Chapter 1399 Joining
Rhine City.
It was no secret around the world that Britain wanted to tinker with the League of Nations, but Britain's performance in World War I was not as brilliant as its previous victorious country, so many countries were on the sidelines.
For example, countries that have good relations with Germany obviously had to consider Germany when deciding whether to join the League of Nations. After all, on the surface, Germany and Britain had a hostile relationship before, and they were not sure whether joining the League of Nations would offend Germany or have any negative impact on their own interests.
Now that Britain, France, Germany and Austria have all expressed their views, the formation of the League of Nations will obviously be put on the agenda and the progress will be greatly accelerated.
Ernst looked at the European newspapers. Recently, there has been a major change in the direction of public opinion in Europe. He asked, "Can the European people psychologically accept the League of Nations?"
The reason for saying this is because of the First World War. During the First World War, Britain, France, Germany and Austria were mortal enemies belonging to two major camps. Both sides paid tens of millions of sacrifices. Now they suddenly shake hands and make peace, which seems a bit ridiculous no matter how you look at it.
Morin, who was in charge of foreign intelligence, replied: "Your Majesty, judging from the current European public opinion, countries such as Britain and Germany are consciously reorganizing the European consensus."
"Compared with national hatred and family feuds, the damage caused by World War I to Europe is obviously likely to cause reflection among Europeans, so there is a huge market in Europe for establishing a platform for communication and dispute resolution such as the League of Nations."
The European people will naturally reflect on the "tragedy" of World War I, which almost dragged the whole of Europe into a brutal war.
Compared to revenge, peace is obviously what the people want. After all, the lower-class people in Europe do not want to go through another world war.
"This so-called international alliance, which should actually be called the European Union, is a helpless compromise between the four European countries, and it is beneficial to coordinating Europe's international relations and affairs."
"Before the World War, there was no such communication platform, which was one of the important reasons for the outbreak of the World War."
What Morin said makes sense. Before World War I, the major European powers basically played their own games and had no smooth channels of communication, which made it easy for some small problems to become big problems.
For example, in the case of Serbia, the fuse, if there had been an intelligence exchange platform between countries at the beginning, perhaps the further expansion of the conflict could have been avoided.
Ernst asked: "Do you think that Britain and Germany can put aside their grievances and promote the formation of this international alliance? Is this their only purpose? What impact will this have on us?"
Crown Prince Friedrich said: "It is possible to make two enemies put aside their hatred and turn to cooperation, unless it is to deal with other enemies. Based on this, combined with the current conflict between Germany and Russia, I think this is an attempt by Europe to deal with external competition and threats."
"Germany's main focus now is on dealing with the Russians, while Britain is facing the problem of the decline of global hegemony, especially to the United States and us. This is probably the basis for cooperation between the two countries."
"Of course, I am not optimistic about this kind of cooperation in Europe. The conflicts between European countries are numerous and complicated, and each has its own hidden agenda. Even if an international alliance can be formed, it will not be able to resolve these conflicts."
In Friedrich's view, the ideas of Britain and Germany are good, but can they really cooperate sincerely without being provoked? It can only be said that it is very difficult.
Finance Minister Logans also said: "Europe is the world's largest consumer market, but its industry is actually declining. Now the industries of East Africa and the United States have actually surpassed the whole of Europe."
"The decline in industrial capacity means that it is no longer possible for Europe to easily conquer the world as it did before this century."
"Under this situation, it is impossible to expand outwards and make the pie bigger. Instead, the market may shrink further due to the rise of regions outside Europe, making it even more impossible for European countries to unite."
"On the contrary, competition for the European internal market will continue to intensify, which will eventually lead to conflicts between countries again. The possibility of another world war, or more precisely, a European war, cannot be ruled out."
The First World War was actually a European war, but because of the participation of extraterritorial countries such as the United States and the Ottoman Empire, it could barely be called a world war. In fact, except for the Middle East, the main battlefield was basically within Europe.
Ernst also agreed with other people's views: "It is impossible for Europe to unite. The promotion of the League of Nations by Britain and Germany this time should not be considered unity, but seeking common ground while reserving differences. Britain tacitly approves Germany's expansion into Eastern Europe and even the Middle East."
