Chapter 623 Dominance

Taking advantage of the situation is not so easy. It involves national strategic security, and President Aquileo Parla Gomez does not dare to make a decision lightly.

"Sorry, Mr. Nino. We will not reopen the canal plan without guaranteeing the security of the Panama region."

...

No deal was reached, and Nino frowned and left. He could be sure that President Aquileo Parla Gomez was tempted when he negotiated the loan, but still refused to negotiate.

That's right, the interest-free loan of 100 million francs is not the bottom line of the French, but a bait thrown out. It is a pity that the Colombian government did not accept the recruitment at all.

After leaving the presidential palace, Nino got into a luxurious carriage. He ordered to the driver: "Go to the French embassy."

The experience just now had told him that without official intervention, the Colombian government would not accompany them to take risks.

Since tasting the sweetness of the Suez Canal, the French capital community has been interested in the canal. After careful selection, the Panama Canal was finally chosen.

Nino is the executor of the Panama Canal plan. Originally, he thought it would be easy to persuade the Colombian government to reopen the Panama Canal in a time of economic crisis, but he never thought that he would not even get the authorization.

Now I have to ask the government for help. In the bottom of my heart, Nino does not want the French government to participate, which means that there are more people who share the cake.

The outbreak of the economic crisis is a disaster for many people, but it is also a capital feast for a very small number of people.

After eating at the banquet, I naturally need to digest it. Limited by the lack of resources and the parade of people every now and then, France is actually not suitable for investment, or the return on investment is too low.

Without the reparations of the Franco-Prussian War, France's capital is undoubtedly more abundant, and the usury empire has emerged.

Loans are not issued indiscriminately. For example, those in Russia who dare to default on their debts, the French financial community dare not lend money to them.

There are too few high-quality customers and excess capital has become a common problem in the British and French financial circles. The Panama Canal plan is undoubtedly a good project, and the future "money" scene is bright.

French capitalists are not monolithic and have long been divided into factions. The relationships are intricate and complicated, and if the government doesn't step in, they'll take over the project.

Now the French government needs to intervene, which means that the big nobles in the country and even the royal family capital will also participate, and everyone will get less benefits.

Nino is very clear that the possibility of such a large project being monopolized is very small, and the French government will definitely need to escort it in the future.

This is similar to starting a business. The first to enter the project is the original stock, and the capital that comes in later is financing.

The former only needs to invest a small amount of capital to get a large number of shares, while the latter must consider a premium if they want to get the shares.

There is no doubt that obtaining the authorization of the canal is the first appreciation of the company's value. Before that, the short Canal Company was just an empty shell.

...

French Minister Tom: "Mr. Nino, your plan is too fantastic. You don't know Colombia at all, and the political situation in this country is very unstable.

Maybe you make a deal with them today and change the government tomorrow. I've been here for three years, and there have been thirteen coups in Bogota, three successful and ten failed.

Based on Colombian history, I did a statistic. From 1830 to the present, they have changed presidents 31 times, and each government has been in power for less than a year and a half on average. "

Nino shook his head: "Your Excellency Minister, Colombia's change of government has nothing to do with us. Do they dare to deny that the contract signed with us is not successful?"

Nino has no interest in the turmoil in Colombia. This year, the situation in most South American countries is not very stable, but no matter how the government changes, no one dares to move the interests of the foreign powers.

In his opinion, it is nothing more than Tom raising his own weight, proving his importance, and wanting to take a share of the benefits.

French Minister Tom frowned: "Mr. Nino, it's not as simple as you think, maybe they dare not deny their predecessor's contract, but they can make the content of the contract void.

Without the cooperation of the local snakes, are you sure that the Panama Canal can sail smoothly? Don't forget the Suez Canal, how much labor was used.

If you hire from outside, it will cost you more than you should understand.

Moreover, the biggest problem is not the Colombian government, but the Austrians.

In recent years, Austria has continuously penetrated into Colombia, especially Panama, where half of the local people are German.

The French were able to frighten the Colombian government, but not the Austrians. If you can't deal with these problems, when you dig the canal, people will jump out and pick peaches.

All it takes is a coup d'état and the Panama region becomes an Austrian colony.

When your canal is on the Austrian territory, are you sure you can keep your dominance? "

Nino's face changed greatly. If the canal was really opened on the Austrian colony, let alone dominance, it would be a question whether the investment cost could be recovered.

After a short pause, Nino recovered and asked, "Austria is so powerful here, why hasn't the Colombian government acted?"

