Chapter 247: The Age of the Great Powers

  Chapter 240: The Age of Powers

While the battle of Constantinople was in full swing, the meeting that would decide the fate of the Greek Kingdom also began.

The place is still in Paris, in order to improve the international status of France, Napoleon III after the succession of the throne is very keen on organizing such events.

No one had any intention of arguing with them on this minor point, and no matter where the negotiations took place, the end result was still the same.

Neither the London government nor the Austrian government lacked such a little prestige. It’s not like the belligerent countries are involved in face-saving and have to fight to win or lose.

People in this era do not lack the spirit of internationalism, the Greek government moved around, or pulled a lot of countries to participate, of course, in addition to a few big countries, most of the countries do not have the right to speak.

Britain and France and Russia were at war, and the Greek issue was also involved in this war, Britain and France unceremoniously excluded the Russians from the meeting, which was also a blow to the Kingdom of Greece.

Originally Otto I had wanted to meet in Athens, to invite all the representatives of the countries as a neutral country, and to use international pressure to force the British to withdraw.

Obviously, the Greek government did not have that much say. The French proposed a meeting in Paris, the Vienna government was indifferent, the British did not want to dispute with the French over this small issue, and the matter was settled.

Greek Foreign Minister Skibata, full of anger, said, “The allied soldiers have entered our land without permission, a serious violation of our sovereignty.

As a neutral country, a serious protest is lodged against this wanton trampling of our sovereignty, and we demand that the allied forces immediately stop this infringement and withdraw from the Greek Peninsula.”

Without the issue of reparations, Skebata is undermined and just expects the Coalition forces to just withdraw, and the losses they cause to take care of themselves.

The armies that entered the Kingdom of Greece this time included the British, Sardinian, and Ottoman armies. Because of the relationship between France and these three countries in the Near East battlefield alliance, to mediate this incident became the new Holy Roman Empire.

There was no problem, the war between the Austrian Empire and the Ottoman Empire was not over, but the New Holy Roman Empire was a neutral country.

This kind of strange thing happened too much in the era of the Shinra Empire. A certain vassal state was at war with a foreigner, and the Holy Roman Empire could still remain neutral.

This was a historical legacy, and all European countries recognized this situation, so it was no big deal to do it again now.

It wasn’t like Britain and France were at war with Austria anyway, they couldn’t care less if the Ottoman Empire felt insulted. With the war going on now, the Ottoman Empire has begun to hit the sauce, and its position in the alliance is naturally and inevitably slipping.

The Sudanese government of course will not protest for this small matter, at least they and Austria also have an armistice treaty ah, a little thicker skin can say that the war between the two countries has ended.

This war has been playing the Sudanese government completely temperament, so that they realize the lack of strength, in addition to change the law to be strong, and the major powers to make good relations has also become very important.

The Russians can be regarded as the only exception, their mortal enemy of the Ottoman Empire, there is no possibility of compromise between the two sides, and is still at war.

British Foreign Minister Thomas said gently, “Mr. Skebata, how can this be described as an unprovoked entry into your territory?

The main issue of the allied forces entering your country’s territory is to pursue the enemy forces.

We also notified you beforehand and received your acquiescence before the coalition forces entered your country’s territory.

If you are able to hand over this group of rebels that mistakenly entered your territory, we can immediately retreat.”

What’s the point of having an army if protesting works?

Now that the Greek kingdom was playing dumb, the British naturally followed suit. There is nothing wrong with understanding that no force is used to resist, even if it is acquiescence.

The British did not even recognize the forcible entry of the allied forces into Greek territory, and insisted that the Greeks had acquiesced, the proof being that the Greeks had not prevented them from doing so.

To ask the Greeks to hand over the rebels now would be generalizing. On the bright side, there is no way that the Greek government would recognize that these troops were related to them, and the British directly viewed these people as Ottoman rebels.

Since they were rebels, they were an Ottoman family matter, and did not apply to the post-war repatriation regulations for disarming neutral countries.

It became reasonable for the British to tell them to hand over the rebels, and if the Greek government was incapable of handing over the rebels, then it was suspected of harboring or supporting the rebels. It would make sense for the coalition to take military action to strike across the border.

Skibata instantly shriveled up, playing a rogue, they are really not the British opponent, three or five or two times in an awkward situation.

Sent troops to attack the Ottoman Empire, they are never dare to admit, Britain and France are allies of the Ottoman Empire, if you admit this is finished.

But now they can’t fulfill the British proposal, handing over the “rebels”? What a joke, if you dare to do so, I do not need to wait for the British to do, the people in the country will be the first to rebel.

No one will help him to speak on this issue, right and wrong are in front of him, want to pretend to be stupid and muddle through, really think that John Bull is a fool?

Even though France and Austria did not want the British to annex Greece, they could not play dumb on this issue with the Greeks. We still want to face, especially when it comes to the British, the dignity of the British Empire can not be blasphemed.

The Greek representative fell into a trap at the beginning of the negotiations, and as a mediator, the representative of the new Holy Roman Empire, Mentenide, naturally could not let him continue to jump into the pit.

“The causes and consequences of the matter are clear to everyone sitting here, so there is no need for everyone to continue beating around the bush now. Let’s just get straight to the point and deliberate on the most realistic issues!”

Mentenide’s meaning was obvious, the British were not something Greece could afford to mess with, and there was a price to be paid for doing something wrong. It was better not to dream of attempting to muddle through in the face of the facts.

What the powers need to do is not evidence, as long as they think it is true. Not tearing the windowpaper, that’s just people looking the other way, and in the end, what should be done is still what should be done.

