People who understand politics understand that it is good to have real power, but in fact, there is no need for a name, and a name needs to bear too many obligations, and Ito has this understanding.Emperor Ito has always believed that Ito Hirobumi is a politician, and he is the most powerful and outstanding politician of this era in Asia.Kaiser Wilhelm I immediately sent someone to summon Bismarck to inquire about his diplomatic strategy towards Japan and China, and Wilhelm I usually supported Bismarck's views on these matters.Before Bismarck came, he had heard that Ito Hirobumi had gone to the Kaiser, and at the same time judged that the Kaiser should have privately accepted the benefits of Japan.As a matter of fact, Bismarck had long imagined what kind of attitude Japan and China should take, and what kind of attitude Germany should take.Although Germany had no influence in Asia, and after the establishment of China, it canceled all the unequal treaties signed by the original Qing government, which can be said to have violated Germany's interests, but considering that if China was restrained by Britain and France, Britain's interests in Asia would continue to swell, so it was indeed a difficult problem for Bismarck.Although the Kaiser and Bismarck had not seriously discussed the diplomatic issue of China before, the mainstream view of the entire European powers was that China should not be allowed to rise.Perhaps, the most appeased are the British, but the current opponents of China are the British."
Your Majesty."
Bismarck received the call, did not dare to delay, and arrived at the palace within half an hour.Kaiser Wilhelm I, who had not walked out of the hall all this time, pointed to the sofa, "Mr.
Chancellor, sit down and talk, I believe you should already know what I have to ask you." ”"Yes, Your Majesty is probably going to ask me about my foreign policy towards China and Japan, I think, it is better for us to stay out of the matter, we have no sphere of influence in Asia, no matter who rises up in these two countries and who is beaten down, it will not be of much benefit to Germany, and if they do not intervene, they may get more benefits in the future, because they are very likely to buy equipment from us, and once they intervene, it is very likely to offend the Chinese Emperor, the Japanese Emperor, and Britain and France."
Bismarck succinctly stated his thoughts.Kaiser Wilhelm I nodded, with his knowledge of Bismarck, in fact, before Bismarck came, he probably thought that Bismarck might answer like this, the Kaiser pointed to the red envelope on the table, "This is a sum of money that the Japanese just gave me, 5 million marks, and they want us to support Japan."
and refused to do arms business with China. ”Bismarck was stunned for a moment, although it was exactly the same as what he thought, but the Kaiser had already received the money, which also explained the Kaiser's attitude, "Since Your Majesty has already thought about supporting Japan, I will not say anything more, it is best not to intervene, and supporting Japan will not offend Japan, Britain and France, but Your Majesty must take into account that China will have diplomatic relations with us in Germany in the future." ”"I'm afraid of an ancient country in the East, doesn't it mean that they are still an agrarian society," William I wondered."
No, Your Majesty, according to the information I have, although it has only been two years since the overthrow of the original Qing government and the reunification of the Chinese country, it has developed rapidly, especially the army of the Chinese country, which defeated the Far Eastern army of Tsarist Russia last year, seized the port of Vladivostok, and seized Central Asia, and now I hear that the Chinese country is also preparing to intervene in the ongoing war between Afghanistan and Britain, and even the Zulu War in Africa, as well as the South Pacific War in the Americas.They are definitely not a country without strength, and the most important thing is that it is actually a 9-year-old child who built such a new empire. ”Bismarck reminded."
Well, I have heard about this child many times, this is really a miracle in the world political arena, how can there be such a child, it is simply a prodigy, listening to you say this, I think, we should curb the development of China even more, regardless of whether Germany has a sphere of influence in Asia, what is the benefit of a big country like China rising in the East for us Germany" Wilhelm I asked."
If you must intervene, it is best to have good relations with China, this is the middle policy, please forgive me for being unreasonable, I think that helping Japan, or favoring Japan in public opinion, this is the next policy."
Bismarck didn't want to care about this matter in the first place, after all, the Kaiser had already expressed his position, but from the perspective of the interests of the German Reich, he still felt that he had a responsibility to tell the truth behind it."
What's going on here," asked William I."
