Chapter 745: No Diplomacy for Weak Countries
Chapter 728 – No Diplomacy for Weak Countries
“What, the Austrians want to annex the Ottomans?”
Alexander III, who had just been crowned emperor, hadn’t even had time to celebrate before he was greeted with this bad news.
Foreign Minister Osier Rivera replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. We applied for a loan from the government of Vienna not long ago, and they made this request.”
Alexander III shook his head and replied in the affirmative, “No, this will never do!
Once we let the Austrians annex the Ottomans, their power will reach deep into Central Asia, and no one can guarantee that they won’t turn into our rivals.
If Central Asia falls into the hands of the indigenous khanates, we can still get it back; if it falls into the hands of Austria, it will be almost impossible to get our hands on it.
Now that we are greatly wounded, we are not capable of competing with them at all.
The Austrians are trying to control our lifeblood; by taking Central Asia, they have the ability to split the Russian Empire in two.
Combined with the Dardanelles, which he already controls, the future of the Russian Empire will be at their mercy.”
The reasoning was sound, and Osiel Rivera did not recognize it. The subject of constraints is too big a topic.
Not just a question of the Dardanelles, the Russian Empire was constrained by Austria in many ways. Armaments, finance, economy, the three core lifebloods are inseparable from Austria.
After hesitating for a while, Osier Rivera reminded, “Your Majesty, it is not difficult to solve the Dardanelles problem.
As early as many years ago, we had contact with the Austrians, and the Vienna government agreed to pay for our redemption, or a territorial swap.
It was only for some special reason that the deal was not finalized in the end. This also shows that the Vienna government doesn’t pay much attention to the Dardanelles, and it wouldn’t be difficult to get it.”
Alexander III had just succeeded to the throne, and everyone had not yet figured out his temperament, and the cautious Osier Rivera, chose to side-step the issue.
The Austrian threat did exist, but now was not the time to think about it; what the Tsar’s government needed most at this time was money, and all other problems could be pressed.
This aspect of the tsarist government is the bottom line, the volume of the Russian Empire is here to put, there is no need to worry about foreign invasion.
Austria’s threat, that is built on the premise of the two countries did not turn their backs on each other, really if the parting of the ways, these problems can be overcome.
After hesitating for a while, Alexander III nodded helplessly, “Then let’s talk to the Austrians first, no matter what, we can’t let the sole possession of Ottoman.”
Alexander III’s talent in diplomacy far exceeded that of his own ancestors, and he soon discovered the crux of the problem: once Austria made up its mind to make a move against Ottoman, they simply couldn’t stop it.
Having the support of the Russian Empire would make things easier; without them, Austria could still wage war.
The aftermath of the Russo-Prussian War had not yet dissipated, and the European world was still immersed in a wave of anti-war sentiment; it was impossible for Britain and France to go to war with Austria for the Ottoman Empire.
Russia seemed to have a heavy voice, but they were still licking their wounds, and the government had no money in their pockets, plus the Russian-Turkish feud, Alexander III really couldn’t find a reason to save the Ottomans.
Alexander III was sensible, the same as calling off the Great Purge at home. Realizing that he couldn’t stop Austria, he decisively chose to trade favors.
……
Foreign Minister Osiel Rivera added: “Your Majesty, in addition to this question, the Finnish question we must also consider.
Before the war, in order to stabilize the Nordic Confederation and raise funds for the war, we signed a mortgage with the Swedes, and there is still a secret contract.
It was explicitly agreed that the Finnish region was to be sold to the Nordic Confederation after the war, and that if we defaulted we would have to pay a sum of money for the breach of contract in addition to repaying the debt, with the government of Vienna being the guarantor.”
This was another huge pitfall, and before the outbreak of the Russo-Prussian War, the Czarist government had to enter into such a treaty in order to have one less enemy.
By now it had become another dilemma, a happy annoyance for the moment, an annoyance that only comes with winning a war.
Under Alexander II, the prepared response was to take the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein and give them to the Nordic Confederation to offset this debt.
Unfortunately, halfway through the plan, Alexander II met God. Alexander III was not as resilient as his father and did not have enough prestige of his own.
The domestic situation also did not allow him to continue the war, and after strong opposition from the European countries, he soon chose to compromise.
Alexander III frowned and shook his head: “The strategic significance of the Finnish region can not be handed over, at least not all of it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs first contacted the Nordic Federation to see if they could accept the sale of part of the Finnish region.
This debt is after all guaranteed by Austria, do not use the threat of force unless it is absolutely necessary.”
Weak countries have no diplomacy, and the furry bears have never been much of a master of rules. Compared to solving problems at the negotiating table, they are better at using artillery.
Alexander III is a tsar in the peace faction, but also able to take out part of the Finnish region to fulfill, if the father Alexander II is not so good to talk.
Of course, the Austrian guarantee also played an important role. The “Debt Guarantee Contract” was not just a simple security guarantee, but also had clear penalty clauses.
Compared to take the benefit to buy Austria, let the Vienna government silence, Alexander III think or talk with the Nordic Federation, easier to achieve the purpose.
Foreign Minister Osiel Rivera smiled, “Your Majesty, don’t worry, as long as we can take out part of the Finnish region to fulfill the contract, the Nordic Confederation will not reject our goodwill.”
……
Berlin, since the end of the Russo-Prussian War, the bustling metropolis, became silent all of a sudden.
Despite relying on the sale of territories and getting back some of its money, the Berlin government was still having a hard time.
Heavy debts added to the burden on the shoulders of the Prussian public. More importantly, it was the despair brought about by the defeat of the war that made many people lose their confidence in the future.
In order to give an explanation to the people at home, William I had already announced his abdication, and Prussia entered the era of Frederick III.
This is an unlucky man, the original time and space just a few days after succeeding to the throne, see God, have “100 days of the emperor” elegant name, the actual reign time of 99 days.
Barely survived his father, had an addiction to the emperor, and then hastily scattered his hands.
Under the butterfly effect, Frederick III now early ascension to the throne, the same did not get good, took over a mess.
The only benefit was probably the abdication of Wilhelm I, forcing a bunch of Junker nobles to follow and resign without so many nasties.
Perhaps Frederick III was more willing to accept a bunch of Junker nobles than the mess he was in now.
On the throne the king was the biggest Junker, everyone’s class interests were still the same, and all that was up for grabs was power.
Looking at the map hanging on the wall, Frederick III sighed deeply.
He hadn’t done anything yet, and the territory of the Kingdom of Prussia had lost most of its territory. If a country wanted to revitalize, it could not do so without population and resources.
With the defeat of the Russo-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Prussia lost a large amount of territory, and also lost a large amount of population and resources.
Whether it was recognized or not, the Kingdom of Prussia became a small country.
(End of chapter)