Chapter 604 Colonization

After half a year of negotiations, Britain, France and Austria finally reached a preliminary agreement. On December 12, 1875, representatives of Britain, France and Austria signed the "Memorandum on Mediation of International Conflicts" in Paris.

This memorandum, in fact, can also be regarded as a draft of an international convention, which clarifies the rules of colonial competition. The strong eat the weak is still indispensable, but it has been approved with a coat of legal principles.

which is:

1. The actual occupation shall prevail, on a first-come, first-served basis;

2. Subject to the current colonial sphere of influence, mutual recognition of each other's sovereignty;

3. Prohibit mutual interference in the internal affairs of colonies; (Note: specifically, it is prohibited to support local forces, to prohibit smuggling of weapons, and to prohibit the export of nationalism...)

4. The battle for the borderless land is based on their own abilities. On the premise of not involving their own interests, allies are obliged to provide certain help;

...

The first three points are the key points, which can ease the colonial conflict between the three countries. The fourth point depends on how you understand it.

There is definitely help, but how strong this is and whether it will be a disservice depends on the actual situation.

For example: The colonial team suffered an accident and was living in the colony as an ally. It is estimated that everyone would be happy to be a good friend and provide them with supplies.

If you want to compete for a strategic location or a rich colony, you need allies to help, or you have to speak with interests.

Otherwise, there would be no precondition of "not involving self-interest" in the treaty, which itself is an exemption clause, because the concept of interest is too big.

This is also normal. If allies really help in vain, it is estimated that everyone will not be relieved. The UK, France and Austria are not vegetarians. If you want to take advantage, how can there be such a good thing?

Maybe you make money here and lose money elsewhere. International diplomatic game, always think twice.

Many times it seems to be taking advantage of it, but it is actually a huge hole dug for you by competitors. Franz is definitely the best in this regard, and is best at making competitors jump into the pit with joy.

By contrast, the Brits are at the other extreme, and they are the best at sobering up. You must be careful when dealing with the British, otherwise you will easily be led astray.

French diplomacy is relatively balanced, with good performance in all aspects, but nothing particularly outstanding.

In contrast, the Commonwealth and the Russian Empire are much easier to deal with. They are impulsive in terms of diplomacy, and are particularly easy to be provoked or fall into the pit.

This is Franz's personal summary, also based on factual information. The Russian Empire has been ostracized by European society for a long time, and the lack of diplomacy is the main reason.

Otherwise, the period of the anti-French war was their best chance to integrate into the European world.

After the war, as the savior of European countries, the Russians suddenly became the hegemons of the European continent, but they were still excluded from the mainstream circles. There is no one in this diplomacy.

The Berlin government was so superstitious about force that it ignored the development of foreign relations. This can be seen from many aspects. During the Prussian-Russian War, the Kingdom of Prussia, as a thug, did not even obtain a covenant with Britain and France.

This is simply an opportunity that you don't even know how to take advantage of. You don't need how favorable the terms of the covenant are. Just as long as there is a nominal covenant, you can get a lot of benefits in the post-war negotiations.

It can be said that without Bismarck, the diplomacy of the Berlin government failed. Of course, this is also a tradition. The diplomacy of the Kingdom of Prussia has always been bad.

Otherwise, the boss of the German region would have changed hands as early as the last century.

It is a pity that the Kingdom of Prussia won military and lost diplomacy. Austria was not defeated, but completed internal reforms because of external wars.

As the winner, the Kingdom of Prussia seems to have expanded its territory, but in fact it is not worth the loss.

Not only has he added an enemy, but he has also lost the hearts and minds of the German princes, and has become a perfidious "thief" and "robber" in everyone's hearts.

Such an image naturally cannot be the boss, and then the Habsburg dynasty was resurrected with blood, and even annexed Hungary, opening the gap in strength between the two sides again.

...

"When will the international conference be held?"

Franz did not ask the location. Napoleon IV seems to have inherited Napoleon III's pushy characteristics, and was particularly keen to hold international conferences after he succeeded to the throne.

