While Howard was negotiating with Barreto, the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Hopman and the Southern African Ambassador to Brazil Jones were having afternoon tea at the Southern African Embassy in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
An afternoon tea full of British style is simply a luxury in the context of war, but this is the mood of the real powers when looking at the civil war in Brazil.
“The United States has no intention of intervening in the Brazilian civil war——” Hopman made it clear from the beginning.
"Of course, of course, we in Southern Africa have no intention of interfering in the war between Rio de Janeiro and the United States." Jones tacitly stated that there are slight differences in the definitions of this war in Southern Africa and the United States, but they are essentially the same.
"The top commander of the Michigan National Guard is a member of the Umbrella Company -" Hopman said meaningfully. The federal government of Southern Africa did not directly send troops, but what is the difference between the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company and the Southern African National Defense Force.
There is really no difference. The mercenaries of the Umbrella Company are the same as the Southern African Defense Force. The most important task is to safeguard the interests of Southern Africa.
"Didn't Washington also send an advisory team to Rio?" Jones smiled, everyone was the same, don't say anything about anyone.
“I don’t know when this war caused by iron ore will end?” Hopman guided the topic to iron ore.
"I don't know when it will end, but I know it will end with one side completely admitting defeat." Jones is confident. When the war will end, you can refer to the Great Xia Valley War. The attitudes of both parties involved in the war are simply useless. The financial backer behind it said
Have the final say.
"The behavior of Iron Four and Umbrella in Brazil is not in compliance with the agreement between Lord Nyasaland and President Roosevelt." Jones did not respond, and Hopman took the initiative to attack again.
"If the military government hadn't touched the interests of Iron Square, there wouldn't have been this war." Jones said that Iron Square and Umbrella were forced to fight back.
"Why can't Iron Four Corners give up part of its profits? I believe Rio will also give Iron Four Corners appropriate returns." Hopman was envious and jealous. The southern Africans were not satisfied with owning Australia's iron ore, so they reached out to Brazil.
, this is absolutely intolerable to the US government.
All disagreements actually stem from information gaps.
When Rock met with Roosevelt, the news of the iron ore mines owned by Mizhou had not yet been leaked, so Roosevelt made a promise to ensure Southern Africa's interests in the Americas.
At that time, this commitment was actually mainly aimed at southern Africa's interests in Canada, and did not include Brazil.
However, Americans never expected that iron ore on a scale comparable to Australia would be discovered in Mizhou, which embarrassed them.
The Americans are obviously unwilling to give up the iron ore mines in Mizhou to southern Africans.
However, to harvest the Iron Square Company would violate Roosevelt's promise to Rock, so even though the war had broken out, the U.S. government still did not take any position on the Brazilian issue.
"Haha, what promises can the military government make to the Iron Four?" Jones was unmoved. The Americans just wanted to pick peaches.
To put it bluntly, the Iron Four Corners Company has been building the railway in Santa Clara, MI for two full years, and it is impossible for Americans not to know about it.
When the railway was being built, he didn't say a word and didn't come to help.
When the railway was completed and iron ore began to be stably produced, the military government jumped out and demanded profit sharing. This is not picking peaches.
"Of course, the Iron Four Corners Company will always own the rights to the Mizhou iron ore. If the Iron Four Corners Company agrees to hand over the sales of part of the iron ore to Rio, then the war can be stopped in an instant." Hopman revealed his true colors and handed over part of the iron ore.
Handing the sales rights to Rio is equivalent to handing it over to the U.S. government.
Hopman also admired Iron Sijiao's operation of selling iron ore to Favalt Steel Group at a low price, and then Favalt Steel Group selling the iron ore to the United States at a high price.
After handing over the sales rights of part of the iron ore to Rio, the Americans can also buy this part of the iron ore at a low price or even the original price. As for the price at which the U.S. government will sell this part of the iron ore to
American steel companies are the internal affairs of the United States.
"Even without the consent of the military government, the Mizhou iron ore will always belong to Iron Four Corners. Iron Four Corners has invested tens of millions of rands in the Mizhou iron ore. Rio can attack Mizhou, but if it offends the interests of Iron Four Corners,
, Pretoria will never sit idly by." Jones issued a threat of war, and the Brazilians would fight at will. If the southern Africans were injured, the southern Africans would personally end it.
"Even if it is the Iron Four, all business activities in South America must follow the principle of benefit sharing. This is Washington's final bottom line." Hopman is not false. Southern Africa is strong, but is the United States weak?
Southern Africa has invested heavily in Mizhou, and the United States has also placed a heavy bet on Rio. For Mizhou and Rio, this is a war they cannot afford to lose, and the same is true for Southern Africa and the United States.
If Mizhou loses the war, Southern Africa's interests in South America will be greatly affected, and it may even have to gradually withdraw from South America.
