Father of France

Chapter 199 Madagascar Riots

“This is not America’s goal, but the current situation is completely out of control and fraught with bloodshed,” Cochrane countered. “Is prolonged attrition what the Netherlands wants?”

“Of course!” Van Muke retorted decisively. “We have the ability to control the situation. Moreover, we possess legitimate sovereignty here…”

“Sovereignty is based on reality, not on past treaties,” Cochrane interrupted him. “The reality is that you cannot militarily eliminate the resistance forces scattered across tens of thousands of islands; the reality is that international opinion, especially within the United States, is shifting towards sympathy for Indonesia. More importantly, this will become a breeding ground for pro-Soviet sentiment.”

Governor Van Muker did not believe Cochrane's words at all; he knew no more about the Dutch colony than he did about the United States.

With Muslims making up 90% of the population, Cochrane might as well ask the Soviet Union if it could turn this place into an atheist country.

“Mr. Cochran,” Van Muke’s voice was devoid of any politeness, curtly replying, “I understand the U.S. government’s ‘concerns,’ but I cannot accept them. A ceasefire would only give terrorists a respite. There will be no negotiations until law and order are fully restored—that is, until the armed forces of the Republic of Indonesia are completely disarmed.”

With a furrowed brow, Cochrane continued his persuasive efforts: "Governor, I hope you and the gentlemen of the Dutch government can fully understand the consequences of this decision. This is not just a matter of Jakarta; it concerns the trust within the transatlantic alliance, and the Netherlands' standing in the West..."

"Status? If the Netherlands loses the East Indies, will it still have that kind of status?"

Van Mook couldn't hold back any longer. "You talk about status, about the Cold War, about the future! But do you understand what we've lost? The East Indies have been an integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for over three centuries, the most dazzling jewel in its crown! It's not a bargaining chip you can casually trade at the negotiating table! The land, resources, and order here were built with our blood and wealth! And now, you're asking us to hand it over to a bunch of bastards favored by the United States because of some geopolitical fantasies?"

Before Cochran could retort, Van Muke suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Mr. Cochran, is this how you communicate with Britain and France? Or do you think the Netherlands is easier to deal with? Do you think you can use the so-called aid plan to buy off the Netherlands? Or do you think the Netherlands can only accept charity from the United States and has no other way to go?"

Of course, the Netherlands was easier to deal with, but Cochrane couldn't say what he really thought. He underestimated the obsession of colonial empires and the madness of preferring to die rather than live.

If the Netherlands is so difficult to deal with, Britain and France will only be more difficult. It seems impossible to exchange economic aid to European countries for some concessions from colonialism.

Cochrane left dejectedly, relaying to Washington via telegram the contents of his conversation with the Dutch governor that day: "...The Netherlands has completely closed the door to a diplomatic solution. They are indulging in a self-pitying imperial narrative, preferring to drag the entire nation into a protracted war they cannot win, and therefore resenting us for betraying the Western colonial order. Our pressure has only provoked more stubborn resistance. Military action is expected to escalate, and international public opinion will further deteriorate. Standing with the Netherlands and Britain and France would greatly diminish the expectations of the United States among the vast colonies. The respect the United States has gained since the war is like a bubble, which is being pried open by our allies."

Even the Netherlands, which was not a particularly strong country in Europe, resolutely confronted the United States on the issue of colonization. It also had British Malaya, French Indochina, and Cochrane nearby, and it did not know how to resolve these issues.

Now we can only hope that the Netherlands will learn its lesson after being attacked, and eventually realize that it is better to withdraw than to maintain its rule over the East Indies, and thus soften its stance.

"The Americans went to the Dutch? Too bad they went to the wrong ones. Cochrane doesn't know the French killed them." Cochrane gazed fondly at his dagger. After beheading a vice president and a prime minister, the dagger's value skyrocketed. Unfortunately, there was no king for Cochrane to kill now. Paul the Magnificent was out of the question, but it was useful to France.

Borlang watched as Koman cleaned his strangely shaped sword as if it were a family member. He had no idea where his superior had gotten it from, and he had never heard of Koman having a fondness for cold weapons.

You should ask Boran about it. Corman has always had this hobby and used to carry a Damascus steel knife with him, but I don't know where it went.

"The Dutch are more reliable than the British. The British are like mistresses to the Americans, being exported carelessly and irresponsibly."

