Chapter 1390 Autonomy
The foundation of the Congo colony is not as good as that of the Belgian local area, but the victory is stability. Moreover, although the local economy in Belgium is good now, it is actually not much better to discuss the people's living standards.
This causes the Congo to absorb more people than those who go to Belgium.
However, the Belgian government's current headache is that the local government of Congo naturally breeds ambitions due to the impact of the war.
When the war refugees in Congo were completely over, they decided to stay or return to their homeland after the epidemic was completely over, the Belgian parliament was also discussing the Congolese colony.
A member of parliament said: "During the war, because the local government was threatened by war, the Congolese local government actually broke away from the control of Belgium, and this time lasted for nearly five years."
< br>"At the same time, in the middle and late stages of the war, the central government promised a large amount of interests and rights to the Congo due to the exchange of interests, which increased the tendency of Congo to leave Belgium."
"And this increased Congo The centrifugal force of Congo has achieved amazing economic achievements over the years with the help of Belgium, but the tax revenue has not increased much compared to before the war. This is unimaginable. The kingdom should re-lease Congo. Return to the right position."
The congressman's proposal was immediately opposed by the Congolese representative Hanberg: "Mr. Rocas, your words are completely unreasonable. We in the Congo during the war, It can be said that it has provided a lot of help to the local area, not only providing a large amount of strategic materials, but also providing people and making great contributions to the kingdom's persistence until the end of the war. Your remarks are undoubtedly a contempt for the Congo."
< br> "The rights we have obtained from Congo are the results of our efforts before. If the kingdom truly treats Congo as you say, it will undoubtedly be a huge harm to more than 1.3 million Congolese people."
"May I ask, MP Rocas, can you bear the anger of our more than 1.3 million Congolese people? This kind of act of burying bridges across the river is undoubtedly extremely shameless!"
Of course, I want to leave Belgium The main thing is the idea of some local officials in Congo today, but for most ordinary people, as long as the local people in Belgium can be treated equally, it will be completely unaffected to stay in Belgium, and there is no doubt that the Belgian government itself may not be able to do it. at this point.
The world's colonial system is on the verge of collapse, but it is precisely because this system is still maintained that the colonies are still naturally inferior.
However, some colonies that have developed faster and have certain independent capabilities have begun to fight for greater rights from the suzerain countries. In addition to Congo, the two colonies in Britain, Canada and Australia are typical examples.
Mr. Roccas replied: "Mr. Hanberg, I have no intention of offending the people of the Congolese colonies, but the development of Congo itself has risen smoothly with the support of the local government. Of course, you cannot just enjoy the kingdom bringing you. ”
Hanberg did not take any trouble with Rocas' argument. He raised his tone to the people in the parliament and said, "Our Congo achieved today's results and has indeed received the help of local enterprises and immigrants." "However, it is more due to the superior natural geographical conditions than Congo and the hard work of our Congolese people." "Now the population of Congo exceeds one million, it is close to the local 100 million. Twenty percent of Belgian citizens are undoubtedly , an existence that the kingdom cannot ignore, and they made great contributions to the development of the empire. "
"Before 1910, more than 40% of the annual profits of Congo were taken away by the local government, including taxes and enterprises. The income ratio is higher than that of any place in the empire. "
"So, I think the Congolese people should enjoy the same treatment as the local people, rather than unfair Treat, even discrimination."
Hanberg is talking about the facts, but if you look deeper, Congo's contribution to Belgium is actually not as high as you imagined.
Because the local economic returns were not high for a long time when the Congo colonies existed. After all, the Congo was pitifully small at the time. Although it had a large amount of mineral resources, most of the benefits had entered the royal family, or Say Leopold II's pocket.
It was after 1909 that the Belgian government officially took over the Congolese colony, but shortly after that, the Belgian mainland was trapped in the quagmire of war and could not take into account the isolated Congolese colony overseas.
Not to mention getting a lot of benefits from Congo, many local people and enterprises went to Congo to take refuge, further promoting the development of the Congo economy.
