Chapter 674 Ultimatum
While the two were eating, Jesla came in and took out a telegram. On it was an ultimatum issued by the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbia, which required the confiscation of any publication that aroused hatred and contempt for the Austro-Hungarian royal family; the immediate abolition of national self-defense organizations and other organizations that carried out anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda; the immediate deletion of any teaching content that would or might incite anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda from educational groups and teaching methods; and the dismissal of officials in the military or administrative departments who were accused of carrying out anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda. The list of such officials was provided by the Austro-Hungarian government.
To accept cooperation with the relevant departments of the Austro-Hungarian Government to suppress activities in Serbia that attempt to subvert the territorial integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; to take legal action, with the assistance and instructions of the relevant departments designated by the Austrian Government, to punish those who planned or carried out the assassination of June 28, 1914 on Serbian territory; to immediately arrest the two named persons shown by the preliminary investigation of Austro-Hungary; to maintain cooperation in taking effective measures to curb the smuggling of arms in its territory; to explain to Austria-Hungary the statements of senior Serbian officials in Serbia or abroad that are hostile to it; and to take immediate measures to inform Austria-Hungary.
There were ten clauses in total, and Sheffield read them very carefully. This seemingly official article was definitely not meant literally. Just like the clauses Sheffield wanted to add to the quarantine bill, they all had deeper meanings. After years of training, the slave master could see the connection between diplomatic rhetoric and the true meaning.
"William, what's the matter!" Robert Parker looked at Sheffield for a long time without saying anything, and asked curiously.
"Oh, it's the ultimatum from Austria-Hungary to the Serbs." Sheffield put down the telegram and said easily, "My friend, let's go to the Bilmont Manor to chat in the evening."
"The German Emperor wants me to stop thinking carefully about whether we should mobilize. You know, he and I have a very good relationship. Things should not have evolved to this point." Nicholas II's joy at the recovery of his daughter lasted only one day. The news that Serbia decided to reject the ultimatum and the news that Austria-Hungary was mobilizing the whole country came, putting the pressure of the whole Europe on himself.
Sukhomlinov, the Minister of War beside Nicholas II, knew that his emperor was still in a dilemma. He understood the difficulty, but firmly refused, saying, "It is impossible to mobilize only part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The total mobilization plan must either start or not start. There will be no compromise."
"I'm thinking about it!" Nicholas II sighed and waved his hand to let Sukhomlinov go down. At this time, every second that passed was a torment for him. He knew that the war before him was a brutal war on a scale far exceeding the Russo-Japanese War. Can the current Russian Empire withstand it?
The sun rose from the east coast of the United States. Sheffield, who had not slept all night, was excited. He said to Jesla with great interest, "How is it? Isn't it very logical? This is the ironclad evidence that the British are separating Europe. Once the war on the European continent begins, all newspapers under the League of Nations will publish reports about Britain deceiving Germany."
"Boss, the largest ethnic group in the country is British immigrants." Jesla looked at the energetic boss and couldn't help but remind him.
"So what? We have been independent for a long time. The Germans have come forward to help us weaken the British. This is the most worthy thing for our country to celebrate." Sheffield waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "We want the Germans to give up their illusions and prepare for a fight. What's wrong with that? History has proven that the British are hypocritical. Although we are also hypocritical, our country is not in the position of the UK now. Our biggest goal now is to pull the UK down from the position of world hegemony. Nothing else matters."
"We want to humiliate the British in front of the whole world. At the same time, this is also a great opportunity to exclude Germany's influence. We will only gain benefits for our country. As for the nonsense that blood is thicker than water, that is the indoctrination that ordinary citizens should accept. Do you understand?" Sheffield flipped through his hard work one by one. The results obtained after a night of rest were worth it.
Sheffield's standard for judging whether something is just has always been that himself, his family, the Dixies, and the white people of the United States are all ranked fourth. As for the British Empire in Europe, the so-called father of the United States, it is on the same level as Germany.
The news that Austria-Hungary and Serbia were mobilizing each other had spread throughout the world. At this time, diplomats and royal families of various countries were still struggling in vain to prevent war from coming.
In the United States, Robert Parker's lobbying company successfully launched a lobbying campaign on the federal government, based on fake news personally created by Sheffield.
Why did the lobbying firm of the former president’s son do this? There is a very legitimate excuse: blood is thicker than water!
