Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

While William IV was plotting against the United States, others were also plotting against the Netherlands.

This time, it was Xiaozhi Childers, the head of the British Ministry of Finance, who plotted against the Netherlands.

Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, London.

This meeting was a meeting of important members of the cabinet of Liberal Whig Prime Minister Gladstone. The other two were Foreign Secretary Greville and Finance Minister Xiaozhi Childers.

I saw Foreign Secretary Granville saying: "The current situation in Europe is very confusing. It is unclear who is who and who is Feihai. The intelligence information collected by the MI6 Intelligence Bureau makes us even more confused. All intelligence. It pointed to the actions of the German Empire on the side of the Tsarist Russian Empire, but the Tsarist Russian Empire insisted that it was our British Empire that bore the greatest responsibility for the assassination of Tsar Alexander II.

It is clear that this was directly attributed to the British without any evidence. Obviously, Crown Prince Alexanderlovic, who was just about to ascend the throne on May 13, 1881 (two months later than March 13 in real history), was preparing to establish Britain as his enemy to unite the country."

Gladstone and Xiaozhi Childers greatly agreed upon hearing this.

"Gorchakov has always known how to take advantage of others' strength. Viscount Palmerston (former British Prime Minister of the Liberal Party, also considered Glaston's mentor) once commented that Gorchakov My husband was the anchor of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th century, and his role was no greater than that of Alexander II."

Gladstone said with emotion: "What Gorchakov is doing now, it is obvious that Viscount Palmerston's opinion has come true."

"At present, it seems that the rise of the German Empire has made the Tsarist Empire feel threatened, but because the only one in the surrounding area that can check and balance the German Empire is the Tsarist Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's compromise with the German Empire greatly disappointed the Tsarist Russian Empire, and the French Empire was The German Empire was forcibly divided, leaving only the Tsarist Empire and the United Kingdom as the only people around Germany who could restrict its abilities.

And I don’t believe that with Gorchakov’s intelligence, he would not understand this truth, nor would I think that the Tsarist Russian Empire had not received any information about the German Empire’s participation in this assassination operation.

Then there is only one reason”

Xiaozhi Childers said to Gladstone: "The Prime Minister is suspicious. Is Gorchakov and Alexandrovich deliberately showing weakness to the German Empire and letting Britain be the scapegoat?"

"I won't doubt it, but the truth should be like this." Gladstone said seriously: "Now it seems that our trouble has come again."

He looked directly at the two men and said: "Bismarck visited London at the beginning of this month, pretending to be good to Britain, and then he was the first to choose to condemn the assassin after Alexander II was assassinated, and on the 2nd A nation in mourning.

Even William I announced the next day that he would send Crown Prince Frederick to St. Petersburg to express condolences and condolences.

Immediately afterwards, the rumors turned directly to the UK, and without any evidence, they directly convicted us in the UK without evidence. Obviously, we, the UK, have been properly designated as the scapegoat.”

Greville, the foreign minister, had a headache when he heard this.

He smiled bitterly and said: "Currently, Britain's diplomacy has become more and more difficult. It was originally in competition with the Netherlands. Finally, with Bismarck's visit at the beginning of the month, the two countries reached an agreement. The German Empire was in Britain's diplomacy with the Netherlands. The European part is impartial, but in America, it is biased towards Britain.

However, he obtained the Queen's approval and turned a blind eye to the expansion of the German Empire in Latin America.

I thought I could use this to suppress the Netherlands, but I never thought that the assassination of Alexander II of the Russian Empire would throw dirty water on us. Now, we seem to have won over the German Empire, but we are actually with the German Empire. The relationship between the Tsarist Empire and the Russian Empire was originally very bad because of the Middle East issue, but now it has fallen to the lowest point in history and is on the verge of breaking off diplomatic relations. "

Xiaozhi Childs: "What Mr. Greville said is right. It is becoming more and more difficult for Britain's diplomacy to handle. The same is true for our Ministry of Finance. In the 1860s, Britain's position as the world's largest trading nation was very stable. , but since the rise of Dutch industry and the establishment of a circle of allies, we in the UK did not pay attention to it and even stood aside and watched. We made a mistake.

After sanctioning the French Empire, these Dutch allies abandoned the purchase of British goods and instead placed orders for similar Dutch products. The British goods were subsequently replaced. "

He exclaimed and guessed: "I wonder whether William IV and the Dutch government at that time did not intentionally impose sanctions against France for invading the Kingdom of Siam in order to make France withdraw its troops. Instead, the Dutch government took advantage of Therefore, the economy of his allies was tied to the Dutch chariot, making these countries break away from the trajectory of the United Kingdom and become economic allies of the Netherlands. Look, two years later in 1870, the Dutch GDP surpassed that of the United Kingdom, ranking first in the world. one.

The market and raw materials of these alliance circles are the biggest help for the Netherlands to reach the top.”

Gladstone's expression changed greatly when he heard this. He was very sensitive to this speculation.

Indeed, many times, a little inspiration is enough for him to think deeply for a long time, just like an apple falling from the tree made Newton figure out the law of gravity.

Before he could speak, Foreign Minister Gravell, who had already turned pale beside him, said as if he was awakened: "Don't tell me, considering William IV's long-term calculation of everything, it is really possible. "

Gladstone sighed slowly at this time: "The 41-year-old William IV of the Netherlands defeated our Crown Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, to win the heart of Princess Alexandra of the Netherlands, but Crown Prince Edward has always been He kept a grudge in his heart, so since the two got married in 1865, the relationship between Britain and the Netherlands has never really subsided. The face of the royal family has made Britain's profit-seeking diplomacy flawless."

Childers said in confusion: "Why doesn't Her Majesty stop her? You know she is the most powerful queen in British history. Prince Edward is trying to cause trouble."

Greville didn't wait for Creston to answer, and said: "The Queen is not worried about whether to answer the question, but is trying to test it."

Seeing that Gladstone, the Prime Minister, did not deny it, Childers asked: "What kind of temptation?"

"A country's diplomacy can never be always friendly or hostile to a country. The supremacy of interests has always been the purpose of Britain's diplomacy in dealing with other countries." Greville: "So, Her Majesty the Queen may want to let the Netherlands serve as a test for Edward. While serving as a stepping stone for the Crown Prince, it also allowed Crown Prince Edward to test the Netherlands."