Chapter 737 Canal Company
Before the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway, George took ships to and from St. Petersburg and Vladivostok via the Suez Canal many times.
The Suez Canal in 1921 was less than 100 meters wide at the surface, less than 20 meters wide at the bottom, and most importantly, only 6 meters deep.
When the construction of the Suez Canal started, the largest ship was less than 10,000 tons. The requirements for the canal were not high. The water depth of 6 meters was enough for all ships to navigate.
During the Russo-Japanese War, the Suez Canal Company was worried that the tonnage of Russian warships was too large and might run aground in the canal, which would affect the navigation of the canal. Therefore, it refused to allow Russian warships to pass, resulting in Russian warships having to bypass it. Africa travels to the Far East.
The British battleship "HMS Hood" started construction in 1916, with a displacement of 41,000 tons and a draft of 9.8 meters, which could not pass through the canal.
For the same reason, the "Gangut" class battleships and the "Queen Maria" class battleships built by Russia must go around Africa if they want to go to the Far East.
This time it is really not Britain and France who are causing trouble.
If it were just a warship, that would be it.
With the development of shipbuilding technology, the tonnage of ships is getting larger and larger, and the navigation standards are getting higher and higher. The Suez Canal has gradually failed to keep up with the development of the times. Many shipping companies hope that the canal company can dredge the canal and improve the quality of the canal. traffic capacity.
These demands were ignored by the Suez Canal Company.
The prerequisite for dredging the canal is to close the canal, which will have a direct impact on the canal company's profits.
The full name of the Suez Canal Company is: International Suez Maritime Canal Company. The company was founded in 1857 with a capital of 200 million francs, divided into 400,000 shares.
France purchased 207,111 shares, accounting for 52%; Egypt subscribed for 177,602 shares, accounting for 44%.
In 1875, Britain purchased the shares of the Canal Company held by Egypt for 4 million pounds, and jointly held shares with France.
When the Canal Company was established, the French promised that the Canal Company would be governed by Egyptian laws and customs. The Egyptian government spent 16.8 million pounds to dig the canal, which was 3.7 times the French investment.
It took 11 years to dig the canal. The Egyptian government used hundreds of thousands of workers, and 123,000 people died during this period.
After the completion of the canal, Britain and France ignored Egypt's interests and even had to pay fees to the canal company for Egyptian ships passing through the canal. The canal company's revenue from the date of completion has exceeded 3 billion francs, and the Egyptian government has gained little.
When Egypt became independent, it negotiated with Britain over the jurisdiction of the Suez Canal.
Not only did Britain not agree to transfer jurisdiction over the canal to Egypt, but it also stationed troops along the canal and classified the canal area as a state within a state.
On December 26, Dolgorukov Shipping Company, headquartered in Vladivostok, once again proposed to the Suez Canal Company to dredge the Suez Canal Company.
This request was once again ignored by the Suez Canal Company.
Just kidding, how much will it cost to stop for one day? Who will make up for the losses of shareholders?
As for your ships being impassable——
What does this have to do with shareholders? Who asked you to build such a big ship?
See, this is the ugly face of those who have vested interests.
Dolgorukov is a commercial company and has nothing to do with the canal company.
At the annual work summary meeting of the League of Nations, Nicholas Jr. directly attacked Britain and France, saying that the canal company was occupying the manhole and doing nothing.
Clemenceau was helpless.
Where is the League of Nations?
It is for discussing international affairs and mediating international disputes. Is this trivial matter worthy of being discussed at the General Assembly of the League of Nations?
Little Nicholas just said: Just tell me whether this is an international dispute!
If it was just little Nicholas, Clemenceau could still handle it.
But now little Nicholas is no longer what he used to be. Not only does he have many younger brothers, but he has also learned how to fight in groups with the British and French.
Russia used to suffer from the fact that it did not know how to fight in groups, and was easily beaten by groups.
In the Ninth Russo-Turkish War, the Russian Empire was attacked by Britain, France, Austria, and the Kingdom of Sardinia.
During the World War, Russia challenged Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire——
Clemenceau: You also challenged them?
Little Nicholas: Just say you have no choice.
Nicholas Jr. was in the League of Nations and also singled out Clemenceau and Edward Gray. Now as long as little Nicholas speaks, a large group of younger brothers will swarm him. Regardless of whether the reason is on Little Nicholas's side, at least their voices will be much louder.
“If the shareholders of the Canal Company cannot afford the opportunity, then sell the company’s shares and exit!”
This is a relatively rational voice.
"The Canal Company is an antique from the last century and should be buried with the four empires!"
This man definitely drank too much.
"If the canal company has no money, we can crowdfund -"
Even the auditor, Colonel Shenghouse, couldn't help but intervene.
Nasser, the Egyptian representative with the loudest voice.
The British personality is indeed quite divided.
When the British overseas colonies and dominions demanded political power, Britain clung to it.
However, in order to increase Britain's voice in the League of Nations, Britain forcibly inserted overseas colonies and autonomous territories in the name of the country, and Egypt was one of them.
Nasser was born in Cairo and educated in Britain. Although Nasser is now British, he also has an identity as an Ottoman noble.
After the demise of the Russian Empire, the Russian nobles cried and shouted every day for George to ascend the throne.
The nobles of the Ottoman Empire also missed the imperial era.
With snot in his nose and tears in his eyes, Nasser accused Britain and France of their shameless behavior at the League of Nations conference.
"The shareholders of the Canal Company deceived us. Not only did they occupy the canal, but they also did not allow Egypt to participate in the dividends of the canal, nor did they allow Egypt to participate in the operation of the canal. The 21 board members of the Canal Company, all of whom are British and French, did not An Egyptian——"
Clemenceau said nothing and looked askance at Edward Grey.
Edward Gray's eyes are double-protected, and no one can judge his emotions through his eyes.
"Mr. Edward, please speak!"
Little Nicholas will be very polite when needed.
"What can I say, I'm not a shareholder of the canal company."
Edward Gray showed his hands, I am just a patient and can't do business.
"See, gentlemen, this is the world we live in. Some people just refuse to open their eyes and face reality!"
Little Nicholas is murderous and heart-wrenching.
Fighting only in the League of Nations, although it is addictive, does not solve the problem.
After the meeting, Nicholas Jr. invited Nasser to his palace as a guest.
"Pray that you will never gain true independence. Even if you kneel down in front of the shareholders of the Canal Company, you will never get a penny from them."
Little Nicholas transformed into a mentor.
“What should we do?”
Nasser took the initiative to ask for advice.
"If you want to get help from others, you must first prove that you have the potential to be invested."
Little Nicholas is like the devil.
Ambition is like weeds, growing crazily deep in Nasser's heart.
(End of this chapter)