If Rio loses this war, then America's backyard will be on fire. How will this be accepted by Americans who have always implemented the Monroe Doctrine and regard America as America?
This is a bit confusing, but the core idea has never changed.
"Iron Four Corners has always followed the principle of benefit sharing, otherwise U.S. steel companies would not be able to get even a gram of iron ore." Hopman had already broken his face, and Jones stopped talking in circles.
Speaking of this, Hopman and Jones both picked up the cold black tea in a tacit understanding. It had to be cooled down properly, otherwise the two ambassadors would get into a fight on the spot.
That would be too disgraceful.
Like Pretoria, Rio de Janeiro also has an area equivalent to the embassy district, where the embassies of various countries in Brazil are located.
The Embassy of Southern Africa in Brazil consists of three four-story buildings in the shape of a "pin". When Southern Africa became autonomous in 1907, it established diplomatic relations with Brazil. However, at that time, Southern Africa's diplomacy was still restricted by the United Kingdom.
, so the diplomatic relations established were not at the ambassadorial level. It was not until the independence of southern Africa that the relationship with Brazil was elevated to the ambassadorial level.
Although the relationship level is not high, the size of the Southern African embassy in Brazil is not small. Among the embassies of all countries in Brazil, the size of the embassy in Southern Africa is almost the largest, similar to that of the United States. The security of the embassy’s perimeter is the responsibility of the Brazilian government.
, as usual, the embassy also has a platoon of Marines stationed there, responsible for protecting the security of the embassy.
Brazil actually has a long history. In 1822, Prince Regent Pedro I declared Brazil's complete independence from Portuguese colonial rule and established the Brazilian Empire. It has been more than 100 years since then.
Although Brazil is considered poor and weak by the standards of southern Africa, among all the countries in South America, Brazil is the undisputed strongest country. In 1808, Brazil established its first military academy. In 1814, the Brazilian Library
When Brazil established its bank, there were no banks in Portugal.
After the relationship between the Brazilian military government and the state of Miami deteriorated, Southern Africa, as the behind-the-scenes supporter of the state of Miami, organized protests every day in front of the embassy.
At this time, a very aggrieved scene occurred for the people of Rio. Not only did the Brazilian military government not give much support to the protesting Brazilians, but instead sent more military and police to protect the safety of the Southern African embassy in Brazil. The Southern African ambassador to Brazil
Barricades were even set up in the neighborhood where the embassy is located to prevent Rioters from storming the Southern African embassy in Brazil.
This scene is really heartbreaking for all the people in Rio.
But what can be done? A weak country is like this. If a tooth is knocked out, it will be swallowed with blood. The Brazilian military government does not want to protect the southern Africans. But if the southern Africans are harmed, then the Brazilian military government will incur the consequences of the southern Africans.
Crazy revenge from African federal governments.
At that time, all Brazilians will be hurt.
"We need to sit down and have a good talk to find the possibility of ending this iron ore war." Hopman finally faced the reality. It is useless to intimidate and induce Southern Africa. Unless the Americans are sure of defeating Southern Africa, otherwise
Hopman won't really break out.
Jones drank tea in silence, acquiescing to contact with the United States.
If possible, Iron Sijiao Company is also willing to end this war as soon as possible, but of course it must be based on the premise that the interests of Iron Sijiao Company are not seriously affected.
The current attitude of the Americans is very good. As long as the Americans' demands are not excessive, then everyone can sit down and talk slowly. Iron Square Company will not get nothing, and it can also share a part of the profits with the US government, but it depends on the Americans.
How big is your appetite.
Later, Jones and Hopman sent telegrams to Pretoria and Washington respectively to request instructions and reports. Although Hopman and Jones were interested in contact, the decision-making power was not in their hands.
Pretoria and Washington showed an amazing tacit understanding at this time. Neither side gave a reply immediately. It seems that this war will continue and there will be some fighting.
This is normal. Both Southern Africa and the United States have made heavy bets. It is not yet time to decide the winner. They must want to complete the victory in one battle. Giving up halfway is not the style of the two governments.
Then keep fighting.
Leaving aside the stalemate between Southern Africa and the United States, after the Umbrella Company's frigates evacuated, the fleet led by Barreto could finally launch an attack on Victoria.
Here I would like to introduce the topography of Victoria. Like most Brazilian ports, Victoria is also surrounded by mountains. The Santa Maria River passes through the center of Victoria, dividing Victoria into two parts. Victoria is on the south bank and Kitchener is on the north bank.
port.
The first difficulty Barreto faced was the landing. Due to the requirements of the Umbrella Company, the fleet could not bombard Victoria and could only send troops to force a landing.
At this time, the tanks and armored vehicles ordered by Mizhou from southern Africa came in handy. Without the use of powerful naval guns, it would be very difficult for Barreto's troops to capture Victoria.
