Rise of Australia

Chapter 135 An Unexpected Visitor (Happy New Year!)

On November 1902, 11, at the end of the year of 12, Australia received an unexpected guest.

At the beginning of this year, the island country signed a treaty of alliance with the British Empire.The purpose of this alliance treaty is to curb Tsarist Russia's expansion in East Asia, and also to protect the interests of the two countries.

In fact, this treaty will also lead to the Russo-Japanese War two years later. After defeating the Russian Far East Army, the island country will also be officially recognized by other powers, and will become one of the great powers in terms of strength and status.

However, this has no effect on Arthur and Australia. Australia's current sphere of influence is only in Oceania, and it has not even set foot in Southeast Asia, let alone the more distant East Asia.

But Arthur did not expect that Australia would also be able to welcome visits from island countries.

This is a fleet from an island country. Most of the warships in the fleet are new warships produced in the United Kingdom, and even the naval soldiers are specially sent to the United Kingdom for training.

Because of the construction of the navy from top to bottom, the current size of the navy of the island country is still large, and it can even be compared with some big powers.

Arthur didn't understand the purpose of the mission from the island country, but he still let Butler Hunter welcome the mission with a smile on his face.

At the same time, Arthur also ordered the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs to accompany him to find out the purpose of this island mission as soon as possible.

Therefore, a special commercial negotiation started in the Australian government building.

Attending the meeting were Australia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Royal Butler Hunt, Koichiro Yuzawa, head of the island mission, and Toshiyu Hirano, foreign envoy.

As soon as he came up, Yuzawa Koichiro was very respectful, even though the island country far surpassed Australia in terms of strength, he still said respectfully: "Dear Australian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Hunt, the housekeeper of the palace, please allow me to express my sincere respect to Australia and the Duke. Your Highness pays high respects."

"Australia has a good relationship with the British Empire, and our island country has just concluded a treaty of alliance with the British Empire. As the saying goes, a friend of a friend is a friend. I think we can also establish a treaty of friendship to strengthen our relationship. cooperation." Yuzawa Koichiro said straight to the point.

"Mr. Yuzawa Koichiro, we understand your request. I don't know what aspects of cooperation you are talking about?" Australia's Deputy Foreign Minister asked with a skilled smile.

"Australia is a prosperous and rich mining country. Many minerals are what we need at present. I think we can establish a trade treaty between us to strengthen the relationship between our two countries, and at the same time solve the problem of our lack of minerals. " Yuzawa Koichiro said.

Although the island country has undergone decades of reformation, it has established a certain scale of industry and embarked on the road of Westernization and rise.

However, because the island country has a small land area and is a narrow and long island country, the domestic mineral resources are not rich, which also limits the development of industry in disguise.

Taking the current steel output that can measure the industrial level, although the annual output of the steel plants in the island country can reach more than [-] tons, and even increase production, it can exceed [-] tons.

However, there are not so many iron ore and coal mines in the island country, which has also led to the erratic actual steel production in the island country. How much can be produced depends entirely on the supply of coal mines and iron ore.

In this regard, Australia appears to be much happier.After more than two years of industrial development in Australia, although the steel output is only around [-] tons and [-] tons, the supply of iron ore and coal mines is unlimited.

Even at present, Australia's steel production has surpassed that of the island countries. Although it is still far behind the European powers, it has barely reached the level of ordinary European countries.

You must know that Australia's industrial development has only taken more than two years, whether it is an island country or a European country, it has been consumed for decades.

This is Australia's inherent advantage, and it can be regarded as unique in terms of mineral resources.

Australia's Deputy Foreign Minister nodded flatly, but he was thinking about the problem in his heart.

Before this negotiation, Arthur had already specifically informed that the island country is a beast from the top down to the people, and it is impossible for Australia to become an ally with it.

Although Arthur did not explicitly reject possible trade with the island country, it can be seen from Arthur's attitude that it may not be that simple for the island country to obtain Australia's mineral resources for nothing.

"Mr. Yuzawa Koichiro, to tell you the truth, Australia does have relatively rich mineral resources. But it is currently facing a more serious problem, that is, because of the population, the number of mining in Australia is not enough. In order to ensure the stability of the Australian industry In addition to the supply, I am afraid that there is not much that can be distributed to the island countries." After thinking for a while, the Deputy Foreign Minister said with a smile.

"If your country is short of manpower, we can send a group of miners to help Australia with production. Of course, the produced minerals still belong to Australia, and your country only needs to pay the salaries of these miners." Yuzawa Koichiro proposed to.

As the situation between the island nation and Russia becomes more and more intense, the possibility of war cannot be ruled out.

If a war breaks out, the storage and supply of various resources will be a big problem for resource-poor island countries.

After receiving a large amount of financial assistance from the United Kingdom and the United States, the island country is actually not short of funds at present, but what is lacking is a short-distance and very effective source of material supply.

Although the United States and the British Empire can provide corresponding supplies, the asking prices of these two countries are relatively dark, and the distance is still relatively long, making transportation inconvenient.

Australia is the only country that is relatively close to the island country and has rich mineral resources.

Moreover, Australia and the United Kingdom have a very good relationship, and the island country has just signed an alliance with the United Kingdom not long ago.

From the perspective of island countries, Australia is an excellent supplier of mineral resources, which is why this diplomatic mission came to Australia.

"That's not necessary, Mr. Yuzawa Koichiro. We will solve the production of mineral resources in Australia by ourselves, and we don't need your country's help for the time being. We are also willing to export some mineral resources to your country, and even let some factories give up at any cost. Part of the supply. But you know, those capitalists have no interest and will not back down, maybe there will be a rise in the price of raw materials. But please rest assured that the price will not exceed twice the original price, and we will as soon as possible Organize people to expand the scale of production." The Vice Foreign Minister said with a smile on his face.

　I would like to ask you two questions. One is that some book friends proposed to change the title of this book. The title of the book has nothing to do with the content at present.I don't know what everyone thinks, I do have this plan, but I have to ask everyone's opinions first.Second, I also modified it, and the marriage with the Queen of the Netherlands was cancelled. I don’t know if everyone has noticed.Do you have any recommendations for marriage partners?At present, I am looking at the female nobles in Tsarist Russia. If you have any suggestions, you can also give them.

　　


(End of this chapter)