Of course, the fundamental reason for the dispute between Hanberg and Rocas is to make a tangible interest. A local interest group in the Congo that cannot be ignored even in Belgium, and the Belgian government has also formed a local interest group in the Congo. There is no good way to check and balance this newly formed interest group, which is why Congo is so tough in facing the local area.
Economically, Congo now has the ability to break away from Belgium's local development, and is backed by East Africa and is close to South America and West Africa markets. If Congo breaks away from Belgium, it is likely that it will live a good life.
And economic development has further promoted the demands of local Congolese forces for political status, which is inevitable.
The colonies that do not want to leave the suzerain state are generally likely to have some hidden secrets, such as the British South African colonies.
The biggest reason why South African colonies do not seek political equality or even independence like Canada and Australia is that South Africa needs British military protection.
The two major ethnic groups in South Africa, British and Boers, have never relaxed their vigilance against East Africa because of the influence of the South African War in the last century.
Moreover, at the economic level, South Africa is not as confident as it is in its previous life. South Africa has rich mineral resources in the northwest region and has developed very well in its economic development.
However, in this time and space, the main minerals in South Africa are basically occupied by East Africa. In this way, the current economy of the South African colonies basically relies on the geographical location of Cape Town, the development of shipping, commerce and a small number of them. agriculture.
From the current situation, the future development prospects of South African colonies may not be as high as those of the Congolese colonies.
Finally, on the military level, Belgium has never been a major military power, and even if Belgium has the military ability to interfere in the Congo, it does not have the courage to try. In addition to the local Congo, the impact of East Africa cannot be ignored.
As the regional overlord, East Africa naturally cannot tolerate external forces and launches a war at its doorstep without its permission.
The Congo is surrounded by East Africa on three sides, which itself is an important component of East Africa's national defense and security. Even in military and diplomatic terms, East Africa has an absolute influence on the Congo, which even its leader Belgium can do nothing.
For example, East Africa has military access rights in Congo, garrisons, the main railway trunks in Congo and the East African railway network, the waters of the Congo are also patrols and free access areas of the East African Navy, etc. From these perspectives, it is better to say that Congo is a common colony of East Africa and Belgium than a colony of Belgium. However, the good news is that the two suzerain countries have a pretty good attitude towards Congo.
This makes the Congo's status somewhat similar to that of Canada, and it can take both sides between the United Kingdom and the United States. The difference is that the size of the Congo is too small compared to Canada.
While between East Africa and Belgium, Congo still tends to strengthen cooperation with Belgium. Of course, this is mainly to maintain the special status of Congo today. If it is really put into the arms of East Africa, many of the treatment in Congo will definitely disappear. Almost all.
Therefore, the Congolese interest groups represented by Hanberg argued in the Belgian parliament that in essence, it is essentially to seek more benefits and it is impossible to really leave Belgium. At least, maintaining the status quo at this stage is most beneficial to Congo.
Among the Three Kingdoms, the most embarrassing thing is the Belgian government. After suffering heavy blows from World War I, the Belgian government is now even more unable to abandon the stable financial source of Congo, so the Congo has taken the initiative. .
So, while the representatives of Congolese and local parliamentarians were arguing in the parliament, the king of Belgium appeared, and Albert I ended up saying, "Okay, don't argue anymore, Congo is an integral part of Belgium. , this is unshakable. "
"So, Belgium will naturally treat Congo fairly and justly like his family, so Mr. Hanberg does not have to mind the radical remarks of MP Roccas." >
"However, Mr. Hanberg, you must also understand the difficulties in the local area. Belgium has experienced five years of war and devastating, so now Belgium needs Congo to restore its local economy, which is also A reasonable request, we will not treat the efforts and contributions made by Congo unfairly.”
King Albert I was the nephew of Leopold II. He went to the Congolese colony before Albert I ascended the throne.
In 1901, Albert I once represented Leopold II to inspect the Congo, but at that time, Congo was just an optional colony for Belgium.
Of course, this is aimed at the Belgian government, which is not the case for the royal family. At that time, Congo had become Leopold II's wallet, but the output in Congo could only benefit Leopold at that time. The second generation is just a person.
