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Text Chapter 787: Intercession

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    If a war breaks out, France will definitely want to win.  Only a fool would start a war if victory cannot be achieved.  Every time a war is defeated, it is the government that is unlucky.  France has had several governments that have collapsed due to defeat.  President Farier, I don¡¯t want to follow this old path again!

    "Is the gap between us and the Germans already so big? Neither the army nor the navy can win victory for France?" President Falier asked with some dissatisfaction.  France has always claimed to be the most powerful country in continental Europe.  Of course, not many people recognize France¡¯s status now, but many French people are still immersed in such glory!

    Both Minister of War Louis Andr¨¦ and Minister of the Navy Charles Camille Pilaten were speechless.  Since the end of the 19th century, France has begun to decline.  France's industrial strength has been completely surpassed by Germany, and the French are also willing to use capital to make profits.  Because it controlled a huge colony second only to Britain, France did not worry about the goods it produced not being sold, which caused France's industrial strength to continue to decline.  At the same time, its military investment is not as good as that of Germany, which has worse conditions.  Now, the French have finally tasted the bitter pill!

    "Your Excellency, the problems we have to face are more than that! If we want to go to war with the Germans, we have to prepare enough military spending. And the Ministry of Finance does not have such a budget!" Finance Minister Maurice Rouvier  also said.

    President Falier.  I suddenly felt a huge headache.  Could it be that we can only watch the Germans shout?  Or, compromise with the Germans?

    "Your Excellency, President, we cannot compromise with the Germans! We have been preparing in Morocco for a long time. It will take up to two years before we can swallow up Morocco. We cannot just waste all our efforts!" Minister of Colonies Gaston Du  Meg saw President Farier showing signs of retreating and quickly spoke.  The infiltration into Morocco was mainly carried out by the Colonial Department in conjunction with some other units!

    "If the Germans really go to war with us, what should we do?" President Fallier said helplessly.  He has secretly made up his mind that after this crisis is over, he will definitely increase military investment and cannot let the Germans be so arrogant again!

    "Your Excellency, the Germans dare not go to war with us. Germany may be stronger than us, but France is not weak. To fight with us, they must be prepared to pay a heavy price! In addition, France is not alone. We  We have the backing of the Allied Powers. If Germany declares war on us, it will be a declaration of war on the entire Allied Powers! In addition, our interests in Morocco are recognized by the British. The British will not sit idly by and do nothing! Therefore, there is absolutely no need for us.  Afraid of the Germans!" Foreign Minister Theophile Delcasse insisted on his opinion!

    ¡°What do you think?¡± President Falier asked.  perhaps.  The trump card of the Allied Powers is already the only one that France can rely on!

    "Your Excellency, I think we can test Germany and remain tough on Germany for the time being! If the Germans can continue to be tough, we will make adjustments when the time comes!" Prime Minister Emil Combs suggested.

    "I agree with the proposal of His Excellency the Prime Minister!" War Minister Louis Andre said first.  Subsequently.  Cabinet members of the French government also expressed their opinions.  Support Prime Minister Emile Combu¡¯s proposal!

    "Well, let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respond to Germany's war note!" President Fallier made the final decision.

    The next day, French Foreign Minister Theophile Delcasse publicly stated that all France¡¯s rights in Morocco are completely legitimate and Germany has no right to interfere with France¡¯s actions in Morocco.  If Germany forces war on France, France will never be afraid!

    France¡¯s statement has undoubtedly added fuel to the tense European situation.  Many Europeans thought that war was imminent.  Some wealthy people even planned to flee Europe before the war started.  For example, traveling to the United States.  Although the United States is threatened by China, it is not so easily affected by war across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

    In addition, French diplomats are also actively working among Britain, the United States and Russia to ensure that if France and Germany get into conflict and a war does break out, Britain, the United States and Russia can abide by the treaty they signed and fight side by side with France.  .  In this regard, Britain, the United States, and Russia have made it clear that they will abide by the treaty they signed.  However, they also called for France and Germany to remain calm and avoid the outbreak of war!  However, just in case, the three countries are also secretly preparing for war.  For example, the British Admiralty has ordered that all officers and soldiers of the British Navy cancel their vacations.Once a war breaks out, the British Navy's fleet can enter the battlefield as soon as possible!

