Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 410 Cooperation
A three-wheeled carriage stopped outside the door. Hu Yaji and Tang Jingsong got off the carriage and walked into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building together.

"The United States is arrogant and unreasonable. It ignores the wishes of South American countries and forcibly interferes in South American affairs. The naked hegemonic behavior of the US government is a serious destruction of peace in the Americas!
As a member of the American countries, the Han Empire is willing to join hands with the British Empire to firmly oppose the US government's interference and destruction of the current order in South America."

On behalf of the Han government, Hu Yaji solemnly stated his country's diplomatic position.

"Han is an important country in the Americas. As the defender of the civilized world order, the British Empire is very willing to establish close diplomatic ties with the Han government, work together to maintain the hard-won peace in South America, and promote economic and cultural exchanges among South American countries."

British Minister Alman got the result he wanted, and the initial anxiety caused by the long wait suddenly disappeared.

"In the Americas, the British Empire and the Han Empire have consistent economic interests. Strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries is in line with the common wishes of the people of the two countries. Therefore, in order to promote international commercial exchanges between South American countries, the Imperial Government hopes that your country can make greater efforts to lift the restrictions on British Empire capital in the economic field in the Han country, and allow Imperial merchant ships to enter the inland basin of the Paraná River for business activities in a more open and equal manner."

"Only business exchanges and cooperation based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit can last long. The Han Empire has always been positive about foreign capital entering the country for investment. The entry of British capital into the country is also something the government is happy to see. However, I'm sorry to say that in terms of economic cooperation, the British Empire has not given the Han Empire the treatment and status it deserves."

Hu Yaji refuted the other party with both soft and strong words, and continued: "After the Argentine dispute ended, in order to take care of the interests of the British Empire, our government properly protected your country's assets in Argentina, Uruguay and other regions. In addition, for the railway restructuring plan, we fully considered the actual situation of your country's capital and gave up the plan of full nationalization. Instead, we chose a state-owned and private mixed shareholding system, leaving 49% of the capital to private capital including your country's businessmen, and the government only retained 51% of the shares and the right to operate and maintain.

However, in the face of our goodwill gesture, your government did not make a positive response. In terms of the Falkland Islands, Paraguay, ship purchases, the dispatch of international students, and the introduction of industrial technology, your government did not take the feelings of our government and people into consideration at all. Not only did it set up many obstacles in the areas of dispatching international students, introducing industrial technology, and purchasing ships, but it also forcibly rejected our reasonable demands on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and changes in the situation in Paraguay.

If your government cannot face up to the legitimate rights and interests of our government, then the so-called expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries and a closer response to the expansion of the United States in South America will be difficult to achieve. "

"In order to show its sincerity in strengthening and deepening the cooperation between the two sides, the Imperial Government is willing to respect the reasonable interests of the Kingdom of Paraguay and is also willing to make substantial concessions in the fields of overseas students and the introduction of industrial technology. However, regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, the Empire has an absolutely legal and reasonable basis to determine that the Falkland Islands belong to the British Empire.

As early as 1592, John Davis, a British navigator on the HMS Desire, discovered the Falkland Islands and was the first person to set foot on the Falkland Islands.

In 1765, the Empire established the first human settlement in the Falkland Islands. Although it was destroyed by the Spanish in 1770, it was restored in 1771 and the outpost on West Falkland Island was restored.

In 1774, the empire withdrew from the Falkland Islands for economic reasons, but did not give up its claim to sovereignty over the islands.

In early 1833, the empire expelled the Argentine immigrants who illegally occupied the Falkland Islands and resumed its management of the area.

In 1841, the empire specially dispatched several civil officials from the mainland to the island to establish an administrative agency.

Now, the Empire has exercised sovereign jurisdiction over the Falkland Islands for nearly three hundred years, and the more than 2000 settlers on the islands are all citizens of the Empire.

Your government has used the example of Argentina's illegal occupation of the Malvinas Islands as a basis to claim the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands from the Empire, which has no legal basis at all! "

British Minister Alman briefly listed the basis for Britain's sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, and refused to give in. "The Malvinas Islands have been ruled by your country, France, Spain and Argentina. Due to historical reasons, the issue of sovereignty is complicated. Our government is willing to respect your interests, shelve the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, and recognize the fact that your country actually rules the Malvinas Islands. However, as for the issues of economic cooperation, technology introduction and exchange between the two sides, they need to be determined after detailed discussions."

Huayaki did not argue with the British envoy over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, but instead shifted the focus of the conversation back to the issue of economic cooperation between the two countries.

"Of course, closer economic cooperation and exchanges between the UK and China involve a wide range of issues, and it is impossible to reach a result that both countries are equally satisfied with in a short period of time."

British Minister Alman responded: "Out of respect for your country, the British Empire will make concessions to take care of your interests. At the same time, the Empire also hopes that you can forget the misunderstandings that occurred in the past and make a decision that is beneficial to both sides."

"The Han Empire has always been generous and welcoming to its friends. Please rest assured of this."

Hu Yaqi smiled and shook hands with Alman, responding positively. …………

In order to create an opponent to block the way for the Americans and safeguard the interests of British capital in South America, the British relaxed restrictions on the South American Han countries and made concessions in some areas that were not related to their core interests.

On January 1889, 1, Britain and China signed an agreement aimed at jointly containing the United States.

The main contents of the agreement are:
First, Britain lifted restrictions on China in terms of ship purchases, sending overseas students, and introducing industrial technology, giving China the same rights and status as Japan (Britain had begun supporting Japan long before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895).
2. Britain recognized the rights and interests of the Han Kingdom in the Kingdom of Paraguay and allowed the Han government to take necessary protective measures when its interests were damaged.

Third, the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands was shelved, and the Kingdom of Han recognized the reality of Britain's control over the islands.

The four Han countries promised to increase cooperation with Britain in the fields of railways, finance, agriculture, animal husbandry, chemicals, electricity, etc., and allowed Britain to establish four foreign banks in the country. (The four British banks, like local private banks, are subject to supervision and control by the Imperial Central Bank.)
The Five Han Kingdoms promised to strengthen public security management in the Parana and Paraguay River basins and expand the rights of British merchant ships to freely navigate the two rivers. …………

The next day after the signing of the agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Han issued a statement, directly pointing out the intention of the US government to hold the International Conference of the Americas, exposing the conspiracy of the United States to economically exploit the South American countries through capital transfer! It called on the South American countries to recognize the true face of the United States and reject the International Conference of the Americas held in Washington.

In response to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British government also issued a clear statement on January 1, bluntly opposing US intervention in South American affairs.

Influenced by the British attitude,

Chile and Brazil were the first to express their withdrawal from the International Conference of the Americas. A few days later, Peru, Ecuador and other countries also expressed their euphemistic rejection.

Many countries refused to attend the conference. The only countries willing to participate were a group of small countries in Central America and two South American countries, Venezuela and Colombia. After this setback, the first International Conference of the Americas that the US government applied to host was eventually cancelled due to insufficient number of participating countries.

(End of this chapter)