September 9, 1911, was a very sad day for the Spanish people.
On this day, the Portuguese United Empire, which was on the road to revival, relied on its strength to issue its first note to Spain, which was now in decline, to completely resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries.
“His Excellency José Canalejas Méndez, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain
Your Mightiness:
I am Angie Williams, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the United Empire of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve to the Kingdom of Spain.
The unified opinion reached after consultations between Emperor Pedro III and the cabinet decided to completely resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries.
For the development of friendly relations between the two countries, it is very necessary to resolve territorial disputes. Here, on behalf of the empire, I sincerely extend an invitation to you for territorial negotiations.
With the highest respect
Angie Williams”
The relationship between Spain and Portugal, all over Europe, and even the world, as long as the country understands world history, knows that the relationship between the two countries is very disharmonious.
The love-hate relationship between Spain and Portugal originated from the territorial issue.
Spain's ambition to annex Portugal is well known. Spain believes that it can better represent the Iberian Peninsula and has an obligation to unify the Iberian Peninsula.
Portugal believes that it originated from Lusitania and the Suebi and is not one with the Spanish Goths at all. Therefore, it is unwilling to surrender to Spain and has been working hard to maintain its independence.
Since the recovery of the lost territories, Portugal and Spain were born successively, and this love-hate entanglement has continued to this day.
Spain's most glorious period in history was undoubtedly the period of the annexation of Portugal. The combination of the two colonial empires put Spain at its historical peak.
But for Spain's glory, it is Portugal's tragedy.
In 1580, during the War of Portuguese Succession, Portugal was defeated and annexed by Spain. It did not regain independence until 1640.
During the 60 years of Spanish rule, although Portugal retained its parliament, most of the interests of the Portuguese colonies were plundered by Spain, and their interests suffered heavy losses.
In the beginning of the union between Portugal and Spain, most of the Portuguese nobles supported Spain in order to obtain more benefits. However, the lower class people and some nobles have always been very dissatisfied with Spanish rule out of a patriotic spirit, even if they lost the succession war.
, they still consider themselves Portuguese.
During the 60 years of unification, Portugal not only lost most of its colonial interests, but was also dragged into one European war after another by Spain. In the process, Portugal offended European countries that had no enemies with it before, and its colonies were plundered in large numbers. Portugal's interests
The losses are huge.
What happened in 1960 made all Portuguese people, including the former pro-Westerners, understand that only their own Kingdom of Portugal can protect their own interests.
After the restoration of Portugal, Spain still occupied most of Portugal's territory, but due to its lack of strength, it never pursued recourse against Spain.
Although the Kingdom of Spain declined, it still had a great advantage over Portugal. It not only occupied many of Portugal's original colonies after the Portuguese Restoration War, but also still occupied a piece of Portuguese territory after that.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Spain initially supported France, and for a long period of time, it helped France occupy Portugal, and proudly occupied Olivenza as a spoil of war.
The lips are dead and the teeth are cold. Spain does not know this truth at all.
After Portugal was occupied, Spain was also ruled by France. After realizing that it had been deceived, Spain rose up in rebellion.
After the Napoleonic Wars, during the confirmation of the Vienna System, Spain was required to return Olivenza, but Spain has always relied on its strength and has not returned it.
If Tangning hadn't traveled through this world and the United Portuguese Empire hadn't appeared, Spain would have always occupied this place.
But the timeline has changed, times have changed.
Portugal was rising again, while Spain was half-dead and still in decline.
Things are turning, and there is a natural settlement of accounts, so Portugal will never show mercy to Spain, and Spain is now in a huge crisis.
Portugal's first territorial diplomatic note was at the ambassadorial level and the words were very implicit, but Spain knew Portugal's true intentions.
Portugal initiated territorial negotiations with the intention of regaining all Portugal's lost territories.
In this case, it is not enough for Spain to return the illegally occupied Olevanza. The overseas colonies headed by Ceuta will also be claimed by Portugal.
After the Age of Discovery began, the directions of Spain and Portugal were clearly divided, and the spheres of influence defined by the Papal Line were clearly defined.
Spain's current colonies only have a few in Africa, and what's even more troublesome is that the remaining colonies, whether they are Spanish Morocco where Ceuta and Melilla are located, Western Sahara, or the Canary Islands
, or Equatorial Guinea, where Bioko Island is located, was discovered and occupied by Portugal in history.
It can be said that the remaining colonies in Spain are all former colonies of Portugal. If Portugal was weaker than Spain, it would definitely not be able to get it back, but now Portugal is stronger than Spain.
Now that Portugal has issued a diplomatic note on the territorial issues between the two countries, it is obvious that it wants to settle accounts with Spain.
News that Portugal issued a diplomatic note to Spain to resolve the territorial dispute quickly spread throughout Europe and made headlines in the media.
Following the second Morocco crisis between Germany and France, and the territorial dispute between Italy, Turkey and North Africa, the territorial dispute between Spain and Portugal has also become a hot topic in Europe.
The first half of 1911 was calm, but in the second half of the year things were turbulent, and various crises and disputes came to the fore.
First, the Entente and the Central Powers collided directly over the Moroccan issue. Then Italy, the weakling of the great powers, and the sick man of West Asia started a contest over the North African issue. Now, less than a year after the restoration of the United Grape Empire, they are hurriedly looking for Spain to settle the territorial ledger.
The three major crises broke out one after another within less than three months, making the smoke of war thick over Europe. The world's attention is focused on Europe at this moment.
Among the three major crises, the difference in strength between the countries involved in the first two crises is not that huge, but the difference between the two parties in the conflict between Spain and Portugal is a bit huge.
Even though it is still weak, Ottoman Turkey still has some guarantees in terms of land combat capability. It is not without opportunities to counterattack against Italy, which is unable to fight on land.
When Spain faced Portugal, the gap in military power between the two countries was huge.
Portugal crushes Spain in the navy. Two strategic cruisers and some other warships purchased by Brazil were added to the Portuguese Navy.
In terms of the army, Portugal also has an advantage over Spain after experiencing previous military expansion and arms races.
Even if we don't count them, Brazil and Portugal in the Americas are not weak in military strength.
There has been a fierce confrontation between the Republicans and the Royalists for a long time, and the two parties have been preparing for military war.
Portugal now has a regular army of 100,000 people, while the Spanish regular army only has about 40,000 to 50,000 people.
Portugal is very determined to resolve the territorial dispute. If the negotiations fail, Spain will be involved in the war again.
Since the country of Spain regained its lost territory, wars continued during its heyday, and its decline was inevitable.
The previous Spanish-American War broke through Spain's old base. Now facing Portugal, Spain is at a disadvantage.
In addition to its national and military disadvantages, Spain is also very passive in terms of diplomacy.
From the moment the note was issued, Portugal announced a first-level armed mobilization order that day, requiring all officers and soldiers on leave to return to the army. The national border is also under martial law. Spain certainly knows what this means.
After Portugal announced the diplomatic note, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium immediately supported Portugal. Soon after, France, Austria-Hungary, and several Nordic countries also supported Portugal.
Although Britain, Germany, and Russia have not expressed their stance yet, Spain obviously does not have the capital to expect these countries to help it.
This chapter has been completed!