Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The meeting between King William IV of the Netherlands and King Leopold II of Belgium in the province of Antwerp attracted the attention of European countries, especially Britain, France and Prussia.

Things are as usual. Belgium's pursuit of independence began 40 years ago in 1830. After nine years of struggle, the Netherlands was forced to recognize Belgium as its own country in 1839.

Now it seems that due to cause and effect, Belgium has begun to return to the embrace of the Netherlands within two generations, which is very surprising.

However, the two kings in Antwerp Province had just fought against each other, and Leopold II was at a disadvantage. Sure enough, he was definitely the stronger one.

Leopold II waved his hand to Alban and said: "Let's go, a tough battle is still going on inside."

Alban just complained. As the Prime Minister of Belgium before 1862, he naturally knew that the situation he and Leopold II were encountering was very dangerous.

The two of them then followed into the venue that was originally the Belgian local parliament but is now the Dutch parliament.

Different from the Belgian period, tulips, the national flower of the Netherlands, are now everywhere here.

Alban muttered in a low voice: "There is no need to display the national flower of the Netherlands so conspicuously, lest people don't know that this is the same thing Belgium ceded to the Netherlands."

Leopold II was naturally in a bad mood when he heard this.

So with a heavy heart, I sat down at the seat designated by the organizer.

Fortunately, there was no deliberate show off this time. William IV and Leopold II were arranged to face each other at a table, while the others were divided into two rows and sat on each side.

After William IV waited for the Belgian group to sit down, he first took a sip of the tea brought by the attendant, and then waved his hand to Leopold II, indicating that he would drink tea first.

The latter was used to it by now, and he conscientiously followed the custom of serving as a guest and drank the cup of tea. However, anyone who knows tea here will understand that this is just a cow's drink, and it is obvious that his heart is not peaceful.

William IV didn't believe that the other party didn't understand tea, and he was obviously just absent-minded.

William IV asked: "What does His Majesty Leopold II think of the province of Antwerp today?"

Leopold II: "It is said that with the capital investment from Rotterdam, the food from Antwerp Province is flowing continuously to Sweden in northern Europe through them, earning a high price of income?"

William IV nodded: "Yes, Antwerp Province is currently designated as a granary to supply Sweden due to the large increase in grain production due to the depression and plains. Your Majesty should know that food is the most important thing in Sweden due to the cold weather." "treasure"

Leopold II secretly thought: "No wonder Sweden is so determined to follow the Netherlands. The food of an Antwerp province can indeed solve the hunger problem of at least hundreds of Swedes. If it were me, I would be like Karl XV. Then choose to ally with the Netherlands."

He subconsciously said: "What if France also provides a stable food channel to Sweden?"

William IV smiled and said: "Does Leopold II think France has a stable channel? Don't forget, Britain will not let France do this, and Prussia is also opposed to it."

Leopold II understood what he said, yes, how could Britain let France get involved in Northern Europe, let alone Prussia. After all, in this way, Prussia on land, one in the south and one in the north, would be more uncomfortable than the United Kingdom.

Leopold II said with a programmed fake smile: "It seems that His Majesty has accurately calculated the attitudes of various countries."

It seemed that he was influenced by Alban. He couldn't see William IV being proud, so he seemed calm but actually said tentatively: "The Netherlands' influence in North America is getting bigger and bigger. I wonder if the UK will be uneasy about the Netherlands because of this." After all, with the exposure of the naval tonnage of the Dutch territory in the Far East, the Netherlands has a naval strength that is almost rivaling that of the United Kingdom. I don’t think the British Empire can rest assured because of this. You know, my cousin, Her Majesty Queen Victoria, will not give up easily. British international hegemony”

What a kind reminder!

Naturally, William IV would not think that the other party's reminder came from good intentions. In fact, it was a mockery. The Netherlands had not yet reached the point where the United Kingdom needed to take it seriously. To put it simply, it was not qualified.

William IV was not angry. He looked at Alban's excited light next to him and said with a smile: "The Netherlands does not need other people's approval. Don't forget that this is our way of doing things. Because of this, the territory of the Netherlands is currently expanding. rather than shrinking”

Venus secretly gave His Majesty a thumbs up. This rebuttal came from you and me.

Leopold II seemed to have finally understood that fighting with William IV was asking for trouble, not to mention when he was weak.

So he said helplessly: "The purpose of my coming this time is clear to your majesty. The Belgian royal family is willing to support the Anglo-Dutch agreement, and I am also willing to support the 50-year Dutch peace agreement, but Belgium needs help from the Netherlands (actually (Concession), if His Majesty agrees, we are willing to sign the Anglo-Dutch Agreement on the territorial transfer.”

William IV asked curiously: "What help?"

Negotiations have always been about progress and retreat. The Netherlands now has a good advantage, but Belgium's independence is the bottom line for the UK. The same is true for France. Leopold II obviously understood this, so at this time he knew that the trend was irreversible. Under such circumstances, it is understandable to choose to seek to change the small trend.

