ps: Thank you to Tu Haitao for the 500 coins and Samsara’s Sanzi for the 100 coins for their support!
In Berlin, Germany, at the Potsdam Palace, a priest in his fifties was energetically introducing his ideas to the emperor. "Since the founding of the German Empire, the national population has increased much faster than the growth of food production. According to the current speed, it cannot be predicted that
Within ten years, local food production will be unable to meet the daily needs of the domestic people.
Insufficient food production will cause rising prices and increase residents' living costs, which is not conducive to social stability.
At the same time, the inability to be self-sufficient in food production and the rising cost of living will also cause a large number of citizens to be dissatisfied with domestic living conditions and choose to immigrate abroad. The large-scale loss of citizens is not only a waste of human resources, but also weakens the overall strength of the empire.
Secondly, the British and French governments are planning to enact trade protection policies and increase taxes on the empire's industrial and commercial products. Once Britain and France formally implement trade protection policies against the empire, the empire's newly prosperous industrial and commercial system may cause overproduction and the national economy.
Risk of stagnation.
"
The tall German priest looked excited. If it weren't for the black priest's robe, it would be difficult to associate him with a devout believer.
"Many problems encountered in the development of the German Empire needed to be solved by acquiring overseas colonies."
"Your Majesty, Count Bismarck,"
The German priest reminded William I and Bismarck, and took out a thick stack of information and said, "The Franco-Prussian War ended, and the imperial government proposed a high compensation of 5 billion francs to the French in order to curb France's recovery of strength.
And signed a contract to station troops in France. However, beyond the expectations of the imperial government, the French paid off 5 billion francs in compensation in just three years, forcing the imperial army to withdraw from France early, which in turn led to the suppression of France's development.
The plan failed.
"
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Father Fabli,"
The German diplomat who met with Hu Yaqi last time stood up and said, "I don't understand what France's payment of 5 billion in compensation has to do with the empire's expansion of overseas colonies?"
"I will explain it to you, Baron Edrewin."
The German priest was interrupted by others and showed a hint of displeasure on his face. Then he quickly returned to normal and explained, "French businessmen are known on the European continent for making high profits by lending usury, but in Asia and Africa
On the mainland, French colonists and smugglers were able to obtain profits from local indigenous people that were several times higher than usury with just a few hundred muskets.
Dear gentlemen, the Hamburg and Bremen church business groups have business groups in Asia and Africa. There, the businessmen of the business groups have witnessed with their own eyes the huge benefits obtained by the French, and the price they paid for this is only a few dollars.
Ten soldiers who died of illness and some cheap muskets and ammunition.
French merchants used the huge wealth they plundered from the colonies to repay the compensation, and when the French strength recovers, they will inevitably choose to unite other countries to fight against the empire. In this way, the situation of the empire will be very dangerous."
The German priest looked worried about Germany's future situation, then changed the topic and said, "If the empire has vast colonies in Africa, then the fertile land in Africa can provide ample food supply for the country and reduce the cost of living for residents.
Secondly, excessive domestic population immigrating to overseas colonies can, on the one hand, alleviate domestic social conflicts. On the other hand, Africa's fertile land and rich resources will allow immigrants to live a prosperous life, increase their loyalty to the empire and strengthen their loyalty to the empire.
Colonial control.
Finally, the vast African colonies can provide the empire with cheap raw materials, reduce the cost of industrial production, and at the same time provide a consumer market for domestic industrial and commercial enterprises, which is conducive to the development of industry and commerce."
The German priest elaborated on the benefits of colonial expansion to Germany from economic, political, social and other perspectives, and then stated: "
The economic benefits of Cameroon's aluminum mines are huge. It is very cost-effective to use several small islands and commercial strongholds with limited economic value in exchange for the aluminum mines controlled by Han. Therefore,
The Church of Hamburg Bremen and the merchant association to which the church belongs agree to a colonial exchange agreement with the Han Dynasty. Furthermore, out of consideration for protecting the property interests of German citizens in Africa, the Church of Hamburg Bremen implores His Majesty to include Southwest Africa and Tanzania into the empire's colonies.
Rule, the church will mobilize local chamber of commerce members to cooperate with the imperial army's actions."
