Chapter 838 Spain's Gold

Since April 1935, the situation in Spain has become more chaotic.

Why is it more chaotic? Because in addition to France, Russia also joined in and began to support the Spanish Republic.

Then the question is, why did Russia, which has been low-key since the end of the civil war, stand up to support the Spanish Republic?

This has to mention the problems that Russia's special thinking has brought to Russia.

In the whole of Europe, Russia has no allies. Except for the Spanish Republican government, which has a little trend, other countries are either capital-controlled or monarchical, which is far from the Russian political system.

Moreover, Russia's support for Spain has another consideration, that is, it wants to limit the expansion speed of Germany and Italy.

After all, Russia is also a neighbor of Germany, and Germany's strong strength is not a good thing for Russia.

With a batch of weapons and equipment transported from Russia to Spain, the Spanish Republican Army regained a certain combat effectiveness and was invested in the battle with the German and Italian armies.

Compared with Germany and Italy, the Russian government is not so crazy. In order not to offend Britain and France and not to violate the non-expansion treaty previously agreed with Britain and France, Russia only provided a batch of weapons and equipment to the Spanish government, and had no plan to send troops to help the Spanish Republican government fight.

But it must be admitted that the weapons and equipment provided by Russia to the Spanish government did play a crucial role.

When the German and Italian armies almost captured Madrid, this batch of weapons and equipment allowed the Spanish Republican government to persist for a while.

But because of this, the relationship between Germany, Italy and Russia deteriorated a little.

However, the German government still had the idea of ​​dividing Poland with Russia, and did not protest against Russia's behavior.

In any case, because of Russia's participation, the situation in Spain became more chaotic, and the Spanish people suffered greater pain in the face of an increasingly fierce civil war.

"What? The Spanish Republican government still has a large amount of gold reserves?" Arthur was a little surprised and looked at the former King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, who was still staying in Australasia.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alfonso XIII nodded, and had no regrets about his betrayal of the Spanish government: "When the Spanish royal family fled Spain, more than 200 tons of gold were left in the Royal Palace of Madrid.

In addition to the Spanish government's long-term gold reserves, the current Spanish government has at least more than 500 tons of gold, which is why they can persist in fighting."

"More than 500 tons of gold?" Arthur touched his beard and had an idea about the Spanish government's large-scale gold reserves.

"It seems that we may have to intervene in this civil war." Arthur nodded, and his plan for Europe has changed in his mind.

"Your Majesty Alfonso, please rest assured that after the Spanish Civil War is over, I will consider helping the Spanish royal family to restore the throne. As long as there are no accidents, you will become the King of Spain again within five years." Arthur smiled and nodded, painting a big pie for Alfonso XIII.

According to the current situation in Europe, accidents will definitely break out in Europe, and Spain will definitely not be an exception.

This also means that Alfonso XIII will never be able to become the King of Spain again within five years unless World War II ends within five years.

But Arthur wants to completely weaken Britain and France through World War II, which also means that the duration of World War II cannot be short, and it is very difficult to end it within five years.

If Alfonso XIII wants to become the King of Spain again, he will have to wait for at least five years.

In history, Alfonso XIII died in 1941 due to illness. In this world, he stayed in Australasia, perhaps avoiding the fate of dying of illness in 1941, and it is even possible to regain the throne of Spain at the end of his life.

Since he knew that the Spanish government had more than 500 tons of gold reserves, Arthur naturally could not let go of the gold.

No matter when, gold is very important to a country. Since the gold standard, gold has been related to the monetary stability and economic conditions of a country, and people's daily lives are completely inseparable from gold.

Although the gold standard has been abolished now, gold is still very important.

The strength of currencies of various countries is influenced by domestic economic factors, and the amount of gold reserves they have is also a reason.

In other words, the more gold reserves a country has, the higher the value preservation rate of the currency issued by the country.

As long as it can hoard enough gold reserves during World War II, the Australian dollar will be able to impact the status of world currency after the end of World War II, and even gradually replace the British pound.

Becoming a world currency means that Australasia has the capital to control the world economy.

What is the Australian dollar? It is just paper that the Australasia government can print at will. This is what the US dollar did in later generations.

The United States can completely make other countries in the world that use the US dollar bear its debts by printing a large amount of US dollars.

