Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On March 25, 1866, Paraguay, led by General Lopez, issued a request to the Brazilian Empire to withdraw from Uruguay, but the Brazilian Empire ignored it.

This made Lopez very angry, and he expressed his dissatisfaction with Brazil on various occasions.

On the 27th, Brazil still had no response.

General Lopez said, "We in Paraguay are opposed to Brazil's interference in Uruguay's internal affairs. Therefore, please remember that at 9 o'clock in business on this day, I officially declare that Paraguay declares war on Brazil."

Is the wind blowing in South America too?

“Paraguay is located in the heart of southern South America, with the powerful Brazilian Empire to the east, Uruguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, and Bolivia to the west.

Uruguay borders Paraguay in the northwest (later, Brazil and Argentina forcibly separated the border between the two countries due to this war), Argentina in the south, Brazil in the north, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It is separated from Argentina by the La Plata River. The two sides are the border.

The capital, Montevideo, is across the river from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Therefore, Uruguay's geographical location is very important to Argentina.

Uruguay's position will also have a major impact on Argentina's security environment.

If Paraguay wins Uruguay, it will change from a landlocked country to a coastal country, and it will cut off all land borders between Argentina and Brazil from north to south. Such a country will be huge for both Argentina and Brazil. threaten.

Therefore, not only Argentina has always been opposed to Paraguay reunifying Uruguay, but Brazil is also strongly opposed to this because Brazil is worried that if the national characteristics of Paraguay and Uruguay are too integrated, it will have a dominant influence on the southern part of Brazil, from Curitiba to the south. Porto Alegre may become the object of claims from the powerful Paraguay and Uruguay.

Therefore, as soon as the Red Party, the ruling government in Uruguay that Brazil and Argentina had always supported, was overthrown, the Brazilian Empire was more sensitive than Argentina and could not wait to express its disapproval of its ruling status to the White Party in Uruguay and wanted to send troops to Uruguay to fight for the Red Party. dang be rehabilitated. "

The Dutch Privy Council, William IV, held an emergency meeting.

This meeting included senior officials from the Dutch cabinet government and military.

With the establishment of the Far East mini-cabinet government, several ministers in the Far East have returned to Amsterdam one after another, and the previous chief deputy ministers of various departments have rotated there. This meeting is also a debriefing meeting on the development of the Far East.

At the beginning, William IV asked the Dutch International Intelligence Agency McKay Sean to report on the war that was about to begin in South America at the beginning of the meeting based on intelligence and information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This gives many people here a general impression of the current situation in South America. Although it is not comprehensive, South America is too biased.

The military representatives attending the meeting included Chief of General Staff Mark Ruede, Minister of the Navy Jan Peter, Minister of War Petter de Jong, Chief of Naval Staff Joseph, and Chief of Army Staff Jopp Ill.

The cabinet government was attended by Dutch Prime Minister Johann Rudolf Tolbeck, Interior Minister Jonler, Foreign Minister Hesbert von, Finance Minister Jan von Capello, Justice Minister Dougal Ross, Industry Minister Wem Kot and Education Minister Lud Bales.

As soon as McKay Sean finished speaking, someone asked a question.

"Sir Sean, what do you think of Lopez as a person?"

Sean looked up and saw that the person asking the question was War Minister Jopp Il.

After nodding to him, Sean replied:

"López was born in Asunción, Paraguay in 1827"

Seeing that everyone was indifferent, Sean explained: "That is the capital of Paraguay. He is the eldest son of Carlos Antonio Lopez, one of the rulers of Paraguay, who is now known as the old Lopez, so Lopez He lived a privileged life since birth and taught himself English, French, Spanish and Guaraní. His father, Lopez Sr., became the president of Paraguay in 1844.

In 1845, he was awarded the rank of brigadier general by his father's direct military officials. Later, under his father's order, he led the Paraguayan army to Corrientes, Argentina, to fight against President Rosas, the then dictator of Argentina.

At that time, not only Paraguay, but also Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile were also hostile to Rosas.

It was not until 1853 that Rosas gave up his ambition to compete with other countries because of the pressure of continuous wars in various countries, war losses, and constant domestic resentment.

And Lopez has grown up after fighting big and small battles in the past few years, and has become a national hero of Paraguay, and his reputation in the country is unparalleled.

In 1855, the elder Lopez sent Lopez to lead a Paraguayan mission out of Europe, visiting the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, attracting European immigrants, inviting European technical personnel, and inspecting the latest European weapons.

Lopez began to study military affairs in Europe, learned about the latest development trends in military technology, and understood the importance of military construction."

Speaking of this, Sean deliberately said in a high voice: "Everyone, Lopez admires His Majesty Napoleon I of France, our neighbor to the south, so he loves his country and his country. He also has great respect for His Majesty Napoleon III.

