"If this were the case, the situation in the Far East as a whole would change radically, and the British Empire had always considered the existence of the Dutch East Indies to be conducive to the stability of the Far East. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info neither we, nor the French nor the Spaniards have ever had the idea of fighting the Dutch East Indies. "This time Lloyd. George was telling the truth, the British did acquiesce in Dutch control of the East Indies, and although the British controlled the area for a time during the Napoleonic Wars, they returned it to the Netherlands after the war.

Rather than the reason, it can only be said that it is in the best interests of the European powers to control it here, and to ask whether the Dutch East Indies are rich? That's for sure, for example, right now, Borneo's oil. In 1930, the oil production of the entire Kalimantan island was 6.74 million tons, and this figure is about 4 million tons if you break down the fuel oil production in the Dutch territory today! And how much fuel does Japan consume a year now? Less than 600,000 tons! With the Dutch East Indies, Japan went directly from being an oil importer to an exporter!

In addition to oil, the Dutch East Indies are also very rich in copper mines, for example, the current West New Guinea region has a world-class copper mine, with this copper mine alone, the Netherlands copper production accounts for the world's top five! Another example is nickel ore, tin ore and coal mines in Sumatra, and with these resources, Japan has completely changed from an island country to a power that is not only self-sufficient in resources, but also has considerable export capabilities! Not to mention the fact that there are more than 1.9 million square kilometers of land and a large amount of territorial waters!

Why is the Netherlands able to have this? It is not because of how strong the Netherlands is, but because of the result of many compromises, the British are certainly not willing to let a strong country like France have this fertile land, and France is certainly not willing to let the British have it, and when the two sides are at a standstill, it becomes acceptable to let a country that is not very powerful and has withdrawn from the world hegemony stage have it.

So the Netherlands is still the master here. However, if this is replaced by another great power in the Far East with considerable potential, then Britain is absolutely unwilling to accept it, because if any country has this place, as long as the leadership does not make comparisons! Then it is bound to make great progress.

Imagine a Far Eastern Empire that encompassed the Japanese mainland, half of Sakhalin, the Philippines, and the entire Dutch East Indies. These belt-shaped islands are like a big hand directly controlling the entire Far East, and if an empire with a population of tens of millions and a total area of more than 2 million square kilometers and rich resources rises in the Far East, Lloyd's. George assured that this is definitely not what the British government wants to see!

"Is there anything else you have to say?" Lloyd's. After taking a deep breath, George asked after stabilizing his somewhat fluctuating emotions.

"Nope." Katsura Taro couldn't see any information on the other party's face, and after a brief hesitation, he finally spoke. He didn't know the attitude of the British, and he didn't know that once this demand was thrown, it would be time for the bayonets on both sides to see red, but this was a resolution of the Japanese leadership, and it was also the best time for him to think that Japan was expanding, and at this time, Katsura Taro and the Japanese government behind him had no way to retreat!

"Well, from now on, I will not discuss anything related with you, and the Japanese government behind you, this is beyond my purview! I will never agree to such a condition, and I will state this matter to my Government this afternoon, as soon as I return home, and your country may inform my Government through diplomatic channels. As for who will discuss relevant matters in the future, whether someone will replace me, and what the empire will choose, this is not my responsibility. "Lloyd's. George picked up the hat from the table and put it on his head.

In Lloyd's. It seemed to George that he could no longer negotiate, and that the British Empire could not accept such conditions. "If I had to choose, I would rather let the Dutch East Indies be ruled by the natives than give them to Japan! We will not allow an Asian version of Germany to appear in the Far East! In his diary, the British envoy wrote this, and there were similar statements in the telegrams sent back home.

"By the way, if I had to choose, I would definitely refuse!" After saying that, the British envoy walked out of the captain's room of the battleship Hyuga without looking back. Katsura Taro who was standing in front of the sand table was left behind.

"The British disagree?" After half a ring, while Katsura Taro was still looking at the huge sand table and fell into deep thought, the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Goro Ijiin, walked into the captain's room of the Hyuga and said to the former.

"Nobody knows the outcome until the last minute, and in general, Lloyd's. George's reaction is also expected, and maybe we will change our negotiating partner in the future. Katsura Taro said calmly.

"Well, let's not talk about politics, let's talk about some things that the military needs to pay attention to, the Americans seem to be very resolute this time, they sent the newest Nevada-class battleships in service to the Bismarck Sea area, and now the situation is like this, on the island of Novopomerania, we and the Americans are half each, we are in the west, they are in the east. The two sides have deployed no less than 40 warships of various kinds in this area, including two battleships of each side. Ours was the Fuso and the battlecruiser Kongo, while the opponents were the Nevada and the New York. ”

(New Pomerania is actually what is now New Britain.) Located in the Bismarck Sea. In its northeast corner there is a name that cannot be bypassed in the history of naval warfare of the 2 wars, and it is called Rabaul! ）

"According to intelligence realities, the parties have now begun to lay mines in certain areas. The possibility of a misfire is increasing, but I wonder if the Empire is ready for war with the Americans. Ijiin Goro said.

"Do you think we're ready?" Katsura Taro asked rhetorically.

"I don't think so, Japan is still too weak right now." Ijiin Goro said.

"Then let's refrain from doing so." Katsura Taro rubbed his somewhat numb temples and said.

"Okay, I'll tell Lieutenant General Kato Dingyoshi." Ijiin Goro didn't talk nonsense either. "So what if something happens to a misfire? Lieutenant General Kato Dingyoshi said on the telegram that both sides were nervous. ”

"You can't suffer a loss, but it's better than fighting to the death." Katsura Taro frowned, and then gave an ambiguous answer, "I'll have to discuss with the top management how to do it." In short, it's best not to make anything happen lately. ”

There's something going on.,2 more today~~~! Ask for subscription and support~~~! On Sunday at the latest, there will be some "black history", well, that's it~~~!

In addition, I recommend a novel from the late Qing Dynasty, "Iron and Blood Ambition" written by the wordless fate. The crossing time is relatively early and the content is rich, so you can take a look~~~!