During the World War, Britain mobilized 8 million people to participate in the war, of which 1.2 million were killed and 2.09 million were injured. By 1922, in addition to the soldiers who died in the war, the number of disabled soldiers who needed pensions exceeded 900,000.
After experiencing the economic crisis after the world war, the pension costs for these disabled soldiers have become the most troublesome issue for governments at all levels in the UK. London hopes that local governments can bear this part of the cost, but the 20 richest local governments do not want to bear this cost.
For part of the cost, they agreed that the state should bear the pensions for disabled soldiers. The mayor of Liverpool even publicly stated: Taking care of disabled soldiers is the country’s sacred responsibility. The state should pay appropriate compensation for these soldiers and should not put the state’s responsibility on it.
Equivalent to giving to a private charity.
In order to better take care of veterans, the British government passed the "Navy and Army Pension Expenditure Bill" and established the Ordinance Committee, giving the Ordinance Committee an allocation of 1 million pounds.
Yes, you read that right. When 900,000 disabled soldiers were in urgent need of help, the British government generously gave 1 million.
According to this standard, the East African colonial government only needed to pay 1,400 pounds to make up for the damage caused by the war to 1,400 southern African families.
Even Austen could understand why François was laughing.
During the Second Boer War, the Canadian Legion that went to fight in Southern Africa clashed with the Southern African police. A Southern African policeman died in the conflict. For the death of the Southern African policeman, the Canadian government paid a full 1,500 pounds.
That was 1,500 pounds in 1900. At that time, one pound could be directly exchanged for 7.32 grams of gold.
Now that Britain has canceled the gold standard, Southern Africa is no longer the disorganized Southern Africa. How much did the East African colonial government have to pay for the 1,400 fallen soldiers?
I'm afraid selling the entire Lake Victoria may not be enough.
This is really not an exaggeration. Even if the East African colonial government wanted to sell it, someone would have to be willing to take it over. It would be hard to find a victim.
7 million!
This is the number Francois finally came up with.
"The pension for a person in southern Africa is 5,000?" Marlop Jacobs couldn't believe it. 5,000 pounds is not a small number for ordinary people.
"For you in East Africa, the pension for a person in Southern Africa is 5,000, five thousand rand!" Francois refused to give in. The federal government of Southern Africa certainly did not pay that much to soldiers who died during the world war, but
The situation is different now. If the East African colonial government is willing to pay this money, it will be 5,000.
"You are shameless blackmail!" Malop Jacob completely exploded, 5,000 per person, why don't you go and steal it?
Rob?
This is much faster than stealing money.
So Francois just smiled and said nothing. Don't give it if it's too expensive.
"Then what?" Austin said without hesitation, as if to see how high Francois could stack this number.
This is just a pension.
"Then there are also the expenses for railway plantations, farms, fisheries and our southern African officers and soldiers stationed there to maintain security over the years. The total is actually not much. Three to five billion is probably enough -" Francois sneered again and again.
, this 3.5 billion is not the German mark that has depreciated tens of thousands of times, but the Southern African rand with a strong currency value.
"Ha, this is the biggest joke I have ever heard!" Marlop Jacobs laughed angrily, three to five billion?
It's so pitiful that the East African colonial government probably couldn't even afford three to five million.
"Then I'm sorry, if you don't pay these costs, then we will discuss this issue when Southern Africa recovers these costs." Francois was not in a hurry. Recovery is impossible, and nothing else can be said.
, security costs add up every year.
"Jacob, if you are given some compensation in East Africa, are you willing to give up this request?" Austin gave up his previous fantasy and was more realistic.
East Africa is now a British colony. In theory, Southern Africa returns half of Lake Victoria to East Africa, which is actually returning it to the British government.
Although Austin has never been to Lake Victoria, he knows the value that tens of thousands of square kilometers of lake area can produce, and it would be good to get it back.
Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t go back. The British Empire has given up 9.9 million square kilometers of Canada, 7.69 million square kilometers of Australia, and 6.52 million square kilometers of Southern Africa (991 in the previous article is the Southern African Union). Tens of thousands
Square Kilometer Lake District - It’s drizzling.
"Of course not. Lake Victoria can generate tens of millions of pounds in profits every year. How much can southern Africa pay?" Marlop Jacobs looked at Francois when he spoke.
Don't listen to the harsh words of Marlop Jacobs. In fact, Marlop Jacobs is not stupid either.
Marlop Jacobs also knew that it was impossible to get Southern Africa to give up Lake Victoria, so it was better to seize this opportunity and gain some points than gain nothing.
