Chapter 523 Embarrassed Islander
As mentioned before, the French industry suffered heavy losses in the war. Even if it has recovered to about 60% of the pre-war period, it is still quite far away from 1. new
At present, the scale of the French industry is not even comparable to that of Australasia. If we look at the scale of the industry, the French are actually at a disadvantage.
But if we look at the scale of the economy, although the French also suffered heavy losses, they were far less severe than the industrial losses.
Compared with the losses in France's real industry, capitalists are still willing to recover from economic losses.
After all, the recovery of the French economy is also a good thing for these capitalists. Only when the economy recovers can the capitalists exploit those civilians unscrupulously.
Coupled with the reparations from the defeated countries and the United States, France's economy, although not as good as before the war, is far from as bad as it was historically.
From an economic point of view, no matter how bad the French are, they are still third in the world, and the size and proportion of their navy are destined not to be any worse.
But if you look at the industrial scale, the French industrial scale is lower than that of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australasia, almost to the level of Italy, and the French will naturally not be willing to do so.
Faced with the torture of the two major powers, the representatives of the island countries seemed to lack confidence.
After all, industry and strength are relatively fair and can better prove a country's comprehensive strength.
Although the current military strength can also prove the country's strength in one aspect, the militaristic thinking mentioned by the Australasian representative also fully exists, which is something that the islanders cannot refute at all.
It cannot be said that the island country maintains the current level of army and navy just to protect its own country's security!
Not to mention whether it is credible to say so, under the premise that Russia falls into civil war and the United States forms an alliance with the island country, I am afraid that other powers will immediately demand the island country to disarm. After all, the existing military strength is fully capable of ensuring the security of the island country. New πΌπΏ Book BarβπΌπΏππππ‘.πππ
Having no other choice, the representatives of the island country turned their attention to their ally, the United States, only to find that the Americans acted as if the matter had nothing to do with them and had no intention of defending the island country.
The islanders cursed secretly in their hearts, but on the surface they did not dare to express any dissatisfaction with the Americans. They could only refute the views of Australasia and France, saying: "This is unfair! Whether it is economy or industry, for the island countries We are all at a huge disadvantage and there is no way we can accept such a proposal!β
"Why?" The Russian representative, who did not have good relations with the island country, also spoke up. Reversing his previous transparent attitude, he mocked and said, "Is it because your country's militaristic ideas have been exposed? Judging from the current situation of the island country. , neither industry nor economy can support an army and navy of this scale. Your country is unwilling to give up its proportion of the size of its navy, which is nothing more than a greater ambition."
Looking at all the countries here, their military strength is mostly linked to their own country's economic level and industry. After all, the military strength of small countries cannot be too strong.
Especially Americans. If we look at industrial scale and economic level, the United States is definitely the best in the world.
The military strength of the United States is not the strongest among the great powers, and its comprehensive military strength lags behind that of Britain and France, which is very different from extremes such as island countries.
Under the premise that the Americans were unwilling to help the island countries, the status of the island countries in this meeting became precarious. No one was willing to help them, and they seemed helpless in the face of the joint attack of several major powers.
"If the island countries are unwilling to start from the economic and industrial point of view, then how about looking at the land area actually controlled by each country?" At this point, Minister Gray added the last word, looked at the representatives of the island countries with a smile, and asked.
Again, the great powers basically do not suffer much in terms of land area. After all, in addition to its own homeland, it can also occupy a large number of colonies. In this era, colonies were also recognized.
Britain and France have a huge colonial system and are definitely the two countries with the largest land area in the world today. New (Russian Civil War)
Then the United States and Australasia each occupied a large amount of land, with a total land area of ββseveral million square kilometers.
Even a country like Italy, which is inconspicuous among the great powers, occupies some colonies, and its land area theoretically exceeds one million square kilometers.
The island nation alone does not have any recognized colonies other than its own homeland.
Although island countries also have interests in East Asia, the problem is that other powers also have interests in East Asia, and East Asia cannot be a colony of island countries.
As a result, the area of ββthe island country is one of the smallest among the great powers, and the island country is still the one that suffers the most, even falling behind countries like Italy.
If we really look at the land area, this is a fatal blow to the island country.
The British Empire had a land area of ββmore than 20 million square kilometers, and the French controlled an area of ββmore than 10 million square kilometers.
Australasia has a huge land area, and Americans are not much different.
