The Dardanelles Conspiracy by Alan Bardos (you can read anyone txt) 📕

old man’s sudden display of dynamism. ‘If I might interject, First Lord, there may not be a need for such orders to be issued.’

Churchill glanced at Sir George remembering that he was present. ‘Oh yes, Smyth, what was it you wanted to report?’

‘The Turkish Government has agreed to discuss our offer. Once that is settled…’

‘And how much have you offered them for their gracious departure from the war?’ Churchill asked impatiently, interrupting Sir George again.

‘A sizeable amount, I imagine,’ Sir George always found discussions about money rather squalid and middle-class.

‘You imagine?’ Hankey had no such scruples, ‘Smyth, do you have a precise figure to report to the First Lord of the Admiralty?’

‘A hundred thousand pounds or so I’d imagine. I left the specifics to Hall.’ Sir George was becoming infuriated by this need to discuss every trifling detail.

‘It was actually four million pounds,’ Hall said blithely.

‘How much?’ Churchill scowled. Sir George stifled a grin. Hall might actually have taken too much upon himself.

Hall didn’t miss a beat. ‘I sent our representatives to Constantinople with a note for three million pounds, First Lord, with the provision to go up to four if necessary.’

‘Who authorised that?’ Churchill boomed.

‘I authorised it myself, First Lord.’ Hall stood ramrod straight. He was not intimidated by Churchill’s anger.

‘Are you saying that no one, least of all your superiors – let alone the cabinet, had knowledge of the amount of money you were offering an enemy power?’ Churchill was stunned.

Hall bore this scrutiny well. He had done his duty to the best of his abilities and nothing less. The sum he had offered was vast. Sir George begrudgingly admired both Hall’s initiative and willingness to take responsibility for it.

‘I’m sure even the Cabinet would agree it is a fair price for peace with Turkey and safe passage through the Dardanelles.’

Churchill stood up and moved to his desk, where Fisher was busily writing out the orders, oblivious to what his subordinate had said. Churchill banged his hand on the desk to get Fisher’s attention. ‘Did you hear what Hall has done? He's offered the Turks four million pounds for the Dardanelles!’

Fisher glanced up. ‘Four million pounds, absolutely not. We don’t have time for that now, we’re going through as soon as possible. Hall, send a telegram to Greece and cancel the negotiations at once.’

Sir George coughed and stepped in. ‘First Sea Lord – Admiral Fisher, we have a wonderful opportunity here to knock Turkey out of the war, open the Dardanelles up to Russia and secure a state-of-the-art German battle cruiser, without further risk to our ships and men. Surely four million pounds is cheap at the price, compared with the loss of six ships?’

‘Obsolete ships, Smyth.’ Fisher, however, looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘On second thoughts continue the negotiations for the Goeben... how much do you think, Hall?’

‘One hundred thousand pounds, First Sea Lord. Considering we’re at their front door, that’s more than reasonable.’

‘Is that not rather hasty? Can we be so sure that the intercepted telegram means that the Turks are short of munitions?’ Sir George argued, employing all the skill he could muster as a career diplomat. ‘Could it not be interpreted that Germany and Turkey’s relationship has become so strained that the Germans have to keep their alliance propped up with more and more material?’

‘Of course it means they are short of munitions!’ Hankey stifled Sir George’s last-ditch defence. ‘Were you not just brandishing a message from your operative announcing the very same thing? Straight from the horse’s mouth – forgive me, what was his name?’

‘Swift, Johnny Swift,’ Sir George spluttered. He’d been hoisted on his own petard and Swift had lit the fuse.

Hankey smiled grimly. ‘I’d say Swift has done exemplary work, risking his life to obtain this vital piece of intelligence, wouldn’t you, Smyth?’

‘He has done no more or no less than I would expect from one of His Majesty’s Civil Servants,’ Sir George said begrudgingly. ‘He is however now a member of His Majesty’s armed forces and facing very grievous charges.’

‘Yes, the worst, which I’m sure is why he volunteered to go on this mission and clear his name,’ Hall said and blinked at Sir George, daring him to challenge his judgment.

‘I think in that case fair play must prevail and the charges against him washed out for gallant conduct in the field,’ Hankey said primly.

‘Hear-hear,’ Churchill barked. ‘Have the necessary paperwork drawn up, Smyth.’

‘Swift is in Bulgaria so I’m not sure what can be done at the moment. Also, he is a serving officer in the Army so the charges against him, for fraternising with the enemy and espionage, should be dealt with by the Army.’

Hall tut-tutted condescendingly. ‘I can’t foresee any great difficulties there. Not when the First Lord of the Admiralty has given his support.’

Sir George nodded curtly. There was no point in explaining how much of a tremendous swine Swift was. After his confirmation that the Turks were suffering a shell shortage, they would have forgiven him anything and Sir George wondered if he might be able to use that.

‘Swift has reported that the alliance between Germany and Turkey is very fragile, which is also borne out by Hall’s telegram. All that is required is the gentlest of touches and we can achieve all our objectives. Any further attempt on the Dardanelles Strait may damage the negotiations, especially now that we’ve got the Turks to the table.’

Churchill snorted in frustration, ‘What say you Hall, you’re the expert in this kind of skulduggery?’

‘Forcing the Dardanelles Strait is a tricky business, First Lord, but we have no guarantee that the negotiations will succeed. Especially with Constantinople off the table, and while we are sitting on our hands, the Germans will be resupplying the Turks,’ Hall said, clapping his false teeth together and reminding Sir George of