Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Chapter 275 The forced Minister of State

After hearing this, the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of North America, Seward, seemed to have really imagined that scene, and the anger on their faces seemed to slowly fade away at this moment.

This made the Dutch Ambassador to the United States, Al Gore, admire him. Seward was worthy of being appointed as Secretary of State by Lincoln in 1861. He was indeed not a fake. His expression controlled the change and he actually reached the level of proficiency. At the same time, he looked at his boss, the second-ranked deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands in charge of American affairs.

He also lives up to his statement and is the best debater in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He can make the dead seem alive and the living seem dead.

A leader is a leader, and Al Gore realized that he was knowledgeable and learned a lot.

"So, the Netherlands is doing this for the sake of the United States of America?"

Siward looked at Jerry Hunter with a half-smile and asked.

Jerry Hunter smiled and said: "Is there any other country in the world that is as close to the Federal Republic of America as the Netherlands and the Russian Empire?"

When talking about the Netherlands, just talk about the Netherlands. Why do you tie the Tsarist Russian Empire to you!

Seward secretly praised Fang Jing's nonsense, but at the same time he did not dare to deny that the Netherlands was currently one of their closest allies in the American Federation, although he understood that the Netherlands' goals were definitely impure.

So he pretended to be distressed and said: "That's true. The Netherlands is a good friend of the American Federation. But because of this, you two have also seen our current predicament. I don't know if you two are aware of it. Doing so has caused major turmoil in our country. The relationship with the United Kingdom has entered a more turbulent cliff edge, and may enter a dangerous situation of war at any time. If the Netherlands does this, it will lead us to start a war with the United Kingdom. The edge is pushed up.”

Al Gore knew that the Confederate States of America was sending troops to the northwest border of America and Canada. This was information that Jerry Hunter had told him before, although he did not know the source of this information. He even learned from Jerry Hunter. Lee Hunter also knew that the other party was the same as him. Apparently both of them realized that the Netherlands had informants in the Commonwealth of America.

It's just that they don't know who it is, but they also understand what they should know and what they shouldn't know. They naturally understand this.

However, this does not prevent them from trusting the authenticity and validity of the source of this information.

Therefore, when Al Gore saw Seward being so pretentious, he sighed again in his heart. Sure enough, no one who can be a high-level diplomat is simple, especially those with thick skin.

Dutch Deputy Minister Jerry Hunter is naturally not an easy person to deal with. You must know that in the Netherlands, when the prime minister forms a new cabinet government, all cabinet members need to be approved by two-thirds of the Dutch Senate, and then they must be approved by the Dutch Senate. It requires the signature of the King of the Netherlands before it can take effect.

Therefore, each cabinet member is almost popular. Even when the two parties have about the same number of members in the Senate, the prime minister can only make a deal. After the prime minister nominates the opposition members, they can also obtain cabinet member positions that are in the interests of both parties. , successfully formed a complete cabinet government with the support of the opposition parties.

It is precisely because of this that many national cabinet prime ministers try their best to avoid this scene from happening. Correspondingly, they have more seats in the Senate. However, many things are beyond their control, and in the end they can only bow to the opposition.

Just like the late British Prime Minister Palmerston, in 1830, because he was the manager of the opposition, he used this deal to become the Foreign Secretary of the Tory cabinet, and then gradually achieved his later fame.

This is signed to take effect. In fact, the current Netherlands does not have a deputy minister in the cabinet. Due to the strength of William IV, the cabinet government led by Prime Minister Tolbek and the military led by Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd have no control over their deputy ministers. Before a minister is promoted, he will consult William IV for instructions, and he will be promoted only after gaining approval. This also means that Jerry Hunt, the second deputy foreign minister of the Netherlands, is also a figure who has caught the eye of William IV.

Will it be simple for someone whom William IV agrees with? He believes that no one in Europe will agree with it now.

Jerry Hunter still had an expression of neither joy nor sorrow, but he remained a gentleman. He glanced at Siward first, and then said with a smile: "The Netherlands will certainly not harm our good friend Millikin. It’s a federal state”

Seeing Seward waiting quietly for his next words, Jerry Hunter said: "We will only help you. After all, the United States of America has sent tens of thousands of troops to Washington State. If we, the Netherlands, as good friends, do not create some anti-British If I give you an excuse, how can you suppress the British in the interests of justice? Right, dear Secretary of State?"

What!

What does he mean?

Siward's expression changed dramatically, and he looked at Jerry Hunter in shock, but the latter's expression was very calm afterwards, as if what he just said was not his.

Seward's thoughts were spinning in an instant. He stared at Jerry Hunter, who looked back at him from beginning to end, showing no fear and looking as calm as ever.

He is the second deputy minister of foreign affairs and the third most powerful person in the Netherlands. He is like this. Then he must be the other people with the same position as him.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but lament the lack of talents under his command.

By this time, he knew that Holland must have noticed something, and looking at the appearance of the two people in front of him, he even knew the next move of the American Federation, but he had already understood the basics.

In the end, the Secretary of State of the American Commonwealth, who had always been anti-Dutch, compromised.

Because he knew that a tough diplomatic negotiation would begin next.

On September 20, 1866, Jerry Hunter, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, held a joint press conference with Seward, Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of America, on behalf of Hesbert von, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in Washington, United States of America. , the two countries expressed their commitment to cooperate in Atlantic security. The Commonwealth of America will purchase 50% more Dutch weapons in the next five years based on the original basis. At the same time, the two countries also announced that they will On both sides of the Pacific, more economic exchanges will take place.

The Netherlands focuses on the eastern coast of Australia, with New Guinea and the East Indies as supplements. The two countries will fully connect with the western Pacific coast of America to create economic links and jointly promote economic development.

This is obviously what the Dutch government and the Lincoln government wanted, and what William IV and Seward wanted, both of whom were full of expectations for the development there.

Just when many people were careless about this, they later realized that the big head was still behind.

The Netherlands actually agreed to the Commonwealth of America's application to purchase steam first-class battleships, and even sold 5 of them?

The cost of a first-class steam battleship exceeds 300,000 pounds. The Commonwealth of America actually ordered 5 ships at once. Wilhelm Shipbuilding Company, a subsidiary of the Wilhelm Group of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is prepared to deliver one ship every three years. 1.5 million pounds in 15 years, an average of 100,000 pounds per year, plus after-sales maintenance and replacement parts. The total amount is astronomical for many small countries. It can be imagined that the Dutch William Group accounts for the majority, and parts and arms suppliers must be After popping the champagne to celebrate, these people don't care about the humanitarian crisis that the war will cause.