The key is that Southern Africa is unwilling to give. Not only is it unwilling to return Lake Victoria to East Africa, it is also unwilling to give money.
Just kidding, the colonial governments of East Africa did not want to be blackmailed, so is the federal government of Southern Africa just the one being taken advantage of?
"The profits of tens of millions of pounds were only made under the management of our federal government in southern Africa. Since 1890, East Africa has managed half of Lake Victoria for decades. How much profit has it received from Lake Victoria?" Francois
Be blunt.
Before Marlop Jacob could speak, Austin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Speaking of which, it brings me to tears again. The British Empire has colonies all over the world, and the "empire on which the sun never sets" spans the seven seas and conquers the world with invincible enemies——
When the Americans heard this, they laughed and showed their big molars.
The Germans were also dissatisfied.
The key reason why Britain began to shrink strategically after the Second Boer War was that the colonies all over the world did not bring a steady stream of income to the British Empire. Instead, many colonies consumed countless funds every year because they had to maintain colonial rule.
Sorry, this is the case with the East African colonial government. London has to give millions of pounds of subsidies to East Africa every year to maintain the rule of the East African colonial government. If Lake Victoria generates tens of millions of pounds of utilization every year under the management of the East African colonial government, London will
Believe it or not, he did not hesitate to launch the third Boer War for the sake of Lake Victoria.
Of course, even if the East African colonial government takes back Lake Victoria, it is unlikely that Lake Victoria will generate tens of millions of profits every year.
There will still be profits, but they will not be handed over to the London government, but will enrich the local white people in East Africa.
Otherwise, Marlop Jacobs would not be so active in fighting for the interests of the British government.
"This is a problem for our East African protectorate. You don't need to worry about it in southern Africa." Malop Jacob thought victory was in sight.
"Shut up!" Austin was fed up with Marlop Jacob's big mouth. Lake Victoria can't be taken back with just a few shouts: "Francois, if you return to the south shore of Lake Victoria, then you have to
Give East Africa its due compensation.”
Austin did not want to delay it indefinitely. If it continued, the British government and East Africa would gain nothing.
There is no formal demarcation treaty between southern Africa and East Africa yet, and the reason is Lake Victoria.
It is obvious that Southern Africa's patience is running out, and the occupation of Lake Victoria is becoming a fait accompli. If this is delayed for more than ten years, Southern Africa can really use "since ancient times."
"Your Excellency, Minister, it depends on how high your request is -" Francois gave in appropriately. If the money was not much, then Southern Africa would also be willing to use this method to end the dispute.
"Haha, didn't you just say that? If Southern Africa wants to give money, just give it three to five billion -" Malop Jacob feels good about himself, and he treats others the way they treat others.
Very cool.
"Haha, farewell -" Francois responded simply. He stood up and said goodbye politely to Austin, ignoring Marlop Jacobs.
"What, what is this?" Marlop Jacob was furious.
Austin was too lazy to speak. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. What's this? What you see is what you see.
"I will never accept such arrogant and violent insults. Even if Southern Africa is powerful, East Africa must take all means to protect its own interests." Marlop Jacobs said harshly. When Francois was here just now, he could
Not so tough.
"What do you want to do?" Austin was shocked. East Africa is a British colony and southern Africa is a Commonwealth country. If these two were to fight, who would the British Empire help?
Well, this is a very serious problem——
"I will send out the army to take back Lake Victoria by force." Malop Jacob said forcefully. If the East African colonial government worked hard, it is estimated that it can really organize an army. Of course, it is hard to say how effective it will be.
"Are you sure?" Austin looked at Marlop Jacobs and returned to ridicule. After drinking several dishes, he took back Lake Victoria from southern Africa by force. Is this what you, the East African Commissioner, can say? I'm afraid that now the British
Even King George V dared not say that.
"Of course, do southern Africans still dare to provoke a war?" Malop Jacob said seriously, oh, it turned out to be this idea.
But if you are not afraid of 10,000, just be afraid of the worst. What if southern Africa dares?
Marlop Jacobs probably had not thought about this problem.
"Calm down Jacob, you can't do this." Austin said bluntly.
"Why are you helping Southern Africa?" The question raised by Marlop Jacobs is very strange. Austin is really not helping Southern Africa, but helping East Africa, otherwise there would be no such dialogue.
"You can ask for Lake Victoria from southern Africa, but it must be in a controllable way. Otherwise, I will suggest that the Prime Minister change your position -" Austin is still very calm. If Marlop Jacobs dares to cause trouble, he will
The British government could not spare Marlop Jacobs without taking action from southern Africa.