Chapter 715 Just Sympathy
The first of the "Fourteen Points" proposed by Wilson is: sign an open peace treaty and put an end to secret diplomacy.
On the surface, the contract signed by Witte and Karl is just an ordinary trade agreement. The two countries agreed to deepen exchanges in economic, cultural and other fields on the basis of repairing the relationship between the two countries and deepening the friendship between the two countries. .
These contents are normal. Britain and France also have similar agreements with Germany.
Only in terms of the content of the agreement, Britain and France support Germany more than Russia.
Russia only trades. Britain and France not only provide loans to Germany, but also direct investment, which is more aggressive than Russia.
Sometimes George really doesn’t understand the European brain circuits.
Forget it, Britain supports Germany for the sake of continental balance.
Why does France support Germany?
The answer is that capital knows no borders.
Even French capital is increasing its investment in Germany, and Russian capital has even more reasons to invest in Germany.
After Witte and Karl signed the agreement, at the evening banquet, Karl couldn't help but sigh that if Germany had chosen Russia as an ally instead of Austria-Hungary, the world war would not have been this result.
George smiled and said nothing.
If Germany forms an alliance with Russia, who will lead the alliance?
This is why Nicholas and Wilhelm II dislike each other.
The day after the agreement was signed, the Polish delegation arrived in Constantinople.
In 1916, in order to win the support of the Poles, Germany promised to establish an "independent Polish state" after the war.
At the end of December of that year, Germany and Austria-Hungary established the "Polish Provisional Council of State", recruited Polish youths, and appointed the socialist Piłsudski as the military and political minister of the Provisional Council of State. Poland then joined Germany and Austria. alliance.
In 1918, the German army occupied Warsaw, and Piłsudski established a coalition government in Warsaw. He himself became the head of state of the Republic of Poland.
As a member of the Allied Powers, Poland was not eligible to participate in the Paris Peace Conference. However, Britain and France invited Poland to participate in the Paris Peace Conference in order to suppress Germany, which gave the Poles a big advantage.
The purpose of Piłsudski's visit to Constantinople this time was not only to hope that Russia could provide help to Poland, but also to hope that Russia could return Warsaw to Poland.
If Poland surrenders to Russia, embraces Russia's thigh, and acts as a younger brother, it is not impossible to provide help to Poland.
Asking for Warsaw would be too much.
Russia, Germany, and Austria partitioned Poland in 1795. Since then, Warsaw has been occupied by Russia.
Although in 1806, with the help of Napoleon, Poland established the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and broke away from Russia for a time.
But in 1815, with Napoleon defeated by Russia, Warsaw again came under Russian rule and became part of Russia.
George never expected that things from a hundred years ago could be uncovered by the Poles.
According to Polish logic, Russia also wants to return the Far East to the Qing Empire.
Piłsudski probably also knew that he was underrepresented, so he wanted to put pressure on Russia through Britain and France to force Russia to return Warsaw to Poland.
Witt replied to Piłsudski, regarding Warsaw, Russia has no room for discussion.
It's still impossible to return it. If you want it, you can get it by your own ability.
So on Christmas Day, Piłsudski held a press conference in Constantinople, preparing to accuse Russia of tyranny at the press conference.
At 9:30 in the morning, 30 minutes before the start of the press conference, the press conference was buzzing with people, and reporters were discussing whether Russia would return Warsaw to Poland.
Reporter Zelinsky from the "Polish Daily" vowed that Russia should comply with the Poles' request and return Warsaw to Poland.
“The fate of Warsaw should be decided by the Russians.”
Carroll, a reporter from the Daily Constantinople, sneered.
“Warsaw is Poland’s Warsaw, not Russia’s Warsaw.”
Zelinski fought hard.
"The people of Warsaw do not agree with what you say——"
The reporter Peter of "Russian News" was calm and composed. He came to watch the fun today.
"Impossible! All Warsaw people will be proud of Poland."
Zelinski's words attracted unanimous sympathetic looks from the surrounding reporters.
After the provisional government was overthrown, Russia has moved the population of the Warsaw area to Siberia in batches. All the people living in Warsaw now are serious Russians, and most of them are family members of the Russian garrison.
“Is a country founded by begging for mercy really something to be proud of?”
Carol was full of aggression.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zelinsky's face turned red when Carroll poked the painful spot.
At 10 a.m., Piłsudski attended a press conference accompanied by British Foreign Secretary George Curzon and French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand.
Piłsudski first introduced reporters to the history of Poland in the past century, and then changed the subject and began to accuse Russia of atrocities.
