331 Frightened

Austria is in action, and Britain, France and the West are not idle either. First, the Spaniards seized the Spanish island (Haiti Island), and then the three countries accelerated the pace of expansion in Mexico.

The British had just suppressed the Indian rebellion, and the French were still focusing on the Italian region. Therefore, this time Mexico is more fortunate than in history. The expansion of various countries is mainly based on economic and political penetration.

If it weren't for the fear of irritating the two U.S. governments in the civil war, it is estimated that they would infiltrate U.S. states.

Re-establishing the colonial system in North America has always been the dream of the British, French and Western colonists. The American Monroe Doctrine has blocked everyone's way, and now it is natural to kick this obstacle away.

London

As the world's No. 1 naval power, the British deserved to be the boss of the joint intervention of the United States in the plan of the United States.

No one competes with them for dominance, and the British are the strongest in the Americas. If the Americans don't mobilize, John Bull's garrison in Canada can handle them.

This is not something to be proud of. The American pocket army does not represent the real strength of the Americans. The militia strength of most federal states is above the federal government.

The new British Prime Minister John Russell is holding a meeting in the Prime Minister's House in Downing Street.

"Everyone, that guy Lincoln has ordered a blockade of the east coast. How to ensure the normal conduct of our trade with the southern government has become our current problem."

There is no doubt that capitalists in the cotton industry put pressure on the London government. If the blockade is only for a short period of time, everyone will persevere and it will pass.

If it is blocked for a long time, or if the northern government wins the war, the British cotton supremacy will be shaken.

This is absolutely intolerable. You must know that the cotton spinning industry is the pillar industry of the British. Once there is a problem, the entire British economy will be hit hard.

Admiral Edward said calmly: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, don't worry too much about this issue. The coastline of the Confederate government is not short, and I think the US Navy should not be so strong.

Now the northern government is still working hard to build ships, and when they have that strength, we can also intervene with other countries and designate the coastal areas of the Confederate government as safe areas.

At present, the Austrian ocean-going fleet has arrived on the west coast of the United States, and the French fleet has also set off. Together with our and Spanish fleets in the Americas, the Americans simply cannot compete. "

This is not nonsense. The military strength of Americans in this era is really scum.

Don't complain about the 16,000-person pocket version of the Federal Army. After the outbreak of the Civil War, it was instantly reduced by a third.

The U.S. federal army is dispersed throughout the country, and the army stationed in the southern states is naturally separated from the command of the federal government.

The army is not good enough and the navy is not much better. When President Lincoln's blockade order was issued, the U.S. Navy, which had long since released Nanshan, discovered that: for various reasons, only 42 of the 90 warships of the Federal Navy could be used, of which only 3 warships could be used for coastal missions. ship.

There is no way, the U.S. Navy has received deep-sea combat training, and has no experience in near-sea combat, nor has it conducted relevant training.

Historically, the northern government, which had gained sea power, did not send troops from the coast to attack the south, mainly because it was not familiar with the coastal fortifications and fortresses.

Bureaucrats know it all. These funds are in the hands of the southern states themselves, and the federal government has no backup. No one had thought in advance that one day they would attack their own territory from the sea.

Minister of State Agarwal said: "The matter is not so simple, the three Ofassi countries also have their own tricks, and it is impossible to follow our command.

At present, the Royal Navy's strength in the Americas is insufficient. If this intervenes, it means surrendering the dominance of the intervention.

If it is not led by us, how can the interests of Britain be guaranteed? "

In this era of believing in fists, strength is equal to the right to speak. If you just want to get benefits, but are unwilling to contribute, you should not think about it.

The foreign powers are not fools. The British can scare small indigenous countries with their might, but Ofassi, who is also a foreign power, will not give them face.

It would be miserable if the three countries of Austria, France and the West join forces to carve up the interests of North America while watching the play.

The probability of such a thing happening is very small, but it cannot be ruled out. In the face of profit, anything is possible.