French Foreign Minister Auvergne said evasively, “In view of what the Greek government has done in this war, it is necessary for us to give some sanctions.”

His meaning was clear, to gag the British with sanctions so they couldn’t propose turning the Kingdom of Greece into a colony.

Did the London government at this time make up its mind to annex the Kingdom of Greece? The answer is no.

The government of London was being overwhelmed by public opinion and was still trying to find a solution to the logistical problems of the expeditionary force, so there was still extra energy there to make things happen.

The voices of those who advocated the colonization of the Kingdom of Greece had only just appeared in the London government, and they were still far from becoming the mainstream.

If none of the countries opposed it, then they would just swallow it. Eating the Kingdom of Greece, John Bull still had the appetite for it.

But by the time the French had proposed the Paris Conference and the Austrians had deceived themselves by holding the brand of the New Holy Roman Empire as a mediator, Thomas knew that annexation of the Kingdom of Greece was out of the question.

Although the strategic value of the Kingdom of Greece is high, but its own interests are not rich, it is not worth the British for them and the French and Austrians flipped.

Thomas said tentatively, “In view of the fact that the Kingdom of Greece has sent troops to our ally, the Ottoman Empire, without a declaration of war, I propose that the Greek government and king be abolished, and that my government take over the affairs of Greece.”

Mentenide objected, “Mr. Thomas, I’m afraid that’s a bit much.

The Greek government is directly responsible for this incident, and removal is appropriate, but abolishing the king is overstepping the mark.

The dignity of the monarch is not to be desecrated, and it was the Greek government that led this incident, not His Majesty Otto I, who should not be held responsible for it.

After the removal of the Greek government, there will surely be a certain amount of chaos, and I’m afraid that your country alone will be a bit strained to manage Greek affairs, so why don’t we co-manage it together!”

There is no problem, in the European continent to abolish the king is usually just a few cases, summed up is – to get the wrong position, or else to be expelled by the people, Otto I’s is not enough.

As a member of the monarchy, maintaining the dignity of the king is a must for everyone.

Thomas was also just testing the waters, if he really insisted on abolishing Otto I, it would not do any good to his personal political future, the real benefit was still in the vicarious administration of the Kingdom of Greece.

“Not bad, the affairs occurring in the Kingdom of Greece are an international problem, and your government cannot be allowed to take all the pressure. As a responsible great power, France is willing to do its part in this.” French Foreign Minister Auvergne concurred

No matter how beautifully he spoke, in the end it all boiled down to interests. Obviously the interests of the Near East, the French were not prepared to concede.

Soon the meeting entered a state of Anglo-French-Austrian gaming, and the Greek representative had been hung out to dry.

Naples, Tuscany, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of Sardinia, the four interested countries, were silent from beginning to end.

To be able to participate in this meeting, for them it was the Great Powers giving face.

Despite the fact that the Greek issue concerns their interests, they still have the self-awareness to know that the gods are fighting and the mortals are suffering, so it is better to stay away from them, so as not to be affected by them.

The representatives of other European countries, not to mention the Mediterranean countries, are not involved in their own interests, so of course, they do not care about their own interests.

Do not see any benefit, also want to participate in the game between the three major countries?

In this era, can survive in the European continent of small countries, rulers are smart people, no one will be so deadly.

After more than half a month of war of words, the three countries finally reached an agreement, and the countries signed the Resolution against the Kingdom of Greece.

Otto I’s throne was preserved, and the Greek cabinet government was responsible for the incident and had to resign to take responsibility.

An international supervisory mission was formed by Britain, France and Austria to guide the Kingdom of Greece in reorganizing its new government.

Nominally, the three countries were in charge of Greece, but in reality, the British got the lion’s share of the benefits, followed by the French, and the new Holy Roman Empire got the least.

The British got the most out of Greece, the French and Austrians prevented the British from annexing the Greek kingdom, and Otto I managed to keep his throne.

The Ottoman Empire’s interests were sacrificed, they didn’t get their coveted war reparations, and the Greek kingdoms were too poor to pay.

The Greek government was in the hands of the three kingdoms, so they couldn’t expect to pay them reparations out of their pockets, could they?

For a long time to come, the Greek kingdom’s finances would be used to pay off the debts of Britain and France, and because of the war, the Greek government had already overdue several loans.

Of course, this kind of escrow is only temporary, the three countries can’t dominate each other, so naturally, it is impossible to continue for a long time, and the new government will transfer the power to the new government after the establishment of the new government.

The financial escrow might take a little longer, and the Greek kingdoms had to be able to pay their debts on time before they could take back their financial autonomy.

The Greek government fully opened its markets and ports to the three kingdoms, and the ships of the three kingdoms gained the right of free navigation and garrisoning in the Kingdom of Greece, while the customs, minting, tobacco and salt taxes, and road construction all fell into the hands of the three kingdoms.

Obviously, in addition to the distribution of benefits, there was also an intention to target the Russians. Britain and France established another blockade beyond the two straits, and by utilizing the many islands in the Aegean Sea, the British and French navies could besiege the Russians at any time.

This can only be regarded as a demonstration, the Russians did not even get Constantinople, the first Bosphorus Strait can not control, the Aegean Sea is too far away from them.

The signing of the Resolution against the Kingdom of Greece marked the full advent of the era of the Great Powers.

In this era, as long as the Great Powers reached an agreement, they could decide the fate of a country. The essence of the world of the weak and the strong was manifested to the fullest extent.

(End of chapter)