Chapter 716 Amateur Players
During the World War, the Provisional Government wanted to send Nicholas and his family to England for asylum out of safety concerns.
The British government has repeatedly considered it and expressed that it is not convenient to accept it.
From then on, Werther's attitude towards Britain completely changed.
After the Russo-Japanese War, Russia used British loans to rebuild its finances, and the two sides had a honeymoon period.
Looking back now, the reason why Britain repaired relations with Russia was entirely because of the threat from Germany, not because of the British conscience.
During the Balkan War, George acted quickly and captured Constantinople before the British could react. The British had to accept this result.
During the World War, Russia saved the British and French coalition forces at least twice. In order to share the pressure of the British and French coalition forces, Nicholas did not hesitate to break the strategy formulated by George and gamble on the national destiny of the Russian Empire. In the end, he was completely abandoned by Britain.
This is the result of being an ally with Britain.
Historical experience proves that Russia can only rely on itself.
Compromise with Britain will only make Britain worse.
What the British call a win-win situation means that Britain wins twice.
Compared with the British, the French are much smarter.
The British did not take George's two "very good" words seriously, which led to a Russian counterattack.
After Brian reported the situation in Constantinople to Paris, French President Raymond Poincaré immediately adjusted his schedule and went to Constantinople in person to explain to George face to face.
Raymond Poincaré hated Germany even more than Clemenceau did.
Clemenceau's attitude toward Germany at the Paris Peace Conference was admittedly harsh, but Raymond Poincaré also believed that Clemenceau's concessions to Germany were too great.
At the opening ceremony of the Paris Peace Conference, Raymond Poincaré gave an opening speech, saying that Germany "was born in injustice and deserves to die in shame."
Before the outbreak of the World War, Raymond Poincaré visited the Russian Empire and worked to mediate the conflicts between the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but ultimately failed.
Puengale's term will expire early next year. He voluntarily gave up the campaign, so he had time to come to Constantinople.
George personally went to the port to greet Raymond Poincaré. This move was highly praised by the French media, saying that this was Russia's true "national gift."
Nowadays, the standard for evaluating Russia’s “national gift” is very simple. Regardless of how big the welcome ceremony is, or what the Russian media says, it only depends on whether George comes out to greet him in person.
Of course this is not the only criterion.
King Ferdinand of the Kingdom of Romania and King Polis of the Kingdom of Bulgaria also often came to Constantinople. George never greeted them personally, which did not affect the relationship between Russia and the two countries.
George's office is still in the former theater headquarters. The new office building is under construction and is not expected to be put into use the year after next.
Poincaré apologized to George in person, saying that France had no intention of infringing on Russia's interests, and explained that Brian's attendance at the press conference did not represent France's attitude.
George could understand the French's mood, but did not accept Poincaré's explanation.
Curson attended the press conference, even if he could not cause actual losses to Russia, he deliberately disgusted Russia.
France really wants to support Poland and form a two-sided attack on Germany.
George is not Nicholas, and the British and French tricks of deceiving Nicholas are ineffective on George.
Even if George said it nicely in person, he would definitely not bet on the fate of Britain and France like Nicholas did.
The current territory of Poland only includes the part that was originally ceded by Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and does not include the part that was ceded by Russia.
In this case, Poland's strength could not achieve the goals of Britain and France, so Piłsudski had the courage to ask Russia for Warsaw.
"Germany and Russia have just signed a cooperation agreement. If Russia supports Germany in asking France for Alsace and Lorraine, what will you do?"
George is sharp and asks Poonga Len was speechless.
After the Franco-Prussian War, France ceded Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and reclaimed them through the Paris Peace Conference.
This situation is similar to that in Warsaw. If Russia supports Germany's claim for Alsace and Lorraine, it may lead to Russia and France severing relations.
"Grand Duke, the situation in France is different from that in Russia——"
Poengale hopes that George will understand that France also has its own national conditions.
“The situation may be different, but there is no emotional difference.”
George still has this bit of empathy.
But still the same sentence, I can understand it, but I don’t accept it.
Pungarai was at his wits end and finally showed his true sincerity.
The Paris Peace Conference has ended, and the French election is about to take place. No matter who becomes the French president next year, France will begin to rebuild.
The situation in France is indeed different from that in Russia. Reconstruction is not decided by one person and requires a vote by parliament.
No matter what the matter is, as long as it involves Danzi, then wait for the dispute.
Poengale made a purchase list for George, hoping to purchase supplies for reconstruction from Russia.
Poincaré is generous, with orders totaling 4 billion francs.
“Doesn’t this order require parliamentary discussion?” George questioned the validity of the order.
Just now, the U.S. Congress decided not to join the League of Nations, giving Wilson a resounding slap in the face.
