Chapter 332： Cotton crisis

The British worried that Franz naturally did not know that at this time he was still having headaches for the Suez Canal Project.

There are two main issues:

First, the use of slave labor by the Canal Company has aroused condemnation in European public opinion;

Secondly, the construction expenses of the canal are overrun, and more investment is needed.

The second problem is easy to solve. Canal Company has decided to issue additional stocks to raise funds. It will not be long before the problem can be solved.

Under normal circumstances, it is not difficult for France and Austria to join forces to suppress European public opinion. There were not many virgins in this era, and few people would make their own for a group of Egyptian slave labor.

Moreover, these slaves were provided by the Egyptian government, and the Canal Company paid the Egyptian government.

Earlier, even if there was a report in the newspaper, it was directed at the Egyptian government. After all, the labor is organized by them and their salary is deducted.

Anyway, Egypt is not a European country. European public opinion is so good. They can't feel it.

It's different now. In order to promote cotton cultivation in Egypt, the British must compete with the Canal Company for labor.

The Suez Railway, built by the British, is also in competition with the Canal Company.

Conflicts of interest between the two parties cannot be avoided, and conflicts arise. In order to crack down on the Canal Company, John Bull stirred up public opinion to put pressure on the Canal Company.

As soon as the **** stick is shot, the shame is not enough. France and Austria are not charities. Canal companies have to save costs and inevitably reduce labor costs.

Now the Canal Company pays the Egyptian government one million Aegis each year, which seems to be quite a lot, but it is 6.66 ... per capita per capita for 150,000 workers ...

This figure is less than a month's salary for ordinary Austrian workers. Moreover, the money also includes compensation for land acquisition, labor management fees, and so on.

John Niu not only revealed all these inside stories, but also attached a few photos, including photos of workers' lives and work.

Bloody photos, accompanied by artistically written text descriptions, Franz saw sympathy.

If you look closely, you will also find that the violence supervisors are Egyptians, which is the only good news.

The benefits of labor subcontracting have emerged, with one more mine. Had it not been for John Niu's deliberate public opinion, the Canal Company would have put responsibility on the Egyptian government and nothing would have happened.

Franz asked: "What are the French going to do?"

The French are now leading the construction of the canal. The French are at the center of public opinion, and the French government is also the most stressed.

After all, the French people are full of internationalism. French newspapers are attacking the Canal company, and even more directly against the French government, demanding that the Paris government be held accountable.

When the same thing happened in Austria, public opinion would have to be much more moderate. The newspapers had a fair and objective analysis of their responsibilities.

The Egyptian government was the first to be criticized. The mainstream opinion believed that the Egyptian government had not fulfilled its responsibilities and had to pay the main responsibilities.

The second is the poor supervision of the Canal Company, which is the responsibility of the company's management.

There is a problem with listed companies and multinational joint-stock companies, and it is naturally not a matter for the Austrian government. If small shareholders are responsible for this, aren't shareholders all responsible?

Foreign Minister Weissenberg replied: "The French are still hesitating and have not given a clear attitude. Public opinion in France has put a lot of pressure on them.

News from the ambassador said that the people of Paris had taken to the streets and the Canal Company's headquarters in Paris was surrounded by the crowds and could not work normally.

Our representative has proposed to the Canal Board of Directors to relocate the headquarters to Vienna to ensure that the office can work normally, and is currently under discussion. "

Franz had no doubts about the relocation of the headquarters. In the past, the companies driven by the French people were not one or two, and the companies could not work normally, and they could not move.

As an investor, Franz also did not want the French government to interfere and interfere with the operation of the Canal Company.

Anyway, the reputation of Canal Company is beyond the consideration of investors. Unless there is government intervention, the management of the canal will definitely carry it to the end.

The current situation is much better than in history. Everyone knows that the Suez Canal is a joint project between France and Austria, but the civil newspapers have scolded it fiercely, and governments of all countries have not expressed their opinions.

Politicians are not stupid. Now the three countries, Britain, France and Austria, are playing a political game, showing that their attitude is in the diplomatic team.

The British are indeed awesome, but on the European continent, the two countries speak more heavily. Even the younger brother of the British now knows that silence is golden.

Franz thought for a while and said, "Let ’s do it now, since the British broke the rules first.

