Chapter 50: A family

"I'm going to have a public speech by Chamberlain for almost a year!" Sheffield, who had already boarded the carriage with one foot, commanded John Connor, who was waiting on the side. "What is the ruling idea of ​​this colonial minister?"
"The vast majority of the members of today's cabinet, one by one, think that the world is still the past, and still ignore the changes in the world." After the threat in his eyes left, Joseph Chamberlain was still indignant, " Even the current prime minister is the same. Germany has been unified, France is catching up, and the United States is rising. They ca n’t see or see anything ... Why not use this opportunity to directly teach the United States and teach them a lesson . "
In the empty living room, only Joseph Chamberlain and his two famous fathers and sons in the next few decades were left. The latter was silent, listening to his father venting his dissatisfaction with the cabinet.
Compared to Salisbury, who has a long beard with a huge forehead and looks untrimmed, the father and son all combed meticulous hairstyles and dressed in suits, which looked a bit old-fashioned. But Joseph Chamberlain, the leader of the opposition party, is a well-known new politician throughout the United Kingdom, with many fans.
"Father, you calm down. From a military perspective, the United States is indeed a weak country, and Germany is the greater threat." Austin Chamberlain glanced at the silent brother next to him, sighed and comforted .
"Actually, my father was right. The population and land of the United States of America determine that its potential is far greater than that of Germany. It just seems not obvious now. In fact, we should take this opportunity to teach them a lesson." Neville Chamberlain disagreed with his brother, and his deep eyes showed that he was not just talking casually.
"Those old-fashioned people think that the world is still under the control of the empire alone. In terms of industrial scale, the United States has surpassed us, and Germany is also very close, and their growth rate is faster than ours. If they continue to maintain the present The colonial policy of loosely managing the territories contained in the empire, sooner or later, the empire will return to the proportional influence of the British Isles. It must complete the transformation of the empire. The closely connected and powerful empire entity is just like the United States. That way, we can cope with future changes. "
It seems that the reaction of the two sons made Joseph Chamberlain feel relieved and relieved. "Unfortunately, most people are still immersed in the glory of the past. I do n’t know that in terms of strength, Britain has not maintained an advantage over other countries. It ’s time, the two issues that are now facing the empire are that they must have a more balanced relationship with the colonies in various places, so that these colonies can become empire entities, and can no longer be inferior to the locals. The second is to suppress the most threatening enemy as soon as possible Even if there is no war, it is necessary to use economic and trade means to contain the strength of the other party. "
"So free trade must come to an end, and a unilateral economic and trade system that is more favorable to the empire must be established, with the home country first, the colony second, and the foreign country last! And the two countries with the most rapid rise at present are Germany and the United States. Germany has Russia in the east and France in the west, and both sides are strong enemies. As long as the empire properly lays down its interests, it can forge an Anglo-German alliance, guide Germany into the empire's orbit, and establish a empire mainly, supplemented by Germany The world system. "Joseph Chamberlain sighed." The real enemy is the Americans. The harsh environment around the German mainland has caused them to need us. And once we ca n’t hold back the United States this time, these country gangsters will ride sooner or later. On our heads. "
Protecting trade internally, supporting the development of industry and commerce, and colonizing and expanding overseas have become the mainstream of the times. But the politicians who have lost sight still cling to the liberal policies of the British Empire when it dominated the world. Liberalism policy is based on the premise that British industry leads the world, but at this time the second industrial revolution has begun. The unification of Germany and Italy, the rise of France and the United States have all posed a powerful challenge to Britain. Re-implementing the free trade policy is tantamount to attracting wolves into the house.
In Chamberlain's eyes, the huge territory of the United States poses a threat far greater than that of Germany on the European continent. After all, there are two powerful countries around Germany that can be contained, and there are no agents around the United States to support them.
"Is it possible for this person to pinch?" Sheffield soon got all the words and deeds of the colonial minister after returning to the apartment, which naturally included the construction of an imperial entity, the advocacy of the Anglo-German alliance, and the abolition of free trade. It ’s okay to call it the imperial preference system. It does n’t matter if you do n’t understand it. The black president in front of the real estate merchant and the established T-Pacific Partnership Agreement can be understood as the imperial preference system of the US emperor.
It is to exclude countries that may threaten their status and use their advantages in international trade to maintain their status. In 1895, such a figure appeared in Britain as a threat to the United States. I have to say that the old imperialism really has something to learn. Are there really politicians with such long-term vision?
The imperial preferential system actually waited until Neville Chamberlain was successfully implemented thirty years later. At that time, it was also enough to toss the United States of America.
Fortunately, there are many powerful countries with similar strength in this era. Many countries can attract firepower for the United States. Otherwise, if the United States were left to face the British Empire alone, the United States would be able to get out of the economic crisis with just one imperial concession.
"Ready to return home!" In the face of such a family, Sheffield also knew that the export of agricultural products at home was too fierce. "To send a telegram to the family, he said that the export of agricultural products to the United Kingdom may not be guaranteed."
Joseph Chamberlain used to be the trade minister of the British Empire, and had a great influence in the trade field. Those Sheffield contacts, such as Lord Chamberlain who introduced Chamberlain, had no energy to stop this British politician who looked down on the United States.
Hey! Sheffield clutched her chest, her face full of melancholy, a pair of plain hands covering his chest, Annie asked with concern, "Is it going wrong?"
"The money was lost, and the effort to keep the agricultural products exported was unsuccessful." Sheffield squeezed out a very ugly smile and opened Germany's agricultural products exports, but he certainly lost the British share and felt uncomfortable.
From the perspective of the British, combined with the later history, the Chamberlain family can be regarded as far-sighted, accurately judged that the United States is really possible to ride on their own existence. Consolidate imperial entities internally, establish an imperial preference system, and strive to turn the colony into a municipal territory. If it had not been implemented for decades, until his son became prime minister, the days of the United States were destined to be quite uncomfortable.
But this family is a virtue, and Sheffield is an American. What do people care about him?