Rise of Australia

Chapter 341 Anglo-Australian Treaty
After several days of negotiations, on February 1913, 2, which was also the last day of this month, the Australasian government and the British delegation reached a consensus on the British aid to Australasia.

Because both sides have a strong willingness to cooperate, Australasia wants to get more aid, plus a plan to accelerate the country's rise by acquiring more land and benefits in World War I.

The British Empire also needs a country like Australasia that already has the strength of the great powers in all aspects and can provide the British Empire with various mineral resources, food, beef and mutton, medical supplies and other logistical resources.

The Australasian navy can also jointly patrol the Indian Ocean and other areas with the British navy to protect the African and Indian colonies of the British Empire.

So, England, France, Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean, Oceania, South Pacific, Chile, Atlantic Ocean.Such a complete transport route can be formed.

This line covered almost all the colonies of the British Empire, such as Australasia and Chile, which provided important mineral resources, and blocked Germany's way to obtain resources from the outside world.

At the same time, if the navy of Australasia can share the pressure for the navy of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, the British Empire can dispatch more main fleets to the Atlantic Ocean and mainland Europe to block Germany's transportation lines.

If such a plan can be successful, no matter how powerful Germany is, it will be dragged down by the Allies due to the lack of logistical resources.

In order to completely pull the country of Australasia into his chariot, Minister Gray received instructions from the British cabinet and was very generous in this negotiation.

In the aid plan that the two sides have initially reached a consensus on, Minister Gray nodded and agreed to give Australasia about 3000 million pounds of support in terms of funds.

Of course, the £3000 million will be paid over seven years, with £500 million in aid to Australasia in the first three years and £375 million in aid to Australasia in the next four years.

Although this financial assistance may not seem like much, the good news is that it is completely free and Australasia does not need to repay it.

In fact, the total amount of 3000 million pounds alone seems to be a lot.Even compared with the most advanced super dreadnought ships, at least a dozen can be built.

Even if the payment is divided into seven years, the funds paid by the British government to Australasia every year can at least build one super dreadnought plus one dreadnought. This is for nothing, and Arthur has no reason not to.

In terms of financial assistance, both the British government and the Australasian government are very satisfied.

For the British government, although this financial assistance lasts for seven years, the highest expenditure in the first three years is only 500 million pounds per year.

For the British Empire, whose annual fiscal revenue is close to 4 million pounds, this expenditure of 500 million pounds is really nothing.

For Australasia, whether it is 1000 million Australian dollars in the first three years or 750 million Australian dollars in the next four years, it is not a small figure.

After all, the total fiscal revenue of Australasia last year did not reach the level of [-] million Australian dollars. The amount of aid provided by the British allowed the Australasian government to have more financial reserves.

Whether this money is spent on the people or the military, it can bring many benefits to Australasia.

Both sides were satisfied with the amount of financial assistance, so it was quickly concluded and became the first item in the agreement between Britain and Australasia.

Of course, financial aid is only an appetizer compared to other aids.

Both parties know that the 3000 million pounds will not allow Australasia to have a higher level of military and industrial strength, and it can only be regarded as a small icing on the cake.

In order for Australasia to willingly join future European wars, the British have to pay more support and even more land area.

As time entered March, the negotiations between the two sides are still in full swing.

The next step of the negotiation is also the focus of this negotiation, that is, the scope and extent of the British Empire's support for Australasia in terms of technology and personnel.

For a country, advanced technology, equipment and talents are an integral part of national development.

Advanced technology and equipment are the present of the country, and talents with abundant reserves and good enough are the future of the country.

Now that there is such a big dog family in the UK, Arthur will definitely not let go of the opportunity to make a good fortune from the British.

At present, the proportion of the world's talents, Europe accounts for at least [-]% of the top talents.[-]% in the United States and [-]% in other regions.

Although with the dark clouds of war in Europe, European talents have been lost in large numbers.

However, it cannot be denied that the current Europe is still the brightest pearl in the world, and still has the most advanced technology, the largest industry, the most prosperous economy and the most advanced system in the world.

As the most powerful country in Europe and the most powerful country in the world, the talent pool of the British Empire naturally goes without saying.

At least in terms of the navy, the talent pool of the British Empire is definitely the richest in the world, and there is no one.

The technology of the Australasian Navy has experienced the assistance of Germany and the United Kingdom successively, and has now developed into a world-class one.

