Chapter 980： English-Japanese South Sea Secret Agreement

It's not a blessing to be unhappy, and politics is sometimes such a comedy. Originally, the British government had doubts about supporting the Japanese, worried that the mud could not support the wall and could not recover the investment cost.

But after the Holy Roman Empire supported the Spanish, the British government had no choice. If they don't make a move, the Nanyang area will soon have no place for them.

Britain doesn't have much interest in the Southeast Asia, even if it is squeezed out, it doesn't seem to lose much. However, things cannot just look at the surface.

When you open the map, you will know that the Nanyang region is stuck between the Far East and India. Once squeezed out, Britain's hegemony in the Far East will also be shaken.

Of course, they have another choice-Australia. The problem is another big circle!

Britain can't stand the toss. The Royal Navy was unable to navigate through the Suez Canal, and the pressure on its own was great enough to make a detour.

Against this background, Britain can only introduce external forces to balance the various forces in the Southeast Asia region and ease its own pressure.

...

At the same time that the Spaniards arrived at the New Frankfurt Port, Hirobumi Ito, on behalf of the Japanese government, and the British Foreign Secretary George signed the "England-Japan South Seas Secret Agreement" in London.

The treaty stipulates:

1. The contracting states mutually recognize the right to protect their own interests in Southeast Asia. If Japan's "special interests" in Southeast Asia are threatened by other countries, the two countries have the right to intervene.

2. When one of the contracting states fights against a third country to protect the above-mentioned interests, the other party shall strictly observe its neutrality and provide assistance within its capabilities.

3. If one of the contracting states is attacked by two or more countries, the other party shall provide military assistance.

4. The navies of the two countries should cooperate with each other to maintain their superiority in the South China Sea and the Far East.

...

Supplementary agreement: In view of the needs of the Japanese-Western War, Britain sold 3 battleships, 5 cruisers, 7 destroyers, and several auxiliary warships to the Japanese government.

The treaty is valid for 5 years. After the expiration, the two countries will decide whether to continue the contract renewal according to the specific situation.

In addition to the different targets, this Anglo-Japanese secret agreement is basically a reprint of the original space-time "Anglo-Japanese Alliance". The only difference is probably that the situation in the Southeast Asia is more complicated, which makes the UK and Japan unwilling to open the news of the alliance.

Regardless of the Royal Navy's number one in the world, in terms of fleet launch speed, they are still inferior to the Holy Roman Empire in Southeast Asia.

The fleets of the two countries set off from the homeland at the same time, and the fleet of the Holy Roman Empire must arrive at least half a month earlier. This is the strategic significance of the Suez Canal.

The only way to avoid this disadvantage is to station heavy troops. In theory, as long as the Royal Navy is twice the size of the Shinra Navy, it can maintain its advantage.

As long as the Royal Navy divides into two routes and blocks the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea, the Shinra fleet can be locked in a Mediterranean bath.

After all, the Royal Navy's combat effectiveness is stronger. Given the size of the fleet, the Shinra Navy is not yet their opponent.

Of course, this is only theoretical. If you actually operate it, you will find that there is no effect at all.

The maritime blockade is only effective against small countries. Faced with the big Mac, the Royal Navy's blockade will bring some economic losses at best.

In addition to angering the Vienna government and allowing the Shenluo Empire to invest more force in building warships, it has no deterrent effect at all.

Although it cannot win, Britain cannot lose either. With the power of the Royal Navy, it was invincible innately.

The end result is nothing more than Britain losing its colonies in Africa, and Shinra will probably lose its colonies in the South Seas and the Americas.

Perhaps the two countries also have air forces surging each other, so you come and I bombard. It is possible that several states along the coast of Shinra will be baptized by war.

But in general, both sides are big losers, and the winners will only be the people who are not involved.

Under the background of not turning their faces, the secret agreement between Britain and Japan was exposed, that is, forcing the Netherlands and Spain to hug Shenluo.

Two-on-three British people feel that it is a loss, while the Japanese simply dare not join in the fun. Although they are all great powers, the goalkeeper of such great powers as Spain and the Shenluo Empire are not a species at all.

If the game breaks down, who can guarantee that the British will be reliable? If people don't care about the three or seventy-one, and a fleet goes directly to Tokyo, the Japanese government can't afford it.

Even if the British government is willing to help, when the Royal Navy arrives, it can only help collect the dead body.

