Chapter 697 Unrepayable Debt
It is unrealistic to expect the Russian government to spend money to build railways for the Hebrew Autonomous Prefecture. This is not really because the Russian government ignores the interests of the Hebrews, but that the Russian government now wants to There are too many places to spend money, and the landlords have no surplus food.
George has been very agitated these days. Japan, as a victorious nation, requires Russia and Britain to withdraw their troops from Japan.
After the Russo-Japanese War, Japan was under British-Russian condominium control and became a de facto colony of Britain and Russia.
During the World War, Japan not only sent troops to join the Kohni Corps to fight for Russia, but also sent nearly 100,000 people to fight for Britain, so it participated in the Paris Peace Conference as a victorious nation.
Japan had no demands for territory or reparations. The only demand was that Russia and Britain withdraw their troops from Japan.
Japan’s request was supported by the United States and France.
At the Fourth Plenary Session of the League of Nations, Baron Nobuken Makino, who represented Japan at the Paris Peace Conference, gave a speech, almost pleading, asking Britain and Russia to withdraw their troops.
Lloyd George agreed to withdraw his troops.
Nicholas Jr. disagreed because Japan had not paid off its war reparations to Russia.
"It has been 15 years since the Russo-Japanese War. During these 15 years, Japan has sent a total of nearly 10 million workers to Russia; during the World War, Japan has sent a total of nearly 1.9 million people. As of November last year, a total of 245,000 people in Japan were killed, 1.1 million Ten thousand people were injured——"
Nobuno Makino believes that the war reparations owed to Russia have long been paid off through human resources.
"So what! Russia lost a total of 30 million people during the world war. What does your one million count?"
Little Nikolai dismissed it, Russia The biggest advantage is that it is durable.
Russia is like a crumbling dilapidated house. It seems that just one kick can destroy this dilapidated house.
But if anyone dares to kick someone, a bunch of Russians will rush out of the house and beat up the person who kicked the house.
“In the past 15 years, we have paid a full 1.2 billion rubles in cash for the war reparations we owe Grand Duke Yuriev, but we still owe 1 billion, so the 1.2 billion we paid, Is it just interest? "
Baron Nobuno sheds tears every time, giving the impression that Grand Duke Yuriev is more ruthless than the Hebrews.
Nobuken Makino played a little trick here and secretly changed the concept.
Japan has had close trade with Russia in recent years, with the annual trade volume exceeding tens of billions of rubles.
Most of the industrial products Japan needs are imported from Amur.
The wages Amul paid to Japanese workers were earned back through trade.
Little Nicholas didn’t know the twists and turns, and thought that the 1.2 billion was really just interest, and was speechless for a moment.
“Don’t you know whether it’s interest or not?”
Alexander knew what was going on.
"Your Highness, can the Russian army evacuate after we pay all the compensation?"
Makino Nobuaki did not dwell on this issue.
Alexander was curious and wondered where the Japanese got their money.
The Japanese borrow money from the United States.
During the World War, the United States had both sides, made huge profits, and developed its economy extremely rapidly.
This also creates hidden dangers for the U.S. economy.
After the end of the world war, Europe's dependence on the United States will decline rapidly, which will lead to a new round of economic crisis in the United States.
The fundamental purpose of Wilson's Fourteen Points was to find overseas markets for American goods.
Once Russian goods are launched from Japan, American goods can take their place.
Alexander did not give an answer immediately. Nicholas Jr. asked to adjourn the meeting. George still had the final say on this matter.
"If Japan pays all indemnities, the Russian troops can evacuate except Nagasaki."
George agreed to a partial withdrawal. Nagasaki's lease period still has many years, and the Russian troops stationed in Nagasaki are legal.
“It is necessary for Russia to establish a healthy international image.”
Witt hopes that Russia will play a more important role in international affairs.
“Sher, Russia should be feared, not loved.”
George didn't care at all about international image.
Even if Russia sends 100 pounds to every British person, the British will not change their prejudice against Russia.
The soft and cute Gallic Chicken is a perfect wife.
The ferocious polar bear is the image of Russia.
The news reached Paris, and Nobuaki Makino was very dissatisfied with George's response. After the Russo-Japanese War, Russia forcibly leased Nagasaki for 99 years. After expiration, if Russia is willing to rent, it can continue to rent, and Japan cannot refuse.
Over the past decade, the Russian Pacific Fleet’s investment in Nagasaki has totaled millions of rubles, and Nagasaki has become one of the home ports of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
There are three home ports of the Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok, Nagasaki, and Fortress Arthur.
"As the victor in the world war, Japan doesn't even have the power to abrogate unequal treaties?"
Makino Nobuhashi was filled with grief and indignation.
"You say it's unequal, does it mean it's unequal?"
Little Nicholas sneered. For Russia, leasing Nagasaki is reasonable.
Compared with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Japan was extremely lucky by just leasing Nagasaki.
Nicholas Jr. did not participate in the Russo-Japanese War, nor did he participate in post-war negotiations.
If Nicholas Jr. was in charge of the negotiations at that time, Nicholas Jr. would definitely grab Hokkaido as well.
"Grand Duke Nikolayevich, Japan's request is Japan's due rights as a victorious country."
Lloyd George wanted to be a peacemaker.
"Then do all victorious countries have the right to abolish unequal treaties?"
Little Nicholas retorted, don't stand and talk without hurting your back.
Lloyd George was defeated, and the Russian Grand Duke was truly invincible.
If all unequal treaties are abolished, Russia will not suffer the most.
"Baron, you should accept the conditions of Grand Duke Yuriev."
Clemenceau persuaded Nobuaki Makino to agree to Russia's continued lease of Nagasaki.
France gained no less from the unequal treaty than Britain did.
“Why?”
Nobuaki Makino was still unwilling to accept it.
“Because Grand Duke Yuriev is tall!”
Clemenceau was unhappy.
George is indeed tall.
But more important than his height is that George's fists are bigger.
This is the law of the jungle, whoever has a bigger fist will have a louder voice.
On April 17, Japan paid 1 billion in war reparations to Russia, and Russian and British troops began to evacuate Japan in batches on the same day.
After the failure to contain Russia, Japan has lost value to Britain.
Lloyd George promised that all British troops would evacuate Japan within 3 months.
The Russian army’s evacuation plan lasts for 2 years.
This evacuation plan does not include Nagasaki.
Witt was very happy that the compensation paid by Japan came at the right time.
For a long time, George has been very dissatisfied with Russian universities, led by St. Petersburg University.
Russian universities are not holy places to cultivate talents for Russia, but are dens of rebels.
George wants to rebuild the Russian education system, not only to implement 9-year compulsory education throughout Russia, but also to regulate Russian institutions of higher learning.
St. Petersburg University also teaches theology, and it is a public course.
George did not object to Russians’ belief in Orthodox Christianity, but George was still dissatisfied that college students had to waste their precious time studying God.
George's ideal higher education institution is mainly engineering. Russians are so talented in mathematics and chemistry that they must be carried forward.
As for theology, literature, etc., they must make way for engineering and can only be studied as hobbies and in spare time.
Russia has a large population, and the nine-year compulsory education required by George alone costs at least one billion rubles per year.
The money from Japan came at just the right time.
(End of this chapter)