The pound was not a global currency from the beginning. Before the pound, it was the Dutch guilder that assumed this responsibility. After the United Kingdom defeated the Netherlands, the pound gradually replaced the Dutch guilder. This was a long process and did not happen overnight.
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The situation that Britain is facing now is similar to that of the Netherlands, which won the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Although they won the war, they were still facing an abyss. As long as they lost the war, the Netherlands would be in ruins.
Roque is really not in a hurry. Even though southern Africa is still in the Commonwealth, once the time comes, Roque will not hesitate.
Rock has not forgotten that more than half a century ago, it was the British that opened the door to the Qing Dynasty with the help of powerful ships and cannons. Although Rock also disliked the Qing Dynasty, this does not prevent Rock from having a good relationship with the British at the right time in the future.
Do the math.
For a week, Southern African bosses have been discussing the contents of the five-year plan.
Economic development is the top priority. Southern Africa must increase investment in research and development in advantageous areas in the next five years to further widen the gap with other countries. While maintaining technological leadership, it must gradually form technical barriers; at the same time, it must also
It is necessary to increase investment in traditional fields. Southern Africa still has so much uncultivated arable land. In the next five years, Southern Africa will continue to increase support for agriculture. In this regard, Nyasaland Automobile and Niassa
The role of Lan Heavy Industry is very important. Southern Africa is vast and sparsely populated. To cultivate more land, it is inseparable from the popularization of agricultural machinery.
Southern Africa will also continue to immigrate. Compared with the Old Continent of Europe and the United States, the biggest shortcoming of Southern Africa is its population. While immigration from the Far East continues, Southern Africa must also increase its attraction to high-quality talents. In this regard
Nyasaland University has been doing very well, but it is not enough and we must continue to work hard.
In terms of military, Southern Africa must further consolidate its advantages. In World War I, new technologies and new weapons emerged one after another, and they have shown sufficient dominance on the battlefield. Southern Africa has huge advantages in aviation and armor. After the end of the world war, Niagara
The medium tanks launched by Saran Military Industry have already replaced the light tanks that first appeared during the World War, and armored divisions were successfully formed to maintain their superiority in the army.
Southern Africa also has great advantages in the air force. After the end of the world war, the demand for aircraft in various countries dropped rapidly. Nyasaland Airlines seized the opportunity to produce more civilian aircraft to seize the market. Now a new generation of aviation engines has been successfully developed.
, aircraft performance has made great progress compared with that during World War I. What Southern Africa needs to do now is to maintain its advantage, longer range, greater load, and faster speed. Rock's requirements in this regard have never changed.
Pass.
Philippe also had his own demands. More than ten years ago, Luis Botha proposed the concept of a national farm. Unfortunately, due to the conditions at the time, this could not be implemented.
During the economic crisis that just passed, Southern Africa began to upgrade domestic public facilities. The federal government increased investment in transportation, transportation, electricity, communications, etc., and achieved good results.
Philip hopes that within five years, the federal government’s share in the above-mentioned areas will continue to increase, which will not only increase revenue for the federal government, but also increase the federal government’s influence on the states.
Rock dare not make a direct commitment on this issue. Southern Africa's transportation and power supply are still mainly controlled by the three giants, so Rock also needs to seek the opinions of Stoudemire and Henry.
The monopoly in the communications field was even more serious. Almost all communications in southern Africa were monopolized by the Nyasaland Company and the Rhodesia Company, and Henry was excluded.
"How does it feel to be the governor?" Rock felt a little dazed the moment he saw Stoudemire, as if the person standing in front of Rock was not Stoudemire, but Cecil Rhodes himself.
It's only been a few months since we last met, and Stoudemire's temperament has changed a lot. His eyes have become sharp, and he has grown a beard on his face. He is no longer as showy as before, but he feels calm and intimidating when he sits there.
As expected, it is to move the Qi and nourish the body.
"It's not bad. Now I understand why power makes people crazy." Stoudemire smiled. During this period, Stoudemire was really under a lot of pressure. It was only when he faced Rock that Stoudemire could relax a little.
"Hahahaha, Cecil, congratulations on joining the power club." Henry and Stoudemire are also very familiar with each other. Cape Town is the capital of Cape State and also the judicial capital of Southern Africa. Stoudemire was able to stabilize Cape Town so quickly.
The state's situation cannot be separated from Henry's cooperation.
"Okay, let's get down to business -" Rock didn't talk nonsense, everyone was very busy, and Stoudemire could only stay in Pretoria for a week, and then he had to fly back to Cape Town.
Xiaosi can handle things very calmly now, smiling and looking at Henry without saying anything.
