＜ Dreadnought. (4) >
“Sir Salisbury. A telegram from France.”
“Thank you.”
10 Downing Street.
In 1899, the British Prime Minister’s Office was in full swing.
It has been half a year since I sent a telegram and started negotiations with the French colonial minister, Del Cassé, due to the diplomatic problem with France that occurred in Fashoda last year.
“Lord Kitchener is doing a good job.”
With the Maxim machine gun wiping out 10,000 of those inferior races in Sudan’s Mahdi New State, Pashoda has the capacity to project a military force superior to that of France.
The Mahdi Kingdom is destroyed.
The Fashoda case also showed signs of being easily resolved thanks to the fact that the pro-government minister, Delkase, was in charge.
But Prime Minister Salisbury frowned at the contents of the telegram.
“Is the problem Morocco?”
Morocco.
A kingdom in North Africa where France wiped out Spain with its big ass and sat down instead.
And the future colony that Detroit Morgan and the British Empire are carefully designing.
So it clashed with France again.
Because of this Morocco, it was difficult to narrow the difference of opinion with the French Colonial Minister Delkasse.
“This northern part of Morocco has to be recognized as Spanish somehow. Hmm.”
It was too early to declare a protectorate, but both France and Spain were keen to split Morocco.
However, from the perspective of the British Empire, which has to collect collections in Spain, it is advantageous for the ports of Ceuta and Tangier in Morocco to be under the jurisdiction of Spain.
sizzle-
Salisbury drew a line on the map with a ruler, contemplating the borders of the protectorate.
“I would like to take over the Spanish territory in northern Morocco somehow, but France cannot tolerate being too greedy.”
Salisbury took the lead in disappointment.
It is best to secure the pillars of Hercules, including Ceuta and Tangier, instead of abandoning the major cities including Cassiblanca.
However, this was not the only problem the British Empire faced.
“Besides, the South African corporate territory of Cecillos is creaking. Fortune is spinning.”
Salisbury rubbed his fiery brow as the Boer war gleamed the day before.
The Jameson incident resulted in Ceciloz’s ouster, and once again the spirit of war was raging in South Africa.
If this goes on, the second Boer War will break out.
“shit.”
smart-
A knock was heard at the door of the prime minister’s office.
“…..Something?
“Telegram from America.”
“USA?”
At the word America, Salisbury hurriedly pulled up his upper body.
“Yes, I flew in the name of the War Department. And I also got a letter from the Detroit director.”
“…!!!”
Salisbury jumped up from her seat.
Timing is once an art. I was just thinking about France and Morocco.
I turned off the cigar I was biting.
“Come in right now.”
***
“James, has the Newport News dry dog stopped?”
“Yes, it has been completely stopped.”
“Who are the directors who leaked information?”
“For now, it’s on hold. However, the list has been secured, and the materials to be sent to the Blachiford Law Firm are being investigated through Pinkerton.”
“great.”
At first I tried to cut it all off, but Huntington ripped it apart. There are already no talents to turn, but if you remove them, you can’t run the business.
So hold on for now.
They were commissioned by the Pinkerton Detective Agency and placed under intensive surveillance.
“Now I’ll have to coordinate with the Secretary of War Roosevelt.”
I was down in Washington DC.
As I walked down the hallways of the War Department, I saw Roosevelt’s Office of War Secretary.
I stood at the door and knocked.
smart-
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
The War Minister’s Office was quite quiet.
It was because the United States was leading the way. I can’t stand the success of the Cuban amphibious operation and the endlessly beating the Spanish trenches with artillery shells. The Spanish trenches had evaporated, and I heard news that Americans were occupying the trenches.
‘I heard through the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).’
Still an Embargo.
Because of the media control, the war castles of other countries and Americans still did not know how the inside was going.
‘It’s worth it.’
When the first expedition was robbed, how much crossfire was struck by the press. It was not strange that the Ministry of War had a neurosis in the media.
Secretary of War Roosevelt sat in a chair with a rather gloomy face.
“I got the letter. You have a very bad habit of always taking toys from me.”
“Ah… haha.”
“Damn you.”
Come to think of it, I got Teddy out of Rough Rider. For a moment, I thought Teddy was muttering my Detroit class… but I must have been mistaken.
I gently rubbed the back of my neck.
“But what if I don’t have the technical skills? At this rate, creating a dreadnought will have no benefit or meaning.”
“under. I know. As you said, it is also in line with American interests. In fact, it is a matter of pride, and the one who discloses the right to England has more change than the one who does not.”
“you’re right.”
Roosevelt pulled his upper body with a serious face.
He was holding a telegram.
“Telegram back from 10 Downing Street. It is also under the direct control of the Prime Minister’s Office. As soon as your letter arrived, I immediately sent a telegram.”
