Chapter 574: The Power of Public Opinion

Being neighbors with the French is still very challenging these days, and you must be vigilant at all times.

The Rhineland region is an enclave with a good neighbor. The Prussian government was prepared to lose the Rhineland region a long time ago, but it did not expect to lose it in this way.

The Prussian government was unable to admit the diplomatic pressure exerted by Britain and Austria, and could only choose to compromise. In the short term, abandoning the Rhineland is also a good thing for the Kingdom of Prussia.

After selling the Rhineland region, not only can it get rid of the financial crisis, but also get rid of the threat of the French, and can concentrate on fighting against the Russians.

If you insist on not selling, chances are that in the next Russian-Prussian war, the French will force it directly. After the annexation of the Italian region, the Prussian government had no confidence in the integrity of the French.

If it were not for the mutual restraint between the great powers, the Rhineland region would have been lost long ago. Don't think that the Kingdom of Prussia has won the bet in the original time and space, and think that the military strength of the Kingdom of Prussia is higher than that of France. In fact, the opposite is true.

Perhaps the current military strength of the French Empire is not necessarily much stronger than in the same period in history, but the strength on paper is very amazing. The standing army is twice that of the Kingdom of Prussia, and the comprehensive national strength is more than three times that of the Kingdom of Prussia. (including French Italy and colonies)

After owning the great enemy of the Russian Empire, it would definitely be a brain drain to face France.

After a symbolic struggle, the Prussian foreign minister, Geoffrey Friedman, reluctantly announced that the Rhineland region would be sold, and the highest bidder would go to a public auction.

There is no doubt that this is to divide the British, French and Austrian Triple Alliance. If you really want to fight for financial resources, neither Belgium nor the German Federal Empire can be an opponent of France.

Austrian Minister Hummel: "There is no problem in your country auctioning the Rhineland region, but the Rhineland is part of the German region, and the German people live there.

Taking all factors into consideration, it is better for the Rhineland region to join the German country. I suggest that the German-speaking cultural circle countries: Switzerland, Belgium, the German Federal Empire, and the New Holy Roman Empire participate in this auction.

As the proposer, we can avoid suspicion and withdraw from this auction. "

"Avoiding suspicion" is completely gilding his face and putting an enclave under the eyes of the French, who can sleep?

European countries do not want the French to expand in Central Europe, nor do they want Austria to expand in Central Europe, and even if they want to take the Rhineland, they have no chance.

"Enclave" is also relative. If you face the French, it is indeed an enclave; if you change it to the German Federal Empire, it will be a double attack.

French Foreign Minister Montero stood up angrily: "No, since it's an open auction, naturally the higher bidder wins. All European countries are eligible to participate, so how can it be narrowly restricted to German countries?"

Being able to buy the Rhineland region with money, how can you miss such a good thing? Even if the opportunity is small, Montero has to fight for it.

Hummel said tit for tat: "We are all civilized people, and we all know that to govern a place well, we cannot do without the support of the people.

The cultural traditions of your country are incompatible with the Rhineland region. How can you manage a good relationship with the local people? As a civilized country, we must respect public opinion. "

"Public opinion" was first invented by the French, and Napoleon III respected the public opinion. And it is the real elected emperor, not a conspiracy to restore.

This does not mean that European countries really respect public opinion. The ruling class often chooses to respect public opinion when it is beneficial to itself, and pretends not to see it otherwise.

In order to kick France out, Hummel did not hesitate to hold high the banner of "public opinion". This is both an interest need and a political need.

As the leader of the German region, Austria is responsible for this. Otherwise, where would Belgium and the German Federal Empire have the guts to compete with the French.

When the fire was almost over, the British Foreign Secretary Marquis Maclean, who had been watching the play, said: "Sir Hummel is right, as a member of a civilized society, we must respect public opinion.

More than 95% of the people in the Rhineland region are of German origin, and their cultural traditions are more suitable for integration with the German country.

Now that the New Holy Roman Empire has withdrawn, the most suitable countries to participate in the auction are Belgium, the German Federal Empire and Switzerland. "

Britain and Austria have the same position, and the European countries that are still watching have participated one after another. At this moment, everyone is "respecting public opinion".

...

More than a dozen countries have the same position, and Montero can't stand the pressure. The reality is in front of us, and no one wants to see France continue to expand. The so-called "public opinion" is a fig leaf that people use to frame their own image.

If you really respect public opinion, Ireland has become independent, Scotland has become independent, and the major colonial empires have collapsed.

Facts are one thing, words are another. Everyone wants face, and it is necessary to say one thing and do another.

If you don't have a fig leaf, you can directly say that France is too strong, and everyone is worried that France will threaten their own safety when it grows. How will you get along in the future?

"Humph!"

After expressing his dissatisfaction with a cold drink, Montero chose to remain silent. There is no way, this occasion is not suitable for war with words, everyone's attitude is very firm, and there is no way to convince them.

If they want to coerce and lure, they are led by Britain and Austria, and they are also humiliating themselves. France has not yet singled out the strength of Europe.

Montero's silence was quickly praised by everyone

, all kinds of flattery are coming, such as: "taking into account the overall situation", "having a sense of international responsibility", "respecting the role model of public opinion"...

However, it fell into Montero's ears, and it all turned into irony. If the goal is not achieved, no amount of good words will bring benefits.

As a political figure, if you are praised by all parties, don't be in a hurry to be happy. It's better to calm down and reflect first.

Usually, as long as two situations will get everyone's praise. The first situation is that you are dead, and everyone is always tolerant towards the dead; the second situation is that your actions are in their interests.

Internationally, the second situation can be explained most of the time as: you did something wrong and everyone benefits. In this case, it is easiest to get praise, and there will be names before and after.

Otherwise, it's not bad if the enemy doesn't touch you, and you have to expect others to give you a good review?

Respecting an opponent means respecting an opponent who has died, or an opponent who has fallen, an opponent who is still in office, and who does not want to be defeated, but also makes a name for his opponent. What kind of spirit is this?

After appeasing the French, everyone's eyes were focused on the representatives of Switzerland, Belgium, and the German Confederation, waiting for their reply.

Swiss Minister Podolski was the first to give the answer: "Although we really wanted to buy the Rhineland, we had to give up because of financial constraints."

Looking at Podolski with a distressed expression, everyone almost believed it. The Swiss federal government is indeed poor, limited by productivity and resources, and Switzerland has not developed this year.

However, because of financial resources to give up the Rhineland region, everyone is more willing to believe that the Swiss are afraid of the French and dare not play the idea of ​​​​this enclave.

In this regard, Switzerland is completely different from Belgium and the German Confederation. The latter two directly border the mainland and can increase their own national strength.

Take the Kingdom of Belgium as an example. After gaining the Rhineland region, it will not take long for the comprehensive national strength to double. As the first country to complete industrialization on the European continent, Belgium is a world leader in many fields.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the country is too small and has insufficient development potential, Belgium has not been able to reach the threshold of the great powers and can only exist as a small country.

With the Rhineland, they can complete the transition to a middle country, and their survivability will be greatly increased by then.

If it falls into the hands of the German Federation, the increase in strength will be even more obvious. If nothing else, it is inevitable that heavy industry will surpass Spain.

With only two buyers left, the Prussian foreign minister, Geoffrey Friedman, was not upset, as expected.

Either France and Austria will end the auction together, or the two countries will go out together under mutual restraint. Austria didn't want to stick to this trouble at this time, and chose to pull the French out with them.

The auction can't be held immediately, and everyone has not completed insider trading, how can there be a result so quickly. This is not just about having money, but also the political implications.

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