Chapter 44: Germany-Australia Treaty

Translator: 549690339 |

Honestly, if Arthur hadn’t known about Germany’s fate, he would have agreed to William Il’s terms very simply.

Although there is a lot of equipment from the United Kingdom, it would take at least ten years for Australia to develop a complete industrial system.

But with Germany’s help, this time can be shortened infinitely, and Australia’s industry could even undergo earth-shattering changes every year.

In terms of industry, Germany definitely has the strength to compete with Britain, and even if it had the same amount of colonies as Britain and France, Germany’s industrial strength could confront the United States.

Seeing Arthur hesitating, William II continued to laugh and said, “If Arthur thinks this is not enough, Germania can also provide Australia with over 500 million marks of low-interest loans and send industrial experts to Australia to help you build a complete industrial system.”

Five hundred million marks is roughly equivalent to £25 million, which is not a small amount of money.

More importantly, after Germany’s defeat in World War I, the German mark would be devalued wildly. The current 500 million marks is worth £25 million, but in the future, it may not even be worth 500,000 pounds.

If this loan is repaid twenty years later, wouldn’t it mean that Germany would have given Arthur more than 20 million pounds for free?

“Cousin William, although I am tempted by your proposal, you know that Australia is a vast and sparsely populated agricultural country. We are very backward in industry and economy, and I am afraid we cannot help Germany,” Arthur said with a smile.

Although Germany’s conditions are very tempting, it is still too simple to want Australia to enter the whirlpool of World War I with such conditions alone.

“Of course, Arthur. Once the war in Europe breaks out, most of the French army will be concentrated on the European and African battlefields, including their fleets. All you have to do is harass their African and Asian colonies and continuously cause damage. The great German Army will crush them on the front lines, no matter how many people they have,” William II said proudly.

William II indeed had the confidence to say such words. Like the British Empire’s undisputed first navy, the German Empire was also the undisputed first army, both in terms of the individual quality of its soldiers and its overall military strength. The second and third-ranked countries had not inconsiderable gaps compared to Germania.

“Cousin William, Australia can’t help if we join your camp and oppose France, but we can still do something if we secretly support you and pose a small threat to France,” Arthur laughed and said, “But you also know Australia lacks everything. Even if we want to do something for Germany, we don’t have the power to do so. I hope that in addition to support in industry and finance, Germany can also support Australia in terms of firearms and warships. In return for Germany’s support, Australia promises to choose the right time during the war to sabotage France’s African and Asian colonies, attracting some of the French military’s attention.”

“Very well, Arthur. I am glad to see you stand by my side, not like Uncle Edward. I originally thought that based on our blood relationship, Germany and the United Kingdom could become good allies. But I didn’t expect Uncle Edward to insist on standing with France, so I can only say sorry to Grandmother Victoria,” William II nodded in satisfaction and smiled at Arthur.

Because of his own blood relationship, William II was initially closer to Britain.

But due to Germany’s growing rise, it naturally formed an opposition to Britain. Even if William II wanted to mend the rift between them, it was too late.

“Cousin William, I hope that Germany’s aid will arrive in Australia soon. At least before the European war breaks out, Australia needs to build a complete industrial system so that it can help Germania during the war,” Arthur said with a smile, not minding William H’s complaints about the Crown Prince Edward.

For Arthur, the sooner he gets his hands on Germany’s aid without any cost, the more at ease he will be.

As for the future issue of loan repayment, it may not even cost a fraction of the current loan.

“Haha, no problem, Arthur. I promise you that the industrial equipment, financial support, and personnel I offered will arrive in Australia before Christmas. But I hope that the relationship between Germany and Australia can be kept secret for now, and it would be best not to mention this matter to anyone. This way, Australia can deliver a fatal blow to France at a critical moment and make the best use of the treaty,” said William II with a laugh, not at all concerned.

For William II, this support is just a drop in the bucket for the national losses.

But if it can exchange for Australia’s serious damage to French colonies during the war, even doubling this condition would be very worthwhile for Germania.

After all, most of France’s economy and raw materials come from colonies. Once the colonies are destroyed and threatened, it means that France’s economy and industry are facing significant threats.

“No problem, Cousin William,” Arthur agreed hurriedly.

Arthur was originally hesitating about how to bring up the request so that William II would agree not to publicize Australia’s relationship with Germany.

Given the current situation, even with Australia’s full support, Germany has no hope of defeating Britain and France.

If Australia is drawn into Germany’s whirlpool and becomes a defeated country in World War I, it would be contrary to Arthur’s vision of Australia’s rise.

Australia can participate in World War I, but it must be as a victorious country. This way, Australia can seek its own interests after the end of World War I and establish its sphere of influence in the South Pacific Ocean.

“As for the construction technology of firearms and warships you requested, I allow you to introduce it from Germany. As for what technology can be purchased, it depends on the ability of your diplomats,” William II said with a smile.

Many of Germany’s more famous technologies are controlled by capitalists who have established military factories and shipyards.

Although many of these are government-designated factories, it isn’t that simple for William II to ask them to give up their technology on a single command.

“Of course, Cousin William. We are very sincere in introducing German technology, and I will send a diplomatic mission to Germany after returning,” Arthur said with a smile.