“….!!!!”
“This is the answer.”
“What does it say?”
f*ck.
Secretary of War Roosevelt smiled bloodily.
“I’m going to review it positively.”
“haha. That’s good.”
“But it also says that 1st Navy Officer Richard is planning to visit the U.S. in Portsmouth.”
“It would be. We have to negotiate.”
Well, that wouldn’t be bad news for the UK either. At a time when the naval warfare competition is reaching its peak, an asymmetric force such as a dreadnought has the same meaning as possessing a nuclear weapon in the 21st century.
In fact, from the perspective of the British Empire, you could eat and wipe your mouth.
‘There must be several reasons why the British Empire did not do this.’
The Fashoda case with France.
And now that Cecillos has been ousted, there is even a war in the Boer War.
‘Are you going to eat this and shut your mouth with the signatures of Secretary of War Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy John Long in my letter? This is a call to f*ck America.’
The British Empire will never give up on the United States. They were increasingly desperate for an alliance, and felt that the Japanese Empire alone was not enough.
Great game against Imperial Russia.
Imperial Russia, which obtained the floating ports of Dalian and Lushun, was connecting the vast east and west of Siberia in real time with the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Rise of the German Empire.
Wilhelm Kaiser was provoking a global policy and proclaiming an expansion policy, stimulating the whole of Europe.
and colonial management.
The enlarged size of the Royal Navy and the colonies were also the main factors that were eating away at the British Empire.
It is not for nothing that the British East India Company (EIC) could not afford it and was dissolved by the East India Stock Dividend Repayment Act.
“Perhaps even the British Empire cannot afford to build a Pacific Fleet.”
“I will.”
The British Empire is becoming increasingly noisy in its colonies. If we can take the Pacific Fleet and project additionally into the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Oceans, it will be a little more breath-taking.
‘The United States has also become a little more reassured.’
heel line.
Half of this Pacific Front was the activity of the Great Northern Railway. Thanks to this, the Pacific voyage data and survey data of the ships operated by Hill were accumulating innumerable in real time. The US Navy built a virtual supply ship based on the data.
That’s why the name given to the supply ship is ‘Hill Line’ after Director Hill.
‘Where did the US Navy that used to be in British Hong Kong go, my heart is magnified.’
Thanks to this, the US was building naval bases in the Philippines, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands with a budget of 7.5 billion won, and was also expanding naval bases on the mainland, such as the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
The American projection towards the Pacific was growing exponentially.
win-
Roosevelt burned a cigar.
“Huh, this is because you own English tech companies. Perhaps that’s why Downing Street accepted the offer.”
“What…..”
it’s not
If they were hateful as far as I know, they are the races that would have put all the hindrances in the way, such as the government canceling the company even if it took over.
There’s only one reason they didn’t.
gold.
This is because the amount of gold currently deposited in the bank under Parsons’ name is a whopping 7 tons. Add 1 ton in the name of Lord Kelvin or Arthur Pollen.
Currently, the Bank of England’s gold reserves are a little less than 200 tons.
If it is 8 tons, it is 4% of the scale.
‘At the City of London, 4% of the Bank of England’s gold reserves go out at once?’
That would be far more deadly than losing a single small colony.
‘Gandam will be cool.’
So they can never be beaten.
Besides, if you accept the patent alliance I proposed anyway, it will be cheap even from the British Empire’s point of view.
“Once President McKinley has approved, let’s proceed.”
I smiled brightly at Secretary of War Roosevelt.
“Yes, let’s meet.”
New Hampshire.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Sir Richard, 1st Naval Officer, secretly entered the US port of Portsmouth.
meeting room.
British ambassadors to the U.S. including Sir Richard were seated on one side around the table.
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
On the other side were American officials, including the Secretary of War and Acting Secretary of the Navy.
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Of course, I sat proudly in a position like a munchkin as a war advisor and naval advisor.
‘Well, they’re all familiar faces.’
smirked
Eventually they got together.
“It’s an extension of the Long-Richard secret.”
“Yes, the ‘Dreadnought-class’ battleship proposed by the U.S. was judged to be worth testing at least once.”
“Let’s negotiate.”
The meeting went dry. Anyway, there was no big difference because they all exchanged telegrams and confirmed each other’s opinions.
“The first dreadnought-class ship will be commissioned by the U.S. Navy. ”
“Yes, you do.”
The British Empire’s position was clear.
The investment for the first ship will be made by the United States.
Since it has not been verified yet, the test bed is requested by the US Navy’s budget. It eliminated the risk that the Royal Navy would receive a budget even if the dreadnought failed. Of course, you want to pass the data as well.
It was originally planned to be built by the US Navy, so our side also accepted it.
f*ck.
