Greece’s Roman Road

Constantine frowned when he heard the news of the discovery of a large gold mine in South Africa.

Originally, the action of various countries to carve up Africa was already in full swing, and now the news of the discovery of a large gold mine in South Africa is just in time, no doubt adding fuel to the fire.

"Banning, under the stimulation of the gold mine, what do you think the European countries will do next?" Constantine said, looking at Banning who hadn't realized the problem and was immersed in the excitement of discovering the gold mine.

The expression on Banning's face froze instantly, and he muttered, "Yes, yes, it's a coincidence."

Although the area where gold was discovered is in South Africa, it is thousands of kilometers away from the Congo River.

But a question will naturally arise in the minds of politicians in various countries. Since South Africa has gold, will there be a large number of gold deposits in such a vast area of ​​the Congo River Basin?

Countries have a tacit understanding of Africa's expansion, and they have accelerated the pace.

In February, the Greek ambassador to London sent back a message to the effect that:

Portugal and the British government reached an agreement that the United Kingdom respected Portugal's historical position in the Congo River and recognized the Portuguese government's territorial rights over the mouth of the Congo River.

According to the ambassador's private inquiries, in order to obtain the consent and support of the British government, Portugal will grant British businessmen the same status and rights as Portuguese businessmen.

To put it bluntly, it was these two families that announced that the Congo River Basin was divided between our two families, the British and Portuguese.

The so-called historical status of Portugal is not completely groundless. As the pioneering countries of the great seafaring era, Portugal and Spain have pioneered colonies since the 15th century. The two brothers in the Iberian Peninsula earned a lot of money through colonies. Full, mouthful of oil.

Therefore, the Portuguese colony of Angola has been occupied for hundreds of years. The name of an old colonial country is nothing to me.

The Congo River itself was first discovered by Portugal, but because of the obstruction of a series of waterfalls in the lower reaches of the Congo River, Portugal's idea of ​​upstreaming the river was shattered, and the idea of ​​developing commercial trade along the river could only be delayed.

No way. Before the invention of the train, the only way to go deep into the inland for commercial activities was to rely on the two legs of a human being and the four legs of a horse. In this desolate part of Africa, it was impossible.

This delay came to the end of the 19th century.

The world situation has changed. Territory is something you can't see first, and it's yours, right? There's no such thing.

You came early, and I didn't see you occupying it early.

In fact, when Stanley led the expedition in the mouth of the Congo River, Portugal was ignorant and ignorant.

It was not until the frenzy of dividing up the colonies in Europe had set off, Portugal learned that Stanley's adventure team had established a wide base, and the French had also made public their attitude towards the Congo River. It's just too late.

As for why the United Kingdom took grain from the fire for Portugal?

On the one hand, it is for its own interests. After all, Portugal is not an industrial country, and its ability to occupy the market is limited. It is said that the two people share it together. In the end, it is the British businessmen who get most of the benefits.

On the other hand, the UK and Portugal have a close relationship, and the two countries have a long history of allies.

The alliance between the two countries has been established since the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance Treaty in 1373, which lasts until the 21st century and is still valid!

This treaty is still written in Latin.

It is so long.

When the news of the Imperium cooperation reached Athens, all the members of the committee involved in the Congo operation were disappointed and believed that the plan had failed.

After all, a Portugal is not easy to deal with, let alone a Portugal backed by the United Kingdom.

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Banning said worriedly.

Although Banning is usually a scheming person, he is not a diplomat. It is normal to be confused about the diplomatic situation in Europe.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty the King and Queen Olga are summoned," the butler Capet said to Banning and Constantine, who were discussing the situation in Europe and Africa.

"Exactly, the two Your Majesty probably also want to ask about this matter, Banning, you can go together, and it will save me a lot of trouble."

The two came to the garden under the leadership of Cape's butler.

King George and Queen Olga are having afternoon tea in the garden.

"Constantine, this time your Congo committee is in trouble. How are you going to solve it?" Queen Olga asked hurriedly when she saw Constantine.

"What can we do, the Portuguese can hold their thighs, so can't we find foreign aid?" Constantine said lightly.

"But who would risk the pressure of offending the British for our Congolese committee?" Banning took over the topic and expressed his doubts.

"No one would be happy because we just passed the committee to offend the British, the world hegemon, but for their own interests, it's different," Constantine explained.

Queen Olga and Banning were even more confused by Constantine's answer, but King George, who was well versed in politics, was very satisfied when he heard Constantine's answer.

Using interests to drive people, nowhere is beneficial, and the same is true for countries.

Being able to understand this, it is not so important what happened to the Gang Kingdom. His heir became more and more mature, and King George I felt heartfelt gratification.

"The ambassador to Berlin reported to me before that the Bismarck government issued a sternly worded protest to the British government two months ago." Constantine did not directly answer Banning's question~www.wuxiax.com~ but said a It seems unrelated news.

"What does that have to do with your Congolese committee?" Queen Olga was even more confused.

Next, Constantine explained the whole story to everyone present.

The Greek ambassador in Berlin reported that business people in Germany made a lot of public opinion and asked the German government to actively develop colonies.

As the leading figure in the unification of Germany, Pismarck has a high position and prestige in Germany.

At one time, Emperor Wilhelm once sighed to the left and right in private: "Bismarck's emperor in this German government is not good at it", which is evident in his strength.

German colonial policy has also been influenced by Pismarck.

Now the helm of Germany has changed its opposition to colonies in the past, and Germany's long-suppressed desire to expand colonies has exploded.

For a long time, although Germany had no nominal colonies, it was not without overseas colonial activities.

German businessmen established some colonial strongholds (Cameroon, Togo, Namibia) in West Africa and Southwest Africa out of personal interests to conduct commercial activities.

At the end of 1883, Bismarck asked the British Gladstone government whether it

The Quina region has territorial claims.

As a result, the British government replied that the United Kingdom made a so-called legitimate claim to the entire South African coastal area.

Such an answer annoyed Bismarck.

The United Kingdom only has a port in Cape Town (the Cape Town port was seized from the Dutch), and has a territorial claim to the entire South African coastal area?

The greedy appetite and arrogant attitude of the British government did not take other countries in the eyes at all, which made Bismarck very angry.

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