Chapter 347 Citi Country Ambition

   late 19th century

After the Civil War, Citi's economy quickly recovered. As one of the world's largest economic powers, Citi's economy has flourished due to the influx of large numbers of immigrants. In just a few years, the output of steel has increased more than ten times, and the total economic volume has surpassed that of the French Empire. Ranked second in the world, second only to the British Empire.

  But its political status cannot keep up with the rapid economic development. It is a bit similar to Fusang in a different space, an economic giant, and a political dwarf. Most European countries do not look down on it and exclude them.

  At best, he can only follow behind the British Empire’s **** and knock on the side drums. The voice is low and the volume is low. .

  The mediator in the peace talks in Singapore is mainly the British Straits Governor’s Office, which brings together the diplomatic envoys of France, Germany and Austria. The United States is the only one to participate. To be honest, no other country thinks of the United States.

  This is the embarrassing portrayal of the current United States, a country that stubbornly adheres to the "Monroe Doctrine", and its international influence is difficult to reach beyond North and South America, and the established European powers are reluctant to play with him.

  This is because the feudal monarchy is the mainstream throughout Europe. This set of democratic systems in the United States is completely different. The European powers are inherently alienated and guarded from it, and it is difficult to integrate into the international mainstream.

  "Master, how do I reply." Tang Shaoyi respectfully asked for instructions.

  Of course, we can’t reply to the dog’s meddling with mice. Queensland has major business interests in the United States, earning up to tens of millions of pounds in profits every year, and they are inseparable.

  Only a prosperous Cargill steam machinery company in Detroit, has occupied the leading position in the steam machinery manufacturing industry in the United States, with more than 30,000 employees.

  For the sake of your own money bag, you have to be cautious.

Li Fushou considered it for a while and said reluctantly; "The Queensland side deeply appreciates the concerns expressed by the United States, but peace has never been a matter for either party. We welcome the United States to actively participate in the peace process, rather than accuse it with prejudice. On either side, we reiterate once again; we express our serious concern and dissatisfaction with the relevant US discrimination against Chinese labor laws, and hope that the US will change its course and refrain from going against the trend of history and becoming a constructive member of the international community."

  Tang Shaoyi took the dragon and the snake and swiped it; "Master, do you have any other orders?"

   "Let's do these things, remember to put the work into practice."

   "Shaoyi has been taught, so I will go back to work."

   "Well, go ahead."

  After Tang Shaoyi left, Li Fushou stood up, paced back and forth in the room a few times, thinking about the current international situation.

  Incited by the wings of a small butterfly, the situation in the entire South Pacific region has completely changed, and it has affected the war in the North Vietnam.

  This is already the limit of Li Fushou’s ability, and he will not do more.

  With the little energy of Queensland, it is still unable to attract the attention of the European powers that dominate the world today.

The main contradiction and the focus of interest in the world today are still in Europe, with the Mediterranean as the core, and its scope can be extended to Central Asia occupied by the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire, including Egypt, which was recently regained by the British Empire, which is an important production area for cotton. It is also one of the important raw material suppliers for the cotton spinning industry in the British Empire, and the other is the Indian mainland.

  The second place in importance is Central and Eastern Europe, mainly the Tsarist bear and its vassal forces, including Ukraine, East Slavia, and Yugoslavia, which are the key areas for the European powers to be vigilant.

  In the context of the Great Britain-US reconciliation, transatlantic trade and Central America including the Caribbean, the Southeast Peninsula and the Far East are all on the back of the international agenda.

  As for the South, North America and South Pacific regions, uh...Anyway, it cannot be included in the agenda of the European powers, and nobody cares.

  This does not mean that Li Fushou can sit back and relax. A letter issued by the US Department of Foreign Affairs has aroused his concerns.

  The United States in this era has a strong desire for expansion. At first, it wanted to expand north and annex Canada, but this dream was completely shattered by the British Empire's counterattack.

  Remember the Earl of Carnarvon?

It was the British who was awarded the title with the Earl of Queensland. Under the leadership of one force, the scattered territories of Canada united to prepare for the establishment of Canada. As a member of the Commonwealth, he joined the unified market of the British Empire and was influenced by the British Empire. With strong protection, Caernarfon was awarded the hereditary earl title due to his merits.

Unable to expand northward, the cowboys set their sights on the Spanish colony to the south. In their plans, there are Central American Cuba and the Caribbean, Hawaii, and even Luzon and the South Pacific East India, which are thousands of miles away. Islands.

  It is the end of the nineteenth century that the United States has tried to take a share of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. If history has not changed, the Spanish-American War would have started with the end of the nineteenth century.

  Expansion has never been a purely military issue. It is often closely related to politics, economy, and international affairs. Of course, there are ulterior transactions under the table. It needs the right opportunity, which is by no means as simple as it seems on the surface.

  Fifteen years later

  February 15, 1898

  The U.S. warship "Maine" sent to Cuba to protect overseas Chinese exploded in the port of Havana. The U.S. used this incident as an excuse. Demanding punishment for Spain, the Spanish-American War broke out.

