Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

America, the White House!

Discussions were continuing at this time about the consequences of the Dutch 'invasion' of Hawaii.

"When we tested the attitude of the international community on November 8, last year, it was at your request, Secretary of State, that the US warships intercepted the British Empire Mail Ship 'Trent' and imprisoned two people who were about to rush to the British Empire. Confederate envoy."

Salmon Portland's eloquence was so good that everyone, including Lincoln, listened with rapt attention.

I am also saddened by the difficulties encountered by the American Northern League in the past two years.

“In short, the countries around us are now taking the opportunity to gain certain benefits from the American civil war, and we are in this unnecessary war with the South.

Haven't you noticed that the civil war in our country has now become a feast for international powers, waiting for opportunities to sneak attacks and seize benefits?

Even the Netherlands, a second-rate country that started out as marginalized in Europe, is not difficult to understand.

They did not directly participate in the American Civil War for fear of causing dissatisfaction with the second-tier countries of Britain and France, so Hawaii, far away from the American mainland, was the best time to take action."

President Lincoln also lamented: "I have to say that these red-haired ghosts are really good at picking the time. Now we are unable to fight back against them, and the telegram also states clearly that now the Dutch Navy in Hawaii has 8 ships, all of which are battleships in service, but now it is difficult to counterattack."

Listening, everyone except Seward couldn't help but nod in agreement with the president's analysis.

Siward frowned.

Many people wonder why Seward was so enthusiastic about the development of the western United States and the Pacific Ocean.

In fact, his idea of ​​the Pacific is not just a worship of business and the value of the Pacific to the United States.

"President, I believe that commerce is one of the most important parts of a country, and it is also the main force for the progress of American civilization and national expansion. If the United States wants to become one of the most powerful countries in the world, it must control important things in the world. Trade. From the historical development trajectory of the British Empire, we should find a pattern, that is, political hegemony comes with commercial advantages!

Prussia can influence Prussia's foreign policy for the benefit of the Junker aristocracy. It is precisely because Prussia's William I and Prime Minister Bismarck can control the integration of the interests of the Junker aristocracy and other capitalists that Prussia can maintain internal unity.

The current civil war in the United States is due to the different commercial interests between the north and the south. The plantations in the south and the industrial products in the north are too focused on their respective customers and too single-minded. As a result, these market-leading countries have turned around and have a negative impact on the domestic products of the United States. The influence of infiltration is the same as the cause. It is because of the support of the British Empire that the Southern Alliance boldly wants to deal with the North again and again. "

As Secretary Seward talked in detail, President Lincoln's eyes also brightened, not to mention that business was indeed a place of great influence.

Seward's words, therefore, with the beginning of President Lincoln's administration, successive governments have begun to use commercial influence as the most powerful weapon in the United States' toolbox to influence other countries, and it is also the most powerful weapon against other countries in the world. The most common and cheapest weapon attack action, especially in the 21st century after the Cold War, it is the best attack weapon for the maintenance of American hegemony.

It can be said that he is a pioneer in the United States' desire to use such means to maintain its hegemony.

“Therefore, establishing an American country with commercial hegemony has become a goal that we need to pursue diligently.

As for what many people are wondering about, why do I support the development of the central and western regions all the way to the west coast of the United States and directly to the Pacific Ocean? I supported the construction of the original East-West Pacific Railway. The reason is that I saw the most advantageous geographical location of the United States."

Speaking of this, Seward's eyes shone brightly, "The United States is in a favorable position between Europe and Asia. It is far away from the frequent wars in Europe. We can be safe and worry-free. There is no real threat on this continent. Challengers are rapidly developing their strength, and Europe's competitiveness is not weaker than ours, or even stronger. Therefore, if the east is not bright and the west is bright, Asia is a boon to us, especially the great merchant empire and Japan. As long as we can enter it, Our industry can find a digesting market and get rid of its single dependence on Europe.

The United States must control the route from the west coast of the Pacific to the west coast of the Pacific. Only in this way can the United States become a powerful country that can truly compete with the European powers.

The goal of the United States should be to regard itself as a world commercial empire, thereby establishing a title that is different from the Dutch Coachman Empire and the British Empire Warship Empire, and become the path to the rise of a maritime trade and commercial empire."

Another thing Seward did not say was that in his mind, the center of this business empire should be in Asia and the Pacific.

