Chapter 850 Limited War Liability

The two camps in Europe are opposed to each other, but it is not the four countries that are most concerned about it. Whether Russia, Austria, or Britain and France have their own advantages, they are enough to protect themselves.

The real unfortunate is the small country sandwiched between the two major alliances. Now the contradiction between the two camps has not intensified, and everyone can still cope with it.

Once the conflict between the two sides escalates, everyone will be forced to stand in line. In fact, geopolitics has already determined the direction of each country's lineup, and they cannot be allowed to choose for themselves.

Western European countries can only support Britain and France, while Eastern European, Northern European, and Southern European countries must support Russia and Austria.

neutral?

There is no problem for the time being. Once the two major alliances meet, they will become the earliest victims.

No matter which side you fall to, you will be beaten by the other side. Especially Belgium is such a tough, bad strategic position that they cannot survive alone.

Of course, this is the worst possible ending. In a short period of time, the two major alliances have not seen any signs of war breaking out.

Leopold II, with a strong sense of urgency, could no longer sit still. Originally, Britain and Austria were all quasi-ally of Belgium, and everyone resisted the French expansion into Central Europe.

Now that the situation has fundamentally changed, Britain and France are allied, so is the British promise to protect Belgium still effective?

Foreign Minister Juul said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a note inviting us to conclude a treaty for the maintenance of peace and stability in Europe with Switzerland, the North German Confederation and Spain."

Open the map to know that the above countries are good neighbors of the French. After excluding the French, it is self-evident to whom such a treaty is intended.

This can be seen as a counterattack against the alliance between Britain and France. Austria is ready to prove with practical actions that it is possible to contain the French without the participation of the British.

Leopold II asked suspiciously: "The Austrians only invited four countries to participate, and there are no other countries to continue to invite?"

In theory, the above four countries have to face the threat of the French directly, and it is easiest to move closer to Austria if there is pain in the skin.

However, "anti-fa" has always been a common matter of all European countries, rather than an issue of a single country. The sudden change made it difficult for Leopold II to accept.

Foreign Minister Jules replied affirmatively: "Austria has indeed invited only our four countries. It is said that the Vienna government is worried that other countries will not suffer, and its position to contain the French is not firm. It may accept the French for bribes. destroy.

Perhaps in the view of the Vienna government, to curb the expansion of the French to the outside world, the alliance of the five countries is enough. "

This is also the view of most people. Although France is strong, it has not opened a qualitative gap with Austria. After adding the four countries of Siberias, the anti-French alliance will be stable.

Compared with an internally divided alliance, a small alliance that has common interests and can cooperate with each other is more reliable.

Prime Minister August sighed: "If so, then we are in big trouble.

Without the participation of European countries to share the pressure, the pro-French Spanish government will probably not participate. After all, the possibility of the French going west is almost zero, and their pressure is not great.

Switzerland's position doesn't really matter because of its geographic location. If the Swiss government insists on neutrality, Austria will probably not persecute it either.

When it comes to choosing between Fao and Austria, the North German Confederation will definitely support Austria. Even if Britain and France form an alliance, they will be more inclined towards Austria.

Because of its strength, in a short period of time, the North German Confederation also has the strength of temporary neutrality.

As long as the two alliances do not go to war, they can act as a buffer between Fao, and there is no need to make a clear line for the time being.

The seemingly tentative invitation is actually forcing us to stand in line. Between Russia and Austria and Britain and France, we must choose one side. "

The most tragic thing is this. Others may escape, but the hard-working Belgium cannot escape.

There is no way, the French's ambition to conspire against Belgium always needs to be curbed.

Originally, it was Britain and Austria that took on this important task. Now that the British have turned to form an alliance with the French, Austria is the only one who can continue to curb the French's ambitions.

Rejecting Austria now, Belgium will have to fight alone when it encounters a French invasion in the future.

As for the British, everyone really has no confidence. Even if the London government is willing to send troops to intervene, before the completion of the expansion of the British Army, Belgium will be dead.

After hesitating again and again, Leopold II said slowly: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send and discuss with Austria that we can sign the terms of joint defense of the French, but the premise is that it must be kept strictly confidential.

