ps: The fourth update is completed today! Please subscribe and vote monthly! Thank you book friends for the tip of Extreme Deep Sea Diving!
The Loubet government in France collapsed and the Fallier government came to power. Like France, the British Arthur Balfour cabinet was the same. On the day after the collapse of the Loubet government, the British Parliament formally passed a motion of no confidence in the Arthur Balfour cabinet.
Prime Minister Arthur Balfour announced the resignation of the Cabinet!
Two days later, Sir Henry Campbell Banneran, leader of the Liberal Party, took office to form a cabinet and established the new British cabinet. After swearing allegiance to King Edward VII, Sir Henry Campbell Banneran submitted a list of cabinet members and it was approved. The new
In the cabinet, except for Lord Banneran as Prime Minister, in the previous cabinet, the Foreign Secretary Lord Lansdowne, the Admiralty Secretary Sir John Fisher, the Colonial Secretary Sir Edward Gray remained in office, and the new Chancellor of the Exchequer was Austin Chamberlain, Army
Field Marshal Sir Henry Willie Norman.
The problem facing the new Prime Minister Sir Bennet is still how to overcome the current difficulties. Britain and France have suffered a complete defeat in the Middle East battlefield. The U.S. Navy has left the United Kingdom and returned to the country. The British Navy only
The remaining battleship HMS Bulwark still has combat effectiveness, and the battleship HMS Majestic needs to be overhauled in the shipyard, which will take at least three months. The strength of the British Navy has once again fallen to the bottom.
.In addition, China has detained hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war from the British and French expeditionary forces in prisoner-of-war camps on the Red Sea. All of this shows that Britain is no longer able to continue the war and must compromise with China, reach an agreement, and withdraw.
War is the only way. Because of the war, the Suez Canal was blocked, and a large amount of supplies were obtained from India and the Australian colonies. They could only be shipped back to the UK via the Cape of Good Hope, which caused problems with the supply of supplies in the UK!
On the evening of January 27, the new Prime Minister Sir Bennet convened the cabinet members to discuss how to solve the current crisis. The reason why the Liberal Party was able to defeat the Conservative Party and form the cabinet was entirely because the government led by the Conservative Party lost to China in the war.
, causing great damage to British interests. As a world hegemon, how can the British people accept a government that continues to fail?
"Gentlemen, I think we don't have much time left. If we can't reach an agreement with the Chinese as soon as possible to end the war, I won't be able to think about it for long. Our current cabinet will also be kicked out of the Prime Minister's Office.
I don’t want to be the Prime Minister with the shortest time in office!” Sir Banneran said.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I agree to compromise with the Chinese. However, the Chinese's conditions are too harsh, and we have no way of agreeing!" said Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary. His stay in office is undoubtedly to ensure the British foreign policy.
continuation of.
"What are the conditions of the Chinese? Is there room for negotiation?" Sir Banneran said. He knew that the war was lost. It would be impossible for Britain to withdraw from the war without paying a certain price. Of course, this
The price must be within the acceptable range of the British Empire!
“First, the Chinese ask us to recognize China’s right to protect Kuwait! Second, the Chinese ask the British Empire to withdraw from Persia and Afghanistan! Third, the Chinese ask us to agree to the unification of the Arabian Peninsula by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fourth, the Chinese want to control
Suez Canal. Fifth, the Chinese demand that the British Empire compensate them 500 million yuan for war losses!" Lord Lansdowne said.
"Do the Chinese regard us as being taken advantage of? We simply cannot agree to such conditions!" Colonial Secretary Sir Edward Gray said very dissatisfied. The strategic location of the Middle East is very important. Afghanistan is the northern barrier to defend India, and
Persia is a big
The British Empire is slowly encroaching on the Ottoman Empire's advanced base. If these places are transferred to the Chinese, then the British Empire's efforts over the years will be in vain. As for Kuwait, it is full of desert and covers an area of less than 20,000 square kilometers.
As a small country, it can be transferred to the Chinese.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this war has already spent every last penny of the national treasury. It is impossible for us to give the Chinese 500 million yuan in war compensation. We have not declared war on them at all! Naturally, there is no such problem as war compensation!
” said Chancellor Austin Chamberlain!
"However, we have more than 200,000 prisoners of war in the hands of the Chinese. If we do not redeem these prisoners of war, their families will be enough to drive us out of power!" Field Marshal Sir Henry Willie Norman had no choice but to
said.
Everyone couldn't help but have a headache. There were at least millions of family members of the 200,000 prisoners of war. Once these people started making trouble, the cabinet would inevitably collapse!
