The British government does not know exactly when Lawrence was born and when he got on the line with this "mad president" of the East, but at least one basic fact is clear. Such large quantities of old arms would not have been possible to be loaded onto ships and transported to the Middle East without the approval of the president. So. The obvious fact is that "the madman president." It also seems to be eyeing the interests of the Middle East, which are of vital importance to Britain. In particular, the Suez Canal, which connects the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean, is the lifeline of Britain and cannot be lost in any way. Especially in times of such war.

Zhu Erdian really couldn't figure out where the confidence of this president came from, and he actually held a torch to light fires everywhere. There was one in Southeast Asia and one in the Middle East, as if he were fully sure that British hostility would not arise from it.

Of course, the most important issue for the British government at the moment is the Southeast Asian issue, the crisis in Sumatra and New Guinea, if it is not handled well, then. Even if the war in Europe were to end within a year, the situation in the Far East would probably still be very bad, and Britain would have to face a mess in the Far East, and it would not be so easy to clean up. This would involve a lot of energy and financial and military resources for the British government.

So, no matter what, Jurdian had to find a way to avoid the ripple effects of the Sino-Dutch war. Even if war between China and the Netherlands is inevitable. It is also necessary to prevent China from coming together with Japan. Or even alliances.

With a hint of apprehension, Zhu Erdian cleared his mind and decided to take a step back to see if this "mad president" really intended to demonstrate China's determination to rise in the East by force.

"Mr. President, you have indeed considered the amendments to the British Government's proposal, but the problem is that the British Government's solution to the crisis has been determined after consulting the Dutch Ambassador to China and the Foreign Affairs Department of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The key is not the formation of an international investigation mission, but the future political status of Sumatra, according to the current international norms, for the East Indies under Dutch control, the international community recognizes that the Dutch government has the right to rule over the region, and if a referendum on the political status of Sumatra is held, it will undoubtedly challenge the international norms, and even the British government will not dare to challenge this norm, because it will cause public anger. Especially those European and American powers with many colonies in the world, they will unanimously believe that Mr. President is challenging the bottom line of national interests, and perhaps, they will fight back against the president.

In my opinion, if Mr. President really thinks that the political location of Sumatra should be decided fairly and justly. The best thing to do is not to hold a referendum by the local population, but rather by the Dutch colonial authorities in consultation with all stakeholders. The purpose of determining the future political status of Sumatra was achieved through consultations. In this consultation, it is clear that only the three countries of Britain, the Netherlands, and China need to be involved, and there is no need to resort to the Far East Peace Commission. In fact, in my personal opinion, the current solution is very sound. On the one hand, it guarantees the interests of your country in Sumatra, as well as the interests of the Chinese and overseas Chinese, and on the other hand, it also enables the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to put an end to the dispute with dignity without angering the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and thus avoiding the suffering of the war to both China and the Netherlands, which is a part of the war, and the British people are very keen to keep peace outside of Europe.

As for the rumors of ethnic vendetta in Sumatra, perhaps Mr. President has a point. Until the truth comes out, it is indeed necessary for the small international community to maintain a cautious position, if Mr. President thinks that the time is not right. Then the international investigation mission could not be formed for the time being, and the international community may be able to send an international observer mission to Sumatra after the political status of Sumatra has been formally established and the local authorities have been formally formed

Zhu Erdian made a concession, but to his great surprise, the Chinese President was clearly very dissatisfied with his concession, and when he had finished speaking, the President shook his head there.

"Mr. Ambassador. Didn't you just say that? Now that the British government has given you full authority to deal with this matter, you can persuade the Dutch government to accept the revised solution to the crisis? I don't believe it, the Ambassador of the Netherlands will not listen to you, as far as I know. The Netherlands has always been obedient to Britain, especially after the outbreak of the war in Europe, it was all based on Britain's face, how could the Netherlands not accept Britain's opinion? ”

This is simply a scoundrel, no matter how much the Netherlands listens to the British, but after all, it is a sovereign country, a nation-state, and no matter how powerful Britain is. It was also absolutely impossible to control the national mood in the Netherlands, once it was enraged by the Sumatra incident and the escalation of the Java incident. Then, the Dutch government will also go into battle shirtless. In fact, according to the information received the day before yesterday, the Dutch government has organized a task force to reinforce the East Indies, and the small fleet is currently sailing in the Atlantic Ocean to go to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean, and since the Netherlands is a neutral country in the war in Europe, this voyage is relatively safe. At least it is unlikely that it will be attacked by German submarines.

