It’s funny to say that the British people in the six northern counties of Ireland are actually not that determined to stay in the Commonwealth.
The reason is very simple. If the British government wants to win over the six northern counties, it must make appropriate trade-offs in terms of interests, such as collecting less taxes, paying more for potatoes when buying them, paying more for welfare, etc.
Though again, the six northern counties are not stupid. Only maintaining the status quo is most beneficial to the six northern counties. Once an agreement is reached between the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State, all the privileges enjoyed by the six northern counties will disappear.
The current situation is that the United Kingdom hopes that the six northern counties will remain in the Commonwealth, and the Irish Free State hopes that Ireland will be completely unified. The six northern counties are swinging back and forth between London and Dublin.
that side.
Note that it is just a "tendency", not a complete inversion. There is a difference between the two.
Roque's attitude is very clear. There is no such thing as having both sides. The six northern counties must have a clear attitude so that the problem can be solved in the shortest possible time.
Winston thought carefully about Rock's words for a long time before slowly shaking his head.
"impossible--"
"Why is it impossible?" Rock was not surprised. If the British could make up their mind, the problems in the six northern counties would not remain unresolved until the 21st century.
"The British in the six northern counties are simply unable to fight against the 26-county Irish Free State. If we do this, we will only push the six northern counties completely towards the Irish -" Winston also had no choice but to say that it was really not the British government that was hesitant.
However, the enemy is in the British Parliament, and the British government is also helpless.
"I said, full support. Didn't the Ministry of War set up a Military Intelligence Division? Send the Military Intelligence Division there -" Rock didn't want to solve the problem from the political level at all. He didn't do what the Military Intelligence Division was supposed to do. He just stared at the South all day long.
What are you doing in Africa? It's just not doing your job properly.
Winston also doesn’t have much hope for the Military Intelligence Agency. The British government has not found the correct way to use the Military Intelligence Agency at this time.
At the Imperial Conference the next day, Valera relaxed his attitude somewhat. He agreed that the Irish Free State should remain within the Commonwealth, but asked the British government to transfer the six northern counties to the Irish Free State.
This is a change of the soup without changing the medicine. As long as the Irish Free State gets the six northern counties, it will dare to declare its separation from the Commonwealth tomorrow. By then, the British government will have nothing to do.
Don't forget that according to Rock's proposal, the Commonwealth is a free and loose alliance. The meaning of "freedom" is that you can withdraw at any time. Once the British government recognizes the jurisdiction of the Irish Free State over the six northern counties, the Irish Free State will withdraw from the Commonwealth.
At that time, the six northern counties would certainly not be returned to the UK.
“Eamon, most of the people in the Six Northern Counties have agreed to stay in the UK. This is the choice of the Six Northern Counties themselves and there is no room for change.” Stanley Baldwin refused to give in on the issue of the Six Northern Counties.
“Let’s have a referendum and let the people of the six northern counties decide the fate of the six northern counties.” Valeratu saw this. When he said the word “referendum”, Stanley Baldwin showed no expression, but Earl Lytton was eager to give it a try.
If the six northern counties can hold a referendum, then it seems that India can also hold a referendum. In this way, haha.
Rock didn’t speak, and exchanged a tacit look with William King.
The matter of "referendum" is quite taboo in the British Empire.
At the end of the World War, the Fourteen Points proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson included content related to "referendum".
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the fundamental purpose was to break the colonial system established by Britain and France, and it was not the so-called “world peace”.
It is precisely because of the Americans’ arrogant ambition that the United States was not even able to join the League of Nations after the Paris Peace Conference.
This is not because the U.S. Congress did not approve it, but because the United States could not get what it wanted from the League of Nations, so the Americans did not join. If the League of Nations agrees to the Americans' request, it depends on whether the U.S. Congress will approve it.
“The six northern counties not only belong to the six northern counties, but also belong to all the British people.” Stanley Baldwin directly refused, and this gap must not be opened.
Over the next week, Stanley Baldwin and Valera were quarreling around the six northern counties, and the meeting made no progress.
Roque did not quarrel. After attending the imperial meeting, he took time to go to France and had a meal with French President Gaston Doumergue. He was accompanied by French Minister of War Andre Maginot.
This Maginot is the Maginot of the "Maginot Line".
André Maginot was a civil servant who served as the French Deputy Minister of War in 1913. Since then, he has served as Minister of Colonies, Minister of Pensions, and Minister of War. During his tenure as Minister of War, he proposed to build on the existing defense line on the Franco-German border.
Building a line of defense that could prevent Germany from attacking France was the so-called "Maginot Line."
