Chapter 525: June’s Debt

  Chapter 513 June’s debt

The human heart is complex, on the surface President Juarez subdued the opposition forces of all sides, secretly the situation in Mexico City is turbulent.

After the shooting, the blockade against the Austrian Embassy was lifted. Originally prohibited supplies into the country, now become the Mexican government took the initiative to send supplies to the door.

There was no way around it, President Juarez was really scared. The Austrian soldiers came out to hang around and caused so much trouble, if they were allowed to come out to hang around every day, there was no telling how many troubles would arise.

If a few more died, even if the shooting had nothing to do with them, the Republican government would not be able to escape then. The hegemony of the Great Powers, Juarez has already learned.

Ten years ago, the Mexican government’s finances were on the verge of bankruptcy, and Juarez announced a two-year moratorium on foreign debt payments in preparation for bargaining with the debtors.

The result was naturally a social beating, and the Mexican Republican government turned into a regime underneath, and he returned to Mexico City only ten years later.

Life can have a few decades, if not for this lost decade, perhaps Juarez’s social reforms have been successful.

It is only after the loss that one knows how to cherish. It is only after experiencing it firsthand that one knows fear.

Now in the republican government, in addition to the middle two teenagers, there is no fear of the Great Powers. Juarez mouth does not recognize the debt bequeathed by Massimiliano I, in fact, is not obedient to pay back the money.

In order to appease the radicals, he kept saying that he would not repay the debt once the situation stabilized, but in reality he was just shouting slogans.

The French feared that the fall of Massimiliano I would wipe out the debt. In fact, the Republican Government, headed by President Juárez, had already been cowed and did not dare to renege on the debt.

The so-called toughness, that is just shouting political slogans. In practice, it is still very honest, even if it is scrambled to pay the foreign debt first.

Did not send troops to intercept, Governor Hummel marched very fast, less than a week arrived in Mexico City.

President Juarez’s coping measures were not without effect. Austria is to save face, there was no outbreak of war, the army led by Governor Hummel also has no excuse to attack the city, directly outside the city camp.

The “shooting case” was handled at the judicial level, ministers were witnesses, waiting for the Mexican government to provide evidence to close the case.

Everything was looking up, when the meal prepared by Minister Compton took place. Hundreds of “Austrian citizens” came to protest and prepared evidence.

No doubt these were the soldiers’ families, or groups of friends and relatives. During the week before the entry of the Republican Army into the city, their property had been severely damaged and some of them had even lost their lives.

Under normal circumstances, these ascendants would have had no choice but to accept. This time it was different, with Minister Compton plotting in the dark, they were instantly emboldened.

Extraterritoriality has made them fearless. How foreign citizens treated the Mexican government, they followed suit.

The Compton Minister, who was just talking to each other, immediately changed his face and sternly rebuked: “Your Excellency the President, your army has disregarded international law, acted recklessly, and jeopardized the personal and property safety of Austrian citizens, and now on behalf of the Government of Vienna, I am sending an official diplomatic note to you.

Order your government to hand over the relevant responsible persons within 24 hours, accept the sanctions of the law, and compensate the losses of our citizens!”

This excuse was still a bit far-fetched, and everyone knew what was going on. But these people below did get Austrian citizenship.

Legally speaking, as long as the time these people became Austrian citizens, before the Mexican Republican Army acted, then they were protected by Austria.

There is no doubt that this time must have been before that. Minister Compton could not have made such a mistake, and the documentation issued proves that the time of their naturalization was before the entry of the Republican Army into the city.

Whether or not it was in accordance with the procedure, it was an internal affair of Austria, and it was not the turn of outsiders to meddle in it.

President Juarez’s face changed drastically, all other issues were fine. “Handing over the person responsible”, that was a no-no. If the person is handed over, the army must mutiny.

Moreover, even if they committed a crime, it should be subject to Mexican law, how can they let the Austrians trial?

Counting on Britain and France to mediate, but unfortunately the British and French ministers saw the evidence provided by the Austrians, began to wander off.

It’s not that they didn’t want to help, the point is that the evidence was in front of them. The Austrians had written documents proving that these were Austrian citizens, as well as photographs taken by photographers of IRA atrocities in Mexico.

Britain, France and Austria were still nominally allies, and they could not support the Mexican Republican government with Austria in the driver’s seat.

President Juarez knows that the Austrians at this time to make trouble, put forward these conditions deliberately difficult for them, absolutely not just for these “citizens” to stand up.

It would be difficult to solve the problem without clarifying the Austrians’ real purpose. By this time, the Austrian army was already at the city’s doorstep, and it was too late to resist.

The only thing that makes him happy is that the Austrians are still taking into account the international influence, not regardless of the direct action, which proves that there is still room for maneuver.

This era of the powers have a common characteristic, when reasoning can not reach the goal, they will choose to speak with artillery.

The role of acting as a bridge between the two sides fell to British Minister Edward. They were the best at this kind of thing, and more than half of the world’s international conflicts in this era were not without the shadow of the British.

