Chapter 697: Panamanian Independent Organization
Chapter 681 Panamanian Independence Organization
On April 9, 1880, the Colombian government cut off trade with Peru under the pretext of a previous border conflict with Peru.
When the news reached Vienna, the Austrian government was in an uproar and clamored for the Colombian government to be given a piece of the action.
Anyone with a modicum of political savvy knew exactly what Colombia’s choice meant.
Prior to this, the Austrian government could have promised the Peruvian and Colombian countries that they would keep their foreign trade lines open during the war.
When the coastline was blockaded by the British, it was because the Royal Navy was too powerful for the Austrian Navy to pocket, and there was no way to back down.
Now the land trade line is also lost, the Vienna government’s face or not?
The French also had this trouble, and the Paris government made similar promises to Peru and Bolivia.
Now that the Colombian government has been slapped in the face, if we do not retaliate, how can we still have the courage to mix in the international community.
It must be said that the Colombian government made a wrong decision at a wrong time. If they hadn’t finally announced the severing of trade lines, I’m afraid they wouldn’t have pulled so much hate.
Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Ecuador, the four countries that made a similar decision in front of them, similarly aroused Fao’s dissatisfaction.
Only Fao’s influence in these countries is weak, and also jumped out together, want to retaliate back very troublesome, this account will be temporarily deposited.
This is not the fault of President Rafael Núñez; it is the responsibility of the previous administration for not following the four countries to the end.
Everyone knew that choosing between Britain, France, and Austria was more than just an offense. Seeing that his term of office was coming to an end, it was only natural that the clever President Julián would not jump into the pit.
Relying on the left and right between Britain, France and Austria, President Julián still won no small benefits for Colombia, just that these benefits are not so good to take.
This does not matter, in any case, President Julián is with a full body of political achievements retired, the trouble is the next term.
When Rafael Núñez came to power, this game of tightrope walking could not go on, the patience of Britain, France and Austria reached its limit, and the Colombian government had to make a choice.
The tragedy is that whatever choice Rafael Núñez makes, the end result will be the worst possible choice.
……
In the Vienna Palace, Franz, who received the “good news”, held a government meeting at the first opportunity.
Foreign Minister Weissenberg: “The Colombian government fell to the British is not surprising, pro-Austrian and pro-French are also contradictory, by us and the French to join forces, they began to cooperate.
This cooperation, however, is only nominal. We are able to influence their decisions, but we cannot make them for them.
They won’t budge in the face of interests. For example: the presidential election.
In a way, we also did the British a favor. If we hadn’t forcefully brokered cooperation between the pro-Austrian and pro-French factions, and a lot of energy had been expended in the infighting, Rafael Nunez wouldn’t have won so easily.
Since it was the pro-British faction that came to power and made decisions in favor of the British, it’s not surprising.
The only thing worth noting is the excuse the Colombian government found ‘border conflict’. This excuse is very interesting, and if it continues to be extended, the Colombian government could also make territorial claims against Peru.
In a preliminary analysis, in order to pull the Colombian government in, the British should have given them territorial promises.
The failure to make a direct territorial claim to Peru is presumably because the Colombian government is wary of our reaction and that of the French.”
It was a political necessity to bring together the pro-Austrian and pro-French coalition, and it did not matter to Austria whether the Colombian government could win the election or not.
Supporting the continuation of the war in Peru and Bolivia was only to give the British a hard time. Franz wasn’t confident enough that they would be able to roll over with Austrian support.
Peru and Bolivia are clearly outclassing Chile in this more-than-rotten war, and are already rotten to the core.
Piggybacking is the hardest thing to lead. Just think of the Bolivian army going into battle with bows and arrows, Franz had no confidence in them.
In this respect, the decision of the Colombian government did nothing more than hasten the end of the war, and did not really change the outcome of the war in any real sense.
Prime Minister Felix: “It doesn’t matter what the Colombian government thinks anymore, since they made the wrong decision, they have to pay for it.
It’s just that we have an understanding with the British, and it’s obviously not worth it to risk sending troops to break that understanding just for one Colombia.”
This is the crux of the matter, since the alliance between Britain, France and Austria, in the overseas struggle, everyone tacitly supported the agents to start the war, there has not been a precedent of personally going to war.
“This problem is not difficult to solve, I believe that the colonial government of Central America can handle it, they have long wanted to annex the Panama region, just have never had the right opportunity.
Now both the French and us are in an awkward situation, even for the sake of their own face, the Paris government can only support our actions.” Colonial Minister Stephen replied calmly
The colonial ministry has long wanted to engage in action, in the last few years Austria has not expanded abroad, and as the indigenization of Africa continues to advance, the area under the jurisdiction of the colonial ministry is getting smaller and smaller.
The scope of jurisdiction is decreasing, and the colonial ministry’s voice in the government is also weakening. If this situation is not changed, I am afraid that the colonial minister will not be seen in the cabinet meeting in the future.
The localization of Africa was Austria’s national policy, and Stefan naturally did not presume to change it. It is not true that there are no officials who resisted colonial localization, only that some of them have been sent home to farm.