This attitude is obvious. Philip is the Prime Minister of Southern Africa, Henry's father, and Roque's father-in-law, so Stoudemire must first listen to what Roque and Henry have to say before deciding what to do.
Looking at it this way, Rock still likes the outspoken Stoudemire from before.
"Don't look at me, I have no objection. In the field of public facilities, Fawalt Company's share is extremely limited. It mainly depends on you two, so you two decided, and I will cooperate unconditionally." Henry seemed to have no opinion, but in fact he just retreated.
Enter.
Don't listen to what Henry said so politely. Fawalt Company's proportion of public facilities in southern Africa is similar to that of Nyasaland Company and Rhodesia Company.
Then Stoudemire looked at Rock again.
"My opinion is that it can be opened appropriately, just like the current airport construction. Federal governments at all levels can own part of the shares, but they cannot be involved in specific operations." Roque has the bottom line. It's not that officials at all levels of federal government can't do it, but that
There are some things where the federal government is too limited.
"So how open is it?" Xiaosi leaned back on the chair and tapped his fingers on the table, obviously weighing it.
"No more than 20%." Roque gave Philip enough face and didn't fool people with things like 3% or 5%.
"Then how to determine the price of this part?" Henry was not polite. Brothers settled accounts clearly, and the two fathers also had to settle accounts clearly.
What's more, Philip is not Prime Minister for life.
"Considering the price we paid in the process of building these facilities, the price may be a bit higher." Roque is ruthless. The federal government can take a stake if it wants, and the premium is certain.
"Then it doesn't matter, I agree." Xiao Si was decisive. People who become governors are indeed different.
If it were the former Stoudemire, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to agree so easily.
Now that he is the governor, Stoudemire should be able to understand the mood of the officials in charge.
The position of governor may seem lofty and lofty, but in fact it is also very frustrating.
Especially in the situation in Southern Africa, when several giants join forces to control almost all industries, whether it is the prime minister or the governor, it actually depends on the face of the giant. Sometimes the executive order of the federal government may not really be the same as the giant.
It's easy to say something casually.
To put it bluntly, officials in southern Africa are all spokespersons promoted by vested interest groups. Otherwise, Stoudemire would not have gained a foothold in Cape State so quickly. He is both a referee and an athlete.
"Okay, that's it. Let's sell part of the shares to the federal government. Let's negotiate the price slowly." Roque cut the knot quickly. Public utilities in Southern Africa will eventually return to normal.
In southern Africa today, when public utilities are monopolized by a few large companies, the consequences are still very serious. For example, the railway fares in Orange State are significantly higher than those in other states, not to mention electricity and communications.
In Nyasaland, it only costs a dozen rand to install a phone. In Bloemfontein, it costs at least 150 rand to install a phone. Even in remote areas, it is impossible to install it and there are no lines.
The same goes for electricity. In 1922, it was hard to imagine that there were still cities in southern Africa without electricity, and electricity prices were unbalanced. Take Orange State as an example, electricity prices were at least twice as high as other states.
Otherwise, why has Orange State's economic development almost stagnated in recent years?
Selling a part of the shares is just the beginning. Roque's ultimate goal is to transfer all public areas to the federal government. The reason why Xiaosi and Henry agreed so happily is because in Nyasaland and Rhodesia, not only are there no shortage of public facilities,
Making money will also result in losing money. For example, highways, including those in Nyasaland and Rhodesia, are free. Railway transportation prices have not increased for ten consecutive years. Not only have the prices of electricity and communications not increased,
On the contrary, it has continued to decline. These conditions have strongly promoted the economic development of Nyasaland and Rhodesia.
Philip was quite satisfied with this result. For this reason, Philip generously awarded Rock, Henry, and Stoudemire a Southern African Medal of Justice each.
This "justice" is not the justice of moral evaluation, but represents the Palace of Justice, which, like the Congressional Medal, is the highest honor in southern Africa.
Rock has lost the novelty of medals now. During the World War, Rock was so weak in holding medals that he can no longer hang them on his clothes. An extra medal of justice is just the icing on the cake.
Stoudemire takes it more seriously. He has received relatively few medals. Roque has won three Victoria Crosses and Garter medals in total, while Stoudemire has received none.
Now, after receiving the Medal of Justice, Stoudemire finally has a heavyweight medal as an embellishment on his clothes. This is much more meaningful to Stoudemire than making money.
When receiving the medal, looking at the happy smiles on the faces of Stoudemire and Philip, Rock deeply realized the depth of the British routine.
This is just like the British Empire who tried to get knighthoods a few years ago. Since they can't get any real benefits, they just give them some vanity that has little actual value.
It can’t be said that it has no actual value, so everyone gets what they need.
