Chapter 958: Early Action
Chapter 939 Early Action
Paris, since the news of the Japanese sneak attack on the Philippines, Napoleon IV hadn’t slept well for a few days.
No matter what, the Japanese army’s move south was at the invitation of Britain and France. In order to let the Spaniards release them, the British and French governments even made repeated assurances to the Spaniards. Now that this has happened, they are naturally to blame.
In this age of the weak and the strong, promises are similar to farts. If it was in normal times, Napoleon IV wouldn’t have cared about breaking his word to Spain, and they couldn’t do anything about it anyway.
But now is different, and stay out of the British different, France at the moment is caught in the quagmire of the continental war struggling not to get out. Even Spain, which had been in the doldrums, was now able to pose a mortal threat to them.
How to appease the furious Spain, to solve this diplomatic dispute, became the French government now the most urgent problem.
Forced to endure the discomfort, Napoleon IV asked, “Say, what do the Spaniards want?”
Interests between countries are eternal, no matter what happened in the past, as long as the interests are put in place, anything can be negotiated.
As neighbors, the conflict between France and Spain is naturally not small, except that the strength of France is too strong, and the Spaniards do not have the backbone to fight against it.
The continental war changed the contrast of strength between the two sides, and the French put all their strength into the war, losing the strength to continue to suppress Spain.
Because of various reasons, this sneak attack on the Philippines by the Japanese just intensified the French-Spanish conflicts. Together with Austria’s push behind the scene, the Spanish nationalists had exploded.
Forced by domestic pressure, the Spanish government not only declared war on the Japanese at the first opportunity, but also sent a sternly worded diplomatic note to Britain and France.
Foreign Minister Karel Kadlec shook his head, “I don’t know. It happened so suddenly that the Spanish government has not yet made a decision.
What the Japanese monkeys did was so out of character that the nationalists in Spain were stimulated, and the call for the main war in the country rose.
According to the information from the embassy in Madrid, the Austrians have already hooked up with the Spanish nationalists, and the spearhead of public opinion is pointing at us, the situation is very unfavorable for us.”
Did Karel Kadlec really not know what the Spanish wanted?
The answer is no!
The problem is that the Spaniards want something that France can’t give right now, won’t give, and can’t give.
It is clear from opening the diplomatic note that the Spanish have already made their conditions. It goes without saying that France is required to fulfill the agreement to expel the Japanese, and to pay damages.
The Spanish government has also made territorial demands on France, not only to cede French Morocco, but also to redraw the border between the two countries.
It was natural that Karel Kadlec should have rejected such a demand while it lasted, and there was not the slightest room for negotiation.
In addition to the first expulsion of the Japanese can be accepted, the rest of the conditions of the French government if you dare to agree, the country must break out in revolution.
The only conditions that can be agreed upon, on the contrary, France and can not do. The French Far East fleet was confronting the Austrian navy, and had no ability to expel the Japanese.
Even diplomatic threats, the French government did not dare to use. In the event that the Japanese are forced to rush, they run to join forces with the Austrian Navy, the French Central and Southern Peninsula will be finished.
This is not a joke, but a real possibility. If the Japanese were to take the initiative to cooperate with the Austrian Navy to finish off the French Far East fleet, the Vienna government would find absolutely no reason to refuse.
As a qualified politician, it was natural for Karel Kadlec to play dumb when nothing could be done.
After a half-hearted effort of silence, Napoleon IV said feebly, “Tell the British that I agree to their terms.”
For Napoleon IV, who aspired to surpass his father’s generation, making this decision was undoubtedly bowing to reality.
But there was no way out, the European war was going unexpectedly, and there was no way to win the war with just France’s own strength.
Without compromising with the British, it was impossible to gain the full support of the government in London. Without the support of the British, France had no hope of winning.
Compromising with the British, in turn, meant that France gave up its continental hegemony, even the dominant right to build an international order after the war.
In this context, even if France won the war, it could not realize the initial strategic purpose, and the war could be said to have been fought in vain.
It is better to fight in vain than to lose. Deep in his heart, Napoleon IV had already made up his mind, just wait for the end of the war, he would plant his farm without worry, and when his strength recovered, he would fight with …….
……
Downing Street, inside Government House.
Gladstone’s Cabinet was gathering to discuss the international implications of Japan’s sneak attack on the Philippines, as well as measures to deal with it.
Astley, the Secretary of State for the Navy, said righteously, “The Japanese are too bold to play games with us. If we don’t give them a hard time, all cats and dogs will be riding on our heads in the future.”
The Spaniards were never in Sir Astley’s thoughts. In his opinion, the Japanese attack on the Philippines was an opportunity for the Royal Navy to perform.
In the last decade or so, the French and Austrian navies have risen to the occasion, and the Royal Navy, as the world’s naval world carries the bully, is also under great pressure.
A large amount of financial resources were invested in the navy this bottomless pit, and did not really break out in the war, many members of parliament have opinions on this.