"Gentlemen, in this case, we have no other choice. Instruct the ambassador to China to negotiate with the Chinese on behalf of the British Empire! Protect the interests of the British Empire as much as possible!" Prime Minister Sir Banneron said.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I think the negotiations will not be carried out until a week at the earliest. Tomorrow is the Chinese Lunar New Year. Except for the military and some special departments, Chinese government officials will get a week's holiday. We want to
If you want to negotiate with them, you probably have to wait until they return from vacation!" Lord Lansdowne said.
"Well, there is no way around it. I believe the people can understand it. In addition, gentlemen, our losses in this war were very heavy. The army lost hundreds of thousands of troops, and the navy only had two ships left.
New battleships. What should we do next? We must be responsible for the future of the British Empire!" Sir Banneran said.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I believe that the current strength of the British Empire has dropped to freezing point. We must shrink on a global scale and put our main strength in key places. After the heavy losses of the navy, we are no longer able to attack the Germans.
It will be suppressed. This will be very dangerous for the British Empire!" Lord Lansdowne said. The confrontation between the Entente and the Central Powers would also be at a disadvantage because of the heavy losses suffered by Britain and France.
"Sir Fisher? When will the navy resume its responsibility to encircle the maritime borders of the British Empire?" Sir Banneran asked.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the Ministry of the Navy will speed up the construction of the next level of battleships as much as possible. It is expected that by the end of this year, or at the latest early next year, the six 'Bellerophon-class' battleships of the next level will be put into service. The next level will be commissioned.
Saint-Sentre-class battleship
, can also be put into service before the end of next year. By then, we will have 14 new battleships, two less than the German Navy. But our ally, the French Navy's next-level battleship 'Breton-class' battleship will also be in
Serve next year. In this way,
We can obtain a strength that is no worse than the German Navy and can basically meet the challenges of the German Navy! However, in order to comprehensively strengthen the strength of the British Empire Navy, we must increase investment in the Navy as much as possible. Designed by the Admiralty, the final
The construction of the new 'Orion-class' battleship has already begun. However, I hope to obtain a special grant to increase the number from 4 to 8! In addition, we will start designing a new and more powerful battleship for the next level!" Fisher
Sir Er said.
Everyone frowned. Navy battleships are money-burning things. If the investment is increased, it will strain the British finances, which is not a good thing for everyone here.
"Gentlemen, I know that the navy's request is a bit excessive, but everyone must admit that the strength of the British Empire is entirely based on the strength of the navy. Since the Royal Navy was defeated by the Chinese more than three years ago, the British Empire has
It's starting to go downhill. If we don't pay attention to the development of the navy, I'm afraid the British Empire's hegemony will not be maintained in the future!" Sir Fisher said sincerely.
"Well, Sir Fisher, the glory of the British Empire cannot be lost in our hands. The cabinet will fully support the navy's revitalization plan! I will communicate with the main parliamentarians and strive to get the navy's shipbuilding opportunities passed by parliament.
"Yes!" said Sir Banneran. All of them
They are all people who came from the Victorian era. Britain in the Victorian era was the world hegemon! Every British person is proud of the strength of Britain. Now that they have become the leaders of the British government, they are naturally unwilling to let the British Empire take over the world.
The overlord's throne has fallen!
After that, the cabinet made a resolution instructing the ambassador to China to reach an agreement with China as soon as possible to end the war. At the same time, it increased the exploitation of the colonies and invested the funds obtained in the development of the navy within five years.
, and restore the Royal Navy of the British Empire to the number one position in the world!
On January 28, 1903, the Chinese Lunar New Year. Wang Yuze held a grand New Year's reception at Xinhua Palace. Domestic military generals, major officials from various provinces, and envoys from various countries in China all participated in this reception. China has already
On the battlefield in the Middle East, China has gained an absolute advantage. Although Britain and France have not officially surrendered, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time before China wins the final victory. China once again defeated Britain and France.
China will undoubtedly be one of the most powerful countries in the world! This makes many countries eager to strengthen friendly relations with China. Even if they cannot gain any benefits from China, they must ensure that they do not
Become China's next target of attack. Over the years, China's continuous expansion has frightened all countries. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is particularly worried. Their Dutch Indonesian Islands have always been a coveted target by the Chinese!
"Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the British Empire hopes to start armistice negotiations with China as soon as possible. If the war continues, it will be a disaster for both of us!" At the reception, British Ambassador to China Zhu Erdian approached Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and said,