Chapter 332 Cotton Crisis

The British worried that Franz naturally did not know that he was still having a headache for the Suez Canal project at this time.

There are two main problems:

First, the massive use of slave labor by the Canal Company has aroused the condemnation of European public opinion;

Second, the overrun of the canal construction cost requires increased investment.

The second problem is easy to solve. The Canal Company has decided to issue additional shares to raise funds, and it will not be long before the problem can be solved.

Under normal circumstances, it is not difficult for France and Austria to join forces to suppress European public opinion. There are not many Virgin Marys in this era, and few people will come forward for a group of Egyptian slave laborers.

Moreover, these slave labors were all provided by the Egyptian government, and the Canal Company paid the Egyptian government.

Previously, even if there were reports in the newspapers, they were all directed at the Egyptian government. After all, the labor was organized by them, and their wages were withheld.

Anyway, Egypt is not a European country, and European public opinion is crazy, and they can't feel it, so they will take the blame.

It was different now, in order to promote cotton cultivation in Egypt, the British had to compete with the Canal Company for labor.

The Suez Railway built by the British was also in competition with the Canal Company.

Conflicts of interests between the two parties cannot be avoided, and conflicts arise. In order to crack down on the Canal Company, John Bull provoked public opinion to put pressure on the Canal Company.

As soon as the shit stick is shot, the fig leaf is not enough. France and Austria are not charitable. To save costs, the canal company will inevitably reduce labor costs.

Now the Canal Company pays the Egyptian government 1 million Aegis each year, which seems to be a lot, but it is shared among 150,000 workers, and the average per capita is 6.66... ​​Aegis.

This figure is less than a month's salary for ordinary workers in Austria. Moreover, the money also includes land acquisition compensation, labor management fees and so on.

John Bull not only revealed all these inside stories, but also attached several photos, including the life and work photos of the workers.

The bloody photos, coupled with the artistic descriptions, made Franz overflow with sympathy.

If you look closely, you will also find that the overseer who committed the violence is an Egyptian, which is the only good news.

The benefits of labor subcontracting have emerged, and there is one more thunderstorm. If it wasn't for John Bull's deliberate creation of public opinion, and the Canal Company pushing the responsibility to the Egyptian government, nothing would have happened.

Franz asked, "What are the French going to do?"

The French are now leading the construction of the canal, the French are also at the center of public opinion, and the French government is also under the greatest pressure.

After all, the French people are full of internationalism. French domestic newspapers are attacking the Canal Company, and even more directly attacking the French government, demanding that the Paris government be responsible for it.

When the same thing arrives in Austria, public opinion will be much more moderated, and newspapers are responsible for fair and objective analysis, and they will never bear the blame.

The first to be criticized is of course the Egyptian government. The mainstream public opinion believes that the Egyptian government has not fulfilled its responsibilities and has to pay the main responsibility.

The second is the poor supervision of the Canal Company, which is the responsibility of the company's management.

Problems in listed companies and multinational joint-stock companies are naturally not the matter of the Austrian government. If small shareholders are all responsible for this, aren't all shareholders responsible?

Foreign Minister Weisenberg replied: "The French are still hesitating and have not given a clear attitude. The domestic public opinion in France has brought them a lot of pressure.

According to news from the embassy, ​​people in Paris have taken to the streets to march. The headquarters of the Canal Company in Paris has been surrounded by parade crowds for many times, and it is no longer able to work normally.

Our representatives have proposed to the Canal Company Board of Directors to relocate the headquarters to Vienna to ensure that the office can be carried out normally, which is still under discussion. "

Franz had no doubts about relocating the headquarters. In history, there were not one or two companies that were forced away by the French people. The company could not operate normally, and it would not work if they did not move.

As an investor, Franz also does not want the French government to concede and interfere in the operation of the canal company.

Anyway, the reputation of the Canal Company is not within the scope of investors' consideration. Unless the government intervenes, the management of the canal will definitely die to the end.

The current situation is, in any case, much better than in history. Everyone knows that the Suez Canal is a joint project between France and Austria, but the private newspapers scolded it fiercely, and the governments of all countries did not express their opinions.

Politicians are not stupid. Now the three countries of Britain, France and Austria are engaged in a political game. To show their attitude is to stand in diplomatic line.

The British are indeed very good, but on the European continent, the French and Austrian countries have more weight. Even the younger brother of the British now knows that silence is golden.

Franz thought for a while and said, "Well, since the British broke the rules first, you're welcome.

