#1395 - autonomy

The Congo colony's foundation couldn't compare to mainland Belgium, but it was more stable. Moreover, although Belgium's domestic economy was doing well, the actual living standards of the people weren't significantly better.

This led to the Congo absorbing more population than those going to Belgium.

However, the most pressing issue for the Belgian government was the ambition that naturally arose in the local Congo government due to the war's impact.

As war refugees in the Congo debated whether to stay or return home after the pandemic completely ended, the Belgian parliament also discussed the Congo colony.

One member of parliament said, "During the war, the mainland was threatened, causing the local Congo government to effectively break away from Belgian control for nearly five years."

"Additionally, in the later stages of the war, the central government promised significant benefits and rights to the local Congo government in exchange for their support, increasing Congo's tendency to separate from Belgium."

"This has increased Congo's centrifugal force. With Belgium's help, Congo has achieved remarkable economic success in recent years, but tax revenues haven't increased much compared to pre-war levels, which is unimaginable. The kingdom should bring Congo back to its proper place."

This proposal was immediately opposed by Hamberger, the Congo representative, who stated, "Councilor Rocas, your words are completely unreasonable. During the war, the Congo provided a great deal of assistance to the mainland, supplying a large amount of strategic materials and manpower. It made significant contributions to the kingdom's ability to persevere until the end of the war. Your remarks are undoubtedly a contempt for the Congo."

"The rights we in the Congo have gained are the result of our previous hard work and dedication. If the kingdom treats the Congo according to your words, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the 1.3 million Congolese people."

"Councilor Rocas, can you bear the wrath of our 1.3 million Congolese people? Such an act of discarding someone after they've served their purpose is undoubtedly extremely shameless!"

Of course, the desire to break away from Belgium is mainly the idea of some local officials in the Congo. However, for most ordinary people, as long as mainland Belgium can treat them equally, whether or not to stay in Belgium is not affected. And undoubtedly, the Belgian government itself may not be able to do this.

The world's colonial system is on the verge of collapse, but precisely because this system is still maintained, colonies are still inherently inferior.

However, some faster-developing colonies with a certain degree of autonomy have begun to seek greater rights from their home countries. Besides the Congo, the British colonies of Canada and Australia are typical examples.

Councilor Rocas replied, "Mr. Hamberger, I have no intention of offending the people of the Congo colony, but Congo's development itself has been smoothly rising under the guidance of the mainland. Naturally, you cannot only enjoy the benefits that the kingdom brings you without bearing the corresponding responsibilities."

"Therefore, I believe that the people of the Congo should rightfully enjoy the same treatment as the people of the mainland, rather than unfair treatment or even discrimination."

What Hamberger said was true, but upon closer inspection, the Congo's contribution to Belgium was not as high as imagined.

This is because for a long time during the Congo colony's existence, the local economic benefits were not high. After all, the Congo's initial size was pitifully small. Although it had a large amount of mineral resources, most of the profits went into the royal family's pockets, or rather, into Leopold II's pockets.

The Belgian government officially took over the Congo colony after 1909, but soon after, mainland Belgium fell into the quagmire of war and was unable to take care of the overseas Congo colony.

Not to mention obtaining a large amount of benefits from the Congo, but many mainland people and companies ran to the Congo to seek refuge, further promoting the economic development of the Congo.

Of course, the actual root cause of the dispute between Hamberger and Rocas is for real interests. In the Congo, a local interest group has formed that mainland Belgium cannot ignore, and the Belgian government has no good means to check and balance this newly formed interest group. This is why the Congo is so tough towards the mainland.

Economically, the Congo now has the ability to develop independently from mainland Belgium. Moreover, due to its location in East Africa and its proximity to the South American and West African markets, if the Congo breaks away from Belgium, it will likely do very well.

And economic development has further promoted the demands of local forces in the Congo for political status, which is inevitable.

Those colonies that do not want to break away from the suzerain state generally have some unspeakable reasons, such as the British colony of South Africa.

The biggest reason why the South African colony does not seek political equality or even independent status like Canada and Australia is that South Africa needs British military protection.

The two major ethnic groups in South Africa, the British and the Boers, have never relaxed their vigilance against East Africa due to the impact of the South African War in the last century.

Moreover, at the economic level, South Africa is not as confident in its independence as it was in its previous life. In its previous life, South Africa had abundant mineral resources in the Northwest region and its economy developed very well.

However, in this timeline, South Africa's main mineral producing areas are basically occupied by East Africa. In this way, the current South African colony's economy basically relies on the geographical location of Cape Town, developing shipping, commerce, and a small amount of agriculture.

Judging from the current situation, the future development prospects of the South African colony may not be much more promising than the Congo colony.

Finally, at the military level, Belgium has never been a military power, and even if Belgium has the military capability to intervene in the Congo, it does not have the courage to try. In addition to the local Congo, the influence of East Africa cannot be ignored.

As a regional hegemon, East Africa naturally cannot tolerate foreign forces launching a war at East Africa's doorstep without its permission.

Moreover, with the Congo surrounded by East Africa on three sides, it itself is an important component of East Africa's national defense and security. Even in military and diplomatic affairs, East Africa has absolute influence over the Congo, which even its suzerain Belgium cannot do anything about.

For example, East Africa has military transit rights and troop deployments in the Congo, the Congo's main railway lines are connected to the East African railway network, and the Congo's waters are also subject to patrol and free passage by the East African Navy, etc.

From these perspectives, it would be more accurate to say that the Congo was a joint colony of East Africa and Belgium, rather than just a Belgian colony. The good news, however, was that both suzerain states had a fairly positive attitude towards the Congo.

This made the Congo's position somewhat similar to Canada's, allowing it to play both the British and American sides. The difference was that the Congo's size was too small compared to Canada.

