Chapter 204 My Pearl Harbor
The sugar trust actually already existed in the United States. Now there are hundreds of trusts of all sizes in the country. Are there so many industries? Even if you count the branch industries, there are not so many. The reason is that some industries have more than one trust. Of course, many trusts are barely able to maintain their operations because of the heavy blows of the federal government.
After all, not everyone has the strength of Standard Oil and can deal with antitrust laws. Many nominal trust companies do not have the monopoly power of Standard Oil in their own industries.
In Sheffield's eyes, these trusts were not difficult to defeat. There were so many trusts, but not many of them were well-known. Most of them were in name only and were not difficult to deal with as long as some means were used. For example, the pineapple king Sanford Dole in front of him was far inferior to the steel king and the oil king.
Out of respect for Sanford Dole himself and the desire to establish a better relationship with him would help to integrate the order in Hawaii, Sheffield went to negotiate in person this time, maintaining his good manners.
But this was still beyond Sanford Dole's expectations. He never dreamed that someone would come to Hawaii just a few days after it was incorporated into the United States? Did the other party have inside information in the United States?
Of course there was inside information. The United Company itself was the financial backer of the Democratic Party. Although the Republican Party was apparently stronger, Sheffield had never really inquired about this kind of inside information. He was just passing through Hawaii on his way to the Philippines to develop the market. But since Sanford Dole thought so, Sheffield simply admitted it, which just happened to add some mystery to the negotiations on his side.
"Although we are talking about comprehensive development now, even you, Mr. Sanford Dole, should have heard about the strength of the United Company in agriculture and animal husbandry." Sheffield leaned back in the rattan chair and said with a relaxed look, "This is of course the support of the farmers for our company. Other companies prefer to make big money and are not willing to make such hard-earned money with the farmers. For example, the chain supermarkets under the United Company are a good sales channel for pineapples. So, we are actually already cooperating, aren't we?"
Speaking of this, Sheffield also appropriately offered some benefits to Sanford Dole, since the other party was the pineapple king.
Now Sheffield only hopes that Sanford Dole will think it over carefully and then use his influence in Hawaii to help the United Company gain a foothold in Hawaii, which will be a good thing for both parties.
Sanford Dole groaned for a moment, as if thinking about how to bargain, and slowly said, "As a place that has just been incorporated into the United States, I believe the United States will support the industries of the Hawaiian Islands to a certain extent."
Sheffield raised his eyebrows. He knew that Sanford Dole was bargaining with him, but he was not moved by this. He said calmly, "I understand Mr. Sanford Dole's love for Hawaii. Let's be realistic. Hawaii is now an overseas territory. It is not wrong. From a normal logic, the federal government will take some support to let local citizens feel the love of the land. It's a very good idea, but there is one thing that Sanford Dole may not have considered."
"What point?" Sanford Doll asked back with a burning gaze.
"That is the war going on now. You should understand that Cuba is also world-famous for its sugar industry, and Cuba is much stronger than Hawaii in this field. In order to satisfy Cuba and its investors, does the federal government have to support Cuba?" Sheffield asked with a smile, "This is more difficult. Hawaii's pillar is the sugar industry, and one of Cuba's pillars is also the sugar industry. If one is not stable, it will affect the mainland."
This question is obvious. How far is Cuba from the United States? Sheffield knows the answer. It is closer than Haiti. If a Cuban wants to sneak into the United States, it is not a big deal.
Cuba's sugar industry is in conflict with Hawaii's pillar industry. If the two sides compete face to face, it is obvious who will be eaten up completely because of competition and go bankrupt. Hawaii will definitely not be the winner.
The facts were so obvious that Sheffield had absolutely no intention of exaggerating the facts because there was no need. If Sanford Dole disagreed with his efforts to establish a trust, he could only think of other ways to deal with him, such as destroying the other party. Hawaii had only been merged for a few days. If the leader was shot dead, wouldn't the Japanese, who accounted for 40% of the population, be the biggest suspect?
"Can I hear about Mr. William's plan?" Sanford Dole spoke slowly after a while. His eyes seemed to pass over the young man in front of him and projected onto the palm leaves outside the window. No one knew what he was thinking.
