Chapter 1343: France is shaken

Using public opinion to stir up the people's war-weariness and coerce governments to sit at the negotiation table is a helpless approach. After all, the contradictions between the governments of the major European countries cannot be adjusted at all, which can be seen from the punishment of the Allies on the Central Powers in the previous life.

Of course, it takes time for public opinion to ferment, so it is impossible to promote negotiations through the public opinion of the European people's desire for peace. For this reason, East Africa still needs to persuade the major European countries at the official level.

Among them, East Africa uniformly stated the harm of this war to Europe for the governments of various countries, which is also the most basic. In fact, today, the method of European countries trying to divert internal contradictions through war has failed, which is also the fundamental reason why East Africa is willing to lobby.

For different countries, East Africa also persuades in different ways. For example, in France, East Africa focuses on lobbying the French government on the population problem in France.

Since the Napoleonic era, population has always been France's weakness. Before World War I, the total population of France was just over 40 million, but France mobilized nearly 10 million troops on its own territory, and the number of casualties was as high as 5 million. If the war continues, France will be the first to collapse, unless Britain and the United States have a change of heart and are willing to rush to the front line.

But this is obviously impossible. Not to mention Britain for now, the United States, an ally that joined in the second half of the war, has only mobilized more than one million troops so far, which is much less than in the previous life, so France has replaced Russia as the weakest link in the Allied Powers.

Paris.

East African Ambassador to France Lipovitz is talking to senior officials of the French government.

He held a form and said to the grim-faced members of the French government: "Ladies and gentlemen, I know that peace talks are a very difficult decision for France, but it is obvious that France is no longer able to support this war."

Most of the senior officials of the French government are currently pro-war factions. After all, French President Clemenceau is one of them, so Lipovitz's task is relatively arduous.

Lipovitz went on to say, "Since the beginning of the war, France has mobilized nearly nine million troops. I think you should know what a terrible number this is."

"Before the outbreak of the war, the French population had barely broken through 40 million, which means that during the war, almost a quarter of the French population was deployed on the battlefield."

"France's casualties are also the most tragic among the warring countries. The number of military and civilian casualties is close to five million, and most of them are young and middle-aged men."

"This also means that France has wiped out a generation of people. These people should have been the main force of France's economic and industrial construction in the next 20 to 30 years, and the future of France, but they either died on the battlefield or became poor disabled people. Even if the war drags on, In one year, you will send the young people of France to the war. "

"If the war develops to this point, then France's last hope will be completely annihilated. Even if you can lead France to win the war, you will inevitably become the sinners of France in the future."

"Even if you win the war, can you get the fruits of victory? I don't think the British will agree with this. Even if the population of France cannot be restored after the war, you may not be able to form competitiveness against Spain and the Kingdom of Italy in the future."

Libovitz's words can be said to be murderous. Among France's land neighbors, in addition to Germany, the number one opponent, other countries should not be underestimated. Even Belgium has a population of several million.

Even the divided Italy is a country with a population of more than 10 million, and Spain has more than 20 million. Now, France has lost a lot of blood in World War I. Considering the population alone after the war, how France can maintain its status as a major power in Western Europe is a very severe test.

Lipovitz said: "If you end the war now, at least you can wait until the new generation of France grows up in the future. If you continue to act on your own and lose France's hope, France will be ready to become a second-rate country in Europe in the future."

As Lipovitz finished speaking, it also caused a shock within the French government, because the situation described by Lipovitz was almost fatal to France.

If there is a driving force for France to persist in the war now, a very important part of it is to maintain France's long-term status in Europe and even the world.

However, Lipovitz now asserts that France is likely to become a second-rate country in Europe because of the war, which is unacceptable to any patriotic Frenchman.

Even Clemenceau, a French leader who relied on the image of a war faction, was moved by Lipovitz's words. This is not because Lipovitz's eloquence is outstanding, but the data and future described by Lipovitz broke Clemenceau's last fantasy.