"Germany supports the UK in competing with countries like us. The two sides just don't need to clash at this stage. They each have their own little calculations."
"For example, even if the UK supports Germany's expansion into Eastern Europe and the Middle East, this is based on the premise of confronting the Russian Labor Party, and this will also affect our interests in the Middle East."
"The premise for Germany and the UK to cooperate is that the UK is also facing pressure from us and the US. This shows that international relations are really a mess right now."
The addition of this East African country has indeed made the direction of the world even more unclear, and many countries may even face difficulties in making the decision to take sides.
In the past, countries around the world only needed to bet on Britain and the United States. Britain won the First World War, Germany and France were half-dead, and the United States rose strongly outside of Europe.
Now, European issues are very difficult to understand. Britain and Germany alone are enough to make other European countries at a loss. Outside of Europe, there are two giants, East Africa and the United States.
This is also a form of multipolarization to a certain extent. However, this multipolar international structure is disordered and the most dangerous, especially for small and weak countries. If they are not careful, they may be punished for making a wrong move.
Ernst said: "However, this also poses a problem for us. Now that Britain and Germany have reached a consensus, it means that the establishment of this international alliance has entered the countdown. Should we join it?"
The League of Nations is obviously not limited to international organizations of European countries. By then, a large number of countries in the world will join it. Therefore, whether it is necessary for East Africa to join the League of Nations has become an issue that the East African government needs to consider.
East African officials also have different views on this issue.
Defense Minister Pripyat said: "Your Majesty, I think it is totally unnecessary. As for the current development and planning of the empire, we have our own pace. Who knows whether the establishment of this international alliance will impose any restrictions on member states."
"The British proposed this international organization in order to safeguard their interests around the world, which is obviously in conflict with our policy of world expansion."
At this stage, the foreign policies of East Africa and the United States are becoming more and more active. After all, with the improvement of the national strength of the two countries and the rapid development of industry, the demand for markets and raw materials is also increasing.
This may also be the reason why the British government was able to put aside its prejudices and grudges and cooperate with Germany.
As the world hegemon, Britain has always controlled the most territory and markets in the world. If industrial countries of the size of East Africa and the United States want to expand overseas, it will undoubtedly pose a threat to Britain.
This is just like Germany's previous challenge to Britain. The result was that Britain generally managed to suppress Germany, but when faced with two more difficult opponents in East Africa and the United States, Britain was completely unable to cope.
Britain can block Germany's access to the sea, but this tactic is completely useless against East Africa and the United States.
Cristiano also supported Pripyat's statement: "Yes, the purpose of Britain and Germany is to use this international alliance to restrict the development of countries outside Europe."
"At that time, Europe will definitely unite on foreign issues in the League of Nations, thereby promoting the implementation of some plans that are not beneficial to us and the United States. If we join this international alliance, we will be constrained by it."
This consideration is completely tenable. Ernst even combined it with historical experience in his previous life. This is what Europe did. The United States refused to join the League of Nations because it was harassed by Britain and France.
Moreover, isolationism has always been prevalent in the United States, and there is a certain conflict between joining the League of Nations and isolationism, which has been the national policy that the United States has been implementing for a long time.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that the League of Nations is a non-powerful international organization and joining the League of Nations has little practical significance.
There are opponents, but there are also supporters. East African Foreign Minister Freer said: "As for whether to join the League of Nations, my opinion is that we should join it. This will help us use this platform to strengthen our contacts with other countries, especially non-power countries."
"Due to historical reasons, these countries have long been influenced and controlled by European powers. After all, Europe has been the center of modern world civilization for centuries."
"With the advent of the Age of Exploration, European countries have established extensive influence around the world. Now that the League of Nations has emerged, if it can be managed well, it will undoubtedly be a platform for us to communicate with other countries."
"This is also in line with the current basic national conditions of the Empire being more active and open in the field of diplomacy. Of course, the premise is that the League of Nations will not excessively interfere in East Africa."
