Chapter 257： Export pound

Prior to the reform of the gold standard, Franz considered the issue of gold reserves. The best choice is naturally to occupy the gold production area and organize manual mining.

It is a pity that the major gold producing areas in the world have nothing to do with the New Holy Roman Empire, most of which are in the hands of the British.

Gold mines that are easy to mine in this era are mainly distributed in South Africa, Russia, Canada, Australia, the United States, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and other regions.

There is no way. The entire European continent lacks gold mines. Even if there are, most of them have been developed. Now the remaining gold mines are buried underground, and open-pit gold mines no longer exist.

Franz is not an encyclopedia. It is impossible to clearly remember the location of each gold mine. Naturally, it is impossible to find out the domestic gold mines.

Compared with the low production of gold, Austria's silver production is much better. Under the gold and silver reset system, it is silver that supports the value of Austria's currency.

After a difficult game, the new Holy Roman Empire reluctantly passed the gold standard reform system. This was the result of Franz's non-intervention, and some people in the Austrian government also voted against it.

Regardless, the gold standard reform will happen sooner or later, and a part of gold can be redeemed in advance. If everyone starts to grab gold later, the price paid will be greater.

Large gold mines are not under control, but small gold mines are not absent. In addition to the mainland, there are many gold mines in Guinea and Congo, two colonies in Austria.

Not to mention the underground gold mines, open-pit gold mines produced by river bed alluvial can always be mined?

Franz's expectations are not high, and there are several tons of output per year. It is enough to make up for the domestic gold gap.

As for the other gold mines, we still have to wait until the British crack down on the Indian uprising. Now we can be a little bit safe, so as not to become a target.

At that time, the Austrian railway ship also came out, occupying the first-mover advantage. Several iron armored ships went to the colony and had regional navy advantages, and then they robbed the colony of the right to speak again.

Do not look at the British navy first in the world, but they also have more colonies to guard. After being scattered all over the world, in addition to dominating the important sea areas, the remaining regions depend on the input of various countries.

Before the discovery of gold mines, the values ​​of these areas and after discovery were completely two concepts, and it was not worth the hard work of all countries.

According to the Austrian business model, as long as it has been operating locally for more than ten years and sent over 100,000 immigrants, it is not afraid of competitors.

War also requires costs. Unless it is a giant mine like South Africa, or a gold mine with reserves of 800 tons, it is really not enough for the two major powers to conduct a local war.

Even if South Africa's gold occupies half of the world, the most important colony of the British is India. The reason is very simple, and gold mining also has costs.

Even at its peak, the British's benefits in South Africa were still less than one-fifth of India's, and the two were not comparable at all.

Franz naturally can't put the cart before the horse, and he will go for gold at all costs. To put it plainly, gold is only a manifestation of wealth, and other industrial raw materials are also wealth.

The most critical core is the development of domestic industry. In the past, Germany was so short of gold reserves that it had developed.

The speed of mankind's wealth creation in the industrial age is far from comparable to that of several gold mines. The development of itself is the most important.

After the two world wars, the British still held India, South Africa, Australia, Canada and other regions. In the end, did they obediently give up world hegemony?

After the reform of the gold standard was determined, Franz left the rest to the cabinet.

...

Franz still underestimates the impact of the reform of the gold standard. The domestic heated discussions have also caused a sensation in continental Europe.

London

The new Holy Roman Empire suddenly began to reform the gold standard, which immediately caught the attention of the British government. From the perspective of the development of a capitalist market economy, the gold standard system will be more conducive to international trade.

For the British, the addition of the New Holy Roman Empire to the gold standard system is undoubtedly another step forward in their currency hegemony.

In this era, the British have the world's largest gold reserves, and London is the world's largest financial center. Once countries adopt the gold standard system, the pound-gold settlement system they have established will become the world's mainstream.

Countries lacking gold reserves have to buy sterling as a reserve currency. Naturally, in international settlement, the use of sterling settlement is also indispensable.

Once the pound has become the world currency, the benefits it brings will not be a star, it will lay the foundation for British hegemony in the world.

Knowing to know, this is a conspiracy. Even knowing the British plan, Franz still had to hold his nose to recognize it.

In order to prevent the British from establishing hegemony, they cannot ignore the domestic economic development, right? The exchange ratio of gold and silver often changes, which is obviously not conducive to the development of industry and commerce.

No. 10 Downing Street, affected by the defeat of the Near East War, changed its owner here again. In the domestic struggle for rights, George's cabinet has passed away and is now the Granger Cabinet of the Whig Party.

