Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

“We in the Netherlands will not make any comment on the British Empire’s appointment of Crown Prince Edward, because that is a matter of the British Empire.

However, this does not hinder all independent decisions made by the Netherlands. We have invited the provincial governors of Antwerp and Limburg to jointly visit Amsterdam. This visit will strengthen the comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces and places in the Netherlands. , including economy, finance, security, as well as cultural exchanges, etc. After all, we are Dutch people of the same clan and ancestors. "

The news was announced during an interview with the Dutch Ambassador to Belgium, John Carr, at the embassy.

Immediately, it attracted many viewers.

On February 10, 1862, according to the Neue Rotterdam Zeitung, Calais, the governor of Antwerp Province, said that Antwerp Province and the Netherlands are very similar in many aspects. Both places have the same language and the same species. At the same time, during the more than 20 years of separation, The two places have never forgotten that we belong to the same nation, and it is important to help each other in times of hardship.

Calais pointed out that he was honored that Limburg has become the most important capital investment location in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the past period. At the same time, he was also very happy with the cooperation between the two places. He hoped that cooperation could continue to be strengthened in the future, and more projects from the two places were welcome in the future. Integration, in the end he expressed the hope that creative cooperation can be carried out in the future despite the worrying prospects of Belgium!

A delegation of 20 from the Antwerp province, led by senior officials from the Antwerp province, Calais, and senior officials from the Limburg province, Motz, arrived in Amsterdam on the 11th. During this sensitive period, they received the attention of international journalists and embassy personnel from various countries in the Netherlands throughout the process, and The visit ended on February 13, 1862.

However, during their visit to the Netherlands, the two leaders held a joint meeting on economic and financial cooperation with Dutch Finance Minister Jan. von Capellor and Industry Minister Wem Kot.

After the meeting, when the two men in Calais were asked whether they faced pressure from the Belgian royal family and Prime Minister Obaner during this trip, Motz, a senior official from Limburg Province, said that the purpose of the visit was to deepen economic and trade cooperation.

As for political cooperation, the Netherlands and the two provinces are closely connected by mountains and rivers, and they are originally the original territory of the Netherlands. How can there be such talk as Pan country? What’s more, you can go to these two provinces and ask any Dutch-speaking person who would object to cooperation with the Netherlands. When the Netherlands comes in, who would doubt the relationship between the Netherlands and me? Therefore, no one can stop our cooperation with the Netherlands, including our current Majesty Leopold I of Belgium, and he cannot cut off our ties.

No one can stop our economic cooperation and national origin ties. The Netherlands is our largest investment partner and largest trading partner in the seven northern Dutch-speaking provinces. This is especially true when I cooperate with partners who share the same interests.

Motz seemed to imply something in his words: "And this person hopes that our relationship with the Netherlands will be further sublimated to a higher level in the future. Any option can be carried out."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands welcomed this and used it to build momentum and launch a large-scale publicity campaign in the seven northern provinces of Belgium. You must know that Dutch newspapers are very popular in Belgium, just like French newspapers in the south.

This is okay, it is obviously a challenge to the authority of the Belgian cabinet.

So Belgian Foreign Minister Rafi Hall publicly expressed his dissatisfaction, but the target of his dissatisfaction was not the two domestic leaders, but the Kingdom of the Netherlands who met them.

The foreign minister publicly warned the Netherlands that if the Netherlands takes further intervention in Belgium's domestic issues, Belgium may reconsider the Dutch-Belgian relations between Belgium and the Netherlands.

According to a report in The Times, on the 7th of this month, the Foreign Secretary started to meet with the Dutch Ambassador to Belgium, John Carr, regarding the various recent speeches and actions made by the Netherlands involving Belgium.

According to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named, the talks were held in a very tense atmosphere.

Rafi Hall demanded that the Netherlands clarify its official position on the North-African-speaking region of Belgium and make it clear that it will no longer participate in creating conflicts against the Belgian national governance.

However, according to insiders, John Carr, the then Dutch ambassador to Belgium, said, "The Netherlands is a country with freedom of speech. Everyone in the country can express personal opinions regardless of their status. The Dutch government has no right to interfere with personal opinions because This relates to the governance philosophy of our new King, His Majesty William IV. Therefore, he only expressed it in his personal capacity and we have no way to control it."

However, in the end, the Belgian Foreign Minister was dissatisfied and very tough after hearing this. It was revealed that Rafi Hall told John Carr that if the Netherlands continues to go down this road, Belgium will have to reconsider how to deal with Belgium. Bilateral relations, as well as the way Belgium treats the Netherlands in the future, such as border control issues between the two countries, and exchange restrictions including trade between the two countries.

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According to the Times, after the two met, Dutch Foreign Minister Speth von stated at a press conference on February 9, 1862 that the Netherlands could not explain the illegality of personal speech under Dutch law because this It represents that the Netherlands' position as a society governed by the rule of law has been shaken. Therefore, Belgium's request is disrespectful and illegal, and the Netherlands cannot comply.

When the answer of Dutch Foreign Minister Hesbert von came out, the Belgian cabinet was shocked and dissatisfied. Even Belgian Prime Minister Obaner mentioned at the press conference, "The unfriendly situation surrounding the Dutch actions in Belgium" "It is necessary for the Netherlands to understand that there is an idea in Belgium that Belgium does not accept the Netherlands' various ambitions to intervene in Belgium."

In response to the Prime Minister's remarks, the Dutch Foreign Minister responded to the Times' inquiry in a telegram that day. I just can’t comment!

But he emphasized that "we look forward to the Belgian issue being resolved peacefully through dialogue, and Belgium, France and the United Kingdom should also sit down and negotiate calmly without using violence. This has always been the consistent position of the Netherlands."

However, according to "The Times", according to insiders, Belgium initially asked the Netherlands not to publish the talks between the two countries, but the Netherlands did so. This frustrated the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Netherlands Conveyed the idea that Belgium is considering canceling part of the working dialogue between Belgium and the Netherlands. At the same time, Belgium decided to suspend customs union negotiations with the Netherlands.

Therefore, under such circumstances, the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg ignored the reminder of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and directly chose to disobey the cabinet's order not to allow visits to the Netherlands. This caused a wave of surprise in the Belgian cabinet and even in Belgium and other countries. .

The situation in Belgium has reached this point?

If the cabinet cannot govern local government, then where does Belgium’s authority lie?

Almost all countries looked at Belgium with sarcasm. Think about how this country's cabinet and even Leopold I would save their face and take action against the Netherlands, but just when everyone was looking forward to it.

But someone stepped forward to disrupt the situation. His appearance made the situation in Europe caused by Belgium suddenly become confusing.