Chapter 825 Shared Colonies
Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.
When Franz was still planning how to develop the gold mines in Transvaal without being discovered by other countries.
The gaffe of the old Pretorius at the German Confederation Congress forced the former to reconsider his plan.
Austria's monopoly of Transvaal was not good news at this time. The innocent man was guilty of possessing a treasure. This was how the Boers became the dead souls of the British.
The old Pretorius did not want a kingdom. Regardless of whether Franz sympathized with the Boers, it was impossible for the latter to support such a person.
Since they did not want to be a country, they could only be colonies. The remaining question was how to rule this distant land.
The Boers were not a bloodless race. From the Battle of Blood River and the subsequent Anglo-Boer War, it can be seen that this nation was very tenacious and not afraid of strong enemies.
Franz even began to regret intervening in South Africa too early and helping these guys who called themselves "Germans" but did not want to be controlled by the German Confederation.
Actually, it is not right to say so. After all, the reason why this matter could be stirred up was entirely due to the fanaticism of nationalism. Rather than helping them, it was more like being forced by the democrats.
Compared with 1848, this time was just a drizzle before the storm.
How to control the Transvaal is not a very urgent issue, but it is not simple. It is definitely not possible to take tough measures like the British.
It is not that the war cannot be won, but the cost is too high. Austria is too far away from the Transvaal, and if you are not careful, you may repeat the mistakes of the British in history.
The Anglo-Boer War was the most loss in the long colonial history of the British. Even the famous Churchill became a prisoner of the Boers.
In the end, the number of British expeditionary forces even exceeded the total population of the local area. After paying an extremely heavy price, they barely won this protracted war by relying on the scorched earth policy.
Although Austria has two colonies in southern Africa, Tanzania and Namibia, it does not have the ability to connect them with the Transvaal for the time being.
The Transvaal and Austria's East African colonies are separated by the Portuguese Mozambique, and there are no developed routes in the interior.
As for the Namibian colony, it seems to be very close to the Transvaal, but it is almost inaccessible due to the high mountains, and it still has to face the harsh natural environment and barbaric and warlike natives in the interior of Africa.
However, there is no need to worry too much, because this is just the personal behavior of old Pretorius, and it cannot represent all the Boers.
It is not difficult for Franz to divide and disintegrate them, but it is too early to take action against the Transvaal, which is far away.
And the most important point is that the Transvaal and Orange at this time are poor and desolate.
Otherwise, the British would not give up such a large colony half-sold and half-given, which is actually not right, because the British have not eaten this land yet.
There is really no reason for the British not to do such a generous thing.
As for the five million, or the one million to be delivered this year, it is actually a death warrant for the British.
Because the expected banknotes have the same purchasing power as metal currency within the German Confederation, but the British can only buy things within the German Confederation.
With 20% cash and 80% goods, the economic crisis in Britain will be more serious.
In fact, this is also digesting the gold in Franz's hands. Sometimes having too much money is not necessarily a good thing.
Franz had to consider the relationship between economic development and money supply. The money in the market should not be too much or too little, in case Austria finally follows the footsteps of the Spanish Empire.
However, this game will soon be unplayable because new giant gold mines will be discovered. Although Franz has also made arrangements, it is impossible to monopolize it, and it is even more impossible to prevent the news from leaking.
So Franz must put his gold into the market as soon as possible and reasonably, so as to reduce the impact on himself.
For Transvaal, Franz only plans to send some missionaries and teachers. Compared with military conquest and economic control, Franz thinks it is easier to start with cultural ideas.
First, cultivate a group of "real Germans" and at the same time let the locals know what the German Confederation has done. It is absolutely impossible to let people think that this is the personal credit of old Pretorius.
If necessary, Franz does not mind leaving another floating corpse in the Atlantic Ocean.
It is completely unnecessary to send officials at this time, and it is a bad idea, not to mention whether the locals will accept management.
In such a desolate, remote and poor place, these officials who have seen the world will either bully the locals to death or be bullied to death by the locals.
Compared with them, the Boers who have lived in the local area for hundreds of years are definitely more familiar with the local situation. Apart from creating conflicts and causing trouble, they don't have much effect.
As for missionaries and teachers, these people communicate more with the grassroots, know how to use things other than power to subdue others, and are more likely to integrate into the local circle.
Finally, regarding the nature of the land, Franz thinks that the Transvaal (actually including Orange) area can be regarded as a colony of the German Confederation.
Metternich had a headache for Franz's proposal. Because it seems that other states are not prepared to pay. Five million pounds paid off in five years is not a small amount of money.
"Archduke Franz, I hope you can understand one thing. That is, other princes are not prepared to pay this money. Is it feasible for our country to develop it exclusively?"
The old prime minister was also helpless. After all, there were not many countries with colonies in the entire German Confederation.
Austria is the only country with the ability to develop overseas. Even if it is shared by other countries, it will not be able to allocate much money.
If a country is established, then the account of the German Confederation can be charged to that country. Although we don’t know when it will be recovered, everyone finally has something to look forward to.
However, a non-monarchy was not acceptable within the German Confederation, and just looking at old Pretorius, one could tell that the Boers were definitely very poor.
In addition, according to intelligence, the total population of the Transvaal is only more than 20,000, and it is impossible for them to afford to pay back the money.
Seeing that the money will be wasted, who would be willing to pay for it?
"No, we don't yet have the ability to develop such deep inland areas, and the so-called Boers are not yet a nation. At best, they are named after geographical units, like Viennese and Venetian.
As for the money, they don’t have to pay it, but all countries must shoulder the task of protection and civilization. After the development is completed, the interests of the Austrian Empire will account for 80%, and it will have veto power on all matters. "
Metternich didn't quite understand Franz's approach. Most of the German princely states in Germany didn't even have a navy, so what defense tasks could they undertake?