Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 36 Discussions about the Ottoman Empire
  In the conference room of the Royal Palace of Madrid,
  Alfonso was discussing the Ottoman Empire with the visiting British Prime Minister Disraeli.

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"Dear Your Majesty Alfonso,
  Now the ambitions of the Russian Empire have touched the bottom line of our British Empire.

So we hope that your country can give us strong support on issues related to the Ottoman Empire. "

The Bosporus and Dardanelles on the Black Sea coast of the Ottoman Empire were important barriers protecting the British Empire's eastern routes.

Now the Ottoman Empire is a tool for the British Empire to compete with the Russian Empire. The diplomatic actions of the Ottoman Empire government are basically based on the instructions of the British Empire.

A month ago, Russia, Austria and Germany jointly signed the "Berlin Memorandum", but the United Kingdom strongly rejected this.

The fleet of the Royal Navy of the British Empire is still entrenched near Besik Bay in the Black Sea.

British Prime Minister Disraeli once publicly stated: This industry is not to protect Christians or to protect the Ottoman Empire, but to protect Her Majesty Queen Victoria's huge empire.

Of course, this British action gave the Ottoman Empire great confidence.

Therefore, the Ottoman Empire, which was in internal and external difficulties, dared to suppress the Bulgarian uprising and at the same time refuse to accept the "Berlin Memorandum" reached by Russia, Austria and Germany.

“Your Excellency Prime Minister, our Kingdom of Spain does not have any interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.

Therefore, if we really do what the Prime Minister said, then this move will be harmful to the Kingdom of Spain but not beneficial.

Are you willing to return the Strait of Gibraltar to our Kingdom of Spain? "

In this regard, Alfonso's words to Disraeli were obviously sarcastic.

Because the crisis in the Near East can be said to have nothing to do with the Kingdom of Spain.

Therefore, even though the Kingdom of Spain has declined now, it is not a tool used by the British to fight the Russians.

“The Strait of Gibraltar is an important core territory of our British Empire.

Our British Empire will not hand it over to any country. Now we just want the Kingdom of Spain to fulfill its responsibilities as an ally. "

Disraeli never expected that Alfonso would bring up the Strait of Gibraltar. Britain can give up the Turkish Straits, but it cannot give up the Strait of Gibraltar.

“The cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and the British Empire is limited to South and North America. This is an agreement reached by our two countries long ago.

It is impossible for us, the Kingdom of Spain, to offend any major country in Europe for the sake of your British Empire without any benefit. "

Although the current Kingdom of Spain has declined, after Alfonso came to power, the Kingdom of Spain embarked on the road to recovery.

Under the leadership of Alfonso, the Kingdom of Spain had a strong army and a relatively complete basic industrial system in just one year.

The economy of the Kingdom of Spain also began to develop rapidly, and the Navy of the Kingdom of Spain also restored its original strength and began to expand on this basis.

Therefore, Alfonso directly refuted this: It is okay to want our Kingdom of Spain to participate, but there must be enough benefits.

"Then, Your Majesty Alfonso, I wonder what price we have to pay in exchange for your country's support for us on issues in the Near East?"

Alfonso's rebuttal was within Disraeli's expectations.

Without relevant interests, it is impossible even for individuals to expect the Kingdom of Spain to support the British Empire on issues in the Near East.

“Our Kingdom of Spain only needs the Ottoman Empire to hand over their Libya in North Africa, as well as the islands of Crete and Cyprus in the Aegean Sea to our Kingdom of Spain to manage after the Near East crisis is over.

We, the Kingdom of Spain, only need these two islands. I think this is something that your British Empire can easily do.

We can even sell the most advanced warships of the Royal Spanish Navy to the Ottoman Empire at a low price to enhance the Ottoman Empire's maritime power. "

Alfonso said something surprising, if it is said that army equipment is now the leading product of the Kingdom of Spain. So in terms of naval equipment, the Kingdom of Spain appears to be mediocre.

Now the Royal Spanish Navy is undergoing expansion, and many warships are about to be retired.

If the warships that are about to be retired can be sold to the Ottoman Empire at a low price, this will greatly alleviate the financial deficit of the Kingdom of Spain.

"This is impossible. It is impossible for us, the British Empire, to agree to your request from the Kingdom of Spain.

We can only hand over Crete and Libya to the Kingdom of Spain, but it is impossible to hand over Cyprus to you. This is related to the interests of our British Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In terms of the army, we can let the Ottoman Empire purchase a batch of weapons and equipment for the Army of the Kingdom of Spain at our discretion.

But in terms of the navy, judging from the current financial revenue of the Ottoman Empire, the navy's expensive equipment is beyond the reach of the Ottoman Empire.

So you, the Kingdom of Spain, should not think about this. "

Disraeli said directly.

Because the special geographical location of the island of Cyprus endangers the British interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, the British Empire will never hand over the island of Cyprus to the Kingdom of Spain.

Crete was geographically inferior to Cyprus, so Disraeli agreed to hand over Crete to the Kingdom of Spain.