If tens of millions of people in the UK died, Sheffield would certainly be happy to dance on the spot, but then he would squeeze out crocodile tears, pick up the blood is thicker than water sign from the ground, and try to get the United States to avenge the British. Even if he never believed this nonsense, there was no way, the citizen class believed it.
"Mr. William, you don't seem to have had enough rest." At the headquarters of Thyssen & Associates in New York, manager Grett Thyssen was startled by Sheffield's tired face as soon as she came to work, and couldn't help asking.
"Don't say anything yet!" Sheffield certainly hadn't had a good rest. He lowered his voice to signal Grettison not to act rashly, and followed the other party upstairs carefully.
All this confused Grete Thiessen, and he didn't speak again until he reached his office, "Mr. William."
"Grete, take a look at this first!" Sheffield looked like a thief, staring with bloodshot eyes, took out a few pieces of paper from his arms, handed them to the other party, and said, "I hope you can understand the dangerous environment that the German Empire is facing now."
"What is this?" Seeing the world's richest man like this, Grettisen did not dare to neglect it. He quickly took the paper handed over by Sheffield and started to read it. The doubt was replaced by an incredible look, and his brows were tightly furrowed.
Compared to the slave owner who was lacking sleep, the honest German's expression was quite interesting. Finally, he suddenly raised his head and said, "Mr. William, is this true? The British have been mediating the crisis between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Serbs."
"The most untrustworthy people in the world are the British. It's fine if you are a powerful country or an ally of the British, but your country cannot be stronger than the British. Any country that shows a tendency to become stronger than the British will no longer be an ally of the British. The balance of power on the continent and uniting the weaker one against the stronger one have always been the diplomatic focus of the British." Sheffield stared at his red and swollen eyes and danced with joy, but Grete Thiessen's heart became heavier and heavier. He shook his head and said, "Maybe this intelligence is not true. Maybe your news, Mr. William, is not true. I'm sorry, I don't doubt Mr. William's friendship with Germany."
"The president of the lobbying company is Robert Parker, the son of President Alton Parker." Sheffield used a calm and even gentle voice to pierce Grettison's fantasy. "In fact, if we want to prove whether this intelligence is true, we will know once the British tear off their hypocritical mask. I believe it won't take too long."
These words completely shattered all of Gretchen's fantasies. The president of the lobbying company was the son of the former president. If this was not credible, what else could be credible? Did he need President Wilson to come out and prove it himself?
"Will the Liege Fortress in Belgium block the attack of the German army and buy time for Britain to organize an expeditionary force?" Grettisen took out the most important part of the lobbying content and asked for verification.
"No intelligence can guarantee 100% accuracy. It can only be proven at the first trigger point, that is, when the UK openly tears off its mediation mask." Sheffield knew that the UK was still pretending to be a mediator, but it would be soon, and it might have been torn off.
Grete Thiessen no longer had any doubts and sincerely thanked Sheffield, "Mr. William, thank you for everything you have done for Germany."
"The best thank you is to let me do nothing. Although anti-British sentiment is the mainstream in the United States, who knows whether it is true or not?" Sheffield sighed, "I hope that some of the things I have done can prevent Germany from being deceived and prevent the outbreak of war. Peace is always precious." No way!
The ace spy's first move was a complete success. Even before Sheffield walked out of the Thyssen United Company building, Gret Thyssen had already contacted the channel urgently and sent this important intelligence to Berlin.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry, but we think William II is using our cousin relationship to deceive you." At the cabinet meeting in the Winter Palace, War Minister Sukhomlinov spoke angrily. The entire cabinet was also outraged. At such an important time, the Russian emperor was indecisive.
Nicholas II sighed, he wavered again, and walked outside to the garden to ponder in silence.
"Your Majesty, we all know this is a difficult decision." Seeing that the Supreme Emperor was hesitating, the servant of the garden spoke to comfort him.
At this moment, Nicholas II was touched. For a long time, Nicholas had been regarded as an indecisive coward, living under the shadow of his ancestor Peter I. At this difficult moment, a decisive decision must be made! He ruled out those weak thoughts of yearning for peace and made up his mind to restart the national mobilization.
Grete Thyssen's telegram had been sent to the palace of William II in Berlin through Thyssen United Company. In fact, just before this telegram was sent, the British Foreign Secretary had changed his tone to the German ambassador in London and was not opposed to intervening in the war.
"Give the order for a general mobilization of the nation and issue an ultimatum to France and Russia." William made up his mind and let the outcome of the war decide who is right.
(End of this chapter)
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