Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 1063 Britain increases troops in Burma
January 1882, 1, Sabang Military Port, Sumatra Island.

The Dutch Minister of Defense apparently no longer respected the British, but chose to openly show contempt for the order to all officers there.

The Dutch military's top civilian official said, "The Netherlands will protect its allies against British bullying in the Far East."

Also visiting Sabang that day was Nikon, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Siam.

Fox also said that he and Nikon will discuss strengthening military cooperation between the two countries and deepen discussions on defense issues, including including the entire Indian Ocean in the west of the Indochina Peninsula and the Bay of Bangkok in the south of the Kingdom of Siam into the joint military posture.

At the same time, Fox also said that the two countries also discussed including the Latin American allies of the Netherlands in the joint naval patrols of the two countries, so as to increase the mobility of the joint patrols and expand patrol capabilities throughout the Indian Ocean.

Nikon, the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Siam, said that he understands the Dutch idea and he firmly believes that it is correct. At the same time, the future military cooperation between the two countries and even the plan for coordinated cooperation between the two countries and Latin American countries will be beneficial to the three parties, and the plan is beneficial to all three parties. The agreement has been passed and is proceeding as planned.

In response to this, Martinas, Secretary-General of the Military of the Thirteen-nation Group of Latin America, responded at the organization's headquarters in Kiel, the capital of Ecuador, saying, "I am still very confident that the cooperation between the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam and the organization is the best result. This month At the Summit of Permanent Representatives of the Group of [-] Latin American countries held in Kiel, members of the [-] countries supported the agreement.

The Netherlands has committed to helping countries improve their military standards, especially developing their naval capabilities.

After Fox visited Sabang Port to offer condolences, he suddenly visited Songkhla, an important port in the northern part of the Malacca Strait, together with the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Siam, Nikon. It will be leased to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for 1880 years, which means that it will have to wait until 100 to regain sovereignty and management.

Songkhla has been in Dutch hands for two years, that is.For two years the highest officials of the Kingdom of Siam arrived here.

Many people originally thought that this scene would not happen, but it did happen, and it was very harmonious.

Nikon's visit did not trigger any protests, and Nikon even found that the people here seemed more willing to accept Dutch rule and did not miss the rule of Bangkok.

This situation made Nikon, the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Siam, feel uncomfortable.

But I have to admit that compared to being an ordinary citizen of Siam, being a citizen in the Netherlands will provide you with much better treatment.

Although it was only a 100-year reign.

Fox did not know Nikon's thoughts. When he visited Songkhla, he said that both the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam were worried about Britain's attempt to break away from the principles of international peace. They saw Britain's disturbing expansionary behavior in Indochina and South Asia. .

Fox said the Netherlands "will continue to support our allies and partners in standing up to bullying"

But Fox said, "The Netherlands does not seek to establish a permanent military base in the Kingdom of Siam."

The subtext is that a temporary base can be established?

Fox did not directly answer this question.

However, he directly accused the UK of carrying out massacre-like behavior in Myanmar, which is absolutely unacceptable. Occupying Myanmar and suppressing the peaceful life of local people has further undermined the stability of Indochina. The UK should abide by norms rather than break rules.In this regard, the UK naturally cannot sit quietly.

On January 1882, 1, a total of 26 MPs from the British ruling party Whig Party and the opposition Tory Party submitted a letter to British Prime Minister Gladstone. The British jointly patrolled the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam and attracted Latin American countries to join. The plan poses a huge threat to the UK and reduces the proportion of the British fleet in the Indian Ocean. This is unacceptable and the British government should fight back.The emphasis is on implementing substantive counterattacks rather than just verbal attacks.

Faced with the "coordinated" opposition from members of both parties, the British government naturally did not dare to neglect it.

British Prime Minister Gladstone immediately accused the Ministers of Defense of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam at No. [-] Downing Street of ignoring the facts and issuing a statement attacking the UK's legitimate maritime law enforcement operations. The UK firmly opposes the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam's illegal actions within British Burma. -The platform endorses the illegal provocative behavior of law-enforcement elements.

In this regard, Chulalongkorn of the Kingdom of Siam said, "Our position is that Myanmar is a country, not a part of the United Kingdom, and in particular, we communicate with them on behalf of them. Therefore, we will not recognize British rule. We need to defend the country of Myanmar." This is our right to engage in foreign affairs, and the UK has no right to interfere with our foreign policy."

Britain was even more dissatisfied with this.

The British Crown Prince, Prince Edward of Wales, who stood up this time, emphasized that "the United Kingdom began to take Myanmar as a part of British rule more than ten years ago. Therefore, the United Kingdom has exclusive rights to Myanmar. This is indisputable. Britain will not give up an inch of territory under British rule."

The British Crown Prince also directly asked the Netherlands to "immediately stop provocative activities in the North Indian Ocean, especially the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal" at the press conference. He confirmed that the UK had sent a diplomatic protest to the Netherlands through the third country France. This is the first time since the UK After breaking off diplomatic relations with the Netherlands in 1876, it was the 45th time a third party protested to the Netherlands, and the third time this year.

In the face of the actions of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam, Prime Minister Gladstone also said at 10 Downing Street that London will continue to safeguard sovereignty, defend territorial rights, and ensure that British interests around the world are not harmed. At the same time, the United Kingdom will strengthen its military. Presence, especially in the Far East, the Ministry of Defense has prepared to increase naval forces in the Indian Ocean, taking the current 50 warships currently stationed only in the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, an increase of 1885% to 50 ships in 75.
He said that the British cabinet government will increase the army and navy forces from the current total of 15 troops around the Indian Ocean to 20, accounting for one-third of the total 60 British troops.

This decision makes people know that Britain will really expand its presence in the Far East.

Many people have calculated that among the 15 British troops currently deployed in the Indian Ocean, 3 are deployed in South Africa and 5000 in the Arabian Peninsula.

The remainder is in the northern Indian Ocean.

The Afghanistan-Afghanistan region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent was on guard against Tsarist Russia, so 2 troops were deployed, as well as 10 local miscellaneous indigenous troops.

There are 5 troops deployed in the coastal areas of the Indian subcontinent, 1 troops in Bangladesh, 5000 troops in Sri Lanka, only 3 British troops in Myanmar, and the others are also composed of indigenous troops from the Indian subcontinent.

It just happens to be able to maintain rule, but if it is now at odds with the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Siam, then there will be some shortage of troops, so it is understandable to add 5 British troops.

However, the UK's plan is to take a precautionary stance, which is a wise choice both internally and externally.

British Prime Minister Gladstone thinks so.

However, is this amount of troops really enough?

(End of this chapter)