As the world's largest importer and exporter, Britannia could be said to be the biggest victim of the economic crisis.
The domestic strike had not yet subsided, and the international market shrank, resulting in a rapid decline in exports, a sharp rise in unemployment, and intensified social conflicts.
In order to calm domestic conflicts and divert public attention, the British Parliament decided to hold an early election.
There was no doubt that the Liberal Party led by Gelston lost the election and was replaced by the Conservative Party led by Benjamin.
This seemed to be the rule of British politics. Except for the first Prime Minister, Earl Robert Walpole, who served for 20 years, the rest of the terms were basically no more than eight years.
(Note: the British Prime Minister and Parliament term is five years.)
Prime Minister Benjamin, who once again lived in Downing Street, was happy on the first day of the election victory, but the rest was worry.
Prime Minister Benjamin's hair had turned even whiter due to the country's troubled economy.
Colonial Secretary Robert: "The domestic economy is already very dangerous. In order to survive the crisis, we must find a larger market for our goods.
I propose to restart the Persian war. We have just experienced a refugee crisis, and now Persia is at its weakest. This is very beneficial for our military operations. "
Chancellor of the Exchequer Arthur Balfour: "The government's finances are still sufficient to provide us with enough war funds.
I think we can restart the Ethiopian war at the same time as the Persian war.
In the last war, we only won in name, and now most of Ethiopia is still not under our control.
In recent years, the Austrians have been infiltrating Ethiopia. If we don't act quickly, maybe one day we will wake up and Ethiopia will be under Austria's flag.
Not only Ethiopia, but the entire East Africa region is in danger. If we don't act quickly, the Fao and the other countries won't be polite. "
Secretary of the Navy John Wasil: "Not only East Africa, but also Asia. The French are expanding into Indochina and are about to border with India.
We must take action to occupy the Konbaung Dynasty. This is the gateway to India. If it falls into the hands of the French, the consequences will be unimaginable. "
(Note: Myanmar is in the period of the Chogya Dynasty, known by the West as: Konbaung Dynasty.)
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Prime Minister Benjamin was known as the defender of colonialism, so it was not surprising that the cabinet was a pro-war faction. The huge colonial empire of the British was also built with a knife and a gun. The pro-war faction and the colonial faction were never separated.
For Britannia, it was impossible to rely on domestic demand to survive the economic crisis.
The size of the native population determined the upper limit of the British market. This meant that to survive the economic crisis, they had to rely on the external market.
To survive the economic crisis in the short term, they had to rely on the external market.
In order to survive the economic crisis in the short term, the only way was to launch a war and transfer the crisis to others.
Secretary Edward: "Stop. I admit that all of you have a point, and that this is something that Britain needs to address urgently, but reality does not allow for it.
Let's not talk about whether our nation's strength can sustain multiple wars at the same time. Just the diplomatic troubles are enough to exhaust us.
If we don't want to see the European countries drag us down together, we must have a sequence. European countries have to do. and. have Edward: I have Britain.
. of of of. and of. of Edward: Everyone knew that the London government could not wage multiple wars at the same time, but it was still brought up.
The military, political officials, and capitalists were all involved in the game behind the scenes.
The first to launch a campaign would not only benefit first, it would also determine the importance of the region in the eyes of the London government.
"I think we should restart the Persian War. The situation in Persia is the most complicated. It involves both Russia and Austria.
The Russian Empire is held up by the Pobol Federation. They can't intervene in Persia. But Austria is different. Their power has penetrated deep into the Persian Gulf.
Although their target is the Osman, it doesn't mean they don't have ambitions in Persia.
The Persian government is trying to win over the major powers. If we don't raise our vigilance, Austria might one day expand their power into Persia.
Once he opened the map, he knew that once the Ottoman Empire collapsed, the entire east coast of the Mediterranean Sea would become a part of Austria. At that time, the Persian region would directly border Austria.
If we can't take Persia as a barrier, India will be under great pressure. "
Secretary of the Navy John Vasil objected. "Sir Robert, you are exaggerating.
We have an absolute advantage in Persia. Unless the Osman Empire collapses tomorrow, Austria has no way to compete with us.
Judging from the current situation, the Osman Empire can last for at least another 20 years. If they complete their internal reforms, they can even continue to exist.
On the contrary, the Indo-China Peninsula is a greater threat. The Konbaung Dynasty has completely declined and can't stop the French army. "
Secretary of Finance Arthur Balfour: "Don't be so serious. It's not like we are going to have a war with the Fao tomorrow.
Right now, our three countries are still allies. Without enough benefits, they won't come to provoke us.
The most important thing right now is to get through the economic crisis. Everyone should think more about the economy.
Since the opening of the Suez Canal, trade between the East and the West has grown rapidly. Now, nearly 40% of the European foreign trade ships sail through the Suez Canal.
This golden waterway has affected the economic lifeline of Britannia. We didn't pay enough attention to it and let the control of the Suez Canal fall into the hands of the Fao.
Of course, this is the responsibility of our predecessors, but we have to bear the consequences.
The Fao and France regard the Suez Canal as their lifeblood. It's impossible for us to intervene. Now we can only use a roundabout strategy to increase our influence in the Red Sea.
