I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 768 Victory
As for how to overthrow Britain's hegemony, the United States and Red Russia in another time and space have already demonstrated to George how to overthrow Britain's hegemony.

After the end of World War II, despite extremely difficult financial circumstances, Britain continued to allocate funds for the construction of battleships to maintain its maritime hegemony.

At the same time, Britain ignored the demands of its overseas colonies and dominions and refused to cede more power, which put Britain's colonial rule order in jeopardy.

Deterrence is like the emperor's new clothes. As long as it is not exposed, it will always exist.

Once someone successfully defected, a domino effect would occur.

The independence of South Africa and Ireland provided the best examples for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.

Canada is fortunate enough that, due to threats from the United States, it has to rely on the protection of the Royal Navy to maintain relative independence.

Australia and New Zealand are far away from the British mainland. Once the Royal Navy's strength weakens to the point where it can no longer effectively protect Australia and New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand will be forced to find a new umbrella of protection.

On December 12, Senator Barrios Zakharov from Western Austria gave a speech in the Australian Parliament, calling for greater trade autonomy.

The reason why the Commonwealth is self-contained is that it lowers tariffs internally to promote the circulation of goods, and raises tariffs and sets up trade barriers externally to reduce the competitiveness of foreign goods in the Commonwealth and protect the interests of the Commonwealth market and enterprises.

This regulation is only beneficial to the UK and will harm Australia's interests.

There is a clear division of labor within the Commonwealth. As a raw material production base and commodity dumping site for the UK, Australia provides industrial raw materials to the UK at low prices, but is forced to import industrial products from the UK at relatively high prices.

Although the arrogant British label all foreign goods, including those from the United States, Russia and Germany, as inferior, the market does not lie, and products from the Amur are far more popular in Australia than those from the UK.

The trade system designed by London does not have any major problems in essence and basically conforms to the national conditions of the United Kingdom.

However, there are bad people within the Commonwealth. Some businessmen who think they are shrewd purchase goods from Amur and then import them into Australia through other Commonwealth countries or regions.

Australia can only impose minimal tax or even no tax on goods imported from within the Commonwealth.

Since Amur products are popular in the Australian market, why can't Australia import products directly from Amur?

This would at least keep more tax revenue within Australia.

"I have a can of caviar from the Straits Settlements in my hand. The caviar used in this can comes from Russia, and the can box is also made in Russia. Ninety-nine percent of the entire production process is completed in Russia. Merchants in the Straits Settlements only put a label on it that says it belongs to the Commonwealth. This can of caviar, which is 99% Russian in origin, entered the Australian market in the name of the Commonwealth—"

Zakharov has a complicated background. His mother is French and his father is a Slav born in the Ottoman Empire. Zakharov himself was born in Britain and immigrated to Australia with his parents when he was young and received education in the United States.

As caviar is not produced in the UK, tinned caviar is duty-free within the Commonwealth.

But if you import directly from Russia, you will have to pay an import tax of about 30%.

"This small can alone costs us £15 in lost tax revenue each year."

The "pound" in Australia is not the British pound, but the Australian pound issued by Australia itself in 1910, and the exchange rate is tied to the British pound.

"Since London doesn't produce caviar and we don't produce caviar ourselves, why can't we import caviar directly from Russia and lose this part of the tax revenue for nothing?"

Zakharov was filled with righteous indignation and casually took out an Australian lobster with its claws bared.

"If we want to sell our lobsters to the Grand Duchy of Yuriev, we will also have to pay about 30% tax, which will seriously weaken our competitiveness. If we can sit down and talk with the Grand Duchy of Yuriev and make both caviar and lobsters tax-free, then at least it can increase our competitiveness and also provide us with more tax revenue."

Zakharov's voice echoed in the parliament hall, deafening.

Billy Hughes was playing with a pen in his hand, his face expressionless, his eyes staring at Stanley Bruce.

Stanley Bruce frowned and covered his mouth, whispering to the Speaker of the House, Labour Party leader James Scullin, beside him.

James Scullin listened attentively, nodding from time to time to show his approval of Bruce.

Before Zakharov finished his speech, Liberal MP Holt could no longer tolerate it.

"I want to remind Senator Zakharov to be aware of your identity. You are an Australian senator, not a servant of Grand Duke Yuriev—"

"You are not only rude but also have no self-awareness. I am not a servant of Grand Duke Yuriev. On the contrary, you are a slave and watchdog of London!"