"Father Fabli once led missionaries to preach in Southwest Africa. He should know the local natural environment in Africa, right?"
After patiently listening to the other party's explanation, Prime Minister Bismarck retorted, "Cameroon's aluminum mine is the mine with the richest reserves discovered today. In order to protect the economic interests of the empire, I agree to include Cameroon under the colonial rule of the empire, but except for Cameroon
, I do not agree with the expansion of colonial power elsewhere in Africa."
"Has the Count not yet discovered the economic value of the colony?"
Father Fabli asked rhetorically.
"My opposition to the blind expansion of colonies in Africa is a decision made after careful consideration."
Bismarck did not care about the other party's opinions and said forcefully, "Most of the overseas colonies with huge economic value have fallen into the hands of the United Kingdom and France. In Africa, except for Cameroon, where giant aluminum deposits were newly discovered, other regions have limited economic value."
, it is not worth the empire sending a large amount of manpower and material resources for construction,
Secondly, the African indigenous people were backward and uncivilized, and were often prone to rebellions against colonial rule. If the empire wanted to maintain local colonial rule, it would have to spend a lot of money and troops to suppress it, which would not be worth the loss.
There are also African diseases that are rampant, white immigrants cannot survive there on a large scale, and the country cannot allocate enough officials to manage colonial affairs.
Therefore, Father Fabli, what you think is the massive expansion of overseas colonies actually has no obvious benefits for the empire. Instead, it requires the empire to spend a lot of money to maintain order in the colonies.
I will not agree to your suggestion."
"Count, things are not as bad as you think.
The Han Dynasty has improved the technology of quinine production. The imperial government can negotiate with the Han government to purchase quinine at low prices to supply the immigrants' living needs in Africa. And if you really think that the imperial government directly administers the colonies, the gains outweigh the losses, Hamburg
, the Bremen church and business groups are willing to follow the model of the British East India Company and manage colonial affairs on behalf of the government."
Although Fabli was engaged in colonial activities as a priest, the main members of the Chamber of Commerce were German small and medium-sized industrial and commercial workers, petty citizens, landless farmers and other lower classes of society. They were under the influence of the Junkers landlord class represented by Spiesmer in Germany.
Oppression, eager to obtain overseas colonies like the great powers such as Britain and France, and then exploit the local indigenous people in the colonies to make a good life for themselves and get rid of their status as the bottom of society.
There is a natural contradiction between the ruling class and the ruled class. Even though Bismarck and other Juncker landlords played a huge role in the Franco-Prussian War, in order to safeguard the interests of the landlord class itself and fear that the expansion of overseas colonies would intensify the contradiction with Britain and France.
Bismarck had always opposed the expansion of overseas colonies.
Even if the discovery of aluminum ore in Cameroon proves that overseas colonies have huge economic benefits, Bismarck does not agree to completely liberalize the expansion of overseas colonies.
William I rarely opposed Bismer's opinions, but this time he planned to correct Bismer's ideas.
"The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and other small and medium-sized countries all have overseas colonies. King Leopold II of Belgium also sought support from the empire to acquire overseas colonies last year.
Many small European countries had large colonies. As a major European country, the German Empire needed to have colonies of a size commensurate with its status as a great power.
Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Cameroon's aluminum mines are of great benefit to the development of domestic industry and commerce. Southwest Africa and Tanzania, where imperial merchants are involved, are vast and may have rich resources similar to Cameroon's aluminum mines.
The empire's foreign policy should make some changes, and I hope you can support the empire's expansion of overseas colonies."
"I respect your Majesty's opinion very much, but I still insist on my own view that the empire should not invest a lot of money in colonies with limited benefits."
"The Prime Minister's idea is very stable." William I nodded in agreement, and then said, "Father Fabry, in a few days the imperial government will claim sovereignty over Cameroon, Southwest Africa, and Tanzania. Except for Cameroon, which is directly managed by the imperial government,
The administrative power of Southwest Africa and Tanzania is entrusted to your chamber of commerce. The imperial government will not provide financial subsidies to the two colonies before clear benefits are obtained. Are you willing to accept the important tasks entrusted to you by the imperial government?"
"Thank you for your majesty's trust. The Hamburg and Bremen Chamber of Commerce will not let you down."