Chapter 1018 Passive Compromise

With the continuous development of labor dispatch, the wave of unemployment has been effectively curbed, social security has gradually improved, and the situation in the European continent has gradually stabilized.

The facts have proved once again: the problem cannot be solved, and neither can the person who created the problem.

Everything is developing in a positive direction. Except for the careerists, all walks of life are satisfied with this result.

Only the Japanese are not satisfied. The stabilization of the situation in Europe shattered all their illusions. Counting on Spain to explode has become a bubble.

Not only was Spain unable to blow up, but there were signs of explosions in Japan.

The "Misao Movement" has spread from Tokyo to the whole country, and millions of people have participated in this "grabbing rice" movement.

Although the Japanese government decisively sent troops to suppress and control the situation, the bloodshed could not stop the hunger.

As long as the stomach problems of the people cannot be solved, the "Misao Movement" cannot really stop.

It is not that the Japanese government has made efforts for this. The problem is that the economic blockade of the European Union has really begun. The Spaniards pretended to be powerful, and arrested the "Tongri Merchant Ship" everywhere under the banner of the alliance.

In order to deter capitalists, the Spaniards even created a blacklist for reporting collaborators. No matter what kind of merchant ship it is, as long as it is proved to be

This is not a moment of anger, but really recorded in a small notebook. If you don't meet it, forget it, if you meet it, wait for it to be published in the newspaper!

Sea storms, pirates, and the mystery of the disappearance of the Devil Sea can all be arranged. These routines were taught by the Spaniards as early as when the British and Western seas were fighting for supremacy.

Although a 300% profit can prompt capitalists to commit any crimes at the risk of beheading; the Japanese government also needs to be able to afford a 300% profit.

Other materials are fine, food is a bulk commodity. If a 300% profit is really given, even if the food is brought in, the Japanese people will not be able to afford it!

In this context, continuing to procrastinate is obviously not a good choice. Especially as the final withdrawal time given by the European Union is getting closer, the pressure on Hirobumi Ito is even greater.

The bottom line is always used to break through.

At the beginning, the Tokyo government wanted to leave a few small islands in the Nanyang region, so it was not in vain to go south.

It was later discovered that it was not possible, and the hatred between Japan and the West had grown. Even if a few small islands are left, once the main force of the Japanese army withdraws, it is impossible to keep them.

The land cession could not be achieved, and the Japanese government set its goal on claiming compensation, namely: the redemption fee.

It's a pity that the Spaniards are also clinking poor. They can't be expected to lend money to the Japanese as a ransom fee, right?

Even if the Madrid government is willing to make a compromise, the Vienna government, as the behind-the-scenes funder, is unwilling to lend the money.

Bottom line, there is only a difference between once and countless times. As long as you break through the first time, you can continue to break through later.

Up to now, Ito Hirobumi no longer expects to ask for compensation. As long as the Spaniards don't make trouble, let them transport the wealth they have searched back smoothly.

The Philippine Islands are a rich place. The wealth that the Japanese army plundered on the island may not be able to cover the expenses of the war, but there is still hope for filling half of the holes.

I can't guarantee anything else, but at least the domestic food crisis can be overcome safely. As for what the people on the island will eat after the looting is gone, that is out of their consideration.

The closer to the critical moment, the heavier the smell of gunpowder on the negotiating table. Every concession is accompanied by the loss of a large amount of benefits, which neither Japan nor the West are willing to accept.

As for the countries participating in the mediation, although they have expressed their positions, everyone wants to save face, and it’s okay for the mediators to have some inclinations.

There were not many interests involved in the Japanese-Spanish War, and helping Spain was more out of political needs, and it was impossible to ask everyone to do their best.

You get what you pay for, and the benefits that Spain can offer are only enough for everyone to help wave the flag.

Being able to force Japan to give up the Philippine Islands was the result of the mediation of the Vienna government. If you want to get more benefits, it can only be fought by Spain itself.

Britain's attitude is similar. It's enough to keep Japan, the nominal little brother, from being killed. As for other details, it has nothing to do with the London government.

In a sense, it is very interesting for Britain to be able to achieve this step.

The British government led Japan south to relieve the pressure on the French. The Austrian Southeast Asia to be dealt with did not allow the Japanese to invade the Philippines.

Although the established facts were created, the British government acquiesced to this result. But self-assessment is self-assessment. Although the British didn't say anything, there must be some dissatisfaction in their hearts.