The Prime Minister of Palmerston in history was very unfortunately finished in the last political storm. Coupled with the failure of the Near East War, he himself was the initiator of the war. Naturally, it is impossible to resurrect.

As a political party representing the interests of the financial and business circles, the Whig Party is also a pioneer in the implementation of the gold standard system. In the subsequent European countries, the gold standard reform will be indispensable.

The Prime Minister of Granville was somewhat surprised and said: "Always conservative Austrians, this time took the lead in starting the reform of the gold standard.

I do not deny that Austria ’s accession to the gold standard is good for Great Britain, but this abrupt change is still somewhat unacceptable. Do you think the reform of the Vienna government can succeed? "

Foreign Minister John Russell replied: "The Prime Minister, the Vienna government ’s reform of the gold standard is more because of a struggle for power, and the central government wants to strengthen control over the state government.

The New Holy Roman Empire is essentially inheriting the legal system of the Holy Roman Empire. Naturally, it is inevitably restricted, and the governments of the states are very autonomous.

Until now, the Vienna government has only just obtained unified diplomatic power and command of the wartime army, and now the Vienna government wants to recover the coinage right, and has initiated the reform of the gold standard system.

Although a little rushed in time, Austria made a war fortune in the Near East War, and now the Vienna government should have enough funds for currency reform.

Without any accidents, there should be no major problems when the new Holy Roman Empire joins the gold standard. "

After pondering for a moment, the Prime Minister Granville asked: "In addition to the gold standard reform, it also requires a large amount of gold reserves. Presumably, the Vienna government will soon buy gold on the international market.

However, the international market is changing, and gold is a scarce resource. Now it is time for the price to rise. The Austrians may not be able to buy enough gold reserves.

However, considering the relationship between Britain and Austria, how about we provide Austrians with a loan to help them achieve the gold standard reform? "

There is no doubt that Prime Minister Granville is ready to get things done. As a market maker in the international gold market, the pricing power of gold for silver is in the hands of the British.

As long as the British manipulate the price of gold, it will be difficult for Austria to acquire enough gold.

Once not enough gold is obtained, the Vienna government can only accept loans from the British, and then establish a "sterling-gold system" standard system.

This will greatly enhance the international status of the pound and lay the foundation for settlement in pounds in international trade.

The friendship between Britain and Austria is a joke. When it is in the interest of Britain, that is deep friendship; once the interests are contrary, even deeper friendship can become the enemy.

Historically, Britain and Austria have always been a quasi-alliance relationship. Supporting Austria against Russia is a state policy implemented by the British Empire for nearly a century.

From the beginning of the 20th century, in order to curb the Germans, the British turned to compromise with the Russians and abandoned the traditional ally.

After a few moments of silence, Finance Minister George Gray replied: "The Prime Minister's proposal is good. Let the new Holy Roman Empire be added to our monetary system, and the rest will be easy."

Obviously, whether or not Austria accepts loans is only a minor issue. The most important thing is for the Vienna government to recognize the "sterling-gold system" and join the British pound as their international currency settlement system.

For the huge benefits brought by the pound becoming an international currency, the British began to export pounds madly in the middle and late 19th century, using various means to allow governments to recognize the pound's hegemony.

In history, the world hegemony of the British Empire was actually based on the currency hegemony of the British pound, and the British people seized a lot of benefits through this hidden means of the British pound.

In later generations, the British Empire ’s colonial empire collapsed. The first thing that collapsed was also currency hegemony. In order to compete for currency hegemony, the Americans also offered to export dollars.

From investing in Europe after World War I to transfusion to the Germans to restore their vitality; to European aid programs after World War II are fighting for currency hegemony.

The vast colonies of the British were abandoned by the Americans, but only monetary hegemony was held in their hands, and the interests in it were plain.

Granville asked intently: "Sir Russell, how likely do you think the Vienna government will accept our kindness?"

After a moment of contemplation, John Russell replied with a smile: "It depends on how high our bid is!

Although the economy of the New Holy Roman Empire is large, it is at a disadvantage in terms of gold reserves, and they are not eligible to compete on the road to establishing international currency hegemony.

Except that the French may threaten us in this regard, no country in Europe has this kind of strength. Of course, if the Russians have completed internal reforms, it is also a threat. "

After hesitating for a moment, the Prime Minister of Granville made the decision: "Then we will be faster, we must grab more countries before our competitors respond."

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