And it was Jimmy that kicked things off.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen. As most of you know, my name is Jimmy Silo, and I’m from a time in the future where there are no wars. Nations still squabble, but they don’t shoot at each other. This new body, known as the United Nations, is about trying to prevent nations from shooting at each other, through debate and negotiation.
‘If one nation has a problem with another, then they can air those concerns here, and bring potential problems to the attention of everyone. This council of world leaders can then vote on a resolution, a resolution that could lead to economic sanctions or the authorised use of force – the aim being fair play around the world.
‘But the nations represented here are in a good position, in that people from the future are here to help. We made the mistakes that you made: we fought wars, and we suffered economic problems. But we survived, and so will you. Those of us from the future would prefer not to impose our ideas upon you, but to inform you of future problems, and to offer you a route-map.
‘But make no mistake. If a nation here ignores that advice, attacks another nation or risks the stability of the planet, we will act, and you have no defences against us. The aircraft and weapons that you saw us employ in the wars with Germany and Japan are but toys compared to what we could deploy if we wished to. If you are intent on destroying yourselves, we’ll get involved.
‘That’s not to say that we’ll involve ourselves in your internal politics. We won’t. We won’t tell you how to do things, but we will stop you when we see you about to make a mistake. How you build roads, schools, and hospitals is down to you. What you debate in your chambers is down to you. We will not interfere.
‘There will be times when one nation claims the lands of another, and we may adjudicate. But first, you should seek a solution through this body, a body that does not exist so that the large nations can bully smaller nations. This is a body where the truth can be exposed for all to see.
‘But the formation and existence of this body does not mean that nations should fail to compete with each other, you should compete. Compete for better economies, for better education standards, for larger slices of trade. That is your right. Now, before anyone begins the process of complaining: yes, we have favoured Britain and America in the past, because it was necessary to control the war and its outcome. That outcome was a great many casualties on the side of the Germans and the Japanese, much damage to their cities.
‘That damage was necessary, because only through such hurt and damage do nations change their minds. Simply warning the Germans and Japanese not to start a war would not have worked; attitudes needed to be changed through tears. Let us hope, that in the future, attitudes can be changed through debate.
‘Those who may complain about the technology we’ve given to America and Britain should keep in mind that we see America and Britain as custodians of the technology and the weapons, and expect them to use those weapons to keep the peace, not to impose their will on others. And right now, there are no other nations we would trust to do that.
‘But that technology will benefit you all, as my aircraft did before the war. You will soon all benefit from better and safer aircraft, better cars, as you will all benefit from our medicines. Those medicines will be sent to this body in the future, and this body will distribute the medicines where they are most needed. We will also share technology on things such as radios and televisions, fridges, sanitation methods - the kind of technology that will benefit everyone, but could not be used as weapons.
‘Japan and Germany will be rebuilt, both with money from myself and from Britain and America, and they will return to normal life in a few short years. But that normal life will come with the imposition of peace through this body, and free and fair elections will be held.
‘Now, since some of you have asked about my role in Africa, I will explain it. Africa is the world’s greatest untapped resource, both in oil and ore under the ground, and in its people above ground. All those people need is an education, and a chance. History records … that without my intervention Africa would be left to fester in tribal wars, corruption and poverty. That will not happen here. Myself and my people will take a very personal interest in Africa, and god help anyone who gets in our way.
‘Africa will be developed, its ore and its oil, and all of the peoples of the world will benefit from it. But first, and foremost, the people of Africa will benefit from it. I will now hand you to the President of the United States. Thank you.’
The President spoke for ten minutes, and I could hear our words on his lips. Churchill made a longer speech, much talk of cooperation and building, or a new age of world cooperation. Doc Graham spoke about Rescue Force, and some of what it had achieved in our era, inviting nations to sign up to its charter. The French representative spoke for ten minutes, but then the real work began, that of post war politics. Nations complained about treasures lost to the Nazis, of missing people and prisoners, of borders being encroached upon.
A few resolutions were passed, including one to recognise the state of Israel, and the State of Eastern Congo - our state in Africa. The new Japanese state was recognised, elections to be held in six months, and the new German Democratic Republic was recognised, elections also to be held next spring. Land annexed by the Germans would be returned, elections to be held in Austria and Czechoslovakia. It was not a bad first session, an upbeat message delivered to the invited Press by Jimmy after the meeting. The world, this world, was moving forwards at a pace.
On the plane on the way back, Jimmy said, ‘You know, having Hardon Chase here, and the administrations from now and 1984 mingling is not a bad thing. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it would have been a brilliant move if planned. They’re viewing the best and worst features of each other, but because it’s them and not us … they’re paying even more attention.’
‘Do you think that’s why your lad is involved?’
‘We’ve assumed that he didn’t throw the book at the Germans, someone else did. But having my name on it gave me instant credibility when I arrived in 1984; they weren’t tempted to shoot me. If the book was designed to get me there and to be popular, then it did the trick. And now that the two administrations are talking, great.’
‘That still don’t explain your lad, or him jumping through,’ I pointed out.
Jimmy nodded. ‘Baldy may find him. But if this was planned, then I can see the sense now; Second World War era Americans viewing 1984 Americans, as well as knowing the future for them. They get to take a long hard look in the mirror, and the greatest influence will be on those of this era, 1938.’
‘If they adopt electric cars, shit...’ I let out. ‘The ramifications! The future oil industry will be turning in their graves.’
