Chapter 873: Adding to the Blockage

  Chapter 856 Adding to the Blockade

There were no surprises, as a responsible big country, Austria naturally had to provide security to Belgium and North Germany.

On August 1, 1888, Franz issued a “Letter to the People of Europe,” clearly stating that Austria would be committed to maintaining the balance and stability of the European continent, and resolutely fight against the evil forces destroying the European order.

As to whether the two governments dared to believe it or not, this is not known. Still, the announcement had a positive significance and gained wide support in public opinion.

Having received Austria’s commitment, Belgium and Germany also had a touch of confidence at the negotiating table.

Really only a hint, because the outbreak of war losses are still the two countries concerned, France and Austria who will eventually win who no one knows, anyway, sandwiched in the middle of them are losers.

Just because the two governments can be rational does not mean that the people will be rational. After receiving Austria’s affirmative reply, a powerful anti-French movement broke out among the people of the two countries.

Brussels, the demonstration of the people have blocked the streets, even in the deep palace, Leopold II can clearly hear the people’s protests.

All, no doubt, demanding that the government be tough on France. Nationalism had risen, and the conditions offered by the French deeply irritated everyone’s pride.

Prime Minister Auguste: “Your Majesty, we can no longer back down now. The French will never stop killing us, and this is just the beginning.

Not only will a single concession not solve the problem, it will make the French think that we are weak and bullying, and give us even more inches.”

Obviously, Austria’s clear position and the support of mainstream European public opinion still influenced the Belgian government.

Prime Minister Auguste, who had always been old-fashioned and prudent, was also exasperated by the unreasonable demands of the French and turned in favor of toughness.

Leopold II nodded, tough he also wanted, but the heart is not bottom ah!

Belgium and Austria have a secret treaty is not false, but the outbreak of war from the arrival of Austrian reinforcements need time, the early stage or by themselves first top, the possibility of the battlefield in the Belgian mainland as high as ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent ……

In case the Austrians wimped out, or arrived a few days late, Belgium will cease to exist. Leopold II had no confidence in holding back the French invasion.

It could not be stopped militarily, and politically and economically it could not be retreated.

Just look at the people gathered outside, if you really agree to the unreasonable demands of the French, the country will be the first to explode.

Economically, not to mention, the loss of such a large sum of revenue, the Belgian government will wait for bankruptcy!

Leopold II asked, “How is the communication between the Foreign Ministry and the Germans, do they agree to go forward and backward with us?”

Foreign Minister Jules shook his head and sneered, “The Germans are busy communicating with the British, banking on the London government to interfere with the French.”

Leopold II was very surprised and asked, “Have they not grown brains?

If they want to interfere, they would have made their position clear long ago, and to expect the British to intervene at this point in time is simply fanciful!”

No wonder Leopold II surprised, with the knee think also know that Britain and France just allied, no matter what, at this point in time, the British government will not be for them and the most important ally to turn the other cheek.

Even Austria, who was most likely to intervene, was now only stating its position and was not directly involved in this negotiation.

In Leopold II’s opinion, instead of continuing to tangle with the British, it would be better to take advantage of the opportunity to bring about an alliance between Bi-German and Austrian countries to jointly curb the expansion of the French.

Foreign Minister Jules explained, “It may be that the British gave Hanover some promise, George I has always rejected to get closer to Austria.

However, other states in the German region are communicating with Austria, and the Archduke of Baden will also visit Vienna in the near future, which may have something to do with this incident as well.”

Don’t look at the North German Confederation is a scattered, but in the issue of safeguarding the national interests, everyone’s goal is still the same.

It was unrealistic for the British to withdraw from the International Coal Exporting Union and continue to maintain a high coal price to France, but it was even more impossible to sign a disempowering low-coal treaty with the French.

In a sense, the North German Confederation’s approach was in its own best interest, with Hanover, as the center, hugging the British, and the smaller states at home seeking Austria’s support.

Without looking at the monks, even if the negotiations had failed, the French would not have been able to risk making a move against them.

Just so, it is bitter Belgium. The relationship between the North German Confederation and Britain and Austria is simply not something they can compare.

These days there is no lack of men and women who spill their blood for their country and nation. Once the French invade North Germany, no matter whether the Austrian government is willing to participate in the war or not, the nationalists in the country will push Austria into the battlefield.

Even if the central government does not want to fight, the garrison on the border will also get up on their own, who dares to block is and public opinion.

Although Britain would not necessarily turn against the French because of this, Queen Victoria’s face would be a sight to behold.

