Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Chapter 495: The Arrogant Netherlands’ Coercive Diplomacy against Britain! (Supplement to the previous section, patriotic topic)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Haysbet Feng suddenly asked: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Disraeli is currently unwilling to start a Prime Minister's Dialogue with us. He obviously seems to want to leave us aside. This is detrimental to our inter-governmental exchanges and the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." It’s very difficult”

Tolbeck sighed: "Obviously, London knows that we currently want something from them, so they do it deliberately. However, if this continues, we will delay our progress on the Belgian issue."

If the Netherlands wants to take back Belgium, Britain will be the biggest mountain standing in front of them. They must either split it or move it to make way.

With the current strength of the Netherlands, it is difficult to achieve the former, that is to say, it can only be the latter.

William IV narrowed his eyes, and then he seemed to think of some allusions about the forced interactions between the country and the most senior figures in his previous life, the United States, the overlord at the time, and he suddenly started to have concerns.

So he told the two of them his thoughts.

When Spain, France, and the United Kingdom were quarreling over the defense white paper issued by Spain, another country broke in.

The Spanish newspaper Vanguard, which ranked first in sales in the Kingdom of Spain, suddenly issued news on February 9, 1869 that it ranked fourth in Dutch politics, second only to William IV, Prime Minister Tolbeck, and Senate President Bona. During his visit to Spain in mid-February, Huntington, the speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, plans to visit the jurisdictional border between British Gibraltar and Spain at the same time. He will break the Dutch practice of not expressing opinions on the ownership of Gibraltar for the first time and recognize that Gibraltar is Spanish territory and not Spanish territory. British Empire.

This will be the first time in 165 years since 1704 that a senior European government official has supported Spain's position in Gibraltar.

This news once again aroused public opinion in the Kingdom of Spain, and also triggered discussions with mixed reactions in European countries after being reprinted.

The Foreign Office of the British Empire immediately expressed its firm opposition on February 10, 1869.

Many people in Europe are surprised that the Netherlands has come out to support Spain at this time.

Even Bismarck and others were very confused. Although they knew that the Netherlands supported Spain against the penetration of the French Empire, they did not expect that the Netherlands would even participate in helping Spain against the British. What was the Netherlands planning to do?

There are many people who have this idea.

Even Britain's Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Disraeli were fooled.

In short, in Europe, because Huntington, the speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, may visit Spain to support Spain's position, the Netherlands has intervened in the conflict between Britain, France and Spain in an unexpected manner and become the fourth party in the conflict.

No one understands what the Netherlands wants to do, and they don't know what kind of counterattack the Netherlands will receive from the United Kingdom. After all, the British Empire has the most powerful navy in the world, and the Netherlands' approach seems to be just seeking death with an egg against a stone. It is this idea that makes people even more puzzled.

As a result, just one day later, Dutch Prime Minister Tolbeck told most newspapers in Europe on February 11, 1869 that the Dutch military did not think it was a good idea for Speaker of the House of Representatives Huntington to visit the border of Gibraltar at this time. Prime Minister Tolbeck said He has no control over the progress of the matter, because the Netherlands has three branches of power, and he cannot control the actions of Speaker of the House of Representatives Huntington.

Tolbeck then dropped another bombshell: He may communicate with British Prime Minister Disraeli within 10 days.

"I think I will speak to Prime Minister Disraeli within 10 days"

Tolbeck's original words were full of ambiguity. "Communication" could be through telegraph communication, or it could also be a face-to-face meeting between the two people in the legend.

This "legend" is because since Disraeli of the British Empire became the British Prime Minister, he has not had any formal meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister. Therefore, it is said that both countries have been brewing for a long time, but so far they have only heard the sound of the stairs. No one came down.

Shortly after William IV's visit to London last year, when the marriage of Queen Victoria's Princess Louise and William IV's brother, Prince Frederik of Greece, was confirmed, the Dutch government has repeatedly announced that the British and Dutch prime ministers may Therefore, after the easing of relations, talks between the government and the Prime Minister were held within a few weeks. Disraeli himself said that he would talk to Tolbeck soon.

By December last year, No. 10 Downing Street stated that the meeting would happen soon, and the Dutch Prime Minister's Office did not hide its expectations for this meeting.

On the first day of last month, after the Dutch Foreign Minister Hesbert von had a telegram communication with the British Empire's Foreign Secretary Russell, both of them announced that the two prime ministers might hold cabinet talks in a few weeks, from January to now into mid-February. It’s been a few “weeks” and “soon” months now. The perception from the outside world is that the Dutch government is anxious, but the British government is not.

Prime Minister Tolbeck gave the most specific 10 days so far, but there is still no date. When the British Empire's Foreign Minister Russell was asked at a regular press conference, he neither admitted nor denied it, but said that he did not have any information to provide. .

This is the biggest melon in European politics in recent decades, and many people who eat melons were immediately excited.

Obviously many people thought of many things, especially the top leaders of various countries, from which they finally seemed to realize the purpose of the Netherlands.

At this time, no one would think that this matter was irrelevant.

Judging from the logic of Dutch politicians, Huntington, the Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, visited the border under the jurisdiction of Gibraltar, Spain, and the meeting between British Prime Minister Disraeli and Dutch Prime Minister Tolbeck may be two separate things.

Although Huntington and Tolbeck both belong to the Liberal Party, facing the mid-term elections in the Netherlands in the middle of this year, the liberals may lose control of the House of Representatives to the Christian faction, which means that he himself may lose the position of speaker. Huntington’s planning considerations Including personal ideas and paving the way for continued influence in the political arena.

Especially when the Dutch are generally not very fond of Britain, the anti-British policy has become a trump card to attract votes. Huntington's approach is obviously to consolidate his support.

However, from the perspective of Gibraltar's relationship between the UK and Spain and the Netherlands, Huntington visited Spain and after meeting with Spanish House Speaker Julian, he also visited the Gibraltar border together. This was enough to trigger a fuse between Britain and Spain. Spain and Britain are embroiled in diplomatic and military disputes, and this is a major incident that stirs up the most sensitive nerves between the two countries.

Over the past many years, despite the good and bad relations between various countries and Spain, Paris, a powerful former ally of the French Empire, has never supported Spain's proposition. Therefore, the support of the Netherlands has gained unprecedented favor in Spain, including Madrid. It also allowed the Spanish government and Isabel II to gain stability in power because of external support for Spain's position.

If Huntington, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, successfully visits there, he will break the original acquiescence boundary between Spain and the United Kingdom, and will also break the original silence of European countries on the Gibraltar issue.

If the Dutch Speaker of the House of Representatives really arrives at that sensitive place and acts as reported, it will inevitably have a serious impact on British-Dutch relations.

At that time, the so-called détente in Anglo-Dutch relations and Spain will definitely take a tougher stance on the Gibraltar issue as a result. At this time, the face-to-face talks between the British and Dutch Prime Ministers may become "negotiable"