Chapter 727 Two Treaties

Time is a killing knife, no matter how persistent Prussia and Russia are, they have to bow their heads in front of time.

After more than two months of negotiations, on July 18, 1881, Prussia and Russia finally reluctantly reached an agreement under the mediation of all parties.

It was really reluctant, neither the Tsarist government nor the Berlin government were satisfied with this peace treaty.

It's just that there is not much leftover food at home, so in order to avoid starvation to death, I have to compromise.

The end of the war does not mean that there is no need to spend money. Pensions for dead and disabled soldiers, placement of retired officers and soldiers, and post-war economic reconstruction all require a lot of money.

Prussia and Russia do not dare to use up their money bags. The government does not have emergency funds, but it is not as simple as financial bankruptcy.

If you don't place the soldiers well, you're going to have a big mess. Mutiny is trivial, the most fearful thing is that someone will raise their arms and call "revolution".

Britain, France and Austria have made it clear that the international community will only consider giving assistance when an armistice treaty is signed.

The three countries of Britain, France and Austria are the international community these days. The three countries have the same position, and the rest of the countries add up to nothing.

Post-war reconstruction can be delayed, but disarmament and resettlement are imperative. Without the financial support of the international community, even the Russian Empire, which has won the war, cannot stand it.

Both Prussia and Russia made concessions, or the Three Kingdoms helped them make concessions. The content of the treaty:

1. The Kingdom of Prussia admits defeat and takes responsibility for the war;

2. To cede East Prussia, West Prussia and Poznan to the Russian Empire;

3. The Kingdom of Prussia pays 360 million Aegis to the Russian Empire as war reparations, paid in 30 years, with an annual interest rate of 6%;

(Note: 60 million Aegis will be paid in the first batch, after that, principal and interest and 1,798,652 Aegis will be paid monthly, for a total of 707.51 million Aegis)

4. After the Berlin government pays the first indemnity, the Russian army must withdraw from the territory of the Kingdom of Prussia within one month;

5. Both parties complete the exchange of prisoners within one month, and no ransom will be charged;

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Apologizing later is not the point, the real core is just a few, especially the ceding of land and indemnity.

The land has been occupied by the Russians, no handover is required, and now there is money left. Now it's Hannover's turn.

Amidst everyone's astonishment, on July 19, 1881, the Hanover government and the Berlin government jointly announced the "Land Transaction Agreement between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Kingdom of Hanover", which stipulated:

The Kingdom of Prussia sold the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein and the territories west of the Elbe to the Kingdom of Hanover for £210 million.

Before everyone could recover from this shocking news, on July 20, 1881, the Hanover government signed a loan agreement of 150 million pounds with the British financial community. (about 300 million Aegis)

With the borrowed 150 million and the 60 million raised by themselves, at the end of July 1881, the Hanover government and the Berlin government completed the most expensive territorial transaction in history.

It should be a reassuring thing to get the money, but unfortunately this money has only passed through the hands of the Berlin government.

The 150 million pounds provided by the British are to be used to repay the debt owed to them by the Berlin government. Obviously this is not enough, so it will be gone.

The obvious overlord clause, but unfortunately there is no place to complain, the Berlin government can only recognize it.

The remaining £60 million was handed over, and after paying the first Russian war reparations, that figure shrunk by half.

The last 30 million pounds could not be kept by the Berlin government, and the disarmament resettlement and casualty compensation were almost spent. The funds for post-war reconstruction are still unknown.

One type of two loans, while reducing the risk of funds, and earning two interest rates, the British let everyone experience what is the magic operation in finance.

...

At the Vienna Palace, Franz couldn't help but wanted to follow the British manipulative actions, but in the end, he found no object to perform.

Putting down the documents in his hand, Franz sighed: "The Hanover government can raise 60 million pounds by itself. It seems that we have always underestimated their financial resources. These small states in the German region may be richer than we think. Much more."

Prime Minister Felix replied: "It is true that the Hanoverian government has behaved somewhat unexpectedly, but it makes sense.

After entering modern times, the economy of the North German region has developed rapidly, especially after taking the Rhineland region, the overall economy of the German Federal Empire has reached a higher level.

Hannover controls the central government. Although it is not politically able to control the small states within the country, it still influences each other economically.

The Hanover government has raised £60 million, which can be regarded as £60 million raised by the German federal government.

This is still the result of insufficient local control by the central government. Otherwise, given the economic situation of the German Federal Empire, there would be no problem in doubling this number.

However, the price of this territorial transaction is still too high, which has greatly exceeded the actual value. If you want to rely on these new territories to recover the cost, you may not be able to do it for a hundred years.

For a long time to come, the Hanoverian government will be burdened with huge debts, which will greatly affect their economy. "

The German Federal Empire occupies the most elite areas in the German region, and the natural conditions are very superior.

business is here.

