"Henderson, if you join the Entente, we in France are willing to sell all French islands in the Pacific, except Morocco, to the Portuguese Empire."
August 21, 1913
France's secret ambassador, Jean Bell, once again raised the price to promote the Portuguese Empire's admission to the Allies.
"Your Excellency Ambassador, Portugal adheres to its neutrality and we have no desire for territorial expansion now."
Portuguese Ambassador Henderson said rather arrogantly: "Portugal has too much territory and rich resources. To put it bluntly, we in Portugal look down upon your French wasteland."
Yes, Portugal is now very satisfied with its territorial scope, and it occupies all excellent and precious lands. It does not have the territorial hunger of Germany at all.
It can be said that the only country that can rival Portugal in ruling territory now is the United Kingdom, and France does not have that qualification.
Now Portugal is worried that the African colonies are too big and the population is too small. When will the African colonies be as prosperous as the mainland? When will it make real contributions to Portugal?
When will Portugal's "America, Europe, and Africa" triangle achieve real common prosperity?
As long as it is completed, Portugal will become the world's top power without going through a war, at least at the level of the Russian Empire.
"Does Portugal really not want Morocco?" Bale asked in disbelief.
Facing Bell's disbelief, Henderson showed an indifferent attitude.
"In southern Morocco, there are some voices in the country saying that he should be taken down, but that is the idea of radicals.
Your Majesty and the top leaders of our government are not interested in Morocco. Our current policy is to implement the Second Five-Year Plan and the African Development Plan.
As for the Pacific islands you mentioned, one by one they deviate from the world's mainstream waterways.
Are all the Pacific islands in France comparable to the Galapagos Islands? This is a transit trade point between the Americas and Asia, second only to the Hawaiian Islands."
"French Morocco, French Pacific Islands, plus Madagascar, a total of 100 million francs.
The island of Madagascar is full of yellow people and there are no black people. Moreover, many Malagasy people have already believed in Christianity, and there are also many non-believers.
You Portuguese people are recruiting Christians and atheists of all colors except black people everywhere. Madagascar has more than 3 million people, which is more than the population of the entire Portuguese African colony. I believe Portugal will be interested."
Faced with Henderson's fight, Bell once again increased the pressure.
Madagascar is actually quite useless to France. After the opening of the Suez Canal, it does not produce gold like South Africa, its agricultural level is backward, and it deviates from the mainstream waterway, so its value has not been high.
Although the French are committed to assimilating Africa and treating them as half natives, they actually do not welcome colonial people to the mainland. In practice, they mainly focus on wooing the upper class and squeezing them.
"This, I have to go back and report this to His Majesty the Emperor and the Cabinet!"
Henderson was well aware of Portugal's desire for population, especially in its African colonies, which they had always lacked.
"We sincerely hope that Portugal can agree that joining the Allied Powers is a very just cause for safeguarding world peace."
Jean Bell was very much looking forward to Portugal agreeing to join the Allies on territorial terms.
Among Britain, France, Russia and the Triple Entente, only France was the most active in winning over allies before the war began.
Unlike the confident British, the British believed that Britain, France, Russia, and the top four European Triple Ententes were far more powerful than the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. They did not need to drag other powerful countries into trouble, as long as they ensured the neutrality of other powerful countries.
Britain believes that if war breaks out, the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia will quickly defeat the Triple Alliance. This view is very popular in Britain and Russia, and there is also some public opinion in France.
However, out of caution, the French believed that it would be safer to bring more countries into the Allied Powers. Everyone in France knew that once the war started, France would definitely be the focus of raids by Germany and Italy.
France is different from the United Kingdom and Russia. It has a vast sea and a vast land. Even if the battle is unfavorable, it has the time and ability to confront Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
France is different. It borders Germany and Italy. These two countries attach great importance to France as always. Their elites gather around each other and often have feuds.
Germany wanted to defeat France with one blow, and did not want to repeat the mistakes of the Franco-Prussian War. If the war was won, they would occupy and dismember France, and they could not let France recover from its consequences.