There are even rumors that the British, French and Austrian navies are colluding with each other to cheat the government’s funds and deliberately create a maritime conflict.
To break this doubt is very simple, find an enemy to fight a war. Britain across the four seas, the enemy has long been scared, and dare and they against the two countries left France and Austria.
There is no saying, these two can not fight. The gap between their strengths is not too great, if a war breaks out, it is very easy to fight a lose-lose ending out.
The Royal Navy is sober, proving their importance is important, to take the country’s fortune at risk is not necessary.
In contrast, the Japanese who have emerged now are much easier to bully. Not Astley pride, really is the Royal Navy is a big family, just as long as the Far East Fleet to move a little, the Japanese Navy can only gray hit the road back home.
Foreign Secretary George reminded, “Sir, the problem now is no longer the Japanese. Their sneak attack on the Philippine Islands is on the surface only a war between Japan and the West, but in essence, it also involves the Continental War.
The continental war is at a stalemate, and the Spanish are powerful enough to break the fragile balance. Now both France and Austria are pulling them in, and so far the Austrians are offering more.
It was the usual Franz maneuver, generosity at the expense of others, this time taking the French interest as a promise.
It is said that the Austrians directly sent a map of France, as long as the Spaniards were willing to join the anti-French alliance, the French territory at their own choice.
From the present situation, if we do not make a move, the possibility of Spain joining the anti-French alliance is very high.
As for the Japanese, they are a flea. It’s easy to shoot them, but they have no real value. Now with or without them, it won’t affect the Spanish decision.
In case Spain chooses to side with Austria, we still need this flea to cause trouble for the Antifa alliance, so it’s better to keep them for now.”
There was a technicality to being generous. Austria can do that, that’s France and Spain bordering each other, and because of history, the two countries are not only conflicted, but also have territorial disputes.
With conditions like that, whether the Spanish government would be moved or not, the nationalists within Spain are already hooked anyway.
The same conditions, the French government is never give out. Even if it is to follow the gourd, take a pair of Austrian maps to send over, people Spain will not want.
There is no other reason, only strength. Benefits again rich, can not eat and what is the use? With Spain’s national strength, there is no ability to operate an enclave.
Prime Minister Gladstone nodded, ”The French have given in, and it looks like their actual situation is worse than we expected.
We can’t wait any longer, we have to strike as soon as possible. In case the French lose in the Southern or Central European Conclave, they don’t have the capital of Austria to make a comeback.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will immediately act according to our plan and invite all European countries to join us in forming a mediation mission to end this senseless war.
Before that, we must stabilize the Spaniards. If they are willing to join the mediation mission, we will help them drive out the Japanese.”
What seemed like a light conversation was full of saber-rattling behind the scenes.
Britain’s land forces were limited in strength, and to intervene in this continental war, it was necessary to use the power of other countries. However, no one is a fool, and each country has its own interests.
If diplomatic deterrence can solve the problem, it is just, in case the negotiation table is not fixed, to rely on force to solve the problem, there is not enough benefit, just for a nebulous continental balance, we have to raise all countries to intervene in the army, it is really too difficult for people.
Unless Austria shows strong aggression, so that governments feel threatened, or else just coordinate international relations, not a day or two can be accomplished.
Foreign Minister George shrugged his shoulders, helplessly replied: “To do this, not only we can accomplish, but also need the cooperation of the French.
You have to know that our ally has enemies all over Europe, and there are a few who want to see them fall. If they don’t come up with practical actions to reassure the European governments, I’m afraid it will be hard to gain the support of the countries.
Especially the Spanish and the Russians, they both have the ability to influence this war, and no matter if either one joins the anti-French alliance, our mediation program will be meaningless.”
In this age of the weak and the strong, the key to solving problems still depends on strength. Not only military strength, but also the combined power of political diplomacy.
Although Spain is in decline, but the tiger skin has not been poked, in the eyes of European countries they are still a power.
In the eyes of European countries, they are still a power. On the surface, they are the fifth power in Europe after Britain, France, Austria and Russia, and also the fifth power in the world.
The anti-French alliance was already very strong, plus any one of the powers, were invincible.
Most of the European countries were wallflowers and would not easily take sides without sufficient certainty.
Without enough little brothers, the momentum can not be built up, the deterrent effect is naturally greatly reduced. In this context, only the big countries themselves on the battlefield.
The Anglo-Russian War had only just ended, and the hatred between the two countries was at its peak. Even the most confident person will not think that Britain and Russia can cooperate in good faith.
Even if the interests are really completely aligned, the top levels of the two governments are willing to cooperate, and the people below will act on their own, and there will be absolutely no ambiguity when it comes to pulling back.
It can be said that once France was defeated, the situation was lopsided. In a sense, the actions of the Japanese helped the British government make its decision.
In order for the situation not to get out of hand, the British had to give up their plan of picking peaches after the war. The Intervention League was formed in advance before the Continental War was divided.
……
(End of chapter)