……

That evening, British Minister Edward appeared in the Austrian embassy.

Putting down the coffee in his hand, Edward elegantly asked, ”Your Excellency Compton, your country’s actions in Mexico are also being closely watched by the London government.

We are allies, so if you need help, you don’t have to be polite. Just what exactly do you guys want to achieve?”

The British “help” was more of a warning than a favor. When expanding overseas, Austria was not prepared to borrow British manpower, something Franz was afraid of not being able to pay back.

Hidden meanings, Compton Minister naturally understand. Emphasize the “allies”, is only to say that can not harm the interests of Britain. The offer of “help” was a warning not to go too far.

Taking up the coffee on the table, Minister Compton took a sip and said unhurriedly: “The evil republican idea must be curbed.

If we don’t give the Mexicans a little lesson, won’t it make the republican ideas become more and more rampant? If it spreads to the European continent, I’m afraid that it will be bad for everyone.”

This explanation obviously did not satisfy Edward, when did the Vienna government become so internationalist?

You have to know that since Franz came to power, first he indulged the Russian Empire, and then he pawned out France, how can you look at it, it doesn’t look like a responsible European power.

The Austrians fought against republican ideas, Edward was convinced. As the backbone of the monarchy, the power of the Austrian Emperor was not weaker than that of the Tsar.

Only Austria reformed early, social reform has been completed, these developments are very good, society is very stable.

On the issue of combating republican ideas, the position of the monarchical countries is the same, this is the battle for the right to speak in the world of ideas, everyone will not easily give up.

Edward asked uncertainly, “Your Excellency Compton, in that case, your country is prepared to allow Massimiliano I to be restored?”

In terms of interest, doing so would not be in Austria’s interest, the price to be paid to pay for the restoration of Massimiliano I would be too great.

However, in a country like Austria where the imperial power is strong, many times it is not possible to look only at the interests, the will of the emperor can equally determine the direction of the country.

Massimiliano I although the ability is not good, but he is Franz’s own brother, on the basis of this article it is possible to make Franz blood investment.

Similar situations had occurred more than once or twice in European history. Edward wasn’t sure if it would happen in Austria, after all, the image Franz left to the outside world was too perfect.

Minister Compton shook his head and replied, ”If we can embrace the restoration of His Majesty Massimiliano I, that would naturally be the best.

It’s just that because of some special problems, all the major forces within Mexico right now are not very welcoming to this Majesty.

Our conditions are very simple, the Mexican government has three paths to choose from: First, continue to support Massimiliano I as emperor, then all these small problems do not need to be mentioned, and the constitutional monarchy is also acceptable;

Second, make up for the losses of the Austrian citizens and cover the cost of this military expedition, which totaled 12 million guilders. If there is no money, cede Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and the Yucatan Peninsula against the debt.”

The third way went without saying, Edward knew it. The most common tactic used by everyone, to settle by force if negotiation fails. If the Mexican government thought it could win, it could try to settle by force.

Edward thought about it and said, “Your country’s appetite is still so good, just such conditions, can the Mexicans afford it?”

Obviously, Edward did not want to see Austria’s unbridled expansion in Mexico, if not restricted, sooner or later will eat up the whole of Mexico.

Compton smiled slightly, argued: “words can not be said, as long as the Mexican government let Massimiliano I restored, there is no need to pay any price.

If they are patriotic enough, they should accept our goodwill. Know that His Majesty Massimiliano I is benevolent, it’s not like he’ll hold them accountable for plotting to rebel.”

Edward directly rolled his eyes, accepting the restoration of Massimiliano I, how could things be that simple.

Constitutionalists, conservatives, Catholicism and these groups were fine, it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra empty emperor, but for the republicans, it would be doom and gloom.

It was the equivalent of denying their legitimacy from start to finish, and the political shock could have sent President Juarez packing.

What seemed like the least costly option was actually the least acceptable to the Republican government. The offer was made, and whether Mexicans took it or not, the Mexican government would have been split.

Compton Minister put forward the conditions, is completely in order to radicalize the Mexican government internal contradictions, only to get out.

Other political groups will use this as an excuse to criticize the Republican government for disregarding the interests of the country for its own selfishness.

No matter what choice President Juarez makes, there will be a whole lot of trouble. With such obvious targeting, it would be a hell of a thing to say that it has nothing to do with the Habsburgs.

Now that Massimiliano I was alone, even if he was restored again he would just be a rubber-stamp emperor, no one would give a damn about him, and he would not be able to bring any benefits to Austria. This one worthless condition was clearly aimed at the republican government.

Edward did not say anything else, President Juarez led the insurrectionary army to overthrow the rule of Massimiliano I, and ruthlessly slapped the Habsburgs in the face.

Now that people were going to retaliate, then he deserved his bad luck. When it comes to this level, Edward doesn’t want to get involved.

Deep down, he had already started to mourn for President Juarez. Who made him unlucky to catch the Habsburg Dynasty in its heyday.

(End of chapter)