Chapter 413 Land Exchange

On the night of August 11, Australasian Foreign Minister Daze and several of his subordinates knocked on the door of British Foreign Secretary Grey's room and personally delivered a gift that had been prepared for him.

"This is Minister Daze, please come in quickly. I don't know why Minister Daze is here late at night. I'm just getting ready to rest and recharge my batteries for tomorrow's peace talks." Minister Gray accepted the gift with a smile and invited Minister Dai Ze and his men entered.

"Minister Gray, to be honest, I did come with a mission. Today's peace talks have reached a stalemate, which is not good news for us. If possible, I hope that both of us will resolve the territorial dispute as soon as possible and let the two sides settle the dispute as soon as possible." The Middle East will usher in peace, and at the same time, more troops will be deployed to the Eastern and Western Front battlefields to end this war." Minister Dai Ze took it with a smile on his face.

"Of course, Minister Daze. Australasia and the United Kingdom have the same origin. We are unbreakable allies and blood relatives. But you also know that the British army has paid a lot of casualties in the war in the Middle East. We are reasonable. There is nothing wrong with asking for Iraq." Minister Gray nodded, but there was no concession in his words.

"Of course, Minister Gray. But you also know that the Australasian army contributed the vast majority of the war against the Ottoman Empire. Including the defeat of Bulgaria, the attack and defense of Constantinople, the landing on the Asia Minor Peninsula, and the landing on the Arabian Peninsula. Etc. It was our occupation of the most important grain-producing areas of the Ottoman Empire that made the Ottoman Empire determined to sue for peace. Therefore, I think it is not a problem for us to claim the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi area. If your country is willing, We can make up for it and compensate elsewhere." Minister Daze also nodded. He did not refute the fact that Minister Gray said that the British Empire had contributed, but he also pointed out that Australasia's contribution was far greater than that of the British Empire. fact.

"This is also what I want to say, Minister Daze. If your country is willing, the British Empire can exchange other lands for Iraq and recognize Australasia's occupation of the Saudi Arabian Gulf Coast." Minister Gray smiled When he spoke, his tone was very firm.

The Iraq region is located in the center of the entire Middle East, with British-occupied Egypt to the west and British-occupied Afghanistan and India to the east.

If Britain could control Iraq, it would be equivalent to controlling most of the Middle East. Coupled with the colonies in Yemen and Oman, the British lands will be connected in the Middle East and can also consolidate their rule over India.

Iraq's status in the Middle East is somewhat special. Mesopotamia is one of the few grain-producing areas in the Middle East and has one of the smallest populations in the Middle East.

The value of occupying Iraq is much higher than that of Yemen, Oman, Kuwait and the Saudi coast.

Coupled with Iraq's geographical location, it can not only control the Ottoman Empire in the northwest, but also guard against the Tsarist Empire in northern Iraq, which is of great benefit to the British Empire.

With such an important geographical location and economic value, it is naturally impossible for Minister Gray to let such an important area fall into the hands of Australasia, even if Australasia is an ally of the United Kingdom.

However, Minister Gray's proposal was exactly what Minister Daze wanted. While it is true that the economic value of Iraq is much higher, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits for Australasia.

Such a colony with a large indigenous population was not only very troublesome to manage, but was also easily feared and coveted by the great powers.

Some small colonies along the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia have a large land area, but they have small populations, and most of them are deserts. Their development potential and economic value are lower, and they will not cause dissatisfaction with other powers.

"In this case, Minister Gray, we do not want to destroy the good relations with the British Empire. If the British Empire is willing to transfer, Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the truce states and Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and other regions, we are willing to give up our Iraq's request, and support your country's exclusive occupation of Iraq." Minister Daize took advantage of the situation and made his request, and expanded the request a little.

Negotiations between countries are no different from business negotiations, and it is very common for foreign ministries to bargain with each other.

Therefore, Minister Daze directly opened his mouth and asked for most of the British colonies in the Arabian Peninsula, waiting for the British to slowly bargain down to a range that both Australasia and Britain could accept.

"Oh, my God. Minister Daze, your country's request is completely impossible. If so many colonies are exchanged for an Iraq, it will cause a devastating blow to the British Empire's rule in the Arabian Peninsula." Sure enough, Minister Gray immediately pretended to be surprised and said to Minister Daze in disbelief.