Find a chance to sell the British dark history we have collected to the Canal Company. Let's get our hands on the guys at the Canal Company and drive this counter-attack. "

This is not the best way, but it is the most effective way. In this era of colonial empires, no one is much cleaner than the other.

The British can expose the black history of the Canal Company, then the Canal Company can naturally expose the black history of the British.

Anyway, behind the Suez Canal Company is France and Austria, and it will be right with the British government, so there is no need to counsel.

When everyone was brought to the same level, public opinion became busy, and they would not continue to stare at the Canal Company.

News only attracts everyone's attention because it is new. After the storm has passed, the management of the Canal Company will announce again

To improve labor conditions, such as adding a potato every day, and buying a few newspapers to wash and wash it will be in vain.

This is a matter of policy theory, and now the Canal Company must not admit it. No matter how you do it, it is impossible to satisfy everyone, and it may even cause a bigger storm.

...

In West Africa, a large plantation owner Carlos welcomes an unexpected visitor to his estate.

"Sir Carlos, we are very sincere in coming to buy cotton this time. We can add another ten percent to last year's cotton price."

Carlos smiled slightly and said, "It's a pity Mr. Max, I really didn't feel the sincerity of what you said.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, this year's cotton production cut is a foregone conclusion. Coupled with the blockade by the northern government, how much cotton can finally be shipped is a question.

Last year's cotton harvest was bumper, and prices were already low. Under so many favorable conditions, cotton prices will definitely be guaranteed.

As far as I know, the price of cotton on the London futures market has risen by fifty-six percent. "

Max explained nonchalantly: "Sir Carlos, the price of cotton in the futures market is hyped.

You should know what a 56 percent increase in the price of cotton means. The market simply can't bear the sky-high price. "

It is a fact that the cotton industry cannot accept a 56 percent increase in cotton prices. Otherwise, even if the cotton cloth is produced, it will not be sold in the end.

In this era, the market's capacity is limited. Industrial cotton can be popular mainly because it is cheap. Suddenly the price was increased by half, and the public simply could not afford it.

The two fell silent. After a while, Sir Carlos quoted the price: "Increase by 40% on last year's price, and I will sell you all my cotton this year."

Max shook his head and said, "Up 12 percent from last year's price, which is the highest cotton price in nearly a decade."

Sir Carlos sneered: "As far as I know, Felix Trading Company's cotton purchase price seems to be going up by 12% this year. If it's the same price, why should I sell it to you?"

Max quoted again: "Okay, I'll increase it by two points, this is always okay, right?"

Sir Carlos shook his head: "Mr. Max, Felix Trading Co., Ltd. has been buying cotton in West Africa for a long time, and your Darville company has always been buying cotton in the United States.

This multiple-choice question is easy to do. I can't offend a long-term partner for a little profit. Planters throughout West Africa will not do this.

If you just want to buy a batch of cotton for emergency, then I suggest you to buy it directly from Felix firm! "

Max had a headache, which was the biggest trouble. It is precisely because the cotton supply in the United States cannot be guaranteed this year that he is allowed to purchase cotton in West Africa at home.

But the market here has already been done, and if they want to get involved, there is absolutely no way except to raise the price.

As for buying from cotton merchants, it is not surprising that they are not extorted. Originally, he wanted to make a time difference and fool the uninformed plantation owner, but it failed at the beginning.

...

The head office of Darville Cotton Acquisition Company in London is discussing the news of the failure to buy cotton from West Africa.

"It's clear now that news of the American Civil War has come," said Kenneth, purchasing director. "Unless we raise cotton prices significantly, we won't be able to win against the Austrians."

To know that we buy cotton from West Africa, we have to pay import and export duties, and the cost is much higher than them.

If there is a price war now, even if enough cotton is purchased in the end, it may not be able to make money. "

This is a real problem. It is still unknown whether the cotton in the United States can be shipped back, which is related to the price of cotton next year.

If the northern government blocked the south, the price of cotton would definitely skyrocket, and the merchants who hoarded cotton would make a lot of money. On the contrary, it is necessary to consider how to sell the cotton in hand.

"U.S. cotton production has fallen by at least three folds this year because of the civil war, as the cotton crop in war-torn India has been lost for three years in a row," said Marty, head of marketing.

Even if the cotton harvest in West Africa is bumper, the international cotton production is still in a downward trend on the whole, and the rise in cotton prices has become inevitable.

The day of the cotton harvest is not far away. If we're going to grab enough cotton, we have to be fast. "

...