Unsurprisingly, as a responsible country, Austria naturally had to provide security protection for Belgium and North Germany.
On August 1, 1888, Franz issued the "Letter to the European People", clearly stating that Austria would be committed to maintaining the balance and stability of the European continent and resolutely fight against the evil forces that destroyed the European order.
As for whether the two governments dared to believe it, no one knew. However, this announcement was still of positive significance and received widespread support from the public.
With Austria's commitment, Belgium and Germany also had a trace of confidence at the negotiation table.
It was really only a trace because the two countries involved would suffer the most from the outbreak of war. No one knew who would win between Fao and Germany in the end. Anyway, they were both losers.
The two governments could be rational, but it didn't mean that the people would be rational. After receiving a positive response from Austria, a massive anti-French movement broke out among the people of the two countries.
In Brussels, people protesting had blocked the streets. Even in the depths of the palace, Leopold II could clearly hear the protests of the people.
There was no doubt that all of them were asking the government to be tough on France. Nationalism had risen, and the conditions proposed by the French deeply stimulated everyone's self-esteem.
Prime Minister August said, "Your Majesty, we can no longer back down now. The French are determined to kill us, and this is just the beginning.
Blindly backing down will not only not solve the problem, but it will also make the French think we are weak and easy to bully. "
Obviously, Austria's clear position and the support of mainstream European public opinion still affected the Belgian government.
Prime Minister August, who had always been mature and prudent, was also angered by the unreasonable demands of the French and turned to support toughness.
Leopold II nodded. He also wanted to be tough, but he didn't have the confidence in his heart!
It was true that Belgium and Austria had a secret agreement, but it would take time for Austrian reinforcements to arrive before the war broke out. They still had to deal with it themselves in the early stages. The possibility of the battlefield being in Belgium was as high as 99.99% …
In case the Austrians were afraid or a few days late, Belgium would no longer exist. Leopold II had no confidence in stopping the French invasion.
They couldn't stop them militarily, but they couldn't retreat politically and economically.
Looking at the people gathered outside, if they really agreed to the unreasonable demands of the French, the country would explode first.
Not to mention the economy. After losing such a large amount of revenue, the Belgian government could only wait to go bankrupt!
Leopold II asked, "How is the Foreign Ministry communicating with the Germans? Did they agree to advance and retreat with us?"
Foreign Minister Juel shook his head and said sarcastically, "The Germans are busy communicating with the British, hoping that the London government will interfere with the French."
Leopold II was very surprised and asked, "Don't they have brains?
If they wanted to interfere, they would have already made their stance clear. At this point, it's simply wishful thinking for the British to interfere! "
It was no wonder that Leopold II was surprised. He knew that Britain and France had just formed an alliance. No matter what, at this point in time, the British government would not fall out with their most important ally for them.
Even Austria, who was most likely to intervene, had only expressed its position and did not directly intervene in this negotiation.
From Leopold II's point of view, instead of continuing to be entangled with the British, it was better to take the opportunity to forge an alliance between the three countries and jointly curb the expansion of the French.
In Leopold II's view, instead of continuing to be entangled with the British, it was better to take the opportunity to promote the alliance of Belgium, Austria, and Germany to jointly contain the expansion of the French.
However, the other states in the German region are communicating with Austria, and the Grand Duke of Baden will be visiting Vienna soon. Perhaps it has something to do with this incident.
However, the other states in the German Region are communicating with Austria. The Grand Duke of Baden will visit Vienna in the near future. Maybe it has something to do with this incident. "
The Northern German Confederation's approach was the most in line with its own interests. Hanover, as the center, had the same goal when it came to safeguarding national interests.
In a sense, the North German Confederation's actions were the most in line with their own interests. Hanover, as the center, clung to the thigh of the British, while the smaller states within the country sought the support of Austria.
Even if the negotiations failed, the French would not rashly attack them.
In this way, Belgium would suffer. The relationship between the Northern German Confederation and Austria was not something they could compare to.
There was no shortage of men who shed their blood for the country. Once the French invaded Northern Germany, whether the Government of Austria was willing to participate in the war or not, the nationalists would push Austria to the battlefield.
Even if the central government did not want to fight, the garrison on the border would do it themselves. Anyone who dared to stop them would be going against the will of the people.
Although Britannia would not necessarily fall out with the French, Queen Victoria's face would certainly be very interesting.
