Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The naval principles signed by William IV shocked European countries, because it meant that following the disputes caused by Speaker Huntington's visit to Spain, and then William IV's recognition of the Dutch navy's plan to challenge the United Kingdom, and then the Anglo-Dutch naval doctrine in recent years. The deterioration of relations makes people realize that the relationship between Britain and the Netherlands is even more difficult to be friendly.

"No one knows what His Majesty is thinking," Prime Minister Tolbeck looked at William IV with admiration. "At this moment, the most difficult choice should be London."

Tolbeck couldn't help but admire him. Who would have thought that William IV, who had just signed the Dutch Naval Principles, actually sent a telegram to Queen Victoria of England. In the content, His Majesty William IV actually said that the Dutch Naval Principles were just a vision. In fact, it only had a guiding role for the Netherlands and had no intention of challenging the empire.

If this is the case, Tolbeck will naturally despise it as a high-profile and private begging for mercy. However, Tolbeck also saw that in the contents of the telegram, William IV implicitly proposed that the Netherlands ask the United Kingdom for recognition of the Netherlands' sphere of influence. , above, William IV requested that Britain recognize that the South Indian Ocean and the South Pacific belonged to the Dutch sphere of influence, and in exchange, the Netherlands recognized that the British Atlantic and North Indian Oceans were the British naval sphere of influence.

"My Prime Minister, do you think London will agree?" William IV asked.

Tolbeck said: "I hesitated at first, but if I stepped into the role, I finally found out that this is a deal that can be carried out in the UK."

William IV asked curiously: "Why?"

Tolbeck thought for a while and said: "Because it is not appropriate for the UK to make enemies at the moment, especially when the powerful countries in the Near East are all forming alliances and building nests, the UK's current energy has been overly dispersed. I never expected that, The easing of relations between the Tsarist Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was actually initiated by His Majesty. What’s more, what the British don’t know is that the visit to Spain by Speaker of the House of Representatives Huntington, who is currently being discussed internationally, was also promoted by His Majesty. Yes. If we knew, London would definitely explode."

"You said so," William IV said proudly: "Britain's environment has been damaged by us, so it is currently in a dilemma, so the Netherlands' proposal to build a navy at this time will greatly deter Britain from acting rashly. But in the long run, the UK may suppress the Netherlands, so it has to guard against it.”

Tolbeck nodded in approval.

Britain's maritime supremacy was officially established in 1805 after Spain defeated Napoleon I. Over the past 60 years, Britain has been working hard to maintain this role, and even balanced and suppressed countries on the European continent that developed navies. Because of this, it is undoubtedly correct for the Netherlands to choose to develop the Dutch naval sphere of influence in the Far East, far away from the European mainland. It is a place that the British do not pay much attention to, because the British interests are too numerous to take care of. And the strength of the Netherlands is there, so the UK confronts the Netherlands, so the gains outweigh the losses for the UK.

Some people may think that it is meant to belittle Britain, but don't think of Britain as too noble. If the Dutch army was so easy to defeat, Britain would have robbed the Dutch East Indies long ago, and it would still have to wait until now.

William IV said at this time: "You must know that after the Anglo-Dutch war in the Far East in 1824, the British finally signed the famous "Anglo-Dutch Treaty" with the Netherlands in order to benefit from the war with the Netherlands.

Britain recognized Dutch sovereignty over Sumatra and its occupation of the island.

The Dutch withdrew their protest against the British occupation of Malacca (later Singapore) and recognized British occupation of the island.

The Netherlands could not establish colonies on the Malay Peninsula or sign any treaties with local rulers.

Britain could not establish a colony on Sumatra or sign any treaties with local rulers.

The Dutch promised to surrender all their strongholds and interests in India, as well as Malacca and its possessions to the British.

Britain agreed to hand over all its strongholds and properties on Sumatra (including many industrial factories), and handed over Bencoolen to the Netherlands.

Britain cannot establish strongholds or sign any treaties with local rulers on the islands south of the Singapore Strait, including the Nei Islands. All the above territories and estates were agreed upon and entered into force on March 1, 1825."

William IV smiled and said: "Since Britain reached a similar deal with us 44 years ago, I think Britain will agree."

Tolbeck also smiled and said: "I quite agree with your Majesty's statement."

"This seemingly transactional issue must have stumped many people in London." William IV said with a meaningful smile: "If they know, I am just trying to open up their bottom line in the UK and make them take a small step back, just to To claim more benefits in the future, they may”

British Empire, London.

Buckingham Palace also became somewhat silent in the face of the "deal" telegram sent by William IV.

Queen Victoria looked upset at the silence of Prime Minister Disraeli and Foreign Secretary Russell.

Perhaps sensing the Queen's dissatisfaction, Russell also popularized the "Anglo-Dutch Treaty" signed by the two countries 44 years ago.

