Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On May 25, 1864, the Netherlands and Portugal reached an agreement in London. Although Portugal was reluctant, Prime Minister Barreto signed it into effect. Portugal now only has 60% of Angola left, and it is still in the south.

The Netherlands will gradually withdraw from the currently occupied southern part of Angola and take over the north of Mesopotamia, including Luanda in the agreement.

In the direction of Mozambique, the requirements of the Netherlands are generally the same. The two countries are bounded by the Zambezi River and ruled separately.

Portugal originally disagreed, and the United Kingdom and other countries also felt that the Netherlands had gone too far. After all, Angola had already taken advantage of the Netherlands.

Although Portugal launched the war against Mozambique, it did not. It was the Netherlands who started the war first. Now, with just one mouthful, they took away half of Mozambique. It seems a bit too much.

Britain was even more worried about the Netherlands' strength in central Africa, because this time it clearly supported Portugal.

Other countries are also hesitant.

Indeed, the Dutch colonies in Africa were already large, and now if divided according to the division, the Dutch position is even more consolidated.

This is not a good thing for African colonial powers such as Britain and France.

When Dutch Prime Minister Tolbeck saw this, he naturally understood what they were thinking.

Fortunately, before he came, he conducted a sandbox simulation with William IV and got a backup plan for retreat.

So after pretending to be dissatisfied, they proposed that the Netherlands was willing to use the Zambezi River as the boundary, and stated that this was to avoid future disputes. For this reason, the Netherlands was also willing to give up the Dutch-occupied territory in Southern Rhodesia.

As soon as Tolbeck's conditions came out, the British Viscount Palmerston immediately chose to remain silent, and the Prussian Bismarck was even more impressed.

The withdrawal of the Netherlands turned the entire southern Rhodesia from a three-party struggle into a two-party struggle. Especially when the Netherlands in the north retreated, the space for Britain, Portugal, and Prussia to display was much larger.

Therefore, Bismarck saw the essence of the Dutch move, but Prussia had to accept that none of the people here are new to the political arena. Even if they rarely participate in international disputes internationally, they are indispensable for fighting in their respective countries. In this regard Yangmou is quite discerning.

This move by the Netherlands made Portugal's Prime Minister Barreto feel a little hot, but he had to take over.

He clearly felt the cannibalistic gazes of Bismarck and Viscount Palmerston. Obviously, in Southern Rhodesia, it is better to fall into the hands of Portugal than to fall into the hands of the Netherlands.

This should be the thought of the two of them. Even Barreto guessed that this was the thought of everyone in the conference at the moment. This made him smile bitterly, because this represents what Louis I has always proved, that Portugal is not weaker than the Netherlands. Ridiculous things.

Your Majesty, do you know that because of the war you are about to launch, countries in the past just thought that the Netherlands was stronger than us, but now they no longer question it and it has become an affirmative reality.

Of course, the issue between the Netherlands and Portugal is only an issue at this meeting.

Regarding the issue of free navigation on Africa's inland rivers, it was finally adopted that the Congo River Basin, like other river basins such as the Nile River Basin, is open to all countries, but each country must report the country it governs.

The London Conference's attempts to resolve the conflict between the Netherlands and Portugal arising from the partition of Africa were actually conducted during informal meetings of various countries.

On the contrary, it was not formally brought to the conference table for discussion, but was resolved through political transactions under the command.

Therefore, there is no content about the dispute between the Netherlands and Portugal in the London Conference Protocol.

There were other meetings going on throughout the conference.

Including the timely resolution of the dispute between the Netherlands and Portugal, the limited results of this conference showed that the European powers had formed a balance of power in Africa, marking the innovation of the alternation of old and new forces.

It also marked the end of the crazy scramble for African colonies by various countries.

After this London meeting. The pace of European countries carving up Africa has greatly accelerated.

With the end of this meeting, Africa has entered a state of separatism. At present, the areas of Africa that have not been occupied by other countries include Ethiopia and the southern belt of West Africa.

This is now the hot spot for European countries to compete for.

It's okay for Ethiopia, but West Africa is being watched fiercely by countries that don't have colonies at the conference. Obviously after this conference, Tolbeck can imagine that there will be thousands of troops and ships from European countries there. Attack.

In 1850, Europe occupied only 10% of the land in Africa for fishing. By 1961, over ten years, it had only risen to 20%. But now, in 1864, in just two years, it had risen. When it reaches about 80%, it may not be necessary to live through the 1860s. Depending on the situation, it will be completely divided by then.

Africa has become a subsidiary continent of African countries.

In the unprecedented fierce competition for Africa, the British Empire and the French Empire are still the biggest players, and the Netherlands is the new king.

The other kingdoms of Portugal and Spain expanded slowly, and Italy, Sweden, Tsarist Russia and Denmark were just newcomers.

In short, various countries have begun to formulate ABCD plans for national expansion in an attempt to exert their influence in Africa.

Tolbeck was able to predict that although the London Conference recognized the current territory of each country, it wanted to prevent and reduce conflicts.

But the effect may be just the opposite, causing serious disputes and conflicts.

These disputes and conflicts may become important factors leading to a war in Africa that will become more clear than it is now.

Just like the European wars that have drawn borders for hundreds of years but have happened again and again.

There was no set time for the London Conference. When the dust settled, it was already June.

As the results of the meeting were published in major newspapers, people around the world received mixed reviews.

The Portuguese are naturally dissatisfied, no, very dissatisfied.

Many people even believed that this was a loss of power and an insult to the country, and even launched an impeachment against Barreto.

Although he was eventually saved by Louis I, the History Party founded by Barreto lost the new election and became Prime Minister of Portugal.

Louis I could only use the support of the royal family to keep the Barreto cabinet running.

The Netherlands has a different look, with the joy of victory everywhere.

The war initiated by Portugal ended up losing money and territory, which blocked the angry hearts of the Dutch. This was the biggest boost to the Dutch cabinet government.

In this poll, Tolbeck's cabinet received the highest support in the history of polls, reaching 80%, and William IV became the most beloved king by the Dutch people.

This Dutch-Portuguese War was a commendable battle for the Netherlands. It was also the first war against a European power during the reign of William IV. This paved the way for the Netherlands to no longer face European wars in the future. It is very important for the Netherlands to generate any fear.