Chapter 158 Petroleum Exploitation Rights

The ancient Roman Empire, whose ruling area spanned the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, was powerful in the whole of Europe, West Asia and North Africa, and could be called the overlord of the world. The Kingdom of Italy also claims to have inherited the mantle of the Roman Empire, and they always want to reproduce the glory of the ancient Roman Empire.

Although there are many European powers, it is very difficult for the Kingdom of Italy to rise. However, the king and government of the Kingdom of Italy are fighting for this. In order to further expand outwards to achieve the goal of turning the Mediterranean Sea into its own bathtub, the Kingdom of Italy has been actively preparing. And their first target is undoubtedly the declining Ottoman Turkish Empire.

In Europe, the Ottoman Turkish Empire is no longer the powerful country that beat European countries to the ground. Their territorial area has been shrinking again and again. Although, North Africa still nominally belongs to the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But in fact, it has become the target of coveted and invaded by various countries. Many places have been reduced to the colonies of European countries.

Italy has been trying to seize the Turkish Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (now Libya) as a forward base for expansion in North Africa.

Tripolitania and Cyrenaica are a desert of Turkey in North Africa, with limited economic value, but an important strategic position. It faces Sicily and controls the narrower sea in the central Mediterranean. In 1881, during the process of carve-up of the North African territory occupied by the Turkish Portay government, Algeria (which France began to invade in 1830 and gradually reduced it to a colony) and Algeria (1881) successively became French protectorates. Therefore, the nominal possessions of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in North Africa were also owned by the Western colonists. France planned to annex the two provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica of the Ottoman Turkish Empire on this ground. This attempt was opposed by European countries, especially Italy, which had long wanted to establish a colony in North Africa. For this reason, Italy actively carried out political and diplomatic activities, reached agreements and tacit understandings with various powers (formed the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria), and recognized Italy's interests in North Africa. In order to prepare for the annexation of the two provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, Italy continued to emigrate and send businessmen to the two places from 1880 to 1911 to buy land and actively expand its power; Clothes, in the name of fishing sponge off the coast of Tripolitania, to conduct coastal surveys; instructing Italian Catholic priests to go deep into the interior to collect intelligence in the name of missionary work. Italy, learning from its failure in Ethiopia in 1896, kept on the lookout for timing.

"Your Majesty, the outbreak of the Moroccan crisis is a godsend opportunity for us. If we miss this opportunity, it will be difficult for us to find such a good opportunity again. Therefore, we cannot let go of this opportunity." Jova said Giolitti.

"Well, I totally agree with that. However, before going to war with the Ottoman Empire, we better get the support of other countries!" said Vittorio Emanuele III.

Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti nodded: "England, France and other countries should have no objections. This time we did not support Germany, and they reciprocated, and they should also express their acquiescence to our actions. As for the Germans, although Dissatisfied. But I don't think the Germans will be foolish enough to force us to the side of the Allies."

"Well, that's the reason. However, let's send a special envoy to Germany to try to gain the support of the Germans!" Vittorio Emanuele III said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti had no objection to this.

On the one hand, the Kingdom of Italy is preparing to invade Tripoli and Cyrenaica, and on the other hand, it is active in various European countries to gain more support.

After the Italian envoy arrived in Germany, he was not able to be summoned by William II. William II is still angry now, how could he give the Italians a good face? Even Bernhard von Bülow, Prime Minister of the Empire, did not meet with the Italian envoy, which made the Italians very dissatisfied.

During the talks with the Italian envoy, German Foreign Minister von Kiedren Wachter even bluntly claimed that the German Empire was very angry at the betrayal of the Kingdom of Italy. The Italian envoy, naturally managed to explain. But all fools know that it is simply perfunctory.

However, just when the Italian envoy thought he could not complete the task, Qin Tian took the initiative to meet him, which surprised the Italian envoy very much. After all, because of the second Moroccan crisis, there has been a major crisis in the relationship between Italy and Germany. Qin Tian's initiative to meet with him will undoubtedly bring about a turning point in the relationship between the two countries.

Qin Tian met with the Italian envoy in his office.

"Your Highness, hello." The Italian envoy was very humble.

"Hello, Special Envoy. I am personally very dissatisfied with the performance of the Kingdom of Italy in the Morocco crisis." Qin Tian said.

"His Royal Highness, there must be some misunderstanding. Italy attaches great importance to its relationship with the German Empire." The Italian envoy said quickly.

Fortunately, Qin Tian did not continue to dwell on this issue.

"Your Excellency, is your country ready to attack the Ottoman Empire?" Qin Tian asked.

The Italian envoy nodded. On this issue, there is nothing to hide. The actions of the Kingdom of Italy all the time are not unknown to other countries.

"Your Excellency, as an ally, although the Kingdom of Italy is incompetent. However, the Empire attaches great importance to its relationship with the Kingdom of Italy. Therefore, we are happy to see the Kingdom of Italy expanding in North Africa. We are also willing to support the expansion of the Kingdom of Italy. As for weapons and war supplies, if the Kingdom of Italy needs them, we can provide some of them," Qin Tian said.

The Italian special envoy was immediately overjoyed, he never thought that Qin Tian's attitude would be like this, it was a surprise!

However, the Italian envoy also knows that there is no free lunch in the world. The German Empire's support for the Kingdom of Italy obviously also had a conspiracy.

"His Royal Highness, what price does the Kingdom of Italy need to pay?"

"Once the Kingdom of Italy occupies Tripoli and Cyrenaica, I hope Deutsche Energie can obtain the right to exploit oil there!" Qin Tian said.

"Oil extraction? Is there oil there?" The Italian envoy knew nothing about it.

"His Royal Highness, I will report to the country immediately!" The Italian special envoy said, he thought this was nothing at all, and the Italian government would definitely agree to this condition.