Zhu Erdian did not know whether the central government of China had taken note of the report of the Dutch task force heading east, but one thing was clear to him, and that was it. Judging by the performance of this president who has no one in his eyes. China seems to be ready for war, and Zhu Erdian is well aware of this "madman president." 's style of doing things, either don't do it, or do it absolutely. Before the last Sino-Japanese war in Northeast Asia. China had been preparing for war for a long time, and this time, facing an adversary who had traveled thousands of miles from Europe, the Chinese were clearly more certain than the last time they were dealing with Japan, which was close at hand, although the battlefield may be mainly at sea.

It is worth mentioning. In the Russo-Japanese War that year. In this way, the Russian naval reinforcement fleet also circled half the world to participate in the war in Asia, and then, the exhausted and poorly fed Russian fleet was fatally attacked by the Japanese Combined Fleet in the Tsushima Strait, and after that, the Russian naval power collapsed.

"Your Excellency. Please note that I am only acting for the British government to deal with the South China Sea crisis, and I do not have the final say, everything depends on the opinion of the British government, and in my opinion. The British government will not accept the so-called "Sumatra" referendum. Not only will the British government not agree, but the US government, the French government, or even the German government will not agree to use this method to determine the political location of a region, and the Netherlands has occupied the East Indies for a long time, let alone accept the method of a referendum to determine the future ownership and political status of the colonies. I strongly suggest that you think carefully about my suggestion, and if the modification proposal of the core FAW can be accepted, then I can immediately go to the knife surface. A new round of consultations will be held with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs. with a view to a peaceful solution to the Nanyang crisis. If Mr. President is bent on breaking the norms prevailing in the international community, then the British Government will stay out of the matter, and there will be no guarantee as to what other countries will do to you. Zhu Erdian did not give up. There was a bit of intimidation between the words, Zhao Bei heard it, Tang Shaoyi also heard it, both of them frowned, since the end of the Sino-Japanese Northeast Asian War, it is rare for foreign envoys in China to speak to China Yuan like this.

"Since Mr. Ambassador has said it so clearly, I don't think there is any need to continue. Thanks to the British government's concern for peace in the Far East, as a responsible Far Eastern country, China also very much hopes that peace and stability will be maintained in the Far East. At present, both Japan and Taura Thailand have made proposals to our central government that they are willing to provide their respective forces for the successful settlement of the Sumatra incident and the Java incident, and I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold friendly consultations with these two countries with a view to resolving these incidents affecting stability and peace in the Far East as soon as possible. ”

The British ambassador spoke politely, and Zhao Bei was not polite to the other party, stood up, and said a few words, which immediately made Zhu Erdian realize that the crisis in front of him was deepening, and at the same time, it also made Tang Shaoyi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who was sitting on the side, frown tighter, he knew very well that Zhao Bei was not bluffing, in fact, Japan and Tura were very concerned about the Sumatra incident, and both countries wanted to follow China to make a big deal in the troubled waters of the South Seas, for this purpose, The government of Suzhou, which originally intended to follow the United States to declare war on Germany, has decided to temporarily postpone the plan to declare war on Germany, first wait and see how the situation in the South Seas will unfold, and then decide on Luo's foreign policy, of course, it is precisely because of this that the current political situation in Russia is somewhat tense, and the pro-German and pro-British factions are brewing a political duel. Japan also did not have enough excuse and strength to make it difficult for the Netherlands.

Seeing that Zhao Bei and Zhu Erdian were about to break their faces, Tang Shaoyi hurriedly stood up to be a peacemaker.