In the 19th century, China and Japan faced the same Western cultural invasion, and also experienced opium imports, unequal treaties, and semi-colonies.In the early 19th century, when the West completed the Industrial Revolution and began to expand abroad, China and Japan were basically opened at the same time, China's Opium War in 1840 was pried open by Britain, and Japan was blown up by the United States in 1853.As a result, the two countries showed completely different attitudes, and the Japanese did not begin to learn from Western industrialization and accept foreign cultures until the 80s of the 20th century.On the other hand, it took only two years for Huaguo to initially complete industrialization, a procrastination, a big circle, completed the internal reform, industrialization, and the same opium import is also very different, Huaguo, a country with a huge population base, the territory is vast, larger than the whole of Europe combined, a single nation, a single country, a single political party, once developed, the speed is very terrible, Your Majesty has ever thought that even the entire European countries are blockading China, It doesn't necessarily stop him from rising," Bismarck asked rhetorically.If the Emperor heard Bismarck's opinion, he would have been shocked and frightened, but unfortunately, Bismarck would only say this kind of thing to the Kaiser alone in private, and would not say it to anyone.Kaiser Wilhelm I's eyes widened, and he couldn't believe that Bismarck's evaluation of China would be so high, "Do you really think that a country with such a vast area has just completed its industrial base and has the ability to compete with the European powers, you know, Britain and France, as well as our Germany, which one has not gone through hundreds of years of industrial revolution to have today's achievements If China is really as powerful as you say, then, I think, can not help them." ”"We are in Europe, with Britain and France will not maintain a long-term peace, with Tsarist Russia there is no basis for peace, so, if we can bring an ally, it is very likely that it will be Austria-Hungary, or the smaller Kingdom of Italy or the Kingdom of Spain, or a small country in the Balkans, in Europe, we are always in a dominant position, I think, a big country like China, once it rises, the momentum will be very amazing, but as His Majesty said, his development speed, not fast, not 50 years, It is not possible to catch up with our current industrial technology, but the problem of their self-preservation is not big, and the problem of maintaining their influence in Asia as the largest country will not be big, so it is certainly more beneficial to the interests of the empire to have good relations with China than with Japan. ”Bismarck replied in the affirmative to Wilhelm I.William I looked at the red envelope on the table, a little reluctant, "Since it has little to do with us, I think it is more cost-effective to eat as many benefits as you can eat." ”Bismarck sighed and said no more, he really had differences with the Kaiser in many strategies.Bismarck was indeed the great man of the century, and he looked at everything, especially international affairs, with particular precision in domestic matters, first in the "cultural struggle" of 1871-1877, in which he attacked the Holy See and ended with a compromise between the two sides.In 1878, the "encirclement and suppression of the left" began, and an extraordinary law was enacted to suppress the Social Democratic Party.At the same time, however, he enacted a number of measures to protect workers, many of which were superficial, but nevertheless made Germany the first country in the world to have labour legislation.It can be said that every step taken by Bismarck is quite accurate and most in line with the current situation.The choice of Austria determined the trend of the situation at that time, and also determined the subsequent direction of European foreign policy, including the establishment of the Triple Alliance.After the catastrophe, many swings and crises do not attract much attention from Germany today.Bismarck only had to elaborate on the many motives and opposing motives for the establishment of the German-Austrian alliance as a result of many actions, intentions, feelings, and analyses.We need not dwell on this subject, but only look at the events of the first few years of 1880.Bismarck reorganized Central Europe, he abandoned free choice, he separated from Russia, he tried to be friendly with England, but he could not do it.Although this did not work out, he had good luck at first, England refused to join any alliance against France, and Russia, which had been an enemy of Britain, tended to a new alliance of three reichs friendly with the German powers, which was about sharing the interests of the Balkans.Russia was free to oppose Britain in the Near East, and Bismarck's help to Alexander in order to satisfy his wishes would have been able to sabotage the Russian-French talks.Bismarck supported the formation of the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy, the purpose of which was to prevent Italy from uniting with France, but Bismarck did not want any important help from Italy.As long as "there was an Italian drummer with a tricolor on the top of the Alps, he was satisfied." ”The Triple Alliance also had another purpose, which was to eliminate the hatred between Italy and Austria.But he doesn't think these purposes are fundamental.The most important purpose is to maintain the peace situation, and the rest is secondary.t1706231537: