Chapter 660: Before and After the Stage

  Chapter 645: Before and After the Stage

Not waiting for the European countries to make their stance clear, the situation in South America changed once again. Under the pressure of the dying lips, Peru chose to ally with Bolivia, and the Pacific War broke out in full force.

With Peru’s participation in the war, the situation in South America became more complicated. Originally, Chile pressed Bolivia, but after Peru entered the war, the situation changed and both sides seemed to be evenly matched.

With military power close, diplomacy was put to the test. These days the powers have a lot of say, especially when they are evenly matched, and whoever gets the support of the powers gets the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

……

London, Downing Street.

Foreign Secretary Edward: “The situation in the South American countries has never been very good, and this war between Chile and Bolivia and Peru, apart from the competition for the minerals of the Atacama’s desert, is more of a diversion from internal conflicts.

Almost all of the South American countries, and neighboring countries have territorial disputes, and most of these countries have serious internal contradictions, there is a demand to divert internal conflicts.

If we do not intervene in time, there will be more countries involved in this war. Once a full-scale war breaks out in South America, it will be a new round of reshuffling, which is not in our interest.

Both warring sides are currently seeking our help, and considering the traditional friendship, I recommend supporting Chile to win this war.”

The countries of South America appear to have become independent, but in reality they are still economic colonies of European countries, only framed so that the eating is not as ugly.

There is no doubt that Britain took the biggest share. As the British newspapers described it, “Argentina is our ranch, Peru is our silver mine, Chile is our mine ……”

As the biggest vested interest, the British naturally did not want to break the situation.

Just the war between Chile and Peru and Bolivia, the British still have the strength to control the situation. If it was a full-scale war in South America, it would not be the London government’s call.

Today’s times are different, France and Austria have recently been idle, the British interests in South America has long been eyeing.

Once the cards are reshuffled, the three countries are bound to start a new round of competition. Will the British still have the advantage they have now?

This is a question worth pondering.

Economic competition is also a war, but there is no smoke in sight.

If we use data to speak, we will find that at present, nearly 60% of the foreign trade of South American countries is conducted with the British, and the rest is divided between other European and American countries.

Prime Minister Benjamin: “The Chileans agreed to our terms?”

In Britain “traditional friendship” and “interests” are usually equated, the Foreign Office advocates support for Chile, there can only be one explanation – the Chileans offer a higher price.

The relationship between the two countries is of secondary importance. Britain has a lot of little brothers, and if they were all to be supported, then the London government would have nothing to do.

Foreign Secretary Edward: “Of course, in addition to pegging the peso to the pound, the Chileans also promised that if we help them win this war, we will be given the right to develop minerals in the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama Desert has the largest nitrate mines in the world, and by mastering it, we control the nitrate market.

Whether it’s the strategic value, or the economic value, it’s worth our bid.”

After hesitating for a few moments of effort, Prime Minister Benjamin made a decision, “Try again and see if we can get an exclusive license, or at the very least, when licensing it to a third party, we must obtain our consent first.”

Promoting monetary hegemony was the core, and controlling the nitrate market was incidental. Prime Minister Benjamin was still able to differentiate between the weights here.

“No problem!” Edward said confidently

With the world’s number one Royal Navy, Britain’s discourse overseas has always been heavy, even France and Austria combined have no way to fight them in South America.

Analyzed in terms of strength, whoever gained the support of the British had the advantage in the war.

……

Inside the Presidential Residence in Santiago, President Anibal Pinto Gamondia is reaching out to a special group of guests.

“Your Excellency the President, we’ve done our part, now it’s your turn to fulfill your promise.”

The speaker was a middle-aged man in fancy clothes, and although he was wearing a smile, it was still hard to hide the arrogance between his brows. The seemingly calm conversation was actually full of warnings.

President Anibal Pinto Gamondia frowned, obviously the middle-aged man’s behavior made him very uncomfortable. However, as a political figure, he was still able to restrain this bit of emotion.

Smilingly, he replied, “Don’t worry, Sir Locus. As long as we win this war, the mineral development rights of the Atacama Desert will be yours.

Now that the war is still going on, even if the promise is honored right away, it can’t be fulfilled at this time!”

There was no way around it, the British had always been low on modesty. If they were allowed to get everything they wanted ahead of time, who knows if it would be turned around and sold by them?

President Anibal Pinto Gamondia was not in a position to influence the London government, and could only take roundabout measures to influence the London government through the British capitalists.

In fact this war, too, was the result of British capital pushing behind the scenes. The core objective was to monopolize the saltpeter trade and, incidentally, to promote the hegemony of the British pound.

Compared to Bolivia, which introduced the forces of Britain, France and Austria to check and balance each other, Chile was much simpler and had always hugged Britain’s thigh.

Locus shook his head: ”No matter, we can sign the treaty first. Fulfilling the treaty can wait until after the war, I have enough patience.”

President Anibal Pinto Gamondia was worried, and Locus was likewise very worried. Don’t think that just because he was British, there was no change of heart, in fact, Britain was equally full of internal competition.

If the contract was not signed earlier, there was no chance that it would be cut off by other forces within the country, and capitalists had no sense of propriety in the face of profit.

For the London government, as long as the meat is in the pot, no matter who controls the same. Rocks do not want to be fortunate to work so hard for so long, and finally do the graft for others.

After pausing for a few moments of effort, Locus added, “Your Excellency the President, I heard that your new troops are still lacking in weapons, I am willing to privately sponsor the equipment of a regiment.”

Seeing President Anibal Pinto Gamondia’s interest, Locus continued to raise the stakes, “All of them are current equipment of the British Army, with an additional one million rounds of ammunition and five thousand rounds of artillery shells attached.”

After hesitating, President Anibal Pinto Gamondia shook his head. The weaponry he wanted, but the equipment was tricky to take.

Locus’ face sank, “Two regiments of equipment!”

President Anibal Pinto Gamondia was in a trance, as if he was having a fierce mental struggle to choose.

Locus: “Three regiments of equipment!”

“That’s the bottom line, if His Excellency the President still can’t accept it, then I’ll have to find someone else to work with.”

“Deal!” President Anibal Pinto Gamondia replied with difficulty

Facts once again proved that there was nothing that weaponry couldn’t solve, if it didn’t work then it must be that the weaponry wasn’t given enough.

The countries of South America are not at peace, and Chile is no exception. Presidents don’t necessarily come to power by election, but there must be a lack of military support.

In this case, whoever is the president must defend the interests of the supporters behind the scenes.

Weaponry is undoubtedly the best tool to buy the military, and even if President Anibal Pinto Gamondia wanted to refuse, the people behind the scenes would not let him.

Hai Yue has just been discharged from the hospital in a bad state, so he can only try to update as much as possible, and his production cannot be guaranteed.

Thank you all for your concern.

(End of chapter)