Prime Minister John Russell set his sights on Foreign Secretary Gladstone and wanted him to come up with a reliable solution. After all, this time the problem is seven parts diplomacy, two parts politics and one part military.

Gladstone analyzed: "From the current situation, the Austrians should be targeting Central America, France and Spain are targeting Mexico, and the three countries have plans to tear a piece of meat from the Americans.

The mobs in the United States are not easy to rule, so everyone's goal should be economic interests. Now the Austrians have the upper hand, capturing most of the US arms market.

Preliminary estimates put a profit of around £3 million. Our arms dealer is too petty to react. "

Prime Minister John Russell shook his head and said: "This is just a small problem. Arms is a one-shot deal. After the civil war, there is no more. This time, it will be cheaper for the Austrians. Let's talk about how we can maximize our interests!"

Three million pounds is an astronomical sum for an individual, but it is the same for the London government.

If it is a long-term income, it can also attract the attention of Prime Minister John Russell. This one-time transaction is really difficult to mention him.

interest.

Money is in other people's pockets, so you can't rob it, right? Even if you want to grab the Americans, it is easier than grabbing Austria.

Gladstone frowned. He didn't like being interrupted by others, especially after he became the foreign secretary of the British Empire.

But this is the Prime Minister's Office, not his office. It was the Prime Minister who interrupted him, and Gladstone was not easy to lose his temper.

"Your Excellency, the arms trade is actually related to our next plan. The Austrians' goal is very obvious. They just want the north and the south to continue fighting.

A careful study of their arms export shows that the manipulator behind it is the Habsburg family. It is not known whether it is one of them, or whether it is Emperor Franz himself.

Since the Austrians can play a balance between the north and the south, we can also play a balance between the north and the south, and the weak southern government can be more inclined.

However, the risks involved in doing so are very high, and the winner and loser will be divided between the North and the South if one is not good. It's okay for the South to win. They don't have the strength to unify the United States. If the North wins, it will be a big problem.

To this end, the Vienna government did not hesitate to send an ocean-going fleet. This fleet should be a tool they use to ensure the balance between the North and the South. Once the North wins, they can immediately send troops to intervene.

I propose immediately sending a fleet strong enough to overwhelm the U.S. Navy, while increasing the number of troops in Canada to dominate the situation if necessary. "

Chancellor of the Exchequer James objected: "Stop Your Excellency, don't forget that sending troops also requires money. We have just suppressed the Indian rebellion and have paid up to 280 million pounds for the military.

The government's financial resources have not allowed us to start another war. I don't think Americans are soft persimmons. If they are easy to deal with, it is still our colony. "

Foreign Secretary Gladstone said dissatisfiedly: "Your Excellency, don't always think about financial issues, as Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, you must take into account the overall situation.

What we give now, we will be able to double it back in the near future. A strong America is not in our interest, at least the Canadian region is under threat all the time.

The Americans' desire to drive us out of the Americas has never ceased. If you miss this opportunity, it will be difficult to draw allies in the future.

The military expenditure is shared among our four countries, and the actual expenditure is not too large. The Austrians dare to send an ocean-going fleet, why don't we? "

Chancellor of the Exchequer James shook his head and said: "The Austrians are doing this for Central America, they are too late to join the colonial movement, and the most fertile regions of the world have been carved up.

The Vienna government can develop the African continent regardless of the cost, not to mention the Central America region with better natural conditions?

However, we don't need it. Britain now needs to recuperate and start a war of uncontrollable scale again, which is completely worth the loss. "

This is how Franz developed the African continent and left the impression on the outside world. In the eyes of many, Austria's African colonies lost their pants.

In fact the same is true, except that the gold-mining West African region is barely making ends meet. The rest of the region has been losing money, and the loss is not a small amount.

This is completely different from the idea of ​​countries operating overseas colonies. In this era, everyone is trying to get benefits as soon as possible, and rarely invests money to build colonies.

Admiral Edward said: "Your Excellency, the more prepared we are for this intervention plan, the less likely a war will break out in the end.