Although Clemenceau hated the Germans, he also understood that he should not let his emotions influence his thinking. Now that the East Africans had torn off France's fig leaf, this French politician who had previously been trying to avoid the risks behind the war became rational again. As the leader of France, he must be responsible for the future of France.

Clemenceau moved in his chair, as if he had made an important decision. He knocked on the table, signaling the officials and military generals to be quiet.

Then he said to Lipowitz: "Ambassador Lipowitz, thank you and your government for your concern for the fate of France. I will seriously consider your opinion. Now we need to discuss these issues internally. I hope you will Please go out for a while and hope you can understand me."

Although Clemenceau was relatively radical, he was very well-educated, so he first invited Lipowitz, an East African, out of the conference room.

Lipowitz said: "Of course, if it can help your country, East Africa and I will be happy to see it."

Later, Lipowitz exited the conference room. When he left, the conference room fell into silence.

France's top leaders did not speak, but stared at Clemenceau, now France's top leader, hoping that he could break the deadlock.

After a long time, Clemenceau finally spoke: "Everyone, I wonder if you think what Mr. Lipowitz just said is correct? You can speak freely. This is a major event that determines the fate of France. I think everyone has the right. Express your thoughts.”

But no one spoke, because peace talks, especially peace talks with the Germans, are politically incorrect. France has paid too heavy a price for this war. Who dares to bear this responsibility!

Looking at the group of senior officials who were usually majestic and open and silent to show off to the Germans, they all shrank their necks like quails at this time.

Clemenceau sighed inwardly, and he said feebly: "Although Liebowitz's words are very ugly, what he said is true."

"East Africans understand the current situation in France, and we understand even better. One thing Lipowitz said is very correct, that is, population is the most fatal problem of the empire."

"We cannot turn a blind eye to this. As Lipowitz said, our generation is actually finished. In fact, we have become the sinners of France. France will no longer be able to do anything in the next ten years."

"This is a very cruel reality. I can't imagine how we should deal with the millions of disabled people now after the war is over."

"We have expanded the age range for conscription as much as possible, but there are only about 20 million men in France, but we have sent 10 million people to the battlefield."

"If the war continues, as Lipovitz said, France's future will be completely ruined in our hands. It can be said that Mr. Lipovitz's words woke me up and we should not continue this mistake."

If it were a previous life, Clemenceau would naturally not say this. After all, in the previous life when the United States entered the war, the collapse of Germany was already visible to the naked eye. However, in this time and space, no one dares to guarantee when, where, and which country will win the final victory. victory.

"Your Excellency, do we really want to surrender to the Germans?" Joffre, the French government's military adviser, said angrily.

Clemenceau said helplessly: "General Joffre, although I understand your feelings very well, this is not a surrender, but a responsibility for the future of France. In fact, we all underestimated the damage of the war to France. At the beginning, Isn’t this the reason why you voluntarily resigned?”

Joffre was the commander of the previous Battle of the Somme, and the reason he resigned from the army was that there were too many casualties, which triggered accusations within France.

"In 1914, we never thought that this war would continue until now, for nearly five years, let alone the harm this war would cause to France."

"Now we must also admit that it is impossible for France to defeat Germany in a short period of time, especially when the United Kingdom and the United States are unable to contribute their efforts. We cannot bear the harm caused to France by the war."

"Even if the war continues for another year, maybe we will face the dilemma that Russia faced before. The soldiers on the front line and the people in the rear are not ruthless machines, but living people. Their hearts have long been numb. Even full of anger towards the government.”

"The angry crowd will engulf us completely, and this time it will not be the Paris Commune, but riots throughout France."

"Of course, if this is all, I will not compromise. After all, if I can lead France to expand its territory and defeat Germany, I am willing to bear all the infamy, even if I am shattered to pieces."

"However, what I am really worried about is not the people's attitude towards the government, but the future of France, so my conscience tells me that I should accept the goodwill of East Africans and keep the fire for the future of France."

