I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 737 Canal Company
Before the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway, George traveled between St. Petersburg and Vladivostok by ship many times via the Suez Canal.

At this time in 1921, the Suez Canal was less than 20 meters wide on the surface, less than 6 meters wide at the bottom, and most importantly, the water depth was only meters.

When the construction of the Suez Canal began, the largest ship was less than 6 tons, and the requirements for the canal were not high. A water depth of meters was enough for all ships to pass.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the Suez Canal Company refused to allow Russian warships to pass because it was worried that the tonnage of Russian warships was too large and might run aground in the canal, affecting the navigation of the canal. As a result, Russian warships had to bypass Africa to the Far East.

The HMS Hood, a battleship built by the United Kingdom in 1916, had a displacement of 4.1 tons and a draft of 9.8 meters and could not pass through the canal.

For the same reason, the Gangut-class battleships and Queen Maria-class battleships built by Russia must go around Africa if they want to go to the Far East.

This time it is really not Britain or France that is causing trouble.

It would be fine if it were just a warship.

With the development of shipbuilding technology, the tonnage of ships is getting larger and larger, and the navigation standards are getting higher and higher. The Suez Canal has gradually failed to keep up with the development of the times. Many shipping companies hope that the Canal Company will dredge the canal and improve its traffic capacity.

These demands were ignored by the Suez Canal Company.

The prerequisite for dredging the canal is to close it, which will have a direct impact on the profits of the canal company.

The full name of the Suez Canal Company is: International Suez Maritime Canal Company. The company was established in 1857 with a capital of 2 million francs and divided into 40 shares.

France purchased 207111 shares, accounting for 52%; Egypt subscribed for 177602 shares, accounting for 44%.

In 1875, Britain purchased Egypt's shares in the canal company for 400 million pounds and held shares jointly with France.

When the canal company was established, the French promised that the canal company would be subject to Egyptian laws and customs. The Egyptian government spent 1680 million pounds to dig the canal, which was 3.7 times the French investment.

It took 11 years to dig the canal, the Egyptian government mobilized hundreds of thousands of workers, and 12.3 people died during this period.

After the canal was built, Britain and France ignored Egypt's interests and even required Egyptian ships to pay fees to the canal company to pass through the canal. Since the date of its completion, the canal company's revenue has exceeded 30 billion francs, and the Egyptian government has gained very little.

When Egypt gained independence, it negotiated with Britain over the jurisdiction of the Suez Canal.

Not only did Britain not agree to transfer the jurisdiction of the canal to Egypt, but it also stationed troops along the canal, dividing the canal area into a country within a country.

On December 12, the Vladivostok-based Dolgorukov Shipping Company once again proposed to the Suez Canal Company to dredge the Suez Canal.

This request was again ignored by the Suez Canal Company.

Are you kidding? How much money will be lost if we stop for one day? Who will compensate the shareholders for their losses?

As for your ships being unable to pass—

What does this have to do with the shareholders? Who asked you to build such a big ship?

See? This is the ugly face of those who benefit from vested interests.

Dolgorukov's company is a commercial company and it can't do anything to the canal company.

At the League of Nations' annual work summary meeting, Nicholas the Younger directly criticized Britain and France, saying that the Canal Company was occupying the toilet but doing nothing.

Clemenceau was helpless.

Where is the League of Nations?

The League of Nations was established to discuss international affairs and mediate international disputes. Is such a trivial matter worthy of being discussed at the League of Nations General Assembly?
Little Nicholas just said one thing: Just tell me whether this is an international dispute!
If it were just little Nicolas alone, Clemenceau could still handle it.

But now little Nicholas is no longer the same as before. Not only does he have many followers, but he has also learned the tactics of group fighting from the British and French.

Russia suffered in the past because it did not know how to engage in group fights and was often beaten up.

In the ninth Russo-Turkish War, the Russian Empire was beaten up by Britain, France, Austria, and the Kingdom of Sardinia.

In the world war, Russia challenged Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Clemenceau: Was that also a one-on-one fight?
Little Nicholas: Just tell me whether you are picky or not.

In the past, Nicholas the Younger had challenged Clemenceau and Edward Grey in the League of Nations. Now, whenever Nicholas the Younger spoke, a large group of his followers would rush forward. Regardless of whether they were right or not, at least their voices were much louder.

"If shareholders of the Canal Company can't afford it, then they can sell their company shares and exit!"

This is a more rational voice.

"The Canal Company is a relic of the last century and should be buried along with the four empires!"

This guy is definitely drunk.

"If the canal company has no money, we can crowdfund—"

Even Colonel House, an auditor, couldn't help butting in.

The loudest representative was Nasser of Egypt.

The British have a split personality.

When Britain's overseas colonies and dominions demanded political power, Britain held on to it tightly.

However, in order to increase Britain's voice in the League of Nations, Britain forcibly inserted its overseas colonies and dominions in the name of the country, and Egypt was one of them.

Nasser was born in Cairo and educated in England. Although Nasser is now a British citizen, he is also an Ottoman nobleman.

After the fall of the Russian Empire, the Russian nobles cried and shouted every day for George to ascend the throne.

The Ottoman nobility also missed the imperial era.

Nasser, in tears, denounced the shameless behavior of Britain and France at the League of Nations Assembly.

"The shareholders of the canal company deceived us. They not only occupied the canal, but also did not allow Egypt to participate in the dividends of the canal, nor did they allow Egypt to participate in the operation of the canal. The 21 board members of the canal company are all British and French, and there is not a single Egyptian—"

Clemenceau said nothing, but glanced askance at Edward Grey.

Edward Grey's eyes are doubly protected, and no one can judge his emotions by his eyes.

"Mr. Edward, please speak!"

Little Nicholas can also be polite when necessary.

"What can I say? I'm not a shareholder in the canal company."

Edward Grey spread his hands and said, I am just a patient and I don’t know how to do business.

"See, gentlemen, this is the world we live in. Some people just refuse to open their eyes and face reality!"

Little Nicholas killed people and destroyed their hearts.

Arguing only in the League of Nations may satisfy one's desire for words, but it will not solve the problem.

After the meeting, young Nicholas invited Nasser to visit his palace.

"You will never get true independence by praying. Even if you kneel down before the shareholders of the canal company, they will never give you a penny."

Little Nicholas became a mentor.

"what should we do?"

Nasser took the initiative to ask for advice.

“If you want to get help from others, you must first prove that you have the potential to be invested in.”

Little Nicholas is like the devil.

Ambition was like a weed, growing wildly deep in Nasser's heart.

(End of this chapter)