Chapter 1287: Unmoving as a mountain
This difference in appearance has always been difficult to be accepted by the German countries in Europe. After all, in addition to the German countries in Europe and East Africa, the South German Kingdom in Africa also considers itself German.
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The East African government did not take the time to explore the hearts of German and Austrian diplomats. Britain and France had directly released the bait, which caused some waves in the East African government.
Rogans: "Britain and France are now in a difficult situation. They have reached a point where they have to exchange interests to obtain support."
"This fully illustrates the pessimistic attitude of Britain and France towards the direction of the war. Under this pessimistic attitude, even territory has become a bargaining chip."
"France has revealed to us that it can hand over several islands in the Indian Ocean and colonial strongholds in India to our country, and after the war is won, they can give Madagascar to East Africa."
"As for the British, their diplomats revealed that if we support the Allies, they can also give some of their overseas colonies to East Africa after the war."
Sweet: "Compared to the French, it is obvious that the British have no sincerity at all. They are just trying to spread the pie. It is certain that these promises will not be fulfilled at all after the war."
"If we join the Allies, the gains we will gain are completely different. We will gain the colonial heritage of Britain, France, and Germany throughout the Indian Ocean and even other regions."
"So, I think East Africa can gain greater benefits by joining the Allied camp, which the Allies cannot give us."
Rogers retorted: "Although the temptation to join the Allies is great, we also have to bear a lot of risks, especially before the United States has made a bet."
"Before the United States makes a final decision, I do not suggest that the government leans toward any party. If the Americans do not join the war, we will fall into a passive situation."
"The United States can completely bring us into the quagmire of war by supplementing the blood of the Allied Powers."
"Furthermore, even if the United States is removed as a factor, it would be difficult for us to successfully break through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar and go north to support the Allies."
"Now the Allies have a great advantage, but both the United States and Russia have an influence on the war situation that is no less important than ours in East Africa."
Currently, there are three businesses within the East African government. The first is to join the Allied camp, and ultimately realize the sharing of the world among the three German states.
The second is to join the Allied camp, but at this stage, when the Allies have the advantage, this option can basically be ignored.
Finally, there is the neutral faction. Logans is one of the representatives of the neutral faction. He does not support the empire joining either camp.
Sweet is one of the representatives of the hawks. According to his idea, the Allied camp has great advantages. After East Africa joins the Allies, it is fully capable of monopolizing the Indian Ocean cake. India alone is enough to make East Africa's mouth water. Faced with this kind of temptation, few people will not be tempted.
Logans said: "By joining the war, we must ensure that we can quickly defeat the British and French in the Indian Ocean and help the Allies maintain their advantage on the European battlefield."
"The first point is not difficult to do, but how to face the counterattack of the British and French navies is a big problem. The combined strength of the British and French navies is nearly four times that of ours, and if the United States intervenes, their navies will The total tonnage can exceed five million tons.”
"Furthermore, if the United States joins the Allied Powers, the situation on the European battlefield will inevitably change greatly. The United States has deep national strength and is fully capable of continuing to support the Allied Powers with all the resources needed to fight."
"The British have made a lot of preparations in their colonies in the Indian Ocean over the years, especially at key nodes such as the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca. Even when the war in Europe was at its most tense, not only did these places not reduce their military strength, but they tended to strengthen it. It was obvious that they were on guard against East Africa.”
From beginning to end, the Suez Canal has been one of the keys to the development of the European war. Without the narrow waterway of the Suez Canal, it would be difficult for East Africa to support the Allies, and the Baghdad Railway's capacity is really limited. The British obviously attach great importance to the Suez Canal. In addition to heavily guarding it, it is estimated that the British have long been prepared to destroy the Suez Canal at any time.
As long as the Suez Canal cannot be opened unimpeded, the situation on the European battlefield will not be clear to the Allied camp.
The real breakthrough of the Suez Canal will be followed by the Allied navies, which have an absolute advantage in the Mediterranean. Currently, the strongest navies in the Mediterranean are the United Kingdom and France.
Ernst said at this time: "Whether we participate in the war depends on the direction of the European battlefield, although East Africa is naturally pro-Allied."
"But everything must be based on national interests, and the United States is the direction of the war. Before the United States clearly joins the war, we must not clearly side with any side."
"The current changes in the war situation are still unclear. Neither the Allies nor the Entente can be said to be sure of victory."
"It is difficult to say whether the Allies can defeat Britain and France on land, and the naval power of the Allies is at an absolute advantage."
"So, I think the Allied Powers still have a better chance of winning. Among the two countries, Britain and France have not shown their true strength."
It is certain that Britain has always had reservations in the war. After all, the British family has a big business, and unlike Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the national treasury was exhausted in advance because of the blockade.
Logans asked: "Your Majesty, what if the United States really joins the war?"
Ernst continued: "Then it will be easier to judge. If the United States joins the war, we will continue to watch on the sidelines until the war situation becomes clear. If the Allies can gain an advantage on the European continent, we will join the Allies and start a war on the overseas colonies of Britain and France. , incorporating India, Australia, and the Persian Gulf into the empire's territory."
"If the Allies gain a clear advantage, then we will continue our current strategy of overseas expansion. In short, there is no need for us to take risks."
Ernst certainly hopes that the Allies will achieve final victory, so that East Africa can attack cities and plunder territories in the Indian Ocean, West Africa and other places unscrupulously.
However, if the Allies fail, East Africa will not suffer, provided that East Africa continues to maintain its status as a neutral country.
In fact, in the final analysis, the naval strength of East Africa is still not sure that the strategic locations controlled by the British can be captured in a short period of time.
Once a stalemate occurs, the Allies will have the ability to organize a stronger navy to counterattack. They can set conditions to draw the United States and Japan into the war.
Although the German navy is not small, Britain only needs a small number of troops to block the German navy in the Baltic Sea.
As for the navies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, they are also negligible, and the East African navy obviously does not have the ability to challenge the four naval powers of Britain, France, the United States, and Japan at the same time.
Maybe Britain and France can also win over the navies of other countries, such as Spain, Portugal, etc.
Therefore, the risk of joining the Allies is still relatively high. Although Ernst believes that East Africa will not fall into the predicament of national subjugation by relying on the East African mainland, it is not worth taking this risk for the Allies.
With Ernst's final word, the East African government naturally chose to continue to wait and see, remaining calm against the bait thrown by the Allies or the Entente.
(End of chapter)