    Faced with France¡¯s response, Germany will naturally not be timid.  On March 20, Kaiser Wilhelm II embarked on a journey to visit Tangier, Morocco aboard the battleship Helgoland.  Although, everyone knew that even when the clouds of war enveloped Europe, France would not attack the ship of Kaiser Wilhelm II.  However, the German Navy still dispatched a large navy.  All four Helgoland-class battleships of the German Navy accompanied the expedition, as well as two heavy cruisers, five light cruisers, ten destroyers and three transport ships.  Rather than saying this is a visit, it is better to say this is a show of force!

    The German Navy's Helgoland-class battleships use the design drawings of the Chinese Navy's Qin-class battleships without any changes. In appearance, they are very similar to the Chinese Navy's Qin-class battleships.  .  Of course, in terms of combat power, it is also equivalent to the Chinese Navy's 'Qin-class' battleship.  It's just that China has not exported its fire control system to the outside world, which makes the Chinese Navy a little ahead in this regard.  However, the 'Qin-class' battleship is still one of the most powerful battleships in the world.  Except for the 'Han-class' battleships already in service in the Chinese Navy, no other battleship can match it.  Even the latest ¡®Saint Vincent-class¡¯ battleship in service in the British Navy is no match for the ¡®Heligoland-class¡¯ battleship.  Not to mention the 'Breton-class' battleships built by the French Navy based on the drawings of the 'Bellerophon-class' battleships.  Once Germany and France go to war, German Navy Minister Alfred von Tirpitz can guarantee that as long as these four 'Heligoland-class' battleships are able to sink all French Navy battleships.  Not to mention that there are four "Helgoland-class" battleships that are returning to the country and will join them in the Strait of Gibraltar!

    Standing on the bridge of the battleship Helgoland, Kaiser Wilhelm II was filled with emotions.  I think at the beginning, he was stimulated by the power of the British Navy, so he did everything possible to invest huge sums of money in developing the navy.  Now, Germany's naval achievements are no longer inferior to those of the British Navy.  This made Kaiser Wilhelm II very proud.  However, the giant steel ship under his feet made Kaiser Wilhelm II a little confused.

    Standing next to Kaiser Wilhelm II, Navy Minister Alfred von Tirpitz noticed something strange about Wilhelm II and asked with concern: "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"

    William II shook his head, and then said: "The 'Heligoland' class battleship is very powerful, but it is not our own!"

    Alfred von Tirpitz immediately understood what William II meant. The Chinese Navy, strictly speaking, is just a student of the German Navy.  However, this student is already ahead of Germany!

    "Your Majesty, our 'Kaiser-class' battleships are more powerful than the 'Helgoland-class' battleships. Our 'King-class' battleships are not inferior to the Chinese 'Han-class' battleships. The German Navy is already  The best navy in the world!" Tirpitz said!  The German Navy will naturally not be content to lag behind others forever, and they are also trying to catch up.  Moreover, they believe that with Germany's strong industrial strength, Germany will be able to surpass other countries!

    Hearing this, William II¡¯s face looked a little better.

    When the German fleet passed through the English Channel, it aroused tension between Britain and France. The warships of Britain and France followed the German navy all the way. It was not until the German navy passed the channel that they breathed a sigh of relief.

    On March 30, the German fleet arrived in the Strait of Gibraltar.  The four 'Helgoland-class' battleships returning from China have also arrived and joined the German fleet.  For a time, the strength of the German fleet has almost doubled. The eight 'Helgoland-class' battleships are enough to sail across Europe and even the world!

    On March 31, Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived in Angier, Morocco.  Moroccan Sultan Abdul Aziz (not the Saudi Aziz) arrived in Angel in person to welcome Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit.

    William II was welcomed by the Moroccans in Angier.  These Moroccans do not want to become a French colony.  It's just that Morocco is weak and has no way to resist the French invasion.  If Germany can help them, the Moroccans will certainly not object, not to mention that Morocco still owes France a foreign debt!

    Wilhelm II publicly stated in Angel that Germany supports Morocco¡¯s independence and opposes any country¡¯s colonization of Morocco.  William II's statement undoubtedly further stimulated the increasingly tense hostile relationship between France and Germany.  Almost everyone already believes that war is inevitable!

    However, at this time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang publicly called for France and Germany to??Calm down and avoid conflicting plans, China is willing to mediate conflicts between the two countries!  (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read it.)
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