Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The office of Dutch Prime Minister Linden issued a statement on Saturday, April 26, 1880, saying that four Dutch Challenger battleships and about 20 breech guns will be delivered to the Netherlands' partner countries in the next few weeks.

The Netherlands will also begin training Qing troops to use these weapons in the coming months.

The Embassy of the French Empire in Melbourne, the Netherlands, said that the Netherlands' move to send training officers to China was not the approach of a country friendly to France and was not wise.

The Netherlands' decision to sell advanced battleships to Qing, France's current rival in North and South Vietnam, will fuel the confrontation between France and Britain in northern Southeast Asia and may lead to war and more victims, including civilians. , and is evidence of Melbourne's growing involvement in the war.

Dutch government officials previously said that the Kingdom of Siam was surrounded by France and Britain, and normal economic development was hindered to varying degrees, and the Netherlands was dissatisfied with this.

Dutch officials also said that after Britain and France imposed multiple blockades and sanctions on the Kingdom of Siam's economy, the Kingdom's total economic output dropped by about 35%. The national economic system was devastated.

As Britain and France surrounded Siam in Southeast Asia and were eyeing it, they were even more eager to attack the Qing Kingdom in the north.

Dutch Prime Minister Linden said in Melbourne that he would be committed to ensuring that the Kingdom of Siam can continue to develop and continue to exist as an ally of the Netherlands without being affected.

As for China, Prime Minister Lyndon stated that he will expand the access of the Netherlands' world-class products to the country's huge market, and as the most important defender of security in the Far East Pacific, he will support the interests of China, an ancient country, to keep the interests of the Netherlands in the same direction.

However, in contrast to Dutch Prime Minister Linden's statement, Japanese Prime Minister Saigo Takamori said in Tokyo that his country was dissatisfied with the Dutch Challenger battleship being sold to China. He insisted that the four Challenger battleships and 20 breech rifled guns are unlikely to help the Qing turn the tide of the war in the south with the British and French battlefields. He even claimed that they would become legal large-scale targets for the British and French troops.

It is even said that when Emperor Meiji met with British Foreign Secretary Granville in Tokyo, he publicly criticized the Netherlands for selling warships to Qing and sending training officers to quickly take shape of the Qing fleet.

On May 1, 1880, King William IV of the Netherlands had a telephone conversation with King Chula Longkorn of the Kingdom of Siam. In the phone call, William IV outlined the Netherlands' intention to strengthen its support for the Kingdom of Siam, including providing Challenger battleship Type 2 and additional artillery systems. It is said that this battleship is an upgraded version of the one that has just been announced to be sold to Qing Dynasty.

On May 4, 1880, the Dutch Prime Minister's Office confirmed that it would provide the Kingdom of Siam with four upgraded Challenger 2 battleships and more artillery to assist the Kingdom of Siam in winning possible future self-defense wars forced by Britain and France.

Lyndon's spokesperson said in a statement that as Britain and France become more aggressive in Southeast Asia and the situation in Southeast Asia becomes increasingly tense, the Netherlands has huge interests in Southeast Asia and the Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that the Kingdom of Siam wins its own security interests and development rights. is very important.

The French Embassy in Melbourne responded forcefully, saying, "Dedicated to Challenger 2 battleships, they are unlikely to help the Royal Siamese Army turn the tide of the war on the sea, but will become a legitimate large target for French artillery."

Just before the Dutch sold battleships to the Kingdom of Siam, the Kingdom of Siam carried out three harassment attacks on the border between eastern Cambodia and French-controlled areas. Many villages in the western part of the area controlled by the Kingdom of Siam in Cambodia were destroyed.

King Chula Longkorn of Siam also said that France's brutal behavior can only be solved through armed struggle, and he called on the Netherlands to provide more support. He said: "Is it possible to stop the greed of Britain and France? Yes, it is possible, but in other ways other than on the battlefields around Cambodia and other kingdoms of Siam? Unfortunately, no. Just like this Both countries now have their greedy eyes on China."

Ahead of the detailed statement from the Netherlands, Chulalongkorn said in a daily speech at the Bangkok government that the expected military aid was important to the Kingdom of Siam's defense. "It is indeed what we need and I believe other partners and allies will also provide assistance," he said. Similar decisions."

The statement said that after analyzing the war situation in Southeast Asia with military advisers and studying the strategic implications of Dutch support for the Kingdom of Siam, Lyndon determined where he believed the Netherlands and its allies could exert the greatest influence.

Shenkar, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Siam, said that six village facilities were damaged in the attack, and hundreds of people were killed or injured. Therefore, the Kingdom of Siam will face a more serious situation in the coming days.

Many people in the Kingdom of Siam have discussed that the Mekong River Basin in the Kingdom of Siam may become a back garden for British and French warships to cruise, so they need to be prepared for this. It is precisely because of such strange theories that the Kingdom of Siam feels like it is in turmoil. .

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"The key factor in the advent of the Pacific Age is that in 1863, the Dutch government implemented the instructions of King William IV of the Netherlands and fully migrated to Far East Australia and the Dutch East Indies. From then on to 1880, 18 years have passed. William IV In one generation, the Netherlands has gone from a well-established European country to a country with only 2.6 million Dutch people in the European territory. However, the number of Dutch people in the Far East of the Netherlands has reached more than 15 million. That is the native Netherlands. 6 times that of humans.

This naturally makes people know that the Netherlands is no longer the familiar European Netherlands, but has become a global Netherlands with its feet in the Indo-Pacific, its feet in the Americas, and its eyes on Europe.

Is the Netherlands still a European country like this? Many people believe that it should become an Asian country.”

Japan's east capital, the emperor's official residence.

Japanese Prime Minister Saigo Takamori just said in detail.

Emperor Meiji glanced at the indifferent British Foreign Minister Granville who was sitting next to him. His heart moved, and he pretended to be unhappy and said: "I heard that the Netherlands has many allies in Europe, and they are even more popular than the UK. Minister Granville What do you think? I think it’s an exaggeration.”

Granville visited Japan on behalf of British Prime Minister Creston.

After the reception banquet, a face-to-face meeting was held the next day. The content of this three-person meeting was grasped by the Japanese emperor and prime minister from the beginning.

However, as Britain's experienced diplomatic leader, Granville is not young and is not that easy to deal with.

Granville: "His Majesty's news is correct, but that was a few years ago. Now, the Netherlands' influence in Europe has been greatly reduced."