Chapter 801 Congratulations
As for whether East Africa is a German country, in fact, many people in Germany and Austria do not agree. After all, East Africa is too complex, and it is still on the African continent, so it is naturally at the bottom of the contempt chain.
However, after the South African War, East Africa must be a German country. After all, the only one who can defeat the Anglo-Saxon nation is the German nation.
Although the East African ancestry is "impure", the traditional German royal family has strong roots and the dominant position of German culture.
Of course, Ernst’s purpose is just to reap benefits in the name of the German country. After all, this region of Africa is indeed too stretched and is not conducive to international exchanges in East Africa. In essence, Ernst There is no fundamental difference between Te and those tribal chiefs in Africa.
……
Du Ji Palace.
The former Doge's Palace of Venice, Ernst's father-in-law, Archduke Ferdinand, once had his office here. This is also the meeting place for the negotiations between East Africa and Britain and Portugal.
“Welcome, Count von der Leyen and Viscount Hermann!” Austrian Foreign Minister Count Ellenthal said to the two.
"Hello, my old friend." said Hermann and Earl Ellenthal.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs for East Africa, Hermann often traveled to Austria on business, so he established a good personal friendship with Count Ellenthal.
“This is our East African Finance Minister Count von der Leyen.” Hermann introduced to Ellenthal.
In Europe, the finance minister generally holds a high position and is often the best candidate for prime minister. Of course, the same is true for the foreign minister. Many prime ministers are served by the finance minister or the foreign minister. The typical one is Bismarck.
Hermann’s words also confirmed von der Leyen’s status in East Africa. Of course, East Africa has special national conditions and does not have the position of prime minister. Ernst monopolizes national power, so the status of finance minister is not as high as in Europe. One thing.
"Hello, Count von der Leyen, I think this is the first time we have met." Count Ellenthal said.
"Of course, I have not left East Africa since the 1970s, but I still know your name." Von der Leyen said to Ellenthal.
In fact, von der Leyen was still a little uncomfortable communicating with Ellenthal. He was actually a colonial employee who was reused by the Hechingen royal family. Being able to become a noble can be said to be a complete surprise.
So he was a little cautious when communicating with these old European nobles, but Von der Leyen quickly adapted to being in a high position all year round and started communicating with Ellenthal.
"This time you fought beautifully and neatly in the East African war. After the South African War, you will definitely have a place in the future world." Ellenthal complimented, and of course, this is also true.
"Where, we are still far behind in East Africa. This time the British did not use their full strength at all, otherwise the South African War would have reached a stalemate. In addition, the Kingdom of Portugal was too weak in the South African War, so we were given Created opportunities ”
Having been around a ruler like Ernst for a long time, von der Leyen naturally has a certain humility. Of course, the statement that the Kingdom of Portugal is too weak is a bit Versailles.
However, Ellenthal agreed very much and said: "The Kingdom of Portugal is indeed too backward. It has been silent in the glorious history of its ancestors and is unwilling to wake up. It cannot keep up with the pace of Europe in all aspects. So being eliminated is inevitable.”
As a diplomat, Ellenthal is very familiar with Portugal’s national conditions, but the more he knows about Portugal, the more he understands that this country is strong on the outside and weak on the inside. Portugal is just a name. People can only deceive other countries and regions in the world that are backward and do not understand the situation in Europe.
"Of course, Portugal is not the focus at all. The British are the highlight of this war. Is it convenient to reveal the current stage of the South African War?" Ellenthal asked. This is not a top-secret incident, so von der Leyen said: "I am not from the military, but I have a general understanding of the current war situation. Our troops have entered the southern part of Cape Town, and now the Cape Colony only has the western part." and a small amount of land and cities in the south are still under British control. ”
The western part of Cape Town Colony is a desert area, so it is naturally not a key target of attack in East Africa. As for the southern part of Cape Town, although it is small in area, it is the essence of Cape Town Colony.
"So are you sure that the war will end within a few months?" Ellenthal asked curiously.
“If everything goes well, it should be within two or three months, of course, provided that the UK will no longer increase its troops in South Africa.” Von der Leyen did not finish her words.
However, even if the British army continues to increase its troops, it will not change the overall situation. Cape Town is too far away from the UK, and Cape Town's location is not as easy to support as Canada.
"That's good. What are your psychological expectations for the war this time? Of course, we are on one side. His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince Ernst have reached a consensus on this before."
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Franz I had already had an affair with Ernst, so it was a consensus between the two countries that Austria stood on the side of East Africa.
Herman: "Angola and Mozambique must be included in East Africa. After all, we will not give the Portuguese a chance to start a war for the third time. As for the Boer Republic, it should be a difficult point. The British in South Africa The main economic interest is the diamond mines in the Boer Republic, but we can make appropriate concessions and continue to allow the British to mine diamond mines in Kimberley."
"What about Cape Town?" Ellenthal asked.
"Haha, old friend, you should know that that is the bottom line for the British. They should not give up Cape Town." Herman said truthfully.
Ellenthal nodded and said: "That's the truth. Cape Town is related to Britain's global strategic security and is an important part of maritime hegemony. The British Royal Navy will definitely not give up control of this important military channel. Point.”
The attitude of the Royal Navy is actually the attitude of the British government. After all, the British interests are fought by the Royal Navy. To maintain the advantages of the Royal Navy, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the Royal Navy's overseas bases, and Cape Town is undoubtedly the An important strategic pivot that the Royal Navy will not abandon.
Of course, Cape Town’s current status is no longer comparable to that of the past. With the Suez Canal as an option, Cape Town is destined to be a spare tire.
In fact, as a sea channel, Cape Town corresponds to the Drake Strait at the southern tip of South America. However, Cape Town was the main trade channel of the Eurasian continent at that time, and its economic value was not that of the Drake Strait at all. Comparable.
Even so, the United Kingdom still has the Falkland Islands (Fallen Islands) as an important strategic fulcrum to contain the Drake Strait, so the Royal Navy will not give up the more important Cape Town.
Now that Cape Town's economic value has been weakened, it is still the fulcrum for Britain to contain East Africa in the future. After all, exchanges and trade between the east and west coasts of East Africa cannot be done without Cape Town.
At the same time, as a backup tire, if major changes occur in the Suez Canal or the Red Sea, Cape Town can be immediately reactivated by the UK.
So Cape Town must be Britain's bottom line. Of course, if East Africa wants to use force, it can indeed get Cape Town, but it will definitely offend Britain completely.
But East Africa has no idea of fighting to the death with Britain, especially at the end of the 19th century, an era of turbulent international affairs. In addition to Britain, there were many powerful countries in the world.
As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman will benefit. This is not the outcome that East Africa wants. As for the South African War, in fact, as long as it does not harm Britain's core interests, the British government can be accountable to the country.
(End of this chapter)