In a sense, the Japanese government's self-assertion also disrupted Britain's strategic deployment.

Had it not been for the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, Spain would not have made up its mind to join the anti-French alliance; without Spain's participation, the four-sided siege strategy of the anti-French alliance would not have succeeded.

Without converging on the general trend of strategy, Napoleon IV would not despair, let alone throw the pot away in a hurry.

If Napoleon IV did not run away, France would not surrender so quickly.

If the French choose to fight to the end, even if they can't make a comeback, it can be delayed for a year and a half.

A year and a half may not seem like a long time, but we can do a lot of things. If the French hadn't surrendered too quickly, the British government would not have fallen into a passive position after the war.

Although such inferences are somewhat idealistic, some people can't help but think so. at least in london

There are many similar reports in the newspapers.

...

Ito Hirobumi said seriously: "If your country continues to attack our fleet, then we will not be able to guarantee the orderly handover, and all the consequences will be borne by your country."

Showdown.

The Japanese government's biggest bargaining chip now is that the Japanese army has occupied most of the Philippine Islands.

If Spain wants to obtain a relatively complete Philippines, the cooperation of the Japanese is indispensable.

Destruction is always easier than construction. If the Japanese army is allowed to play freely, even if Spain regains the Philippine Islands, it will be a piece of land.

Leaving aside the infrastructure, the hundreds of thousands of Hispanic hostages in the hands of the Japanese army alone are enough to make the Spanish government throw a mouse.

The European countries are watching, and the Japanese naturally dare not directly play massacre. Not daring to do anything, doesn't mean they can't do anything.

Taking advantage of the power of the European Union can suppress the Japanese, but it cannot frighten the indigenous tribes who have lived in the jungle for many years.

The ignorant are fearless, as long as the Japanese provoke and fool them, they can use the hands of the natives to play massacres.

As long as their hands and feet are clean and they remove themselves from the massacre, the Japanese government can get away with it.

To put it bluntly, the Continental Union is still unwilling to start a war for the benefit of Spain, which is not in everyone's interest. As long as the face is decent, no one will look into it.

There is also a deep-seated reason that cannot be pursued, and that is: on the issue of colonies, the hands and feet of all countries are not very clean.

Regardless of whether the dead are indigenous or Hispanic, for European countries, there is no essential difference.

With the current situation in Spain, it is obvious that it cannot withstand such a toss. If the painstaking efforts of more than two hundred years are destroyed, it will be very difficult to restore the rule of the Philippine Islands.

Once the hands of the natives are full of Hispanic blood, there is no room for relaxation between the two sides. Even if it is just to give the people an explanation, the Spanish government must retaliate.

If you come and go and kill, the Philippine Islands, which could have contributed millions of Aegis income to the Spanish government every year, have become a heavy economic burden.

Not only the government's finances can't stand it, but the Spanish aristocrats who have been cut off from their sources of income can't stand it either.

Of course, if a massacre really happened, the Japanese government would not even think about it.

Not only will it form a deadly feud with Spain, but even the international image that has just improved will be destroyed in one fell swoop. The notoriety of "brutal" and "barbaric" will make them "die alone" politically.

Even the current Great Britain will abandon them without hesitation. No country in the European world would associate with them, at least not for a short time.

In a sense, this is another gamble. Ito Hirobumi bet on the future national fortunes of the two countries, betting that the Spanish government will back down.

"This is impossible!"

"There has never been a reason why the owner cannot stop robbers from robbing their own homes. Now every shipment of goods shipped by your country is our wealth.

As a sovereign country, the great Spain absolutely cannot tolerate such trampling of national sovereignty, and we will not accept this threat.

Similarly, righteous people all over the world will not tolerate this kind of thing happening. "

It can be heard from Federico's slightly trembling voice that his heart is not at peace at the moment.

The Japanese government is crazy and dares to gamble; but the Spanish government is very normal, and it is impossible for the country to take such a big risk.

At least the aristocrats and capitalists who are vested interests will not allow this kind of thing to happen.

Federico, who lacks confidence, can only continue to pull the tiger skin of the European Union. It is hoped that the intervention of the alliance countries will prevent the possibility of the Japanese taking risks.

"Your Excellency misunderstood, I was just stating the facts, not threatening.

Our troops are limited. It is really beyond our capabilities to guard against sneak attacks from your country and divide our forces to maintain the safety of the island.

In particular, your navy is constantly attacking our merchant ships, causing prices on the island to soar, and social order is collapsing.

