Chapter 859: The Russian-Arabic Secret Treaty

  Chapter 842 The Russo-Arabic Secret Pact

Kabul, which had been filled with the smell of gunpowder every day since the arrival of the British and Russian delegates.

Just a few moments ago, the Russian representative had made a public anti-British speech, which received a burst of applause from the citizens of Kabul.

In contrast, the British delegation was much more low-key. As head of the delegation, Walters was aware of how unpopular he was.

In just two weeks, they have been subjected to three terrorist attacks, twice besieged, if not for the Afghan government’s concern for their safety and sent troops to protect them, it is estimated that the British delegation would have been wiped out.

Despite coming over to make trouble, Walters was not prepared to put his own little life on the line. After seeing the enthusiasm of the Afghan people, he began to live in deep secrecy.

A young officer said with righteous indignation, “Mr. Walters, the Russians are making anti-British speeches again, this is a provocation to Britain, we have to show them some color!”

Reaching out and patting the young officer on the shoulder, Walters said in a serious voice: “Henry, calm down a little.

This is Afghanistan, and any overzealous behavior on our part will fall prey to the Russians’ tricks.

Don’t forget the mission of our trip, until the Afghan government has a clear surface position, we should all fight for it first.

War is a last resort, and if it is only to provoke a war, which can be done at any time, why should we even bother to raise an army?”

This is sincere, the life is your own. If you don’t keep a low profile on someone else’s turf, your death will be in vain.

As a matter of fact, the British government has pulled Afghanistan’s strings many times, only because of hatred and credibility, it has never borne fruit.

Of course, the colonizers have also been credited during this period. The three attempts have made the Afghan government very wary of them.

As the Russians shifted their strategic center of gravity southward, Afghanistan’s strategic position became more and more important.

This pulling together is also a last-ditch saucer. What appears to be a negotiation of a consultative nature is actually forcing Afghanistan to take sides again.

The young officer Henry shook his head: ”Hopefully, your plan will be effective, but I am not optimistic.

The anti-British sentiment of the Afghan population is too strong, even if the government is willing to compromise, a paper treaty won’t do much.”

In this age of the weak and the strong, a hard fist comes first. Seemingly at a disadvantage, the British delegation instead took the initiative in the actual negotiations.

In the final analysis, it was Britannia that was strong enough, with British India right next door to Afghanistan, while the Russians were separated by Persia and the Central Asian khanates.

Walters said confidently, “Don’t worry, the conditions we put forward this time are not excessive, and want the right to station troops is only to help them defend against the Russian invasion, the Afghan government knows what to choose.”

……

In the royal palace, Lt. General Stolytov had just finished exchanging treaties with the Afghan King Amir, and the treaty had few contents only 11 items.

But just this 11-item treaty piece of paper puts Afghanistan under the protection of the Russian Empire.

The main points are: the Russian Empire supports the rule of the Amir, will help the Afghan government to defeat enemies at home and abroad, is responsible for mediating relations between Afghanistan and third countries, and guarantees the security of Afghanistan’s territorial sovereignty.

Really no excessive demands, as long as Afghanistan is on the side of the Russian Empire at critical moments.

Compared to the British garrison requirements, the Russians this protection treaty, obviously more comfortable to the Amir King.

Responsible for witnessing this history was the Austrian Minister to Persia, Redmond. A small country like Afghanistan, with no interests to deal with, did not deserve the attention of the Austrian government, and naturally no diplomatic minister was stationed there.

When something needed to be done, the nearest minister in Persia would do it for him. This is the characteristic of the times, compared to the arbitrary designation of a businessman as a minister, this has been very formal.

In a sense, the position of Minister Redmond also influenced the Emir’s judgment.

The rotten business between the Russian-Austrian alliance was unknown to the people of both countries, except for the top levels of the two governments, and even less to the outside world.

For a closed country like Afghanistan, Russia and Austria are examples of close allies, and the friendship between the two countries has endured through the years, extending from the beginning of the war against France to the present.

Holding the Russians’ thighs is equivalent to holding the thighs of the Russian-Austrian alliance at the same time, individually perhaps not as good as the British, but the two jointly will never be inferior.

Minister Redmond said: “Congratulations to the two, for the history of Central Asia set off a new chapter, I believe in the Russian Empire’s help, Afghanistan will soon be strong.

