Chapter 1190: Chapter 199: East Africa’s "Old Friend
April 15, 1915.
Luanda Port.
Since the development of the East African West Coast, the route for French people to East Africa has also changed. Previously, like most countries, the French needed to first travel by ship to the East Coast of East Africa, to Dar es Salaam City, and then transfer by rail to the capital of East Africa.
Now, the French can reach the mainland of East Africa by simply navigating the Atlantic Ocean, without detouring through the Mediterranean, which is much more convenient for France.
"It’s been a long time, Special Envoy Thomson!" East African Minister of Foreign Affairs Frier said to Thomson.
"Hello, Your Excellency Frier, you look more vibrant than ever," Thomson said to Frier with a smile.
The two were old acquaintances, as Thomson was the former French Ambassador to East Africa, so they often interacted in Rhein City.
Looking at the more prosperous Luanda City, Thomson couldn’t help but exclaim: "When I left East Africa back then, I returned to France from Luanda. It now seems that Luanda is more prosperous than before. I imagine that after the war ends, Luanda might also have as high an international reputation as Dar es Salaam City!"
The outbreak of World War I can be said to have fueled the economic development of cities on the East African West Coast, and now, the most triumphant across the Atlantic Ocean are the East Africans and Americans.
Luanda has also become the spearhead of East Africa’s trade exports to Western Europe, North America, South America, and West Africa. In 1914, in East African urban development, it surpassed the capital Rhein City, and claimed the top position in East Africa’s economic growth rate for the first time.
This place not only has East African factories but is also the region with the most prosperous foreign investment and private economy. The French business community has newly invested in several enterprises in Luanda, Cabinda, and other areas along the East African West Coast.
Last year, Luanda can be said to have made a fortune in trade with France. Many industrial products manufactured in Luanda, as well as agricultural products from the East African hinterland, set off from here and eventually reached France.
It’s worth mentioning that France has currently become East Africa’s largest export country, with its total import volume of goods from East Africa surpassing that of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
"Ambassador Thomson, you are an old friend of our East African people. This time you’ve revisited old haunts, we have arranged the highest level of hospitality for you," Frier said to Thomson with a grin.
The wealth of France makes the East African government very pleased. Before the war, France was East Africa’s largest creditor nation, and French investment and loans in East Africa far exceeded those of Germany and the United Kingdom.
After the outbreak of the war, France became the largest buyer of East African goods, and East Africa’s debts to France were being rapidly paid off. It can be said that France has made a significant contribution to East Africa’s current industrialization process.
"Haha, Your Excellency Frier is too polite. We, the French, have always regarded East Africa as friends of the French people. I believe the future of both our countries will be very bright," Thomson politely replied.
In reality, the diplomacy between France and East Africa is a rather peculiar phenomenon. The relationship between the French Government and the East African Government has always been good, while conversely, the public sentiment in France towards East Africa is not very friendly.
After all, East Africans are also Germans, so East Africans, as the same ethnic group as Germans, are also caught in the crossfire.
However, the French Government is much more rational. For the French Government, East Africa, though a German country, is ultimately an independent country, and the interests of Germany and East Africa are not aligned, so France has always sought to win over the East African Government.
Moreover, France and East Africa do not have any conflicts of interest, which is most important. During East Africa’s rise, it primarily offended the British, and as the ally of the British, France actually finds this pleasing.
This is also true for East Africa. East Africa has a poor relationship with the British, so in its attitude towards the Allied camp, its stance towards France and the United Kingdom is completely different.
The United Kingdom is in cahoots with the United States, so East Africa can collude with France. As a result, even after the war, Britain and France would not be able to join forces against East Africa. Of course, the premise is that the Allies achieve final victory.
In terms of betting on both sides, East Africa’s tactics are impeccable. With the Allied Powers, East Africa can play the emotion card, and with the Allies, East Africa can draw France in against the United Kingdom. This way, no matter who the eventual winner of the war is, East Africa has considerable room for maneuver.
Thomson said: "Let’s not digress. My visit this time is to ask for support from your government. Given the tough times for France, we need support from East Africa in terms of supplies—horses, automobiles, ships, food, and so on. We hope East Africa can increase its support to our country in this regard."
Evidently, Thomson came with the procurement task from the French Government. After the war broke out, although France’s situation in terms of supplies was stronger than that of landlocked Germany and Austria-Hungary, it was still limited.
"Ships?" Frier’s focus was different.
Thomson said with some difficulty: "Correct, due to the war, we are relatively short on ships, and now the only ones that can help France are East Africa and the United States."
Thomson specifically brought up the United States, making it easier to bargain with the East Africans. After all, facing a war of this scale, even an old imperialist country like France doesn’t have much surplus left.
After pondering for a moment, Frier said to Thomson: "Speaking of ships, France might as well purchase our second-hand ships. Now, with the war turning ships into consumables, the price of second-hand ships is much cheaper, and our East African second-hand ships aren’t that old. We can offer your country the greatest discount."
After all, East Africa is only a country with half a century of history, and even the oldest domestically made ships cannot be more than fifty years old.
After just a brief consideration, Frier decided to facilitate this deal for the government. On one hand, France’s demand is definitely not small, and even second-hand ships could fetch quite a sum. On the other hand, East Africa currently needs to reduce inventory, as the new ships launched each year by East Africa’s various shipyards have reached an impressive quantity in recent years.
Moreover, historically, East Africa has never exported ships to other industrial countries. Don’t mention industrial countries, the only places where East Africa has actually fulfilled overseas ship orders are Paraguay and the Neretva region of the former Austria-Hungary.
As for the three ships exported to the Neretva region, they were essentially given away, so the only real record of East Africa successfully exporting ships is with Paraguay.
And Thomson also believed Frier made sense, as second-hand ships are available, cheap, and perfectly suitable to meet transportation needs in such wartime conditions.
"Great, it’s just that we are curious about how much inventory your country has, as our demand is quite urgent," Thomson inquired.
Frier: "It’s a simple matter. Your country should trust the capabilities of East Africa. Our country is the world’s second-largest shipbuilding nation, and our prices are much cheaper than those in the United Kingdom. We can fully meet your country’s needs."
The cost of East African shipbuilding is very low, mainly relying on East Africa’s leading steel production worldwide, ample labor, cheap electricity, and other factors.
The population of East Africa is only surpassed by Russia and the Far East Empire. While the United Kingdom, alongside its colonies, has a large population, its shipbuilding industry is mainly concentrated on the mainland, and its mainland population is less than half of East Africa’s. The number of industrial workers in the United Kingdom is even more significantly different compared to East Africa.
Now, East Africa has effectively become the world’s largest industrial nation, a fact evident from today’s world trade, where East Africa holds the advantage in competition with the United States, surpassing the former world-leading industrial nation in terms of export volume.
Afterwards, Thomson, on behalf of the French Government, engaged in negotiations with East Africa for other materials and products, such as steel, horses, automobiles, sugar, cotton, arms, and so on.
This time, Thomson essentially came for a grand procurement, and the French were generous with their payments, not because they were rich, but because East Africa owed France a substantial amount before the war, so many materials could directly offset the two countries’ debts.
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