alternatehistory.com
6-Cabinets
April 8, 1964
New Delhi, India
JN: What is happening in Bhutan?
YC: Our reports, which I must remind everyone come from a solitary source, indicate a coup d’état. There were tensions inside the King’s family over who should hold power until he was of age. It seems the King’s Uncle, Bahadur, moved the army into the palace and wrested control from the Queen Mother’s family.
JN: Did anything provoke him?
YC: The Prime Minister was assassinated, but he was the Queen Mother’s brother and his assassin was in the army, so that seems to have been less a cause then it was step one in the Coup.
JN: The Queen?
YC: In custody, separated from the King.
JN: Is she in any immediate danger?
YC: No indication either way.
JN: Does the Intelligence Bureau have anything or shall I assume that they know as little about Bhutan as they do China?
BM: The source that Defense Minister Chavan mentioned is an army man, we have some low-level agents in Bhutan but the only one close enough to the Royal Family to have information goes through the Army. We can confirm that the troop movements exist and are very clearly designed to control Thimphu. We agree with the assessment of a coup.
JN: Anything else?
BM: The Prime Minister is dead, the Queen Mother is in prison, but they had a brother, one Lhendup Dorji. He’s fled to Bhutan House, which I will remind everyone is on Indian soil, and declared himself Prime Minister and Reagent.
GN: Does he have any legal authority to do this?
BM: Which part?
GN: Any of this.
BM: His family owns Bhutan House, he is as free to be there as anyone. As for the claims of being Prime Minister, the Dorji Family has held that post since Bhutan was founded, and with the Parliament dissolved no one can dispute that.
JN: They dissolved Parliament?
BM: It was a powerless institution, no use keeping it around to oppose your military coup.
JN: Any reports of resistance?
BM: None. Not amongst ex-Parliament members or any local leaders. Some intellectual exiles are complaining about how this changes nothing for the people, but no meaningful resistance.
JN: And this new government, what will their policies be?
YC: Probably more or the same, this is still Royalty, we aren’t going to see a drift toward Communism. They might close the borders to migrants.
JN: That would jeopardize our infrastructure there, they need migrant workers.
YC: Perhaps, but work is already well under way.
JN: So we have a fugitive hiding on Indian soil from a military government that could potentially harm Indian interests?
YC: Yes.
GN: Are there military options?
YC: Literally anything would work. We have more troops active then there are people in the country. Obviously, that wouldn’t be needed, but we hold all the cards in that scenario.
GN: A strong assessment. And the Intelligence Bureau?
BM: We agree, and no country would come to Bhutan’s aid. China might complain, as might Sikkim, but actual armed resistance. We advise strongly against such action however.
JN: Why?
BM: There is no reason to, this new government is not going be so stupid as to oppose us, they can count. The Dorjis were unpopular, we know that, and propping them up won’t change that. As I said before intervention won’t cause too much of a fuss, but there will be some fuss, especially from Sikkim. Why make a fuss when we don’t have to?
YC: I agree.
GN: Makes sense to me.
JN: It seems settled to me.
YC: Very well sir.
JN: See if your man in Thimphu can keep the Queen Mother safe, I’d hate to see her dead.
YC: I’ll see what I can do.
GN: And the Bhutan House?
YC: We’ll have to evict Dorji, it’s the only easy way into the country.
========
April 12, 1964
Washington, United States of America
[papers rustle]
RM: There was a coup in Bhutan 4 days ago
LJ: Where’s that again?
RM: Himalayas sir, between India and China.
LJ: Is that the one where there’s an American Queen? Cooke or something?
RM: Uhh…maybe?
LJ: Great. Some piece of shit tabloid is going to pick up about the evil commies arresting some American Princess, and then Goldwater is going to make a fucking mess.
RM: The Queen’s name doesn’t look American on this memo, Kesang Choden.
LJ: Maybe she made it more native.
WB: Uhh sir?
LJ: What is it?
WB: I think that was Sikkim.
RM: He’s right Mr. President, it wasn’t Bhutan after all.
LJ: Alright then. What does Bhutan’s ambassador say?
RM: We don’t have one. India handles their affairs.
LJ: Says here India is recognizing the new government.
RM: Yes sir.
LJ: Do we have a pressing interest to oppose India on this matter?
RM: No sir.
LJ: Then we recognize the new government and stop worrying. Unless the Reds invade or they find a fucking Yeti we don’t have any reason to be there.
RM: Yes sir, I’ll write up a memo. Next on the agenda is the latest from Saigon…
New Delhi, India
JN: What is happening in Bhutan?
