Chapter 915 The Strategic Value of the West Coast

After the South African War, Portugal's war reparations were actually transferred from East Africa to the British, so Britain achieved all-round control over Portugal's economy. In addition, Britain and Portugal were traditional allies, so the British acquiesced to Portugal's expansion of colonies in West Africa.

Moreover, this can also play a role in buffering the colonies of Britain and Germany. As for France, it is naturally impossible to deprive Portugal of the colony of Ouidah as in the previous life.

In fact, the British could not let France do this. After all, they suffered a great loss in South Africa. Britain could only intensify competition with France in West Africa, but France's strength in West Africa was obviously too strong, so the current conflict between France and Britain in West Africa is actually not small.

In the final analysis, it was because of the expansion of East Africa that interrupted the colonial steps of various countries in the previous life. According to the current territory of East Africa, the victims include Britain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium and France.

Britain lost Kenya and Rhodesia, Portugal lost Angola and Mozambique, Germany lost German East Africa and Southwest Africa, Belgium lost the Congo Basin, and France only got one-third of Madagascar Island.

The only two countries that benefited were Italy and Sigmaringen, but Italy had also been badly cheated by Ernst before, losing the entire Venice and part of Lombardy, and the Papal States and Naples also regained independence.

This shows the role of East Africa as a "shit-stirring stick" in the world situation. In fact, the victims also include Japan and the United States, who have been cheated by East Africa to a greater or lesser extent.

Of course, except for Britain, Portugal and Japan, other countries have good relations with East Africa. After all, they can't think of their colonial pattern in their previous lives.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that French businessmen will invest or conduct trade activities in East Africa. With a land area of ​​13 million and a population of more than 70 million, a little leakage is enough for many businessmen to make a fortune.

Cross: "In fact, your company's ability to get this order is actually related to us. The East African government makes money from us through agricultural products, so they have the funds to buy advanced industrial equipment from you. Otherwise, relying on East Africa's economic level, it is not easy to improve its industrial capacity on its own."

What Cross said is also correct. East Africa is now following the Soviet path, raising funds for industrial development through the gap between industry and agriculture. Of course, this set is not the original creation of the Soviet Union, but it is more typical.

There are actually similar cases in the early development of industry in European and American countries. The more well-known ones include the sheep-eating movement in the UK. However, in European and American countries, the land is mainly concentrated in the hands of landlords, so the form of expression is different. In essence, it is to sacrifice the interests of farmers to promote industrial development.

Of course, sacrificing agriculture is one of the mainstream means for countries that want to achieve industrialization, but Europe and the United States can also achieve the original accumulation of wealth through foreign colonial plunder and the export of industrial products.

East Africa is no exception, except that the colonies in East Africa have basically been "localized", but the damage to the local indigenous people is irreversible. Although East African agriculture has made great progress, agricultural development provides the main funds for industry. At the same time, East Africa also exports electricity, automobiles, steel and other products, so the industrialization process of various countries is similar and not very clean.

For what Cross said, Burley naturally understood, and he smiled and said: "Same, same, this can only mean that everyone has gained their own interests in trade with East Africa. East Africa has obtained advanced industrial equipment, and we have all made money. We just get what we need."

So who exactly suffered in the transaction? The answer is the Portuguese, the Orangemen, the Zanzibar people, and the indigenous people of Africa.

As for East African agriculture, although it seems to be at a disadvantage, it can only be considered a mixed bag. After all, East African agriculture has also enjoyed the dividends of the times. The land is basically robbed, and the labor force is supplemented by blacks. Although the number of blacks is declining rapidly, the animal power in East Africa has increased, and mechanization is now in its infancy. Coupled with the improvement of related supporting projects, the development of East African agriculture is actually not slower than that of industry, but industry is more likely to achieve results.

"Mr. Cross, as a fellow countryman, why don't you get together in Block 11 tonight, and call more friends at that time. As French people overseas, we should also help each other more." Boli suggested.

Block 11 is actually the red-light district of Dar es Salaam, and foreigners generally like to go there for fun.

"No problem, but I know a lot of acquaintances in Dar es Salaam, and you will have to spend money tonight." Cross said with a smile.

In fact, the French in East Africa are still relatively concentrated, such as Dar es Salaam, where there are more than 700 permanent residents.

Of course, the main reason for this is that, in addition to Dar es Salaam being the largest city in East Africa and having more opportunities, there are also fewer ports in East Africa. In addition, due to the closed-door policy in East Africa, no matter how many foreigners there are, they can only be concentrated in a few coastal cities.

There are only a handful of such cities, so most foreigners are currently mainly distributed in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Beira, New Hamburg Port, and Luanda and Benguela on the west coast.

Foreigners on the west coast are mainly Germans, concentrated in Luanda and Benguela. As for other cities on the west coast, such as Cabinda, which is second only to Luanda in terms of economy, there are actually not many Germans, because the local railway has not yet been opened, and because it is located in the tropical rainforest, Germans prefer to invest in Luanda and Benguela in the south.

As for merchants from other countries, except for Portugal, there are almost no permanent residents in the ports on the west coast of East Africa.

As for Austria, they will definitely not go to the west coast to invest. Austria is closer to the east of East Africa through the Suez Canal, and the economic strength of the east coast of East Africa is also stronger.

Of course, another reason why the Germans attach importance to the west coast is that Germany's Cameroon colony is not far from the west coast of East Africa. In this way, the construction of Cameroon or other German West African colonies requires the support of East Africa.

After all, Germany is far north of the European continent. On the way from its homeland to the various colonies in West Africa, it has to pass through the British and French waters, so it is not very safe.

In addition, some goods needed for colonial development can be imported directly from East Africa to save a lot of costs, after all, East Africa is very close.

Moreover, investing in East Africa itself is not a bad thing. Germany is also optimistic about East Africa's development and construction in the west, especially in Angola. Early layout can also deepen its influence on East Africa.

At present, East Africa is an important source and market for new raw materials for Germany, with huge potential. The sea transportation from the west coast of East Africa to Germany is the most convenient, and it is also the least likely to be clamped by the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.

This can also be seen as a strategic foresight of Germany, just like the Far East Empire in the past to ensure energy security, thus opening ports and land passages in Pakistan and Myanmar.

It seems to be of little use at ordinary times, and even loses money, but if there is a day of blockade or war, it may play an important role.

The Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal are under the control of the British, and Germany naturally does not want to be so easily controlled. In the past, Germany may not have had such considerations when building the Baghdad Railway, that is, to break through the blockade of the ocean by other countries through land.

The emergence of East Africa only gave Germany an additional option. In wartime, it is difficult to block the trade between the west coast of East Africa and Germany. After all, there are no favorable terrain conditions like Suez and Gibraltar, or even the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.