But I was well aware that Britain was misjudging.
‘I fell in love with the illusion of asymmetric power.’
It is the same reason why the British Empire originally built the dreadnought. The Royal Navy built one dreadnought, thinking that it could wipe out all the dreadnoughts of other countries.
‘Sometimes I don’t know if they’re smart.’
What I didn’t expect was that.
It is said that other countries risked their lives to extract dreadnoughts. In that way, the country’s existing forces also became doomed to be thrown into the trash can, and thus an infinite arms race began.
‘Well, thanks to you, it’s good for me to make it easier.’
I smiled inwardly.
break time.
In a separate room, he met with Secretary of War Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy John Long.
“It was a godsend for us to pre-empt Dreadnought. The British side is approaching us more favorably than we thought.”
“It’s not just that. If we can acquire the Royal Navy’s shipbuilding technology through this negotiation, it will be much more beneficial to the United States. The Royal Navy’s building technology is a legacy of hundreds of years of experience.”
“Detroit is right.”
The two ministers nodded.
Although the British do not pick it up, the shipbuilding technology of the Royal Navy is definitely not something that the US can catch up with in a year or two.
As much as it is a huge legacy that may take a century. This time, I had to scrape it all off.
“But the United States and England are officially isolationist countries. There’s no way federal officials, Republicans and Democrats would accept an explicit alliance with Britain.”
“right. Roosevelt is right. The Royal Navy and the US Navy cannot directly cooperate.”
“Um, how about this?”
When I got lucky, the two ministers looked at me. I shrugged.
“Isn’t it okay to work together in the private sector of both sides? Let’s create a multinational corporation that has been funded by the shipyards of both sides.”
“…!!!”
Portsmouth Company.
The character of this company I devised is similar to the East India Company.
A pseudo-state-owned company that appears to be state-owned, but is not state-owned.
However, the realm is not colonial management, but naval shipyard management.
It is also in line with the New York Ordnance Bureau.
“…that was it.”
“Yes.”
“What do you really think of this? It’s an informal conversation, but I think it’s fortunate that I didn’t lose to Chuck with you.”
“Haha. No.”
Afterwards, War Secretary Roosevelt and Navy Secretary John Long asked questions, and I worked with them one by one to come up with a Portsmouth company idea. Roosevelt’s complexion gradually deteriorated, but he understood. let’s get it done later
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Once that rough composition was completed.
after-
“Then shall we go back to the negotiating table?”
***
“Portsmouth…a company.”
“In fact, it is the establishment of a ‘special relationship’ between the two countries in the form of a multinational private corporation.”
alliance.
No one in this negotiator uses the word alliance. It’s just a special relationship. insist on an isolationist route.
The Portsmouth company will also operate as a seemingly private, privately held company.
“Hmm.”
Sir Richard stroked his beard in interest.
“What advantage do both sides have?”
“The biggest thing is the existence of dreadnoughts and the sharing of patents. Since we share our patents such as Parsons and Renotype, we can print dreadnoughts without paying a patent fee. The German Empire and Tsar Russia will have to pay a ‘set’ fee.”
“okay.”
“In addition, being able to extract the dreadnoughts first can be one step ahead of other countries’ naval power.”
“Hey. That’s a bit tempting. So what are the benefits of returning home?”
Sir Richard narrowed his eyes.
I shrugged.
“This is the ‘advanced’ construction technology of the Royal Navy and British shipyards. We can also dry to dry, but we can’t make a perfect dreadnought.”
“her. You are honest.”
“Yes, if we, who proposed a special relationship, hide their intentions, will a proper relationship of trust be established? Let’s go like a gentleman.”
Sir Richard’s eyes widened at my remarks. Honor the Royal Navy, show trust, and emphasize gentleness.
Trust, gentleman, honor.
It was a word that touched the hearts of the British in the British Empire as much as they were adored by them, as well as being a member of the Royal Navy.
‘There’s nothing wrong with getting a favor.’
Sir Richard nodded with satisfaction.
“good. Accept it. So, which company will invest in your country?”
Sir Richard looked around the US naval personnel. Secretary of War Roosevelt coughed heavily, and Secretary of the Navy John Long’s eyes lost focus out the window.
“…?”
Sir Richard looked at me with a puzzled face. I scratched the cheek gently with my index finger.
“From the U.S. side, we plan to invest in Federal Steel, Newport News Shipyard, Parsons Turbine Company, Renotype, Detroit Investment Bank, and Philippine Company.”
Then silence fell among the Americans. Roosevelt pressed his chin to his forehead, and Secretary of the Navy, John Long, smoked a cigar.
But I was brave.
‘why. What. They say I invest in what I make.’
yes.
I won’t give it to anyone.
all mine
＜ Dreadnought. (4) > end