"If your country is willing, we can exchange Qatar and Bahrain for Iraq and support your country in occupying the Rashid coastal area." Minister Gray continued.

"Minister Gray, the conditions you proposed are also unrealistic. Just trading small Bahrain and Qatar for the vast Mesopotamia plain will also cause Australasia to suffer heavy losses." Minister Daze used The same words gave Minister Gray a counterattack, and he put forward his own conditions: "Minister Gray, Bahrain and Qatar, plus Kuwait or the truce states, we are willing to give up the entire Mesopotamia Plain and immediately hand it over to Your country’s management.”

You know, the entire Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia was conquered by the Australasian army itself.

This also means that the British Empire only exchanged Bahrain and Qatar for the entire Mesopotamia Plain. Such an exchange is completely unequal.

Minister Daize's requirements are indeed not high. Whether it is Kuwait or the truce states, their area and development value are far less than those of the Mesopotamia Plain.

Moreover, the entire Mesopotamian plain has been occupied by Australasia, and the British only need to hand it over. Occupying this plain without spending a single soldier is a huge advantage for the British.

Now it depends on the eyes of Minister Gray and the British government, whether the entire Mesopotamian plain has Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait or the truce states combined is important.

After Minister Gray heard the conditions given by Minister Daize, he did not rush to agree or refuse. Instead, he looked at Minister Daize and thought carefully.

Seeing that Minister Gray had wavered, Minister Daze continued: "Minister Gray, Australasia is a natural ally of the British Empire and a blood relative of the British Empire. We are too far away from Europe and have no interest in European territories. If your country is willing, we can form a closer alliance and keep the Anglo-Australian alliance until after the war. Australasia is willing to support any actions of the British Empire in Europe in exchange for Kuwait or the truce states."

Although the war brought the four Allied powers and Italy together, this does not mean that the five Allied powers are inseparable.

The first is Italy, which performed poorly in the war. Italy is not at the core decision-making level of the Allied Powers. Italy's status is naturally different from that of the four major Allied powers.

After all, it was a country that betrayed the Allied Powers and joined the Entente. Although other countries would not say anything, they still morally rejected such an idiotic behavior.

The relationship between the four major powers of the Entente is very complicated. The Entente can be divided into the Anglo-French Entente, the Franco-Russian Entente, the Anglo-Russian Entente, the Anglo-Australian Entente, and the Russian-Australian Entente.

France has good relations with Russia, Russia has good relations with France and Australasia, Australasia has good relations with Britain and Russia, and Britain has good relations with Australasia and France.

This is not over yet. Although the relationship between Britain and France is relatively good, the British are wary of France and Russia.

As a result, the only allies that Britain could trust and rely on after the war were Australasia.

Because of Australia's unique geographical location, Australasia is the only country that will not cause direct conflict with Britain, France and Russia.

After the war, France and Russia will definitely expand massively in their homeland and colonies, and Britain is the last thing to want to see these two countries become more powerful.

If France and Russia unite, Britain alone will be unable to do anything. The support of Australasia will become more important, and Australasia can be used to divide the Franco-Russian Entente.

Hearing the hint in Minister Daze's words, Minister Gray nodded and said with a smile: "Of course, Minister Daze. Australasia is the closest ally of the British Empire and the most important thing for the entire British government. Partners. Our relationship should be closer. Compared with our relationship, one Kuwait is not that important."

Yes, Minister Gray made a quick decision to add Kuwait, exchange Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain for the entire Mesopotamian plain.

As for why there is no truce between the states (the United Arab Emirates), you can actually see it from the map.

Although Kuwait is also close to the Mesopotamian plains, its land area is smaller and its population is far less than that of Iraq.

More importantly, compared with Kuwait, the truce states are located at the outlet of the Persian Gulf, and the British Empire already controls the outlet of the Persian Gulf.

Under such circumstances, a small Kuwait is naturally not as important as the truce between the countries.

What's more, the British Empire's rule over the truce states even began nearly a hundred years ago.

As for Kuwait, the British Empire only signed an agreement with the Emirate of Kuwait more than ten years ago, turning Kuwait into a protectorate.

Although the loss of Kuwait will make the coastal area of ​​​​the Mesopotamian Plain even smaller.

But as long as we can control the outlet of the Persian Gulf, it is equivalent to controlling the entire Persian Gulf coast, and Kuwait will not seem so important.

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