Prime Minister Cairoli fainted in the conference room. In the past, such a major event would have made the headlines of newspapers. But today he did not make the headlines because France issued an ultimatum to Italy. Such turbulent news belongs to newspapers.
Front page headlines.
This ultimatum requires Italy to withdraw its armed forces from Tunisia within three days, otherwise France will take necessary measures. As for what the necessary measures are, I believe it goes without saying.
After this news was revealed by the newspaper, people were immediately stung. Large-scale anti-French demonstrations broke out in various cities. The offended people used their actions to express their dissatisfaction with France.
As a national hero, Garibaldi gave a public speech in Palermo as soon as he received the news, promoting the formation of a new Red Shirt Army to fight for Italy.
However, although there are many tough voices among the Italian people, and some even think that going to war is not a big deal. However, within the government, everyone is pessimistic about the ultimatum issued by France.
It can be said that if you are not a member of the family, you don’t know how expensive firewood and rice are. Unlike people who can vent their emotions at will. Officials have their own concerns about this.
In fact, in the face of France's war threat, the opinion within the Italian government is to accept France's request and withdraw its troops from Tunisia. Even the military has acquiesced in this attitude, otherwise it would not have spoken out after France issued a war threat.
Will fight for Italy, not for Italian interests.
Now that the toughest military has backed down, a lot of peaceful people in the government have grabbed hold of them. Therefore, the issue of troop withdrawal has become a top priority, and if you want to withdraw troops, someone needs to give the order.
At this time, the first candidate that everyone thought of was Prime Minister Cairoli, who had just returned from the hospital. This Prime Minister is in a very bad state now. After passing out at the venue, he seemed to have aged ten years. But he suddenly
With the issuance of the French ultimatum, everyone knows that the Prime Minister's political life has entered a countdown.
Therefore, for many people, jumping off the sinking ship of the Prime Minister has become the first factor.
Since you want to jump ship, you need to choose someone to defect to. The most popular one at present is former Prime Minister Despretis. Of course, there are also many people such as Speaker Leslie and the rebel trio. But among them,
Those who surrendered to King Carlo were at the front of the list. If Carlo hadn't been strict in selecting only capable people, he would have been ranked second.
This is just an unexpected surprise. Carlo is currently most concerned about how the government handles the crisis in Tunisia.
In fact, not only him, but now Italy and even the whole of Europe are paying attention to how Italy responds to the threat from France.
However, among these countries, the most active one is the United Kingdom, which has been silent until now.
After France issued the ultimatum, the British ambassador paid a visit to Foreign Minister Sforza and expressed that Britain firmly stood with Italy and opposed French diplomatic blackmail. It was also willing to provide an emergency loan to Italy to strengthen its own armaments.
Although the interest rate on this loan is a bit high, and the warships and weapons provided are also of high quality and price, Sforza, as the Foreign Minister, still expressed his gratitude to the British Empire for its help in this critical moment, and Italy will never forget it.
British kindness.
Except for the United Kingdom, other countries basically showed indifference when faced with the French ultimatum in Italy. At most, they called on both parties to exercise restraint and not to bring war slogans to Europe.
Among them, Germany, which Italy has high hopes for, privately told Italy that Germany could not help with the Tunisia issue. However, if France takes action against Italy, Germany will provide Italy with sufficient supplies, but of course Italy will have to spend money to buy all of this.
The attitudes of European countries are enough to illustrate their disregard for Italy on the Tunisia issue. Of course, this is also the consequence of isolation diplomacy. Italy does not have a friend in Europe. Of course, now is not the time to reflect. The priority that needs to be resolved is France's ultimatum.
.
Everyone has their own solution, but they all know that whoever gives the order to evacuate Tunisia is destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Therefore, it has become everyone's consensus that Prime Minister Cairoli, who has reached the end of his political life, issued an order to withdraw troops.
In order for the Prime Minister to issue orders, all cabinet members went to the Prime Minister's official residence collectively.
"Cough cough cough."
Prime Minister Cairoli coughed a few times with a sick look on his face, took a glass of water from his secretary Doss and took a sip. This fainting made the Prime Minister feel as if most of his life had been sucked out, which he had never felt before.
All the problems appeared on him, such as coughing, unable to straighten his waist, and general fatigue. Symptoms such as this made him feel that he was really old and no longer had the all-powerful posture before.
However, even though Cairoli has become old, the cabinet ministers surrounding him still do not relax at all, which shows his energy in the hearts of these people.
These people gathered in a circle and watched every move of the Prime Minister. Everyone had different thoughts, but they all had a tacit understanding and did not express it. So this made the atmosphere very strange. You didn't speak, I didn't speak, we were all silent.
Watch the Prime Minister.
Of course, this weird situation didn't last long, and someone finally couldn't bear it anymore. One of them stood up and said, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, the French have only given us three days to decide whether to withdraw troops from Tunisia. The time is tight and we need the Prime Minister to make an idea."
.”
The speaker this time was Interior Minister Medici, one of the trio.
When someone spoke, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief.
As the person being questioned, Cairoli put down his water glass and spoke. "So what do you mean?"
This time the answer was surprisingly unanimous, and everyone said in unison, "Let the Prime Minister decide."
Hearing the words of the people present, Cairoli couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, I didn't expect you all to be so united now."
As an old politician, he certainly knows that this is just rhetoric. The main reason is that these people do not want to leave any excuse. After all, there are many people present. If someone reveals what happened today, others will take advantage of what he said.
, so I would rather not express my position than leave any clues.
Seeing these people in front of him, Cairoli's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning. "Since it's up to me, then I will reject France's unreasonable demands, even if it means war with Italy..."
"Prime Minister, please consider this carefully."
Faced with what Cairoli said, the people present quickly tried to dissuade him. Including military representatives, they all advised the Prime Minister to think carefully.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing that the person in front of him was frightened half to death by his words, Cairoli laughed loudly.
Only then did the others realize that they had been tricked by the Prime Minister, so they all stood here in embarrassment. You look at me, I look at you.
Feeling like teasing them, the prime minister who was in a good mood replied at this time. "Okay, I won't embarrass you. I know you want me to issue an order to withdraw the troops. Now I order that the military is responsible for withdrawing the Tunisian troops.
It must be completed within three days.”
"Obey the Prime Minister."
Finally we got the result everyone wanted.
Cairoli signed his name under the order to withdraw his troops. He knew that this signature would definitely make him infamous in the Italian history books, but he still signed it with a natural expression.
"Okay now, you can take this document and leave. Later I will announce my resignation to make way for the impatient Depretis. I will recite the insults. Then it will depend on his ability. He and I
Tell him not to let me see the joke."
With a small nod to the cabinet members in front of him, Cairoli kicked them out because he needed to prepare their uniforms.
An hour later, news spread in Rome that Cairoli ordered the withdrawal of troops, and at the same time the fifteenth Italian prime minister announced the resignation of the cabinet.
