Chapter 1343 France is shaken
It is a helpless approach to use public opinion to stir up people's war-weariness and coerce governments to sit at the negotiating table. After all, the conflicts between the governments of the major European countries cannot be adjusted at all. This can be seen from the punishment of the Allied Powers by the Allied Powers in the previous life. come out.
Of course, the fermentation of public opinion also takes time, so it is impossible to promote negotiations through the public opinion of the European people who long for peace. For this reason, East Africa still needs to persuade European powers at the official level.
Among them, for the governments of various countries, East African Unity stated the harm of this war to Europe. This is also the most basic. In fact, today, European countries have failed in trying to divert internal conflicts through war. This is also the fundamental reason why East Africa is willing to carry out lobbying work. reason.
For different countries, East Africa also uses different methods to persuade. For example, in France, East Africa focuses on lobbying the French government on France's population issues.
Since the Napoleonic era, France's population has always been a flaw. Before World War I, the total population of France was just over 40 million. However, France mobilized nearly 10 million troops on its own territory alone, and the number of casualties was as high as 5 million. If If the war continues, France will inevitably be the first to be unable to hold on, unless Britain and the United States find their conscience and are willing to be at the forefront.
But this is obviously impossible. Leaving aside the United Kingdom, the United States, an ally that joined in the middle, has only mobilized more than one million troops until now. Compared with its previous life, France has only mobilized more than one million troops. Therefore, France replaced Russia and became the weakest among the Allied Powers. link.
Paris.
Lipowitz, the East African ambassador to France, was talking to senior French government officials.
He held a form and said to the stern-faced members of the French government: "Everyone, I know that peace talks are a very difficult decision for France, but it is obvious that France is no longer able to support the continuation of this war."
Most of the top leaders of the French government are currently militant. After all, French President Clemenceau is one of them, so Lipowitz's task is relatively arduous.
Lipowitz continued: "From the war to now, France has mobilized nearly nine million troops. I think you should know what a terrifying number this is."
"Before the war broke out, France's population barely exceeded 40 million. This is equivalent to almost a quarter of France's population being on the battlefield during the war."
"France's casualties are also the most tragic among the warring countries. The number of military and civilian casualties is close to five million, and most of them are young and middle-aged men."
"This also means that France has lost a generation. These people should have been the main force of France's economic and industrial construction in the next twenty or thirty years, and are the future of France. However, they either died on the battlefield or became pitiful Disabled people, even if the war is delayed for another year, you will send French youth to the war.”
"If the war develops to this point, even France's last hope will be completely wiped out. Even if all of you here can lead France to win the war, you will inevitably become the sinners of France in the future."
"Even if you win the war, can you get the fruits of victory? I guess the British will not agree with this. Even if France's population does not recover after the war, you may face Spain in the future. It is difficult for both the Italian and European countries to become competitive.”
Lipowitz's words can be said to be heart-wrenching. Among France's land neighbors, apart from Germany, the number one opponent, other countries cannot be underestimated. Even Belgium has a population of several million.
Even divided Italy is a country with a population of more than 10 million, and Spain has more than 20 million. Now, France has lost a lot of blood in World War I. Considering the population alone after the war, how can France maintain its Western European power? The status of a great power is a very severe test.
Lipowitz said: "If you end the war now, at least you can wait until the new generation of France grows up in the future. If you continue to insist on going your own way at this time and lose France's hope, then France will be prepared to become a second-rate country in Europe in the future. ”
As Lipowitz's words fell, it also triggered shocks within the French government, because the situation Lipowitz described was almost fatal to France.
If there is any motivation for France to persist in the war now, a very important part of it is to maintain France's long-term position in Europe and the world.
However, Lipowitz now asserts that France is likely to become a second-rate country in Europe because of the war, which is unacceptable to any patriotic Frenchman.
Even Clemenceau, the French leader who relied on his image as a militant to rise to power, was moved by Lipowitz's words. This was not because of Lipowitz's eloquence, but because of what he had to say. The data and description of the future broke Clemenceau's last inner illusion.