The French are very generous in this regard. As long as France holds an international conference, they will cover all the relevant expenses.

Of course, this fee is limited to the delegation's daily living in France, accommodation, and the expenses needed to hold meetings.

It seems that there are not many participants in international conferences in this era, and the expenses are not much, but the accumulated expenses are not small.

Yingao is all interested in actual interests. Unless it is a special situation, usually they will not compete with the French for a meeting place. Everyone is not a star, so there is no shortage of exposure.

Foreign Minister Wesenberg: "The specification of this meeting is at the ministerial level. Everyone needs to coordinate the schedule. The plan is in February next year, and the specific day has not yet been determined."

Franz nodded his head. As it relates to the distribution of interests and the establishment of a new international order, the standard of the meeting must be high.

If it’s too low, and you send a group of people who can’t be the masters, you have to ask the domestic delegation for instructions on everything, so what else is there to talk about?

Negotiations involving interests usually take a long time. On the other hand, high-level government officials are on the contrary. They have much more power, they can decide many things themselves, and the negotiation efficiency will be much higher.

It is imperative to ease international conflicts, and every day it drags on, the colonial

The People's Government will suffer huge economic losses, and everyone is anxious.

"Is there any sign of Britain and France getting closer, I mean secret contact."

Before each international conference, everyone will show their magical powers and try their best to win over allies for support, so as to get more benefits at the international conference.

This time, the interests of Austria are not involved, and the Vienna government cannot spend a lot of money on public relations, but it is still necessary to keep an eye on Britain and France.

Wesenberg shook his head: "Britain and France have contacts, but they should not have been able to reach an agreement. Now Britain and France have a relatively large conflict of interests in the colonies of the two countries.

If it weren't for the 'Anglo-Boers War' that we fought with the British as a foreshadowing, both countries would be worried that the losses would be too great, and they would not have done it in the colonies now.

Especially in the Sudan region, the two sides are already on fire. It is said that Britain and France also had conflicts of interest in the Indo-China Peninsula and the Far East Empire. It was too far there, and we didn't pay much attention to it, and the specific reason is unclear.

This also involves private colonial companies. In the face of interests, I am afraid that neither side will easily let go. Even if the two governments wanted to intervene, it would be difficult for them to stop. "

The civilian colonial company is a unique product of the historical stage. The most famous is naturally the British "East India Company". At its peak, the company's armed forces were comparable to that of a medium-sized country.

In a way, the East India Company was more of a country than a corporation.

So this "country" was swallowed up by the bureaucrats, and the famous East India Company was dissolved last year because of bureaucracy and corruption, which led to heavy losses.

There are many such colonial companies under the banner of various countries, and they are the vanguard of the overseas colonial movement. Influenced by governments, but not fully controlled by governments.

Those engaged in overseas colonial expansion are mostly desperadoes who want to make a fortune. In the face of interests, government orders are often ineffective.

Most of the conflicts that broke out in the colonies of various countries were caused by civilian colonial teams. As long as there are interests, there is nothing they dare not do.

Not only externally, but even colonial companies from the same country compete fiercely. Don't be nervous, don't be surprised if you find two colonial companies fighting each other, it's a good thing, it proves that they have made a big discovery.

The tragic degree of the firefight is generally proportional to the interests. If an open-pit gold mine is discovered, a rivalry within the colony team is possible.

On the contrary, the colonial government under the direct leadership of various countries is more restrained, usually considers the international image, thinks twice about doing things, and seldom goes up to it regardless.

Now Britain and France are in constant conflict over the colonial issue. In the final analysis, it is because of interests. First-come, first-served is right, but what about at the same time?

This is also the reason why France and Austria want to divide the sphere of influence in Africa. If it is not clearly distinguished in advance, with the long border between the two countries' colonies, God knows how many conflicts there will be.

No, it should be said that the desert saved Fao's relationship. Because of the dividing line between the colonies of the two countries, most of the areas are deserts.

The desert area is of low value, and normal people will not venture across the desert to find excitement. Even if there is a desert barrier, they will not be able to meet each other, and the conflict will naturally be less.