Chapter 228: Hidden Killing Opportunities
Chapter 223 – Hidden Killing Opportunities
Paris
On August 28, 1853, the much-anticipated negotiations opened, with representatives from all countries gathered, including the many small German states and free cities, which also sent representatives to the meeting.
The conference room was flooded with hundreds of people, making it almost like a food market, making a lot of noise, but after a few days of work, no agreement was reached.
On September 2, the Russian Foreign Minister, Karl Worcel, proposed to the conference, “Gentlemen, if this noise continues, it is estimated that no agreement can be reached even by this time next year, so why don’t we narrow down the size of the participants?”
Obviously this is the public relations fee came into play, Karl Worcel is still very creditworthy, adhering to the principle of receiving money to do things, this proposal is half a million rubles in exchange.
When the negotiation stalemate, Metternich is in the eyes, anxious in the heart, if so dragged on, sooner or later will be a problem, which is very unfavorable to Austria.
At this time, it is obviously not suitable for Austria to take the lead to exclude the participation of representatives of various countries, qualified to put forward this proposal, leaving the representatives of Britain, France and Russia.
The British needless to say, they can’t wait to see Austria’s lively; the French is not good to buy, in the eyes of Napoleon III, want to make small moves are difficult.
Karl Worcel was left to be bribed. Anyway, with the Russian-Austrian alliance, the Tsarist government made sure to support Austria at the conference.
The decision of how far this support would go rested in the hands of Karl Worcel. In order to avoid a long night, Metternich naturally sprinkled money PR.
Metternich said coldly, “Mr. Karl Worcel proposes good, everyone’s time is precious. There’s no need for unrelated people to participate in the following negotiations.”
For this group of hilarious wallflowers, he didn’t have any good feelings, and was now completely adding to Austria’s chaos.
“Good, the parties involved in the later meetings will just participate.”
After considering it for a while, Foreign Minister Auvergne also expressed his support, dragging it out like this would not do any good to France.
Three to one, British Foreign Minister Thomas could only nod his head in agreement, his time was also precious, if he spent every day here, what about the country?
Under the common will of the great powers, the countries participating in the conference were narrowed down to 15, in addition to Britain, France, Russia and Austria, there were also Prussia, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, plus the South German states that were about to be merged.
This was just the beginning. Under Metternich’s manipulation, the conference was again reduced in size on September 5, and the German states lost the right to participate in the conference and just waited for the result at home.
By September 10th, with these small states being kicked out one by one, this time there were only six states left, Britain, France, Russia, Austria and Spain, rather like the Paris Peace Conference.
The world still relies on strength to speak, a multi-national negotiations, and finally turned into a closed-door meeting of Britain, France, Russia and Oslo.
Spain on behalf of the soy sauce, but as a member of the European powers, they still got the right to participate in the meeting, the right to speak is equal to none.
The real decision on the final result is still Britain, France, Russia, Austria and Prussia five countries, the meeting can finally start normal.
……
In Germany, as time went by, the idea of partition of North and South Germany began to raise its head, and many experts and scholars published articles in newspapers to explain the feasibility of the “partition of North and South Germany”.
Even the most optimistic people don’t think there is a possibility of unification in Germany, don’t you see that the Kingdom of Prussia is clearly against it?
Two other governments in North Germany responded to the Prussian proposal, believing that Austria was destabilizing the peace and stability of Germany and wanted to kick them out of the region.
These two stupid German state governments soon paid a terrible price for this, and were sprayed by the people at home.
If the Prussians hadn’t intervened with their troops, they were about to become a republic. After this lesson, the remaining German state governments became cautious.
Most of the nationalism in the German region was still at the stage of lip service, but the strength to subvert one or two small states was still there.
Not to mention anything else, people could spray them off the stage just by their mouths.
The German region consists of 39 states, plus a bunch of free cities. Apart from Austria and Prussia, the remaining 37 states and a bunch of free cities together occupy a territory of more than 200,000 square kilometers.
Excluding Bavaria, Hanover, Württemberg, Saxony, Hesse, and Baden, the remaining thirty states and free municipalities occupy a territory of 40,000 to 50,000 square kilometers.
Not counting the two duchies occupied by Denmark, the average size of each state and free city is less than 1,000 square kilometers, and the average population is less than 150,000 people.
The deterrent effect of the government is naturally insufficient. A village-level rebellion can subvert a regime, so the government naturally does not dare to go against public opinion.
As soon as the news of the “partition of North and South Germany” came out, public opinion exploded, with both supporters and opponents, and the whole German region was abuzz with excitement.
Inside the University of Munich
A young student said excitedly: “Impossible, Bayer. Do we have a better choice now than the partition of North and South Germany?
Outside there is the intervention of the European countries, and inside there is the traitorous Kingdom of Prussia. Against this background, you actually want to forcibly unify the German region, do you know the consequences of doing so?
You are simply insane, once war breaks out, thousands of German people will be displaced, and the great German nation will sink like the Poles.”
There was never a shortage of idealists in this world, and Bayer was one of them.
Bayer pinpointed, “Stein, don’t shout. The Intervention Alliance looks powerful, but in reality, the only ones who are truly capable of sending troops to intervene in the unification of the German region are Britain, France, and Russia.