Although Clemenceau hated the Germans extremely, he also understood that he could not let his emotions control his thinking. Now the East Africans tore through France's fig leaf, making this French politician who had previously been bent on avoiding the risks behind the war become rational again. , as the leader of France, he must be responsible for the future of France.
Clemenceau moved in his seat, as if he had made an important decision, and knocked on the table to signal the officials and military generals to quiet down.
Then he said to Lipowitz: "Ambassador Lipowitz, thank you and your government for your concern for the fate of France. I will seriously consider your opinion. Now we need to discuss these issues internally. I hope you will Please go out for a while and hope you can understand me.”
Although Clemenceau was relatively radical, he was very well-educated, so he first invited Lipowitz, an East African, out of the meeting room.
Lipowitz said: "Of course, if it can help your country, East Africa and I will be happy to see it."
Later, Lipowitz exited the conference room. When he left, the conference room fell into silence.
France's top leaders did not speak, but stared at Clemenceau, now France's top leader, hoping that he could break the deadlock.
After a long time, Clemenceau finally spoke: "Everyone, I wonder if you think what Mr. Lipowitz just said is correct? You can speak freely. This is a major event that determines the fate of France. I think everyone has the right. Express your thoughts ”
But no one spoke, because peace talks, especially peace talks with the Germans, are politically incorrect. France has paid too heavy a price for this war. Who dares to bear this responsibility!
Looking at the group of senior officials who were usually majestic and open and silent to show off to the Germans, they all shrank their necks like quails at this time.
Clemenceau sighed inwardly, and he said feebly: "Although Liebowitz's words are very ugly, what he said is true."
"East Africans understand the current situation in France, and we understand even better. One thing Lipowitz said is very correct, that is, population is the most fatal problem of the empire."
"We cannot turn a blind eye to this. As Lipowitz said, our generation is actually finished. In fact, we have become the sinners of France. France will no longer be able to do anything in the next ten years."
"This is a very cruel reality. I can't imagine how we should deal with the millions of disabled people after the war."
"We have expanded the age range for conscription as much as possible, but there are only about 20 million men in France, but we have sent 10 million people to the battlefield." "If the war continues, just like Lipowitz As he said, France's future will be completely ruined in our hands. It can be said that Mr. Lipowitz's words woke me up and we should not continue this mistake."
If it were a previous life, Clemenceau would naturally not say this. After all, in the previous life when the United States entered the war, the collapse of Germany was already visible to the naked eye. However, in this time and space, no one dares to guarantee when, where, and which country will win the final victory. victory.
"Your Excellency, do we really want to surrender to the Germans?" Joffre, the French government's military adviser, said angrily.
Clemenceau said helplessly: "General Joffre, although I understand your feelings very well, this is not a surrender, but a responsibility for the future of France. In fact, we all underestimated the damage caused by the war to France. At the beginning, Isn’t that why you resigned voluntarily?”
Joffre was the commander of the previous Battle of the Somme, and the reason he resigned from the army was that there were too many casualties, which triggered accusations within France.
"In 1914, we never thought that this war would continue until now, for nearly five years, let alone the harm this war would cause to France."
"Now we must also admit that it is impossible for France to defeat Germany in a short period of time, especially when the United Kingdom and the United States are unable to contribute. We cannot bear the damage caused to France by the war."
"Even if the war continues for another year, maybe we will face the dilemma that Russia faced before. The soldiers on the front line and the people in the rear are not ruthless machines, but living people. Their hearts have long been numb. Even full of anger against the government.”
"The angry crowd will engulf us completely, and this time it will not be the Paris Commune, but the riots throughout France."
"Of course, if it is just this point, I will not compromise. After all, if I can lead France to expand its territory and defeat Germany, I am willing to bear all the infamy, even if I am shattered to pieces."
"However, what I am really worried about is not the people's attitude towards the government, but the future of France. So my conscience tells me that I should accept the goodwill of East Africans and keep the fire for the future of France."
