African Nationhood

Chapter 472 All-round Negotiation (Part )
On March 3, negotiations resumed.

This time, the negotiating envoy of the Congo Free State was replaced by the new Belgian Prime Minister Schorat. When he saw Shi Jinyong, he sincerely thanked Vice Premier Shi.

"Thank you for scaring off the greedy and tyrannical King at a critical moment, allowing me to meet and negotiate with you."

Shi Jinyong did not expect that the prime minister of this small country would be so humble. He waved his hand and said, "These things are not our original intention. Both the king and the cabinet government need to face up to our compensation requirements."

Prime Minister Shorat nodded, “You are right, whichever party represents the Congo Free State needs to face up to this claim.

Our government discussed and decided to accept this claim, but your claim requirements are too high. Our country hopes that you can reduce the amount of compensation, and you also need to withdraw from the occupied Congo Free State territory as soon as possible. "

After hearing this, Shi Jinyong's newly accumulated goodwill towards the prime minister of this small country disappeared.

“Your Excellency, Prime Minister Shorat, you don’t sound like you are here to negotiate, but rather like you are here to inform us of your decision.

In this case, we have nothing to talk about, let’s start fighting!

Since you don't give us money, we will fight on the battlefield. "

In this way, our cabinet will not have to bear the responsibility, and you can ask for more compensation. "

"Now you can say it."

Governor Kusero could only act as a good old man at this time, and he agreed with a smile.

Shorat laughed, "This is not the same thing. If your Chairman Shi were here, he would definitely agree with my approach, because he is a sensible person.

Prime Minister Shorat also relaxed. He said casually: "We are a democratically elected government. If we agree to your claim for compensation right from the beginning, then our government will bear greater pressure. I think we can make some secret deals." .”

"Vice Premier Shi, please wait."

It was impossible for Shi Jinyong not to be surprised when he heard such a whimsical idea from the prime minister of this small country, but he had also learned some methods from Boss Shi over the years.

The world is a huge circus, and the people are the audience below.

After speaking, Prime Minister Shorat apologized to Governor Kusero: "I'm sorry, Governor Kusero, please forgive me for overstepping."

He blew out a puff of smoke and said angrily: "Are you treating us like thugs?"

When Shi Jinyong heard the other party speak, he turned around, glared at the prime minister of the small country and said, "What else do you have to say?"

And we are the actors on the stage. Whether we perform acrobatics or magic, they are willing to support us.

“My idea is that our country will reject your request, you will send troops to capture as much land as possible in the Congo Free State, and then we will negotiate.

After Shi Jinyong finished speaking, he turned around and left. Governor Kusero walked up quickly and said, "Vice Prime Minister Shi, don't be anxious yet. Prime Minister Shorat has something else to say."

"Oh, what deal?"

Shi Jinyong sat on his seat, took out a cigar and lit it.

When Governor Kusero left, Shi Jinyong and Shorat asked their men to leave, leaving only two politicians in the room.

"Okay, I'll go back first."

"I would like to have a private conversation with you."

At that time, we will pay you more compensation, and you will withdraw from the land of the Congo Free State.

If we make our performances more realistic, the audience will be more engaged and more willing to pay for our performances, what do you think? "

Shi Jinyong's understanding of this small country's prime minister deepened, but he still shook his head.

"Well, your point of view is very novel, but we are different from politicians like you. Our establishment of the country is more of a passion for the country and the people. That's why we can gather around our Chairman Shi and work together to follow Britain struggled and eventually gained its position today.

If you had followed your thinking, our country would have been torn apart long ago, and it would be impossible for us to be as strong as it is today. "

Shorat was noncommittal about Shi Jinyong's denial. He simply did not believe that people could be truly selfless and dedicated to the public good.

"Well, whether you agree with my idea or not, this does not prevent us from reaching a deal, what do you think?"

Shi Jinyong thought for a while, "I can promise you this, but aren't you afraid that we will occupy the land and not return it?"

Shorat smiled, "These lands were just acquired by us. Even if we lose them all, it's not my fault. After all, we are just a small neutral country.

But you should also be concerned about international public opinion and the international situation. This world is not decided by you Chinese.

Even if you occupy the entire Congo Free State, we will not be the most anxious.

But the surrounding Germany, France and your British mainland care more about the mineral resources in these desolate rainforests than we do. "

Prime Minister Shorat is right. Multinational companies in the Congo Free State control the most core assets of the Congo Free State.

Multinational companies represented by Antwerp, Anglo-Belgium Rubber and Congo Railway Company.

These multinational companies have occupied a large amount of land in the Congo Free State. Behind these multinational companies are capitalists from European and American powers.

……

Original time and space: On July 1909, 7, the British army invaded the British-Belgian disputed territory in the Congo.

A few days later, Britain and Germany joined forces to coerce the Belgian government to give up the Congolese territory they demanded. This disputed area is equivalent to the large rift valley of the Ruzizi Valley and Lake Kivu. This piece of land covers eight Thousands of square kilometers.

German East Africa made a lot of money from this extortion, and this land was not returned to the Belgian Congo until Germany's defeat in World War I.

As for the UK, it is even more of a trick.

As early as two years ago, Sir Arthur Harding, the British Minister in Brussels, proposed to the Congo Free State to determine the boundaries of the Ufombiro region.

The border was easy to draw, but the crux of the problem lay in the different positioning of the name "Ufombiro" by both sides, which ultimately allowed the British to succeed.

……

It can be seen from this that powerful powers such as Britain and Germany, if they want to cede land from the Congo Free State, can only find loopholes in the previously signed agreements and cannot openly invade and divide the Congo Free State.

Because these powers must maintain a balance and cannot break it easily. Once it is broken, it will be a world war.

If Nanhua breaks this balance, it will be hostile to all countries, and it will be besieged by the great powers.

Shi Jinyong nodded, "Okay, I agree with your idea, but I need to report to Chairman Shi about the specific territories captured.

Let’s communicate again after we are sure. "

……

On March 1908, 3, Belgium publicly stated that negotiations between the Congo Free State government and the South China Dominion government had broken down, and we regretted the outcome.

The South China Dominion government declared war on the Belgian government through the British Foreign Office. For a while, politicians and capitalists from various countries asked the British Foreign Secretary why.

British Foreign Minister Lord Gray expressed helplessness over this, saying: The Belgian government has no sincerity in solving the problem, and the South China Autonomous Territory has no choice but to declare war in order to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

(End of this chapter)