But there is still a huge gap between this and the British Empire, and Arthur is also very coveted by the talents and technology of the British Empire.

Under Arthur's instruction, the Australasian government specifically discussed the second negotiation, and decided to set the aid in this range as high as possible.

In terms of technology, human resources, industrial equipment, etc., the more these aids, the better.The more aid Australasia receives, the more it can improve its current strength and its future potential.

Because of Arthur's support, government officials really dared to speak.Any cabinet department not only proposed a large number of technology and equipment needs, but also hoped that the UK could support hundreds of talents.

Adding up several departments, the British government needs to provide thousands of talents every year, and even the British government cannot afford such a huge consumption.

No matter how rich and powerful the British are, Minister Gray dare not agree to such a high request for assistance.

If you look at the demands made by the Australasians, I am afraid that Australasia after the aid will be at least among the top five powers.

This obviously conflicts with the current purpose of the British.

What the British need is a certain strength that can provide logistical assistance for themselves in future European wars and help them protect Australasia in the rear.

At most, after the end of the war in the future, the purpose of jointly preventing the expansion of the United States on the other side of the Atlantic.

Judging from the current aid requirements, I am afraid that Australasia after the aid will have the ability to compete with the United States on its own.

Although a stronger Australasia can perfectly contain the United States, if Australasia continues to expand northward, the British worry that it will be beyond their control.

After another ten days of wrangling, on March 1913, 3, the second clause of the agreement between the two parties was also finalized.

According to the agreement, from 1913 to the end of 1919, the United Kingdom will provide Australasia with a large amount of industrial machinery and equipment, mainstream and modern technology, and outstanding talents in all aspects for a total of seven years.

Assistance in accordance with Australasian needs in terms of industrial machinery and equipment and technology.

Australasia will purchase these industrial equipment and technologies at prices slightly below market prices, and the United Kingdom will be responsible for teaching them to Australasia.

That is to say, after acquiring British technology, Australasia can skip the long period of mastering technology and directly let British experts teach these technology knowledge for themselves.

This will greatly increase the speed at which Australasia can control British technology, allowing Australasia to quickly catch up with the UK in terms of technology.

Although it takes money to purchase industrial equipment and technology, for the Australasian government, which has a fiscal surplus every year, money is the last thing it lacks.

Among other things, the government spends 2000 million Australian dollars every year to buy British industrial equipment and technology, which is completely fine.

This 2000 million Australian dollars may not seem like a lot, but in this day and age, the purchasing power is already quite good.

What's more, Minister Gray personally promised that the industrial equipment and technology sold to Australasia will be lower than the market price, and will be sold to allies at the most favorable price.

Yes, after these two conditions were basically met, Australasia and the British Empire have actually become de facto allies.

In addition to military matters that have not yet been discussed, cooperation in diplomacy, economics, etc. is already a well-deserved ally.

As for the talent assistance for the second item, after many times of "bargaining", Minister Gray reluctantly nodded and agreed to the Australasian side's proposal of at least 300 talents per year for a total of seven years. need.

These 300 talents will cover all walks of life and various fields, and the specific needs of talents will be determined according to the specific needs of Australasia.

Even in Arthur's plan, talents in education, medical care, etc. will be within the scope of these 300 people.

In short, what talents are lacking in Australasia, just like what talents are required by the British Empire.

In addition to these two assistance matters, Arthur also made an additional request to Minister Gray, that is, an annual friendly exchange between the shipyards of Australasia and the British Empire.

In addition, the three major shipyards in Australasia will send some students to the shipyards of the British Empire to study, and some shipyards of the British Empire will also send some experts to Australasia for guidance.

The excellent shipbuilding industry of the British Empire, it is impossible for Arthur not to take advantage of this wool.After sending students and inviting experts, Arthur couldn't believe that the shipyards in Australasia couldn't learn more.

The British are so leading in warships that Arthur is eager to send students from the shipyard to the British shipyard every year.

The help of the British is definitely not small for the dreadnought and super dreadnought technology currently possessed by Australasia.

After the negotiations on the two main aids of the agreement were basically completed, the focus of this negotiation also came to another important point besides aid, that is, the military cooperation between Australasia and the British Empire.

As the saying goes, if there is a gain, there is a loss, and if there is a loss, there is a gain.The reason why the British Empire aided Australasia was definitely not without any purpose.