Italy's grievances with France mainly involve territory. Savoy, Nice, and Tunisia. These places that France acquired were either originally Italian, or were targets that Italy was planning to capture. However, they were all taken away by France for various reasons. They really wanted to
Take back.
Since the Franco-Prussian War, although France prides itself as the largest army power in Europe, its self-confidence is not as high as it boasts. They are not very confident in the capabilities of their army.
France is afraid that once the war starts, it will be defeated by Germany and Italy, so it is the most active in attracting allies.
Portugal, as a European power, is currently the only country that has not expressed a military attitude and has always remained neutral.
As for the United States, Germany is actively trying to win over him, but the Allies are not interested in it. The Canadian and British navies can completely suppress the United States' imminent move.
Moreover, the United States has been competing with Portugal for Latin America and does not have much energy to invest in Europe.
Regarding the Allied Powers' attempts to win over them, the United States made it clear that it would not join the Allies and would maintain its so-called neutrality.
Having said all that, I am actually afraid of the British Empire.
After all, if the United States really joined the Allies, it would offend Britain too much.
The U.S. Navy does not have the ability to invest its military power in Europe, and even if it is lucky enough to occupy Canada, if Britain comes to its senses, the U.S. will be in trouble.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The American brain circuit is the same as that of the British. It is generally believed that the strength of the Three Kingdoms Entente exceeds that of the Three Kingdoms Alliance, especially the naval strength. After all,
Japan, a small naval power, was also an ally of Britain.
Although Portugal is often ridiculed as a South American power, there is some truth in calling itself a European power.
Lisbon is the second capital of Portugal. The Kingdom of Andalucia, the Kingdom of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Navarre in the Iberian Peninsula are Portugal's military allies. Even the former enemy Castile is actively repaying Portugal's favor.
It is said that Portugal is now the master of the Iberian Peninsula.
Although the Iberian Peninsula is a remote part of Europe, with the exception of the other European countries that border France, the military capabilities that Portugal can mobilize in Iberia alone are still very impressive, and they have invested in supporting France.
Also convenient.
For the sake of insurance, the French were not confident and were very eager for Portugal to join the Allies.
For this reason, they can even release Morocco, but if it is Italy, they will never release it. It is to control the export from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.
However, Morocco is somewhat useless in the hands of France. The Strait of Gibraltar is now shared by the United Kingdom and Portugal. France does not have northern Morocco and does not rely on any shadow of the strait.
Moreover, France is not as embarrassed as Italy. It relies on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and its internal transportation is very convenient. Before there were railways, a canal was built in the south to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Therefore, Morocco is useless to France, but it is still very attractive to the Portuguese.
There has always been a voice in Portugal that hopes to get all of Morocco, not just northern Morocco.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was even a little afraid. If there was a stalemate in World War I and Germany invaded France, Portugal might take Morocco by force or even join the Allies.
Morocco now feels like a hot potato. Although the Portuguese government claims that the Rainbow Map has been completed, it is not interested in the expansion of the African continent.
But Portugal said so, but France and even most European countries did not believe it.
Between Northern Morocco and Western Sahara, French Morocco is sandwiched. If it is captured, it will be connected as one. And this territory is not far from Portugal and can really be used as territory. This is too attractive.
Therefore, France approached Portugal to negotiate to join the Allied Powers. When it learned that Portugal had no interest in Morocco, it was greatly disturbed and was always worried that Portugal was holding back its bad intentions.
Although Portugal's strength is currently worse than France's, its size is too terrifying. Brazil, South America, and Portugal, Iberia, have a population that exceeds that of France, and are rich in resources. This potential completely exceeds that of France.
With Portugal staring at Morocco like this, French senior officials felt a chill, fearing that Portugal would not be able to think about it and form an alliance with Germany.
Portugal currently has a bad relationship with Germany and a good relationship with France. However, international affairs cannot only be based on relations, but also on national interests.
The relationship between Britain and Germany used to be very good. It has been tested since the Seven Years War, but now it has fallen out.
France cannot guarantee that Portugal will really fall out with them one day. If they fall out, Portugal's mere mobilization of the power of the Iberian Peninsula will be enough to cause France trouble.
This chapter has been completed!