   Through this war, the United States occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to further expand its power.

The Dutch East Indies have always been a potential target for Americans. Watching the Queenslanders siege the East Indies and touch their own cheese, this official letter from the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs is full of sour taste, which cannot but trigger Li Fushou. Of vigilance.

He thought about it again and again, and felt that the United States has not yet been able to stretch its hands across the Pacific, nor will it react strongly to Queensland economically, because it hurts its fundamental interests. In a country dominated by capitalists, the president of Citigroup cannot be arbitrary. Presumptuous.

  The current scale of the war in Borneo should not be expanded, so it should be restricted to Central Kalimantan to avoid bringing more international resistance and attention.

  In that case, it would violate the purpose of Queensland's wretched development and bring more unnecessary accidental risks.

Back to the root, Li Fushou’s core interests are still in Australia.

  The East Indies are just grazing and playing rabbits, not occupying the white or occupying it, and it should almost end.

  In the morning, busy orders flew out of the Red Fort, instigating the huge Red River Valley forces to operate in accordance with the established trajectory and continue to flourish.

  Afternoon

  The Lord Earl drove to the new office of the Queensland State Self-Government Office. This is a large area of ​​Chinese-style palace buildings with eaves and buckets, which belong to the Self-Government Office and the State Assembly, the State Court and the State Independent Attorney’s Office, and belong to the Queensland State Administration Center.

  Li Fushou, as the governor, will come to inspect public officials from time to time to show his existence.

  Sitting in the spacious governor’s office, Li Fushou received representatives from all walks of life and made important talks on the current situation in Australia’s north and south.

  In conversation

  Li Fushou strongly urged that the Colonial Department of the British Empire should take substantive regulatory and restraint actions in response to the deviation of the southern states from the Australian unified market, and earnestly safeguard the current crisis situation.

He once again strongly condemned a small group of white diehards, believing that Australia is an out-and-out dominion of immigrants (not a separate country) and should treat immigrants from all over the world equally with an open mind, creating a fair, just, harmonious and free social environment. Encourage healthy business competition, oppose malicious suppression, malicious discrimination, oppose painting the ground as a prison to intensify ethnic contradictions, and oppose the selfish push of Australia to the north-south antagonism.

  Presidents in the southern states should get rid of narrow interests and show the courage to start open and honest exchanges with the north. The Colonial Department of the British Empire should play a leading role and take the responsibility of maintaining the stable development of the colony.

  Queensland’s media mouthpiece, mainly based on the “World Journal” and “Queensland Chronicle”, will send heavyweight editors to participate in the report, and will continue to convey the sincerity of the North and call to sit down and talk aside.

  Anyway, the time is on the side of Queensland. According to the current immigration situation, the number of immigrants in a year is one million, and the natural population grows by more than 400,000, which is not a small number.

  By the end of 1883

  The population of Queensland alone will reach more than 4.7 million (including Shangri-La Island), and it will exceed 6 million by the end of 1884. The population curve is showing a sharp upward trend.

  Of course, we must vigorously promote peace, vigorously promote stability, occupy the moral commanding heights, and firmly hold the black pot that undermines the Australian unified market and the atmosphere of peace and stability on the head of the southern states.

Do not think that public opinion propaganda is useless. Propaganda and public opinion positions have always been extremely important. By striving to show a peaceful posture, calling for exchanges and opposing separation, not only the vast majority of white ethnic groups in Queensland support the state government, even in the south of the stronghold of white conservative forces. There is also a lot of sympathy and support for the white community in Queensland.

  In the Guard Dragoon Division and Guard Tiger Cavalry Division, there are a large number of white soldiers and officers who are willing to fight to defend the unity of Australia.

  After all, not everyone wants to see the turmoil and the split of Australia. This is related to the vital interests of everyone. The economic tentacles of the Red River Valley have deeply affected every remote country and every remote pasture in Australia.

Standing on the moral high ground, the northern forces represented by Queensland can win more sympathizers.

  It’s easy to shout a few times anyway, and Li Fushou is of course happy to do it.

  "Are there any actions from the Colonial Department?" Li Fushou asked.

   "Return to the Governor, London recently sent an official letter to strictly urge all parties to abide by the current situation and not allow any actions to worsen the current situation. The Colonial Department will organize an investigation team to Australia in the near future to work to mediate and ease the current situation."

  "Recently? This is a very interesting wording. When will the relevant investigation team go to Australia... Is there an exact date?"

  "Your Excellency Governor, this is not mentioned in this official letter, and the inquiry has not been answered exactly."

"That's it..." Li Fushou nodded irresponsibly. He knew that according to the pissiness of those old bureaucrats in London, Australia wouldn't be anxious even if the heads were beaten up. The so-called investigation team would arrive before the end of the year. Not bad.

  Let's do it, this is exactly what you want.

"Call back to London immediately. The northwestern states led by Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia will fully implement the London directives, with the greatest effort, the most sincere attitude, and unconditional open-minded exchanges, looking forward to I feel that the investigation team arrived early."

   "Yes, Lord Governor."

  (End of this chapter)