Capítulo 1503: Chapter 1409: Changes in North Arica
“There’s no need to waste funds on this matter.” Joseph waved his hand with a smile, “Have Baron Bodley quickly send those two mbers of Parliant from Basel back.”
Talleyrand was surprised and said, “Your Highness, but…”
Joseph interrupted him, “You should send soone, under the na of an ‘anonymous official from the Foreign Ministry,’ to publish a comntary in the newspaper, stating that our country is unwilling to waste energy on the German-speaking Protestant area of Switzerland.
“Make sure the article will be quoted by the newspapers in Vienna. Oh, you might as well publicly express appreciation for Austria’s diplomatic efforts in northern Switzerland, saying sothing like ‘this ensures the smooth flow of our land trade routes toward the Alps.’
Talleyrand was a bit anxious: “Your Highness, do you an to abandon the Northeast Switzerland region?”
Joseph did not answer, but continued:
“Afterwards, the newspapers will publish a series of reports on ‘Vienna’s diplomatic achievents in Switzerland,’ listing Austria’s various investnts in promoting the Swiss Federation.
“On the other hand, you should secretly liaise with Wurttemberg and Augsburg, inviting them to jointly ask Basel State to join the Stuttgart Trade Agreent.”
Basel is an important trade transit port on the upper Rhine River, and Wurttemberg, Augsburg, and Baden are its traditional trade partners.
But since the signing of the Stuttgart Trade Agreent, trade volu with Switzerland greatly decreased due to tariff reasons.
Therefore, places like Wurttemberg have very sufficient reasons to want to pull Basel into the trade agreent.
Talleyrand instinctively wanted to ask the reason for this, but as an excellent diplomat, he suddenly discovered a crucial point:
Wait, just now His Highness said inviting Basel State to join the trade agreent, not Switzerland.
For the people of Basel, this would undoubtedly allow their trade volu to increase several tis, but they should also be well aware that the Stuttgart Trade Agreent would never accept a Switzerland allied with Vienna.
That is to say, they can only choose between trade prosperity and the Swiss Federation.
He imdiately thought of another issue: “Your Highness, we must consider Vienna’s significant influence over so people in the Basel Parliant.”
Joseph nodded with a smile, “You’re quite right, so our country must remain detached, not even having Baden, with whom we have close relations, involved. This is to encourage Vienna to use this influence.
“Next, the angry Wurttemberg and Augsburg will probably take further action.”
Talleyrand couldn’t help but marvel in his heart that he previously wanted to invest hundreds of thousands of francs to support the Pro-France Faction, or even send troops to intervene in northern Switzerland, yet His Highness the Crown Prince only used a little ‘trade ans’ to solve all the problems there.
Actually, he only guessed half of it. Joseph’s purpose in doing so, in addition to eliminating the pro-Austria forces in northern Switzerland, was more importantly to prevent Austria from being able to comfortably recover from its wounds.
Historically, Napoleon had also defeated Austria several tis, but each ti this massive empire could quickly regain its vitality due to its size, then once again join the Anti-French Alliance.
As long as Austria wants to rise, then there is an opportunity to create bleeding points for it. At the sa ti, it’s necessary to avoid France getting entangled in it. Switzerland, where France, Austria, and nurous countries from Italy and the Germanic Region intersect, is an excellent choice.
After Joseph instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the key points of the Swiss plan, Talleyrand took out a docunt and respectfully placed it on the table, “Your Highness, this is the draft secret treaty submitted by Arican envoy Smith. It’s mainly regarding jointly attacking Canada…”
Joseph sighed, preparing to say “just submit it to the Senate for discussion and report the result to ,” but suddenly thought of sothing, asking, “I rember a ceasefire agreent was signed at the end of last year, how co their people only just arrived?”
He was naturally referring to the France and Arica Pittsburgh Treaty, where the diplomat Lart from the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion had reported back to Paris, saying Arica had sent people to Europe.
Talleyrand quickly explained, “Your Highness, there were so issues on the Arican Governnt’s side.
“The Federalist Party was fiercely attacked by the Democratic Republican Party led by Aaron Burr due to the war defeat and even faced impeachnt. However, at the last mont, Hamilton suppressed it.
“Afterwards, the Democratic Republican Party demanded an investigation into whether there was any ‘treasonous behavior’ by Adams during the ceasefire negotiations with our country, so the envoy involved was recalled to Philadelphia, causing months of delay.”
Joseph furrowed his brows.
His initial plan was just to repel Arican attacks along the Mississippi River line, but who knew Napoleon would be inexplicably drawn in and directly took a ‘tour’ to Richmond on the U.S. East Coast.
Now it seems that this war even stirred up a wave of anti-French sentint within the United States.
He was a bit puzzled and asked, “Did the Federalist Party regain control of Congress in the end?”
If the Democratic Republican Party had gained the upper hand, this envoy Smith probably wouldn’t have co to France.
Talleyrand said, “According to the information I obtained, it seems Adams made so concessions regarding this year’s presidential election, in exchange for the cooperation of the Democratic Republican Party.”
Joseph casually flipped through the Arican-drafted joint military proposal, noting that aside from the demand to increase the number of troops in the Louisiana Colony, the rest was basically in line with the plan he had previously proposed.
He had a nagging feeling that sothing seed off, but couldn’t pinpoint it imdiately, so he handed the draft back to Talleyrand, “You should first proceed with signing the secret treaty with the Aricans.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Joseph then instructed, “In the future, unless there is sothing very serious, discuss it in the Senate first before submitting it to .”
“As you will, Your Highness.”
Joseph watched as the Minister of Foreign Affairs left the room with a limp, reaching out to pick up paper and pen, he pondered for a mont before writing a secret letter to Louisiane Governor Elcano.
…
Outskirts of Basel City.
The ship rchant Jager stared angrily at the distant police officers until their backs disappeared from view before spitting forcefully onto the ground.
In recent years, his business had been deteriorating. He was quite excited when he heard a while back that Basel might be incorporated into France.
However, the Parliant soon issued a ban, prohibiting any discussion related to ‘joining France.’
He and a group of citizens went to protest at the Parliant House, only to be dispersed by the military. A friend of his was even wounded by a bullet in the shoulder during the incident and died last month due to an infected wound.
After the establishnt of the United States, its political and administrative organizations were not complete. Initially, the Congress Building in Philadelphia was not convenient because it was far from all of the southern and western states, hindering the setup of a central political and administrative hub.
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