I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 108

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 108

Changing of the Guard

As the results of the 1841 election were announced, predictions of all kinds began to surface.

It was inevitable that attention would focus on the significant changes anticipated within the Conservative Party’s power structure. Unlike other parties, the Conservatives had held their position for decades.

[Conservative Party Wins Again! No Surprises]

[Can a 30-Something Prime Minister Lead Parliament Once More? The Rise of Charles Wellesley]

It was the first time since William Pitt the Younger that such a young man had risen to the forefront of the party.

If youth were his only attribute, there might have been some anxiety. However, Charles Wellesley had served as a Member of Parliament several times and enjoyed a favorable reputation among existing Conservatives as the Duke of Wellington’s son.

The House of Lords, at least, agreed to actively support Wellesley, consistent with their stated intention to decide after seeing the election results.

“So, are we all in agreement to entrust the next government to Wellesley?”

“Can Wellesley withstand the pressure from the Whig Party?”

“He’s a man with the skill to thoroughly shake up and drive out Robert Peel. I’m not too worried about his political acumen.”

“Then shouldn’t we be fine? Let’s watch and see how he performs for now.”

Of course, the Whig Party wasn’t simply accepting defeat.

“The last general election gave us 292 seats, but this time it’s 297. We’ve gained 5 more seats.”

“The fact that the opposition party has gained seats even after the Conservatives won the war with Qing [referring to the First Opium War with the Qing Dynasty of China] is certainly encouraging.”

“The Conservative Party is currently ahead of us in its ability to proactively address issues that affect citizens’ daily lives. We need to be more agile in this area going forward.”

While both parties were reviewing the current situation and formulating future strategies, the Conservative Party’s senior members held a meeting with the Queen.

This was to finalize the selection of the Prime Minister and the formation of the cabinet before Parliament convened.

Although it’s largely a formality, the monarch appoints the Prime Minister. Even if a party holds a majority in Parliament, it doesn’t automatically guarantee the position.

“So, is it safe to say that the Conservative Party intends to have Charles Wellesley appointed as Prime Minister?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Our Conservative Party plans to form the next government with Charles Wellesley at its head.”

“I see. The Conservative Party has secured a comfortable majority, and Mr. Wellesley is a key figure within the party, so there shouldn’t be any problems. In that case, has the selection of ministers to lead the cabinet been completed as well?”

“That is… It seems we need a little more discussion.”

Wellesley looked slightly embarrassed, prompting Victoria to ask with a puzzled expression.

“Has the cabinet formation not been completed yet? The opening ceremony is just around the corner.”

British law dictates that when a new Parliament is formed, the monarch must conduct an opening ceremony to mark the start of Parliament.

Therefore, the Prime Minister and key members of the government must be appointed before the opening ceremony.

In the case of the Speaker of the House, experienced and wealthy long-term members tend to remain in the position, so there’s no need to appoint a new one. However, ministers are a different matter.

The cabinet must be composed of individuals who align with the Prime Minister, so the appointment process must begin as soon as the election concludes.

“If the appointment of ministers is delayed, Wellesley, who is just starting out as Prime Minister, will inevitably face scrutiny. You understand that, right?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. It’s not a major issue; there are just a few more points to discuss, so you don’t need to worry. I will submit the list of ministers and receive approval as early as tomorrow.”

“I understand. Then I will await it without worry.”

Just days ago, he felt on top of the world when his position as Prime Minister was confirmed. But as the opening ceremony approached, he now felt the heavy weight of responsibility that came with the office.

Wellesley felt anew the burden that power brings and successfully completed his first audience with the Queen as Prime Minister of the British Empire.

* * *

“Kilian, it looks like we need to finalize the list of ministers today. If we delay any longer, Her Majesty the Queen may suspect that I am an inexperienced Prime Minister lacking in ability.”

“Weren’t you the one who enthusiastically volunteered to form the cabinet on your own? If you had asked for help, I would have assisted you long ago.”

“No, it’s not that I didn’t have the list all drawn up. But things got complicated because you wouldn’t accept the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer [the minister responsible for all economic and financial matters of the UK].”

“Of course. Because I have no reason to take the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer. I prefer more tangible benefits to the honor that position brings.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for the British Empire’s economic affairs, has historically always been considered one of the most important positions in the cabinet.

The head of an organization that manages money wields considerable power, an unchanging principle throughout history.

Even now, if you were to rank the ministers in the British Empire, most people would naturally place the Chancellor of the Exchequer first.

It wasn’t strange for Wellesley to try to install me, his closest confidant, as Chancellor of the Exchequer as a reward for my services.

It’s simply that I wasn’t interested in that position at this time.

“Still, you were the Foreign Secretary before, so being the Foreign Secretary again feels insufficient, doesn’t it? It seems I need to offer you something more to demonstrate my appreciation.”

“Then you can simply create a suitable position. Before that, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the most critical role, so you need to quickly identify an appropriate candidate.”

“If you’re not going to take it, should I offer the position to Disraeli?”

“Mr. Disraeli wouldn’t be a bad choice, but I think it’s better to wait until the next election.”

Disraeli was slightly older than Charles Wellesley but still projected the image of a young politician in his 30s.

It’s advantageous for a Prime Minister in his 30s to lead the country with youthful energy, but what would it look like if the top key ministers of the cabinet were all too young?

To more conservative elements, it might appear somewhat unstable.

Furthermore, it could give the impression that they are simply protecting their own people and monopolizing all the high positions as soon as the election is over.

“Anyway, Disraeli mentioned that he wanted to gain more experience in the Home Office [a ministerial department of the UK government] rather than the Chancellor of the Exchequer right now… But I wonder if he stepped back because he thought you would take the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer.”

