After coming out of the Royal Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Werther and Bernard did not separate, but returned to the French Embassy together.
In the living room, Bernard took off his coat and said to Witte cordially: "Pedro II is a man who loves reputation. The British deliberately concealed the flaws of the Monarch-class ironclads, which may have aroused his disgust. From this point of view, the British
I’m afraid the warship deal between us and Brazil will fail!”
"Aren't you afraid that the British Minister Edmund will bridge the gap and make the deal successful?"
Werther sat on the mahogany chair and asked.
"It is undeniable that Edmund is different from ordinary British diplomats. He does not have the arrogance of ordinary British diplomats. His approach to people and being shrewd are his effective means of handling foreign affairs. However, Mr. Witte, please don't forget that the real
It is the pot-bellied gentlemen sitting in London who decide the direction of British diplomacy, and they are not as easy to talk to as Edmund."
"The men of the British Empire were accustomed to directing the affairs of other countries. In countries such as the Qing Dynasty, Egypt, and Turkey, the British used barbaric force to force other countries to submit and accept the conditions proposed by the British. The British, who had always been accustomed to smooth sailing, could no longer
I will take the initiative to put down my arrogance and do business with the Brazilians on an equal footing. I guess that the current Minister Edmund is probably worried about this matter!"
Werther chimed in gleefully.
The conflict between the United Kingdom and the United States has been going on for a long time. In the recent Civil War, the South received support from the British and used artillery, guns, warships and other weapons purchased from the United Kingdom to dare to raise the banner of independence and fight against the federal government. After the British
After being armed by the Americans, the Southern Army gained a dominant position on the battlefield in the early stages of the war, inflicting a heavy blow to the Federal Army. Later, with the full support of the industrial and commercial capitalists in the North and the French financial industry, the Federal Army spent four years to achieve 750,000 casualties.
The war is won at the expense of prime age.
The southern United States is the main raw material supplier for British merchants. Losing the southern American market is a big blow to British industry and commerce. Because of the Civil War, the détente situation between Britain and the United States since the American-Canadian War in 1812 became tense again. As a result, there has always been
The relationship between France and the United States, which has a long tradition of cooperation, has become closer, and the ministers of the two countries have cooperated on Brazilian affairs.
The Monroe Declaration of 1823 was the first attempt by the United States to colonize the South American continent. At that time, the South American continent was under the control of Spanish colonists. The United Kingdom, France, Austria and other European countries, with the purpose of dismembering Spanish American colonies, high-profile support of the Monroe Declaration
, giving Americans the opportunity to enter the American market.
After the Monroe Declaration, the independent countries that received British support reciprocated by transferring the commercial interests left after the Spanish withdrawal to British businessmen. At this time, American capitalists came for huge profits.
South American countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru have set up barriers to restrict the entry of American businessmen. Only Venezuela and Panama, which received a small amount of help in the South American War of Independence, accept U.S. capital investment.
, the self-confidence established by Americans after the Monroe Declaration was severely damaged in South American business competition.
The slogan "America is for Americans" is in line with the basic interests of Americans. In order to open up markets for domestic industry and commerce in the United States, Americans have never given up on expanding their influence in South America.
Like the French government's request to the embassy in Brazil, the U.S. government's telegram to Minister Witte in Brazil pointed out: Brazil is the largest resource country in South America, with huge population and development potential. The United States of America should establish a long-term and stable economic partnership with Brazil.
relations, the Embassy in Brazil cannot do nothing to prevent the British Empire from expanding its colonial economic power in Brazil. It should take advantage of the favorable opportunity after the Paraguay War when Brazil was in urgent need of external financial support to provide support for the establishment of good cooperation between businessmen from Brazil and the United States of America.
Britain and France have vast colonies. Although the South American market is important, it is not the core dumping market of the two countries. The United States is different from them. The United States is a latecomer country. Its national strength and international influence are not even close to those of Italy and France, which are also latecomers.
