Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne - Vol 3 Chapter 484
Would Queen Victoria object to an English-Dutch marriage?
The entire Dutch Privy Council was contemplative.
Those attending the Privy Council today are:
Prime Minister John. Rudolph. Tolbeck and his cabinet members Foreign Secretary Haysbet. Feng, Home Secretary Jonrell, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jane. Feng. Cappello, Dutch Minister of Justice Ross, Minister of Industry Wem. Kurt, Education Minister Rudd. Bells, Secretary of Agriculture Gates 8 people.
As for the military outside the cabinet, it is the Chief of Staff Mark. Led by Lu De, the other members include the Minister of the Navy, Yang. Peter, Minister of War Pat. De Jong, Chief of Naval Staff Joseph. Kars, Army Chief of Staff Jopp. Il, Minister of Armaments Louis. Bell 6.
The remaining members of the meeting were members of the direct command of William IV, such as the director of the Royal Netherlands Intelligence Service Bill. Charlie, Director of the Netherlands International Intelligence Service McKay. Sean.
In addition to William IV’s four major international security advisers, Cantur, director of the Dutch National Security Council and coordinator for Atlantic affairs, Akechi, coordinator for the Indian Ocean and Pacific, Samuel, coordinator for Europe and Africa, and Felix, coordinator for the Americas 6 people.
In addition, the entire Privy Council of William IV participated in the meeting today, a total of 21 people.
William IV looked at everyone in the Privy Council. They are the helmsmen of the domestic and foreign affairs of the entire Netherlands. All of them are elites. This part is the hero of the development of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the past eight years. The Netherlands has been able to develop to this year.
He said slowly:
“If the British Empire is a man who has entered middle age, then the French Empire is like a sickly old man.
While Queen Victoria was chewing slowly, the United Kingdom gradually wanted to devour the interests of all parts of the world. It was originally achievable. However, because of the rise of the Netherlands, it seems that the United Kingdom suddenly has a fishbone in its mouth, which is difficult to remove. pharynx.
And under the rule of Napoleon III, the French Empire was overeating. Despite the beauty on the outside, it could actually die at any time on the inside. ”
William IV said:
“I strongly advocate the sanctioning attack on the French, which is also based on this.
Pursuing the principle that your illness will kill you, knowing that the rising Kingdom of Prussia is going to attack the French Empire, the Netherlands’ tough attitude towards France can actually dispel the doubts of the Kingdom of Prussia to a certain extent, and it can make Bismarck It was more reassuring to attack the French Empire than during the previous Three Kingdoms Alliance. Prussia was worried that the Dutch-French Alliance would shoot north at him.
A few years ago, Prussia’s war against Denmark allowed the Netherlands to successfully win Denmark’s arms into the arms of the Netherlands and Sweden.
After that, Prussia’s war against the entire German Confederation made Prussia’s minions appear on the European continent for the first time, and everyone began to be wary of Prussia.
This is exactly what we need, because only such a Prussia can successfully attract countries to Prussia, and the Netherlands will have more time to develop in silence.
Sure enough, countries such as Britain, France, Austria, Russia, and even Sweden were attracted by Prussia.
The Netherlands has had three years of great development opportunities from 1865 to the present.”
Everyone, including Prime Minister Tolbeck, had to admit that William IV was right. With the leadership of Prime Minister Bismarck, Prussia caused a huge sensation in Europe. Even Bismarck has been called the Prime Minister of Iron and Blood. , has already made people feel the definition of it.
“On this basis, the Netherlands has developed rapidly in the Far East. It can be said that the development there cannot take advantage of the opportunities provided by the chaotic situation in Europe.” William IV looked at everyone with sharp eyes, so that everyone who looked at him looked at him. He didn’t dare to look at him, and he smiled with satisfaction: Now, the Netherlands has a new opportunity, that is, the French Empire invades the Kingdom of Siam, which gives us a chance to weaken it, and it is the Netherlands. We tried to win other countries together, and we succeeded. The Netherlands has created a huge reputation, so much that even the UK is very afraid of it.
And Prussia also had a clearer understanding of the Netherlands. As for the French Empire, it was the old man who became weaker and weaker as the twilight came, and became more and more vulnerable to the Netherlands.”
“We have thus become the latest country in recent decades that has dared to stand up to the six major European powers since the establishment of the Vienna system, and there are more than one, almost all of the UK, France, and the Commonwealth have confronted them once, so that the Netherlands’ great power status has been successfully recognized by the people of all countries.”
Everyone here naturally agrees. The Netherlands is currently growing in international power, and many people have already recognized the Netherlands’ status as an international power.
Look at the hordes of Dutch allies, which are all symbols of strength after being recognized.
“Next, the Netherlands will face both challenges and opportunities. The greater the risk, the greater the opportunity. Prime Minister Tolbek, please tell everyone how the Netherlands should go next to the third opportunity, and what should What risks are you guarding against?”
Tolbeck seems to have been waiting for a long time. Although he is 71 years old, he still maintains a white face and no beard, but he does not hide the majesty of his prime minister.
“The opportunity this time is that we have the latest European intelligence. After three years of renovation, the Kingdom of Prussia has finally completely annexed the German Confederation. The current Bismarck government seems to be targeting the French Empire.”
Many people present were surprised.
Although Chief of Staff Mark Rudd, Foreign Minister Heisbert Von and Prime Minister Tolbeck have already received the news from William IV and made a lot of plans, but Minister of Industry Wem. Kurt, Secretary of Agriculture Gates, etc. are the first to hear about it.
The Interior Minister Jonrell said loudly: “Prussia is actually fighting the idea of the French Empire? If this news spreads, the European continent and the world will definitely be shocked.
There may even be huge dissent within Prussia. If the situation is serious, Prime Minister Bismarck will be ousted directly, especially those Prussians who have experienced the intimidation during the reign of Napoleon I. No, come to poke this hornet’s nest? ”
“Yes, I also doubt that Prussia can defeat the French Empire.”
William IV saw that the speaker was the Dutch Minister of Justice Ross, the helm of the International Hague Tribunal Organization, and Ross questioned: “I know that everyone seems to have an opportunity for the French Empire to be checked and balanced in the Far East, but there is no People would think that the French Empire would not have a national mobilization to deal with the consequences of the invasion of France by the great powers, so the Bismarck government should recognize this, I have some doubts.”
Tolbeck did not directly explain the problem, but said elsewhere: “…”