Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

In order to fight back against the Netherlands, the British passed the "Relationships with Portugal Act" to disgust the Netherlands. Although William IV did not want to be tough on Britain, sometimes the national mood cannot be calmed down easily after you mobilize it. No matter what, it will eventually backfire on its own rule.

Under the current circumstances, the Dutch government knew that another counterattack against Britain would harm the already conflicting relationship between Britain and the Netherlands, but it did not care so much at this time, and William IV also had his own plan.

Therefore, when Prime Minister Tolbeck and others asked William IV whether to fight back, William IV finally agreed.

On July 27, 1866, the 31-year-old Dutch government ambassador to the Kingdom of Prussia, Nicholas Piersen, handed over to the 30-year-old new ambassador to Prussia, Weesemann. Nicholas Piers was transferred back to Amsterdam and became the new third deputy minister of foreign affairs.

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his status is second only to Foreign Minister Hesbert von, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Venus, and Second Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jerry Hunter.

With Nicholas Pierce becoming the third deputy minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Hesbert Feng officially carried out reforms.

The first deputy minister, Minister Venus, is responsible for assisting Hesbert von in managing the overall situation and is also responsible for African affairs part-time; the second deputy minister, Jerry Hunt, is responsible for American and Far Eastern affairs; and the just mentioned third deputy minister, Nicholas. Pearson was responsible for European affairs and Near Eastern affairs.

As the affairs of these three deputy ministers were implemented and their responsibilities were clearly defined, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' acting style became clearer and more efficient.

On July 29, 1866, Nicholas Pierce, the third deputy foreign minister of the Netherlands, officially visited Berlin again in the name of deputy foreign minister. At the same time, he was also the special envoy of William IV.

The new ambassador to Prussia, Wesemann, accompanied him throughout the trip. During his visit to Berlin, he accepted an interview with a Prussian newspaper and was received by Bismarck and William I.

After that, he had a meeting with Prussian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Merck. Few people know what the two talked about. Shortly after Pierce returned to Amsterdam, he visited Constantinople non-stop on August 3. .

At this meeting, the theme of the talks between the two countries was made public.

It turned out that the Netherlands had followed the example of the Kingdom of Prussia and was eyeing the barren southern territory of the Ottoman Empire in the Persian Gulf in the Near East. The Kingdom of Prussia was interested in the Qatar Peninsula, and later the United Kingdom also had ideas.

Now the Dutch diplomatic upstart also expressed the Netherlands' intention to establish a foothold here during his visit.

The rulers of Constantinople were hesitant now.

They don’t understand why these European countries are getting together to want territory in the Persian Gulf. After all, it can be said to be the most fringe place of the Ottoman Empire, and it can also be said to be the most priceless area. Except for some strategic reasons, it is almost invisible. It doesn't have any economic value.

Could it be that these countries really bought it just to relieve their anger?

His Majesty Sultan Abdulaziz I also had an idea and wanted to reject the Dutch purchase idea. After all, if European countries took root there, it would be very dangerous for the national security of the Ottoman Empire.

But when Holland showed his trump card, he hesitated.

Because the Netherlands was actually willing to spend 25 million Dutch guilders (1 million pounds to buy) to buy the UAE area next to the Qatar Peninsula that Prussia wanted to buy.

Another barren land has been spotted by European powers.

One million pounds is not a small amount. You must know that the amount required to build a sail-level six battleship is only between 10,000 pounds and 20,000 pounds.

A first-class sailing battleship, this is currently the largest number of battleships in service in the British Navy, that is, there are more than 20 ships, and the price of each one is just over 100,000 pounds.

In other words, if the Ottoman Empire agrees to the Dutch deal, it will have enough funds to purchase no more than 10 first-class battleships. This is really a windfall.

Coupled with the 1 million pounds previously spent by the Kingdom of Prussia to purchase the Qatar Peninsula, the 2 million pounds can definitely be used to transform the Ottoman Empire's current inferior weapons.

Moreover, Constantinople now faces the threat of the Russian Empire, and he also wants to make more friends and less enemies. There seems to be a divine alliance with the British, but in fact, interests come first.

So Constantinople did hesitate now.

However, the Netherlands will naturally not wait for Constantinople to consider it carefully. Even if they want to trade, they need Constantinople to make a quick decision. And it was towards the vision set by Holland for him.

Therefore, before the British could react, the Netherlands announced a joint purchase with Prussia of these two places, saying that if Constantinople rejected the two countries' mutual advance and retreat deal, the two countries would purchase the two places in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, that is, Persia. Find territory on the empire.

This is a threat!

The Netherlands and Prussia are obviously something you don't want to sell. Very well, I want your old enemy the Persian Empire to buy them. With this money, I believe the Persian Empire will grow greatly. By then, Persia in the Mesopotamia will The Iraqi region at the top of the Gulf is likely to be at war again.

This made the upper echelons of Constantinople feel the seriousness of the situation. After all, the Persian Gulf has always been controlled by the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Empire. Now, according to the practices of the Netherlands and Prussia, this is a strong entry.

Because the Ottoman Empire's territory is close to Europe, its own economy and weapons are almost in sync with Europe, but the Persian Empire is more autistic. If the Persian Empire, which has always been insular, receives not only economic support from these two countries, but also military assistance to keep up with the pace of the Ottoman Empire, then the current situation of being suppressed by the Ottoman Empire will be broken.

So despite British opposition, Constantinople finally accepted the joint Dutch-Prussian operation.

On August 10, 1866, Dutch Prime Minister Tolbeck and Prussian Prime Minister Bismarck jointly visited Constantinople. In Constantinople, they signed a territorial agreement with Sultan Abdulaziz I. After the purchase agreement, the Qatar peninsula fell into the hands of the Kingdom of Prussia, and the UAE region became a new overseas territory of the Netherlands.

It was a public signing, so the next day the image was the focus of newspapers around the world.

Tolbek and Bismarck were full of smiles.

Although Sultan Abdulaziz I smiled, he was a little bitter.

However, more people have noticed from this signing ceremony that the European pattern seems to be starting to have spillover effects because of this signing ceremony.

It seems that the competition between the European powers will start from this moment and is no longer limited to the European continent. Think of the statements made by various countries on the issue of the ownership of Uruguay in South America some time ago.

They speculated that this transaction would change a lot of things.

On August 15, 1866, Constantinople once again welcomed guests, not one, but several.