"But the fact is that the League of Nations is just a non-powerful international organization. Even if European countries intend to suppress it, we can actually ignore it. In the worst case, we can just withdraw from it, which will not have much impact on us."
This point can also be found in previous lives. For example, the Soviet Union joined the League of Nations with this idea in mind, thereby deepening its international influence, although the Soviet Union was later expelled.
But this also shows that the Soviet Union was not recognized by the "international community", and the international community in the early 20th century was generally Europe.
Naturally, there are people in East Africa who want to gain "international recognition", just like some people in East Africa who are eager to break into the German circle.
But the reality is that East Africa's reception in the international community can only be described as average. Even as a self-proclaimed German country, Germany and Austria's attitude towards East Africa changed after the war.
There are only interests between countries. Before World War I, the people of Germany and Austria had always been unfriendly to East Africa, but at the government level, because they needed help from East Africa, the relationship was still good.
However, with the industrialization of East Africa and various interest disputes before and after World War I, the attitudes of Germany and Austria towards East Africa at the government level also changed.
In fact, these problems can be summarized as problems that East Africa must overcome as a late-developing country. Not to mention East Africa, even the United States and Germany, two countries with a "long" history compared to East Africa, have long been excluded and belittled by the "international community".
Germany is a "barbarian", the United States is a "nouveau riche", and East Africa is a combination of "barbarism and nouveau riche". Of course, East Africa is not the most "miserable", there are also Japan, Russia and other countries behind East Africa.
The rich first suppress and belittle the rich later and the not yet rich in every aspect. This is an inevitable problem in human nature and interests.
Compared with East Africa, a genuine "late-rich" country, even the United States, Germany and Russia belong to the "early rich" category. However, because of the Labor Party, Russia has automatically been classified as an "enemy" by countries around the world. As for enemies, there is no doubt that all kinds of bad tactics will be used on Russia.
After all, if late-developing countries like East Africa can become prosperous, then naturally some countries will suffer losses in their interests. The industrial development of East Africa also means the damage to the interests of other industrial countries.
Although East Africa has become the world's largest industrial country, as the "international community" says, East Africa is indeed a nouveau riche. East Africa's wealth has not yet been transformed into influence and status and fully accepted by the so-called international community.
This is just like how the old European aristocrats looked down on the new aristocrats in the past. Of course, if you are not even a noble, then you will be looked down upon by both the old and new aristocrats, and you won't even have a chance to be discussed.
Therefore, the current negative propaganda against East Africa by international public opinion is, to a certain extent, a kind of "praise". This is precisely because East Africa will inevitably encounter problems when its industry and national strength reach a certain level. Black and red are also red. Many weak and poor countries do not even have this opportunity.
After summarizing the opinions of both parties, Ernst said: "I also have some opinions about the League of Nations."
"For now, East Africa is indeed a late-developing country in the international community, and late-developing countries are destined to face many challenges. It is impossible for us to change our disadvantages in international image, public opinion and other soft power in a short period of time."
"It all depends on our own efforts. As long as we do more and work hard enough, we can continue to make progress, and other countries in the world will eventually get used to the fact that East Africa is a world power."
“In the coming period, we should further strengthen diplomacy, cultural exchanges, foreign trade, international organizations and activities, and constantly improve and reverse East Africa’s image and influence in the world, break the traditional manipulation of world public opinion by European and American powers, and enhance East Africa’s voice in the international community.”
"Based on this requirement, my attitude towards the international alliance is that we can join it first, and as for the subsequent impact, we can choose to wait and see."
"Anyway, the League of Nations cannot have much actual impact on our national policy. This can also, to a certain extent, help to crack down on the conspiracies of certain countries that have ill intentions towards the Empire, thereby isolating the Empire in the international community."
As East Africa's military strength and influence are far from reaching a certain level, East Africa's joining the League of Nations will help reduce some unnecessary troubles, such as being targeted by other countries. Of course, it would be even better if the United States did not choose to join the League of Nations.
Of course, although East Africa is interested in joining the League of Nations, it is only a temporary wait-and-see move. If the differences with East Africa are too great, then East Africa does not mind voluntarily withdrawing like Germany and Japan in the past.
(End of this chapter)
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