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Under such circumstances, the island country's area of ββhundreds of thousands of square kilometers seems very pitiful, and it also suffers greatly from the division of naval scale.
If the British Empire, which has the largest land area, has a navy of 1 million tons, then what should the navy of an island country with only hundreds of thousands of square kilometers be? Tens of thousands of tons or ten thousand tons?
You know, the tonnage of a battleship is as high as more than 10,000 tons, and the current super dreadnought is as high as more than 20,000 tons and 30,000 tons.
If the size of the navy is really divided according to the land area, the current island nation's navy can be disbanded on the spot and only equipped with some small and medium-sized warships, which may not exceed the size of the navy of tens of thousands of tons.
All said and done, the conditions proposed by Britain, France and Australia were very unfavorable to the island countries. Coupled with the lack of support from the Americans, the representatives of the island countries were somewhat angry and collapsed.
It is impossible for representatives of the island countries to agree to the conditions of Britain, France and Australia. If they agree, it means that the island countries have no hope of rising.
Who dares to bear such a huge responsibility? If the relevant agreement is really signed, I am afraid that after these island country representatives return to their countries, they will be directly torn apart by the angry island people, just like the kind in the anti-Japanese drama.
"Mr. Gray, the conditions you have proposed are too harsh. It is impossible for me and the island government behind me to accept them." The island representative stood up and retorted with a slight breakdown.
"Oh? Why? Representatives of the island countries. Apart from you, no one objects to these proposals. Are you really fair? This is too ridiculous!" Minister Gray will not tolerate this former bitch at all. , directly started the ridicule mode, and also attacked the United States, the ally behind the island country.
"In any case, Mr. Gray, the island country government will not agree to such a division. If you insist on such a proposal, we can only withdraw from this meeting. Unfortunately, goodbye." The island country representative directly threw out what he thought was his trump card, It is to withdraw from this naval meeting to threaten the British to take care of the mood of the island country as much as possible.
Exit a meeting?
Hearing the islanders say this, Minister Gray was a little funny for the first time.
The gathering of representatives from so many countries is not a joke, nor is it simply to hold a meeting that will lead to no results at all.
After all, this meeting was convened by the British, and it is naturally related to the face of the British government.
If the island government withdraws from the meeting like this, it will be a slap in the face of the British government in an open and honest manner.
Would the British government accept such behavior? Absolutely impossible.
"Representative of the island country, I hope you can be responsible for what you said. This meeting is not for the interests of a certain country, but for the peace and stability of the world, for the entire human race, and for all the countries here." Gray The minister smiled and spoke, but his words were not so gentle.
"I hope that your country can uphold a responsible attitude towards the whole world and not disrupt the order of the meeting or even withdraw from the meeting for its own selfish interests." Minister Gray looked at the representatives of the island countries and said with some deep meaning: "I allow your country to Withdraw from the meeting, but if you cannot explain the withdrawal from the meeting and obtain the approval of all countries present, then I will think that your country is provoking the British Empire and provoking all countries present. The sacred dignity of the British Empire cannot be violated, I believe Other countries here will not allow this to happen."
Not to mention the islanders, even the United States behind the islanders would not dare to openly offend the British Empire.
As the most powerful country in the world, the British Empire's strength and status are still widely recognized, and it is fully capable of sanctioning any country.
Sure enough, after hearing Minister Gray's overt and covert threats, a drop of cold sweat flowed from the forehead of the island representative, and he immediately stopped walking out of the conference room.
Swallowing carefully, the island country representative explained awkwardly: "I apologize for my previous reckless behavior. The island country government respects this meeting and hopes that this meeting can bring stable peace to the world and all countries."
At this time, the representatives of the island countries no longer dared to look at the representatives of other countries. Without even thinking about it, the representatives of other countries were absolutely teasing and scornful. After all, they openly provoked the British Empire and then quickly gave in. This kind of behavior is not acceptable. Disgraceful.
But this is natural. The pressure of the British Empire cannot be endured by a single country, especially a pseudo-power like an island country with an imperfect foundation and needs the support of other countries.
"Okay, everyone, the meeting will continue. This is a meeting that concerns the entire world and all mankind. I hope that when representatives put forward their opinions, they can think more about other countries, rather than just for their own selfish desires." Minister Gray did not care at all about the embarrassing state of the island country representatives and announced that the meeting would continue.
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