Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

However, at this time, the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs was very busy, because this time it was not only France that was supporting the Irish, but also the United States of America, the Russian Empire, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They all condemned Britain's violent suppression of the Irish. , sympathetic to the plight of the Irish.

A polydomino effect occurred, and this trend of diplomatic condemnation began to trigger a wave of followers in small and medium-sized countries.

According to a comprehensive report by Luxembourg's "European Times", starting on August 25, 1882 local time, British police and troops opened fire on the revolting Irish people in various places. In the past week, at least more than 10,000 people were injured or killed. When this news was reported, Europe was immediately shocked, and Irish people around the world sadly called on all countries to stop the British government's crazy actions.

At this time, the Director-General of the International Red Cross Society and Queen Alexandra of the Netherlands, who was visiting the European territory of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, strongly condemned the violent suppression by the British army and police, and the significant increase in the number of casualties. feeling anxious.

According to the most influential newspaper in Europe, Queen Alexandra said in an exclusive interview with the newspaper that "deadly force and arbitrary arrests were used against the peaceful demonstrators taking place in Ireland and those who suffered a tragic fate in Ireland." It is unacceptable for the Irish to kill each other by extorting confessions of their words and deeds.

Two international organizations, the International Society of the Red Cross and the International Women's Association, strongly condemned the British government's actions. On behalf of these two peace-loving organizations, I prayed for the victims, and once again urged the British government to stop this appalling use of force to suppress , and give the Irish people a peaceful and prosperous environment, allowing the Irish people to return to their independent way of life. "

Queen Alexandra also urged the international community to unite and send a clear signal to the British government and the British royal family that they must respect the will of the Irish people expressed through peaceful demonstrations and ask the British to stop repression.

Dutch Prime Minister Jules Danetang, who is visiting the Kingdom of Spain, also condemned the latest deadly move by the British army and police to suppress the Irish people in Paris on the same day.

"Our Dutch government has condemned the British approach, not because of our unfriendly relations with the United Kingdom, but because we are disturbed by the appalling information that has happened in the United Kingdom. So I am here in Paris urging William on the other side of the English Channel to .Ewart Gladstone's cabinet government stopped hurting the poor Irish.

We stand firmly with the brave people of Ireland and encourage all other countries to join in solidarity with their will. "

The person who met the Dutch Prime Minister was the new liberal Spanish Prime Minister Praxades Mateo Sagasta, who was elected last year. This is the third time he has been the Prime Minister of Spain and he is also a staunch supporter of the Spanish-Dutch Covenant. .

The Spanish Prime Minister also publicly issued a statement condemning the British military repression through the meeting between the two, and officially stated that Spain would take sanctions as a strong response to the British repression of the Irish.

“We in Spain, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Second French Empire, the American government on the other side of the Atlantic, and the Russian Empire, which have a relatively large number of Irish people, have begun to discuss how to take action to prevent this disturbing violence against the Irish people. This approach allowed the British government to stop immediately.

Really, we are serious this time. "

After the British's suppression of Ireland spread to the United States across the Atlantic, the United States was shocked. To be more precise, more than 5 million Irish people in the United States were angry.

Demonstrations taking place in the streets demanding that the American government put pressure on Britain to stop harming the Irish take place every day.

Naturally, the American government will not turn a blind eye. Both Republicans and Democrats have condemned the British move.

On September 1, 1882, when all members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands passed a new law in support of the Irish, the "Relations with Ireland Act", this law officially recognized the autonomy of the island of Ireland immediately after it was passed that day. Effective, the news was quickly relayed around the world via telegraph.

The UK was the first to stand up and condemn the Dutch move as a huge provocation. Prime Minister Gladstone even directly shouted to Dutch Prime Minister Jules Danetang at No. 10 Downing Street asking him not to approve the law.

Queen Victoria also told the Financial Times at Buckingham Palace that she had asked William IV of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to explain the purpose of the Netherlands passing this law, and asked William IV not to sign the law into effect.

The two highest and most powerful people in the UK have come forward one after another. This shows how great the impact of the Netherlands passing this law is. This is a direct reference to the UK's right to rule Ireland. Can the UK not be afraid?

I have to say that the Netherlands' approach really panicked the UK.

However, to the Irish, the Dutch approach was a blessing from God.

As a result, many representatives of Ireland in the world have praised the Dutch approach and urged their own countries to follow the Dutch example and pass legislation to support the Irish in resisting British rule.

This makes the UK even more nervous.

Because what they are afraid of is this herding effect.

On September 5, 1882, unexpectedly, the first country to follow the Dutch legislation was not the Second French Empire, which was at war with Britain in Egypt, nor the United States of America, which had the largest number of demonstrators, nor was it because of Gibraltar's grievances with Britain. Spain for hundreds of years was the Tsarist Empire, a land power in eastern Northern Europe.

Alexander III of Tsarist Russia directly publicly condemned the British government's suppression of protest demonstrators in St. Petersburg.

The tsar said directly in St. Petersburg, "We strongly condemn the British government's suppression of peaceful protests. We call on the United Kingdom to respect the right of the Irish people to exist, and the reality that the island of Ireland is the homeland of the Irish people. The United Kingdom should respect Return to its original owners and avoid the use of force against the Irish people who pursue their demands peacefully.”

Later, Gorchakov, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Tsarist Empire, also condemned the British government and asked the Gladstone cabinet government not to go further on the road of killing Irish people.

Subsequently, the Imperial Parliament of Tsarist Russia almost followed the script and directly passed the "Relationships with Ireland Act" just passed by the Netherlands in one round of parliament.

The Tsarist Empire took the lead, putting pressure on other countries such as the United States. As of September 15, the United States of America, the Second French Empire, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Denmark and other countries had passed the Dutch version of the "Relationships with Ireland". 》.

This made the whole British country completely angry, but apart from the anger, they were helpless. These countries came together to put pressure on Britain.

The law does not blame everyone, not to mention that Britain does not dare to confront the other party directly at once, but secretly remembers the hatred this time to retaliate against the other party in the future.

At the same time, this further strengthened Britain's determination for independent diplomacy.