As long as the US dollar collapses, it will affect the economic order of the world, which will be a huge blow to some countries that are extremely dependent on the US dollar.

This also led to the fact that in the later dollar countries, even if they knew that the United States would squeeze income from other countries by printing dollars, countries could only bear it silently.

If the dollar really collapsed, the losses to themselves would not necessarily be much less than the income squeezed by the United States.

If an economic crisis was triggered for this, it would be even more costly.

How to get this gold from the Spanish government? The simplest and most effective way is to exchange interests with the Spanish government.

What did the Spanish government need most at this time? Of course, a large amount of weapons and equipment, strategic materials urgently needed for war, and food and medicine that the army and the people needed very much.

It just so happened that Australasia had stockpiled a large amount of strategic materials and food, medicine and medical equipment, which could be exported in exchange for Spanish gold.

Why was Arthur so sure that the Spanish government would definitely use gold to exchange for these materials?

Because the Spanish government at this time had reached the most critical moment. Although Russia had previously provided a batch of weapons and equipment support, it was just a drop in the bucket.

The weapons and equipment of Germany and Italy are still being transported to Spain, and even their armies are constantly rotating.

Under such circumstances, it is impossible for Spain to outstrip the two great powers of Germany and Italy.

For the final survival of the Spanish government, I believe that the Spanish government will make a wise choice and use gold in exchange for a greater chance of victory.

Without further ado, the Australasian government immediately contacted the Spanish government and expressed its willingness to support Spain.

This is a timely help for Spain. Under the pressure of Germany and Italy, few countries in Europe will support Spain.

Even France and Russia have limited support, and they dare not risk offending Germany and Italy to help Spain, a small and medium-sized country in Europe.

Australasian also quickly put forward its own conditions, which is to export a large number of weapons and equipment to Spain in exchange for Spain's gold reserves.

As a sign of sincerity, a large number of weapons and equipment in Australasian can be sold to Spain, including precious drugs such as penicillin.

This is a difficult choice for the Spanish government. Once the Australasian government's request is agreed, it means that the Spanish government will lose a large amount of gold reserves and let the gold flow to Australasia.

But if the Australasian government's request is not agreed, what can be done by keeping this batch of gold?

If the Spanish government perishes, won't the gold become the Spanish National Army, Germany and Italy?

Anyway, the final result is to throw away this batch of gold, so it is better to let this batch of gold play its due value and exchange more weapons and equipment and strategic resources for the Spanish government.

With this idea in mind, the Spanish government agreed to the Australasian request after hesitating for a few days.

Of course, the Spanish government also made further requirements.

Among them, the Australasian government must send a military advisory team.

This military advisory team will help the Spanish government reform the Spanish army and help the Spanish army master the weapons and equipment from Australasia more quickly.

Secondly, when the Spanish government uses gold to purchase materials, the value of gold should be equal to 1.2 times its actual value.

At present, the exchange rate between the Australian dollar and gold has fallen to 1:1.03.

According to the Spanish government's requirements, the original value of 500 tons of gold should be equal to 515 million Australian dollars. According to its 1.2 times value, the Spanish government requires 500 tons of gold to purchase at least 618 million Australian dollars of materials.

Such a request is actually very normal, and Arthur agreed without thinking.

Although currency can be exchanged for gold, it does not mean that the value of currency and gold is equal.

Currency can be printed at will, but gold can only be mined.

Australasia will definitely not lose money by exchanging 500 tons of gold for 618 million Australian dollars of materials.

After all, the cost of these 618 million Australian dollars of materials will never exceed the actual value of 500 tons of gold.

In addition to the importance of gold to the country, under Arthur's order, the Australasia government quickly signed relevant agreements with the Spanish government and immediately began trading in strategic materials.

Half a month after the signing of the agreement, the first batch of weapons and equipment, including 200,000 rifles, 500 machine guns, 1,200 artillery pieces and corresponding bullets and shells, along with food and medical supplies worth more than 10 million Australian dollars, was delivered to Spain.

In order to ensure the safety of the supplies, this batch of supplies will be escorted by Australasian warships, through the Mediterranean, directly to the coast controlled by the Spanish Republic government.

The first update of 3,000 words, please vote for me, please support!