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What Clemenceau said is in line with his past experience, because the early Clemenceau was indeed an idealistic politician. He supported the republic, opposed imperialism, and colonialism, and even studied some of the Labor Party’s policy, remaining neutral in the Paris Commune movement, etc.

It can be said that apart from his attitude towards Germany, Clemenceau was a relatively relaxed person towards many things and ideas.

But now, the French president who is the most anti-German is willing to bow to his enemies for the future of France. This requires great courage.

Of course, as far as the French's current attitude towards Germany is concerned, there is almost no difference between peace talks and surrender.

After Clemenceau said these words, Marshal Pétain, the current commander-in-chief of the French army, also said: "I support the president's view."

"Everyone, we are just choosing between the glory of France and real problems, but we must admit that the so-called glory is just a fig leaf. If we sacrifice the future of the entire nation, then if this fig leaf is not torn off now, the future will not be the same. will be uncovered by other countries.”

"Now if we can use the power of East Africa to withdraw from the war with dignity, although it will cause great harm to the French national sentiment, it will be nothing compared to ruining the future of the entire French nation."

"We should admit that since the war, France's national strength has been unable to support our competition with countries such as Britain and Germany."

"In fact, France is now a second-rate country in Europe. Since 1870, we have never been a rival to Britain and Germany."

"France's population, industry, and resources are unable to support us in competing with Germany and the United Kingdom. Now our alliance with the United Kingdom is just a pawn for the British."

"You know, the population of the UK is far greater than ours, but this so-called ally has only half of our local mobilization force. Isn't this ridiculous?"

"Moreover, the war was also fought in France, and our losses were very heavy. It can be said that the war area was originally the most important area for our country's economy."

"So, this war was a mistake, both militarily and economically. We should bear the infamy, preserve the fire of France, and not make the same mistake again and again."

Marshal Pétain and President Clemenceau had the same view, that is, they did not want to fight anymore. Of course, the main reason was that France could not fight anymore. If France's fertility rate and population could reach the same level as Germany, they said Maybe no such decision will be made.

When the two most powerful people in the French government and the army unified their thinking, other members of the government also began to reflect on the war.

In the end, France finally decided to negotiate peace. Clemenceau called Lipowitz back to the conference room and said to him: "We are willing to make an effort for peace in Europe, but your country should also persuade Germany to give up some unimportant matters." Practical ideas and sincerity in peace talks.”

Lipowitz agreed: "This is natural. Your Excellency, President, you must know that we in East Africa have always supported peace in Europe and have been working hard for this."

Lipowitz's words are not bad. Since at least 1914, East Africa has been calling on European countries to remain calm and promote world peace.

Of course, before 1919, East Africa just shouted a few slogans, hoping that Europe would fight in full swing. But now the situation has changed. For its own interests, East Africa now hopes that Europe can return to the pre-war situation.

"The imperial government not only sent me to your country to lobby this time, we also negotiated in places such as Berlin, London and Vienna. A peaceful Europe is what East Africa wants to see. This is good for everyone, especially It was in the context of the revolution in Russia.”

"Everyone should pay attention to the harm of the Labor Party. If Europe cannot end the war, then I am afraid that the entire Europe will eventually be taken advantage of by the Labor Party. You must know that the Labor Party has no concept of country and nation. If they really incite the people at the bottom, then France, Germany and Austria-Hungary will probably disappear from the map.”

This is not alarmist. After all, in the previous life, the Soviet Union was an alliance of countries, placing Russia, Ukraine and other countries under one country. Of course, although this method failed in the end, it was not necessarily impossible for European countries in the early 20th century. , especially now that the labor parties in various European countries are as close as one family.

The whole world unites, this is the slogan of the Labor Party, but it is also the nightmare of imperialism such as East Africa. Of course, Lipowitz used the Labor Party to make trouble, just to give the French government a step forward and eliminate their psychological concerns about the peace talks. feeling of discomfort.