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What Clemenceau said is in line with his past experience, because the early Clemenceau was indeed an idealistic politician. He supported the republic, opposed imperialism, and colonialism, and even studied some of the Labor Party’s policy, remaining neutral in the Paris Commune movement, etc.
It can be said that apart from his attitude towards Germany, Clemenceau was a relatively relaxed person towards many things and ideas.
But now, the French president who is the most anti-German is willing to bow to his enemies for the future of France. This requires great courage.
Of course, as far as the French's current attitude towards Germany is concerned, there is almost no difference between peace talks and surrender.
After Clemenceau said these words, Marshal Pétain, the current commander-in-chief of the French army, also said: "I support the president's view."
"Everyone, we are just choosing between the glory of France and real problems, but we must admit that the so-called glory is just a fig leaf. If we sacrifice the future of the entire nation, then if this fig leaf is not torn off now, the future will not be the same. will be opened by other countries.”
"If we can now use the power of East Africa to withdraw from the war with dignity, although it will cause great harm to French national sentiments, it will be nothing compared to ruining the future of the entire French nation."
"We should admit that since the war, France's national strength has been unable to support our competition with countries such as Britain and Germany."
"In fact, France is now a second-rate country in Europe. Since 1870, we have never been a rival to Britain and Germany."
"France's population, industry, and resources are unable to support us in competing with Germany and the United Kingdom. Now our alliance with the United Kingdom is just a pawn for the British."
"You know, Britain's population far exceeds ours, but this so-called ally has only half our local mobilization force. Isn't this ridiculous?"
"And the war was also fought in France, and our losses were very heavy. It can be said that the war area was originally the most important area for our country's economy."
"So, this war was a mistake, both militarily and economically. We should bear the infamy, save the fire of France, and not make the same mistake again and again."
Marshal Pétain and President Clemenceau had the same view, that is, they did not want to fight anymore. Of course, the main reason was that France could not fight anymore. If France's fertility rate and population could reach the same level as Germany, they said Maybe no such decision will be made.
When the two most powerful people in the French government and the army unified their thinking, other members of the government also began to reflect on the war.
In the end, France finally decided to negotiate peace. Clemenceau called Lipowitz back to the conference room and said to him: "We are willing to make an effort for peace in Europe, but your country should also persuade Germany to give up some unimportant matters." Practical ideas and sincerity in peace talks.”
Lipowitz agreed: "This is natural. Your Excellency, President, you must know that we in East Africa have always supported peace in Europe and have been working hard for this."
Lipowitz's words are not bad. Since at least 1914, East Africa has been calling on European countries to remain calm and promote world peace.
Of course, before 1919, East Africa just shouted a few slogans, hoping that Europe would fight in full swing. But now the situation has changed. For its own interests, East Africa now hopes that Europe can return to the pre-war situation.
"The imperial government not only sent me to your country to lobby this time, we also negotiated in places such as Berlin, London and Vienna. A peaceful Europe is what East Africa wants to see. This is good for everyone, especially It was in the context of the revolution in Russia.”
"Everyone should pay attention to the harm of the Labor Party. If Europe cannot end the war, then I am afraid that the entire Europe will eventually be taken advantage of by the Labor Party. You must know that the Labor Party has no concept of country and nation. If they really incite the people at the bottom, then France, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will probably disappear from the map.”
This is not alarmist. After all, in the previous life, the Soviet Union was an alliance of countries, placing Russia, Ukraine and other countries under one country. Of course, although this method failed in the end, it was not necessarily impossible for European countries in the early 20th century. , especially now that the labor parties in various European countries are as close as one family.
The whole world unites, this is the slogan of the Labor Party, but it is also the nightmare of imperialism such as East Africa. Of course, Lipowitz used the Labor Party to make trouble, just to give the French government a step forward and eliminate their psychological concerns about the peace talks. feeling of discomfort.
(End of chapter)