As for plundering your country's wealth, that's completely nonsense. We just transported our own luggage and supplies, and did not touch a single cent of your country.

Your country's attack has seriously affected the withdrawal progress of our army and the peace and stability of the world.

For the safety of the people on the island, for the traditional friendship between the two countries, and for the early elimination of misunderstandings. I only reminded you out of humanitarian considerations. "

Ito Hirobumi, who has entered the state, is obviously not an easy master to deal with. Using the technique of sophistry, the responsibility of the Japanese government was completely removed.

According to him, the war of aggression, which was determined by the international community, has turned into an understatement of misunderstanding; the blatant plunder of wealth has turned into a troop withdrawal in response to the European Union; naked threats can all turn into friendship between the two countries.

This kind of friendship is probably unbearable for normal people. However, Ito Hirobumi still said it without changing his face.

British representative Claus: "We are able to sit here today to solve the problem. The core of the Philippine war is actually the ownership of the Philippine Islands.

Now that the issue of ownership of the archipelago has been reached, the remaining disputes are only minor details.

In order to better advance the negotiation process and avoid another outbreak of conflict, I propose that the two sides first sign a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. "

I have to admit that the charm of the pound is big. Even as the British consul, Klaus "bowed his waist for 500,000 buckets of rice".

Having a thick skin doesn't mean being able to solve the problem. Aggressive sophistry can certainly gain the upper hand in debates, but this is not a debate contest.

While Ito Hirobumi suppressed the momentum of the Spanish representatives, it also aroused the dissatisfaction of the representatives of European countries.

If there had been a massacre, we would have turned a blind eye, but you can't say it. Even if it's just a hint, we don't want to lose face!

"There are only interests between countries" is not necessarily correct. The government that dominates the country is made up of people, who are not only rational but also emotional.

If the stimulus is too much and the representatives of various countries become emotional, the Japanese government will be finished. From this point of view, Ito Hirobumi is playing with fire at this time.

Against this background, Krause's speech is very valuable. Clearly told the representatives of various countries: We have made concessions, the Philippine Islands belong to Spain, and you can go back to deal with business.

As for the details, that is the business of Japan and the West. It doesn't affect your interests, so don't mix it up to save face.

Coupled with the combination, the heavy gift sent by the Japanese government before is even more convincing.

Although it is said that "eat the home, eat the home", but that also has to be done. I don't ask you to come forward to support, it's always okay to be distracted at critical moments!

Seeing Federico's look for help, Governor Chandler frowned, and said slowly: "There is no problem in signing the armistice treaty. However, Sir Federico raised the issue of the Japanese army's alleged plundering of wealth, so we have to guard against it.

I think it's better to limit the number of ships that sail every day, and then send representatives to form a monitoring team to ensure that vicious wealth plundering really happens. "

There is no way, the Spaniards lack confidence and dare not go to the gambling table like the Japanese. Putting all hope on Shinra's intervention, Governor Chandler can only propose a compromise plan.

If not, Shinra can't come out as a guarantee to Spain, and the Japanese government must not dare to fish to the death and break the net, right?

There is no such thing as international politics. Don't expect others to help you if you don't work hard for it yourself.

If the Spanish government is really courageous, then at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives on the island and the ruins of the Philippine Islands, bet that the Japanese government will not dare to move.

If you win, you will earn blood, if you lose, you will suffer financially, but you will gain strategically.

Even if the Philippine Islands are abolished, Spain will suffer heavy economic losses. Anyway, the economic crisis has broken out, and no matter how bad it is, it will not be so bad.

It can be exchanged for Japan, the enemy, to be rejected by the international community, and it may even decline. Strategically, Spain will not lose anything.

A country that is uncompromising and dares to defend its own interests will definitely make people look up to three points. It can also deter other countries that have ambitions for Spanish colonies.

Unfortunately, the Spaniards dare not gamble. No matter how good the reasons are, the end result is the same.

In the short term, this compromise may be more beneficial to Spain; but in the long run, this compromise has shaken the status of the Spanish Empire as a great power.

The great powers are at the bottom, that is also the great powers. Relying on its status as a great power, Spain was able to flourish in international activities.

Once the status of a great power is lost, it is unknown whether the colonial empire can be maintained. Unlike the Netherlands and Portugal, the colonial empire can be maintained by diplomacy, and the countries that spy on the Spanish colonies are not in Europe.