Zakharov started cursing and the order in the meeting hall suddenly fell into chaos.

James Scala banged the gavel in his hand hard, hoping to maintain order in the meeting.

Unfortunately, nothing worked.

The meeting ended abruptly without reaching any consensus.

But the senators are used to it; this is the norm in parliament.

After the meeting, the communication time begins as usual, which is when the game begins.

Zakharov took the initiative to visit Scala, hoping to gain the support of the Labor Party.

“Although I personally agree with your proposal, I cannot make any promises to you. You should revise your proposal to make it more in line with the interests of the majority.”

Scala is an old fox who won't release his eagle until he sees the rabbit. "When you say the majority, do you mean London or Australia?"

Zakharov took the opportunity to set a trap for Scala.

"Generally speaking, we should strive to achieve the best balance among all the conflicts of interest."

Scala's answer is a panacea, as answered.

"All my starting points are based on Australia's national interests."

Zakharov also used his magic weapon, left Scala's official residence, and went to find Hughes again.

"This is not simply an economic issue. Taxation is important, but national security is more important."

Hughes did not dare to express his opinion easily on this issue.

"I know what you are worried about, but what I want to say is that if the federal government cannot protect the interests of Western Austria, Western Austria will negotiate trade with the Grand Duchy of Yuriev alone."

Zakharov issued an ultimatum.

Before Zakharov could go find Stanley Bruce, Bruce came to him on his own initiative.

Bruce happened to meet Bobov, the general manager of Yuriev Mining Company, in Zakharov's office.

Bobov prepared a check for Bruce for 10 rubles, designated as a donation to the families of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps officers and soldiers who died during the World War.

This is not a check, it's a red-hot iron.

Although the controversy over the iron ore in Western Austria has not disappeared, it has not affected the progress of the Yuriev Mining Company's project.

The George Port built by Yuriev Mining Company has been put into use. Currently, it can only accommodate merchant ships of less than 10 tons. After it is fully completed in the future, it will be able to be used by merchant ships of tons.

The managers of Port George are either staff sent by the State of Western Australia or employees of the Yuriev Mining Company. Melbourne sent a tax officer to Port George a month ago, who was hospitalized for malaria shortly after arriving in Port George.

Fortunately, it was just malaria, at least I wasn't killed by the kangaroos.

What worries Bruce is that after receiving the fees paid by Yuriev Company, the Western Austrian state government established a 500-man National Guard, fully equipped with Russian equipment, and hired instructors from Russia for training.

These equipments were also donated free of charge by Yuriev Company.

"I will submit the relevant plan at the Imperial Conference next year. Until then, we all need to remain patient."

Bruce knew that the trend could not be reversed.

Australia does have a group of politicians who are loyal to London.

But more and more Australians are beginning to realize that their efforts in London are not getting the rewards they deserve.

If a dog licks nothing and fails to lick any hope, his saliva will run out sooner or later.

To this poor boy from Australia, London is a goddess high above all others.

Since you can't lick it, you might as well spend the money on yourself.

"We submit similar proposals to the Imperial Conference every year. What are the results?"

Zakharov just laughed it off and decided not to mention the Imperial Conference.

The Imperial Conference was merely a tool used by London to appease the overseas colonies and dominions, and London never really paid attention to the demands of the overseas colonies and dominions.

"Although it seems that our gains are limited at present, at least we are working hard to move forward. As long as we persevere, the problem will be solved one day."

Although Bruce was not optimistic, he did not give up hope.

"Of course it doesn't matter to you, it's part of your job; but for us businessmen, we paid money but didn't get the corresponding benefits, so we deserve to suffer losses?"

Bobov is so sinister. If you don’t want dignity, I will give you dignity.

At the plenary session of parliament a week later, Zakharov gained more and more support, and even two senators from the Country Party from New South Wales began to support Zakharov's proposal.

Scala had no choice but to agree to vote on Zakharov's proposal.

As expected, Zakharov's proposal was passed with a high vote.

The moment the voting results came out, there was a huge cheer in the parliament hall. The members of parliament clapped and hugged each other, as if they had won the victory and obtained the long-desired trade autonomy.

Scala was full of worries. Australia's troubles had just begun.

Zakharov did not celebrate, but lit a cigar.

(End of this chapter)