Chapter 199: Make Friends with Distant Countries and Attack Nearby Countries (European Version)

The negotiation between Arthur and William II went very smoothly. Of course, this time it was the German Empire that needed Australia and Arthur, so William II readily agreed to most of Arthur's requests.

In the next few days, William II personally took Arthur to visit the daily training of the German Army and the Navy's exercises. After personally experiencing the powerful navy and army of the German Empire, he and William II went north to the Russian Empire.

The Russian Empire was the last stop of Arthur's trip to Europe and one of the main purposes of Arthur's trip to Europe this time.

Regardless of whether the German-Russian alliance has hope of being realized, Australia can obtain sufficient benefits and make a profit.

The eastern part of the German Empire is adjacent to the western part of the Russian Empire, but William II and Arthur still chose to take a warship to the Russian Empire.

Of course, this is also related to the primary destination of the two. The first meeting place between William II and Nicholas II on the German-Russian alliance was chosen on Björk Island in the Gulf of Finland. Although the formal meeting was on a warship instead of on the island, William II and Nicholas II tacitly chose Björk Island as the meeting place for the negotiation.

After three days of sea voyage, on August 2, 1905, the two fleets carrying William II and Arthur arrived near Björk Island.

Not long after, the Baltic Fleet carrying Nicholas II also arrived late.

Unlike the first negotiation, this time because of the participation of Australia, everyone officially chose Björk Island as the place for the negotiation.

With the joint efforts of the entourage and servants of the three parties, a temporary negotiation place was quickly built.

Because the atmosphere was not so serious, this temporary pavilion looked more like a holiday.

The servants took out various foods and fruits from their respective ships, as well as the drinks that had been prepared long ago.

An important meeting concerning the future situation in Europe was launched in this way.

Among William II, Nicholas II and Arthur, William II is the oldest and also plays the role of the initiator of this negotiation.

Because Arthur is the youngest, he is more of a listener in this negotiation, learning the conversation skills of the two monarchs, and also receiving the progress of the current German-Russian negotiations.

After the three greeted each other, the negotiation officially began.

William II first reiterated the attitude of the German Empire, saying that the German Empire is willing to provide a large amount of loans to the Russian Empire and support the Russian Empire's Far East policy.

Nicholas II nodded repeatedly, and some of the proposals made by William II really touched his heart.

The reason why the Russian Empire failed in the last Russo-Japanese War was not only because of the corruption of the Russian Empire itself, but also because it lacked international support compared with the island countries.

Although the only ally France chose to support the Russian Empire, such support was limited compared to Britain's support for the island countries, and was completely insufficient to change the situation in the Far East.

Moreover, at the request of France, most of the main forces of the Russian Empire in Europe were not dispatched, and most of the military structure in the Far East was composed of recruits who had been trained for less than one year.

This also led to heavy casualties in the Russian Empire in the last Russo-Japanese War, with more than 200,000 dead soldiers and even 300,000 indirect deaths.

Although most of these were temporary recruits, they would not have much impact on the military strength of the Russian Empire.

But such deaths still made many people in the country dissatisfied, and the defeat in the war was also one of the important factors of domestic instability in the Russian Empire.

If the Russian Empire could mobilize one-third of the European army to the Far East, the outcome of the Far East War would most likely change.

This also made some people in Russia somewhat disappointed with France. They believed that their allies who had high hopes had become a burden to them in the war.

Germany's attitude and commitment were completely different from those of France. If the Russian Empire had not already had an alliance with France, Nicholas II would even want to agree to William II's conditions on the spot.

When talking about the Far East issue, Nicholas II and William II both looked at Arthur.

If Australia can strongly support the Russian Empire in the future Far East war, the Russian Empire's logistical problems in the Far East can be solved by at least half.

This is the advantage brought by distance. In the Far East, Australia can exert an influence comparable to that of the second-strongest countries in Europe. If only weapons and resource support are counted, it is even equivalent to a powerful country.

Arthur naturally nodded repeatedly. Australia's support for the Russian Empire's actions in the Far East is of no harm to Australia.

Even a large amount of arms trade will drive the development of Australia's industry and military industry, which is also good for Australia's future military expansion.

The Russian Empire's Far East policy will actually usher in the desperate resistance of the island countries and the opposition of the British Empire and the United States.