With such a foundation, as long as the ruling class is not foolish, the economy will not be too bad.

It is precisely because of the developed economy that there are so many people in the Austrian government, who never forget this place.

If it is really a remote area, with European cultural traditions, it is estimated that everyone has long forgotten it.

The most typical is the Swiss region, which is still the ancestral land of the Habsburg family, but because the mountains are too poor, everyone can’t selectively see it.

Foreign Minister Wesenberg: "Although the bid is a little high and the debt is huge, the Kingdom of Hanover is not at a loss.

They paid such a high price financially that the Berlin government must have made concessions elsewhere.

If nothing else, the two countries have reached an agreement in secret, and there is only a suitable time to announce the news.

In theory, after Puhan merged, they would have the opportunity to truly control the German Federal Empire and establish the imagined North German Empire.

With the integration of the North German region, these debts are nothing. "

Everyone said it was expensive, and Franz was embarrassed to say it was cheap. Reality tells him that when he disagrees with most people, it is best to keep silent unless necessary.

Everyone has different experiences, different perspectives on problems, and different conclusions. This is normal.

Franz waved his hand: "Well, it doesn't matter whether Hannover lost or gained.

Their so-called big plan will take a long time to implement, and we have time to think about it.

Now let's discuss the 50 million Aegis loan application proposed by the Tsarist government to us. "

The war is really terrible. The Russians who got the war reparations are still in a money shortage.

It's not that the tsarist government was spending money. Although the amount of indemnity to be paid by Prussia was not small, the first batch of indemnity was only 60 million Aegis.

This number seems very large, but it is insignificant when compared with the millions of troops mobilized by the tsarist government, and the number of casualties and wounded in the war.

Most of the soldiers of the Russian army were paid very low, almost negligible, and only a small amount of subsidy was available during the war.

Now that the battle has been won, a severance payment is indispensable for everyone to disarm and return to the fields.

Calculated on the basis of 3 million disarmament, each person paid me 20 Aegis, and 60 million was gone all at once. Even if it is a 50% discount, it will also pay 3000 Aegis.

In fact, 30 million Aegis is definitely not enough. The treatment of officers is not comparable to that of ordinary soldiers, and the standard of dismissal is naturally different.

Cut standards?

This is already a very underestimate. In Austria, this is just two months' wages for ordinary workers. People have sacrificed their lives on the battlefield, and this price can be said to be extremely low.

Those who survived were resolved, and those who were killed and wounded could not be so sloppy, otherwise no one would have worked for the tsar.

1.433 million were killed and 671,000 disabled. Without hundreds of millions of Aegis, it would be impossible to handle it. Fortunately, it can be paid in installments, otherwise the tsarist government will go bankrupt and not be able to get together.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl proposed: "Your Majesty, the financial situation of the Russians is very bad, and even with the Prussian war reparations, they are still not out of the crisis.

There is still a huge risk in giving them loans now. Unless the tsarist government can offer conditions that we cannot refuse, it is not recommended to undertake loans to Russia. "

Not only is the risk huge, but it is a huge pit. The end of the war does not mean the end of the crisis.

Without the orders brought by the war, the excess production capacity in the market is consumed, the inventory of enterprises is constantly rising, and the economic crisis is already brewing.

Once the crisis broke out, the kingdom of Prussia, which was in ruins, would definitely not be able to withstand it. The Berlin government declared bankruptcy, and the Russians would not be able to receive their war reparations.

No one knows whether the tsarist government can hold on to this income without it.

Foreign Secretary Weisenberg objected: "It is really unwise to lend to the Russians now, purely economically.

But from the side, this is also an opportunity. We can put forward higher terms for the greater good.

If the Tsar is willing to fully support our annexation of the Ottoman Empire, I think this loan can still be released. "

"Take advantage of the fire", the word came to Franz's mind, and it was no longer lingering.

The Ottoman Empire is Austria's next strategic goal. It is easy to defeat the Ottomans, but difficult to annex them.

Britain, France and Russia are the biggest obstacles. Due to geopolitical relations, the Russians still have more say in this issue than Britain and France.

Before that, Franz's plan was to carve up the Ottoman Empire with the Russians, but how could a carve-up be compared to a monopoly?

Taking over the Ottoman Empire alone will not only connect the mainland with the Middle East, but also extend Austria's power to Central Asia, which is of great strategic significance.

Franz soon woke up. Such a big benefit must not be so easy to eat in the stomach.

The Russians are not fools, they can stand the British alone, and if Austria is put in, it will be even more difficult for them to retake Central Asia.

Franz shook his head: "You can test the Russians, but don't hold out too much hope, the tsarist government has not yet reached the end of the world."

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