Even if they don’t turn their backs on each other, they will still make small moves against the French in secret.

Belgium does not have this treatment, although the relationship between Britain and Belgium is good, but only good, the two countries are not allies with military obligations.

The two countries were not allies with military obligations. Because of its size, Belgium was not very important to Britain. Of course the French annexed Belgium and the British didn’t want to see it.

But just a beating, not yet within the scope of British interference.

Not to mention Austria, from the moment of independence from the Holy Roman Empire, Belgium was not considered one of their own.

Just because the two countries had signed a secret treaty didn’t mean they wouldn’t be betrayed. The French were going to annex Belgium, and Austria was sure to fulfill its obligations.

If they just beat them up, no one is sure if Austria would go to war with the French over it.

As a matter of fact, what Leopold II was most worried about now was not being annexed by the French either.

In the European continent annexation of a country is very hate, in the absence of the acquiescence of the great powers before, the French do not dare to risk universal condemnation.

The military threat now is to beat the hell out of you and get a new government up there. It’s about as good as the death of the country for the ruler.

After hesitating for a long time, Leopold II slowly said: “First, let’s pacify the people outside, and tell them that the government will never accept the unreasonable demands of the French.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to negotiate with the French, the price of coal exports can be lowered, but not too much below the average international export price.”

No matter how great the threat of the French was, Leopold II still possessed the bearing of a monarch and chose to pacify the people at home first.

After the emergence of the two alliances, the continent of Europe on the gunpowder smell is getting thicker and thicker, Leopold II is not unaware of.

Unfortunately, Belgium is only a small country, no capital to become a tide, even if the conflict is heavy North German Federation, the situation is much better than them.

……

Paris, looking at Franz’s release of the “Letter to the People of Europe”, Napoleon IV grimaced.

It was supposed to be a test run, and it didn’t occur to him that it had only just begun when Austria jumped out to make trouble.

Having the support of a great power and not having the support of a great power are two very different concepts. There was no doubt that it was impossible to get the two countries to accept the conditions at this time.

“Hmph!”

Coldly shouting, Napoleon IV threw away the half-seen Letter to the People of Europe and cursed, “Damned Habsburgs, what a shady spirit, you’re everywhere!”

France and the Habsburg Dynasty have been in a dead heat for hundreds of years for European hegemony, and the feud between the Bonaparte Dynasty and the Habsburg Dynasty ran through the War Against France.

In recent decades, although there had been some easing, the conflicts between the two countries had not decreased, but were on the rise.

Only in order not to cheapen other countries, the two governments subconsciously cover up the conflict on the surface, secretly both sides already do not know how many times.

Prime Minister Terrence Burgin consoled, ”Your Majesty, there is no need to get angry over this little matter.

Although we didn’t make the two countries of Bide accept our conditions, but the bottom line of each country was still tested out by us.

Even Austria, who seems to be the toughest, is only clamoring for more, and if they really wanted to stand up for the two countries of Bidde, they would have directly participated in the negotiations.

Now this looks like in support of the two countries, but in fact is limited to the spirit of support.

And did not take substantive action, really want them to go to war with us for the sake of the two countries, the Austrian government will more than likely still wimp out.”

In a sense, Napoleon IV really didn’t need to be angry, the current result was much better than expected beforehand.

Without Franz’s disgusting Letter to the People of Europe, it would have been perfect.

Napoleon IV sneered, ”So what, the bottom line of the European countries is indeed very low, but what we are going to do still challenges their bottom line.

England, Russia and Austria don’t want us to make up the last shortfall, even our good allies, didn’t they warn us?”

To the outside world, only Austria, among the big powers, has publicly taken a stand in favor of the two countries of Biden and condemned the actions of the French government.

But in secret, Britain and Russia equally expressed their dissatisfaction to the French government.

Perhaps this secret warning is not very strong, but it is still an invisible pressure on the French government.

Prime Minister Terence Burgin: “Either way, it’s a good start.

The European countries still reject us, but now they are no longer united and have their own little plans.

The three major powers, Britain, Russia and Austria, have already diverged on the issue of surrounding us. I am afraid that Austria would not have behaved so positively if it were not limited by its geographical location.

The hearts and minds of the governments of Belgium and Germany have already been beaten down by us. In the next negotiations, we only need to make slight concessions, and the two governments should accept them.

The fall in the cost of coal will definitely have a boost to the domestic industry and economy. A new prosperity is not far away.”

……

(End of chapter)