Judging from the current situation of the Russian Empire's internal and external troubles, it is not easy to make a difference in the Far East.

Although supporting Russia will cause Australia to lose the arms market of island countries, the island countries still rely mainly on the British Empire and the United States, and only these two countries will provide large amounts of loans to the island countries.

After receiving Arthur's support and assurance, Nicholas II nodded with satisfaction, agreeing with William II's proposal to support Russia's Far East policy.

But there are still a large number of Russian people and officials who are unwilling to give up the alliance with France, because during the period of the Russo-French alliance, a large amount of French capital has poured into the Russian market, and Russia is also very dependent on France for its financial support and loans.

If the agreement with France is ended hastily, it will also be a huge harm to the Russian Empire itself.

What's more, there are many strikes in Russia at present. If the loan cooperation with France is suddenly cut off, even if there is a new influx of German loans, the damage to the market will definitely not be alleviated in a short time.

This will cause a large number of workers to lose their jobs, and will also make the unrest in Russia this time even more massive in disguise.

This is the reason why a considerable number of Russian officials are currently opposed to the German-Russian alliance. Russia's current domestic environment cannot withstand too much change. If it suddenly loses the support of French capital, I am afraid that before German capital has poured in, Russia will have already erupted in a greater crisis.

Nicholas II himself is also aware of this. Although he is very tempted by William II's proposal, he is still in a state of hesitation.

The first day of negotiations ended in such hesitation. Although Germany, Russia and Australia all have the intention to reach a cooperation, it is obvious that Nicholas II is still too hesitant, or the opinions in Russia are not unified at present.

After Nicholas II hurriedly left, Arthur did not rush back to the warship, but looked at William II who was a little thoughtful, and said with a smile: "Cousin William, are you in a bad mood?"

Although Arthur asked knowingly, William II was not angry, but explained helplessly: "I really don't know what those French have provided to Russia to make Russia reluctant to give up the treaty with France."

Even though William II provided a lot of conditions that were favorable to Russia, Nicholas II was still hesitant.

Comparing the completely different attitudes of Germany and France towards Russia in the early stage of the Russo-Japanese War, William II even felt that Nicholas II's head was kicked by a donkey.

"You seem to have entered a misunderstanding, cousin William. Compared with becoming allies, I think the better destination for Germany and Russia is mutual neutrality." Arthur did not answer William II, but said meaningfully.

"Oh? How do you say that?" William II immediately became interested and asked with a little surprise.

"From a geopolitical point of view, Germany and Russia are neighbors and are both one of the hegemons of the European continent. But Russia and France are far away, with the German Empire in between, so there is no conflict over land." Arthur explained.

"As allies, France and Russia can obtain German land and continue to retain Germany as a buffer. But if Germany and Russia are allies, Germany can divide up French land, then what about Russia? This is not the Middle Ages, and the exchange of territories is not feasible."

Even in continental Europe, the diplomatic concept of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby countries is still applicable.

Although Russia attaches great importance to its Far East policy, its base is in Europe after all, and it has to pay attention to the development of the situation in Europe.

As allies, France and Russia can obtain German territory to supplement the country after victory in the war.

And the two countries are separated by Germany as a buffer, and there will not be too many conflicts.

But Germany and Russia are different. If Germany and Russia are allies, the only enemy on the European continent is France.

But the distance between France and Russia is too far, and Russia will naturally not be stupid enough to occupy an enclave without popular support.

So let Germany grow bigger? Germany has acquired French land, and its overall strength will definitely become stronger.

After defeating France, wouldn't Russia become another potential opponent of Germany naturally?

Russia is not Germany's opponent now, and naturally it can't be Germany's opponent after acquiring more land and territory.

Such development will also make Russia think more. Is the German-Russian alliance really more suitable than the Franco-Russian alliance?

In addition to the fact that Russia cannot lose French capital for the time being, the potential crisis of the German-Russian alliance is also the reason why Russian officials and Nicholas II hesitated.

William II was silent for a moment, nodded, and said: "That's right. The purpose of the Franco-Russian alliance is actually to fight against the German Empire."

"So, I think the best relationship between Germany and Russia is neutrality. Of course, how to be neutral and the diplomatic bottom line of the two countries still have to be defined by your officials." Arthur said with a smile.

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