Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On February 16, 1869, the international community was preparing for Huntington, the Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, to visit Madrid and the border with Gibraltar. However, the British were strongly dissatisfied and stated that they would fight back against Spain and the Netherlands.

For this reason, when no one could figure out the intentions of the Netherlands, Francisco Pi, one of the parties involved, the leader of the Spanish opposition party, leader of the Spanish Senate minority, and always known for his pro-British pro-Britishness. Magar, however, stood up and strongly criticized the British counterattack.

This powerful and influential person in Spanish politics believes that "Whether Dutch officials or Dutch members of parliament should go to Spain, or even where to visit, is not a unilateral decision for Spain itself. He calls on the British Empire to directly reason with the Netherlands if it has the backbone. Don’t use Spain as a punching bag.”

Francisco Pi Magal pointed out to the Spanish Herald on Friday (February 16, 1869) after a meeting of the Senate in Madrid that “the British Imperial Navy is roaming around Spain almost every day. Troops have been deployed on the Spanish territory of Gibraltar, and their warships also sail around the Spanish Atlantic and western Mediterranean from time to time. If senior Dutch officials or Dutch parliamentarians come, the British Empire's current counterattack remarks It seems that I want to take this opportunity to work harder and take this opportunity to come more frequently."

Regarding the news that Huntington, the Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, has arrived in Spain in the past few days, the leader of the opposition party, Francesco Pi Magal, said that the British Empire has issued a more severe warning, "Some people even asked the British to remove the Mediterranean Fleet and the British The Home Fleet held military exercises directly outside Spain's most important ports to achieve a demonstration effect."

Spain's "La Vanguardia" released news on February 9 that the No. 4 figure in Dutch politics planned to visit Spain before February 20 and stimulated the British to visit the Spanish side of Gibraltar to express support for Spain's decision on Gibraltar. It will be the first time in Spain's history that senior European political officials at the national level have expressed their stance on the Spanish territorial claim, which has caused shock in the UK and Europe.

At the press conference of the House of Representatives in Amsterdam on February 13, the Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives Huntington refused to answer whether he would visit Spain, or to be more precise, visit the Spanish side of Gibraltar, citing security reasons, and did not even make a statement. Do you support Spain’s claim of territorial sovereignty?

Francisco Pi Magal believes that the Spanish people have become accustomed to the powerful warships of the British Empire for many years, which cannot achieve the purpose of intimidation, and the harsh words and threats only increase the Spanish people's antipathy towards the British Empire. , all London's goodwill towards Spain and even the previous efforts to ease relations were offset by the diplomatic threat of the British Empire's warships, and its only function was to act as the advocate for the British Empire's ruling conservative Prime Minister Ramon Narva. The Ace cabinet government is just helping to canvass votes and consolidate the power of conservatives.

He feels that it is not up to Spain to decide whether the Dutch officials or the senators or representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands want to come to Spain or do something. “They are coming, and you can’t stop them. If they don’t want to come, just kneel down and beg Grandpa. He won't come even if I tell grandma, the initiative is completely in the hands of the Netherlands, what can Spain do? London is unhappy with the Netherlands but takes it out on the Kingdom of Spain. It seems that Spain has become the UK's punching bag. Isn't it unfair?"

Francisco Pi Magal appealed: "If the British Empire really has the backbone and ability, it should not use Spain as a punching bag during this visit, but directly go to the Netherlands to reason and vent its anger, and pointed out that the Dutch warships were in the North hai even goes around the British Isles in the Atlantic Ocean, talking about free navigation rights, freedom of cargo navigation, etc. In fact, the British Empire can follow the same pattern as the Netherlands for this and bring its own warships to the Netherlands and even Australia and the Far East. Free sailing around the Dutch East Indies”

He also said, "The British Empire is only circling Spain, so what's the point of threatening the Spanish mainland? I suggest that the top political leaders in London go around places in the Far East and the Netherlands to vigorously promote the power of the British Empire. I don't believe that the Kingdom of the Netherlands really dares to do so." Beat you"

Francisco Pi Magal also said, "'Teaching others what they want' is what a big country should do. The Netherlands intends to exert pressure and even humiliate the British Empire. The British Empire should not Are you coming to deal with Spain because you think Spain is weaker than the Netherlands and are picking on the weak? Is this the behavior of an upright global power?"

The long-awaited Prime Minister of the British Empire, Disraeli, finally stood up as this incident became more and more intense. However, he did not directly respond to the issue. Instead, he published an article about Britain's views on the Dutch strategy.

In an exclusive interview with the Times of London, when asked about the British government's upcoming strategy for facing the Netherlands, he said London was studying Britain's views on the Netherlands very deeply.

He said, "The Netherlands is a systemic competitor, and we must make it clear that no one can blackmail us, even though we are as close as we are to the French Empire across a small sea area of ​​​​the English Channel. We have never been too dependent on the French Empire. . And this is the basis of our strategy to deal with the rising Kingdom of the Netherlands. We will cooperate where we can, but we must also establish an independent British exclusive interest strategy in some key areas. This is what we care about and value most. Consistent with our foreign policy interests”

Disraeli emphasized that His Majesty the British Empire should avoid repeating the current mistakes of the French Empire, which is that the French Empire is becoming more and more isolated from other countries around the world like self-destruction, becoming an invader that everyone wants to beat, and having its own strength compromised. damage.

The Siam War triggered sanctions on the French Empire and triggered many concerns about economic decline. The import and export of French industrial products and food were basically blocked, and the French Empire was weakened as a result.

In response to the current provocation issued by Dutch Speaker Huntington during his visit to Spain, Disraeli, the British Prime Minister, said in an exclusive interview with the London Times that the Netherlands is constantly changing its internal voice and arguments, and is targeting the British Empire. All kinds of blackmail, this is just a new way for the Netherlands to promote the Dutch voice.

He said, “The Netherlands has different reasons every time, and they will attack when they expand their interests and influence in the Netherlands, just like they did before against Belgium and the Commonwealth of America, both of which are currently under attack. Dutch hands hold the reins of rule”