Chapter 721 - 334: Preparations for War

Prime Minister Canovas, having just attended the funeral of Emperor Frederick III, quickly accepted the invitation from the French Government to travel to France for talks.

This discussion about canal navigation rights attracted participation from many countries, most of which had a demand for the canal.

Countries like Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, and the Netherlands all had vast colonies to the east or south of the canal, and communication between the colonies and the homeland relied heavily on the Suez Canal.

Russia could also be counted among them, as the Trans-Siberian Railway, connecting Russian European territories with Asian territories, was still incomplete. Russia’s Far East required passage through the Suez Canal for the shipment and trade of goods with European homelands or other European countries, taking the route from Asia to Europe.

Although Austria-Hungary had no overseas colonies, like Italy, they were purely Mediterranean coastal countries, whose navy and transport ships were at any time susceptible to being trapped within the Mediterranean.

To avoid having their navy blocked, they must control the Suez Canal. At the very least, they must acquire fair navigation rights to the Suez Canal to ensure that import-export trade and other material transport would not be disrupted.

The collective presence of all the countries participating in these discussions was overwhelmingly immense, which actually underscored their concerns about the Mediterranean situation following the British control of the Suez Canal.

There is no choice; the Suez Canal is crucial not just to Mediterranean coastal countries but to all European nations. Especially given that the British also command the Gibraltar Strait, their threat to the Mediterranean and European countries persistently worries them.

Frankly, even Britain’s ally Portugal is unwilling for the Suez Canal to be entirely under British control.

It’s akin to the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of the European countries, with the sword gripped by the British, ready to fall from a high place and deliver a fatal blow to the European nations.

Even if the canal is controlled by the world’s most powerful country, the British Empire, the other countries would not relent. Unless the United Kingdom commits to fair navigation rights for all countries on the Suez Canal, concerns about the British would not abate.

Indeed, like Spain, after receiving the invitation from the French Government, the European countries barely hesitated and quickly accepted.

Even Germany, headed by its old rival France, nodded in agreement after hearing the French Government’s invitation and the purpose of the talks.

For Germany, the talks could yield no considerable disadvantages. If they could publicly pressure Britain to cede canal ownership, it would indeed be greatly beneficial for Germany.

Of course, one reason Prime Minister Bismarck was quick to agree to France’s request was to prevent France from gaining control over the Suez Canal after these talks, akin to Britain.

If the British could relinquish control of the canal, it would undoubtedly be good news. However, if the control were given to the organizing French, for Germany, it was no better than leaving control in British hands.

Another purpose for Germany’s participation was to prevent France from gaining control of the canal.

Even with Austria-Hungary and Italy, its military allies also participating in these talks, Germany had genuine hope of replacing France to become the country with ultimate control over the canal.

Of course, even if they couldn’t gain control over the canal, the fair and free navigation of the canal by all countries still benefited Germany.

Both logically and rationally, Germany should participate in these talks, which was also why Prime Minister Bismarck barely hesitated.

Prime Minister Canovas sent Carlo a proposal concerning Suez Canal navigation rights mentioned during the meeting within a few days of arriving in France.

This proposal for canal navigation rights consists of several major items, with the first directly addressing each country’s foremost concern: the division of canal navigation rights.

Since many European countries heavily rely on the Suez Canal, it signifies that exclusive ownership of the canal by a single country is unlikely.

The French seized this point and stipulated in Article 1 of their proposal that during wartime, the Suez Canal should be as open to all commercial or naval vessels flying any national flag as it is in peacetime. During wartime, no country could interfere with the canal’s free usage.

No country has the right to block the Suez Canal or deny any other countries’ right to freely use the canal, nor can it affect or block other countries’ canal usage rights.

In short, the French proposal seeks to fully share the Suez Canal, allowing all countries regardless of size to freely navigate the canal, quelling any nations’ concerns about being blocked by other countries controlling the canal.

Simply looking at Article 1 of the French proposal, Carlo could envision how the countries at the conference embraced the French proposal.

Moreover, Articles 2 and 3 followed, adding further layers of protection based on the premise of free use of the Suez Canal by all countries.