In the Palazzo della Serta in Rome, negotiators from Italy and the Netherlands, who were involved in the Borneo dispute, finally sat together.
In order to reduce the impact of this negotiation, Italy and the Netherlands both formed delegations headed by the foreign ministers.
However, although the level has been lowered, both parties understand the importance.
No, after the two sides sat down, Marco, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, said: "Everyone in our country is very indignant about the dispute between your two countries in Borneo. However, in the spirit of maintaining the friendship between your two countries,
attitude, so our country is willing to make concessions for this. Our country is willing to hand over the management of the Borneo colony to your country. However, our country has previously invested a large amount of money in infrastructure construction in Borneo, so based on the principle of who uses it, who pays
, this cost should also be paid by your country.”
Marco's words were a condition for the Netherlands to make concessions, and it could also be considered as an explanation to the country. The Netherlands was not transferring the Borneo colony under pressure from Italy, but it was just that the colony had been unable to pay for it, and Italy happened to want it, so it could be used in exchange for it.
There is no shame in spending money to improve people's livelihood.
Faced with the Dutch's concession conditions, Bacona, who was the head of the Italian negotiation, nodded and replied. "This is also reasonable and reasonable. Your country has invested a lot of money in Borneo, but our country is not very financially wealthy. I still hope that your country will
Don't talk too much."
The Italian government has also discussed paying funds to the Dutch before. Paying part of the funds in exchange for the remaining Dutch Borneo territory would also be beneficial to solving the problem, and Italy does not mind. Of course, it will not work if the Dutch are too open-minded.
That’s why I added this sentence later.
"3 million pounds, our country thinks this is a very reasonable figure."
Marco, the Dutch negotiator, immediately stated the Dutch's demands.
Faced with the request made by the Dutch representative Marco, even though he knew that this was just a condition for the Dutch to ask for an exorbitant price, it still caused a burst of laughter from the Italian representative. Three million pounds, which is the cost of two and a half Turin-class ships.
, just to compensate the Dutch, they must be too proud. Besides, Italy is not rich, so it is not worth spending money here.
As the Italian negotiator, Bacona said bluntly, "Sir Marco, your country's requirements are a bit confusing."
The subtext is that the Dutch are unrealistic in their demands.
To be honest, is the Dutch's request reasonable?
From a fair point of view, the Dutch did not ask for more than three million pounds. Although only about one-third of Borneo is left in the hands of the Dutch, it still has more than 200,000 square kilometers. Although it is still
It is undeveloped, let alone three million pounds, five million is not expensive.
But is this deal fair?
Italy spent so much time preparing and spending a lot of money to force the Dutch to sell the Borneo colony just to fairly purchase the remaining Borneo from the Dutch?
As long as normal people don't think so, don't forget that the Dutch have to sell this colony to Italy. This is a buyer's market.
Of course, some people may argue that the Dutch could only transfer this land to others, such as the French, who have a bad relationship with Italy, and let the two countries fight for this land.
Anyone who can come up with this bad idea must have no sense of diplomacy. Let’s not talk about whether the French are willing to take chestnuts from the fire for the Dutch. The consequences of Italy’s rage alone are not something the Dutch can bear.
To put it bluntly, if it can’t deal with the foreigners, it can’t deal with you. What should Italy do if it turns around and attacks other parts of the Spice Islands?
Will these places be sold to other countries as well?
It would no longer be like dividing the Dutch colonies among the various countries, which would be called losing everything.
Bacona, who also understood this truth, stretched out his palm and said, "Our country is willing to pay half a million pounds for this."
Well, the counteroffer is only for one level, which is considered a fracture.
Upon hearing the Italian's counteroffer, the Dutch delegation knew that the negotiation would not be too short.
When the two countries were negotiating for Borneo, as the monarch of Italy, Carlo, apart from paying a little attention to the negotiation process, he and the government focused more on another unexpected situation.
The Abyssinians fought against the Sudanese on the shores of Lake Tana and won a great victory. In this battle, Menelik II, the king of Abyssinia, used to show weakness to the enemy and lure them away.
The Sudanese penetrated deep into the hinterland and even handed over Gondar, the old capital of Abyssinia.
