Chapter 680: The Emperor of France Visits
Chapter 673 The Emperor's Visit
"The company has entered Australia to conduct business in 1851, and its contribution to Australia's development is obvious to all." Martin said loudly.
"Our company has always abide by the law. In 1856, you asked each Chinese to enter the country to enter the country to have an entry tax of 5 pounds. After negotiation, we accepted the entry tax of 2 pounds per Chinese.
Now you don’t even discuss with us. The new immigration restriction bill directly raises the original entry tax of £2 to £25.
It is also restricted from carrying only one Chinese into ports per 100 tons of various merchant ships. IMHO, our company cannot accept such rude and discriminatory terms! ”
The Umbrella Company's statement of law-abiding is uncertain. Umbrella Company can gain a foothold in Australia where prisoners are everywhere, monopolize the Australian gold mining industry, and compete with the British Empire's East India Company in Australia, so it is naturally not a good person.
But Martin is also saying the truth. On the surface, Umbrella Company did comply with the laws of the Australian colonial authorities. In addition, the laws of the British Empire are highly flexible. Rounding Umbrella Company is indeed a law-abiding company.
Henry Barkley knew that the fundamental contradiction between them and Umbrella Company this time was not whether Umbrella Company complied with the laws of the Australian colonies and whether it paid the taxes in full and on time. It is Australia's demographic structure that has caused concerns from London.
Not counting indigenous people, there are now 1.5 million white immigrants from the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European continent in Australia, while the remaining main ethnic groups are 500,000 Chinese and 30,000 to 40,000 whites from the Americas.
Obviously, London believes that such a demographic structure is not conducive to their rule over Australia. Barkley's former Governor Augustus was dismissed from office on the grounds that the imperial cabinet had received huge bribes and was unable to effectively manage the colonies and had a too close personal relationship with Liang Yao.
Accepting bribes for Augustus's crimes is nonsense, and the word integrity has nothing to do with the governor of the British Empire. The deep reason why Augustus was dismissed was that he did not control the population structure of the Australian colonies.
"The legal terms are fixed, but people are flexible," Barkley said.
"In 1856, there were clauses in the Victoria region that only one Chinese could enter the port per 100 tons. In the end, why don't you bypass the legal terms and enter the port from the port in its region? Similarly, Mr. Martin, we have no restrictions on it, either. The company recruits employees of other ethnic groups to work in Australia.
The new immigration restrictions bill restricts Chinese people from entering Australia. You can hire Europeans, Americans, and even Japanese, and natives from Southeast Asia to join Australia to work for you. ”
"Your Excellency, don't you think this is very absurd? If these white prisoners in Australia could build Australia well, why did you need to introduce Chinese immigrants?" Martin sneered.
"Martin, you are also white, why bother to work for Chinese?" Barkley tried to win over Martin.
Martin is the head of Umbrella's company in Australia. If Martin can be successfully won over, solving the problem of Chinese in Australia will be twice the result with half the effort. Of course, it is even more of a great achievement.
"If you are willing to serve the British Empire, I promise you that our great British Empire will not only give you a governor of Australia, but Her Majesty the Queen will not be stingy with the title. Martin, you are an Irish, and we are still fellow citizens. .”
Seeing that Martin was unmoved, Barkley played the compatriot card and tried to get the distance between the two.
"Friends? When my father, mom, and sister starved to death in Ireland, you English did not treat us as fellow citizens." Martin stood up and said with a clear attitude, "Your Excellency, please pay attention to your words. I am America now." Citizen of the Republic, I only serve the American Republic!”
Whether for personal emotions or objective considerations, Martin would not make the stupid decision to betray Umbrella Company or Liang Yao.
His family is one aspect of the matter in California. Moreover, more than 90% of Umbrella's employees in Australia are Chinese, and these people will not follow him to serve allegiance to the British.
Most importantly, Liang Yao gave him trust and a sense of belonging in his most difficult time, which the British could not give him. Martin has no dissatisfaction with his current situation.
What's more, the promises of England were worthless in his opinion.
"That's very regretful, Mr. Martin, we don't have any speculation. I'm afraid we can't continue to talk." Barkley shrugged and expressed regret.
London's handling of former Governor Augustus has sent a very obvious signal to the Australian Governors. Even if the sky is high and the queen is far away, Barkley dares not disobey London's will.
The Qing government had never been interested in overseas Chinese, and the new American regime, the only one that could provide guarantees for overseas Chinese, was trapped in the quagmire of civil war. Barkley himself also believes that now is the best time to solve the problem of Chinese in Australia.
On May 27, 1861, Emperor Napoleon III of the Second French Empire visited the new American Republic by train after completing his expedition to Mexico.
The American Republic attaches great importance to the visit of the French Emperor. This is the first time since the establishment of the American Republic, the leader of a major power has visited in person. The American Republic welcomed Napoleon III in the largest city of Kingsoft with the highest specifications.
To welcome Napoleon III, Kingsoft Central Railway Station has been suspended since yesterday. White Star Flags and Tricolor Flags are hung everywhere in the train station, and huge colorful portraits of the heads of state of the two countries are hung in the center of the railway station building.
Vice President and Senate President Fremont, Secretary of State Pan Zhengwei, Speaker of the House of Representatives Wu Yuanhua, Minister of the Interior Gu Wen and other politicians of the American Republic, as well as Liang Yao's parents and wife, all arrived at the Central Railway Station in advance to wait for the arrival of Emperor Napoleon III. French Ambassador Le Goff also arrived at Jinshan Central Railway Station with the staff of the French Embassy.
"Play music!"
No mistake, one song, one content, one content, one look!
As soon as Napoleon III's special train entered the station and stopped steadily, Fremont personally gave orders to the musicians who had been ready.
The musicians immediately played the long-rehearsed "Imperial March". Napoleon III walked off the train to the high-pitched and solemn melody. His shiny eyes stepped on the red carpet, and a confident smile appeared on his solemn face. He waved to everyone calmly.
Following him was a team of French Royal Guards in neat uniforms. The well-proportioned and tall members of the Royal Guards held a golden-topped flagpole with the imperial tricolor flag hanging on it, which fluttered in the wind.
After reviewing the honor guard of the American Republic, Zoe held a silver-edged welcome scroll and saluted the French emperor respectfully, speaking in French with a Breton accent: "Welcome, Your Majesty, it is an honor for all citizens of our country to visit us! President of our country, my husband is now on the front line, and he is very sorry that he cannot be there to greet you. Here, I would like to express my deepest apologies to you."
"Our French girls are so dignified and decent."
Napoleon III understood the current situation faced by the American Republic. Influenced by his uncle, Napoleon III himself also liked to lead the army in person and do everything personally. Liang Yao was unable to personally greet him, and Napoleon III did not care too much.