Between East Africa and Belgium, the Congo still preferred to strengthen cooperation with Belgium. Of course, this was mainly to maintain the Congo's special status. If it really embraced East Africa, many of the Congo's privileges would certainly disappear.

Therefore, the Congo interest group, represented by Hamberger, argued strongly in the Belgian parliament, essentially seeking more benefits. They would not really break away from Belgium; at least, maintaining the status quo was most beneficial to the Congo at this stage.

Among the three parties, the most awkward was the Belgian government. Having suffered heavy losses in its homeland during World War I, the Belgian government could not afford to abandon the Congo as a stable source of revenue. Therefore, the Congo held the upper hand.

Thus, while the Congo representatives and local parliamentarians were arguing in parliament, the current King of Belgium, Albert I, intervened and said, "Alright, you two, stop arguing. The Congo is an inseparable part of Belgium, and this is unshakeable."

"Therefore, Belgium will naturally treat the Congo fairly and justly, as it would its own family. So, Mr. Hamberger, there is no need to mind the radical remarks of Councilor Rocas."

"However, Mr. Hamberger, you must also understand the difficulties of the homeland. Belgium has experienced five years of war during the World War, so now Belgium needs the Congo to contribute to the recovery of the homeland's economy. This is also a reasonable request, and we will not mistreat the efforts and contributions made by the Congo."

King Albert I was the nephew of Leopold II. Before Albert I ascended the throne, he had visited the Congo colony.

In 1901, Albert I represented Leopold II on a tour of the Congo. However, at that time, the Congo was only a dispensable colony for Belgium.

Of course, this was only the case for the Belgian government, not for the royal family. At that time, the Congo had become Leopold II's money bag, but the Congo's output at that time could only benefit Leopold II alone.

With the death of Leopold II, Albert I, as the heir, naturally took over most of his uncle's assets in the Congo.

Therefore, Albert I also had a share in a large part of the interests of the Congo colony. Therefore, regarding the Congo colony, whether for personal or national interests, Albert I would not allow the Congo to become independent under his watch.

Hamberger respected Albert I and said, "Your Majesty, we in the Congo naturally do not want to easily separate from Belgium, but the premise of all this is that some people in mainland Belgium should recognize that we in the Congo are not a vassal of Belgium."

Albert I reassured him, saying, "That's natural, Mr. Hamberger. Personally, I have also visited the Congo. It is indeed a rapidly developing and vibrant land. Of course, most importantly, the residents of the Congo are mostly Belgian immigrants, so it is not an exaggeration to say that blood is thicker than water."

"Therefore, in terms of external exchanges and attitudes, the mainland and the Congo should work together to make progress and speak with one voice, so as to promote everyone's common progress."

Subsequently, the Belgian government, led by Albert I, re-engaged with the Congo representatives to discuss the Congo's economic and political rights.

After a period of negotiations, the Congo "finally" continued to choose to stay in Belgium. However, the Belgian government also granted the Congo the status of an overseas autonomous territory, initially freeing it from its colonial status.

The Congo local government gained more autonomous rights, such as enacting local laws, formulating economic policies, and having more autonomy in foreign exchanges, and so on.

… …

The Belgian government's talks with the Congo did not mean the end of the matter. In April 1922.

The East African government sent personnel to bring together the Belgian government and the Congo autonomous government to conduct another round of negotiations on economic cooperation.

The content of this negotiation was to establish the Congo as a free trade zone between Belgium and East Africa, and to promote the use of the Rhine Mark in Belgium and the Congo, especially within the Congo, where the Rhine Mark would become the legal currency of the Congo autonomous territory, with equal status to the Belgian Franc.

The internationalization of the East African Rhine Mark naturally started from neighboring countries and regions. The geographical location of the Congo colony destined it to become one of the first targets of East Africa.

In addition to the Congo, Darfur in North Africa, the Kingdom of South Germany in West Africa, and Paraguay in South America were among the first pilot areas outside East African territory. However, Darfur was somewhat special, as it was in fact a colony of East Africa, but nominally an independent country.

Due to its geographical location, the Congo was destined not to be able to get rid of the influence of East Africa. Moreover, according to the East African government's estimate, the Congo and its suzerain state, Belgium, did not have the courage to refuse East Africa.

However, the Congo and mainland Belgium were obviously not the same thing, so the negotiations on economic cooperation with mainland Belgium and economic cooperation with the Congo were separate.

East Africa also attached great importance to mainland Belgium. Under the overall plan of the United Kingdom to consciously hinder East Africa's exchanges and contacts with Europe, East Africa's exchanges and cooperation with Europe would naturally be affected, especially the Suez Canal and Gibraltar, the two straits controlled by the United Kingdom.

Since Belgium is located on the Atlantic coast, its cooperation with East Africa will not be greatly affected. Moreover, the special geographical location of Belgium makes it play an important role in the entire Western European region.

Economically, Belgium is one of the important channels for trade between East Africa and France and Germany. In particular, Belgium's economic ties with France are even more so, with a large part of Belgium's steel production being digested by France.

Therefore, reaching cooperation with Belgium in the economic field is conducive to further strengthening East Africa's economic influence on Europe. Belgium itself also has a good economy and is considered a high-quality market, which is also coveted by East Africa.

However, Belgium is located in a war zone, so East Africa's diplomacy with Belgium is also easily subject to interference from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. However, the expansion of any country's economic scope will offend people. As a member of the imperialist countries, East Africa itself is a competitor of other major powers, so East Africa is not worried about interference from other countries.

On the contrary, because of Belgium's special geographical location, being located in the middle of the three major European powers of Britain, France, and Germany, if East Africa can strengthen its influence in Belgium, it will be conducive to East Africa's control of the initiative in the competition with Britain, France, and Germany.