[center]United Kingdom

I[/center]

[B]January 1950[/B]

Five years had passed since the last great war, yet the world was still in conflict. There was conflict in Eastern Europe, conflict in China, conflict in the Korean peninsula, conflict in Indochina, conflict everywhere. Wherever there was conflict eyes turned to great powers for assistance. Powers like France and the United States, or the Soviet Union and its puppet nations. Today however the eyes had turned to the United Kingdom. Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury Clement Richard Attlee was the current face of the British nation. Sitting at his desk in his office at number ten Downing Street the Prime Minister was presented with a letter. Reading through it he discovered a plea from one of Britain's closest allies; the French Republic. The plea was for assistance with the conflict in Indochina. The letter sat still on the Prime Ministers desk for a short while, a few hours at most, while Mr. Attlee discussed the situation in Indochina with several of his advisers; military advisers, financial advisers, political advisers all giving their unique views on the matter. The decision to assist France was deemed favourable for the time being. The PM began writing a response.

'[I]President Auriol,

It is with sadness that I hear of France's struggle in the Far East, as a friend and ally of the French Republic I am troubled that your people have been drawn into conflict so soon after the last great war. However it is also with confidence that Britain pledges its assistance to the French people in general and in this case the French military in particular. To assist in the conflict against communism I will see to it that a number of shipments containing military equipment are delivered between our two shores to a port of your choosing on the French mainland; the number of shipments I will determine at a later date following more in depth assessment of the situation in Indochina. In return for the equipment I would ask that you allow a company sized force of the Special Air Service to be stationed at a French military base in Indochina to both train your soldiers in the use and care of British equipment and also to monitor the situation on my behalf.

Should this offer be deemed agreeable I shall await your response.

Yours Sincerely,

Clement Richard Attlee, Prime Minister[/I]'

The PM signed, sealed and sent his response directly to Paris via a trusted private courier to be delivered within the day. Following this he had the details of the letter delivered to advisers and had his financial and military advisers prepare a list of equipment and supplies suitable for the current situation to be delivered upon the French president's response. The Prime Minister then returned to his desk and began reading and responding to the remaining letters awaiting response.