YC: Our reports, which I must remind everyone come from a solitary source, indicate a coup d’état. There were tensions inside the King’s family over who should hold power until he was of age. It seems the King’s Uncle, Bahadur, moved the army into the palace and wrested control from the Queen Mother’s family.
JN: Did anything provoke him?
YC: The Prime Minister was assassinated, but he was the Queen Mother’s brother and his assassin was in the army, so that seems to have been less a cause then it was step one in the Coup.
JN: The Queen?
YC: In custody, separated from the King.
JN: Is she in any immediate danger?
YC: No indication either way.
JN: Does the Intelligence Bureau have anything or shall I assume that they know as little about Bhutan as they do China?
BM: The source that Defense Minister Chavan mentioned is an army man, we have some low-level agents in Bhutan but the only one close enough to the Royal Family to have information goes through the Army. We can confirm that the troop movements exist and are very clearly designed to control Thimphu. We agree with the assessment of a coup.
JN: Anything else?
BM: The Prime Minister is dead, the Queen Mother is in prison, but they had a brother, one Lhendup Dorji. He’s fled to Bhutan House, which I will remind everyone is on Indian soil, and declared himself Prime Minister and Reagent.
GN: Does he have any legal authority to do this?
BM: Which part?
GN: Any of this.
BM: His family owns Bhutan House, he is as free to be there as anyone. As for the claims of being Prime Minister, the Dorji Family has held that post since Bhutan was founded, and with the Parliament dissolved no one can dispute that.
JN: They dissolved Parliament?
BM: It was a powerless institution, no use keeping it around to oppose your military coup.
JN: Any reports of resistance?
BM: None. Not amongst ex-Parliament members or any local leaders. Some intellectual exiles are complaining about how this changes nothing for the people, but no meaningful resistance.
JN: And this new government, what will their policies be?
YC: Probably more or the same, this is still Royalty, we aren’t going to see a drift toward Communism. They might close the borders to migrants.
JN: That would jeopardize our infrastructure there, they need migrant workers.
YC: Perhaps, but work is already well under way.
JN: So we have a fugitive hiding on Indian soil from a military government that could potentially harm Indian interests?
YC: Yes.
GN: Are there military options?
YC: Literally anything would work. We have more troops active then there are people in the country. Obviously, that wouldn’t be needed, but we hold all the cards in that scenario.
GN: A strong assessment. And the Intelligence Bureau?
BM: We agree, and no country would come to Bhutan’s aid. China might complain, as might Sikkim, but actual armed resistance. We advise strongly against such action however.
JN: Why?
BM: There is no reason to, this new government is not going be so stupid as to oppose us, they can count. The Dorjis were unpopular, we know that, and propping them up won’t change that. As I said before intervention won’t cause too much of a fuss, but there will be some fuss, especially from Sikkim. Why make a fuss when we don’t have to?
YC: I agree.
GN: Makes sense to me.
JN: It seems settled to me.
YC: Very well sir.
JN: See if your man in Thimphu can keep the Queen Mother safe, I’d hate to see her dead.
YC: I’ll see what I can do.
GN: And the Bhutan House?
YC: We’ll have to evict Dorji, it’s the only easy way into the country.
========
April 12, 1964
Washington, United States of America
[papers rustle]
RM: There was a coup in Bhutan 4 days ago
LJ: Where’s that again?
RM: Himalayas sir, between India and China.
LJ: Is that the one where there’s an American Queen? Cooke or something?
RM: Uhh…maybe?
LJ: Great. Some piece of shit tabloid is going to pick up about the evil commies arresting some American Princess, and then Goldwater is going to make a fucking mess.
RM: The Queen’s name doesn’t look American on this memo, Kesang Choden.
LJ: Maybe she made it more native.
WB: Uhh sir?
LJ: What is it?
WB: I think that was Sikkim.
RM: He’s right Mr. President, it wasn’t Bhutan after all.
LJ: Alright then. What does Bhutan’s ambassador say?
RM: We don’t have one. India handles their affairs.
LJ: Says here India is recognizing the new government.
RM: Yes sir.
LJ: Do we have a pressing interest to oppose India on this matter?
RM: No sir.
LJ: Then we recognize the new government and stop worrying. Unless the Reds invade or they find a fucking Yeti we don’t have any reason to be there.
RM: Yes sir, I’ll write up a memo. Next on the agenda is the latest from Saigon…
- King of the Uzbeks
- Word Count: 890