Vol 4 Chapter 161: , 5 Congress talks

The problem in Italy has come to an end for the time being. The remaining compensation problem is everyone's private problem. This time it is considered that the three companies have each got what they need!
Based on the principle of easy first and difficult later, everyone turned their eyes to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This time, it was mainly Russia and Russia demanding war reparations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Britain and France were witnesses nearby.
In this world war, the Vienna government was not completely unprofitable. Although it lost more than 100,000 square kilometers of territory, it also weakened the country's largest instability factor.
First, the world war was used to severely damage the Kingdom of Hungary, and then the Germans were used to abolish the Hungarian government. After the end of the world war, the Kingdom of Hungary was unable to maintain its rule.
Like Austria, there are only half of the Hungarians in the Kingdom of Hungary. After the war, they were unable to suppress local minorities. The Vienna government took the opportunity to announce the abolition of the dual monarchy.
After the war, the population proportions of various ethnic groups also changed slightly, increasing and decreasing:
Before and after the war
Germanic 24%, 24.8%
Hungarians 2o%, 16.8%
Czechs 13%, 12.8%
Polish 1o%, 7.9%
Ukrainians 8%, 4.6%
Romanians 6%, 13.6%
Croatian 5%, 4.8%
Slovaks 4%, 3.9%
Serbs 4%, 3.7%
Slovenian 3, %2.9%
Italians 3%, 3.1%
Although the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire has shrunk significantly, the population has not fallen too much. The total population is still over 50 million (including the repatriated Romanians). Therefore, ethnic issues are still the biggest problem that plagues this old empire. problem!
As far as Constantine knows, the Vienna government is ready to repatriate Italians after the war. If German Poland becomes independent, they will also repatriate Poles. Some people are even proposing to send other Slavic gifts abroad, but because of these people There were too many supporters of the Habsburg family in China, and they were rejected by Ferdinand II.
Everyone is good at learning, but Constantine is still not optimistic about a multi-ethnic country like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If the national integration cannot be completed, something will happen sooner or later!
Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire switched jobs on the way, and the Allies agreed not to pursue their war crimes, Bulgaria and Mao Xiong did not agree not to demand war reparations from them!
On October 28th, Britain, France, Russia, Austria and Austria gathered together to discuss the issue of war reparations. In fact, this issue had already reached preliminary agreements with Bulgaria and France long before the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Namely: The Austro-Hungarian Empire took over £430 million in debts owed by Bulgaria to the French to offset the war reparations, and Bulgaria released all prisoners of war.
It is only the issue of ransom in the central Danube plains, but after Ferdinand throws in millions of Romanians, the price will not be raised.
Without much pressure, Constantine naturally relaxed and said: "The Austro-Hungarian Empire joined the Allied Powers at the beginning of the war, which seriously endangered world peace. Fortunately, the Bulgarian government decided not to pursue their war crimes!
Regarding the issue of war reparations, we had a preliminary agreement before, and now as long as the Vienna government pays a land ransom of 300 million pounds, we can withdraw our troops! "
There is no other way around this. Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapses, Bulgaria just wants to indemnify and cannot find its owner. The small country after independence has no solvency.
And out of national strategic considerations, the existence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire also contributes to the stability of southern Europe, so Bulgaria can concentrate on building the Asia Minor Peninsula!
Leopold von Bechtold said with justification and evidence: "Dear Mr. Constantine, we have no opinion on your request, but the issue of the central Danube plain agreed before has yet to be discussed.
According to our original agreement, as long as the Austro-Hungarian Empire made a significant contribution in this world war, your country will reduce or exempt the ransom.
And in this war, your country has already won Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Transylvania and other regions, and we have to pay 430 million pounds in war reparations, which is enough to make up for your country’s losses.
Therefore, we ask your country to withdraw the newly added immigrants in the central Danube plains and give up the ransom! "
The controversy on this issue is only 30 million pounds. Britain and France are all watching the theater and did not end up personally. If Constantine proposed 300 million pounds, it would not be that simple!
Constantine thought for a while and said: "Well, in view of the long-term friendly relationship between our two countries, then we will reduce the exemption by another 10 million, you only need to pay 20 million pounds!"
Leopold von Bechtold cried out: "Mr. Konstantin, you know that the finances of the Austro-Hungarian Empire may collapse at any time. It is really unable to pay this huge sum of money, or it would be better. We don’t want the plains of the central Danube. We won’t pay the war reparations. Can you please?

Constantine was depressed and wanted to vomit blood. The central Danube plain is very good, but it is a pity that there are Romanians now, and Bulgaria does not have the experience of a binary empire.
After hesitating again and again, Constantine finally said: "Ten million pounds, this is our final bottom line!"
Leopold von Bechtold spread his hands and said: "Mr. Konstantin, you know that our money is used to pay off debts, so we can't pay!"
Qiang Zi suppressed his anger, Konstantin decided to hand this question to Metiev. This kind of wrangling question really didn't suit him.
Metev smiled slightly and said: "If your country does not have the ability to pay, can we consider setting up a Romanian kingdom in the central Danube plains, and this kingdom will pay for the cost. Of course, they are still a member of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. !"
This is completely nonsense. If you do this, it is estimated that the Austro-Hungarian Empire will collapse soon, and Ferdinand is definitely impossible to agree.
Leopold von Bechtord smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Metjeev, are you trying to dismember the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Then we don't have to pay this war indemnity!"
Medev said calmly: "Nothing, we are just a proposal, don't your country have many kingdoms, and adding one more is not a big deal!"