The Maginot Line of Defense is hundreds of kilometers long, completely covering the French-German border. The total project cost is as high as 5 billion francs. There are various cannons, trenches, fortresses, kitchens, power stations, hospitals, factories, etc. inside the defense line. The passages extend in all directions.
There are also tram passages in the large fortifications.
When Roque came to Paris, the French Ministry of War had completed the design of the Maginot Line and had begun construction in Metz in northeastern France.
Metz is the provincial capital of Lorraine. After the World War, it was placed under French jurisdiction along with Alsace.
As the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force during the World War, Rock still has a high status in the hearts of European generals.
It can be seen that Andre Maginot was very confident in the "Maginot Line" he designed, and even dismissed Roque's suggestions.
"-A total of about 5,800 permanent fortifications of various purposes have been constructed along the entire defense line, with a density of 15 per kilometer of frontage. The top cover and walls of the strongest reinforced concrete fortifications have a thickness of 3.5 meters, and the armor thickness of the armored towers Up to 300 mm, it can withstand two direct hits from 420 mm mortar shells - in order to prevent the attack of German tanks, we built anti-tank trenches, cliffs, cliffs and metal and concrete piles, supplemented by ubiquitous Minefields, and electrified barbed wire fences are set up in some areas, as long as the Germans dare to attack, we can burn them all to coke!" Andre Maginot was a civil servant, and he didn't know where his confidence came from.
“If 5 billion francs are used to build troops, wouldn’t it be better to replace equipment?” Roque never relied on defense, and offense was the best defense.
"5 billion francs are used to build an army to build a few. It is used to build a defense line that can never be breached. Only once and for all." Even if Andre Maginot doesn't understand, there are always people in France who do, Andre. Lieutenant Maginot had no choice but to make this choice.
If you have money, you also need talented people.
France is now simply unable to form an army of one million men. The so-called "Maginot Line" is actually a matter of man and nature.
“Then why not extend the Maginot Line to both sides to completely protect France?” Roque still hopes that once a world war breaks out, France can persist longer.
"Why extend to both sides? The Franco-Belgian border is the Ardennes. During the World War, your Lordship also commanded troops to fight in the Ardennes. The German army would not choose to break through from the Ardennes. Even if a small number of German troops broke into France, they would not be able to break through. Will be surrounded and annihilated by our troops." Andre Maginot contradicted himself. Just now he had said that he wanted to prevent the war outside France.
“And our relationship with Belgium does not allow us to build the Maginot Line on the Franco-Belgian border.” Gaston Doumergue was also lucky. Before the outbreak of the last world war, the French thought so too.
As a result, Germany broke through the French defense line at the place where the French thought it was least likely to break through.
It has only been a few years since the World War, and the French have forgotten all the lessons learned.
"What did Marshal Foch say?" Roque could only hope that someone in France would take the initiative to stand up, and Foch was a good candidate.
Foch's attitude towards Germany has always been very firm. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed, Foch asserted that it was a 20-year armistice agreement.
The year before last, France brazenly sent troops to occupy the Ruhr Industrial Area in Germany on the pretext that Germany did not pay compensation. This was also planned and implemented by Foch.
It is a pity that the Americans later proposed the "Dawes Plan" and France was forced to withdraw its troops.
However, Foch was not someone to be trifled with. When the French withdrew, they sorted through the Ruhr Industrial Area again like bandits, taking away everything that could be moved and destroying everything that could not be moved. All that was left to the Germans was ruins.
.
“Marshal Foch is not in good health and is recuperating in the Pyrenees.” Gaston Doumergue’s expression was as usual and he didn’t look too sad.
Also, Foch, who was born in 1851, is now 74 years old. He, Kitchener, and Adelaide's generation have all withdrawn from the stage of history. It is just a good wish for veterans to not die. Sadly, people are already being killed before they die.
forget.
Pyrenees is Foch's hometown. The relationship between Roque and Foch is still good. During the World War, Foch was one of the few French generals who performed well. As for Joffre, Roque didn't even want to ask.
What Roque cannot accept is that an outstanding general like Foch is now recuperating in his hometown of the Pyrenees.
Joffre is still active in Paris and serves as chairman of the French Defense Council.
Probably Gaston Doumergue also knew that the relationship between Roque and Joffre was not very good, so he did not invite Joffre to attend.
Before leaving France, Roque did not forget to go to the Pyrenees to visit Foch.
Foch's physical condition was indeed not very good. When he met Roque, Foch even needed help.
For the sake of Foch's health, Roque did not stay at Foch's house for too long. When leaving Foch's house, Foch gave Roque his copy of "Instructions for War" as a souvenir.
