Teppei Osawa, who is the Japanese ambassador to Italy, looked at Bacona in front of him and asked Bacona in front of him with an uncertain face.
"Your Excellency Bacona, are you saying that your country is willing to provide loans to our country?"
Don’t blame Ambassador Teppei Osawa for asking this, because from any aspect, it is impossible for Italy to provide them with loans. You must know that Italians’ reputation of being desperate for money is not only known to European countries, but also to other places.
Now the Italians are actually willing to provide them with loans, which seems a bit weird no matter how you look at it.
Seeing the disbelieving expression on the Japanese ambassador's face, Bacona couldn't help but think of his own expression when he first heard the news, which was similar to the Japanese ambassador's.
"Your Excellency Teppei Osawa, you heard it right. Our country is indeed willing to provide loans to your country, but the interest will be a little higher, and the annual interest rate is one cent. In addition, there are restrictions on loan purchases, and they can only be used to purchase our products.
."
Bacona's answer shocked Osawa Teppei because the loan interest rate was too high. Even if Japan borrowed money from the British Empire, the interest rate was only 7.5%. The loan interest rate provided by Italy was also too high.
Bar.
"Your Excellency Bacona, the loan interest rate offered by your country is too high, and our country will definitely not accept it."
"Ambassador Osawa, you should inform your government first. In addition, the minimum loan our country can lend is 200 million lire, and the maximum term is ten years."
Seeing the persistence of the Italians, Osawa Teppei could only send this request back to Tokyo.
Originally it was just a ship purchase, but it turned out that something like this would happen. Faced with the news from Ambassador Teppei Osawa, the Japanese government immediately summoned its ministers to discuss it.
"Everyone, these are the loan conditions for Italians. Let's take a look."
Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi looked at the ministers gathered together and handed out Italy's loan conditions to everyone present. This is the third time Prime Minister Ito has formed a cabinet to assume the post of prime minister. This time he is very anxious to become prime minister because the cabinet formation is very complicated.
Difficulties. This time, the Riken Seiyukai he founded finally got the opportunity to form a cabinet, but the Riken Seiyoukai fell into disputes, which made him feel even more anxious.
After a while of flipping through the pages, the Tibetan Prime Minister Kunitake Watanabe said immediately. "Prime Minister, the interest rate on borrowing money in Italy is too high. We should not borrow money. According to my estimation, if we borrow Italy's minimum loan of 200 million lire, we will need at least
To repay the Italians 320 million lire in ten years. The interest rate is too high and it is not suitable for borrowing at all."
After the Tibetan Prime Minister opened his mouth, there was an immediate echo.
"Yes, the interest rate is too high. Everyone knows the financial situation of our country. I think it's better to forget about the Italian money. It's not as good as the British money."
After hearing such remarks, even the emperor, who was sitting high on the throne, showed an unpleasant expression.
Seeing that the situation was about to descend into opposition, Ito Hirobumi slammed the table in front of him.
The huge sound startled everyone present, and even Meiji could not maintain the majesty of the emperor.
"Confused, you people only see this loan and have not seen the deeper aspects of this loan. Are you still an important minister of the empire, or a cabinet minister who can wield great power?"
Facing the furious Ito Hirobumi, whether it was Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo, it was the Tibetan Prime Minister Watanabe Kunitake, or Katsura Taro who had served as Prime Minister for many years, or even others, were all shocked by Ito Hirobumi's furious look. In their eyes,
As far as I know, this evergreen figure in politics has never been so angry.
"The prime minister might as well speak up if he has something to say."
Kaito Yamamoto Gonbei saw that this stalemate would not end well in the future, so he had no choice but to give everyone some advice.
In response to Yamamoto Gonbei's words, Ito Hirobumi gave him a grateful look. None of these bastards are worry-free, they are all waiting for themselves to make a fool of themselves, right?
Hirobumi Ito, who originally had only three points of anger, now had eight points of anger.
"The loan provided by the Italians this time is obviously a high-interest loan, and it can only purchase Italian goods. It is not a worthwhile loan. But don't you see that this is not just a loan?"
Is it a loan? This is a guarantee from the Italians not to interfere in the fight between our country and Russia. I think everyone present, no one wants Italy to get involved in the fight between our country and Russia, right?"
When faced with Ito Hirobumi, who among the important ministers present is an idiot? Who wants to see an Italian suddenly appear next to him when he is fighting the Russians with all his strength?
But why no one pointed it out and instead continued the issue of too high interest rates? Some people really have ulterior motives and should be punished for their crimes.
Regardless of what other people are thinking now, after Ito Hirobumi pointed out that the loan from the Italians was a goodwill move, others can no longer act stupid.
"The Prime Minister is right, this loan is not just a simple loan, but a goodwill. I think since the Italians said that the loan cannot be less than 200 million lire, then according to me, you can borrow whatever you want.
Anyway, if the Italians don’t want our country to go bankrupt, then they can’t favor the Russians, they can only help us.”
"Asshole, you can borrow as much as you want. Do you think you don't have to pay it back? Where does the collateral come from? How can you repay the interest of one cent per year?"
The Tibetan Prime Minister Kunitake Watanabe suddenly stood up and scolded these words. Although it sounds very tempting, these words are extremely harmful to the finances. I can borrow as much money as I want, and don’t I need to pay back the money?
The annual government fiscal revenue is only so much, and the annual payment of interest and principal alone accounts for one-third of Japan's total fiscal revenue. This is a very high figure.
In fact, Japan's finances are now more difficult than in history. The reason is simply that Japan failed to obtain 200 million taels of silver compensation from the Qing Dynasty, and the war losses were greater. Although it finally won North Korea with the help of the British, Japan's finances are even more difficult.
Of course, Japan's financial difficulties are not without solutions. In view of the financial pressure, the Japanese government has currently mobilized millions of men and women to work abroad. Therefore, you can see these people working hard for Japan in the Far East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and even America and Europe.
Men and women. Of course, the most visible ones are young Japanese girls. These promiscuous women who are encouraged by the government to devote themselves to the country, who can think of who will take her in when they are old and golden.
"I think that since the Italians are willing to lend us money, it would be better to lend more. Three hundred million lire is a very appropriate number. I believe the Italians will give us a satisfactory result."
Having said this, Hirobumi Ito turned to the Foreign Minister and said, "Foreign Minister Aoki, I'll leave it to you to negotiate with Italy."
"I dare not, I will definitely live up to my trust."