He believes that trade and commerce in the Pacific are the commerce and trade of the world. The Pacific, its coastal islands, and the vast overseas lands are not only now, but also throughout the second half of the 19th century and even the 20th century. Its future will become This is the main stage where the world is greater and the potential is greater.

Moreover, he also believes that the competition among the world's major empires is not in the Taihu Lake area of ​​the United States, nor on the Atlantic coast, nor in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, but in the Pacific Ocean and its islands and surrounding continents.

He has even noticed that America's commercial competitors and rivals have found their competitive spoils in the eastern continents and seas.

Therefore, after successfully running for the Senate in 1853, he made his views public when he stood on the Senate floor in the Capitol for the first time and gave his first Senate speech.

Thinking of this, Seward still stubbornly said: "As I thought in the past, the United States should control the Asian market, and claimed that if this move is successful, the United States will definitely become the most powerful country among the existing countries.

And those countries that already exist are more powerful. Therefore, by expanding the rights and interests of the United States to the Pacific and controlling the developed commerce in the East, only this kind of power can provide a huge political and security guarantee for the United States, making other countries dare not deal with it. The United States had other thoughts.

Therefore, I believe that the United States should be completely liberated from the residual influence and prejudice of Europe, and instead use its views and influence to transform the entire planet, where the rising sun first rises in Asia. Constitution and customs.

Just like the Japanese I am affecting now, I heard that they are making preparations to launch a major reform of the 'Meiji Restoration' to develop their own unique national reform plan. What the United States has to do now is to start from this plan. In order to obtain sufficient business benefits, we can consolidate our ability to guide their development and penetrate into their policy formulation. If this is done properly, we can even quietly eradicate them from within. The influence of various countries in Japan then controls the ideological direction of this country. "

"But, if I say Secretary of State, people won't notice?"

The speaker was Secretary of War Edwin McMasters Stanton, who at this time was different from later generations and was now the Secretary of War of the United States.

In fact, the chief of general staff and the secretary of defense of the United States were combined into one person in later generations, and his influence was no worse than that of the secretary of state in charge of foreign affairs. Even now during the Civil War, the temporary power of the secretary of war has expanded to the extreme, and it has no influence on the domestic affairs of the United States. , more influential.

Secretary of War Edwin McMasters Stanton naturally had his reasons for opposition.

According to what Seward said, using business to attack other countries would really make the war department in charge of hundreds of thousands of soldiers about to lose their jobs and become unpopular.

At that time, the financial backers behind him who specialized in selling weapons would still support them vigorously. This meant that he would likely fail in running again, so he was naturally dissatisfied with what the other party said.

Lincoln naturally took note of the two of them.

One said that it was for the future of the United States, so he advocated the development of the western United States and the Pacific Ocean. In fact, the reason behind it was because the financial backers behind Seward's campaign were all capitalists in the capital consortium that developed roads, railways, and minerals.

Secretary of War Stanton represents the interests of arms dealers, and all other members represent the interests of their respective sponsors. For example, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Portland Chase is the representative of the Morgan family, and The Postmaster General is a Rockefeller family

In short, these people in front of him are all people who put their own interests first. This is a loose alliance. Not only their personal interests, but also the penetration of the influence of the consortium behind them collide here, and they all engage in various activities to fight for direct interests. Argue with reason.

And he was once a member of this, and he was used to this scene, but now that he has become the president, what he has to do is to balance and negotiate with major financial groups to gain the greatest support for him.

And these people in front of him are his negotiating opponents with these consortiums.

Of course, he is also the transmitter of the consortium's intentions.

But for now, it is best to seize the entire United States' political power. This is the joint point of common interests that no one will object to, and it is also the greatest common denominator.

Therefore, he directly made a decision: "Put aside the Hawaiian Islands issue for the time being. The Civil War is the most important thing. Secretary of State, although we let it go, is there any way we can make the Netherlands uncomfortable?"

Seeing that the situation had been decided, Siward no longer hesitated, but said fiercely with new worries and old hatreds: "Of course there is a way."

"Then, this matter will be left to the Secretary of State. I really look forward to this happening soon."

"Yes, I will definitely not disappoint you."

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

William IV was receiving the arrival of Henry John Tapper, Viscount Palmerston, the greatest diplomatic standard bearer of the British Empire, who accompanied the rise of Queen Victoria's regime, and the three princesses of the British Empire.

This is my first morning update, I want to try it out and see how it works.