“Trade regulations stipulate that Dutch and British merchant ships can enter each other’s territory and must pay a fixed fee agreed upon by both parties.

Also, except for the spice trade in the Moluccas, the Netherlands could not monopolize trade in the Malayan Islands. The third party shall not hinder the other party's trade with any local power, and cooperate to eliminate pirates active in the Malay Archipelago. The two parties will have special preferential treatment for any trade between India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and the Malay Archipelago, and will consider lowering tariffs. . "

Prime Minister Disraeli said: "But the background is different now."

Ross retorted: "I disagree. The background at that time was that after the Napoleonic War, both Britain and the Netherlands hoped to maintain good relations between the two sides. There were several factors that we in the British Empire valued more."

Russell said: "One of them is the strategic position of the Netherlands. At that time, the British realized that the Netherlands was very close to the British mainland. The Netherlands was a very suitable place to launch attacks on the British Empire, so the British Empire must maintain good relations with the Netherlands."

The second is that we have the same religious sect as the Netherlands. After the Napoleonic War, the original anti-French alliance countries gradually divided into several factions because of religious sects. Prussia, Austria, and Tsarist Russia had a bad relationship with the United Kingdom, so the United Kingdom needed to win over them. The Netherlands of the same religious sect. "

Queen Victoria asked curiously: "The transaction is between both parties, but what about the Netherlands?"

Russell said: "The debt to Britain, before the Napoleonic War, the decline of the Dutch East India Company's trade in Asia, and the corruption of officials, faced with a financial crisis, in order to solve the crisis, the Dutch East India Company asked Britain borrowed money. In 1781, the Netherlands owed Britain 25 pounds, which reached 1.44 million pounds in 1799. After the Dutch East India Company was dissolved in 1799, the British debt before the company was shared with the Dutch government. Therefore, the Netherlands We hope to have a good relationship with the UK and have negotiated to resolve the debt issue."

Disraeli: "Originally, Britain could use this to carry out more domestic interference in the Netherlands. However, after Belgium was separated from the Netherlands, the Netherlands' dislike of Britain sharply increased. In the end, the Netherlands gritted its teeth and finally in the first half of the century It was paid off, and the relationship between Britain and the Netherlands has since become a stranger.”

Russell did not refute.

The famous diplomatic work of his friend Viscount Palmerston was to allow Belgium to leave the rule of the Netherlands and become a satellite country of the United Kingdom on the European continent, doubling the British influence on the European continent. If this was originally the case , the sacrifice is nothing to do with the relationship with the Netherlands, but the mistake is that Belgium has recently returned to the embrace of the Netherlands after some actions by the Netherlands, and has almost become a dependent state of the Netherlands. Leopold II became Like a puppet, Britain's influence on the European continent has shrunk.

"In other words, our current relationship with the Netherlands is no longer the same as before." Prime Minister Disraeli looked at Russell and said unconsciously: "From the day we helped Belgium break away from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Netherlands has already We hate it”

The two people in front of me, one is the leader of the Whig Party. The Whig Party was extremely strong under the leadership of Palmerston, relying on the position established by the First World War in Belgium. Queen Victoria's uncle Leopold I became the King of Belgium. It can be said that Viscount Palmerston gave Queen Victoria a generous gift when she became the Queen of England in 1839. It can be said that she instantly captured Queen Victoria's favor. Because of this, Queen Victoria was very protective of Palmerston and the Whigs for the next twenty or thirty years, making the Tories always excluded by the royal family.

At present, the Dutch's efforts to attack the British are helping the Tories out of trouble. As long as this favor sent by the Whigs is broken, the challenge between the Tories and the Whigs will be easily solved and they will become evenly matched.

Come to think of it, the two people in front of me also understood this.

Speaking of which, Disraeli should be somewhat grateful to the government of William IV and Tolbeck. It was not them. The Whigs were still enjoying the glory left by Viscount Palmerston.

After Queen Victoria thought for a moment, she said: "If we agree to the Dutch request, what losses do you think the British Empire will suffer?"

Queen Victoria's question immediately stunned the two of them. Yes, what would Britain lose if it agreed to the Netherlands?

This question made them immediately unable to answer.

Disraeli said: "The Netherlands will therefore become a regional power, which will become a geographical restriction for Britain, and for the British Empire, it may not be justified in terms of face, that is, other countries will put forward the same conditions to Britain in the future. It is difficult to turn back and it is difficult for us to refuse the demands of other parties.”

"But when it comes to rejection, the Netherlands seems to be the overlord of that place now. This is known to the whole world, but why William IV still made this request is puzzling."

Russell: "No one would make a request for no reason. They always do it when they need it." Russell suddenly warned: "I think William IV is a person who can't do anything early without benefit."

Queen Victoria thought about it, that young man had always been like this.

Suddenly, she thought of something and couldn't help but look at Disraeli and Russell. The two people next to her also looked at her.

The three of them exclaimed at the same time: "New Zealand?"