No mistakes, one poem, one post, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one read!
With the death of Leopold II, Albert I, as the heir, naturally took over most of his uncle's assets in Congo.
Therefore, at present, a large part of the interests of the Congolese colonies also have a share of Albert I. Therefore, for the Congolese colonies, whether it is personal or national interests, Albert I cannot allow Congo to be independent in his hands.
Hanberg was quite respectful to Albert I. He said: "His Majesty King, we Congo naturally do not want to separate from Belgium easily, but the premise of all this is that some people in Belgium should Face us, Congo is not a vassal of Belgium. "
Albert I comforted him, "This is natural, Mr. Hanberg. For me personally, I have visited Congo, and it is indeed a fast place. Developed and dynamic Land, of course, the most important thing is the residents of Congo, most of them are immigrants from Belgium, so it is not too much to say that blood is thicker than water."
"So in terms of foreign exchanges and attitudes, the local and Congo We should join hands to make progress together and speak out with one voice, so as to promote common progress for everyone."
Then, the Belgian government headed by Albert I re-examined the Congolese representatives on the economy and the Congolese economy and the Political rights were communicated.
After a period of negotiations, Congo "finally" continued to choose to stay in Belgium. However, the Belgian government also gave Congo its overseas autonomous territory and initially got rid of its colonial identity.
The Congolese local governments have gained more autonomy, such as promulgating local laws, formulating economic policies, and having more autonomy in foreign exchanges.
…
The Belgian government has finished talking with Congo, which does not mean the end of the matter, just in April 1922.
The East African government sent personnel to bring in the Belgian government and the Congolese government to hold another negotiation on cooperation in the economic field.
The content of this negotiation is to set the Congo as the Belgium and East Africa Free Trade Zone, and at the same time promote the use of the Rhine Shield in Belgium and Congo, especially in the Congo, which has become the legal currency of the Congo Dominic Dominion with the same status as the Belgian Franc.
The internationalization of the East African Rhine Shield naturally began with neighboring countries and regions, and the geographical location of the Congolese colony was destined, and it would become one of the first targets in East Africa.
In addition to Congo, Darfur in North Africa, the South German Kingdom in West Africa, Paraguay in South America, etc. were the first batch of pilot areas for non-East African territories. However, Darfur is a bit special, and it is actually from East Africa. Colonials, but nominally independent states.
Due to its geographical location, Congo is destined to be unable to escape the influence of East Africa. According to the estimates of the East African government, Congo and its suzerain Belgium also do not have the courage to reject East Africa.
However, the Congo and Belgium cannot be confused, so the issue of cooperation with Belgium's local economic field is separate from the negotiations on cooperation in the Congolese economic field.
East Africa also attaches great importance to the Belgian mainland. Under the overall plan of the UK consciously hindering exchanges and contacts with Europe, exchanges and cooperation between East Africa and Europe will naturally be affected, especially the Suez Canal and Gibraltar, two British-controlled ones. Strait.
While Belgium is located on the Atlantic coast, its cooperation with East Africa will not be greatly affected. Moreover, the special geographical location of Belgium makes it play an important role in the entire Western European region.
Economicly, Belgium is one of the important trade channels for East Africa and France and Germany, especially Belgium's binding with the French economic field. A large part of Belgium's steel production capacity is digested by France. Dropped.
So, reaching cooperation with Belgium in the economic field will help further strengthen the impact of East African economy on Europe. Belgium itself is also good and is considered a high-quality market, which is also what East Africa covets.
However, Belgium is in the four wars, so the diplomacy of East Africa and Belgium is also susceptible to interference from Britain, France and Germany. However, the expansion of the economic scope of any country would offend people. East Africa is an imperialist A member of the country is a competitor of other major countries, so East Africa is not worried about interference from other countries.
On the contrary, because of Belgium's special geographical location, it is right among the three major European powers of Britain, France and Germany. If East Africa can strengthen its influence in Belgium, it will help to gain the initiative in the competition between East Africa and Britain, France and Germany.
(This chapter ends)