The German Empire that was established later was not as good as the United States. The United States lost the favorable period of the colonial era. If the American industrial and commercial capitalists who lacked colonial markets wanted to develop and grow, the most effective way was to sell goods to South American countries and provide domestic industrial products for the United States.
Find a buyer.
Therefore, compared with Bernard, Witt attaches more importance to the transaction with Brazil.
Domestic industrial and commercial groups in the United States initially grew during the Civil War, and there were less than ten banking companies with the qualifications and strength to participate in Brazilian loans. Among them, Citibank, Morgan Bank, and Western Commercial Bank were qualified to participate in Brazilian loans.
The first phase raised US$5 million (approximately £1 million) to prepare for the construction of railways in Brazil and the acquisition of iron ore mining rights.
In order to reach a deal, the three banks spent some effort on Witte, the minister in Brazil. So seeing that there was a high probability of cooperation between the French and Brazil, Witte couldn't help but ask Bernard directly, asking what the American businessman said in the transaction contract.
Proportion of business.
To be fair, the French royal family has always been good to Americans. France provided support behind the scenes during the American War of Independence and the Civil War. France's support for the United States was an element of resistance to the United Kingdom, but its help to the Americans was also real. And this time it provided support to Brazil.
For loans, the French took the initiative to attract Americans, and they would not fail to leave benefits to the other party.
Witte's question was reasonable. Bernard ordered the embassy staff to take out a business contract of more than 20 pages, handed it to Witte and said: "The cost of the warship loan is provided by the French Bank. From the one million pounds commercial loan, you can get
The United States will be responsible for paying 200,000 pounds. As for the construction of railways, laying of telegraph lines, and the purchase of agricultural and animal husbandry products, they need to be determined one by one in subsequent transactions."
While listening to Bernard's introduction, Witte browsed the contents of the contract. Ten minutes later, Witte was somewhat dissatisfied and said: "Three American banking companies have prepared 10 million US dollars in funds for the transaction, and your country only left a limit of 200,000 pounds. It is completely
If it fails to meet the requirements of our entrepreneurs, should your country carefully consider the position of the United States of America in transactions with Brazil and provide corresponding commercial interests that are in line with American businessmen?"
Witt was dissatisfied in his heart, and it was hard to speak too harshly, because the United States is not yet the bald eagle that will stir up trouble in future generations. Americans, who lack strength and influence, are just a country with the same status as Brazil in the eyes of Brazilians.
received the same attention as Britain and France. Therefore, as minister to Brazil, Witt could only try his best to fight for the interests of American businessmen.
"No, Witte, you didn't understand what I meant." Sensing the dissatisfaction in the other party's words, Bernard explained: "Brazil has a population of 10 million, and proven resources such as iron, copper, and coal occupy the leading reserves in South America.
, Brazil’s domestic business market is very broad, we can’t just focus on the loan benefits of one million pounds, but we should also focus on the long-term transactions in the future.”
"What do you mean?"
"Haha, Mr. Witte still doesn't understand? Since your country has ample funds, you can continue to negotiate new loan transactions with the Brazilians on the basis of French loans. France will provide support for your country's transactions with Brazil."
After understanding the hidden meaning of Bernard's words, Witte's eyes lit up and he asked tentatively: "Does the transaction between the United States and Brazil include the sale of warships?"
"After France and Brazil signed a ship purchase deal, if the United States can persuade Brazil to purchase your warships again, France has no objection."
After the Civil War, the U.S. government quickly reduced its armaments, and more than half of the warships built during the war were sold to other countries. Witt's participation in the Brazilian transaction was naturally responsible for the disposal of warships.
Arms transactions between countries are generally carried out at the same time as commercial transactions. By selling decommissioned ironclad ships, the Americans will get more commercial benefits in the transaction, and the French's non-objection attitude is the greatest support for the sale of warships by the United States.
After Witte and Bernard discussed the content of the transaction for a period of time, they returned to the U.S. Embassy and began to coordinate and prepare for the transaction.