Mediterranean hegemon

Contini ignored the embarrassed two people and continued: "Let's take a look, what exactly does Italy need to import? I firmly disagree with the import of luxury goods. Are luxury goods not available in Italy? Why don't others use them? Are we still eager to import French and British products for our products? Aren’t you afraid of being scolded by the domestic fashion industry? This mentality of worshiping foreign countries is unhealthy and unpatriotic, and there is something wrong with it. A small amount of imported primary products, such as agricultural products, coal, iron ore and other basic raw materials have been arranged, so there is no need to worry at all..."

Mussolini nodded. What Contini said was really not an exaggeration: the United Group renewed a package of primary product trade contracts with the Soviet Union and collected a 20% channel tax. This place can meet more than 40% of Italy's original import supply sources. , and then the United Group signed agreements with South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile to exchange scrap steel and other industrial products, which ensured another 40% of the supply. In addition, it also signed agreements with Bulgaria, Turkey, China and even Romania. The bilateral trade between other countries does not involve much, and there is no need to pay foreign exchange.

For example, Italy's largest imports of raw materials from China are tungsten and antimony, followed by tin and lead. It does not have to pay a dime in foreign exchange, and it is all offset by army and navy scrap steel, tractors, etc. Even now, even the ink circulating among Libyan workers Datou has also begun to be circulated in China - generally speaking, it is even more exquisite than Yuan Datou and Sun Datou! These are all produced directly by the United Group's mint factory. Now the price of silver in London is getting lower day by day. The United Group has a large amount of silver in its hands, and there are as many silver dollars as you want.

Italy does not have to pay foreign exchange to obtain other resources. For example, there are three main suppliers of Italian coal: one is Germany, one is Poland, and one is Turkey. The first two are offset by Italy's oil, and Turkey can use them. Scrap steel is offset; another example is silk. After reaching an agreement with Japan to exchange raw silk for oil, this part of the foreign exchange no longer has to be borne.

Even the iron ore that originally had to be imported from France and Northern Europe now has a new source in Italy: the combined iron ore discovered in Libya is already being mined, and the railways from the mining area to Sirte and Benghazi have been completed and are expected to start this year. It can provide nearly 6 million tons of ore to the country. Another source is the Brazilian Vale United Ore Company. The United Group went to Brazil to explore for oil a few years ago. However, the oil was not found. Instead, a large iron ore was found. Contini took it Named Vale United Ore - In fact, the president did it completely on purpose. He knew that Brazil did not have much oil and was rich in iron ore, so the mine was introduced to the world more than 10 years in advance. Out of a bad taste, it became Vale. River Valley United Ore Company, this base will be responsible for providing 3-4 million tons of iron ore starting next year.

There is another iron ore gathering place in the world in Australia, but unfortunately it is the territory of the British, so there is no need to consider it for the time being. In this way, the ore bases of the two joint groups can provide 10 million tons of iron ore. In addition, Northern Europe can also produce some, and the Soviet Union can produce some. Basically, there will be no problem in maintaining Italy's iron ore production.

After such an inventory, Volpi also hesitated a little. It seemed that the essential raw materials and agricultural products had indeed been solved. He replied: "What still needs to be imported is some finished products, such as cars, trucks, aircraft, machine tools, engine……"

Contini said: "Why import cars and trucks? Are there no cars and trucks in Italy? Fiat's products and United General Motors' products can be used; our aircraft are not inferior to the international advanced level, and United Airlines and Fiat's aircraft are all It has a certain reputation internationally; as for power, the Italian engine industry was really poor in the past, but after we cooperated with General Motors and Chrysler, we introduced a lot of technology, and now we have begun to advance together. Fiat has also recently launched many engines. By the way, United Group. I also hold a controlling stake in the American company Pratt \u0026 Whitney, and I plan to move the R\u0026D center and some production lines to Italy. This can basically solve the engine problems. Other machinery manufacturing and metallurgy can also be achieved domestically. Now the United Aluminum Industry in Libya is European. The largest production base, there are as many as you need...

We Italians need to improve our self-confidence and use domestic products as much as possible instead of always importing. Of course, those indispensable products and equipment, such as precision machine tools, advanced materials, technologies and patents that we do not master for the time being, should be imported or imported. However, the amount will not be large, and it is not that we have nothing to export to earn foreign exchange. In the fashion industry Although the export of industrial products is blocked, the export of industrial products is still considerable. A box of Bailangduoxi costs US$10, and 600,000 boxes can be sold a year. This year we have expanded production and plan to increase it to 1 million boxes/year; United Motors, PVC pipes have good sales abroad, and I also control the crude oil supply in most of the Western European market. These are places where foreign exchange can be obtained. With the two offsets, the total volume can be completely balanced, and 800 million US dollars disappeared out of thin air. Foreign exchange is not used for business at all, it is all used for speculation! "

Both nodded.

"In the final analysis, Italy has to take the route of import substitution, use domestic products on a large scale, and use domestic facilities and equipment. On the one hand, there is insufficient internal demand, Italian workers are laid off and unemployed, which brings threats and instability to society. On the other hand, precious foreign exchange is used to buy foreign products and support the employment of workers in other countries. People who think this situation is normal are either mentally ill or have bad intentions. Leader, do you think I should regulate it?" Contini said generously, "You are the leader of all Italians, not the leader of some comprador capitalists and speculators. If you ignore the interests of the vast majority of Italian people and succumb to this political pressure, then no one will support us when the party's cause encounters challenges in the future, and long live the leader will become an empty talk. Whether Fascism can always represent the interests of the vast majority of Italian people determines the height of our cause and the ultimate success or failure! The party's cause is to be done for a lifetime, not for a while like the previous powerful government. Only Only by always standing on the side of the people can the party maintain its vitality and vigor and be loved by the people forever. I believe you don't want your hard-earned career to be ruined in the future, right? "

Mussolini was convinced and finally said: "Galai, I support you! But I have a request. No matter how you toss, the lira exchange rate cannot fall any further. It must be stabilized at 45 liras: 1 US dollar by May, and it cannot exceed 50 at most, otherwise..."

Volpi wanted to say a few more words, but he kept silent after hearing Mussolini's additional request: stabilizing at 45 is enough. The central bank can no longer take out foreign exchange, and it depends entirely on regulation and the United Group to deal with it...

Contini said very clearly: "Don't worry, I guarantee that there will be no problem! If the requirements are not met, I will step down automatically. However, no matter what I do, you must support me before May and give me full power. "

Mussolini patted his shoulder: "Go ahead, I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"