Austria doesn't care about offending the French, we don't have the guts to make trouble. Remember that in the content of the treaty, Austria must provide us with security protection.

At the same time, we sent people to strengthen our ties with the North German Confederation, Switzerland, the Netherlands and other countries. It is really a critical moment, and their positions are also very important. "

Belgium is also forced to fall to Austria, and now it is the French who are ambitious for them, not the Austrian who is hundreds of miles away.

To join the British and French side is to seek skin from the tiger. The identity of an ally is worthless in the face of interests. A bad operation will be eaten alive by people.

Choosing to sign a secret contract was actually Leopold II's hedging strategy.

It is best to be able to hide the sky and cross the sea. It is really impossible to hide it. If you can expose it one day later, you will also take the risk one day later.

...

Compared with Belgium, the North German Confederation is lively, and the opposition support is varied.

It was supposed to be kept secret, but the news was already flying all over the sky before a result of the debate came out.

There is no accident, when things are on the table, it also means that Austria's wooing plan has failed.

Under pressure from Britain and France, Spain and Switzerland declined the proposal of the Vienna government. As for Belgium, they were only in contact in secret, and the Belgian government did not dare to stand in the line.

...

Franz was not surprised when the news of the failure came. No one is an idiot. Austria's involvement in an anti-French coalition is essentially a cannon fodder, and cannot fool smart people at all.

With the recovery of the French economy, the voice of the domestic advocates of war is getting louder and louder.

The military headed by the nobles wants military exploits, and the capitalists want to solve the coal supply problem. These are exactly what war can solve.

Otherwise, there would not be a bait thrown by the British, and the French government would be willing to give up the century-old hatred between the two countries - an alliance.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg took out a document and said: "Your Majesty, this is the preliminary outcome of negotiations with the Belgian government, and the biggest issue at present is the distribution of rights and obligations.

The Belgian government was only willing to assume part of the responsibility for the war under the pretext of its own lack of strength.

Only: When the French invade Central Europe, they will send troops to fight.

If a war breaks out between us and the French in Italy, Belgium only promises to provide material assistance, and they will remain neutral on the surface. "

Limited liability for war is actually equivalent to no liability for war.

Open the map of Europe and know that the best route for the French to invade Central Europe is through Belgium.

The enemy is knocking on the door, even if there is no joint defense treaty, Belgium can only bite the bullet.

It seems that Austria has suffered some losses, but in fact this is a relatively fair treaty.

As far as Belgium's size is concerned, if Fao were to start a fight in Italy, it wouldn't work if they joined in.

The French can defeat them with a partial division, and Austria will inevitably send troops to the rescue.

The greatest value of winning over Belgium is not to expect Belgium to be able to break out and play a great role.

Mainly, after the Austrian army gained the upper hand on the battlefield, it could drive straight in from Belgium and gain the strategic initiative.

Without any hesitation, Franz made a decision: "Agree to their request, but add a borrowed request.

If we have a war with the French, when we need to borrow the way, as allies, they must let us go and help maintain the logistics.

In return, after the victory of the war, they also have a share of the spoils, and the disputed territory between France and Belgium can be owned by them. "

No one can write a bad check, anyway, the promise is to go out to French territory, and Belgium will send them if they have an appetite.

Not only Belgium, but in fact if allies join, Franz doesn't mind if they get a piece of land in France.

To deal with the enemy, of course, it must be severely weakened. The Franco-Prussian War in the original time and space did not end perfectly, that is, it did not weaken France in a real sense.

Whether it's indemnity or ceding land, it can only make people feel pain in the flesh, and it can't be fatal at all.

If the Kingdom of Prussia had been more flexible in its diplomacy at that time, and had flickered to live in Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and other countries, and pulled everyone up to share the spoils, perhaps the outcome would have been very different.

When all the neighbors took advantage, everyone was on the same front. As a victor, no one wants to see another revival of the enemy.

At that time, everyone will work together to suppress France. No matter how powerful the Paris government is, it can't stand to take care of so many enemies together.