v3 Chapter 398： What do you think about Italy?

William IV told the European Times: As for what the Netherlands might lose and gain?

Frankly speaking, the Netherlands may have lost more diplomatic leverage, Italy's position, obviously from the position of a member of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, is slightly skewed towards neutrality, which is a combination of the Netherlands and Italy to check the position of France in the north and south. Obviously, with the ice-breaking trip of Inmanuel II's visit to France, there has been a gap. To this end, the Netherlands needs to make some adjustments. As for how to adjust, that is the scope of the work of the Dutch foreign ministry.

As for what the Netherlands gets? Everything has two sides, Italy's visit to the French Empire, the Netherlands actually benefited from it, why, because many people can find that the tension in the English Channel has dropped, and the Netherlands in the north will therefore avoid choosing sides, you know These are the two most powerful countries in Europe. Although the Netherlands and the French Empire have different opinions in the Far East, it does not prevent the possibility of cooperation between the two countries on European issues. Everyone knows that the Netherlands and the French Empire have issues in Belgium. , the positions are convergent.

"Fairy Wood"

"European Times": What do you think of Italy?

Italy is a rising country. Rising and conservative countries have had disputes over territory and sphere of influence since ancient times. It was just like the Austrian Empire in Italy. Although the two countries almost belonged to the Alliance at the beginning, they hated each other and killed each other. Finally, because of Venice The problem and the firmness of Inmanuel II's rise made it difficult for the Austrian Empire to maintain the status quo between the two countries.

In the end, the two countries were backed by the French Empire, which led to a short-term war. In the end, Italy and the French Empire won, and Austria was forced to become the territory of Venice and other places. Since then, Austria has lost its hegemony in the central Mediterranean.

Of course, intermittent border conflicts were also voiced later, but the real conflict between the two countries only accounts for a very small part of the border between Italy and Austria.

However, now that the quality and Austria have been defeated by Prussia, the former Austrian Empire has become the current Austro-Hungarian Empire. It seems that the two countries have chosen peace in the border dispute, which is rare.

After some conflicts, everyone now understands where their line of control is, and they don't cross their own line of control. I think this is also a controllable situation before the problem is finally resolved. As long as the conflict doesn't get worse, everyone knows where the line of control is.

In the past, the border line may not be very clear, and the border soldiers of the two countries will inevitably be aware of the lake. These are understandable. Of course, if the Italian and Austrian-Hungarian soldiers take the initiative to provoke, it is a problem that they need to control.

"European Times": What kind of person do you think the Italian King Inmanuel II is?

The Italian King Inmanuel II was also a political-strong man. He also wanted to play the role of Napoleon III or Alexander II. However, sometimes, he was more like King William I of Prussia, restrained and low-key. No one took it lightly.

Under his banner, there have been European diplomatic strategists like Cavour, and rejuvenated ministers like Marco Mingerti and La Marmora have appeared.

He and William I actually had a heart-to-heart connection, and the relationship between Prussia and Italy is very special, which we may talk about later. I think the proximity of Italy and the French Empire is very, very important to the problems of Europe as a whole.

The British speak of a Mediterranean power-struggle, we don't say that, there is no fundamental conflict between Italy and the French Empire.

The UK's geopolitical strategy is to contain any country on the European continent that may challenge the maritime hegemony of the British Empire. Its strategy is offshore balance, which means that although it is not on the European continent, it will destroy the relationship between these countries on the European continent. relations, especially the relations between the great powers, alienating them, especially the French Empire, the greatest threat to the British frontier, the neighbouring relations between the empire and the rest of Europe.

Italy also has very far-sighted strategists. The late Prime Minister Cavour (who died in 1861 and was the most important minister of Inmanuel II) was the most famous among them. He believed that the French Empire stood in front of Italy. In fact, it helped them that Italy attracted a lot of firepower from the British Empire. If the French Empire was suppressed by the British Empire, then there would be no one in front of Italy to block them, and they would have to fully accept the firepower launched by the British Empire. A huge shock.

Now that the French Empire is standing in the way, Italy can quietly develop its economy, which he thinks is pretty good.

I think this concept is strategically farsighted, actually the British Empire doesn't care if you are a Protestant or Catholic country, they don't care if you are historically friendly to the British Empire, whether it's the Russian Empire in the Baltics, the Middle East and the Far East, or the French Empire In the Mediterranean and the English Channel, or Prussia in the North Atlantic, as long as you challenge its maritime hegemony, it must threaten to eliminate you. UU reading

So on this issue, I think that both the Netherlands and Italy are rejuvenating countries, and the two sides have a common position. I make a bold judgment. I think the relationship between the Netherlands and Italy can continue to support each other with a comprehensive strategy. Yes, despite the easing of relations between the French Empire and Italy.

"European Times": Well, just now we saw that this visit is like what you just mentioned, which coincides with the triangular relationship between Italy, France and the UK, and Italy seems to be playing the role of lubricant.

Especially under the bad relationship between Britain and France, it coincides with the fact that the French Empire is in the Far East and now the Kingdom of Siam makes the relationship between France and its neighboring countries not good. We notice that the French Empire's invasion of the Kingdom of Siam is not welcome in Europe.

In fact, both Italy and the Netherlands criticized the French Empire for asking them not to take unfriendly actions against the French Empire, but both countries dismissed it and showed a certain degree of agreement, such as It is said that economic sanctions were imposed on the French Empire within the framework of the International Hague Court. How do you interpret the similar performances of the Netherlands and Italy? Is this a coincidence?

William IV: This is definitely not a coincidence. The National Hague Tribunal has some consensus on their interests. According to my own observation, the attitudes of Spain, Portugal, even Switzerland and Belgium on this issue are highly consistent and compatible with those of the Netherlands and Italy. Yes, it is no coincidence that these neighbours all seem to have taken a common position in a sense of crisis over the French Empire's practices.

This is one, and the other, the relationship between Italy and the French Empire is very special. More than 40% of Italy’s military equipment imports come from the French Empire. Among the main source countries of Italy’s arms trade, the first is the French Empire, and the second is the British Empire. , and the third is the Netherlands.