Leopold II said very seriously: "Belgium wants to purchase a piece of territory at the mouth of the Congo River in the Netherlands. Well, it is the north side of the Congo River. If it succeeds, we will name it the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I don't know, Your Majesty."

"Impossible," William IV said with a sharp look: "Don't make any plans there, or be careful of triggering the Dutch-Belgian War."

Leopold II was shaken all over and looked at William IV in disbelief. It was just a colony. Is it necessary to be so excited? .

"Your Majesty, Africa is so remote and does not seem to be of much value to the Netherlands. I think it is better to transfer it to us. Even if the entire Congo area is not available, we only need the northern part of the Congo River. For this, we are willing to pay 1 million pounds."

1 million pounds can already build a small fleet. You must know that the most advanced steam first-class battleship now only costs 200,000 pounds. Of course, including maintenance, etc., it will increase by at least 50%, but it is still enough to buy three Of course, due to scarcity, there is no other way to buy one. , but it can also explain the purchasing power of 1 million pounds. He did not understand why William IV would refuse.

Alban looked at William IV with the same puzzlement. He believed that only he and Leopold II understood the value of the Congo. The Netherlands probably didn't know that it was an untapped treasure.

It was already difficult for Belgium to expand, so he and Leopold II had decided to start overseas. They originally wanted to use Belgium's loss of territory to gain sympathy and seek to purchase the Congo from William IV of the Netherlands. At first it was a Belgian who had successfully resurrected, but now they saw that William IV was firmly opposed to it. This was different from the script they had originally prepared.

What went wrong.

The two looked at each other, both confused for a moment.

William IV sneered in his heart, these two guys who are pretending to be grandsons in front of them, do you really think that I don't know what you think?

Leaving aside the success and failure of Leopold II in governing Belgium, this is not what he is famous for. He is famous because he is a great colonial imperialist and was known as the "King of Colonialism" in his previous life.

In 1876, the man in front of him organized the International African Association. In the name of investigating and developing Africa, he occupied a large area of ​​land in the Congo in his own name and called it the Congo Free State. On April 30, 1885, the Belgian Congress officially granted him Congo. The title of the monarch of the Free State.

His brutal exploitation, oppression and massacre of the local indigenous people was condemned by world public opinion, and he was ridiculed as a businessman, Jin Hehe and a female businessman. In 1908, the Congo was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Belgian government and became a Belgian colony, the Belgian Congo.

William IV narrowed his eyes slightly.

Leopold II was cunning. He knew that Belgium's strength could not compete with Britain, France and other countries. He openly dispatched an expeditionary force to central Africa. The goal was too obvious, so he used scientific investigation, abolition of slavery, etc. under the guise of humanitarianism. Under cover, it extended its claws of aggression to the Congo, the heartland of Africa.

Faced with the "loser" in front of him who seemed unable to resist the Dutch occupation of Belgian territory, if William IV took it lightly, Gou Jian's final fate as a coward would become what would happen to the Netherlands in the future.

Naturally, William IV would not give Belgium this chance to turn around.

Leopold II did not expect that William IV would object so directly. This trip to Antwerp Province suddenly seemed meaningless.

Suddenly, William IV had an idea, "However, Congo will not be sold, but there is a place that I am willing to discuss."

Seemingly seeing hope in despair, Leopold II's eyes lit up, and he looked hopefully at William IV's half-smiling expression. Leopold II did not dare to look directly at him, but he couldn't help but think in his heart, I couldn't help but ask: "Where is it?"

William IV: "Gabon"

Gabon? Where?

Leopold II immediately looked at Alban.

Alban asked doubtfully: "Did His Majesty William IV make a mistake? Gabon seems to be a colony of the French Empire now, right?"

"I know." William IV saw the unnatural expressions of the two and said with a smile: "If you find a chance, I will be the intermediary and go to Paris to talk. I think this can be done."

Leopold II couldn't laugh or cry when he heard this. William IV was acting unreasonably and did not follow the cards at all, which made them very passive. However, after receiving William IV's promise that he would look for France to help negotiate, they were unable to find a reason.

Although it is a pity not to get the Congo that I have coveted for a long time, it would not be bad if I could get Gabon, which has an excellent port in France. But will the French agree?

They have no confidence at all.

The meeting between the two ended with this promise.

On the evening of March 20, 1869, with the transmission of telegrams, European countries received the agreement reached by the two kings of the Netherlands and Belgium.

Belgium recognized the three provinces of East and West Flanders and Flanders-Brabant as belonging to the Netherlands. Hera recognized Brussels and Wallonia-Brabant as the final territories of Belgium, and negotiated with the United Kingdom. As such, the Netherlands is willing to let the territory between Brussels and Wallonia-Brabant become Belgian territory.

The two countries have reached an agreement on trade liberalization. They will not restrict each other's products from entering their own territory and will not impose additional tariffs.

Belgium announced that it would remain permanently neutral in the European situation starting today, and the Netherlands announced that it recognized Belgium's neutral status.

At this point, the dispute between the Netherlands and Belgium has come to an end.