v3 Chapter 562： Meeting with Leopold II

French Foreign Minister Edmund Derouen De Lui's visit to Amsterdam attracted worldwide attention. After holding closed-door talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Heisbet Von, he expressed his support for the agreement between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, making the world wow Of course.

As one of the parties, it caused a lot of cheers and curses in Brussels.

The former Belgian Prime Minister and now the leader of the opposition Catholic Catholic Party, Valvatai Ferrer Orbon, recently criticized the Anglo-Dutch agreement as invalid, and Belgium will not agree to this agreement.

"Belgium is an autonomous country. I do not support the UK in making decisions on our behalf. I will even oppose the Dutch **** of Belgian territory. The Catholic Party vows to defend Belgian territory to the death and is loyal to the royal family. I appeal to the great Belgians. Citizens and I oppose the practice of national sovereignty being **** by others.”

However, although Orbon shouted fiercely, there were very few respondents, and even members of his own party chose to remain silent because they were concerned about Britain, France and other countries.

By this time, who did not know that the situation in Belgium was over.

On March 13, 1869, Leopold II convened four Belgian leaders including Belgian Prime Minister Jules Danetang, Senate President Marie Philippe, Speaker of the House of Representatives Joseph Beit, and President of the Supreme Court-House Heist. In addition to the powerful people of Dutch descent in the cabinet government, the Senate and the Supreme Court of the House of Representatives, Leopold II also summoned East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant The senior officials of the three provinces and the chairmen of the local council convened a national meeting.

In the end, with an overwhelming advantage, the three provinces chose to return to the Netherlands.

Leopold II finally had to accept this fact, and held a press conference on March 15, 1869, stating that the royal family did not object to the provinces.

"I just hope that the Dutch in these three provinces will be better off in the Netherlands, at least happier than in Belgium."

The statement that Leopold II is not a royal gentleman makes people feel like a spring breeze.

I also feel sympathy for the Belgian king who has been slaughtered by neighboring powers again and again.

On March 20, 1869, William IV and Leopold II officially met in the province of Antwerp, which had previously returned to the Netherlands.

"Leopold II was born in 1835. He succeeded to the throne of Belgium after King Leopold I died of illness in 1865. He was just 30 years old at the time. He was also the first native-born king. The rule was considered to be relatively successful, adopting a policy of "concession" to the workers' movement, allowing the legal existence of trade unions, thus alleviating the class contradictions in the country."

This time, following William IV's visit to Antwerp Province was Venus, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. At the same time, he was accompanied by other first and second ministers of the cabinet government, as well as the deputy of various military ministries.

On his way to a meeting with King Leopold II of Belgium, Venus was on horseback giving information about Leopold II outside William IV's carriage.

Venus paused when he talked about this, "Unfortunately, with the rapid rise of our Netherlands in recent years, the space for Belgium has been drastically reduced, making this buffer country, which was originally a buffer country of several surrounding powers, turned into a battlefield, and eventually turned into a hundred holes. .The current status of Belgium's buffer state has lost its effect."

The voice of William IV came from the carriage and asked: "That is to say, at present, Britain and France have confirmed that Belgium's status has been lost. Can the Netherlands take further measures to obtain more benefits?"

Venus: "Yes, in principle, but maybe Queen Victoria wants us not to go too far"

After he finished speaking, there was no sound coming from the carriage.

Seeing this, Venus could only ride a horse and follow the luxurious royal carriage to the meeting place in Antwerp, the city council, where the meeting was held.

When William IV arrived there, Leopold II was already there waiting.

William IV looked at Leopold II who was waiting for him at the gate of the city council in the distance, and looked at the big beard with the big back combed back, William IV despised the other party in his heart, but No matter what, this is the dress of almost nobility in Europe at present.

Look at yourself and look at Leopold II, both of them are also wearing royal uniforms. It seems that only military uniforms are the most suitable for this occasion.

William IV stepped forward to give him a hug and smiled, "Your Majesty seems to be a little unaccustomed to hugs, and his body is a little stiff."

Leopold II laughed when he heard the words, "Your Majesty is joking, I just feel that after so many years, His Majesty is still so accommodating, which is surprising."

"Really?" William IV pursed his lips and said, "It's just that I have eaten too much during this time, and I have relaxed my tired and lazy heart. Don't take it as a surprise."

Too full?

The faces of many Belgians changed dramatically, and there is something to be said for this.

Looking at William IV's smiling face, Leopold II's expression changed slightly, and the villain who secretly scolded the other party was proud.

He understands that now the opponent is stronger and he is weakerBritain, France and other countries have compromised, so what else can he do.

So he forced a smile and said, "That's right, it's easy to lose energy after eating enough. Unfortunately, I think so too, but I don't have a chance at the moment."

"How come there is no chance?" William IV, who was lazy as he said earlier, stared at Leopold II with a cannibalistic look, and enticed: "Following the Netherlands, I think the opportunity is great. very"

After speaking, Leopold II ignored the big change in his face, and said with a smile as he walked: "Go, go to our local council in Antwerp, the Netherlands, for the purpose of this year's meeting."

Orbon said dissatisfiedly: "It's too much, William IV is not looking down on us."

Leopold II has only led the leader of the opposition Catholic party, Orban, who has sought to continue his political career after losing to Jules Danetang after seeking re-election a few years ago. , was elected mayor of the capital Brussels in 1867. It can be said that he has maintained his position in Belgium. Of course, people of French and British descent have contributed a lot here, and Germans are also in order to avoid the Dutch. each other.

The reason why I only took him this time and not the others was naturally because Indanetang and others had clearly supported the return to the Netherlands. Under such circumstances, Leopold II had no meaning to buy a few people. Instead, he used Orban to better consolidate his royal status.

As these three provinces were taken away by the Netherlands, Belgium's national strength has been weakened to the extreme. Even in terms of territorial area, it is not as good as the Principality of Nassau and Luxembourg under the Netherlands. In less than 5 years, it could have competed with the Netherlands itself. The area of ​​​​this is actually reduced to this, and Leopold II will feel very heavy.

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