The establishment of the League of Nations was the initiative of US President Wilson, but the United States did not join it. This is simply a great irony.
George believed that Poincaré was really out of the relationship between France and Russia at this moment, so he placed a large purchase order.
The problem is that there are only two months left in Poincaré’s term. If the French Parliament does not approve it, Poincaré’s order cannot be implemented.
“There are only two countries that are still capable of providing reconstruction materials, one is Russia and the other is the United States. Compared with the Americans, the French trust their allies more.”
Poincaré also hated both sides of the situation before the United States entered the war.
Americans thought they were smart, had both sides, and did not waste even the last copper, becoming the big winner of the world war.
Wilson was teased in Paris, which fully proved Europe's attitude towards the United States.
No matter how rich you are as an American, you are still a nouveau riche. You have never seen the big scene and cannot stand on the stage.
It was precisely because of Wilson's experience in Paris that the Monroe Doctrine in the United States resurfaced.
"Your Excellency, congratulations to you, you have gained my friendship again."
George took the initiative to reach out to Poungale.
Puengale greeted him with both hands, probably because he felt it was not appropriate. At the moment of shaking hands, his left hand hesitated, and finally he held it with both hands.
This moment must have been a bit humiliating for Puengale.
But soon, Puengale was thankful for his choice.
January 1, 1920, is the traditional New Year's Day in the West, but there is not much festive atmosphere in Constantinople, because Russia uses the Russian calendar, and the New Year will not be in another half month.
At three o'clock in the afternoon on January 1, a Russian merchant ship anchored off the coast of the Irish port of Wexford. The British destroyer "Bold", which was on duty nearby, quickly arrived and asked the Russian merchant ship if it needed help.
"We have experienced some engine failure and are undergoing emergency repairs. No help is needed."
The merchant ship "Caesar" radioed and refused the help of the "Audacious".
The "Bold" did not leave, and continued to circle around the "Caesar", keeping a close watch.
The "Caesar" stayed until 6 p.m. before leaving, and nothing unusual happened during this period.
The British only learned on January 3 that the "Caesar" was a submarine supply ship.
The bottom of the submarine supply ship is hollow, so the submarine can be supplied without being known to the outside world.
Before the British government had time to protest, the Irish rebels launched an attack on the "black and brown troops" sent by the British.
In order to maintain the situation in Ireland, the United Kingdom formed a "Black and Brown Force" with a total number of 7,000 veterans at the end of last year and sent it to Ireland to assist the local police and security groups in suppressing the rebels.
Last year, the attacks by the Irish rebels were sporadic and no large-scale attacks were carried out. Although the number of attacks was large, the losses caused were not large.
On January 6, the Irish rebels dispatched nearly 400 people to attack the camp of the "Black and Brown Troops" with heavy machine guns and mortars, killing 120 members of the Black and Brown Troops and capturing 120 of them. 29 people.
This is the most serious loss suffered by the Black and Brown Army since its establishment.
Lloyd George finally couldn't sit still anymore and took the initiative to contact Witte and once again asked Witte to cut off all support for the Irish rebels.
Witt denied it and refused to accept the British accusation.
On January 12, Britain once again dispatched a reserve force of 2,214 officers to Ireland to intensify its crackdown.
The ferry on which the reserve team was traveling was attacked by Irish rebels while heading to Dublin, and 165 officers were killed.
This time the Irish rebels used submarines.
Lloyd George was furious and said that this was an attack on the British Empire. When the British Empire sorted out the facts, the British Empire would definitely retaliate.
Witt had a spat with Lloyd George in Constantinople, showing the media the 1892 technology transfer agreement between the Armour Shipyard and the American Fenian Brotherhood, proving that the Irish resistance had already Possess submarine-related technology.
Before Lloyd George could counterattack, Churchill, who had served as the British Admiralty Minister during the World War, called Russia a thief and shouted "Catch the thief" during an interview with reporters.
Having the technology related to submarines does not mean that you can build a submarine.
What the Amur Shipyard purchased from the Fenian Brotherhood was only the elevator technology for the submarine, and nothing else was involved.
Compared to the overall technology of submarines, elevators are equivalent to fishing nets in the sailing era.
Being able to weave fishing nets does not mean that you can build a sailing battleship.
"Mr. Churchill always likes to make unprofessional remarks in unfamiliar fields, but his work is a mess. He should use his energy on his own work."
Witt was not polite and directly said Churchill identified as a layman.
Churchill's current position is Secretary of State for the Colonies.
As the Secretary of Colonial Affairs, it is indeed a bit amateurish to make irresponsible remarks on submarine technology without trying to appease the British colonies and dominions.
(End of this chapter)