Because even if Crete is handed over to the Kingdom of Spain, they will not endanger the interests of the British Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean.

As for Libya in North Africa, it is a desert. There was nothing but sand there, and Disraeli would not feel any burden in handing it over to the Kingdom of Spain.

In terms of weapons and equipment, with the financial revenue of the Ottoman Empire, it is impossible to afford the navy's expensive military purchases, so it can only purchase some army equipment like the Kingdom of Spain.

Alfonso couldn't deny it.

Because Alfonso had no intention of asking for money from the beginning, it was an unexpected surprise to be able to ask for money in Crete and Libya.

Now that the Kingdom of Spain has established a relatively complete industrial system, the demand for raw materials is also increasing dramatically. “We, the Kingdom of Spain, do not need to ask for cash payments from the Ottoman Empire, but we need them to continue to use mineral resources such as coal and iron to pay in the future.”

Because the territory of the Kingdom of Spain is basically mountainous and desert, the territory is not rich in natural resources and cannot meet the needs of domestic industrial development.

The Ottoman Empire still controls Egypt, and the Anatolia Peninsula and the Mesopotamian Plain where they are located are very rich in natural resources.

"But this would have a great impact on the Ottoman Empire, and they would not be able to agree to it."

Disraeli considered the Ottoman Empire seriously.

In the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire was extremely prosperous. They directly annihilated the combined armies of European countries in the Balkan Peninsula.

Let all European countries tremble under the iron hooves of the Ottoman Empire's cavalry.

But now two European countries can determine the policies of the Ottoman Empire. This is a great tragedy for the Ottoman Empire that dominated Europe back then.

The British Empire now is the god of the Ottoman Empire. If the British ask them to go west, they will never go east.

Because once the British stopped supporting the Ottoman Empire, the courage of the top leaders of the Ottoman Empire would be frightened.

So much so that at the subsequent Conference of Constantinople, the British Empire summoned all European countries to negotiate.

The high-ranking officials of the Ottoman Empire willingly became a tool in the competition between the European powers because of threats from the British.

“But if their land is gone, then all this is just talk, right?

Now that the Ottoman Empire has lost the important coal-producing area of ​​Vaguinea, the Russian Empire, which has already recuperated its energy, may have a better appetite this time. "

Alfonso said to Disraeli.

Coal was an important resource during the first industrial revolution, so its importance is self-evident.

However, with the rise of the internal combustion engine in the second industrial revolution, oil gradually replaced coal's important position. Kuwait, as an important oil-producing area in later generations, is still in the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Next to Kuwait, Qatar, Trusil and Oman are now British protectorates.

The British obviously would not give up the meat that was already in the bowl for the sake of the Ottoman Empire.

"There is a huge gap between the armies of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. Only with the machine guns and rapid-fire artillery produced by the Kingdom of Spain can they face the attack from the Russian Empire.

If the Ottoman Empire can block the Russian Empire's attack on its own, isn't this the best choice for your British Empire? "

Alfonso continued.

Regarding the secret of smokeless gunpowder, Alfonso believed that it could not be kept for long. Because it won’t take long for European countries to develop it.

Only during this period can the Kingdom of Spain have the opportunity to win several large arms orders to alleviate the Kingdom of Spain's financial deficit.

“As for the issue of warships, we in the Kingdom of Spain have actually learned about the specific situation of the Ottoman Empire’s financial revenue.

But now that we are allies of your British Empire, we can show our support for your country by exchanging a large number of warships for a small colony of your country. "

"Your Majesty Alfonso, I wonder where the colony you are talking about is?"

Disraeli asked, after all, the British Empire now had colonies all over the world.

Alfonso waved his hand, and the guard standing next to the conference hall immediately took out a large map and placed it on the table.

"it's here."

Alfonso drew a circle with his hand on the Kuwait area on the map, which included parts of Iraq and Najd, which would be famous oil-producing areas in later generations.

"is it here?
  If this colony is exchanged, then we essentially agree, but I don't understand why your country is interested in this desert. "

Disraeli's question was a normal question for people of this era.

After all, the current Arabian Peninsula is nothing more than a desert with sparse population and barren resources. There is no benefit at all except sand here.

“This is just a desert, and that’s not the fundamental reason.

All we need is that your British Empire can help us convince the Ottoman Empire to complete this arms deal. "

The arms trade Alfonso mentioned was naturally exchanging weapons for various natural resources of the Ottoman Empire.

After all, the Kingdom of Spain, which has now lost its American colonies, is extremely short of raw material origin.

Although the Kingdom of Spain has abundant coal and iron reserves, compared with the truly productive countries in the world, this is just a drop in the bucket.

In order to reduce Disraeli's suspicion of Kuwait's status, Alfonso could only show more emphasis on raw materials, in order to reduce the British's suspicion.

"Happy cooperation!"

Disraeli directly extended his hand to express his agreement. After all, a piece of desert was exchanged for a large number of warships, but now it seems that it is still a good deal.

At this point, the deal between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Spain was finally settled.

Although the Ottoman government may still know nothing about this matter.

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(End of this chapter)