Chapter 1259: Chapter 928: Land Transactions and Loans Chapter 1259: Chapter 928: Land Transactions and Loans Seeing that Arthur never took the initiative to ntion increasing troops in Europe, Winston Schmidt finally couldn’t bear it and directly said, “Your Majesty the Emperor, we need Australasia’s support in Europe.”
Arthur nodded. He was not surprised by Schmidt’s request for help. The current war had seen the British and French forces beginning to falter, and if the British did not intend to negotiate peace, then, certainly, they would need to seek more help from the outside.
But it was clear that Arthur would not take the initiative to help Britain. The saying goes ‘Don’t release the hawk until you’ve seen the rabbit.’ With a strategic plan already in place, how could Arthur mobilize tens of thousands of Australasia troops just because of a few words from Schmidt?
“We are also keeping an eye on the battlefields in Europe, but unfortunately, due to the war with the Island Nation, we currently have no spare Military forces to assist you.
To be honest, maintaining a military force of 800,000 in Europe is already causing a great deal of headache. With more than 200,000 troops in Africa and the Middle East regions, we’ve already committed over a million troops to the war against Germany, and for Australasia, that’s already doing our utmost.” Arthur said, smiling and nodding as he and Schmidt began to exchange grievances.
When it cos to comparing hardships, Arthur was in no way inferior to these politicians. If the British could include all the Colony forces in the number of troops they had committed, then naturally, Arthur could also count the Military forces of Kalimantan and the Philippines as part of Australasia’s contribution.
If the forces of Kalimantan and the Philippines were included, Australasia had already committed at least 2 million troops to the entire war, which for a country with a population of just over 40 million was certainly ‘a bone-deep injury.’
“The Territory of North Kalimantan.” Schmidt gritted his teeth and stated the bid he had already anticipated.
Most of Kalimantan already belonged to the United Sultanate of Kalimantan, a country completely controlled by Australasia, in fact, a Colony of Australasia.
The British-controlled North Kalimantan was only so coastal areas in the northern part of the Island, and even though it was not large, it still had a population of millions of Indigenous peoples.
This was almost the greatest concession internally discussed by the British Governnt, facing a country that might pose a threat to the post-war British Governnt, including Pri Minister Schmidt and many other British officers, they really did not want to bleed too much.
“You an the barren land mostly inhabited by Indigenous peoples?” Arthur, though surprised by the British’s proactive attitude, clearly found the small territory of North Kalimantan insufficient to whet his appetite.
“If you add the Strait Colony to the deal, perhaps the fellows in the House of Representatives would be interested,” Arthur said with a smile.
Compared to the Territory of North Kalimantan, the Strait Colony, located near the Malacca Strait, was clearly more appealing to Arthur.
If he could control the Malacca Strait, it would an controlling the crucial passage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The political significance and economic value brought by this region, not even ten North Kalimantan Territories could match.
“The Strait Colony?” Schmidt’s complexion changed dramatically, and his expression beca sowhat uncontrollable, “Impossible, absolutely impossible. Your Majesty, the British Empire can never tolerate the cession of the Strait Colony, even if it ans losing the war.”
Arthur’s smile did not cease, as if he didn’t care about the British’s stance, “Then there’s nothing to discuss, Mr. Pri Minister.
Australasia would certainly like to help our Ally, but until we have dealt with the biggest Enemy, the Island Nation, we do not have the capacity to support other battlefields.”
Clearly, Arthur held a firm grip on the initiative.
With the war developing to this point, if the British wished to negotiate peace, they would have to pay a price even more substantial than the Strait Colony.
Even according to the ambitions displayed by the German governnt, if the British wanted to negotiate, they might face dangers to their colonies in Africa and India.
Compared to such a vast range of colonies, the small Strait Colony Arthur demanded was already extrely generous.
At least out of respect for Queen Victoria, Arthur did not demand an exorbitant price. Otherwise, Australasia could have easily played the role of the opportunistic oriole behind the praying mantis and the cicada.
After calming himself down marginally, Schmidt managed to squeeze out a forced smile, increasingly vexed by his decision to co personally to Australasia.
Had he known Arthur’s appetite was so large, Schmidt would have never co to Australasia himself. By agreeing to Australasia’s terms, Schmidt would beco the criminal who actively ceded British territory.
But if he did not agree to Arthur’s terms, with just a bit of propaganda from the Australasian side, Schmidt would again be seen as the one who ruined British-Australian relations.
As for Australasia’s propaganda capabilities, Schmidt had no doubt.
The British-Australian dia had played a significant part in the shift of the British and French civilian attitudes toward war.
Considering the current infiltration of the British and French dia by Australasia, it was likely that at least one-third of the dia in both countries had Australasian capital behind them.
Together with those neutral Newspapers that would sell out even their own for profit, Schmidt believed that if the British-Australasian cooperation did not co to fruition, he would certainly beco the scapegoat.
“Your Majesty, the Strait Colony is very important to us, could your country consider a different condition?” Schmidt said, mustering an awkward smile, speaking subserviently to Arthur.
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