Against this background, the colonial ministry wanted to expand its voice, then it could only continue to expand abroad, and it was no surprise that it was eyeing the Panama region.
Strategic vision is not for everyone, and there are just as many short-sighted people in Austria.
The Austrian colonies in Central America had many people who thought of occupying the Panama region, kicking the French out, developing the Panama Canal themselves, and mastering a golden waterway like the Suez Canal.
Profit is the best motivator, and for the sake of S.H.I.E.L.D., seizing the Panama region became the goal of many local colonial companies.
Almost every year, many people would lobby the Austrian Colonial Ministry to take over the Panama region. In order to seize the lead, some people even drew detailed maps of the Panama region.
Foreign Minister Weissenberg objected: “If we just beat up the Colombian government, due to political pressure, maybe the Paris government will support us.
If we want to occupy the Panama area, there will be no such good thing. The French will surely take advantage of the opportunity to offer a share of the pie, so do we say yes or no?”
There was nothing wrong with that; it was the nature of international diplomacy. Gambling is also about interests, and as long as the interests are right, any anger can disappear immediately.
The French could not have contributed for nothing and watched Austria take the benefits. Similarly, Austria is not likely to share the Panama region with the French, do not look at the land is not worth money, but the potential strategic position is very important.
The problem is, the risk of attacking an independent country, to seize the territory of others, but it is very hateful.
Without the French to share the pressure, the Vienna government would have to think twice about taking on the diplomatic pressure alone.
After a little thought, Franz spoke: “Now is not the best time, we also have to take into account the international reaction. To make a move on the Panama region, it would be best to incite the locals to independence first.”
Austria is indeed very powerful, but does not have the latter-day U.S. that boasts the strength of the world, and had to consider the reaction of the world’s countries.
Compared to the direct military capture of the Panama region, instigating the local people to independence, after the independence of the new government to join the colonial system, the problem is much smaller.
This kind of thing has been done by too many people. As long as you pay attention to the appearance of the food, a little bit of framing, the nominal legal basis will be there.
Colonial Minister Stephen explained, “Your Majesty, the Colombian government has stationed a heavy division of troops in the Panama region, and with just the locals alone, it would have been suppressed before it got too rowdy.”
Compared to the Panama area, with its pitiful population of a hundred thousand or so, a division of troops was indeed a heavy force.
Franz asked in surprise, “A division of troops, how many troops are there in Colombia in all?”
Colombia is a typical sparsely populated country, and with the Indians and blacks, the country only has a population of two to three million.
The small Panama has stationed a division of troops, whoever heard about it for the first time would be surprised.
Stephen replied directly, “The regular army is about a little over 30,000, the militia reserve is probably around 50,000 or so, the limit of mobilization no one knows.
Because of the Austrian colonies in Central America, the Panama area is a key defense area for Colombia, and they have placed a third of their domestic forces here.
The situation inside Colombia is not very stable either. As soon as you eat their troops deployed in the Panama region, Colombia’s internal conflicts will intensify.”
It could be seen that the Colonial Ministry was well prepared and familiar with the internal situation of Colombia, having long ago mapped out their military strength.
After entering the era of hot weapons, “extreme mobilization” has become the patent of industrialized countries, even if the agricultural countries can be organized, but also can not change the weapons and equipment.
If it were an ordinary country, in the face of foreign invasion, it is likely that all parties will put aside their disputes and be united in the face of foreign invasion, but Colombia is an exception.
The problem dates back to the American Civil War, when Austria had organized an emigration and the Germans were actually the second largest ethnic group in Colombia, with the Indians in first place.
Most of the Germans who immigrated to Colombia were ordinary people, and despite the backing of Austria, as latecomers were at the bottom of the social ladder, with the upper echelons having long been occupied by Hispanics.
For fear of being subverted from within by Austria, successive Colombian governments have consciously or unconsciously suppressed ethnic Germans, and even the pro-Austrian faction has remained sufficiently wary of Austria.
There is no targeted answer to discrimination on the surface, just small actions in the dark, even if they are discovered, it is only personal behavior, the Austrian government naturally has no way to interfere.
It’s not just Colombia, but actually immigrating to any country, these problems can occur. It’s not like gold, so how can everyone like it?
In addition to this, racial conflicts are also difficult problems that have long plagued South American countries. The blood of the Indians has not yet dried, if the government is strong can still be suppressed by force, once there is a decline in the problem of contradictions are going to explode.
Colombian domestic conflicts will not break out of the problem, Franz never doubt. Even if there is no contradiction, can create a contradiction, not to mention Colombia itself is full of contradictions?
After hesitating for a while, Franz nodded: ”Since Colombia has prepared for this, then we don’t have to be polite and find an excuse to eat this unit.
However, for the sake of international reputation, we cannot directly occupy the Panama area. After the fight, immediately hand over the territory to the Panamanian Independence Organization and withdraw from the area as soon as possible.”
“The Panamanian Independence Organization (PIO) did not exist before, at least not in the Vienna government, but it must exist now.
(End of chapter)