Chapter 255: The Canal is in Hand

Thanks to the British's loss in the Boer War, the negotiations between the two sides at Oak Manor were conducted in a cordial and friendly manner. Sheffield expressed cordial greetings to the French guests who came from afar, and naturally started with the British's disastrous defeat at the hands of the Boers, which aroused the favor of the French.

The United States and France currently have a lot in common when it comes to watching the arrogant British Empire suffer. As long as the profits are in place, let alone let Sheffield curse the British, even if he curses the federal government. What is the role of the federal government? Isn't it just this role?

"Are you Harry's child? You are a young man with a lot of ideas." A young woman who still has charm greeted Sheffield very friendly when she saw him. She looked very friendly.

"Do you know my father?" Sheffield looked at the exotic lady and had some guesses in his mind.

"I haven't known him for long, but he is a very charming man." The young woman smiled and said with emotion.

Isn't this efficiency a bit abnormal? Sheffield smiled, and his heart was full of complex feelings about this behavior. How could an old man who was almost fifty have such great charm? Is Caihua so important?

"This is not the first time I've heard people praise him!" Sheffield skipped the question and invited the young woman to take a seat.

"In fact, I think you are more attractive than anyone else!" Anne comforted Sheffield in a low voice after seeing that there was no one around, "In fact, most people are not attracted by your father's people, but the financial strength they show. This is also the impression many people have of Americans, but you are different, I love you!"

After saying this, he pecked Sheffield gently, somewhat encouragingly.

"Why do I need so many messy women? I focus on quality." Sheffield straightened his back, took Anne's hand and walked into Oak Manor, saying as he walked, "The old man is shameless, but I am different. I am both shameless and noble."

"I just like your open and serious attitude!" Anne showed a bright smile on her face to express her appreciation.

After entering Oak Manor, Anne took charge of everything in the manor as the hostess, running around so that both parties could negotiate in a comfortable environment.

On the Sheffield side, including McHale, Gail, and a dozen representatives from the Southern Dixie Company, several heavyweight board members from the French Canal Company also appeared, and began to negotiate the transfer of the right to build the Panama Canal. There was no representative from Colombia, and it was said that this matter had nothing to do with Colombia.

When the time comes, just nod your head and admit it. Who has ever seen Czech representatives present when Britain and France betrayed Czechoslovakia? They can be present when signing. Both sides are democratic countries. When they are discussing democracy, why does Colombia come to join in the fun? Just shut up and don't delay their discussion of democracy.

Now it is nothing more than a matter of money. Sheffield is just trying to lower the price, while the French naturally want to sell it at a good price. The interests of both parties are opposite, so a verbal battle is inevitable.

"We have sent people to learn about the local environment in Panama. To be honest, the construction is extremely difficult, and the local climate is not something that ordinary workers can endure. You who have been in business for many years should be well aware of this. Even if the canal is successfully dug, it will take a long time, and it is not known when the cost will be recovered." McHale spoke first, enumerating the various unfavorable conditions for digging a canal in Panama.

This is not slander. All the unfavorable conditions exist objectively. France has been operating in Panama for such a long time, and they can empathize with the difficulties cited by McHale.

However, the interests of both parties are different. Soon, the young woman who had just greeted Sheffield said, "Some things can be measured in money, but some things cannot be measured in money. If the Panama Canal is in the hands of Americans, it will greatly enhance the United States' world influence. After defeating the Spanish Empire, the United States is not yet a true world power."

"We are a private enterprise. The state's affairs are naturally handled by the state. But for us, profit is always the first priority. If profit is not important, the Canal Company can continue to operate the Panama Canal project with the support of the Paris government. Why can't it continue? The problem is simple, that is, huge investments are made but profits are far away." Gail stretched out his finger and shook it, saying, "Like the Canal Company, we are also responsible to our shareholders. Do we have to tell the shareholders who participated that we used your money to run a failed project?"

The two sides exchanged words, forgetting the friendly atmosphere that had initially arisen because of the embarrassment felt by the British. When it came to issues of profit, friendship and tradition could be temporarily forgotten.