Normally, Sheffield would think that people were just in a daze when seeing this kind of behavior. But since the other party had already shown a cooperative attitude, he would put aside the idea of blaming the Japanese for shooting a public figure in the United States. "I'm not hiding the fact that in Cuba, the United Company has already increased its efforts and made investments. I believe that after some Spanish forces withdraw from Cuba after the war, this voice will become more obvious. Therefore, the integration of Cuba's sugar industry, and of course some other industries, is already on the agenda. Time is running out for Hawaii."
After explaining the seriousness of the matter, Sheffield turned the conversation back to Hawaii. "In this case, because United Corporation itself has a mature agricultural and livestock product channel in the country, chain supermarkets are only one part of it. In addition, the scale of Cuba's own sugar industry, Hawaii's sugar industry may not end well. To put it bluntly, Hawaii's pillar industry will collapse, and the entire Hawaii will fall into a depression. I believe this is not what Mr. Sanford Dole wants to see."
"Of course, Sanford Dole can also sell sugar to Japan, and maybe the Japanese will take it." Sheffield's tone was not without sarcasm.
"Mr. William is such a joke! I'm sure the Japanese are going crazy right now." Sanford Dole smiled bitterly and shook his head. He was a native of Hawaii and knew the Japanese's thoughts very well. The Japanese coveted Hawaii and were already rivals of the United States.
If he sold sugar to Japan, it might arouse the suspicion of the United States federal government, and the honor that would almost certainly fall on him might disappear.
"So, is Sanford Dole willing to help me achieve this goal? I will establish an overseas trust that takes into account the pillar industries of Cuba and Hawaii and adopts quotas, which is already very considerate of the feelings of Hawaiian citizens." Sheffield smiled slightly. He believed that Sanford Dole himself already had the answer.
"I am willing to help Mr. William and gather the farmers in Hawaii to talk, but?" Sanford Dole said a little embarrassedly, "What about the pineapple business?"
"I heard that the pineapples from Sanford Dole's estate are the best in Hawaii. How can we not let our citizens taste such delicious food?" Sheffield agreed immediately. "Across the United States, every supermarket chain will sell Sanford Dole's pineapples. This is absolutely not a problem."
The sugar trust Sheffield envisioned was an overseas trust based in Cuba and supplemented by Hawaii, in order to avoid direct interference from antitrust laws. After all, overseas companies always have some benefits. Isn't the United Fruit Company a monopoly? But such a notorious company seems to have never been threatened by antitrust laws, even though it has done more bad things than any local trust. This is the benefit of taking root overseas.
At this time, the trust enterprises will not be threatened by the antitrust law, because they have other meanings. For example, they can be used to control some small countries that cannot be interfered with in the name of the government.
Three days later, Sheffield explained the ideal of common prosperity to the major farmers who came to the Hawaiian government, and concentrated the sugarcane and sugar production resources of the major farms. Sanford Dole, who had a good reputation in Hawaii, also said that this was the only way out for Hawaii.
Compared with other states, Hawaii's territory is negligible. Once its pillar industry encounters competition from Cuba, it will have a devastating impact. However, Sanford Dole did not disclose the fact that Sheffield has also laid out the sugar industry in Cuba. From the moment he agreed three days ago, he is no longer a public figure with prestige and fame in Hawaii, but a pineapple king who wants more profits.
Since they have been supported, there is no neutrality and objectivity. However, the farmers who came here did not know this. After listening to Sanford Dole's words, they fell into deep thought. As Sanford Dole personally persuaded them one by one, many farmers gradually wavered and became part of the Sheffield Sugar Trust one by one.
When all this was completed, Sheffield made a second request to Sanford Dole, "I want land near Pearl Harbor, I believe this is not a problem. I personally want to help the United States Navy build a modern base to show my patriotism."
"This?" Sanford Dole hesitated, and finally nodded, "Okay! During this period of time between Hawaii and the United States, I can think of a way."
Sheffield's arrival was accidental, as Hawaii's status was still unclear, which allowed for a lot of shady operations. When he received a positive response from Sanford Dole, he smiled and said, "Thank you so much!" The base of the Pacific Fleet would become his Pearl Harbor.
(End of this chapter)
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