Chapter 2307: The French Are Coming One
Ruprecht is very busy, really busy. He is now not only responsible for negotiating with the British, but also taking care of the government affairs of Bavaria and Austria. And in the gaps between doing these things, for example, now, the crown prince has to meet representatives from France! That's right, the French! After the French and the Germans reached an understanding and stabbed the British in the back, the Germans also fulfilled their promise and began to slowly withdraw their troops from the French mainland. Now, when the war comes to an end, except A small number of German troops remained in northeastern France to guard the captured British troops and their equipment, and most of the German troops had withdrawn from France.
So far, the Germans have not made the French as demanding as they did the British, and the German Navy has completely abandoned the blockade of France. The Army's withdrawal has also shown its sincerity. At the same time, there is no requirement for immediate payment of compensation.
However, although the Germans showed their sincerity, the French were a little more at ease, but both the Germans and the French knew that before, the two sides fought a war that determined the fate of the country! Even though Germany, the winner in the end, intends to alleviate the feud between each other by letting France go, there will still be restrictions on what to do, compensation that should be given will still be given, and the original sin of defeat will not be written off!
And this time, the purpose of the French representative Clemenceau coming to Berlin is to test the tone of the Germans. Although the two sides have not yet negotiated, if they can know the thoughts of some Germans, it will be quite useful for future German-French negotiations. Helpful, and this trial will have a profound impact on future US-French relations! That's right, it is the relationship between the United States and France. Up to now, the French are still hesitant!
The French stabbed the British on the battlefield just to avoid subjugation, but it does not mean that after this war, France became an ally of Germany like the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Think about it, even in the Cold War period in history, the proud French still maintained their independence, so now, in the current environment, if the French do not have their own ideas, then it is not normal!
Although it was not a formal meeting, Ruprecht decided to play in person. The French are testing the Germans, and for the same reason, the Germans are also testing the French!
"First of all, I am very grateful to your country for your tolerance and understanding at the last moment of the war. I believe that this will be the beginning of a new relationship between our two countries. We have a very good start, but I want to explain Yes, France is still a first-class power in the European continent. We have vast colonies, complete industries and a strong army. We have our own political and interest demands. But what is your country's attitude towards France? As a Qualified, a partner who can cooperate with each other in the future, or is it a dispensable country?" After a brief greeting, Clemenceau stated his intention to come, and it is too early to discuss compensation and negotiations. But the attitude of the Germans towards France is very important!
"We respect France's rights and status as a powerful country. Your Excellency should be very clear that until now, we have not taken measures and measures similar to those of the United Kingdom against your country. This can fully demonstrate our sincerity. The country's colonial requirements are not high, and more of a symbolic meaning. After all, we have to give an explanation to the people in the country, and the so-called economic compensation, we also use loans to describe it, fully taking care of your country's face, and it is in line with our requirements. Compared with the amount of reparations paid by the British, the number of your country is really small. And the sincerity we have shown requires a clear response from your side," Ruprecht said.
"The war between the Empire and France has been over for a long time. Compared with your country's future, you should have some considerations about the relationship between Germany and France? Can you tell me first,
How will France choose in the future? "The Crown Prince kicked the ball back.
"We will try our best to maintain a good relationship with your country." Clemenceau's answer was very vague. "But France will still maintain its independence. Since Napoleon the Great, the French Republic has always been in a very embarrassing position. We are much stronger than the second-rate powers, but weaker than the first-rate powers. We always want to be the master of the world , and paid the blood price for this goal again and again, the Crimean War, the war with Austria, the Franco-Prussian War, and the war that just ended. We paid a lot, but got very little, so, in the future, France The Republic will no longer seek dominance in the world or in Europe, we are neutral."
Clemenceau said carefully. For this statement of the French, Ruprecht still agrees with some of the content! At least now the French are very clear about their position: a powerful country between first-rate and second-rate! Of course, this positioning is only applicable to the current period. If another 20 years pass, France will be at the level of a second-rate power! Virtue must be top-notch. Needless to say, although the British have suffered heavy losses, they are probably better than France. After all, they still have Canada and Australia. Under the leadership of Ruprecht, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can definitely overwhelm France, and the new Soviet Union is probably stronger than France, even though the Soviet Union in this plane has shrunk a lot.
But no matter what, after the French know their position, they will definitely not do things beyond their own power, such as pursuing the hegemony of Western Europe. The French can even appeal to the era of the Sun King, and they have always regarded ensuring French hegemony in Western Europe as one of their national policies. With the rise of Germany, the dreams of the French were wiped out in the Franco-Prussian War, but the unwilling French are still working hard! That's why there was World War I, and now, the French have given up on this, and they want to learn from Britain and take a neutral route.
What about this idea? From the current point of view, it will be no problem within ten years. But if the time drags on for a little longer, then the situation will be different. The reason is very simple. Whether it is history or this plane, the so-called "end all wars" World War I cannot completely resolve the contradictions between the great powers . Historically, after the defeat of World War I, Germany was patiently waiting for revenge, but what about this plane? It is Britain and Russia who are patiently waiting for revenge!
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