Chapter 626 Trade Dispute

Chapter 627 Trade Dispute

Four or five hundred people have gathered on Wiesgen Street in Munich, mostly workshop owners, craftsmen and workers in Munich, and a small number of shop owners.

They held up wooden signs such as "Get French goods out" and "Raise tariffs", as well as a scarecrow with "Cayetan Dietrich" written on it.

Dietrich was the diplomatic official who signed the Rhine-Seine Treaty on behalf of Bavaria.

Berlant and his sons joined the team, and shouted slogans protesting against French goods with the people around them.

Not long after, a trumpet sounded in front of the team. Gabriel, a senior director of the Munich Chamber of Commerce, stood on the top of a carriage, waved his hands vigorously and shouted:

"Everyone follow me to that damn mall!"

He came as an individual, but such a large-scale protest could not be organized without the participation of the Munich Chamber of Commerce.

The crowd burst into shouts and followed Gabriel to the Department Store of France.

Three black carriages passed by the protest team, and the window of the middle carriage suddenly opened. Lord Grenville, the British Foreign Secretary, leaned out and looked at the words on the slogan with interest.

Coincidentally, Berlant came over holding a scarecrow, and he waved to him and asked:

"Sir, what are you protesting?"

The latter took a lot of effort to understand his Low German, and said in a rough voice:

"Our shop is going bankrupt, sir. Those damn officials set extremely low tariffs to please the French. People go to buy French goods. We can't let this situation continue."

He forgot that when the Rhine-Seine Treaty was just signed, they, the workshop owners, held a celebration in order to enter the vast French market.

As he said, he quickened his pace to catch up with the large group.

Grenville remembered that a similar protest had taken place in Vienna not long ago, and immediately ordered the coachman to keep up with the protest team.

In front of the French Department Store, Berlant and others set fire to a "Dietrich" made of straw, waved wooden signs, and cursed loudly. Soon, they had a dispute with customers who came to the mall to shop, and some even fought.

Half an hour later, the police and the army arrived one after another, blowing whistles, dispersing the demonstrators, and arrested several of the most violent people.

In the carriage, Lord Grenville's assistant watched the middle-aged man who had just talked to them being taken away by two policemen, and shook his head and said:

"These poor guys actually think that they can affect the trade pattern with only a few hundred people."

Grenville looked at the mess outside the department store with interest, stroking his cane and said:

"Kevin, this is just one city."

"There are probably thousands of such protesters in Bavaria. And as far as I know, there are also a large number of people who are dissatisfied with low tariffs in Austria, Württemberg, Salzburg and other places. "

Kevin shrugged: "Yes, Lord, so they will keep the troops in various places busy for a while. "

Grenville closed the car window and smiled at his assistant: "Kevin, you have to consider that their anger is all due to the same reason, that is, French goods have taken away their business."

"What do you mean?"

"If these people can be united, it will be an extremely amazing force. Moreover, the target is France."

Grenville leaned back in his chair and told his assistant:

"Kevin, let's not go to the Southern Netherlands for now. Please help me make an appointment with Pappenheim and Dietrich, oh, and the president of the Munich Chamber of Commerce."

Pappenheim is the Bavarian Foreign Minister, and Dietrich is the Trade Commissioner.

A week later.

In the lobby on the second floor of Schönbrunn Palace, Austrian Interior Minister Kobzl looked at Grenville, who suddenly visited, with a serious expression and nodded:

"As you just said, our country's financial situation is not optimistic. Last year, the new debt exceeded 5 million florins. "

He had tried his best to conceal Austria's debt situation from his Prussian allies. In fact, last year Austria's new debt was nearly 10 million florins, and the total debt exceeded 100 million florins.

Kobutzl continued: "However, His Majesty the Emperor has approved the plan to issue paper money, which will greatly improve our country's financial situation. I hope your country can support our paper money in terms of trade..."

"Paper money is indeed a very effective fiscal means," Grenville said loudly, "but you should probably pay more attention to the country's trade imbalance, otherwise the deficit will only continue to accumulate."

"Yes, our trade income has shrunk to a certain extent."

"It should be a relatively large shrinkage." Grenville corrected unceremoniously. He has roughly mastered Austria's trade data in recent years through various channels.

"At the same time, your country's trade expenditure continues to rise. Excuse me, if this situation is not changed, Austria's finances will soon face collapse. "

Hearing this, Kobutzl said happily: "So, you want to provide a loan to our country? "

The new Foreign Minister, Count Rheinfels, also smiled and said, "Or can we reach a new trade cooperation agreement?"

Grenville shook his head, "You misunderstood. I want to help your country solve the trade imbalance problem."

"You should have noticed that the Rhine-Seine Treaty has seriously worsened Austria's trade situation.

"A large number of French goods have poured into your country. You have paid a lot of gold coins for this. However, your products do not have a large market in France, and have even begun to lose the southern German market.

"I think this agreement is very unfair."

Kobutzl and Count Rheinfels looked at each other and remained silent.

Grenville continued to persuade: "Your country must renegotiate with France on the tariff ratio to reverse this situation."

Kobutzl immediately shook his head: "France and Austria have a deep friendship, and we are not prepared to do this."

He paused and said: "Your suggestion will only anger France and even bring war to our country."

Trade disputes are the second largest factor in triggering wars in this era, second only to inheritance issues.

"You don't need to worry." Lord Grenville smiled confidently, "Our country will fully support your trade proposition."

He did not wait for the Austrians to refuse, and continued: "To be honest, before I came here, I went to Bavaria and Salzburg, and they also believed that the Rhine-Seine Treaty urgently needed to be revised.

"I can help you convince all the contracting parties, including Württemberg and Augsburg, to unanimously request the renegotiation of the Rhine-Seine Treaty."

"Under the joint pressure of so many countries, France will have no choice but to compromise."