Sheffield looked at the young woman who had spoken and refuted several times, and thought to himself that the old man's methods were just like that! It was obvious that he didn't sleep with her. Could it be because of his old age and physical weakness?

After hearing the verbal battle, Sheffield had to speak up and smooth things over, "We are discussing business and striving for conditions that are beneficial to both sides. We are not discussing when to declare war on behalf of the federal government and France. The current atmosphere seems to be turning in an unfriendly direction. Please listen to me. In fact, if we consider it from the perspective of international relations, the British are busy now, which is beneficial to both of us. I believe that governments of various countries also think so. Once the British are free, there may be changes in the canal project. Of course, the French may think it has nothing to do with them, if you have not forgotten the Suez Canal!"

The Suez Canal runs from Port Said in the north to the city of Suez in the south. Its opening shortens the waterway from Europe to Asia via the canal by 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers compared to the route around the Cape of Good Hope. This not only greatly reduces the mileage and time of shipping, but also reduces the dangers that ships may encounter when sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. Since the water levels of the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea are basically equal, there are no locks in the Suez Canal.

However, the result of the British-French competition for the Suez Canal was that France's efforts were in vain. Britain controlled Egypt, and the Suez Canal, which France had painstakingly built, made a huge contribution to Britain's maintenance of its status as a world-class power...

"Although the British defeat is gratifying, I heard that Britain mobilized troops from all over the world. The Boers have such a small population. How long can they hold out?" Sheffield said earnestly, "In fact, instead of focusing time and energy on America, France has greater interests in Africa. We, the United States, adhere to the Monroe Doctrine and are not interested in things outside of America. We will not become a problem for France. After all, without the help of the French, the United States would not have been so easy to gain independence. Many people believe that the founding father of the United States is Louis XVI, which makes sense."

"So, after a thorough investigation of the value of the French Canal Company's interests in Panama, I am willing to offer a price of 36 million US dollars on behalf of the United Company to transfer all the interests at one time. From now on, the French Canal Company has gotten rid of a huge burden, and we have achieved our goal. Although this number does not allow you to take advantage of it, the subsequent risks are all borne by our company." Sheffield spoke in front of everyone, "You also have to consider one issue, that is, Colombia's attitude. In the decades of competition for canal rights, if the Colombian government had not always been stirring up trouble, the canal would not have been delayed in completion."

Colombia's attitude is not important. Sheffield is just using this country to show that he has not taken advantage of it. If this sovereign country is a little dishonest, then there may be some gunboat diplomacy.

If the two sides really fall out, the federal government won't have to intervene. With the strength of the Colombian Navy, the two warships in the hands of the United Company can complete the work of gunboat diplomacy. After all, the Colombian Navy is almost non-existent and is behind Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

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Of course, Sheffield's personal speaking did not have the final say. The so-called kingly spirit would make the other party frightened and quickly agree to the conditions. This does not exist.

On the basis of 36 million US dollars, the two sides are still negotiating bit by bit, from one million US dollars to one hundred thousand US dollars. The two groups of Grandets come together and will not let go of any dollar.

As if he would be skinned alive if he gave in first, Sheffield spoke again during the price competition of $38 million. "I'll add another $300,000, and the deal will be $38.5 million? This already shows enough goodwill."

"We need to send a telegram to the Paris headquarters!" Seeing that Sheffield was already a little impatient, Philip, who came from Paris, said he wanted to discuss it with the headquarters and would stop here for the time being.

Sheffield felt that he had done a good job. He would pay for all the expenses after the buyout, saving the French a lot of public relations expenses. What if the other party was still not satisfied? He was still not satisfied. However, looking at the expectant eyes of Gail and McHale, and considering his position as the head of the thirteen states, he suppressed his unhappiness and had to find some business for the Dixie Company in the South.

Three days later, also at Oak Manor, the two parties announced that the French Canal Company would transfer all rights and interests in the Panama Canal to Sheffield United Company for $38.5 million, and leave at a loss. The Panama Canal issue no longer had anything to do with France.

This news was immediately known to the entire United States. Morgan, who had been thinking about how to intervene in the British debt, was silent for a long time after hearing this news. "A moment of negligence actually allowed him to accomplish this."

(End of this chapter)