Even if they did not fall out with the French on the surface, some small actions against the French would still happen.
Belgium did not have such treatment. Although the relationship between Britain and Belgium was good, it was only good. The two countries were not allies with military obligations.
Because of its size, Belgium was not very important to Britannia. Of course, the British did not want to see the French annexing Belgium.
However, it was just a beating, and it was not within the scope of the British's intervention.
Not to mention Austria, from the moment of independence from the Holy Roman Empire, Belgium was not considered one of their own.
Although the two countries had signed a secret agreement, it did not mean that they would not be betrayed. If the French wanted to annex Belgium, Austria would certainly fulfill its obligations.
If they only beat them up, no one was sure whether Austria would go to war with the French.
In fact, Leopold II's biggest concern now was not being annexed by the French.
Annexing a country on the European continent was very hateful. Without the tacit consent of the major powers, the French did not dare to risk universal condemnation.
The current military threat was to beat the hell out of you and then replace you with another government. For the ruler, this was similar to the subjugation of the country.
After hesitating for a long time, Leopold II slowly said, "First appease the people outside, tell them that the government will never accept the unreasonable demands of the French.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to negotiate with the French. The export price of coal can be lowered, but it can't be too much lower than the international average export price. "
No matter how great the threat of the French was, Leopold II still had the responsibility of a monarch and chose to appease the people at home first.
After the emergence of the two major alliances, the smell of gunpowder on the European continent became more and more intense. It was not that Leopold II did not notice it.
Unfortunately, Belgium was only a small country and did not have the capital to become a trendsetter. Even the conflicted Northern German Confederation was in a much better situation than them.
…
In Paris, Napoleon Iv's face was ashen as he read the "Letter to the European People" released by Franz.
It was originally a test, but he did not expect that just as it began, Austria jumped out to make trouble.
Having the support of a major power and not having the support of a major power were two completely different concepts. There was no doubt that it was impossible to get Belgium and Germany to accept the conditions at this time.
"Humph!"
With a cold snort, Napoleon Iv threw away the "Letter to the European People" that he had read halfway and cursed, "The damn House of Habsburg is really haunting us. You are everywhere!"
France and the House of Habsburg had been fighting for supremacy on the European continent for hundreds of years. The feud between the Bonaparte Dynasty and the House of Habsburg also ran through the war against France.
In recent decades, although it had eased, the conflict between the two countries did not decrease. Instead, it continued to increase.
It was just that in order not to let other countries benefit, the two governments subconsciously covered up the conflict on the surface. In the dark, the two sides had fought countless times.
Prime Minister Terence Burkin comforted, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be angry over such a small matter.
Although we did not get Belgium and Germany to accept our conditions, we have still tested the bottom line of each country.
Even Austria, which seemed to be the toughest, was also just clamoring. If they really wanted to stand up for Belgium and Germany, they would have directly participated in the negotiations.
Now, it seems like they are supporting Belgium and Germany, but in fact, it is only limited to spiritual support.
They have not taken any substantial actions. If we really let them go to war with us for the sake of the two countries, the Government of Austria will most likely still back down. "
In a sense, there was indeed no need for Napoleon Iv to be angry. The current results were much better than expected.
If not for Franz's disgusting "To the European People", it could be said to be perfect.
Napoleon Iv sneered, "So what? The bottom line of the European countries is indeed very low, but what we are going to do still challenge their bottom line.
Britain, Russia, and Austria do not want us to make up for our last weakness. Even our good ally, didn't he warn us? "
In the eyes of the outside world, among the big countries, only Austria publicly expressed support for Belgium and Germany and condemned the actions of the Government of France.
But secretly, Britain and Russia also expressed their dissatisfaction to the Government of France.
Perhaps this kind of secret warning was not very strong, but for the Government of France, it was still an invisible pressure.
Prime Minister Terence Burkin said, "No matter what, this is a good start.
Although the European countries still reject us, they are no longer united. They all have their own little calculations.
On the issue of encircling us, the three big countries, Britain, Russia, and Austria, are already divided. If it were not for the geographical restrictions, I am afraid that Austria would not be so proactive.
The morale of the Belgium and Germany governments has already been beaten down by us. In the following negotiations, we only need to make a slight concession, and the two governments should accept it.
The drop in the cost of coal will definitely have a certain promotion effect on the domestic industry and economy. It is not far from a new prosperity. "
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