“Warsaw has never succumbed to Russia’s brutal rule. Since the era of Imperial Russia, Warsaw people have fought one after another to fight for independence——”
Piłsudski's speech lasted for 30 minutes, and then finally entered the interview time.
The first reporter to get a chance to ask a question was Zelinsky.
Zelinsky’s question was addressed to George Curzon, asking about the attitude of the British government.
George Curzon talked a lot of nonsense and expressed strong sympathy for the Poles.
But apart from sympathy, George Curzon said not a word about the attitude of the British government.
The second person named was a Polish journalist.
Carol suddenly stood up.
"If you don't give us a chance to ask questions, what are we going to do?"
The host was stunned, and just as he was about to explain, more than a dozen reporters stood up one after another.
“We are not puppets at the mercy of others——”
"You are so disrespectful to us!"
"Mr. Foreign Secretary, can you answer the question directly?" George Curzon looked solemn and did not say a word.
What to say?
Say that Britain supports Poland in asking Russia for Warsaw?
Then Russia has reason to support the Irish in their struggle for independence.
The British government supported the Poles to create some trouble for Russia.
But if the trouble is big enough to anger Russia, Russia will take action.
The British run faster than anyone else.
The person who presided over the press conference was a young man with a serious lack of experience. It was probably his first time encountering such a scene and he had no idea how to handle it.
"Anyone who violates the order of the press conference should leave!"
Piłsudski also overestimated his deterrence.
"This is Constantinople, and you are actually driving away Russians on Russian territory. What do you mean?"
Carol suddenly bent down and took off his shoes, Hit Piłsudski directly.
Piłsudski did not expect that such a small reporter could be so tough. He was completely unprepared and was directly hit by a boot.
Several Piłsudski guards rushed over and pushed Carol to the ground.
The policeman who was maintaining order suddenly pulled out his baton and hit him hard on his head and face.
The policemen maintaining order at the scene were all dispatched by the Constantinople Police Department.
If you dare to attack Russians on Russian territory, I will give you face, right?
The order at the scene fell into complete chaos, and the press conference ended hastily.
Guchkov reported the situation to George. This was really not his arrangement.
George called Curzon and Brian over and asked them what they meant.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke, London does not take a position on this matter."
Curzon pushed it all away.
“Not taking a stand means that you would rather safeguard the interests of a former allied country than the interests of an ally, right?”
George didn't give Curzon a chance to get away with it.
"This is your misunderstanding, London did not mean this."
Curzon tried his best to defend.
"Good, I understand."
George stopped talking nonsense to Curzon.
Curzon's expression was stagnant and he wanted to continue explaining, but George turned to Brian.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, what is France's position?"
Brian has served as French Prime Minister three times before.
Although the French Prime Minister changes quickly, there are only a few people who come and go, and the circle is very small.
"France hopes that this matter can be properly resolved under the premise of peace——"
Brian spoke diplomatically.
"Very good, you don't need to say anything anymore."
George didn't talk nonsense to Brian and served tea to see the guests off.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke, please don't do this. France also has its own difficulties."
Brian didn't dare to leave. If he left like this, God knows what will happen next.
Curzon didn't dare to leave. George's temper was not good, and barbarians were not just bragging.
"You don't need to explain, I understand, I understand everything-"
George wants to teach the French and British a lesson to let them know how to get along with Russia today.
"But I also want to remind you that Russia sometimes has some unavoidable difficulties."
George's words made Brian and Curzon sleepless.
The next morning, Witte held a press conference, publicly expressing his sympathy for the Irish and expressing his close attention to the conflicts in Ireland.
Curzon was almost mad and rushed directly into Witte's office and asked Witte to take back what he said at the press conference.
"What you are feeling now is exactly the same as my mood a few days ago."
Witt does not take it back. You British first graders are like Russian fifteenth graders.
Curzon couldn't argue.
It would be fine if Werther only sympathized.
If it goes further, the Irish attack will be more violent.
Russia is not an insignificant country like Poland and the Netherlands. Witte's public statement will further worsen the situation in the UK.
Russia does not even need to give actual material support to the Irish. It only needs to show an attitude, which will double the confidence of the Irish.
“I only expressed my sympathy for the Poles and did not cause any actual losses to Russia.”
Curzon now realized that he had disturbed the hibernating polar bear.
“I just expressed my sympathy for the Irish——”
Witt wanted to laugh out loud, feeling more free than ever before.
(End of this chapter)