Washington, Governnt Building
US Secretary of State Seward frowned as he reported: Mr. President, the current situation is very unfavorable to us. The Southern governnt has leveraged cotton diplomacy to win over the support of Britain, France, Austria, and Spain, resulting in overwhelmingly biased international public opinion.
Its not that Seward didnt try hard enough, but the enemy was simply too powerful. Since the Southern governnt promised to abolish slavery in the future, this civil war has beco a tariff dispute.
The Norths supposed moral high ground was rendered worthless by public opinion. This was the fault of the US Constitution, which provided the legal basis for Southern independence.
If the Southern governnt hadnt started the war, they wouldnt know what to do now. In this era, the states in Arica have considerable autonomy, and without their cooperation in preparing for war, the central governnt is completely powerless.
The European cultural system places great emphasis on legality. With a legal basis, various governnts directly recognized the legitimacy of the Southern governnt.
The public relations efforts of the Northern governnt were unsuccessful; the importance of the textile industry to the British was too great, and the national economy was held hostage.
France and Spain were also hit hard. The Northern governnts tariff barriers undoubtedly increased everyones production costs, essentially taking money out of the pockets of the capitalists.
Lincoln asked puzzledly, I recall the Austrians have already ceased importing cotton from the South, so why would they still support the Southern governnt?
Not only did they stop importing cotton, but the United States and Austria were also competitors in the agricultural sector. The plantation economy of the South still posed a threat to the Austrian agricultural system.
From a standpoint of self-interest, the Austrians should support the North governnt in weakening the Southern plantation economy at this ti.
Secretary Seward stated, According to the intelligence weve received, the South has promised to relinquish interests in Central Arica in exchange for Austrian support.
However, this is just a superficial factor. Based on our analysis, it may be related to the industrial market. Austrias industrial developnt has been very rapid in recent years.
While the Southern plantation economy has impacted their agricultural exports, the effect is not significant since Austria exports finished goods.
Austrians have the largest share in international agricultural trade. Currently, the largest grain-importing regions in Europe are Germany, Italy, and Britain, with the first two being influenced by Austria.
Under the Southern plantation economy, theres a significant need for imported industrial and comrcial products, making this market a battleground for various countries.
It was inevitable. The North governnts industrialization is bound to compete with the major industrial countries in Europe, while the Southern governnt produces industrial raw materials and provides an export market for industrial products.
This is a matter of tangible interest, and all diplomatic efforts are futile in the face of interests. The Northern governnt cannot offer better conditions than those of the South, so naturally, it cannot win over the other countries.
After pondering for a mont, President Lincoln said, Then focus on cultivating relations with the Russians. Surely they dont need industrial raw materials and markets?
Its not easy to endure international isolation. The current United States is still a small fish that cant ignore international pressure.
Secretary Seward replied, Winning over the Russians is not difficult, but their influence in the Arican region is too limited. Besides providing diplomatic support, they cannot offer substantial assistance and may even bring us trouble.
This was the reality; the boastful Imperial Russian Navy was useless here. Although influential globally, its influence was limited to its imdiate surroundings.
Dont be fooled by the fact that Russia has a territory on the Arican continent; in this era, even Alaskas total population is less than ten thousand. Even if the Russians wanted to make trouble, they were helpless.
President Lincoln countered, Do we have any other option?
There are only a few powerful countries in the world, and even if the remaining countries were won over, with just a glance from Britain, France, Austria, and Spain, all efforts would be in vain.
Winning over the Russian Empire may not be the best choice, but its the only choice.
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Poor Southern diplomacy left them an opening. Had the South also drawn in Russia, Lincoln strongly suspected that the dostic capitalists would have simply surrendered.
For many Aricans at the ti, national identity ant little. Ask a random person on the street and they will claim to be British, French, German, Irish.... but never Arican.
The true establishnt of national self-confidence ca after World War I. At the Washington Conference, the Aricans achieved naval parity with the British, solidifying their status as a great power and gaining widespread public recognition.
The outbreak of the Arican Civil War was an opportunity for many countries. The active intervention of Great Britain, France, Austria, and Spain in the Arican Civil War was actually aid at breaking through the Monroe Doctrine barrier.
Since the rise of the United States, the interests of various countries in the Aricas have suffered significant losses. Spain was no exception, having Florida forcibly taken by the Aricans.
If it werent for the intervention of various countries, the Aricans were planning to conquer Cuba as well. Although Spains military strength still exceeds that of the United States, its ability to deploy forces in the Aricas is very limited.
This is also why Spain is actively participating in the intervention alliance. Only by sticking together can everyone suppress the Aricans and protect their own interests.
The Spanish Governor of Cuba, Prez, eagerly asked, Ambassador, now that the Arican Civil War has broken out, can we regain control of the Spanish Island?
Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Francisco, replied, Rest assured, Governor. I have already coordinated with Britain, France, and Austria. They will support our military actions, and the Southern governnt has already recognized our sovereignty over the Spanish Island.
However, you must act quickly. If we cannot occupy the Spanish Island in a short amount of ti, we will miss the opportunity to carve up xico.
(Authors Note: The Spanish Island here refers to Hispaniola)
No country willingly accepts decline, not even Spain. With colonies rebelling left and right, and dostic developnt lagging behind, Spanish intellectuals initiated their own self-strengthening movent.
Governor Prez and Ambassador Francisco are among them. To salvage this declining colonial empire, they decided to seize more fertile land.
Now, Britain, France, and Spain have set their sights on xico, the kingdom of silver, while Austria has targeted Central Arica. Seizing the Spanish Island is just an appetizer before the feast.
Governor Prez replied nonchalantly, Dont worry, at most, well need so ti to reconquer the Spanish Island. It wont delay our plans.
Since breaking away from Spanish rule, the island of Hispaniola has produced two nations, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Despite its later impoverishnt, Hispaniola remained a rare and prosperous land during this period, second only to Cuba in the Caribbean.
Being weak yet prosperous beca their original sin, and in this era of survival of the fittest, Haiti and the Dominican Republic beca prey to the great powers.
Once the decision to act was made, Governor Prez returned to Cuba and imdiately organized a force of five thousand soldiers, appointing Colonel Galileus as the commander to invade and occupy the Spanish Island.
As the vast expanse of the deep blue sea stretched endlessly, waves constantly crashed against the warships, emitting the roar of the ocean and splashing white foam.
Colonel Galileus, commanding independently for the first ti, stood on the deck of the warship and gazed into the distance. It seed as if he was admiring the charm of the sea, feeling anxious and excited at the sa ti, full of passion...
A guard reminded, Colonel, we are only twenty nautical miles away from reaching the island of Hispaniola. There may be enemy warships ahead, and its unsafe on the ships deck.
Colonel Galileus chuckled, Dont worry, little Andre. Our enemies this ti are just two indigenous kingdoms, they dont even have a navy.
However, these indigenous kingdoms are not to be underestimated; they have so degree of strength, having achieved independence from the Spanish colonial rule.
However, this independence was established with the support of the Aricans. Now that the Arican Civil War has erupted and external support is lacking, these two small nations revealed their true colors.
In the end, Colonel Galileus accepted the advice and returned to the command room. Haiti and the Dominican Republic may not have organized navies, but that doesnt an they are defenseless.
There are still a few shore cannons, and if luck isnt on their side and a cannonball happens to fly their way, it will be too late to cry then.
Colonel Galileus hadnt lived long enough to joke with his own life. The fleet slowly sailed toward the island, the docks already visible to the naked eye.
Without hesitation, Colonel Galileus imdiately gave the order: Attack!
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