Such aid is different from previous patronage aid.The scale of aid signed by this agreement is enough to take Australasia a step further.

This also means that Australasia must pay a certain amount in return for military cooperation to satisfy the British.

As the so-called exchange of sincerity for sincerity, such an agreement wants both parties to implement it together. In addition to the reciprocal conditions, the motivation of both parties to implement the agreement is also very important.

Beginning on March 3, the negotiations between the British Empire and Australasia have become Minister Gray to make conditions, and Prime Minister Kent and the cabinet to "bargain".

The first condition proposed by Minister Gray is that Australasia will send at least three major warships to help Britain maintain the situation in the Indian Ocean after the outbreak of the European war.

Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, there are Indian regions that are very important to the British Empire, as well as the African colonies of the British Empire, as well as important strategic areas such as the Strait of Malacca.

Therefore, patrolling in this area has become very important. At least during wartime, there must be enough warships to protect the safety of this area.

If the Australasian navy can join the patrol system in the Indian Ocean, it will allow the British navy to save several major warships and invest them in possible naval battles in Europe.

This will also further expand the advantages of the Royal Fleet and the High Seas Fleet, and reduce the possibility of the fleets of the Allies getting together.

Prime Minister Kent immediately agreed to Minister Gray's first request without even thinking about it.

The conditions for sending three main warships to help the British patrol the Indian Ocean after the outbreak of the European war are not harsh, and it is completely acceptable for Australasia.

The second requirement of Minister Gray is that if a European war breaks out, Australasia will send at least 20 troops to fight, and at least a quarter of the troops must be regular troops.

In order to repay the Australasian military contributions, Minister Gray also promised to be responsible for the logistics of the Australasian army in Europe, and to bear half of the military expenditure of the Australasian army in Europe.

In fact, this is not the only case in Australasia.The British Empire also put forward such conditions to its two other allies, France and Russia.

If war breaks out in Europe, the British Empire will bear part of the military expenses of France and Russia to ease the financial pressure on the two countries.

Especially Russia's financial pressure, because the domestic situation is inherently turbulent, coupled with the relatively backward industry and economy, so it needs more support from the British Empire.

What's more, Russia already owes France a large amount of loans, and its financial situation is already very dangerous.

At present, the size of the largest army in Europe is still maintained. If the British Empire does not provide certain financial support, I am afraid that the war has not yet begun. Because of the huge military expenditure, Russia will fall into high debts and even risk bankruptcy.

Prime Minister Kent cannot make a decision on his own with Minister Gray's request.

After asking Arthur for instructions, Prime Minister Kent agreed, but he also made certain changes to Minister Gray's request.

Regarding the issue of sending troops, Australasia can send at least 25 combat troops to Europe after the outbreak of the European war.

Although the number has increased, Minister Kent has also limited the time for regular troops to be dispatched.

That is, the Australasian Ministry of Defense will send a total of more than 5 main troops to Europe throughout the war.

But the requirement is that the final command of all combat troops sent by Australasia is in the hands of the Australasian Ministry of Defense. Britain, France and Russia can request the Australasian army to cooperate, but they cannot force orders.

Arthur's idea is also very simple.Although I am confident in the combat capability of the army, the combat capability of an army that has not experienced a major war is not the peak after all.

If we can rely on this European war to allow the main force of Australasia to take part in this great war in rotation, it will not only satisfy the British, but also train the regular Australasian army fighting ability.

But training is training. Arthur has no intention of letting his army become cannon fodder for Britain, France and Russia, and work hard for Britain, France and Russia.

Whether it is a non-main force or a main force going to Europe for rotation operations, its final command must be in the hands of Australasia itself.

The few main forces are the foundation of the Australasian Army.Although Arthur planned to send them to Europe, he had already prepared for many casualties.

However, the large-scale casualties were also unacceptable to Arthur. If Britain, France and Russia were allowed to command the Australasian army, it is very likely that after the outbreak of World War I, these troops would be dispatched to cruel meat grinder battlefields like Verdun.

You must know that there were several large-scale battles like Verdun broke out in World War I. The number of troops participating in each battle exceeded millions, and the number of casualties reached millions.

Even if Australasia can send 25 combat troops, they will only be exhausted in such a large-scale battle, and Arthur and Australasia will suffer in the end.

Therefore, Arthur would rather send 5 more combat troops to firmly control the command of the army in Australasia's own hands.

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(End of this chapter)