Koman wiped the knife clean, thinking he should give it a name sometime. He then asked Borlang, "So far, the pincer movement has been very successful. With the implementation of the surplus grain requisition system, if we continue for another three months, the Malays in West Java will be so hungry that they won't even have the strength to resist. Then we can declare this military operation a complete success."

You have to admit, the Soviet Union's tactics were really effective; when combined with military operations, they amplified the results countless times. That's why you really need to learn Russian.

Koeman sensed that his promotion was imminent, though it would certainly require some minor sacrifices from other ethnic groups. On the evening of March 29th, what seemed like an ordinary day was suddenly disrupted by a storm in French Madagascar. The Madagascar Democratic Reform Movement led its people in an attack on French military battalions and police stations. Thousands of peasants, armed with spears, ancestral flintlock rifles, and weapons captured from colonial outposts, challenged a vast French colonial empire.

The storm quickly spread throughout Madagascar. Faced with the sudden outbreak of riots, the French forces in Madagascar retreated and fortified their strongholds on one hand, and immediately reported the local situation to the Paris government, requesting them to resolve the matter. It was impossible for the local French forces to quell the riots on their own.

Upon receiving a request for assistance from the Madagascar garrison, General Dracon of the Paris Ministry of Defense hurriedly sought out Pierre-Billet, the fifth Minister of Defense of the Fourth French Republic, who had only been in office for two months.

"There has been an uprising in Madagascar, and the local garrison is under siege by rioters. Our compatriots need the help of their motherland." General Dragon went straight to the point as soon as he met Biyo. "Your Excellency the Prime Minister needs to deal with this issue as a priority now."

"General, you and I will go to the Prime Minister's Office immediately." Upon hearing this, Biyou did not dare to delay. He put on his coat and left the Ministry of Defense with General Dragon.

Madagascar was engulfed in blood and fire at this time. The blue, white, and red tricolor flag was trampled underfoot, and the red, white, and green tricolor flag belonging to Madagascar was raised. The dignity of France had reached a point of no return.

Socialist Prime Minister Paul Ramadier sensed something was amiss when he saw the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Army appear together. Sure enough, he soon learned that riots had broken out in Madagascar and quickly spread to the entire east coast, posing a huge challenge to the newly formed Socialist government.

"General Dragon, what is the army's opinion?" Ramadier knew what kind of answer he would get. There was no reason to insist on French Indochina and ignore Madagascar. He asked this question simply to give the army an opportunity to express its opinion.

"With the government's permission, the army never shies away from any action to defend the dignity of France," General Dracon replied solemnly and methodically.

"The General Staff should immediately draft an operational plan and convene a cabinet meeting to approve it." Ramadier turned directly to Defense Minister Biyou and said, "We cannot waste time; the local soldiers are still waiting for us."

"What about the French Communist Party?" Bi Yu asked, as the French Communist Party had always opposed using military action to resolve the issue.

"Comrade Torres is not a problem," Ramadier said nonchalantly. "He won't approve of military action, but he won't oppose it either."

The cabinet meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office, and the ministers of the Socialist government arrived with questions.

Defense Minister Biyo briefed on the emergency in Madagascar and characterized it directly: "The information we have received confirms that the uprisings and rebellions in Madagascar, especially in the east and along the eastern coast, are no longer sporadic disturbances. They are attacking military camps, massacring European immigrants... on a scale far exceeding our initial estimates. Their so-called nationalist demands have degenerated into naked violence."

After Prime Minister Ramadier and others finished giving a general overview of the riots, he cleared his throat and said, "This is not a matter of public order, this is war! It is an open rebellion against the authority of the French Republic and against our mission of civilization! Any hesitation will be interpreted as weakness by the rebels and the world. We must nip this rebellion in the bud with the fastest speed and the most resolute means. I propose that we immediately send in reinforcements of the Foreign Legion and colonial infantry, and authorize the frontline commanders to take all necessary measures to restore order!"

"All necessary measures?" Torres murmured, looking at Ramadier. "What does the Prime Minister mean?"

“Comrade Torres, we cannot show the slightest weakness, otherwise it won’t just be a problem in Madagascar.” Ramadier said with an expression that said, “I don’t want to, but I have no choice.” “Let’s do it this way, we have no other option.”

Following the cabinet meeting, the Army General Staff formulated an operational plan aimed at: air strikes to destroy rebel strongholds; ground operations to eliminate any future threats; and the most severe punishment for all those who carried weapons or assisted the rebels.

"We must make them, and all the other colonies watching us, understand what the price is for challenging France!" Admiral Dragon declared to the assembled generals.

(End of this chapter)