Chapter 622: Canal Storm

After the situation was broken, the chaos expected by the outside world did not occur, and only the three countries of Britain, France and Austria really started to snatch the colonies.

It's not that other colonial empires don't want to compete, the main reason is that they lack strength. It's good to be able to hold the existing territory, and they simply don't have the ability to participate in the competition.

Fewer competitors is naturally a good thing. If it is resolved through negotiation, I am afraid that Britain, France and Austria will not be able to eat alone.

The seemingly absurd behavior of the London government is actually well thought out. Right now, it is only a small country whose interests are damaged. Even if everyone has grievances in their hearts, they can only hold back.

Vienna Palace

Foreign Minister Wesenberg: "Your Majesty, news just came from South America that the French are in contact with the Colombian government to restart the Panama Canal plan."

Franz frowned: "Do you know the real purpose of the French?"

The Panama Canal is a tumultuous one. Plans have been in existence for hundreds of years, but progress has never been smooth.

As early as 1534, the Spaniards sent people to explore and built a post road in order to dig a canal. It was only because of the outbreak of the Continental War that the plan was aborted.

In 1814, the Spanish restarted the canal plan, but unfortunately another colonial uprising broke out, and the plan died again.

The Republic of Colombia also had plans for a canal, but it fell through again after Austria took over Central America.

From the standpoint of the Republic of Colombia, the opening of the Panama Canal can certainly bring huge economic benefits, but strategically they face greater pressure.

Every man is innocent, but he is guilty.

Before the opening of the canal, the Panama area was of limited value and was not worth peeping. Once the canal is open to navigation, the situation will change. What will the Republic of Colombia rely on to keep the Panama region?

Count on the French?

I am afraid that this is to bring wolves into the house. When the time comes to compete for the Panama region, France will definitely be indispensable.

Foreign Secretary Weisenberg: "We currently have insufficient intelligence to determine the true purpose of the French.

On the surface, it seems to be the spontaneous behavior of the capitalists, and the French government did not come forward. This may be a test. "

Franz nodded, which should be the most reasonable explanation.

Austria has been operating in Central America for 20 years, and now it is deeply rooted, and its power has long penetrated into the Panama region.

Since the failure of the Mexican strategy, the French's influence in the Americas has plummeted, and it is almost impossible to compete with Austria.

The benefits of digging the Panama Canal are great, but the risks are even greater. Once Austria sends troops to seize the Panama region, their investment will be lost, and it is very likely that most of their investment will shrink.

After thinking about it, Franz: "No matter what the French want to do, ignore them. Once the canal plan is launched, create an excuse to declare war with Colombia and directly seize the Panama region."

Under Franz's butterfly effect, the international situation has changed beyond recognition. The advantage of being familiar with history has long since disappeared.

There is no prophet advantage, and now we can only adapt accordingly. What the French wanted to do is uncertain, but it would be right to keep the Panama Canal open.

...

In the Republic of Colombia, President Aquileo Parla Gomez has had a headache since the French proposed to open the Panama Canal.

Of course, he is well aware of the huge economic value brought by the opening of the Panama Canal, but the premise is that Colombia has the strength to defend it.

Austria's infiltration of Colombia is no secret, especially in Panama, where the highest proportion of the population is German.

With so many leading parties, once a war breaks out, the Panama region will probably fall within a few days. Everyone knows the hidden dangers, but no one dares to deal with them.

There are many internal contradictions in the Republic of Colombia. In the past 13 years, 12 presidents have been changed, and the average is changed every year.

Originally, President Aquileo Parra Gomez did not consider dealing with the issue. Austria is lucky that they did not target them. Who dares to take the initiative to cause trouble!

The arrival of the French detonated the problem under the lid. Domestic capitalists preach the benefits of opening the Panama Canal every day, without taking into account the risks that come with it.

Of course, from the standpoint of capitalists, the opening of the Panama Canal is indeed beneficial. Even if the Panama region is lost, it will not affect their business.

The capitalists in Colombia are not purely local national capitalists. The dominant ones are compradors, and the shadows of countries such as Britain, France, and Omer West all exist.

Aquileo Parra Gomez: "Mr. Nino, I can't agree to the canal plan you proposed.

Unless your government comes forward to persuade the Austrians, we will not be able to restart the Panama Canal plan, which is related to our territorial strategic security. "

Nino smiled slightly: "Your Excellency, the Austrians are aggressive and have penetrated into the Panama region, don't you want to get rid of the Austrian threat?

As long as the Panama Canal is opened, your country will have the canal as a bargaining chip, and the major European powers will not watch Austria take control of this golden waterway.

After the introduction of various forces, even if the Austrians want to do something, they must consider the positions of European countries.

The Vienna government is not crazy, a Panama Canal is not enough to make them take the risk, the risk is not as big as you think. "

No matter how bewitched by Renino, Aquileo Parla Gomez was indifferent. No matter how nice the French say, they are all castles in the air.

After the opening of the Panama Canal, various forces may indeed prevent Austria from taking over the canal, but this does not mean that the Republic of Colombia will be allowed to take charge of the canal.

If nothing else, isn't the French trying so hard to gain dominance of the Panama Canal?

Aquileo Parra Gomez is self-aware that with the strength of the Republic of Colombia, there is simply no way to get the dominance of the canal, not even economic rights.

If there is not enough interest, why should he take risks! Austria is not a soft persimmon. What if it provokes the Vienna government and beats them up first?

This year, a big fist is the axiom. Weakness is the original sin, and Aquileo Parra Gomez doesn't think the French will turn their backs on Colombia and Austria.

Aquileo Parra Gomez: "Mr. Nino, this is only your personal judgment and does not represent the position of European governments.

The Panama Canal is still only in theory. We sent people to do surveys. It is not so simple to dig a grand canal in the Panama region.

If your country has dug the Suez Canal, you should know the difficulty of the construction of the canal. The situation in the Panama region is even worse, requiring very large investments.

The canal may never be navigable if the Austrians don't get their consent and they mess with it.

It is impossible for European countries to stand on the opposite side of Austria for a canal without navigation, and even your country may not necessarily support us. "

This is the core of the problem. The value of the Panama Canal can only be reflected after it is opened to navigation. There is nothing right now, and trying to gain everyone's support by talking about it is simply an insult to everyone's IQ.

Panama is not the only area in Central America that can dig canals. It's just that compared to other places, the Panama region has the narrowest straits.

This is an advantage, but also a disadvantage. For example, there are many poisonous insects in Panama, which will threaten the life safety of excavators.

In this era, human life is indeed worthless, but large-scale casualties will still increase costs.

These problems may not be discovered by the French, but they cannot be concealed from the Colombian Republic, which is a local snake. Otherwise, they will not give up on developing this golden waterway by themselves.

Nino knew that it was impossible to be a white wolf with empty gloves, there was no real benefit, and it would be difficult to get the Colombian government to cooperate.

"Your Excellency, as long as your country grants us the right to develop the canal, these problems will no longer be a problem.

You can rest assured that the canal project will require such a large investment that we will not be able to let our funds go to waste.

In return, we are willing to persuade BNP Paribas to provide your country with an interest-free loan of 100 million francs to help your country through the economic crisis. "

Aquileo Parra Gomez's face turned gloomy, where is this help, it is clear that they have been counted, and they want to take advantage of the fire.

After the economic crisis spread, European countries such as Britain, France, Austria and other European countries dumped their domestic surplus commodities overseas at low prices. South America is one of the hardest hit areas, and the Republic of Colombia cannot be immune.