Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Anglo-Austrian Negotiations

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Under what circumstances would the conflict between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia disappear?

It depends on the specific situation. In any case, Palmerston wouldn’t naively believe that Austria, after rallying its forces to march into the Kingdom of Sardinia, would easily let Sardinia off the hook for the so-called world peace.

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Thus, it comes down to one party falling. It takes two to tango, and the conflict naturally ceases to exist once the enemy falls.

Without a doubt, the one falling now must be the Kingdom of Sardinia. Palmerston surely doesn’t believe the People of Sardinian could turn the tables.

Even if the remaining Sardinian Soldiers were to transform into Spartans, it wouldn’t change the outcome of a lost war.

After some thought, Palmerston said, “Mr. Metternich, for the sake of world peace and stability, the British Government suggests that your country promptly end the Ausa war and revert to the status quo ante bellum.”

The relationship between the British and the Austrians is complicated. They oppose Austrian expansion in the Italian Area but also do not wish to fall out with Austria due to their European strategic needs. Hence, Palmerston’s trip to Vienna, where they hope to resolve the dispute between Austria and Sardinia through diplomatic means.

After the Napoleonic Wars, Europe had entered an era dominated by England and Russia. The Vienna System, led by the Austrian Empire, had isolated the Great Britain Empire from the European Continent, but it also checked the Russians’ expansion.

For the British, isolation is tolerable as long as the balance on the European Continent is maintained and their hegemonic status is unshaken. The Vienna System also protected their core interests.

Now that the Vienna System has crumbled, the situation on the European Continent is on the verge of a dramatic change, and containing Russia’s expansion has become the British’s top priority.

Austria, which stands in the way of Russian western expansion, is the ally the London Government needs most to court—an alliance that cannot be broken unless absolutely necessary.

This complex diplomatic strategy of the British is of course not lost on Metternich. Austria, too, needs to collaborate with the British.

Don’t think that just because the Russian-Austrian alliance exists, Austria doesn’t need to contain Russia’s further expansion. In fact, it’s the Austrian Government that least wants Russia to expand further.

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Of course, this does not include Franz.

The path for Russian westward expansion is almost non-existent at this moment. Neither Prussia nor Austria is soft fruit, and the Tsarist Government is unlikely to set sights here.

Sweden in the Nordic region is also a tough nut to crack, and Russia wouldn’t want to strike against them, leaving the Balkan region as the only place in Europe that Russia could possibly expand.

People of this era believe that once Russia enters the Balkans and captures Constantinople, it would be unstoppable once it enters the Mediterranean.

Franz thought the opposite: it was the Russians in their icy realm who were truly fearsome. Once they entered the Mediterranean, the British would teach Mao Xiong a lesson.

Being formidable on land doesn’t equate to being so at sea. It’s not that Franz disregarded the Russians; their army might depend on a sea of soldiers, but when it comes to the navy, they’re truly amateurs.

If it comes to developing a navy, Austria even has an advantage over the Russians. At least Venice was once a naval power, and there are still plenty of sailors available now.

Having a sea doesn’t guarantee a powerful navy. Russia does have a large maritime territory, but little of it is suitable for naval development.

Even up to now, the Russians remain landlubbers, and their miniature navy will take decades to develop properly.

Even as the Russians are expanding into the Balkans, Austria could still get a piece of the action, perhaps not the tastiest part.

But Franz’s attitude is: better a bird in the hand than a thousand in the woods.

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As long as it can enhance Austria’s strength, who wants to deal with containing Russia’s expansion can do so – after all, he lacks such internationalist spirit.

If the Russians are led astray and go on to develop their navy heavily, he wouldn’t mind fully supporting the Russians, letting them go even further down this doomed path.

Franz’s stance, to a certain extent, also influenced Austria’s foreign policy. In many international affairs, it’s no longer as active as it was during the Metternich Era.

Metternich shook his head and said, “Mr. Palmerston, doing wrong always comes at a price. The Kingdom of Sardinia dared to invade Austria; it naturally has to bear the corresponding consequences.

The dignity of the Austrian Empire is inviolable. The nefarious Kingdom of Sardinia dared to violate the Vienna System and initiate a war of aggression; it must pay the price for this.”

Palmerston sighed with relief. Since Austria hadn’t outright insisted on annexing the Kingdom of Sardinia, there was still room for easing the situation. It was simply a matter of interests.

Inciting the Kingdom of Sardinia to wage war and providing it with loans, he too had a hand in that. If the Kingdom of Sardinia truly met its demise, those loans would turn into bad debts, and British bankers would never forgive him.

Palmerston thought for a moment and said, “Of course, the Kingdom of Sardinia initiated this aggressive war and should naturally pay a price for it.

For the sake of world peace, the Great Britain Empire is prepared to mediate this war. We hope Your country will temporarily cease military action.”

With a slight smile, Metternich said, “I regret to inform you, Mr. Palmerston, that you have come too late.

The Kingdom of Sardinia is already occupied by the Austrian army, and King Charles Albert of Sardinia has gone into exile overseas, perhaps arriving in London before long.

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If Your country can restrain the Sardinian guerrillas from further disturbances, we can halt the subsequent military actions.”

The Austrian army has occupied the Kingdom of Sardinia?

If it’s merely the main cities, then Austria has indeed occupied the Kingdom of Sardinia; if by the entire country, Austria has merely taken half of Sardinia’s territory.

This did not prevent Metternich from boasting; in this age, military occupations most often pertained to the main cities, with vast rural areas frequently overlooked.

By this point, Palmerston had grown tired of further bargaining. The Kingdom of Sardinia had lost all its bargaining chips, and it seemed impossible not to bleed profusely.

Palmerston quickly entered his role and asked, “Mr. Metternich, to bring this war to an end, what terms does Your Government have? We can relay them.”

Metternich did not answer but handed over a peace treaty that had been prepared in advance.

Upon scanning the content, Palmerston’s complexion changed; if Sardinia were to comply with Austria’s demands, it wouldn’t be long before the Kingdom became history.

“Mr. Metternich, aren’t the terms listed here rather harsh?” Palmerston said, frowning

Not just harsh, but exceedingly so. These terms would place Sardinia’s politics, military, finance, and territory entirely under Austrian control, barely any different from outright annexation.

For instance: appointments of government ministers and higher officials must be approved by the Austrian Government;

Another example: the Kingdom of Sardinia is not to retain an army, only a police force of no more than ten thousand, to spend fifty percent of its fiscal revenue to employ the Austrian army for protecting their territorial security;

The currency issuance rights of the Kingdom of Sardinia are to be entrusted to the Austrian Government;

The various taxes of the Kingdom of Sardinia are to have tax rates determined by the Austrian Government;

The Kingdom of Sardinia is not allowed to produce weapons and equipment; all weapons must be imported from Austria;

All diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Sardinia and any other country or region are to be exercised by the Austria’s Foreign Ministry;

There are no demands for ceding territory or indemnity listed, but compared to the terms above, the Sardinians would probably prefer to cede territory and pay indemnities rather than become a colony of Austria.

Metternich spoke amiably, “This is merely a draft for negotiation. The invasion by the Kingdom of Sardinia has caused Austria grievous losses, nearly turning Lombardy and Venice into desolate lands.

It also resulted in hundreds of thousands of Austrians wounded or killed and millions left homeless. How do you calculate such severe losses?

If the Sardinians cannot accept our terms, that’s not impossible to resolve, as long as they can fully compensate all of our losses at one time.”