Don't forget that the strength of the Intervention Alliance is far greater than that of the federal government. Why would they dare to fight with us?

Even if it does, I don't think it's a bad thing.

The Confederate government contained most of their strength, and we joined forces with the Occefa Three Kingdoms to fight against the rebels directly and re-divide the North American continent. "

Destroy the federal government, just think about it. Unless the British are willing to burst their livers, at most they will win the coastal areas.

The territory of the United States is not small, and the military expenditure to enter the inland areas is like running water. Historically, the United States was able to become independent, but the finances of the London government could not bear it.

Including the Second Anglo-American War, when the British set fire to the White House, they finally gave up their plan to destroy the United States because of too much military spending.

Prime Minister John Russell eased the atmosphere: "Everyone, you have digressed. The most critical issue now is to ensure smooth sea transportation and ensure the normal supply of domestic cotton.

Because this Indian rebellion caused too much damage to the region, our plan to rebuild the second cotton center in India had to be postponed.

The promotion of cotton planting in Egypt has not been smooth. On the one hand, there is the boycott of the local Egyptians who are unwilling to plant cotton;

Therefore, it is meaningless to dispute whether to increase troops to North America.

Now we must increase our troops, otherwise the cotton supply chain will be cut off by the northern government, what should we explain to Congress? "

This is a real problem. Growing cotton also takes time. Without a few years of promotion, it is impossible to form a scale.

However, the scope and duration of this Indian rebellion far exceeded that of the same period in history. The cotton plantations opened up by the British were also destroyed by the rebels.

In three to five years, cotton in India will be difficult to form a scale. The cotton planting and promotion in Egypt is not smooth, and the domestic cotton spinning industry cannot afford to wait.

As for

The London government does not need to consider other cotton producing areas in the world, and the output at that point simply cannot meet their needs.

Without a new source of cotton, the options available to the London government would not exist. Domestic cotton merchants just want to make a fortune, but they are not ready to kill the domestic textile industry.

The cotton they are hoarding now will last until the first half of next year at most.

If enough cotton could not be obtained this year, the British cotton industry would be shut down from mid-1862.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer resolutely chose to remain silent. If he talks about lack of money at this time, he will be too disregard for the overall situation and will be shot by the capitalists.

If the cotton textile industry collapses due to a lack of raw material supply, then the sky is really falling.

As long as you think about it, no one in the industrial chain, which accounts for a quarter of the UK's population, dares to bear this terrible consequence.

They can't even trust the interference alliance. Who knows if Ofasi will compromise with the northern government and sell them.

In such a matter of life and death, it is better to go into battle yourself.

The Minister of State frowned and said: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, it is imperative to establish a cotton production area under our complete control, and we cannot be kept stuck like this all the time.

Even the Austrians smashed a cotton planting base regardless of the cost to meet the domestic demand. There is no reason why we can't do it. "

John Russell's face changed and he exclaimed: "No, we must immediately send a fleet to the Americas to deter the Austrians and prevent them from falling to the northern government."

Everyone reacted. When there were problems with cotton supply in European countries, the Austrian textile industry did not come out to grab the market.

Even if it is for the supremacy of the cotton spinning industry, the Vienna government has every reason to cheat them. As for diplomatic agreements, they were meant to be torn up.

The British have done a lot of this kind of thing, and naturally they think the same is true of the Vienna government.

There is nothing wrong with the sudden change of position in favor of the northern government in exchange for the federal government cutting off their cotton supply for profit.

Minister of State Agarwal added: “It is indeed possible that the Austrians are peeping at the supremacy of our cotton spinning industry. Judging from their consumption of cotton in previous years, cotton production in West Africa has exceeded a lot.

But instead of exporting them, they were all shipped back to the country. World cotton production has been cut this year because of the American Civil War, but cotton plantations in West Africa are on the rise.

We can send people out on a tentative purchase, and if they insist not to sell, then we're in big trouble. "

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