Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 232 The Change of Government in Mexico

Said came in with a letter, saying it was to congratulate the Shah.

"Congratulations, is there anything I can do for you?"

“Shah, this is a letter from Mexican President Lawrence himself.”

Naserdin put down the book he was holding before he even opened it. "Who?"

"A letter personally written to you by the newly elected President of Mexico, Lawrence Davis."

Naserdin opened the letter in disbelief. Good heavens, six pages! How much must have been written?

"Dear Naser al-Din Shah, I should have written to congratulate you after the war in Russia, but due to the complicated situation in Mexico, I had to postpone it until now."

Lawrence explained the situation in Mexico to Naserdin in detail. After the outbreak of the civil war, they waited for an opportunity in Matamoros in the north and cooperated with the reformists in the south. Their proposed reform plan received widespread support from the people.

On August 17, reformist troops entered Mexico City, ending the reform war. Following a congressional vote, Lawrence Davis officially became Mexico's 22nd President and will be formally sworn in on October 25.

"It's truly a rollercoaster ride. Who would have thought that someone who used to work for the company would become the President of Mexico?"

Naserdin lamented the unpredictability of life and also realized how politically unstable Mexico was. From 1822 to the present, there have been approximately 250 military coups; 31 presidents, 11 regents, and 6 interim heads of state. Such a chaotic country naturally lacked economic development.

The current Mexican president immediately handed over all the data to Lawrence, as the mess was too big for him to handle. When Lawrence actually saw the situation in Mexico, he felt it was worse off than some other South American countries.

Not to mention the domestic political chaos and rampant warlordism. Economically, apart from his Matamoros, the situation is no better elsewhere. Moreover, Mexico has nearly £1400 million in foreign debt and is facing domestic financial difficulties. This whole mess will soon be Lawrence's responsibility.

Such difficulties naturally led him to seek help from other countries, including Iran. His idea was to see if the Shah had any investment opportunities in Mexico, which he could offer preferential terms.

"They're treating me like an economic savior."

Naserdin smiled. Mexico did indeed need foreign capital. Continuing its expansion in the New World was also essential for the capitalist groups, and Mexico was currently weak; they should be able to negotiate whatever Mexico wanted.

“Shah, we have over $1 million worth of bonds in the United States. Perhaps we should diversify our risk by holding some in other countries.”

Saeed offered his advice, pointing out that this involved not only the royal family's money but also the money of elders from various tribes in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Any losses could trigger a collective attack from these tribes. However, to be honest, by buying up assets during the economic crisis, they earned a staggering £70 in interest income. Because some companies allocated two-thirds of their revenue as dividends, this money was distributed as follows: the royal family received £40, other sheikhs received a total of £25, and the remainder was distributed to senior management as salaries.

This expansion continued, and Crédit Agricole accumulated £88 through real estate transactions. Part of this money went to shareholders, and the other part was kept in their Saigon branch, finally enabling them to issue currency. It was named the Som, with a fixed exchange rate of 1 riyal to 10 Soms. This allowed them to better manage colonial development and better serve Iran.

“You’re right, this is something that needs to be done to diversify risk.” Shah put down the letter and looked at Said. “I think this is what we should do: you go to Mexico on my behalf and congratulate the new president. Also, see what else you can say.”

"Yes"

Said agreed without hesitation. His mission was to manage everything for the royal family, including their food, clothing, housing, and transportation, so the property would naturally be under his management as well.

Currently, 90% of investment in the Americas is concentrated in the United States, which is unhealthy. However, the vast South American region offers numerous opportunities. Brazil's coffee, Chile and Peru's mineral resources, and Venezuela's land are all high-quality assets. Mexico's mineral resources also appear to be a worthwhile investment, potentially yielding substantial profits.

Not only Iran, but Lawrence also extended invitations to countries such as Britain, France, and the United States to attend his inauguration ceremony. Although Mexico and the United States have a history of conflict, the current situation necessitates his invitation.

After seeing the current situation in Mexico, Lawrence lamented the country's difficulties, noting that it had problems both domestically and internationally, and that being president would not be easy for him.

Moreover, the reformists are now clamoring for a new constitution. This would severely limit the president's power, making Congress the center of power. This is intolerable to Lawrence, who is eager to make a big impact.

Even so, Lawrence still has a chance to turn things around: he controls Mexico's only railway company and only bank. Mexico currently owns 450 kilometers of railway, and the revenue from these railways enhances his bargaining power with reformers.

Furthermore, during the war, he also secured cooperation with some moderate conservatives who all agreed that the president needed enormous power. Lawrence promised to dissolve Congress after becoming president, and they would all be elected as members. In exchange, they would have to work for him in Congress, especially on constitutional matters, and they would have to give it their all; they didn't want a Congress that controlled everything.

Did Lawrence not consider the reformers' anger under such circumstances? He did, and he found an unavoidable issue for them: the Mexican-American War.

In the 30s, more American politicians and scholars created public opinion for westward expansion, especially after the publication of journalist O'Sullivan's famous article "The Annexation" in the American magazine "Democratic Review" in 1845. In the article, he called the expansion of American territory to the Pacific coast a responsibility given to the Americans by God, which is the famous "Manifest Mandate".

Behind this destiny lies the blood and tears of tens of thousands of Indigenous and Mexican people. The Mexican-American War and the later example of purchasing 1000 square kilometers of land for $7.7 million have fueled deep hatred among Mexicans towards the United States. Their wanton trampling on Mexican territory and their insults to the country are intolerable.

On this issue, both reformists and conservatives have only one choice: revenge against the United States. Otherwise, they will lose votes. Lawrence also has his own considerations. The Wall Street crowd discriminates against Southerners, so let's split up. That way, there will be no more discrimination. But relying on Mexico alone is not enough, so he called on other countries to consider it together.

(End of this chapter)