Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"Both countries are currently taking steps to reduce their economic and political interdependence on the UK."

The 71-year-old Emperor Napoleon III of the Second French Empire, who had been lying in bed for a long time, publicly stated in Paris when he met with the Prime Minister of Tsarist Russia Gorchakov: "If there is a real conflict between the Netherlands and Britain in the Strait of Malacca or in the Atlantic Ocean, The impact on France will be more direct than the two previous Crimean War wars.

Gorchakov also said that compared to the American Civil War that began in 1861, they were more worried that the outcome of the conflict between Britain and the Netherlands would have a deeper impact on the Russian Empire.

Following a speech in the House of Commons in Paris, several French MPs expressed concern about tensions between the UK and the Netherlands.

I hope that the Tsarist Empire, which has friendly relations with the Netherlands, can stand up and mediate the relationship between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

In response, Prime Minister Gorchakov mentioned the situation that the Strait of Malacca is stuck between the Dutch East Indies and the Malay Peninsula, pointing out that the Strait of Malacca has become a more dangerous flashpoint, and a conflict between the Netherlands and Britain may break out if a gunfire breaks out.

Even Gorchakov expressed concern about the crisis in the English Channel and the North Sea.

“The Strait of Malacca is the closest, but the Strait of Malacca is a very important international waterway in terms of economy and military. Compared with the Middle East Suez Canal opened a few years ago, the narrowest point is only 37 nautical miles.

Although neither the Netherlands nor the UK wants to take military action in the Strait of Malacca, any mistakes or accidents may trigger a dangerous loss of control and a vicious cycle of tit-for-tat."

"The conflict in the Strait of Malacca will have a global impact. Although the Russian Empire is located at the northern end of the Eurasian continent, we also have access to the sea in the Far East. At the same time, we used the Alaska Peninsula to successfully trade with the Netherlands in exchange for the fact that it is located in the eastern part of the Strait of Malacca. North Kalimantan province on the east side of the island of Kalimantan.

Surrounded by big countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Spain in the Philippines, the influence of the Tsarist Empire will be more direct than the impact of the American Civil War on our Tsarist Russia. This is not only because our North Kalimantan Province is closer to the Strait of Malacca, but also Because the relationship between the Tsarist Empire and the Netherlands and the United Kingdom is far more profound than the relationship between the Tsarist Russian Empire and the United States."

Napoleon III, who was on the side, also continued:

"The position of the Second French Empire is that we have repeatedly emphasized to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom that the French Empire, like many countries in the world, wants to maintain friendly relations with Britain and the Netherlands and is not willing to be forced to choose sides. The Second French Empire also wants to come and take sides. We put national interests first and take an objective and principled stance, even if doing so may displease the British and Dutch parties."

Napoleon III emphasized in the House of Commons in Paris that the Second French Empire must be confident and ensure that the country remains united in order to be able to stand its ground in the long term.

Next to him, Prime Minister Gorchakov of the Russian Empire agreed, pointing out: "It is understandable that the interests of countries around the world are different. Incompatible world views and domestic political pressure have led to a lack of strategic communication and mutual trust between the UK and the Netherlands. Although the two countries must Avoid war conflicts, but cannot be regarded as weak. The recent joint exercises around the British Isles reflect this state well. This incident has deepened the suspicion of Britain and the Netherlands, leading to more tense relations between the two countries. It has hindered exchanges between the two sides."

However, Napoleon III said that he was pleased to see that despite the feud between Britain and the Netherlands, at every annual meeting organized by the International Tribunal in The Hague in the past, the British Minister of Justice and the Dutch Minister of Justice would attend the meeting in The Hague and speak at the meeting. The meeting was held afterwards, which I believe highlighted the fact that both sides recognized the need for dialogue. At least there was no break in judicial communication.

Gorchakov also agreed and said that effective communication between the UK and the Netherlands is crucial to dealing with sudden international affairs risks. “With tough negative views of each other becoming a structural feature of British and Dutch geopolitical discourse, it is up to the two powers to put up guardrails to prevent their relationship from derailing.”

Members of the House of Commons who met Napoleon III said that Britain and the Netherlands were engaged in fierce and sharp strategic competition in many fields, including arms dealer transactions, diplomatic competition for political allies, economic market competition, territorial disputes, world influence, etc. It may lead to serious differences in the European situation and the world pattern, further deepen mutual suspicion and make relations even tighter.

"Both sides take steps to reduce conflicts in economic markets and diplomacy"

Napoleon III believed: “This may have a major impact on the world, and whether France is in mainland Europe or the South American Caribbean. Or in Africa or the Far East, France has territories around the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and France will inevitably be affected by it. spread"

At the same time, in 1874, as Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, adopted Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, the only surviving daughter of Tsar Alexander II of the Russian Empire, the British Relations between Russia and Russia have gone from cold to warm, so the Tsarist Russian Empire is no longer completely biased towards the Netherlands in the Anglo-Dutch conflict.