Now that the three countries are in conflict, the possibility of being able to form a coalition is almost zero, and if they fight on their own, we may not be without a fighting chance.”
A person next to him sneered, “That’s right, we do have the power to fight a battle, and after one battle the German nation becomes history, or learns from the Prussian barbarians to be traitors and bow down to the enemy.”
……
Not everyone likes war, even German nationalists, and most still hope for a peaceful unification.
Faced with the joint intervention of the nations, many were reasonable enough to know that the German Confederation was powerless to resist the common will of the European nations, and compromise became the only option.
The theory of the partition of North and South Germany was not so much pushed by the Austrian government behind the scenes as it was needed by these rationalists.
It was the second option that everyone was forced to choose when the Great Reunification could not be realized.
In South Germany it was fine, after the North-South partition, they merged with Austria, again one of the most powerful countries in the world, and most of the population could still accept it.
Not so in the North German region, without the likes of traitors, and the merger with the Kingdom of Prussia, many people couldn’t get over that hurdle in their hearts.
Secondly, the North German region together is only stepping into the ranks of the powers, there is still a certain distance from the real great powers, which is also not what they want.
Against this background, a new idea was circulated in the Kingdom of Hanover, which instantly spread in the North German region and also flowed into the South German region.
“Kick out Prussia and Austria, and the remaining German states form a new nation.”
This statement, which was very marketable in the North German region, the people who did not want to merge with the Kingdom of Prussia preferred to join this new state.
Although this country was established as just a medium-sized country, with an area of 200,000 or so square kilometers, plus a population of 17 or 18 million, it was still far from the dream of a great power in everyone’s mind.
There is no doubt that there must be the handiwork of the British Empire in this. Once the three-legged German region was established, whether it was Austria, or Prussia, or this newborn country, all lost the ability to unify the German region.
With such a balanced system, the European continent would become more stable. Under the premise of conforming to the interests of the British, but also free from the worries of the French, even the Russians are very moved by this system.
This idea had been around for a long time, and the Bavarian government was a supporter of the Triple Alliance, but this idea, unfortunately, lacked supporters in the German region, and even the Bavarians were against it.
Now the situation changed, after it was determined that the German region could not be united, and not wanting to merge with the Kingdom of Prussia, the North German states became proponents of this idea.
Franz, who was far away in St. Petersburg, did not know that John Bull had struck a blow, and it was of the one-strike variety.
A theory with a popular base is not just a theoretical idea, but also has the potential to become a reality.
The people of the South German region may not support this argument, but these state governments are different. Following Austria, their voice was destined to be limited.
Voice means interest, a group of small states merged together, no one can dominate, it must be federalism ah!
Federal state, the central government’s power is destined to not be too big, everyone’s interests can be maximized to protect.
Stimulated by the interests, the governments of these small states could not help but propagate this theory in their countries, and the undercurrent surged in the German region.
Baden.
Prince Friedrich was hesitating whether to join the federal empire organized by the British, if, according to the British, by joining this empire they would gain the greatest advantage.
“Gentlemen, what do you think of the British proposal?”
After a moment’s effort of silence, Prime Minister Waltz replied, “Your Highness, if the British’s plan goes well in fact, it is naturally more in our interest to join the Federal Empire.
The Kingdom of Bavaria is still under Austria’s control, and it is unlikely that they will spit it out.
When the new Federal Empire is established, no one will be able to dominate. We, along with Hanover, Württemberg, Saxony, and Hesse, will jointly dominate the country.
Only the benefits of this are huge, but the potential risks are not small.
The newborn federal empire is too weak, whether compared to Austria or to France, we are very weak, and I’m afraid that our development potential is not even close to that of Prussia.
In case the balance of Europe is upset, we will be in big trouble. Unless the British are able to force Austria to voluntarily give up the New Holy Roman Empire, we will definitely be liquidated in the future for being traitors.”
Not to mention the future, there was a possibility of being liquidated now, Austria could crush the Duchy of Baden to death even if they stretched out a hand, and that was the reason for their hesitation.
Foreign Minister Nikolaus thought for a moment and said, “The issue of Austrian retaliation is good, the big deal is that if we publicly push a Habsburg family emperor out, it will be enough to quell their anger.
The question now is whether the British can subdue Austria and Prussia, if they can’t do that, this newborn federal empire will always exist only in theory.”
Prince Friedrich nodded, the benefits he wanted, but the risks involved he didn’t want to carry. In case the British plan failed, the possibility of an infuriated Austrian government abolishing the Baden royal family was as high as nine out of nine.
Unlike other kings, Ludwig II was a psychopath, his popularity was infinitely close to zero, and most of the people of Baden had no affection for the Archduke.
“In that case, we’ll just reply to the British that we agree with their plan, but we won’t make any comments until the Paris conference makes a final resolution.
The civil propaganda should be taken care of, don’t let people catch on, these ideas are freely spread by the people, they can’t be half-assed with the government.” Prince Friedrich said
There is no way out. The way of survival for small countries is to be a “wallflower”. They can’t afford to offend the British, and they can’t afford to piss off Austria, so they’re dancing on eggs if they’re caught in the middle of two big countries trying to make a profit.
(End of chapter)