Leopold von Bechtold really wanted to teach him about science. Kingdoms and kingdoms are also different, but he still suppressed his anger and said: "Three million pounds, this is our bottom line. Of course, if your country can remove the local Romanians, the price can be negotiated!"
Metzhev shook his head and said: "Five million pounds, it can't be less. If it is less, we will take care of this area for you and use local taxes to pay off the debt!"
Leopold von Bechtor nodded helplessly on the surface. In fact, his heart was already happy, and Bulgaria's appetite was actually much smaller than they thought!
Originally, after seeing the war reparations paid by the Italians, the Vienna government was ready to smash the pot and sell iron. I didn’t expect Bulgaria to let them go so gently. Apart from the previous agreement, there was no mention of war reparations. Now, this surprised him very much!
In fact, Bulgaria now has to make concessions. Britain and France will not tolerate Bulgaria's excessive weakening of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Even Ferdinand does not want the Austro-Hungarian Empire to collapse, so they have to be released.
Bulgaria’s problem was easily resolved. The head of the Russian delegation Sasonov felt bad for an instant. The Bulgarians let off the Austro-Hungarian Empire so easily, and it was also very unfavorable for his subsequent negotiations. The most important thing was Russia. Now there is no threat to the strength of Austria-Hungary, the only reliance is the support of allies!
Russian Foreign Minister Sassonov said: "The Russian Empire can also give up investigating your country for war crimes, but the economic losses your country has caused to the Russian Empire must pay a price!
According to our statistics, in more than two years of war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire caused more than three million casualties to the Russian Empire, as well as the displacement of millions of civilians. The direct economic loss exceeded 300 million pounds, and the indirect economic loss was even more. Over 500 million pounds!
Therefore, we ask your country to pay our 800 million pounds of war reparations to cover our war losses and restore the economy! "
The expressions of everyone changed drastically. The Russians claimed that the casualties were real, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not for nothing. It is normal to cause such large casualties to bears.
But no one knows about this economic loss. After all, the Russian Empire is now in chaos, not to mention outsiders. Even the Czarist government has estimated data, and there is no way to verify it.
In terms of war and military expenditures, the Russian Empire has really spent six or seven billion pounds in the past two and a half years, but at least half of the funds have gone into personal pockets.
Leopold von Bechtor's face changed drastically. This is really a big mouth from a lion. Now he has to be thankful that the bear has had a civil war and has little right to speak, otherwise they will be miserable.
"Mr. Sasonov, let alone 800 million pounds, we can't afford it even 100 million pounds. There are still millions of poor people in our country who need assistance, and the government has no money!
Even if the economy that I think is returning to its peak before the war, our gross national income in 1914 was only 600 million pounds. Do you think we might still be able to afford it? "
As soon as Leopold von Bechtor finished speaking, he received the support of Britain and France. The United Kingdom worked together-George said: "Yes, Mr. Sassonov, your requirements are too high. The actual situation!
I suggest that you still refer to the previous Bulgarian standard, and your country will come up with a reasonable compensation figure! "
French President Poincaré stabbed the Russian at this time. He smiled and said: "Mr. Sasonov, I personally suggest that your country limit the amount of war reparations to less than 200 million pounds. This is more sincere! "
Seeing the joint targeting of Britain and France, Sassonov had to ask Bulgaria for help. Now the Tsarist government is still waiting for war reparations to fight the civil war!
After hesitating for a while, Metzhev first said: "In view of the contribution made by the Russian Empire in this world war, and the price they paid, I think we must take care of the war compensation.
Of course, the £800 million war indemnity is indeed too high, but the amount of compensation of £200 million is indeed too low. It is better to calm down and think about it. Mr. Sassonov proposes another compensation amount! "
Sassonov's proposal let Sassonov breathe a sigh of relief. He was really worried about being sold by the Allies. Now it seems that Bulgaria still supports them, so there is more to talk about later.
After a moment of silence, Sassonov slowly said: "Well, you guys, wait a moment, I need to send a telegram back and let the country re-authorize!"
Everyone nodded. Although everyone is a plenipotentiary representative of UU Reading www.uukanshu.com, once they cross the bottom line, they still need to authorize again.
In order to help Sasonov buy time, Konstantin suggested: "It's getting late. Why don't we adjourn the meeting today and continue tomorrow?"
...
The remaining bullet marks in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg are still telling the war that has just passed.
When Nicholas II received the call from Sassonov, he was in a bad mood for an instant. The negotiations in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were not going smoothly. The attitude of Britain and France directly told him that it was impossible to make a big profit.
But the Russian Empire is now in urgent need of war reparations to quell the rebellion, even if it knows it is a loss, it can only swallow the bitter pill.
Nicholas II asked concerned: "Has Galisinov's gold shipped back?"
That’s right, the gold in Kazan in history. Now that the world war is over, St. Petersburg has gotten rid of the danger. Instead, there is a possibility of war in Kazan, so Nicholas II asked to be transported back to St. Petersburg again.
Chief of Staff Galisinov said confidently: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, you will arrive in St. Petersburg at noon tomorrow!"
After hearing this, Nicholas II's mood improved a lot. As long as these family members were there, he would have the confidence to destroy the rebellion.
Nicholas II nodded and said with a wry smile: "Well, call Sassonov and start our No. 1 alternative!"
The Russian Empire will naturally not only have one set of plans to participate in this peace meeting. According to different situations, they have also formulated different response plans.
The current situation is obviously very bad, but it is not the worst. At least one Bulgaria is supporting them, and we have to talk about it!
...
https://
Please remember the domain name of this book's first publication:. Bookstore mobile version reading URL: