The year before the economic crisis broke out, Japan's imports exceeded 30 million yen for the first time in history, reaching 31.05 million, and exports also reached 26.7 million yen, which was also an unprecedented high.
At the same time, the Japanese government's fiscal revenue dropped significantly compared with previous years. In 1922, the Japanese government's fiscal revenue once reached a peak of 55 million yen. By 1926, the Japanese government's fiscal revenue dropped significantly to only
is 42 million yen.
The reason is that, in addition to being affected by the international situation, the negative consequences of Japan's blind expansion of the combined fleet after the world war have gradually become apparent.
The battleship Nagato built by Japan cost 43.9 million yen. Referring to 1917, when construction of the Nagato began, Japan's government revenue that year was only 24.88 million yen.
With an annual income of 24.88 million, he dares to spend 43.9 million to build a battleship.
Moreover, they built two ships at once. It is estimated that only Japan has such courage in the world.
Also for reference, here is a data. One year before the economic crisis broke out, Japan was still not self-sufficient in food. It also needed to import about 3 million tons of rice from abroad every year to meet Japan's domestic needs.
With these data, a Japanese empire that was extremely militaristic and powerful on the outside was vividly visible.
This is actually inevitable. Japan's domestic resources are poor. If you want to obtain the resources necessary for development, you can either buy or rob them. The Japanese have no money, so external expansion has become a convenient choice for Japan.
During the Washington Conference, the United States dismantled the Anglo-Japanese alliance. Since then, Japan has become the United States' biggest competitor in East Asia.
So Hoover was right. Whether the United States should expand its armaments depends on Japan's choice.
Japan obtains most of the resources it needs to expand its armaments from the United States.
So if we look at the relationship between these two things, we can see that the United States is trying to support the invaders in order to respect themselves.
"It's easy to contain Japan, just don't sell them resources." Rock knows where the Japanese's weakness lies. Japan has been seeking to obtain resources from southern Africa over the years. Unfortunately, southern Africa would rather not make money than do business with the Japanese.
"It is American companies that buy resources to Japan, not the U.S. government." Hoover was also helpless. He, the president of the United States, had no say whether to sell resources or not.
"If Japan proposes a new shipbuilding plan, what are you going to do?" Rock has actually received some news that Japan is indeed planning to build a new battleship.
As mentioned earlier, Japan’s government revenue in 1917 was only 24.88 million.
Japan started construction on Nagato that year, and Japan started construction on Mutsu the following year. Then the income class of the Japanese government climbed up. In 1922, when Nagato and Mutsu were put into service one after another, Japan's fiscal revenue reached an unprecedented 55 million yen. Military orders brought a huge impact on the economy.
The stimulating effect is so great.
Japan is a country that constantly takes risks. In the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War, Japan gained its first pot of gold. In the Russo-Japanese War, Japan successfully joined the ranks of great powers. In the World War, Japan completed a magnificent turn and jumped from a debtor country to a creditor country. Any of these failed
, may lead to Japan’s catastrophe.
It is precisely because of a series of lucky victories that Japan's ambitions have continued to expand. This is not the dividend of the times. It is clearly the blessing of Amaterasu. Therefore, this time, Japan will still pin its hope of getting rid of the economic crisis on taking desperate risks. "Washington Navy"
The Treaty was the first cage that Japan wanted to break.
"I hope the Japanese do this, so that we can build more warships, and the economy will benefit from it." Hoover was happy to see this. If the Japanese dared to build one battleship, the Americans would dare to build two.
Roque nodded, accepting the reality that if Japan and the United States provoke an arms race, then Southern Africa will also have to join.
Don't think that with the United States dealing with Japan and the United Kingdom dealing with Germany, southern Africa can rest easy.
If you really think so, southern Africa will surely end badly.
Although Southern Africa is now a nominal ally with the United States, Southern Africa has to be prepared to turn against the United States. For a country, the guarantee of interests does not rely on a paper alliance, but on real national strength.
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Of course, Roark would not be so stupid that the United States would build a battleship and Southern Africa would also build a battleship. The core of the Southern African navy is the aircraft carrier, and this will certainly not be shaken.
Just as Roark and Hoover were preparing to go to London to attend the London Naval Conference, the Olympic Games were in full swing.
In the last Olympic Games, Southern Africa did not send an official team to participate, and the United States ranked first in both the gold medal list and the medal list.
This time the Americans are not taking the spotlight. Southern Africa is the home field. The athletes who have just participated in the Commonwealth Games are still in good condition. From the first day of the competition, Southern Africa leads the United States in the gold medal and medal standings.
Of the 19 gold medals decided in one day, 10 were won by Southern Africa, seven by the United States, and the remaining two were divided between Finland and France.
Amazingly, it's not the UK, but Finland.
In the last Olympic Games, Finland ranked second in the gold medal list with 14 gold medals, 13 silver medals and 10 bronze medals.
On July 20, Roark and Hoover left southern Africa for London.
In accordance with international custom, Roark and Hoover took warships of their respective countries. Roark took the heavy cruiser "Luanda", and his entourage included Young Smuts, Irving, Sidney Milner, and Secretary of the Navy Patton.
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On the way to London, Rock had daily meetings with Barton and others to discuss how to fight for greater power for southern Africa.
"According to the requirements of the United States and Japan, we have to participate in the London Naval Conference with independent qualifications. Does this mean that we can overturn the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty and strive for more capital ship and aircraft carrier tonnage?" Patton never forgot, and Japan
Like the navy, breaking through the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty is also the long-cherished wish of the Southern African navy.
As part of the British Navy, the Southern African Navy has not built a new battleship or aircraft carrier for five years.
For the navy, five years is actually not too long. Battleships built five years ago can still be regarded as cutting-edge battleships.
The problem is that the foundation of the Southern African navy is weak. The three major fleets now only have four battleships combined. The flagship of the home fleet is still a heavy cruiser. It is simply embarrassing to say it.
According to the plan of the Southern African Navy, the Southern African Navy must at least maintain the same size as the Japanese Navy, not to mention compared with the British and American Navy, in order to safeguard the interests of Southern Africa.
If Britain, the United States and Japan cannot accept this, then it is barely acceptable for the Southern African Navy to maintain the same size as the French and Italian navies.
Anyway, we just want to build warships.
"Impossible, London proposes to convene a naval conference. The main purpose is to reduce the size of the fleet and reduce military expenditures on the navy. It is best to extend the 'Naval Holiday Era' to the next decade." Yang Smuts told Ramsey
MacDonald knew better that, let alone overturning the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, even if Southern Africa only obtained 10,000 tons of capital ship tonnage, the balance maintained by the Washington Naval Treaty would be immediately broken.
"If London increases its naval orders, wouldn't it be a huge stimulus to the local economy?" Owen did not understand why Ramsay Macdonald was still obsessed with disarmament.
"For votes!" Yang Shimozi hit the nail on the head: "The Prime Minister is now facing a serious crisis of trust. If he adds military orders, he will be exaggerated as a war madman, and his support rate will be further reduced. If this is the case, then why
Don’t advocate disarmament in order to win some peace-loving votes.”
"It's impossible. Japan already has a plan to build a new type of battleship, and London must also take action." Patton didn't like nonsense like disarmament. The soldiers had all removed their armor and returned to their fields. Who would defend the country?
"The London Naval Conference still focuses on cruisers, and at the same time further restricts the standards for capital ships and aircraft carriers. This seems to be a continuation of the last London Naval Conference." Rock is also not optimistic. The international conference held every year in London has no
Eight out of ten, most of them ended without any resolution and no consensus could be reached.
"We are not allowed to build battleships and aircraft carriers. If we are not even allowed to build cruisers, how can the interests of southern Africa be protected?" Patton was angry. He also participated in the last London Naval Conference.
"We can try our best to fight for it." Yang Shimozi did not give up.
"Take advantage of every opportunity" Rock has a bottom line.
"We want to win the support of France and Italy." Irving was trying to win the support of France and Italy. France and Italy were also invited, but did not participate and only attended as observers.
In short, amid controversy, the heavy cruiser "Luanda" arrived in London.
At this time, the Olympic Games have come to an end. Although Roque cannot watch the games live, he will learn about the Olympic Games through radio every day.
In the gold medal list and total medal list, Southern Africa leads the way with a huge lead, with the number of gold medals reaching 35.
The United States ranks second, with a total of 21 gold medals.
Ranking third is Germany, which returned to the Olympics after 16 years and won a total of 8 gold medals.
Next is Finland and France with 5 medals each, which is a huge gap compared with the last Olympic Games.
However, Finland and France are not the worst. The worst is Britain. The Olympic Games have come to an end. Britain only won one gold medal and ranked 15th in the gold medal list.
On the night that Roark and Hoover arrived in London, George V held a dinner to welcome Roark and Hoover at Buckingham Palace.
The palace dinner is larger than the dinner at the Palace of Justice in Pretoria and has more rules.
Roque is the Marquis of Nyasaland. He and Phyllis dressed up and appeared at Buckingham Palace at six o'clock in the evening.
However, Roark had no chance to dance with Phyllis. As soon as he arrived at Buckingham Palace, Roark was taken to George V's study by the chamberlain.
In the study, George V and Ramsay Macdonald, Privy Councilor Stanley Baldwin, Union Finance Minister Neville, Speaker of the House of Commons John Wheatley, and Lord Chancellor Viscount Cave were waiting for Roark.
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When Rock saw Neville, Neville had no expression on his face and nodded slightly.
ps: Sorry for being late, I will continue with three updates today
