Chapter 1104 Chapter 126 Blackmail
The second Moroccan crisis can also be called the Agadir crisis. Ernst is not familiar with this period of history, but it can leave an impression on himself. The description is still quite important.
In the following days, Europe's East African intelligence system continued to transmit to East Africa the dynamics of Germany and France during this crisis.
“National sentiment is rising in public opinion in Germany and France. Troops from both sides have shown signs of massing towards the front. Germany and France may go to war!”
This is the rumor the day after the Agadir crisis broke out. The news of their return gave the East African government, especially Ernst, a headache. In his heart, Ernst did not want a war in Europe at this time.
Because at the current stage, East Africa is not ready to deal with a European war. In fact, from the beginning of the Second Five-Year Plan, Ernst began to prepare for the outbreak of a European war and adjusted some indicators for the development of the defense industry and light industry at that time.
But the Third Five-Year Plan was the beginning of Ernst's large-scale transformation of local industrial development in response to the outbreak of war in Europe.
In the East African government's vision, if a war breaks out in Europe within a few years, the local industries in East Africa will adapt to large-scale production activities during the European war to meet the order needs of European countries and quickly expand to markets outside Europe. World markets expand.
However, the Third Five-Year Plan has just begun, and many companies in East Africa have not yet completed their transformation work. If a full-scale war breaks out in Europe at this time, the final benefits obtained by East Africa will be greatly reduced.
So for the sake of "peace and stability" in Europe, Ernst issued an order: "Issue inquiries to the German and French governments, test the attitudes of the two governments, and try to persuade the two governments not to act rashly."
There must be a war between Germany and France. East Africa also hopes that this war will break out and spread to the entire Europe. However, East Africa does not want a full-scale war in Europe to break out at this time. At least until the basic adjustment of East African industry is completed, that is what the East African government wants to see most. .
Following Ernst's order, the East African Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded quickly and began to maneuver between the German and French governments.
At this time, in addition to the tension in East Africa, countries on the European continent also feel that a storm is coming, and the United Kingdom seems to be at a loss in this round of diplomatic conflicts.
This can be reflected from the level of British public opinion. When Germany and France are verbally criticizing each other and there are signs of a fight, British public opinion is rarely silent.
This is similar to the public opinion in East Africa. In addition to the tension at the government level in East Africa, there is not much reaction from the people. After all, East Africa is far away from Europe. Even if a full-scale war breaks out in Europe, it will be insignificant to ordinary people in East Africa.
But the silence of public opinion in the UK is very different. Although the UK is not in the European continent and is across the sea from the continent, it is too close. The possibility of changes in the situation in Europe affecting the situation in the pond is quite high. Therefore, at this time, most countries cannot figure out the UK. What does the government think?
On July 5, the German government finally made a clear response to East Africa, but the German government’s response left Ernst speechless.
Foreign Minister Freer reported to the Ernst Exchange that "Germany's political behavior this time is mostly speculative. According to German officials, they are inclined to negotiate with France, thereby blackmailing France into some overseas countries." interests to make up for Germany’s losses.”
What are Germany’s losses? To make it clear, Germany is currently promoting Morocco as involving German interests. Germany obviously does not intend to compete with the French government for the dominance of Morocco.
In fact, from a practical point of view, Germany's actions in Morocco are somewhat unreasonable, because during the first Moroccan crisis, Germany had already reached a temporary consensus with France, which was regarded as acquiescence to France. Interests in Morocco.
Moreover, France’s colonial activities in Morocco have been very early. As a North African region, Morocco and France are only separated by the Mediterranean Sea. France has always wanted to establish a large French mainland across the Mediterranean. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and even Libya are all within the scope of France’s strategy. within.
The trigger for the Agadir crisis was actually a crisis within Morocco, and the opposition launched an uprising, so Germany took this opportunity to provoke in Morocco.
Ernst asked: "What do the Germans want to do?" Frilda said: "They want the French colony in Gabon as compensation for Germany for this incident, and they hope that we can Support them in the subsequent negotiations between the two countries.”
The Gabon colony can be said to be France’s last colony in Central Africa, and the French Gabon colony is historically the largest. no the same.
Because of East Africa, Belgium occupied part of the former Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon, which resulted in the French Gabon colony being able to expand only to the north.
The northern part of Gabon is the German colony of Cameroon, so the current Gabon colony actually includes most of Gabon in the previous life and southern Cameroon.
Germany obviously wants to use Morocco as a negotiating condition to obtain the French colony of Gabon. Generally speaking, Morocco is a French colony and is regarded by France as one of the core interests of France's African colonization.
Germany's current behavior is equivalent to directly taking the "dish" on the French table, and asking France to pay for the meal Germany ordered. It is eating and taking.
Ernst could imagine how aggrieved France would be if it agreed to Germany's request. In fact, Germany finally achieved this goal in its previous life, but France endured it.
However, the status of French Gabon today is not comparable to that of the previous life. You must know that in the previous life, French Gabon was a dispensable existence among French colonies.
After all, without Gabon, France still has French Congo, but Congo-Brazzaville is now Belgium's territory. In this way, Gabon has become France's only colony in Central Africa.
Moreover, Gabon now borders East Africa, which can be said to have further improved Gabon’s strategic position, because East Africa is not a bunch of fragmented indigenous African countries in the previous life, but one of the important powers in the world, so by the way, East Africa The value of surrounding countries or land increases.
Take the Belgian Congo as an example. If Belgium relied on itself, the Belgian Congo would not be able to do anything. However, because East Africa is on its side, the colonial government of the Belgian Congo can trade with East Africa. To obtain a large amount of fiscal revenue, including exporting iron ore, tin ore, potash ore, etc. to East Africa.
East Africa is equivalent to providing these colonies, countries and regions with a channel for quick cash flow, which increases the value of the entire region.
This is the case for the French Gabon colony. In its trade with East Africa, it has also improved the economic status of the French Gabon colony in the French colonial system. Therefore, it will definitely be much more difficult for Germany to acquire Gabon like in its previous life.
Ernst said to Freer: "Germany is really causing us trouble, but if the German government can really obtain the colony of Gabon, it may be a good thing for us, but our foreign policy determines that we cannot Too inclined to Germany, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must flexibly negotiate between the German and French governments to ensure our neutral status.”
East Africa will definitely not listen to everything the German government says, so it will attack the United States. The "neutral" card is the best solution. If East Africa and the United States lean towards either side, it is possible to suppress the conflicts among European countries, thereby affecting the situation of the European war.
For Ernst's request, Friel had no choice but to agree, mainly because it would test the capabilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In order to avoid problems, Friel had to personally keep an eye on Germany and France's East Africa. Diplomatic institutions to prevent anyone from acting out of impulse.
As a German country in East Africa, the overall national sentiment is definitely biased towards Germany. This will inevitably not affect some officials in East Africa, and Freer wants to prevent them from acting out of impulse and really defining East Africa as a certain country. The camp in East Africa suffered a big loss.
On July 9, Germany launched negotiations with the French government, and the two countries began to argue over the Moroccan issue. As expected, Germany's demands for Gabon were rejected by France.
However, the two governments were obviously more restrained, or were not ready for war. In this case, France had to hold its nose and negotiate with Germany.
(End of this chapter)