Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On July 10, 1866, not long after Britain's Creston visited Europe, Prime Minister Gorchagov of the Russian Empire also visited southern Europe.

During this visit to Paris, after talks with Olivier, Gorchakov said at a public press conference that the Russian Empire wanted to negotiate with the United Kingdom to resolve the Balkan Peninsula issue, but due to the obstruction of the Ottoman Empire, so The results of the negotiations in Belgium were limited, so he expressed disappointment in the negotiations and hoped that the United Kingdom could maintain its independent diplomacy as a major power without being affected and inject the power of peace into the Balkans.

Olivier also expressed the hope that the wars in Europe will end as soon as possible and the continent will return to peace.

He only meant Europe, not all over the world. Therefore, Olivier's words made many people in other countries, such as the Americas, express dissatisfaction. Even in Brazil, many people regarded Olivier because France supported Paraguay's invasion of Uruguay and Brazil. Vier became a disgrace to France and was called a hypocritical Frenchman.

But Olivier was unmoved.

The two of them also jointly expressed dissatisfaction with Prussia's acquisition of the Qatar peninsula in the Arabian Peninsula and demanded clarification from the Ottoman Empire and Prussia and the cancellation of the deal. Obviously from this standpoint, they are in the same position as the UK.

Neither wanted Prussia to gain a foothold in the Middle East to expand its presence there.

Although they had expressed their desire to acquire territory there many times to the Ottoman Empire before, they were all rejected by the Ottoman Empire.

It's okay to treat everyone equally, but Prussia, who is silent now, has gotten what they want. How can this make them happy?

Naturally, he objected to this transaction.

However, what is surprising is that the Austro-Hungarian Empire led by Joseph I did not join the wave of opposition. It is really surprising.

However, the Kingdom of Prussia was the first to fight back. Prime Minister Bismarck issued a statement stating that the transaction occurred consensually, saying that Prussia used real money and silver to buy these countries, instead of plundering them like that. Prussia There is a difference between them. The Prussian Prime Minister said that Prussia will be committed to peaceful exchanges with other countries and will help the Ottoman Empire achieve industrial development within its capabilities.

He also said that Prussia will set up a special development fund of no less than 10 million pounds to carry out economic development in Prussia Somalia; if the transaction is successful, Prussia will also set up 5 million pounds to develop the Qatar Peninsula and build a One of the first top industrial sites in the Arabian Peninsula.

He also called on the Ottoman Empire not to retreat from the threat, but to use the empire's resources, because this industrial base will support the absorption of the country's talents and cultivate the country's own industrial operations. The Ottoman Empire gave up cooperation. The empire will lose its only opportunity to overtake in industrial progress.

However, Prime Minister Bismarck obviously reduced the influence of these great powers. The Ottoman Empire announced on July 23 that trade negotiations were suspended due to: external factors.

Regarding the remaining issues in the final stage of the negotiations, the Ottoman Empire made clear demands and insisted on safeguarding the national interests of the Ottoman Empire. It required Prussia to protect the Ottoman Empire's industrial path forward while also ensuring Prussia's diplomatic stance of supporting the Ottoman Empire. This was important to Prussia. It was an unpredictable advance, and Prussia naturally refused.

Many people have analyzed that the Ottoman Empire is currently at war with the Russian Empire as a part of the war, and has disagreements with its ally Britain on whether to continue or stop fighting on the battlefield. The Ottoman Empire's request is very excessive. of.

After all, as soon as he agreed, it meant that Prussia had to face the three countries of Britain, Russia and France. Although Prussia was now strong, these three countries were not only not weaker than him, but even surpassed him, such as Britain.

Under such circumstances, how dare Prussia agree? Even Bismarck, who was already known as the iron-blooded prime minister, refused without hesitation at this moment.

However, with Prussia's rejection, the Ottoman Empire became embarrassed. Perhaps it found that it thought too simply, so it lowered its requirements. Prussia was only asked to increase the amount.

However, at this time, it seemed that the Ottoman Empire had discovered a compromise, and the United Kingdom stood up and expressed its willingness to work with the Ottoman Empire to negotiate an armistice with the Russian Empire. The United Kingdom did not even object to the territorial transaction between the Ottoman Empire and Prussia.

Just when all countries were curious, even William IV had just become interested, but he vaguely guessed the British idea, so he summoned Prime Minister Tolbeck.

Tolbeck's cabinet government later appointed Schindler, the Dutch ambassador to Constantinople, to issue the directive.

Analysts pointed out that Britain is an important participant in the current Ottoman Empire's issues in the Balkans, and it is also a troublemaker. It keeps changing its face in the Balkans. Now it is just on the verge of breaking up in the negotiations, and it has begun to waver again. Obviously In order to squeeze out the benefits of tying up the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, Britain's irresponsible statements have once again cast a shadow on the peace negotiations on the Balkan Peninsula.

"The withdrawal of the United Kingdom has obviously affected the motivation of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire to continue fighting. Romania is very likely to become a territory of the Russian Empire recognized by all countries."

William IV looked at the members of the Privy Council and said: "Therefore, the war in the Balkans will come to an end here."

Tolbeck said: "Your Majesty, based on Britain's past practices, will he leave easily?"

William IV: "Then the benefits provided by the Ottoman Empire will gradually become large enough."

Hesbert von: "Britain should go home and have backup, right?"

William IV recalled the story in his previous life that every time Britain left a colony, it would leave them with intractable diseases, causing the land to enter a state of chaos after they left, creating hope for Britain's return or a channel to maintain influence.

It even allows those who flatter Britain to become Britain's minions in that country or region, doing bad things for Britain that are inconvenient to do in person.

Therefore, Hesbert von's problem made William IV sigh with emotion, and he spat out: "Britain will naturally not be willing to leave. After all, Britain died in a large number of British troops in the Balkans. Britain went back without having to work. There is absolutely no good fruit to be gained from the Whig government, so Britain will definitely seek benefits from the Ottoman Empire.”

William IV continued: "Prussia's purchase of territory in Qatar actually won the Ottoman Empire's no objection, which made Britain even more eager to move. So I guess that Britain will be next to the territory that Prussia wants to buy in Qatar. Committed to"