Revenge, what's the use?

With the wealth of the Japanese empire, don’t even think about turning over after losing. Can't expect the Holy Roman Empire to surrender and lose money and let them rebuild the navy?

...

The Spaniards who have just arrived at the New Frankfurt Port are holding a celebration banquet at this moment. After so many days of drifting at sea, it was time to relax.

"Sir Witt, is Governor Chandler not here?"

Halfway through the banquet, the fleet commander Admiral Walkenhain realized that another important guest had not arrived.

Sir Witt, as the foreign affairs officer, smiled and replied: "I'm very sorry. Your Excellency, if something is not going to happen temporarily, let me convey my apologies."

You can see from his sincere smile, apologetic. However, this is not what Admiral Valkenhain needs.

Spain wants to defeat the Japanese and regain the Philippine Islands without the support of the governor of Austrian Southeast Asia. Governor Chandler avoided seeing him, obviously not wanting to further intervene in the Japanese-Spanish war.

Although the two countries are allies, they still have to speak with their interests. The Vienna government can fulfill the previous treaty signed with Spain, it is very good friends.

If you want further support, it depends on what the Spanish government is willing to give. It is a pity that the Spanish family base is too thin to afford this price.

Otherwise, Spain would have bought off European countries and allowed the European Union to pass a resolution ordering the Japanese to withdraw from the Philippine Islands.

Not to mention that it is the Japanese government. Even if it is replaced by the British government, it must think twice before facing the collective decision of the European Union.

In fact, Spain is not without opportunities. If you rush to join the anti-French alliance before the Russians enter the war, you can decide to get the full support of the anti-French alliance.

It's a pity that the Spanish government's hesitation, so slow and lost, the Russians entered the war one step late, causing their own value to plummet.

The status of the victorious nation is mixed, and the spoils are also obtained. If you want the Holy Roman Empire to help retake the Philippine Islands, it is obviously not enough.

After a brief embarrassment, Admiral Valkenhain immediately responded, politely replied: "It doesn't matter, the Governor can understand everything every day. It's just a matter of warship maintenance. I don't know when will it start?

Sir Witt, you know. Our fleet came from the homeland and sailed for tens of thousands of kilometers. The war is about to go on again, and the warship is in urgent need of maintenance. "

After tens of thousands of kilometers, the warships were only “maintained” rather than “repaired”, which proved the quality of the French warships, and also proved the professional quality of the Spanish Navy.

Compared with the miserable and miserable Russian fleet in the original time and space, the Spaniards are now too lucky.

"The repair shop is ready and may start at any time. It's just that your country's fleet is so large that a repair shop may not be able to complete maintenance in a short time.

If you are in a hurry, I personally recommend spreading the fleet to multiple repair shops for maintenance. With our technical strength, if we separate, it can be done as soon as one week. "

The money delivered to the door is not made for nothing. Whether it is providing logistical supplies or carrying out maintenance of warships, there is a charge.

When treating customers, Sir Witt has always given the warmth of the sun. As long as the customer has money in his pocket, he will do everything possible to satisfy the customer's needs.

As for the outcome of this war, it is actually not that important. As long as the Vienna government is willing, even if the Spanish navy is annihilated, it can immediately form a more powerful fleet for them.

The same is true for the enemy. As long as the British are willing, no matter how great the Japanese losses are, they can also make supplements immediately.

In a sense, the key to determining the outcome of the Japanese-Western War is no longer on the battlefield, but lies in the game between the great powers.

General Valkenhain said with joy: "Of course, the sooner the better, the Filipino people are still waiting for us to rescue them!"

Although I don't know that Britain and Japan have already hooked up together, Admiral Valkenhain still understands the truth about long nights.

The Philippine archipelago is a treasured land, and the countries peeping here are not just the Japanese. Almost every colonial empire has had illusions about it.

In the short term, everyone also acquiesced that the Philippine Islands are a colony of Spain. Due to political factors, it is inconvenient for countries to attack the Philippine Islands.

But the situation will be different if the time is delayed. Once the international community believes that Spain is unable to take back the Philippine Islands, then their ownership of the Philippine Islands will be lost.

In the Philippine Islands that have changed their owners, the original political factors are no longer there, and everyone has no burden if they move their hands.

In particular, Britain and Austria both have enough power to seize the Philippine Islands from the Japanese, and they are the targets of vigilance in Kvarkenhain.