Several monarchs had a happy gathering to relax, but the senior military and political officials of the three countries were not as leisurely as their own monarchs.
In a large conference room in Sanssouci Palace, a talk about the Three Kingdoms was also going on.
"Your Excellency Biro, your country's request to amend the alliance treaty will cost our country a lot of money. So, has your country considered our country's actual needs?"
The speaker was Antonio, who as Italian Prime Minister also needed to safeguard Italy's interests. This time the three countries negotiated to renew the alliance treaty. In his opinion, this new treaty was detrimental to Italy's interests.
Because the original Triple Alliance Treaty was mainly aimed at Russia and France, but when the alliance was about to be extended this time, Italy was surprised to find that the Germans actually added the British Empire to their targets.
Faced with such a situation, Italy is currently unwilling to see it. The reason is simple. Although the relationship between Italy and the British Empire has no longer been harmonious in recent years, Italy is not willing to add the British Empire to the list of enemies. Because Italy
The coastline is long. If a war breaks out with the British Empire, the Italian Navy has no confidence that it can ensure the safety of the coastline.
This sudden move to target the British is the most detrimental to Italy and should be stopped. That's why Prime Minister Antonio made the Italian side's attitude clear at the beginning of the meeting.
Faced with Antonio's reaction, Prime Minister Bülow, who was the host of Germany, was not surprised. He replied, "Sir Antonio, I think this is a misunderstanding. Our country has no intention of targeting the UK.
, it was added to the treaty only as a possible preventive solution.”
The words of the German Prime Minister made Admiral Yagier, the representative of the Italian side, unbearable. "Does your country know the threat to our country by targeting the United Kingdom? At present, the British Navy has warships with a total tonnage of 2.1 million tons, and our country
At present, there are only 480,000 tons, and your country only has 810,000 tons. Our two countries combined are less than two-thirds of the other country.
Does your country have any good solutions to such a disparity in naval strength? It is also possible to add the million-ton navies of France and Russia.
Besides, if there is a war with Britain and your navy does not go to war, it will not give all the maritime pressure to our country. This is simply an unacceptable treaty."
Faced with Admiral Yagier's accusation, the German side turned its attention to Marshal Tirpitz, obviously hoping that he could stand up and convince the other party. However, Tirpitz evaded the expectant eyes of everyone.
Because he is also a navy man, of course he knows that this is a difficult question to answer.
After all, in terms of naval tonnage, the total tonnage of the two countries combined is only two-thirds of that of the UK. Can this obvious gap in strength be changed by just a few words from him?
However, facing the intimidating looks of everyone, Tirpitz felt that he could not do anything without saying a few words. "Your Excellency Yagir, our country recognizes the current gap with the British, but this gap will not increase. At present, your country's research and development
The dreadnought has brought naval battleships into a new era, and at the same time it has given us the opportunity to catch up. As long as our three countries can invest sufficient funds, then we can turn the situation around in one fell swoop with the advantages of the new battleships."
Although Tirpitz spoke impassionedly and even attracted praise from other navy officials, in the eyes of Admiral Yagier, what Tirpitz said was empty talk and was of no use at all.
Because Tirpitz avoided one of the most important issues, which was the issue of government funding for the navy.
As a technical service, the Navy is the most dependent on funding. It takes money to build ships, money to train, and money to develop new technologies and new equipment. These money basically rely on government funding. So Marshal Tirpitz does not
Let’s talk about the amount of military spending and what we can do to compete with the British Navy.
If the other party doesn't talk about it, then don't blame him, Admiral Yagier, made it clear. "Your Excellency Tirpitz, as far as I know, the current shipbuilding cost of your country's navy last year was 118 million marks, which is even lower than that of our country (Italy
In 1906, the cost of shipbuilding was 160 million lire ≈ 128 million marks), while the cost of British shipbuilding was 18 million pounds (360 million marks). I think there is no need to say more about some things."
Admiral Yagier directly clarified the problem: How could Germany convince Italy that it had the strength to compete with the British Empire's navy when its shipbuilding costs were so low?
Faced with Admiral Yagier's doubts, Tirpitz did not deny it.
"Your Excellency is right. The current cost of shipbuilding in our country is indeed low, but this is only temporary. The main reason is that the Navy Act passed previously did not predict the increase in shipbuilding prices. Our country is preparing to pass a new shipbuilding bill next year.
The Ship Bill will significantly increase our country's shipbuilding costs, which must reach at least half of the UK's level. This will ensure that our country can obtain 60% of the UK's naval strength."
When Tirpitz mentioned the 60% argument again, Yagier felt like veins were popping out. "It is simply ridiculous that you want to rely on the British navy's 60% strength to hold back the opponent."
Yagir continued without giving the other party a chance to speak. "Your remarks have already exposed the practices of your country's navy. If your country only wants to preserve its naval strength and wait for our country to take grain from your fire, then what do you think?"
If there are too many, our country will not accept such allies and alliance treaties."
"Your Excellency Yagir, our country does not have this idea..."
The war of words between the naval ministers of the two countries was witnessed by everyone present. For Bilo, one of the decision-makers who proposed amending the alliance treaty, the fierce rebuttal of the Italian Navy represented Italy's objection to adding Britain to the target list.
The fear of one.
Bilot still values Italy as an ally because it not only means adding more defensive pressure to its old rival the French, but also allows Germany to use Italy to extend its power to the Mediterranean.
In addition, Italy's heroic and aggressive naval force, which is undergoing extensive expansion, is also a great help to Germany. According to estimates by the German Navy, if the Italian Navy is fully expanded, it will have 16 battleships, 6 cruise ships, and amphibious ships.
Hundreds of small and medium-sized warships can control the powerful naval power of the Mediterranean.
If this force can be used well, it can contain at least one-third of the energy of its old enemy France. This is equivalent to reducing the French investment on land in disguise, which is more conducive to the implementation of the Schlieffen Plan. In addition, it can also help Germany share the burden from the British
pressure, why not?
But it's not easy at all to get the Italians to agree.