In order to celebrate this great moment, the Austrian Empire is willing to sponsor the Afghan government 10,000 rifles, as well as a number of ammunitions, free of charge.”

Nothing surprising, the Austrian equipment was able to beat out many competitors and become the mainstream of army equipment in the international arms market by trying it out first.

Usually first sponsor a number of good performance retired rifles, let people use it, and then slowly marketing supporting weapons and equipment, even if the marketing is not successful, you can also sell ammunition.

The last few years have been even more impressive, and have developed into the warship business. As the arms race continues, the number of similar gifts will continue to increase.

Hearing this good news, King Emir rejoiced, “Thank you for your country’s generosity, this is the best gift I’ve ever received!”

This is true, the transportation is closed to Afghanistan, want to get weapons and equipment have to go through many times to change hands, to the place and then cheap weapons have become sky-high prices.

The information difference is not equal, the value of weapons and equipment is not the same judgment.

In Austria this kind of large-scale industrial production of rifles, on average, the cost of each rifle is less than 1 God’s guilders, the retail price on the market will not exceed 5 God’s guilders.

But in Afghanistan, the prices of these rifles have doubled several times, and they must be ordered in advance if you want to buy them.

Redmond laughed: ”You are welcome, we are all friends! Austria has always been generous to its friends.”

Seeing Lieutenant General Streuli Tov’s face a little unnatural, Minister Redmond did not continue this topic.

Afghanistan is the Russian’s little brother, Austria in here to promote arms, obviously belongs to fishing over the line.

However, in order to show the outside world that the Russian-Austrian alliance is unbreakable, Lieutenant General Stolytauf’s dissatisfaction only flickered and deliberately pretended to be unconcerned.

Naturally, the three of them had a pleasant conversation and even had dinner together before they dispersed.

……

Late at night, Redmond, who had returned to his residence, had a headache. Stirring up an Anglo-Arab war was not a simple task.

The key to deciding this war was not in Afghanistan, but in the British government. No matter how much the King Amir was cheered on, it was unlikely that they would voluntarily run to provoke the British.

For an Anglo-Afghan war to break out, there can only be one outcome: the British government sending troops to fight.

Redmond knew that he was not capable of making decisions for the British government.

Whether or not to send someone to take out the British mission was a question worth pondering.

It’s not that he has a moral fiber in his heart that rejects assassination, the key is that Austria does not have enough power on this side, and the Afghan government has sent troops to protect the arrangements of the mission.

Idle assassins simply can not get close to the body, venture to take action, whether it can be successful let’s not talk about it, in case it leaves traces, was caught on the handle, then it will be a big trouble.

Domestic orders are very clear, we must find the backstabber before we can take action, we can’t do the thing that draws fire to ourselves.

In order to stimulate the British, Redmond has already done a lot of things, for example: encourage the Russian delegation of the young and strong to run to make anti-British speeches.

But the British held back and didn’t venture out at all. You can’t encourage the Russians to take out the British mission, can you?

We are not fools, anti-British speeches can also be said to mobilize public opinion, for the negotiation of the great cause of adding bricks and mortar, assassination of the British mission that is in the provocation of war.

No one can afford to take the blame for such a big thing.

A young man suggested: “His Excellency the Minister, why don’t we buy off the local religious groups, they are the most exclusive of the British, and have sent people to attack the British mission in front of them, only ……”

Hearing the news of the local anti-British group, Minister Redmond was instantly energized and hurriedly asked, “Only what?”

The young man replied, “Only that they ostracize all Western powers, including us as well.”

Redmond hanging heart immediately relaxed, the exclusion of Western forces this is nothing, Austria is not prepared to expand in Afghanistan.

In a sense, the religious extremists were good, only these guys would do anything without thinking about the consequences.

After a pause, Redmond slowly said: “Send someone to contact them secretly, can not be the people in the mission, can not reveal our identity.

As long as they are willing to make a move, the price is up to them, money and weapons are fine.

Money not exceeding fifty thousand divine shields, weaponry not exceeding five thousand fast guns, all can be agreed upon directly.”

It wasn’t that higher conditions couldn’t be opened, it was mainly that the price offered was too high and would easily attract suspicion.

Only Redmond hadn’t realized that this price was already compelling enough.

Money is also just, the key is the gun, no power in Afghanistan is willing to take out so many arms to buy murder.

……

(End of chapter)