In recent years, the French have expanded into Sudan and Austria into Ethiopia. Both sides have reached a tacit agreement to jointly squeeze our sphere of influence.
If we let this situation continue, sooner or later, there will be no place for us in East Africa. Even if we use our naval advantage, we can at most retain the land around the port.
Just like the Cape of Good Hope now, it seems to be in our hands, but as long as we fall out with the Austrians, it could fall at any time. "
"Sir, this joke is not funny at all. It is the biggest joke of the century that the Fao and France can truly unite.
Unless one of them gives up the hegemony of Europe, it is impossible for the two countries to truly unite. Now they see each other as their biggest enemy! "Colonial Minister Robert retorted.
Giving up the hegemony of Europe is easy to say, but how can people believe it?
Unless they lose the strength to fight for hegemony, verbal promises can't be believed at all.
Unless one of the Fao and France falls, this battle for hegemony of Europe will continue.
Now that the two countries can coexist peacefully, it is because both sides seem to have equal strength, and there are third, fourth, and fifth countries. No one wants to start a war and let others take advantage of it.
Foreign Minister Edward: "Sir Robert, there is indeed the possibility of an alliance between the Fao and France. As long as the interests are in place, nothing can't happen. "
"Sir Edward, I am not saying that it is impossible for the Fao and France to unite, but in the current international situation, it is impossible for the two countries to unite.
The seemingly friendly relationship between the Fao and France is, in fact, full of contradictions. As long as we are willing, it is not difficult to provoke a conflict between the Fao and France, "Colonial Minister Robert explained.
"No, Sir Robert. We need a situation where the Fao and France are friendly on the surface but hostile to each other in secret.
It is not in our interest to provoke a conflict between the Fao and France, and then trigger a European war and break the balance of Europe. So this option does not exist at all.
We have seen the importance of the Suez Canal, and the Fao and France have also seen it. They even saw it earlier.
For the past decade or so, we have been trying to invest in the canal company, but we have been rejected. This is enough to show the problem.
If we do not take action, for the sake of the Suez Canal, the Fao and France may really join forces to squeeze us out of East Africa.
This is not unprecedented. The Fao and France united before, and we were almost squeezed out of the Mediterranean, "Foreign Minister Edward warned.
This was the most troublesome thing. On the one hand, they had to avoid a conflict between the Fao and France, and on the other hand, they could not provoke a conflict between the FAO and France, lest a war break out in Europe and break the balance.
From the standpoint of the British, it would be a disaster no matter who won the war between the Fao and France. The current tripartite balance was actually the most suitable strategy for the European continent's balance.
Benjamin interrupted the quarrel, "Everyone, since no one can convince the other party, then let's vote to decide! It is not a solution to continue arguing like this. Time waits for no man. "
It seemed to be a way to smooth things over, but in fact, it also made his position clear. There was obviously more support for restarting the war in Ethiopia, which was decided by overseas trade.
Expansion in East Africa could expand Britannia's influence in the Red Sea region and increase their voice on the Suez Canal issue.
If there was a day when they fell out with the Fao, they still had the right to flip the table and not be choked by the neck.
This was probably the most efficient Government of London. From raising the question to making a decision, the cabinet only took one day.
Under normal circumstances, it would take at least a few months to start a war, or even three to five years without a result.
This time was obviously an exception. The economic crisis waited for no man. The cabinet quickly reached an agreement and immediately submitted the bill to Congress.
There was nothing to say, so it was passed as quickly as possible. There was no need for the government to do the work of the members of parliament. The capitalists had long been impatient.
The sooner the war was started, the sooner they could get through the economic crisis.
The last government fell, to a large extent, because of Gelston's proposal: after dividing the sphere of influence through the Paris Conference, a colonial war would be launched.
This way, the international pressure would be gone, but the Paris Conference would not end in a day or two. The economic crisis had already broken out, and the capitalists could not wait that long.
To some extent, they were also tricked by Franz. If the Government of Vienna had not taken the initiative to ignite the crisis, the economic crisis would not have broken out so quickly.
Politicians also had to have integrity, especially after coming to power, their political stance could not be changed at will. Changing policies would not only affect the prestige of the government, but would also make the people hate it.
Gelston's government made a mistake and put forward the political idea of colonial expansion after the Paris Conference before the economic crisis broke out.
There was no problem in itself, and it was also recognized by all circles in the country. Unfortunately, luck was not good. Not long after it was put forward, the economic crisis broke out.
In order to get through the economic crisis as soon as possible, they had to start a war, so they could only change the government.
Benjamin's cabinet was full of pro-war factions. It was not that these people were pro-war in the first place, but reality required them to be pro-war.
On November 28, 1876, the British Parliament passed the bill "Restart the Ethiopian War".
International public opinion was in an uproar, and they all condemned the British. The British's approach was also a heavy blow to the ongoing Paris Conference.
The world was not calm again. Since the British could use the excuse of not signing a treaty to launch a colonial war during the Paris Conference, other European countries could also carry out colonial expansion during the Paris Conference.
Originally, everyone wanted to define their respective spheres of influence through negotiations and divide up the remaining unclaimed land. Now it was back to the era of strength.
