Australian Storm 1876

   Chapter 870 Three years in a flash

I solemnly revise the description; (Due to the errors in the query of Argentina's population and economic data, I hereby declare and apologize after the enthusiastic readers pointed it out. The population has been revised from 40 million to about 5 million, and the total economic volume has been revised from 67.5% of the United States to 8.6%. (Measured based on population and income), hereby declare.)

   March 27, 1906

  The Ocean Empire Parliament passed the Royal Navy's "Sea Consolidation Plan", planning to build 6 powerful "Queensland" class battleships in three years. Once the news came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the powerful countries around the Pacific Ocean.

   Fusang Government stated;

   It is surprising that with the hegemonic naval strength of the Ocean Empire in the Pacific region, it suddenly spends huge sums of money to build powerful warships. Maybe this is the willfulness of the industrial country.

The   Fuso government has always attached great importance to the bilateral inter-governmental relations with the Ocean Empire, respected its choice, and is willing to actively promote non-governmental trade, cultural, medical and technological exchanges, always be a good partner and neighbor of the Ocean Empire, and maintain peace and common prosperity in the Western Pacific region.

   Citi National Government Spokesperson said at a press conference;

   Strongly condemns the new military equipment plan of the Ocean Empire, which will seriously endanger the peace and stability of the Pacific region. The Ocean Empire has always been a military power that pursues expansionism and is the biggest destabilizing factor in the Pacific region.

It is recognized by the world that it already has a powerful military force to dominate the Pacific Ocean, but it is still committed to provoking an arms race, intensifying regional conflicts, making the situation in the Pacific region change and the situation suddenly tense.

  All peace-loving forces, including the Citigroup government, deeply regret this, and call on the Ocean Empire to abandon its prejudice and embrace all nations with an open mind, instead of beggar-thy-neighbor, and take the relationship between countries to the road of military confrontation.

   Here, we not only have to question His Majesty Li Fushou; who is your gun aimed at?

   Lieutenant-General von Stadterberg, commander of the German Qingdao fortress, said in public;

  The German Empire has noticed the news and will continue to follow it. The Qingdao Fortress has now started the second phase of the construction plan, and will be committed to building the Qingdao Fortress into an unshakable fortress in the Far East, which will deeply fear all enemies with ulterior motives.

  Relevant European media have also commented on this, most of them stand in a neutral position, watching the two emerging industrial powers Citi and Ocean Empire tear up, or fan the flames or make condescending vitriolic comments, and so on.

   For mainstream public opinion in Europe

  Citiland and Ocean Empire both belong to the category of upstarts. One is a cowboy and the other is a shepherd. They are far away from Europe.

The external disturbance did not affect the construction process of the "Queensland" class battleship. On April 9, 1906, the first steel plate cutting ceremony was grandly held at the shipbuilding base of Hongshan Shipbuilding Corporation in Beilun Port. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Li Siyuan attended in person. And presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the ribbon-cutting, firecrackers rang out, fireworks flew into the sky, and the lively lion and dragon dance activities pushed the atmosphere to a climax...

On August 31, 1907, the United Kingdom signed the "Anglo-Russian Treaty" with Russia, and three years ago, on April 8, 1904, the United Kingdom abandoned the policy of "glorious isolation" and signed the "Anglo-French Entente" with France, thereby establishing the form an alliance. So far, through the French War Covenant, the Anglo-French Entente and the Anglo-Russian Treaty, the major powers of the European continent, Britain, France and Russia, established an alliance and formally formed the Allied Group.

  The wave of shipbuilding in the Western Pacific deeply touched the sensitive nerves of the flag of China.

  Theodore Roosevelt was a loyal follower of Mahan's Theory of Sea Power. After hearing the dramatic results of the naval battle at Vladivostok, he was deeply fascinated by the charm of naval warfare:

   "I felt as if I had become a fuso, too excited to perform official duties, talking about the battle with visitors all day long."

   As a keen-eyed strategist, Theodore Roosevelt thought; "I fully realize that if they win, it must mean a fight between them and us in the future."

When it comes to Fuso, he clearly sees Citi Country's potential adversary, namely, "Fuso and its navy are a powerful new force, a jealous, hypersensitive and warlike force, a We can immediately endanger the power of the West Coast from our hands."

   The news of Ocean Empire’s development of armaments this time has made Citizen’s upper echelons nervous. In Washington’s high-level circles, it is generally believed that Ocean Empire is more powerful and aggressive than Citigroup, and is an extremely dangerous potential enemy.

Today, the two powers in the Western Pacific region are coexisting, which has seriously hindered the implementation of Citi's "Open Door" policy. Therefore, the antipathy towards the Far East and the South Pacific region is getting higher and higher. In 1907, it concluded an agreement with the Japanese government to restrict immigration of Fuso people California Agreement.

   In addition, at the end of 1907, the Citi Congress promulgated a discriminatory tax bill restricting trade related to the Ocean Empire, deliberately creating trade frictions and casting a shadow on the busy trade between the two countries.