Find an opportunity to sell the black history we collected to the Canal Company. Let's get our hands on Canal Company to drive this counterattack. "

This is not the best way, but it is the most effective way. No colonial empire in this era is much cleaner than anyone else.

The British can expose the black history of the Canal Company, so the Canal Company can naturally expose the black history of the British.

Anyway, behind the Suez Canal Company are France and Austria, and they are right with the British government, there is no need to counsel.

When everyone is pulled to the same level, public opinion is busy, and they will not continue to stare at the Canal Company.

News is just catching everyone ’s attention because it is new. When the storm passed, the management of the Canal Company announced an improvement in labor treatment. For example, adding a potato every day and buying several newspapers to wash it would be white.

This is a matter of policy, and now the Canal Company is absolutely unrecognizable. No matter what you do, it is impossible to satisfy everyone, and it may even cause a bigger storm.

...

In West Africa, a large planter, Carlos's manor, welcomed an uninvited guest.

"Sir Carlos, we are very sincere to buy cotton this time. We can increase the cotton price by another 10% last year."

Carlos smiled slightly and said, "Sorry Mr. Max, I really didn't feel your sincerity.

The civil war broke out in the United States, this year's cotton production cuts are a foregone conclusion. Coupled with the blockade by the northern government, how much cotton can be shipped in the end is a question.

Last year's bumper cotton harvest, prices were already low. With so many favorable conditions, cotton prices will definitely be guaranteed.

As far as I know, the price of cotton in London's futures market has risen by 56%. "

Max explained casually: "Sir Carlos, the price of cotton in the futures market is speculated.

You should know what a 56% increase in cotton prices means, and the market simply cannot afford this sky-high price. "

This is the fact that cotton prices have risen 56%, and the cotton spinning industry is simply unacceptable. Otherwise, even if cotton cloth is produced, it will not be sold in the end.

In this era, the market's affordability is limited. Industrialized cotton is popular, mainly because it is cheap. Suddenly increasing the price by half, the people simply cannot afford it.

The two were silent, and after half a sir, Sir Carlos quoted the price: "Increase in price by 40% last year, and I will sell you all this year's cotton."

Max shook his head and said, "The price increased by 12% last year, which is already the highest price of cotton in nearly a decade."

Sir Carlos sneered: "As far as I know, Felicity's cotton purchase price this year also seems to be prepared to increase by 12%. If it is the same price, why should I sell it to you?"

Max quoted again: "Okay, I'll raise two more points. Is this always okay?"

Sir Carlos shook his head: "Mr. Max, Felicity Trading Co., Ltd. has acquired cotton in West Africa for a long time, and your Daval company has been buying cotton in the United States.

This multiple-choice question is very good. I ca n’t offend my long-term partners for a little benefit. The whole plantation owner in West Africa would not do this.

If you just want to buy a batch of cotton emergency, then I suggest you buy it directly from the Felician firm! "

Max had a headache, which was the biggest trouble. It was precisely because of the insufficiency of cotton supply in the United States this year that he was allowed to purchase cotton in West Africa.

But some people in the market have already done this. They want to step in. There is no way other than raising prices.

As for buying from cotton merchants, it is no wonder that they are not blackmailed. Originally he wanted to fight a time difference, flickering about the unsophisticated plantation owner, but he failed at the beginning.

...

The acquisition of the company's headquarters by London's Davir Cotton is discussing news of failed cotton buying from West Africa.

"It's clear now that news of the American Civil War has arrived. Unless we increase the cotton purchase price significantly, we will not win the Austrians at all," said Kenneth, purchasing director.

We need to know that when we buy cotton from West Africa, we have to pay import and export duties, which would have cost us much higher.

If there is a price war now, even if enough cotton is acquired, it may not be able to make money. "

This is a real issue. Whether the cotton in the United States can be shipped back is still unknown. This has a bearing on the price of cotton in the coming year.

If the northern government blocked the south, cotton prices would certainly skyrocket, and those merchants who hoarded cotton would make a lot of money. On the contrary, we must consider how to sell the cotton in it.

Market Director Marty analyzed: "Because of the civil war, US cotton production has fallen by at least three levels this year, because cotton in the war-torn Indian region has been harvested for three consecutive years.

Even if the cotton harvest in West Africa is bumper, international cotton production is generally on the decline, and rising cotton prices have become inevitable.

It is not far away from the day of cotton harvest. If we want to grab enough cotton, we must be fast. "

...

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