MTL - Restart Spain-Chapter 66 Russia-Austria Negotiations

In the crisis in the Near East, Spain, because it has no interests, adheres to the principle of maintaining neutrality, which is not the case for other countries.

The local Slavs uprising in the Ottomans has already made the Russians feel ready to move, and they expressed their support for the rebel army at the first time.

After learning from the experience of the Crimean War, the Russians began their diplomatic operations. As one of the three most influential countries in the Near East, the attitude of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was related to their success rate.

To this end, Tsar Alexander II ordered Prime Minister Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov to officially begin his visit to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Prime Minister's policy was to coordinate Europe and reject Pan-Slavism, but the Tsar's order could not be disobeyed, so he had to come to Vienna in person to conduct this negotiation.

As the only diplomatic expert who could rival Bismarck, his name was as loathed by the British as Bismarck.

And the Austro-Hungarian Empire took its political diplomacy to the pinnacle. Although Metternich declined after his death, Count Andrássy Gula was also a ruthless man who dominated the Three Emperors Alliance.

"Count Andrashi, the situation of the Ottomans is not very good recently. I want the Austro-Hungarian Empire as an ally to give us corresponding support."

Gorchakov took the lead in speaking and made it clear that although he did not care about Pan-Slavism, winning the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a necessary task.

"Duke Gorchakov, I think it's best for the Russian Empire to stop interfering in the Balkans, which will make Austria-Hungary feel threatened."

Andrashi turned a blind eye to Gorchakov's words. Although the two countries agreed on the threat of the Germans, the Balkan issue was the bottom line for Austria-Hungary.

"The atrocities of the Ottoman Empire are being inflicted on the Slavs. This is intolerable to the people of our country. I believe that the Austro-Hungarian Empire hates the Ottomans to the extreme."

It is an indisputable fact that Austria-Hungary hated the Ottomans, but the fear of the Russians was greater than that of the Ottomans.

As for humanitarianism, it is a joke in this day and age. Russia treats its own troops as cannon fodder, so how could it be possible to engage in humanitarianism because of some Bulgarian Serbs?

"We are saddened by the situation of the Slavs, but equally, we need to provide a safe environment for the Germans and Hungarians at home. Your country's possible invasion of the Balkans will make us feel that our sovereignty has been violated."

If the Balkans are really under the control of the Russians, the northeast and south sides of the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be surrounded by the Russians, which will cause great pressure on the Austro-Hungarian army.

"Your Excellency Count, Russia has no intention of challenging the sovereignty of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We can promise to return the sovereignty to the local Slavs after liberating the Slavs."

The implication is that Russia will not directly control the liberated countries of the Balkans, but in fact Serbia and Romania are far more close to the Russians than Austria-Hungary.

"Your country's empty check is not what we want." Andrashi smiled disdainfully. They were old friends. He thought he knew Gorchakov fairly well.

"Our country can promise to give up the policy of establishing a Great Slavic state in exchange for the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire."

Gorchakov said seriously, the Russians' policy is to use Pan-Slavism to build a Great Slavic state centered on Constantinople and sheltered by the Russians.

And if it is carried out according to the plan of the Russians, the Balkans will be unified into a Slavic state, and for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this means that a great power will appear in the southeast where it could have expanded.

After the establishment of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had basically lost all hope of expanding to the north, and the weak Balkan countries were the best expansion target for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

"But our country prefers to see a weak Ottoman in control of the Balkans, which means that there will be no threat to our rear."

Andrássy bluntly expressed the hope of Austria-Hungary. The Russian proposal was all based on its own conditions, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire would not gain any benefits.

And the authority given to Gorchakov by the tsarist government was only this, and the talks between the two sides broke up unhappily.

The news of Russia's visit to Austria-Hungary was passed on to Europe, and the negotiations between the two sides fell into a deadlock. When the Austro-Hungarian media exposed the news, European countries began to report it one after another.

As the direct parties, the top management of the Ottoman Empire was naturally relieved, but the sense of crisis prompted them to step up their contact with Britain and France, just in case.

And Gorchakov naturally reacted to this situation to St. Petersburg. He couldn't come up with practical benefits, and it was really difficult for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to let go.

The negotiation between Russia and Austria is deadlocked, which means that the needs of the two sides cannot be reached. Germany, one of the Three Emperors Alliance, cannot stay out of it.

"The Germans have no interest in the Balkans, and we shouldn't be involved in this crisis, but the Austria-Hungary-Russian debate is giving us a headache."

"But if a conflict breaks out between Russia and Austria in the Near East, the German Empire will have to make a choice between St. Petersburg and Vienna. We hope that both sides can sit down and start negotiations."

"If the interests of the two sides cannot reach an agreement, Germany is willing to be the mediator and support all coordinated actions of Russia and Austria in the Near East~www.novelbuddy.com~ German Prime Minister Bismarck made a public statement, and the inside and outside of the words all implied The Russians, if a conflict did break out, Germany would be on the side of the weaker Austria-Hungary.

However, they did not really accuse the Russians. If their attitude was too fierce and pushed the Russians to the French, Germany would be in the embarrassment of being attacked by the enemy. Therefore, Germany's purpose can only be to make the two sides reach an agreement on the Balkan issue.

As allies, the two countries naturally accepted the role of the German mediator. Although neither side was willing to make concessions, they did not want a real conflict to break out. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire was weakened, it was still enough for Russia to drink.

The two sides planned to hold talks again, with Germany as the mediator, preparing to hold a second negotiation in Vienna.

The diplomatic actions of the Russians began rapidly, and the Ottomans also quickly began to act.

The British, who have traditional interests in the Mediterranean, have always maintained their territorial integrity to the Ottoman Empire, and firmly controlled the Russians in the Black Sea to ensure their interests in the Mediterranean.

The British Disraeli government publicly condemned the Russians. The Russians’ intentions were obvious. Although they did not get the support of the foreign powers and made no major moves, once the negotiations made substantial progress, the Ottoman Empire would be instantly in danger.

The silence of the French made the British somewhat helpless. The British at sea were indeed invincible, but the lack of a French thug on land did make the Disraeli government feel a little helpless.

However, Spain, which declared its abiding by neutrality, suddenly received news of the British visit, and the purpose is self-evident.

It's impossible to be a thug, but we can try to talk about cooperation, Alfonso thought.

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