African Entrepreneurship Records 2

Chapter 305 Birmingham Peace Agreement

The next point of contention between the two sides is to restore the territory of the Papal State before the last war. The Papal State is located in the middle of the Apennine Peninsula. Once the previous land is restored, Italy can be cut off in the middle.

Friedrich: "The position of the Pope is detached, but the Kingdom of Italy has continuously encroached on the territory of the Pope through successive conspiracies and tricks. We should put the Pope in a special position. The Pope does not participate in the international affairs, but no country is allowed to invade the Pope, otherwise the invader is the enemy of God, and anyone has the right to destroy him."

That is to say, turning the Pope into a vase, or a permanent neutral country, has no effect on other countries. Only the forces in Italy that want to unify will be affected, as uncomfortable as a fishbone stuck in the neck.

Of course Gamor objected: "The Kingdom of Italy does not recognize the existence of the Pope, he is just a puppet of the Austro-Hungarian Empire."

Friedrich: "Even being a puppet is better than being destroyed by an evil country like Sardinia! Is this the attitude of your Sardinian Kingdom towards the Pope and God?"

When it comes to religious issues, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has an advantage. After all, the Pope still has some influence among believers in the world.

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Earl Granville said, "Okay, since we have differences, let's analyze and discuss them one by one."

The ideal state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for Italy is to dismember Italy and at the same time regain the Venice-Lombardy region, and the idea of ​​​​the Kingdom of Italy is no longer important. Now it depends on the attitudes of Britain and Russia.

Britain has interests in the Kingdom of Sardinia, so it hopes to maintain the integrity of the Kingdom of Italy, but it is impossible to expect the Austro-Hungarian Empire to strike and let Italy unify. Especially now that Italy is doomed, the best thing to do is let the Russians be the villain.

So Earl Granville said to the Russian Foreign Minister: "Your Excellency Gorchakov, what do you think of this matter?"

Gorchakov: "I don't have too many opinions, but I think the integrity and unity of the Kingdom of Italy should be respected, and we also support the independence of the Kingdom of Naples."

Both support and oppose. Gorchakov did not mention the Papal State. After all, considering his beliefs, Gorchakov will not speak well for the Papal State.

The reason for expressing goodwill to the Kingdom of Naples is naturally because the independence of the Kingdom of Naples will basically not change, unless a country really goes to war with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This country can be Britain, France, or even Prussia, but it must not be Russia.

Although Russia is very angry with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is impossible to fight for Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially now that the Kingdom of Italy has existed in name only, the Kingdom of Naples has been restored, and the use value of the Kingdom of Italy has also been greatly reduced. Complete Italy can still barely contain the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and one-third of Italy can only be beaten by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.Now even if Russia sends troops, there is a high probability that it will not be able to change the status quo of Italy. At most, it will hit Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the east. If Russia does this, it is estimated that Austria will not be surprised but happy. One of the foundations for the continued existence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is Russia. exist.Even if it succeeds, it is impossible for the final result to fall into one's own hands, but to let the British take advantage of it for nothing.

Therefore, interfering in Italy is a thankless task for Russia. Gorchakov is not at all concerned about the provocations of the British. If he really helps Italy, it depends on the attitude of the British.

Seeing that Gorchakov is not interested in the Kingdom of Italy, the Earl of Granville has nothing to do.It just so happens that France has been abolished at this time, and there is nothing we can do about Italy for the time being. It is impossible to really go to the United Kingdom!
Earl Granville is still clear that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has become the biggest winner this time, that is, the problem of winning big and winning small.Since the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot be stopped, try to minimize the benefits of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Earl of Granville: "The Kingdom of Italy has to bear a lot of responsibility for this war, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not without responsibility. The war could have been completely avoided. I think it is better for both of you to take a step back. After all, the war is here. At this point, the result is already obvious.”

Saying this, the Earl of Granville recognized the victory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on behalf of the United Kingdom, but he still wanted to fight for the Kingdom of Italy.

Friedrich: "We can make concessions, but at most Sicily can remain in the Kingdom of Italy, but that's all."

The people of Sicily opposed the rule of the Kingdom of Naples, so this can still be given up. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire hadn't been instigated to put pressure on the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Naples would not have planned to take over this hot potato.

Gamor: "The Austro-Hungarian Empire has no sincerity for peace. Sicily is already under our control, so it cannot be counted as a condition for negotiation."

Friedrich: "Hehe, the initiative to change the war situation is now in our hands. If we want to further dismember Italy, no one can stop us."

Friedrich's words aroused opposition from Britain and Russia, but they also realized that if the Kingdom of Italy did not surrender, the Kingdom of Sardinia might not even exist by then. Comparing the Papal State and the Kingdom of Naples generally has an advantage.

Count Granville said: "Venice can return to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but Lombardy cannot. The Kingdom of Naples will no longer merge with Sicily, and will never restore the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The Pope remains unchanged."

Friedrich: "Lombardy must return to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Pope's request to take back the eastern land is reasonable."

Gamour: "No! Lombardy and Venice are inalienable territories of the Kingdom of Italy. We firmly oppose the hegemony and aggression of the Austro-Hungarian Empire."

Friedrich spread his hands and said: "Your Excellency Count Granville, you have also seen that it is not that we, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, do not want to negotiate. Since the Italians have made a choice, don't blame us for continuing the war!"

Earl Granville threatened Gamol with a cold face: "Italy, as the initiator of the war, should be punished and stop being ignorant."

The Earl of Granville still defends the Kingdom of Italy in essence, and he also wants the Kingdom of Italy to cooperate with him. This time, Italy loses and loses. If Italy did not perform well on the battlefield, Britain would not be so passive, so Italy can only Accept the mediation of the United Kingdom and accept the defeat.

Earl Granville said to Friedrich: "Venice can be given to your country, but Lombardy must not be returned to Austria. This is the bottom line of Britain."

Friedrich bargained: "Lombardy may not completely return to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but the eastern third must accept the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire."

This is the benefit promised to the Hungarians, and it is natural to get it. Earl Granville agreed to this after careful consideration.

Thus, under the consultations between Britain and Austria, the Italian-Austrian War ended, the Austro-Hungarian Empire acquired Venice and a third of Lombardy, the Pope took back the land along the eastern Adriatic Sea, and the Kingdom of Naples became independent and recognized by the international community.

As for the Kingdom of Italy, under the threat of the British, they were forced to sign the peace agreement. The British essentially preserved the Kingdom of Italy. The Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia, Sicily, and most of Lombardy remained in the Kingdom of Italy. , the overall strength in the Italian region is still the first.

The venue of the meeting was in Birmingham, England, so the "1871 Peace Agreement between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire" was also called the "Birmingham Peace Agreement".

(End of this chapter)