When the Sudanese thought that Abyssinia was weak and became more pampered, they immediately cut off its retreat. They even used their familiar terrain to press in and suddenly appeared near Gondar, forming a situation to besiege the enemy.
Only then did the Sudanese who were besieged in Gondar realize that they had been fooled by the Abyssinians. In the battle around Gondar, the enemy's fighting power was even more powerful, and there were too many rifles and artillery.
The Sudanese, who knew they were outmatched, chose to break out at this time, but it was too late. The Abyssinian Guards who performed the intervening mission did not disappoint their king's expectations. They were less than fifty kilometers away from Gondar.
A place called Qu Lakiya stopped them.
The two sides fought for two days, but the Sudanese failed to break through the interception. When Menelik II arrived with the main force, the Sudanese collapsed. Only 40,000 of the 120,000 people fled back, and nearly 80,000 remained.
People were either killed in battle or captured. After this disastrous defeat, the Sudan was even more devastated.
Menelik II not only drove the Sudanese forces out of Lake Tana, but also rushed out of the Ethiopian plateau and occupied Damazin, Sinja, Adalif and other places.
Now as long as he is aggressive, it is not impossible to occupy Khartoum along the Blue Nile River. Of course, this is only a short-term occupation, and the Abyssinians will not be able to hold on for long before they will be driven back.
Of course, the shrewd Menelik II knew that a short-term occupation would not benefit him, so after obtaining the important place to enter the Sudan, he did not move forward and waited for the Sudan to come up with a price. With more than 60,000 captured hostages in his hands, he did not worry about the Sudan.
People don’t come to seek peace.
Menelik II had his own ideas, and Italy, as the suzerain state, could also benefit from it.
No, Carlo summoned military and political officials to discuss the benefits that the Abyssinian victory could bring to him.
"Your Majesty, this victory for the Abyssinians comes just in time."
As a military boss, Army Minister Marshal Cardolna was the first to speak. "This victory will give us the opportunity to go deep into Sudan. Although we cannot do it ourselves due to the attitude of the British, Abyssinia
People can. I suggest that we can sell a batch of weapons to it again to hint at its attack on the Sudanese. I believe that it will have great interest in expanding on both sides of the fertile Blue Nile."
That's right, as a hawkish military representative, how could Marshal Cadorna give up the opportunity to expand Italian interests and let the Abyssinians occupy more land, whether it is trading with others or in exchange, he will use
Worthy.
Although what Marshal Cadorna said seemed reasonable, some people still disagreed. As Prime Minister, Despretis stood up. "Your Majesty, I do not agree with Marshal Cadorna's ideas.
"The status of Sudan is too important. In order to avoid unnecessary complications, it is inappropriate for our country to show interest in this region."
Although neither of them said it explicitly, everyone knew they were talking about the British.
Carlo felt that what both of them said was reasonable, but the one method was radical and wanted to get more benefits in exchange for benefits, while the other was prudent and just gave up when things got good.
Carlo also knew that since the British were driven out of Sudan, they have been eyeing the independent Sultanate. Now that Italy has occupied Libya, it has already aroused the British's vigilance. If it continues to reach out to Sudan, it is inevitable that it will cause trouble.
Come the British backlash.
One more thing to say here is that the British Mediterranean Fleet has moved, and its home port has been moved from Malta to Great Pressure, nearly twenty years earlier than the original time and space. The reason is that Italy has occupied Libya, making the British fleet in Malta feel its position
Somewhat embarrassing.
Of course, Carlo was not a historian and did not understand this, but he could also feel the implications of the British move to relocate the Mediterranean fleet.
"Well, let's slow down the issue of continuing to sell arms to the Abyssinians. Prime Minister, please talk to the British ambassador first and see the British attitude first."
That's right, Carlo is seeking stability now. He doesn't want to cause more trouble this year and will wait until this year to decide everything.
"I obey your Majesty."
After hearing Carlo's reply, Prime Minister Despretis was overjoyed, while Marshal Cadorna had no choice but to accept it.
Carlo saw Marshal Cadorna's disappointed expression in his eyes, and he then said, "Marshal Cadorna will stay for now. There is something I need to discuss with you."