During his visit to Paris in 1856, Lopez asked to meet Napoleon III. The two were said to have had a pleasant conversation, and Napoleon III even introduced Lopez to Parisian socialite Alyssa Lynch, who gave Lopez as his mistress. "

William IV had a strange look on his face. Napoleon III actually changed his career?

However, they can know from this that Paraguay succeeded in wooing the French Empire as its backing.

Sean continued: "After Lopez stayed in Paris for a year in 1856, he brought back a large amount of weapons and military supplies made in France in 1857, and also brought back Lynch, who was introduced by Napoleon III.

Everyone, after our investigation and follow-up, we found that this Lynch is actually an important spy of the French Imperial Intelligence Organization-the Bureau of External Security. She accepts remote control from Paris and has a strong influence on Lopez's ambitious plan. "

The Netherlands can have Argentinian Finance Minister Sarmiento and American Federal State Interior Minister Washburne. Why can't France allow a president?

William IV was never so arrogant that he was the protagonist of the world. In fact, for the sake of the "health" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he asked the Royal Dutch Intelligence Service to conduct domestic investigation operations to prevent the Netherlands from using methods in other countries. He himself was also Other countries are eyeing it.

"A few months after Lopez returned to the country, he was appointed by his father as Minister of War of Paraguay at the end of 1857. A year later, in 1858, he was appointed Vice President of Paraguay and was designated as the legal successor of his elder Lopez."

In the same year, Pedro II of the Brazilian Empire expressed his dissatisfaction by opposing the president of Paraguay who turned into a private grant, and asked the elder Lopez to change this approach. After the elder Lopez directly refused, the Brazilian Empire sent troops to invade Paraguay's territory, making Lopez Their self-esteem was deeply hurt, and they became resentful of the Brazilian Empire. From then on, the fathers engaged in various confrontations with the Brazilian Empire. Among them, proxy political and military struggles were carried out in Uruguay in the south, which was very fierce. .

When he was responsible for mediating the Argentine Civil War in 1859, Paraguay and Argentina almost fought over it. Fortunately, they were relatively restrained at the time.

And it was only after the Portuguese and French empires came forward to mediate that things calmed down.

On March 20, 1862, the old Lopez died, and Lopez succeeded to the throne and became the new president of Paraguay.

As a result, the conflict between Paraguay and Brazil became even more intense.

Even with increasing support from Paris, Lopez was moved when he saw that the Mexican Emperor Maximilian, supported by the French Empire, was becoming more and more powerful in Mexico.

Therefore, Lopez promoted this Uruguayan political incident. "

The entire Privy Council was extremely quiet, as everyone was trying to digest the detailed information from Sean, the intelligence chief.

Hesbert von asked: "In other words, the evolution of Uruguay's political scene this time was driven by external forces? And not just one?"

Sean nodded: "Yes"

Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd said: "The French Empire stands behind Paraguay, Paraguay stands behind the White Party of Uruguay, and behind the Red Party is Brazil, and behind Brazil, is Portugal?"

"No, there should be Britain."

It was Prime Minister Tolbeck who spoke.

"Portugal will not easily offend the French Empire. Only Britain would dare to do this."

Education Secretary Rudd Bales: "Why should Britain intervene?"

Prime Minister Tolbeck said: "One is ebbing and the other is ebbing. The French Empire's recent neutrality has annoyed the UK. However, the UK has been severely weakened due to multiple battlefield defeats. If this continues, the UK will be overtaken by France. At this time , how could Queen Victoria let Napoleon III relax and continue watching the show?"

When everyone heard this, it was true. Britain had suffered successive defeats recently. Although it could not be said that it was hurt at all, its economic and military strength was no longer growing. This is an undeniable fact.

Instead, look at France. Not to mention the domestic economy recently, in North America alone, the United Kingdom supported the South but was defeated several times by the North. Mexico, supported by Napoleon III, lacked the support of the North and the South of the United States, but it won successively. , are almost advancing to Monterey City, which is close to the border of Texas, USA.

As long as northwest Mexico is captured, the entire Mexico will be ruled by the puppet Emperor Maximilian introduced by Napoleon III.

At that time, France will return to North America again after selling Louisiana to America 50 years ago and withdrawing from North America.

This will be a huge blow to Britain, and the prestige of Europe's most powerful country will also lose its halo and change hands.

Therefore, it is strange that Britain is not in a hurry.

William IV nodded secretly.

Said: "With more people, wisdom comes, that's what they say. Everyone's analysis is pretty much the same. But what are the advantages of the Netherlands?"

Yes, how can the Netherlands benefit from this? This time is the point.

For this reason, there was another heated discussion in the Privy Council.

At the end of March 1866, the sparks of the South American War suddenly overshadowed the war between the Tsarist Russia and the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans and the ongoing war between the north and south of America.

Many people looked at the information in their hands with strange eyes, full of anticipation for this, which was not an equal resource but was a classic case of a small country provoking a big country.

Because it is indeed a topic that attracts Europeans.

What do you think William IV wanted?