French Minister Tom shook his head: "It's not that the Colombian government didn't act, it's that the governments that acted were overthrown.

Now in the Republic of Colombia, many warlord forces have been subsidized by Austria. As long as the government dares to act rashly, it will be expelled immediately.

step down. "

Not only Austria is supporting the younger brother, but France also supports the spokesperson, but the Austrian Central American colonies are too close, and they occupy a dominant position with the advantage of distance.

The word "cooperation" flashed in Nino's mind. There is no way, Austria is too powerful in the local area, if they cooperate, they will not be able to dominate the canal.

The financial capital behind the scenes is not just a canal, but more of the benefits brought by the canal.

If you control this golden waterway, you will control the economic lifeline of most of the Americas. At that time, French capital will be able to penetrate into many industries through the canal hub.

Anyone who dares to refuse their investment will just wait to be put on shoes! A random card on the canal can be devastating.

Especially for shipping companies, as long as they operate the Pacific route, there is no room for resistance.

The French financial community is making a big chess game. If the plan is successful, they will control the economic lifeline of many countries in the Americas.

After hesitating for a while, Nino promised: "Your Excellency Minister, is there any way to solve our current problem?

Don't worry, we won't let our friends suffer. When it's done, there's definitely a huge reward. We have always believed that Your Excellency has the potential to become the French Foreign Minister. "

This is a bright temptation, not only to give money, but also to support him to become foreign minister.

Of course, the latter is just a blank slate. The capital power behind Nino is indeed not small, but it has not yet reached the point where it can influence the appointment of the government's foreign minister.

The so-called support is nothing more than helping to build momentum and increase the success rate.

Tom was overjoyed and immediately reacted. Although the rewards were rich, this matter was not easy to handle. He immediately told the truth:

"Mr. Nino, if you want the canal plan to go smoothly, it's best to get the Austrians together. With our own strength, it is difficult to complete this task.

Of course, you can also find other partners. If the British are willing to do their best, it is possible for our two countries to join forces to complete the plan, but the price to be paid will be greater. "

Hearing this answer, Nino frowned, and his face instantly turned ugly.

France had insufficient power in the Americas to compete with these two rivals.

Whether it is to develop the canal jointly with Austria or the British, the dominant power will not be in their hands.

If they can't gain dominance, it's just the canal's dividends. Although the rate of return is good, it's still not worth their troubles.

After being silent for a while, Nino said, "Your Excellency Minister, I have to report to the country because of my personal affairs, and the cooperative development will be put on hold for now.

Now we need your help to get the canal development authorization from the Colombian government in the shortest possible time. "

"No problem, it is my duty to cooperate with the company's overseas operations and to obtain the greatest benefit for France." French Minister Tom replied.

...

After leaving the embassy, ​​Nino's mood became more complicated. Judging from the current situation, the original plan cannot be realized, and now we must find partners to share the pressure.

The two countries most suitable for Britain and Austria were excluded first, and there are not many partners left to choose from.

Spain is barely one, they have a lot of power in the Caribbean Sea, but unfortunately the Spaniards have declined. The joint efforts of France and Spain may not be able to deter Austria.

Moreover, there are also political implications to consider. When France and the West stand together, all European countries will feel panic, and the first one who can't help it is the British.

It is impossible for the government to run the Panama Canal plan at the risk of the two countries drawing closer together. Without the support of the Paris government, this plan would have no chance of success.

In addition, the only countries with greater influence in the Americas are the United States of America and the Confederate States of America.

If you can pull these two countries, it seems to be able to complete the plan. However, this is impossible.

Today, the Confederacy and the United States are deeply enmity. If the two governments dare to unite, they will be punished domestically.

Internationally, whatever the United States supports, the Confederate States will oppose it; on the contrary, if the Confederate States support it, the United States will also oppose it.

For the sake of political correctness, both sides are against for the sake of opposition. Pulling one of them means standing on the opposite side of the other.

This is also what the three countries of Britain, France and Austria need. The governments of the North and the South are opposed to each other. In addition to hatred, there are three countries that are secretly promoting it.

Besides, people are not fools, if you let them join, you can join. If there is not enough interest, don't even think about it.

There is no doubt that these benefits all need to be paid out by the Canal Company, and it is inevitable that the shares will be diluted.

This ratio will not be low, and even some dominance needs to be given up. Essentially, the Panama Canal program was designed to shear wool from American countries.

The more he thought about it, the more Nino felt a headache. According to the current situation, it is too difficult for them to get the dominance of the Panama Canal.