“Then I’ll go and speak with him myself. In any case, it seems better to entrust the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer to someone with a long and proven track record, even if it’s just symbolically.”

“Then who would that be…”

“You don’t have to look far. Just reinstate the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Goulburn.”

“Are you suggesting keeping the former Prime Minister’s minister in place?”

Goulburn was an elder statesman who would be almost 60 in three years. As Wellesley mentioned, he had also served as a minister in the previous government.

However, he was one of those who switched sides as soon as Robert Peel’s downfall became apparent.

To avoid the impression of only protecting his own faction, Wellesley needed to demonstrate that he valued at least one such individual.

“Strictly speaking, Mr. Goulburn also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Duke of Wellington was Prime Minister. He also served as Home Secretary when the former Prime Minister was in office, and then served as Chancellor of the Exchequer again, so his practical ability should be considered proven. In particular, it’s an appointment that can reassure the older generation that Wellesley isn’t simply a radical.”

“That’s right. As the Prime Minister is still young, appointing an experienced Chancellor of the Exchequer will make him appear more stable, and the concerns within the party will largely disappear.”

“Not only that, but the citizens will also perceive the new Prime Minister as a balanced individual and feel greatly reassured. I will have the Morning Post [a British daily newspaper] praise the Prime Minister’s balanced appointment, so the effect will be immediate.”

“That’s right. The more I consider it, the better it seems. I should have listened to your thoughts from the beginning instead of insisting on doing it alone.”

“No. It’s very important to maintain the attitude of trying to do things yourself. The way you listen to the opinions of advisors when you are stuck will be more beneficial for the Prime Minister’s self-development. I can’t be in London 365 days a year.”

With the crucial position of Chancellor of the Exchequer decided, the other positions were filled quickly.

At Wellesley’s strong urging, I was not only given the position of Foreign Secretary but also granted another temporary title.

In reality, I needed a legitimate position to oversee the Canadian immigration policy and the work I would be doing in the New World, so I reluctantly stated my desires.

“If you’re going to give me another position, I would like to be in a position to freely handle not only the administration of Canada but also diplomacy for the sake of Canadian immigration and development.”

“Are you asking for the Governor-General of British North America? That’s not difficult.”

“No. If I become the Governor-General, I have to be responsible for almost all of the administration. I don’t realistically have the time to stay there continuously, and I don’t want to. To be precise, I need a position that can control the Governor-General.”

Recently, the system was revised to integrate Canada, which had been divided into several regions for efficient management, into one, and to have the Governor-General of North America also serve as the Governor-General of Canada.

However, the Governor-General of Canada still had to perform his duties within the framework of colonial rule law and the British government, so his authority was not as absolute as he thought.

I can’t properly implement my plans with just that level of authority.

“I see, you can’t get involved in the administration of Canada with just the position of Foreign Secretary. You’ll need a lot of authority to send Irish people to immigrate and develop the area…”

“It takes too much time to set up a committee every time and go through the process of sending people to the home country to confirm. To some extent, we need to be able to push things forward with local discretion, and it is necessary to create a position, even temporarily, that has the authority to do so.”

“Okay. There’s a good reason to carry out large-scale immigration and localization work anyway, so as soon as Your Majesty opens Parliament, I’ll move the party to create a suitable position. The time limit is about 5 years, until the immigration work is completed, and you will be given full authority over Canada.”

“Thank you! As expected, it’s good to be able to communicate well because you have a Prime Minister who knows me so well.”

“Hahaha! Your success is my success, and my success is your success, so I have to push you without holding back. I’m looking forward to seeing what amazing results you’ll make me happy with this time.”

With the composition of the new government perfectly worked out, Wellesley smiled with a much lighter expression and sipped his whiskey.

I was also worried about how to expand my public influence in Canada, but I was in a much better mood because the best result I had hoped for had come out.

We discussed the schedule for the future and went over the important things that needed to be dealt with in the early stages of the administration one by one.

* * *

-British Empire Promotes Large-Scale Irish Immigration Policy!

-Millions of Irish People are Coming! How Will the Border Dispute with Canada Be Resolved?

-What is the Government’s Response? The President’s Diplomatic Skills on the Test

“What’s wrong with these guys?”

“Didn’t England always look down on the Irish? Are they saying they’re going to take them to Canada because they don’t want to see them? I don’t know why they’re pursuing this policy.”

“I heard something about a great famine [The Great Famine in Ireland, also known as the Irish Potato Famine], but I don’t know. I don’t know if this is real or if there is some purpose to it.”

“What is the ambassador doing? If there is such a big event, you should immediately summarize the current situation and let us know!”

As the Irish immigration policy got underway, there was one country that couldn’t help but react sensitively to it.

It was the United States of America, a newly established country that was not even 70 years old but believed that governing the New World was their natural destiny.

“First of all, shouldn’t we find out what tricks the British are up to? What did the President say?”

“He agreed that we should send someone as quickly as possible.”

“Then leave it to me. There was something I wanted to go there and find out anyway, and if I visit under that pretext, they won’t realize our intentions.”

As an old man with gray hair raised his hand, the other members nodded without any objection.

“Are you going to go yourself, Congressman Adams? Are you feeling okay?”

“Of course. I’ve always thought that I should visit the British Empire at least once.”

John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States and a Whig Congressman who has been actively engaged in politics in the House of Representatives even after his retirement.

He rose from his seat, burning with enthusiasm after a long time, leading his old body.

No matter what tricks the British Empire is up to, they will never hand over the leadership of this New World.

On this day, very rarely, the ruling and opposition parties unanimously approved John Quincy Adams’ dispatch to the United Kingdom without any arguments.