Therefore, Gorchakov followed Napoleon III's lead and agreed with his views.

Napoleon III was naturally delighted when he saw this, so he said: "The open economy of the Second French Empire is highly dependent on external industrial technology. While we hope to develop closer relations with the United Kingdom, we also hope to develop economic and diplomatic relations with the Netherlands and deepen our bilateral ties." exchanges with the Netherlands and thereby benefit from its role as an important node in world economy and politics.”

Gorchakov also said: "The same is true for the Tsarist Russian Empire. The Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in the Tsarist Russian Empire and the largest source of military weapons purchases for the Tsarist Russian Empire. Our industrial base is established with the support of the Netherlands. The two countries have been supporting each other for many years. Come as an important quasi-ally.

At the same time, the Tsarist Russian Empire is also one of the UK's largest geopolitical rivals and partners, and has been one of the important pillars of European politics for many years. In the past few years, the UK has also increased investment in the Tsarist Russian Empire to help the UK build its industrial base.

In the Balkans, Britain was also an important partner of the Russian Empire in maintaining the balance of the Balkans.

Napoleon III said: "The harmonious relationship between Britain and the Netherlands is conducive to the prosperity and security of the Second French Empire; on the contrary, if there is a problem in the relationship between Britain and the Netherlands, the advantages originally enjoyed by the Second French Empire will turn into disadvantages."

Gorchakov said in his speech: "Tsarist Russia and the Netherlands maintain a good situation, continuously deepening cooperation and consolidating the unique 'quasi-ally relationship of all-round cooperation that keeps pace with the times.'

Deepening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics and military, economy, Europe and even global situations will strengthen the policy connectivity between the two countries, promote bilateral relations and cooperation, and also promote world peace."

Napoleon III also emphasized in the House of Commons in Paris that France could not abandon Britain as a partner across the English Channel and ignore it. France would continue to have good relations with Britain because this was its mission, but he emphasized that it would maintain good relations with the Netherlands and avoid France Become an enemy and rival of the Netherlands.

Obviously, both of them tried to balance the impact of the Anglo-Dutch conflict by declaring in diplomacy that the Russian Empire was pro-Dutch and British, while the Second French Empire was pro-British and not pro-Dutch.

The two men's solution to the Anglo-Dutch conflict in the House of Commons in Paris won the approval of all members present.

In the end, Gorchakov and Napoleon III even proposed that France and Russia were willing to stand up and propose meetings to coordinate and ease relations with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands respectively. The two countries were willing to serve as mediators to return British-Dutch relations to a peaceful and rational track.

"No one expected that the Anglo-Dutch Chong conflict would lead to France and the Russian Empire stepping forward to mediate. Are the UK and the Netherlands willing to accept the mediation of France and Russia?" - the Austro-Hungarian Empire's "Crown"

"If successful, the Russian Empire and the French Empire will become the dominant powers in Europe. Their status will be consolidated and their prestige will be established. Napoleon III will completely overcome the haze of being defeated by Germany." - "Le Monde" of the Second French Empire

"It is impossible for a world without ambitious countries. Therefore, the emergence of the Russian Empire and the Second French Empire has shown the urgency of great powers to ascend to power. France and Russia are using the Anglo-Dutch conflict to demonstrate their mediation capabilities. However, if mediation fails, Then Russia and France will lose their face. What kind of shameful evaluation will Russia and France face at that time?" - Berliner Zeitung of the German Empire

"The world has always been controlled by major powers. As global powers, the influence of the Netherlands and the UK is expanding. Britain, France, the Netherlands and Russia are quasi-allies. Now their respective major powers' quasi-allies have come forward to mediate. We don't believe that the UK and the Netherlands don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Where does the motive come from, so I even have to wonder whether Britain and the Netherlands have reached the point of voluntarily easing relations, but they just can't let go of face, so using Russia and France to mediate is actually a good plan." - German Empire "Deutschland" weekly"

“The one who hopes most for the two countries to ease relations is the Second French Empire.

At present, the biggest opponent of the Second French Empire is not the European Netherlands in the north, nor the Netherlands in the Far East, nor the Tsarist Russian Empire in Northern Europe, but the German Empire, which defeated them in 1870 and occupied Paris and directly became an empire in Paris.

The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary is definitely the biggest pressure on France, especially when the Germans also divided the southern Lyon government and occupied half of France. Therefore, at present, France's best alliance partner is Tsarist Russia, stable and British If the relationship between France and the Netherlands is transformed into a partner or even a quasi-ally, then Spain in the south of France will also follow the transformation of the Netherlands. By then, the French Third Republic, which Germany supports and occupies Lyon, will be in a semi-final state. Surrounded.

Even Napoleon III regained southern France and unified France as a result. "

Prince Albert said to his father William IV with alert eyes: "Father, I think it would be good to further develop relations with France."

William IV did not deny it, but unexpectedly asked: "What about the Russian Empire?"

Prince Albert: "Didn't my father prepare it before? He promised to use Japan to deal with it. Didn't it change?"