Even if the "Peace Agreement" clearly stipulates that democratic representative systems will be implemented in the Transvaal and Orange at the appropriate time, many officials in the Transvaal still firmly believe that that day will never come.
Both Ade and Philip thought so. Henry was dubious because of Rock's insistence. However, both Henry and Rock were policemen and their influence on this matter was limited. So what will happen to the Transvaal in the future? Now
It’s hard to say.
It should be said that Frank, a priest, has no position on this matter.
However, Frank is first a German, and then a priest, so Frank must have a position on this issue. If there is anyone in southern Africa who hopes for autonomy in the Transvaal, then apart from the Boers, it is probably the Germans.
The Germans absolutely do not want Britain to continue to be strong, so British colonial autonomy is what the Germans most want to see.
"Even if the Transvaal becomes autonomous, what does it have to do with your Catholic religion?" Roque does not deny that autonomy certainly has many benefits. Roque is not a pure British, and he really has no feelings for the British Empire.
It is probably for this reason that Frank dares to say this to Rock. Otherwise, no matter how good the relationship between Rock and Frank is, Frank would not dare to speak nonsense to Rock.
The relationship between Frank and Rock is really good. Douglas came to Johannesburg because of Frank. Without Frank, Rock would not have been able to connect with the top scholars in Europe, and there would be no current situation in Ziwei Town.
"Of course it does matter, Lord. We all hope that the Transvaal will be stronger, freer, and more able to independently decide on Transvaal affairs, instead of everything needing London's approval." Frank spoke of Rock's innermost thoughts,
In the past, Rock had no choice but to cling to the British thigh. Now Rock hopes that the Transvaal can exist in a more independent manner in the Commonwealth, which is actually beneficial to both the Transvaal and the British government.<
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For the British government, the huge colonies are no longer capital but a burden. The military expenditures of the Second Boer War have prompted the British government to reflect from top to bottom on the value of maintaining a colony in a remote area at a cost of 220 million pounds.
It’s not worth it. If someone had told the British government before the Second Boer War that the Second Boer War would cost 220 million pounds, it is estimated that the British government would rather give up the Transvaal gold than provoke this war. p>
In fact, after the war, the attitude of the British government has proved this point. Otherwise, only a few people such as Ad, Roque, and Henry would not have been knighted after the war.
Through its attitude towards the autonomy of Canada and Australia, it is not difficult to find that the British government has now begun to change its previous policy, gradually abandoning those unimportant colonies, and changing from strategic expansion to strategic contraction. When Joseph Chamberlain inspected the Transvaal,
This view is expressed unabashedly.
For the Transvaal, independence from the direct jurisdiction of the British government is also more conducive to the development of the Transvaal.
Not all colonial officials were grateful to the British government. The collective resignation of Natal officials has proved that Natal officials are eager for power. This desire does not only exist in Natal, in the Cape, and in Orange.
, even in the Transvaal, everyone hopes that no one will restrict them when working, and no one wants to be judged by others.
"The current situation is that London has become increasingly impatient with the Transvaal and Orange. The loan applied for by Orange last month was not approved. I heard that London is also preparing to invest in the Transvaal and Orange.
What's the difference between levying a population tax and a war tax? It's just another way of saying it -" Frank harbored evil intentions and deliberately confused Transvaal with Orange.
Funds for reconstruction will never be enough.
After the plague, Orange finally began to enter the reconstruction stage. With the jewels of Johannesburg at the forefront, Orange's reconstruction naturally had a standard.
At this time, the Orange government discovered that the reconstruction of Johannesburg had far exceeded that of Orange. In order to catch up with the pace of Johannesburg, the Orange government tried to unite with the Transvaal government to obtain more loans, but this request was rejected by the Transvaal government.
The Vanuatu government refused, so the Orange government had no choice but to apply for a loan alone.
Unfortunately, without the guarantee of the Transvaal, no bank was willing to lend money to the Orange government, so the Orange government could only turn to London for help.
Since the end of the war, London has given more than 20 million pounds in aid to the Orange and the Transvaal, far exceeding the 3 million pounds promised in the "Peace Agreement." Now the Orange has once again requested funding, finally attracting London's attention.
dissatisfaction.
Don’t forget that the Transvaal and Orange cannot yet generate any taxes, and London still has to bear the salaries of officials in the Transvaal and Orange. Now it seems that the reconstruction of Orange is a bottomless pit. It is indeed just that.
As Frank said, London's patience with the Transvaal and the Orange is running out.
