Greece’s Roman Road

In July 1884, because countries could not reach a consensus on the disputes over the Congo River Basin, Bismarck appealed to all major countries to convene an international conference to resolve the current differences and contradictions among countries in Africa.

After receiving the news, Constantine and Schmidt came to Paris, the capital of France, and took a carriage to the Martinion House on Rue Valhene in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

As for Banning, he went to Berlin to participate in formal meetings as an observer of the Congolese Commission.

The Martinon House is the office of the Prime Minister of France.

The two came to the gate, and Schmidt went to negotiate with the guards in front of the gate. After a while, a man who looked like a housekeeper in a tuxedo walked out of the gate and invited the two of Constantine to enter the Prime Minister's Palace.

Under the leadership of the butler, Constantine came to the study of the Matillon Palace, and saw that French Prime Minister Jules Ferry was waiting for him.

Jules, who was wearing a brown suit, had a cerebral gate and a thick beard on both sides of his cheeks. Maybe it was a beard, maybe it was sideburns. It looked a little weird.

The two sat at the reception table.

"Dear Prime Minister, I came here this time to reach an agreement with you on the issue of the Congo River Basin." Constantine got straight to the point and stated his purpose directly.

"Your Excellency, I don't think there is anything to negotiate in the Congo River Basin. France has undisputed sovereignty over Equatorial Africa," Prime Minister Jules said arrogantly.

The Frenchman Brazzaville led the adventurous team and opened up many colonial strongholds on the north bank of the Congo River, and there were many disputes with Stanley's adventurous team.

Even so, in the eyes of Prime Minister Jules, the Congolese Committee, which was only supported by private individuals, had weak financial resources and could not be an opponent of the Brazzaville Adventure Team, which was backed by the powerful French government.

Sooner or later the whole of the Congo River will be a French colony.

"But Portugal proposes that they own the Congo"

"So what? The Portuguese will not be the opponents of France." Jules was still reluctant to show weakness in front of Constantine.

"But they have British support behind them," Constantine Noyu said.

Jules suffocated, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

The British are France's old opponents. The two sides don't know how many festivals they have had, but the French have always lost more and won less when facing the UK, and have suffered a lot at the hands of the British.

"Mr. Prime Minister, I think at present, no matter what the status of Congo is in the future, at least for now, we should unite to oppose the Anglo-Portuguese proposition, and we can no longer allow the British to use their own strength to unscrupulously exert influence in Africa. ', said Constantine.

Hearing Constantine's request, Jules frowned, thinking about Constantine's suggestion.

"As long as you agree, the Congolese Commission will be responsible for the management of the Congo River Basin. If one day in the future, the Congolese Commission will not be able to maintain its financial resources and will no longer be able to maintain the management rights of the Congo River Basin, then our commercial strongholds and entrusted rule treaties will take precedence. To you France," Constantine said earnestly.

The priority to sell Congo's rule to France is not a trick by Constantine, but a sincere move.

To be honest, so far, the plan to acquire African colonies has cost a huge sum of 7 million francs, which is beyond the reach of the royal family's own financial resources.

To develop overseas colonies in the barren lands of Africa, there are many members of the adventure team, which requires a lot of salary expenditure, logistics and supply expenses, etc. These calls add up to a lot of expenses. Such an expedition is far from personal financial resources. can be maintained.

In addition to this, it is even more disturbing that the African colonies want to generate income, not simply to obtain management rights.

Because of the waterfall area at the mouth of the Congo River, in order to effectively develop and utilize the Congo River Basin, it is necessary to build a long railway line to communicate a navigable river network and realize water and land transportation.

It is foreseeable that this is another huge expenditure, and so far, the commodities that can generate income from the Congo River, according to the information from the adventurer's door, are only elephant ivory and wild rubber. As for mineral resources, Due to the restrictions of traffic conditions, European countries have no clear information.

Considering these conditions, even Constantine, who knew the great potential of Congo’s mineral resources in the future, would not dare to make a promise. After the Congolese Commission successfully obtained the management rights of Congo, it would definitely be able to persevere until the cost was recovered. one day.

When Jules heard the conditions offered by Constantine, he was very moved. Ever since he learned that the Congolese Committee had become the opponent of France's colonial development in the Congo River, he had inquired about the details of the Congolese Committee in detail with the intelligence personnel.

After careful analysis, he also did not think that the Congolese Committee could last long in the Congo River, where the environment is harsh and the traffic and communication are difficult.

Jules was tempted by Constantine's proposal.

If France can really accept its legacy after the Congolese Committee is unable to maintain management, it will be a good thing to get the ready-made Congolese Committee to develop Congo of a certain scale, even if it costs a lot of money to buy it.

There are two advantages:

First, to avoid the sacrifice of a large number of French people, developing colonies, especially in tropical regions, has always been a dangerous and difficult move. In the early investment, not only money, but also a certain sacrifice.

Second, the Congo River is now a very sensitive area. Because it is located in the middle of Africa, the eyes of all countries are fixed on it. Colonial powers like France want to take the Congo River area directly into their pockets under the watchful eyes of everyone. , is really a difficult thing.

A privately funded organization like the Just Past Committee ~www.wuxiax.com~ has obtained management rights. Even if the Congolese Committee has a firm foothold in central Africa in the future, countries are not worried about its expansion in Africa, but are more acceptable.

After avoiding this sensitive period, find another opportunity to take over the management right from him. There is a buffer time for this operation.

Even if other countries have objections, the overall situation is set.

Even Constantine conjectured that Jules might not have some dark thoughts: even if the Congolese Commission had a miracle, it really succeeded in persevering until the day when the colony was profitable. For an African power like France, it was also a piece of meat within easy reach.

It's just that it is put under the supervision of the Congo Committee first, and when the right time comes, it may not be impossible to force Constantine to sell the Congo River Basin.

Jules pondered for a moment, then walked back and forth in the room, thinking about Constantine's conditions.

After a cup of tea, he said apologetically, "Your Excellency, I want to discuss this matter with others, and I will give you an answer later."

Having said that, he walked out of the room, leaving only Constantine alone.

Sitting on the sofa, she closed her eyes and sighed in her heart.

If it weren't for the fact that Greece's strength was too weak, he wouldn't have to work so hard.

After about an hour, Prime Minister Jules finally walked in.

"His Excellency, the French government has agreed to your terms. When the Congolese Committee is unable to maintain its management capacity, France will have the priority to purchase." Jules said with relief.

He believed that he had once again expanded the territory for France, a view that was confirmed again after discussions with other members of the government.

After that, Constantine signed this agreement with the French government.

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