Chapter 934 Two-step communication

However, East Africa cannot just watch. The arrival of Glade and William made Ernst think this is an opportunity. However, if he wants to obtain the maximum benefit, he still has to negotiate with France and Spain separately.

In Ernst's view, Spain is doomed this time. The United States is now in a critical period of transition to imperialism, so no one can save Spain.

However, it is important to reduce Spain's losses, especially those in the Asia-Pacific region, by connecting with France and other countries.

On the one hand, East Africa is also making plans in Nanyang. At this time, except for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, almost all powerful countries are making plans in Nanyang. Among them are Britain, France, and Germany. East Africa is the most aggressive, and the United States has joined the competition in Nanyang. , there is no doubt that it is detrimental to everyone. After all, the cake is so big, and there is someone who can eat it. Everyone is worried that their "share" will be eaten.

Apart from the United States, Japan was the most active in Nanyang in its previous life. However, Japan was busy repaying its debts, so it was unable to participate in such a gluttonous feast. However, Ernst believed that Japan would make the same mistake again in the future. After all, dogs cannot change their habit of eating shit.

In Ernst's view, although Britain and France are in the dominant ecological niche in the Southeast Asian region, their threats are far less than those of Japan and the United States.

After all, the energy of Britain and France is involved in the European continent, and it is only a matter of time before they withdraw from the Nanyang region. However, Japan and the United States are different. Not only are they close to each other, they are not easily disturbed by external situations.

The same is true for East Africa. East Africa occupies 43% of Africa's land. The northern part of the country is the Sahara Desert. Although West Africa has great potential, it has been demolished by foreign powers, so there is no force in Africa that can threaten East Africa.

On the other hand, keeping Spain in Nanyang can further muddy the waters. Now East Africa does not have the ability to show off its power in Nanyang. Although East Africa has three colonies, they are insignificant in Nanyang.

The UK, France, and the Netherlands are ranked in front of East Africa. Needless to say, the Netherlands and Spain are also difficult to control in East Africa. If the United States joins in, it will be even more difficult for East Africa to control the situation in Southeast Asia in the future.

Moreover, East Africa and the United States are actually following the same path. They are both keeping a low profile and then finding the right time to take over the leadership and take over world hegemony. More importantly, there is a large overlap in the regional competition between the two sides.

For example, the United States regards Latin America as its own backyard, but East Africa also has ambitions for South America. After all, from a geographical point of view, why is Europe so angry about the Monroe Doctrine of the United States? It is because the United States is in the Americas, and Europe is not good. intervention.

East Africa is different. The entire Latin American region may not be radiated from East Africa, but when narrowed down to South America, the distance between East Africa and the United States is actually about the same.

Especially countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay on the east coast of South America are only separated from the East by the South Atlantic Ocean.

Of course, as the economy on the west coast of East Africa has not yet risen, East Africa is not yet able to extend its influence to the above-mentioned regions. However, it is foreseeable that countries such as Brazil and Argentina will be a key area in the game between East Africa and the United States in the future. .

As a two-ocean country, the United States is based on the Americas, the East plans Europe, the West focuses on the Asia-Pacific, while East Africa is based on the African continent, the East focuses on the Southeast Asian region, including Australia, and the West focuses on South America.

Nanyang is part of the Asia-Pacific, and South America is part of the Americas. This is the geographical pattern between the two.

Of course, the location of the United States is advantageous to Europe, and the location of East Africa is advantageous to the Middle East and India. This is the difference.

On the whole, both countries have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they have a common goal, which is to finish the European countries such as Britain and France as soon as possible, so that emerging countries such as East Africa and the United States can re-draw the cake.

If nothing else goes wrong, there may be a new player in the international community, the Soviet Union, in the future. However, Ernst does not have high hopes for the Soviet Union. Its scope of influence cannot be separated from the Eurasian continent at all, and it does not have the conditions for maritime competition.

…

"Ambassador Glade, I wonder what your French arrangements are for Spain? Ambassador William is not here this time, so I hope you will have a clear understanding with us in East Africa. Only in this way can our two countries act together."

After sending away Ambassador William, Ernst first communicated with the French alone. After all, the leading force in deciding this intervention was still the French. The French would definitely not be able to do their best for the interests of Spain.

Glad frowned and said: "Your Majesty the Crown Prince, since you asked, I will naturally stop hiding it. Although we in France intend to stand on Spain's side in this conflict between Spain and the United States, we have no intention of siding with Spain." In the case of Spain, we may be pessimistic.”

Ernst asked deliberately: "Then how do you resolve this conflict? Americans will not give up!"

Glade said leisurely: "From our perspective, it is natural to minimize the losses after Spain's defeat, so we need East Africa to speak for us when the time comes to prevent the Americans from going too far."

The Spanish-American War in the previous life was ultimately mediated by France. Otherwise, the United States, as the victorious country, would not have obediently paid $20 million to Spain.

Of course, in addition to debt issues, France's sale to Spain is mainly based on strategic considerations. As the hinterland of France, Spain must side with France.

For example, the trigger of the Franco-Prussian War was the succession of the Spanish throne. If Spain was won over by Germany or Britain, France would not feel comfortable.

Now France is thinking about revenge against Germany every day, so Spain cannot lose its basic base. If something goes wrong, Spain is likely to give France a fatal blow in the competition between Germany and France. Therefore, France has been wooing Spain. This is the fundamental reason for the means.

Ernst: "I roughly understand. We in East Africa support your country's ideas. We will help France to support Spain when necessary. And in my opinion, what we should be most worried about is not just the situation in the Caribbean." , although the hot spot this time is Cuba, the United States may not be interested in other Spanish colonies, especially in the Asia-Pacific. The Pacific has always been the focus of the United States strategy, and Spain has vast colonies and important strategic islands in the Pacific. ”

"So, this is also the key point that Spain should be on guard against. You must know that the United States has a geographical advantage in the Pacific, and the United States has strong national power, developed industry, and a large population. In this case, the United States can easily support its battlefields in both directions, and Many of Spain’s colonies are stuck at important strategic nodes in the Pacific, which is undoubtedly not conducive to the interests of various countries in the Asia-Pacific region.”

"Take Spain's Philippine colonies as an example. If the United States occupies this place, its next step will definitely be to expand to the Indochina Peninsula. After all, the most elite area in Southeast Asia is in the Indochina Peninsula."

Ernst continued to give France eye drops. To say which country has the greatest advantage in the Indochina Peninsula, it is undoubtedly France, which occupies Vietnam, Cambodia and other places. Its resources, ports, population, and cultivated land conditions are all the best in the Indochina Peninsula. Ernst Special words may not be effective, but if they can continue to dig holes for the United States, East Africa will not suffer anyway.

Glader really didn't have much reaction to Ernst's words. He said: "What you said makes sense, but the United States may not necessarily reach out to the Philippines or other Spanish colonies in the Pacific while dealing with Cuba. Of course, I This will be reported to the government, and the specific outcome is not determined by us.”

For Glade, France is doing its best to help Spain. As for Spain's cession of territory, it is of no concern to France, so Glade doesn't care about it. Ernst, an outsider, has nothing to do, but France can't explain it. You can lobby Spain,