As for war taxes, London originally confirmed in the "Peace Agreement" that any taxes levied for the war would not be imposed on the Transvaal and Orange.
The British government did do this before, and the relationship between the Zulus in Natal and the Natal government became increasingly tense because of war taxes.
Now the British government is levying a population tax in the Transvaal and Orange, which is actually a war tax in disguise. Everyone knows this.
"For London, Orange is now a huge financial burden. London can't avoid it now. Although the situation in the Transvaal is slightly better, if taxes are collected in the Transvaal, it will be very difficult for us in the Transvaal.
It's even more of a disaster in Watts, so why not be autonomous? If we are autonomous, we don't need to pay taxes to London, and we don't need to accept supervision from London. Those officials sitting in offices thousands of miles away don't know how.
You don’t understand how complicated our situation is here, let alone put yourself in our shoes. Think about how wonderful the prospects for the Transvaal would be if the Transvaal became autonomous—” Frank’s words were indeed very provocative.
Although Roque knew that the Transvaal would be autonomous in two years, he still couldn't help but imagine.
Autonomy is indeed good. Simply put, it means that you spend your own money and take care of your own affairs. If you want to stay within the Commonwealth, Transvaal may have to sacrifice some of its diplomatic rights. For example, if Britain goes to war with other countries
, then if the British government requests, the Transvaal will also send troops to participate in the war. The Canadian army and the Australian army in the Second Boer War came to southern Africa for this reason, but in addition, the rights of the Dominion and the independent country
Not much different.
The most important thing is that staying within the Commonwealth means that all Commonwealth countries around the world have opened their markets to the Transvaal. This is very important for the future Transvaal and Nyasaland. With Rock's plan, the Transvaal and Nyasaland will have quite strong industrial capabilities in the future. The market in Southern Africa will not consume many industrial products at all. In the future, the Transvaal and Nyasaland will have very strong industrial capabilities.
To develop industry, we still need to rely on the huge Commonwealth countries.
Let’s not talk about anything else. Let’s just talk about India. This market is enough for Rock to covet. India is not yet self-sufficient in food. In times of disaster, many people will starve to death at every turn. That is to say, Rock doesn’t want to stand out, otherwise now
The Transvaal can export potatoes to India.
When it comes to exports, we really need to be cautious. In the future, Britain will allow southern Africa to be autonomous because the four colonies in southern Africa not only cannot provide Britain with sufficient raw material markets and product dumping grounds, but the British government has to bear a heavy burden in order to maintain colonial rule.
Due to financial pressure, if the Transvaal and Nyasaland show some potential now, it is hard to say whether the British government will allow the Transvaal and Nyasaland to be autonomous in two years' time.
It’s okay if it’s allowed, but if it’s not allowed, then Rock will have shot himself in the foot.
"Come on Frank, no matter what the future holds, it's all in the future. It's useless to talk about it now -" Rock couldn't let Frank continue to play. This guy didn't look like a priest at all, but more like a lobbyist. Frank didn't say anything
, Roque is not in a hurry, just for a while now, Roque can’t wait for the Transvaal and Nyasaland to become autonomous tomorrow.
"Then let's not talk about the future, just talk about the present, Lord. If you hold the wedding in my church, I will cover all the wedding expenses -" Frank was very satisfied. Looking at Rock's expression, Frank had achieved his goal.
.
"Haha, you think I am short of money?" Rock laughed dumbly. Frank was backed by the Catholic Church and German Southwest Africa. He was indeed wealthy, but Rock was not poor either. There were already hundreds of tons piled in the underground vault of the Rock gold mine.
Gold, Rock is really not short of money.
"Lord, this is not a matter of money. If you hold the wedding in my church, I can invite the Catholic Archbishop in Africa to officiate the wedding between you and Mrs. Nyasaland." Frank threw out the real temptation, this temptation
Perhaps it is not important to Rock, but it is very important to believers.
"Hahahaha, Frank, are you crazy? Phyllis believes in Protestantism, and a Catholic archbishop is not attractive to Phyllis." Rock laughed, and Frank was flattering him this time.
.
Rock can now confirm that what Frank said just now must have been taught by someone, otherwise Frank would not have the language ability at all.
Frank's current level is in line with Rock's impression of Frank.
"Lord, please don't forget that more than half of the residents of Ziwei Town are Catholics." Frank finally became furious.
"Half? Do you believe that if I tell you tomorrow, you won't even have one tenth of your followers left?" Roark said proudly. The so-called half of the believers are at least half Chinese with unsteady beliefs, so Frank's threat is of great concern to Roque.