   The Citi Navy has also begun to formulate a battle plan in the event of a war with the Ocean Empire or Fuso. In the plan, once a war begins, no less than 16 battleships need to be mobilized from the Atlantic Ocean to support the Pacific Ocean.

   In order to test the navy's ability to respond, and at the same time to change the domestic opposition to the expansion of the navy, and of course to put an invisible pressure on the oceanic empire, President Roosevelt proposed to Secretary of State Elihu Rutte on July 13, 1907:

   "More than anything else, I'm more concerned with the current issue with the dictatorship of the Ocean Empire. Thankfully, our navy is in good shape, and it's time to make a voyage around the world.

  I think first of all, it will have the effect of promoting peace by showing countries that we have the ability to do so.

  Secondly, after discussing the current form in depth by the General Council of the Navy, I came to believe that it was absolutely necessary to try to get a large battle fleet into the Pacific in peacetime, rather than just cramming it in the middle of a war. "

As a result, President Roosevelt decided to use the name of the exercise to let 16 battleships originally deployed in the Atlantic sail around Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean, then cross the entire Pacific Ocean, pass through the Indian Ocean, pass through the Suez Canal to visit European countries, and then cross the Atlantic Ocean. return home.

  Through this voyage, Citi Country declared to the world;

  Citi's navy should do better than Russia's Baltic Fleet. Even after completing the voyage around the world, it can maintain its vigorous combat effectiveness to win.

  On December 30, 1907, the Great White Fleet, which assembled all the main forces of the Citi fleet, officially set sail, starting a two-year voyage around the world.

  1908, (Guangxu 34 years) October, Guangxu and Cixi fell ill successively. Puyi entered the palace and became emperor.

   End of July 1908

Under the instigation of Citigroup, the Argentine government announced to double the commercial tax on the wool textile industry, and the tax rate has been increased from the original 11.2% to 24.5%. The above-mentioned Ocean Empire investors have aroused strong dissatisfaction among investors, and the contradictions have become increasingly acute.

  In mid-August, after repeated unsuccessful negotiations, the Argentine Wool Textile Industry Association, which was established by the Ocean Empire headed by Hongshan Wool Textile Factory, Dacheng Wool Textile Factory, Fushunkang Wool Textile Factory, and Dachanglong Wool Textile Factory, announced;

  Because of the government's arrogant and unreasonable imposition of heavy taxes, wool textile manufacturers are unable to sustain themselves. From now on, they are in a state of semi-shutdown, laying off workers and maintaining only minimal production.

This move caused the unemployment of nearly 170,000 textile workers, which immediately caused considerable unrest in the society. Angry unemployed workers and their families rushed into the local police station and government, smashed the facilities into a rubble, and injured hundreds of people. counted police and government workers.

   On August 22, Argentina declared martial law and began to mobilize the army and the militias in the market to suppress the rioters, causing widespread social unrest.

   On August 23, the embassy of the Ocean Empire in Buenos Aires formally sent a note to the Argentine government, putting forward 7 requirements;

   First, immediately change the wrong practice of violently suppressing the people, and withdraw the army to the barracks to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

   Second, we must ensure the personal and property safety of the expatriates in the Ocean Empire, strictly prohibit the further development of violations, give fair treatment in line with international norms, severely punish the police and officials who harm innocent expatriates, and quell social unrest as soon as possible.

   Third, ban unreasonable tax provisions and hold relevant officials accountable.

  Fourth, give reasonable compensation to the affiliated merchants, factories and employees of the Argentina Wool Textile Industry Federation, eliminate the adverse effects as soon as possible, appease the masses, and avoid further intensification of conflicts.

   Fifth, open up the port of Buenos Aires and the surrounding area, divide it into a free trade zone, and set up independent institutions to govern. The government shall not interfere without legitimate reasons.

   Sixth, immediately arrest and expel foreign personnel who deliberately incite conflicts between the two countries. If necessary, the Ocean Empire can be extradited for trial, so as to maintain the fairness and justice of international law.

   Seventh, the Afghan government must make a formal apology in public, change its course, hold relevant government responsible persons accountable, and take concrete actions to maintain the friendship between the two countries.

   Answers to the above 7 items are limited to five days, otherwise it will be too late once the empire is angry and regretful, so don’t be surprised.

  My dear, once the seven-point ultimatum was issued, it immediately blew up the Argentine society.

   in the early 20th century

Argentina is famous for its society, wealth and prosperity. Europeans who immigrate to the Americas prefer Argentina instead of Citi. This country has formed a population structure dominated by whites, with local indigenous and other ethnic groups only accounting for a little more than 40%. .

  This diplomatic note shows the indistinguishability of arrogance and condescension. How can the arrogant Argentines accept it?

   Especially the fifth clause is particularly excessive. Although the words have been modified, the content essentially places Argentina as a colony and seriously harms the sovereignty and integrity of the country. How can such a clause be agreed?

   (end of this chapter)