Chapter 171: Countdown
Constantinople
Since negotiations began, Abdulmejid I’s mood had never improved. He had just been threatened by the Russians, and now the Austrian representative took the stage.
Stürmer was a pure diplomat and was not as overbearing as Menshikov. Austria’s appetite was not as large as Russia’s, so the talks naturally took place.
Abdulmejid I firmly said, “Mr. Stürmer, your demands are too excessive. The Principality of Moldavia and the Principality of Wallachia are sacred and indivisible parts of the Ottoman Empire, and absolutely cannot be ceded!”
(Author’s Note: The Principality of Wallachia is in present-day southern Romania; The Principality of Moldavia is in present-day northern Romania, Moldova, and parts of Ukraine)
However, he lacked confidence saying this. Who told them to be eyed by both Russia and Austria?
Facing one alone, with British and French support, they could still stand firm. Against two, not to mention Abdulmejid I being cowardly, even if Britain and France personally took the stage, they would still lack confidence.
Causing division between Russia and Austria became imperative. Otherwise once war erupted, the Ottoman Empire would be finished.
Stürmer calmly explained, “Your Majesty, these two small principalities are not your country’s original territories and are merely vassal states. Why can they not be transferred?
From the current situation, your country simply cannot hold these two principalities. If sold to the Austrian Empire, you can also reduce the defense line bordering Russia.”
Saving face was not just a Qing Dynasty specialty. The Ottoman Empire was not one to concede easily either. “Transfer” and “Sale” were Stürmer’s attempts to preserve Abdulmejid I’s face as much as possible.
Influenced by European culture, selling land was no big deal. This was more acceptable than simply ceding territory.
If Austria really wanted to purchase these two principalities, Abdulmejid I did not mind selling them. After all, they could not be defended if war erupted anyway.
Although the terrain of these two principalities was flat and suitable for agricultural development, because they bordered Russia and Austria, the Ottomans had barely developed them. Selling them would not pain them.
“How much is your country willing to pay?” Abdulmejid I asked expectantly.
In any case, it was better to negotiate than not. Even if just to buy time for compromise, Abdulmejid I had to haggle with Austria.
Stürmer firmly said, “Your Majesty, the Austrian government is willing to pay 100 million guilders!”
This price was very sincere. After all, undeveloped land was worthless in this era.
Before Abdulmejid I could respond, Stürmer added, “But the Austrian government currently has financial difficulties, and cannot pay such a huge sum at once. We plan to pay it off over the course of 100 years.”
Paying it off over the course of 100 years, wasn’t that nonsense? Let alone inflation, given their respective strength, did the Ottoman Empire have the ability to receive the money?
Anyone with a bit of sense knew Stürmer was merely speaking of a purchase but had no plans to actually pay at all.
A 100 year payoff was a completely empty check. As long as the time did not come, Austria could not be said to be in breach of contract.
In such a long time, if the two countries had any conflict or even one war, not one guilder had to be paid.
Even receiving the money after 100 years would be useless. The 100 million that could buy this 200,000+ square kilometer territory now perhaps wouldn’t be able to buy even 20 square kilometers of land after 100 years.
It was too shameless to bully others like this. If they compromised after being threatened, wouldn’t that tell the whole world: the Ottoman Empire had declined, come carve up the remains quickly!
Abdulmejid I questioned, “Mr. Stürmer, are you not joking? There is no business so absurd in the whole world!”
Stürmer just smiled without replying. The Austrian government had no plans to pay at all. His proposal was merely a fig leaf for the Ottoman government.
Stürmer was not so naive as to think obtaining the two principalities in the Danube River Basin was possible through negotiations. If it were that easy, why mobilize troops?
Domestic stance was very clear—just go through the motions negotiating. Even if it comes to an agreement, a deal could not be reached immediately, or how could the play continue?
If they reconcile with the Ottoman Empire, should Austria halt war preparations? Stopping would render all prior preparations useless; not stopping would be worse, exposing strategic aims.
Then the Southern German States would be prepared, and with intervention by the powers, the westward strategy would basically be scrapped.
To stall negotiations, after the two principalities, Stürmer demanded even more Ottoman territory, all at once claiming half the Balkan Peninsula.
Even with Britain and France strongly mediating to resolve contradictions, it was futile. Of course, to play the full act, Sturmer also slowly began making concessions.
……
As negotiations kicked off in Constantinople, Paris also livened up. The struggle between the Parliamentary and the Presidential factions had reached a boiling point, and was impossible to relieve.
After long preparation, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was finally ready.
With British backing, on June 12, 1851, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte launched a military coup in Paris, forcibly dissolving Parliament.
The unwilling Parliamentary faction also organized troops to counterattack, but failed due to traitors, allowing Louis Napoleon Bonaparte to seize power.
When news of the coup reached Vienna, Franz was not surprised at all, although the coup happened half a year early.
The butterfly effect was growing, even affecting France now. The future course of the world had become unrecognizable. The advantage of foreknowledge was slowly disappearing.
Franz was prepared. His arrival had changed many people’s fates, influencing global affairs inevitably.
After this Paris coup, it would not be long before Louis Napoleon Bonaparte restored the monarchy. The Britain-France combo would also emerge on the historical stage.
Franz did not intervene, as the vainglorious monarch Napoleon III was still not too difficult to deal with compared to the alternative.
France has a strong foundation, and the presence of a monarch who enjoys making changes may not be as frightening. However, if a monarch who loves development were to appear, that would be a real disaster for Austria.
It’s better to let the usurious empire (France) continue with their high-interest loans. Austria can take charge of industrial development.
After the Paris coup, the pressure on the British instantly lessened greatly. With France as a pawn, their say in European diplomacy grew heavier.
Abdulmejid I felt it most deeply. Support from France strengthened, and soon-to-be restored Napoleon III sent him military instructors to help train the Ottoman military.
However, this support was insufficient to change the current unfavorable situation. As time passed, Russian representative Prince Alexander Menshikov’s attitude grew increasingly tough.
Rather than negotiations, it was more like Russia making demands and giving the Ottoman government a choice—accept or it is war.
Russia seemed fully prepared for war. On July 23, 1851, the British-Russian Saint Petersburg negotiations ended in failure due to the huge differences in bottom lines, and the countdown for the next Russo-Turkish war started.
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