Chapter 636: Canal Storms
Chapter 622: Canal Storm
After the situation was broken, the chaos expected by the outside world didn’t happen, and the only ones who really made a move to grab the colonies were Britain, France and Austria.
Not other colonial empires do not want to fight, the main strength is still insufficient, can hold the existing territory is good, simply do not have the ability to participate in the fight.
Fewer competitors is naturally a good thing. If it is resolved through negotiation, I am afraid that Britain, France and Austria will not be able to have a monopoly.
The seemingly absurd behavior of the London government is in fact well thought out. Now that the interests of only small countries are damaged, everyone can only hold their grievances even if they have them in their hearts.
palace of vienna
Foreign Minister Weissenberg: “Your Majesty, news has just come from South America that the French are in contact with the Colombian government to restart the Panama Canal program.”
Franz frowned: “Do you know the French’s true purpose?”
The Panama Canal could be described as ill-fated, the program had existed for hundreds of years, only the progress had never been smooth.
As early as 1534, the Spaniards had sent people to conduct exploration, and a stagecoach was built in order to open the canal. Only for the outbreak of the Continental War, the plan was aborted.
In 1814, the Spaniards resumed their plans for the canal, but unfortunately, a colonial uprising broke out and the plans were again aborted.
The Republic of Colombia also had plans for a canal, only to see them die again when Austria took over Central America.
From the standpoint of the Republic of Colombia, the opening of the Panama Canal would have brought great economic benefits, but strategically they were under much more pressure.
The piker is not guilty, but he is guilty of the crime of harboring.
Before the canal opened, the Panama region was of limited value and not worth prying into. Once the Canal is open, things will change and what will the Republic of Colombia rely on to keep the Panama region?
Count on the French?
I am afraid that this is to lead the wolf into the house, when the time comes to compete for the Panama region, absolutely no less than the French.
Foreign Minister Weissenberg: “At the moment we do not have enough information in hand to determine the true purpose of the French.
On the surface, it seems to be the spontaneous behavior of capitalists, the French government has not stepped in, this may be a test.”
Franz nodded, this should be considered the most reasonable explanation.
Austria had been operating in Central America for twenty years, and was now so entrenched that its power had long penetrated the Panama region.
The French, whose influence in the Americas had plummeted since the failure of their Mexican strategy, wanted to compete with Austria almost impossibly.
Although the benefits of digging the Panama Canal are great, but the risk is even greater. Once the Austrian troops to seize the Panama region, their investment is not to say that all the water is lost, shrinking by half is still very likely to happen.
After thinking about it, Franz: “No matter what the French want to do, ignore them. Once the canal program starts, create an excuse to declare war with Colombia and directly seize the Panama region.”
Under Franz’s butterfly effect, the international situation has been completely changed. The advantage of familiarity with history was long gone.
Without the prophetic advantage, one could now only improvise. The French want to do what can not be determined, but do not allow the Panama Canal navigation quasi right.
……
Republic of Colombia, President Argileo Parra Gomez has had a headache ever since the French offered to open the Panama Canal.
The opening of the Panama Canal brings great economic value, he is naturally well aware of, but the prerequisite is that Colombia has the strength to hold it.
It was no secret that Austria had infiltrated Colombia, especially the Panama region, where the highest percentage of the local population was of German descent.
There are so many bandwagoners, once the war breaks out, I am afraid that the Panama region will fall in a few days. The hidden danger is clear to everyone, but no one dares to deal with it.
The Republic of Colombia is riddled with internal contradictions, and in the past thirteen years, there have been twelve presidential changes, averaging out to one per year.
The original President, Argileo Parra Gomez, hadn’t considered dealing with the problem either. Austria had been lucky not to target them, who would dare to go and initiate trouble!
The arrival of the French detonated the problem under this lid. The capitalists in the country trumpeted the benefits of the opening of the Panama Canal every day, without the slightest consideration of the risks that accompanied it.
Of course, from the standpoint of the capitalists opening the Panama Canal is indeed very favorable, even if the Panama region is lost, it does not affect their business.
Colombian domestic capitalists are not purely local national capitalists, the dominant or buyers, the shadow of Britain, France, Austria, the United States and Spain are present.
Argileo Parra Gomez: “Mr. Nino, there is no way that I can agree to the canal plan that you are proposing.
Unless your government steps in and convinces the Austrians, there is no way we can restart the Panama Canal program, which is a matter of strategic security for our territory.”
Nino smiled slightly, “Mr. President, the Austrians are aggressive and have infiltrated the Panama region, don’t you want to get rid of the Austrian threat?
As long as the Panama Canal opens, your country will have the canal as a bargaining chip, and the major European powers will not watch Austria take control of this golden waterway.
After the introduction of the forces of all parties, the Austrians, even if they want to make a move, must also consider the position of the European countries.
The Vienna government is not crazy, a Panama Canal is not enough to make them take risks, the risk is not as big as you think.”
Let Nino compel him as much as he liked, Argileo Palla Gomez was unmoved. The Frenchman’s words were all in the air.
It was true that after the opening of the Panama Canal, the powers might prevent Austria from monopolizing the canal, but that did not mean that the Republic of Colombia would be let loose to take charge of the canal.
Other than that, didn’t the French spend so much effort to get the dominant rights to the Panama Canal?
Achilleo Parra Gomez has the self-knowledge that with the strength of the Republic of Colombia, there is no way to get the dominant rights of the canal, not even much economic rights.
Without enough benefits, why should he take the risk! It’s not like Austria was a soft touch, what if they pissed off the Vienna government and beat them up first regardless?
In this day and age, a big fist is justice. Weakness is the original sin, and Argileo Palla Gomez didn’t think the French would turn their backs on Austria for Colombia.
Achilleo Parra Gomez: “Mr. Nino, this is only your personal judgment and does not represent the position of the European governments.
The Panama Canal is still only in theory, we have sent people to do a survey, and it is not that simple to dig a big canal in the Panama area.
Your country has excavated the Suez Canal and should know how difficult it is to construct the canal. The situation in the Panama area is even worse, and the investment required is very large.
If the consent of the Austrians cannot be obtained, and they make trouble out of it, this canal may never be navigable.
It is impossible for European countries to stand against Austria for a canal that is not navigable, and even your country, I am afraid, will not necessarily support us.”
This was the core of the problem, the value of the Panama Canal had to be realized only after it was navigable. Right now there was nothing, and trying to rely on lip service to gain everyone’s support was simply an insult to everyone’s intelligence.
The area in Central America where the canal can be dug is not just the Panama area. It’s just that compared to other places, the Panama region has the narrowest strait.
This is an advantage, there are also disadvantages, for example: the Panama region is full of poisonous insects, which will threaten the lives of the excavators.
In this day and age, human life is really not worth much, but a large-scale casualty of personnel will still increase the cost.
These problems may not be found by the French, absolutely can not be hidden from the Republic of Colombia as a snake, or they will not give up their own development of this golden waterway.
Nino knows that empty gloves are impossible, without substantial benefits, I’m afraid it is very difficult to make the Colombian government to cooperate.
“Your Excellency the President, as long as your country grants us the right to develop the canal, all of these problems, will no longer be a problem.
You can rest assured that the canal program requires such a large investment, and it’s impossible for us to let our funds go down the drain.
In return, we are willing to persuade the Bank of Paris to provide your country with an interest-free loan of 100 million francs to help your country survive the economic crisis.”
Achilleo Palla Gomez’s face grimaced, where was this help, it was clearly counting on them and trying to take advantage of the fire.
After the spread of the economic crisis, Britain, France, Austria and other European countries have the domestic surplus of goods, dumped at low prices overseas, South America is one of the hardest hit areas, the Republic of Colombia naturally can not stand alone.
(End of chapter)