"As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I believe that the most important thing at present is not the future political status of Sumatra, but the hundreds of Chinese nationals on the Java, now, the Dutch authorities are still detaining those overseas Chinese, not allowing them to disembark, nor allowing them to go ashore, those overseas Chinese all have Chinese nationality and are Chinese citizens, no matter from which point of view, the central government of our country will not watch our nationals being unreasonably detained by the foreign ** team. And they were abused. Otherwise, even Mr. President will not have enough reason to persuade the commander of the Nanyang Squadron to exercise sufficient restraint and calm, and now the two fleets of China and the Netherlands are still facing each other, the situation is tense, and a conflict will break out at any time, so it is impossible to resolve this issue, and I hope that Mr. Ambassador will make representations to the Dutch side as soon as possible. ”

Tang Shaoyi's words were very reasonable, and obviously eased the tension at the scene, Zhu Erdian nodded, and agreed to immediately go to the Dutch embassy to negotiate, urging the Dutch side to release Huaqiao as soon as possible. But before he could leave the reception room, a junior adjutant walked to the door of the reception room with Tang Xiangming, the chief of the navy who was originally waiting in the lounge.

Tang Xiangming stood in the corridor, and the adjutant walked into the reception room and walked to Zhao Bei's side. Whisper a few words to him.

Zhao Bei nodded expressionlessly. Then he glanced at Zhu Erdian and Tang Shaoyi, who were a little curious, and said something in a sad tone.

"Two, just received the news that the "Java" migrant ship detained by the Dutch colonial authorities in the port of Beliman on Bangka Island suddenly sank two hours ago, and the cause of the sinking is not yet clear, but according to the rough statistics of the local Chinese consulate, dozens of bodies have been recovered from the port. Most of them are overseas Chinese, about this. I deeply regret it, and at the same time, I am very angry that the Dutch colonial authorities have detained the ship in disregard for the lives of overseas Chinese! ”

Speaking of this, Zhao Bei's eyes swept away. glanced at Tang Xiangming who was standing in the corridor and nodded to him, Tang Xiangming comprehended, and hurriedly strode into the reception room to "snap" a standing upright and salute.

"Chief Tang, I will now officially order you that from now on, the Chinese Navy will enter a state of first-class combat readiness, and you will immediately go to Lushun. It is important to urge the two battleships to complete the repair as soon as possible, and after the restoration work is completed, there is no need to hold a launching ceremony. Immediately load ammunition and personnel, and you will personally lead the south, while conducting sea trials, while reorganizing officers and soldiers. Rushed to Xiamen, rendezvous with the Second Fleet, which was conducting training there, and then formed the Second Fleet of the South Seas and went to anchor on Hainan Island. Ready to listen to the orders of the center! ”

"Yes!"

Zhao Bei ordered. Tangxiang is excited, and it is a "snap" upright and saluting. Then step back. Turned around and left the Commander's Hall.

After Tang Xiangming left, Zhao Bei glanced at Tang Shaoyi, who was still a little confused, and issued a presidential order to him.

"Chief Tang, please immediately draft a formal diplomatic protest document, and then hand it over to me for review, and send someone to inform the Dutch Embassy in China. I would like to meet with the Ambassador of the Netherlands to lodge a formal written protest to the Dutch side. At the same time, I also ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey to the Japanese Legation in China that we have decided to accept the Japanese Government's proposal to hold a joint naval exercise between the Chinese and Japanese naval fleets in the South China Sea, and that we hope that the Japanese Government will be able to send a joint fleet to participate in the largest joint military exercise between Asian countries. I think it is necessary for the Netherlands to see the unity of the Asian countries and the determination of the Asian countries to safeguard their common interests!

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was requested to hold a press conference to inform the press of the details of the "Java Incident and the procedures taken by the central authorities to deal with it, so that the public can understand the events that have occurred in the local area, and to expose the crimes of the Dutch colonial authorities and the suffering of the local Chinese to the Chinese people around the world through radio broadcasting." It is necessary to unite all the Chinese and jointly denounce the barbaric acts of the Dutch colonists! ”

As soon as this presidential order was issued, not only Tang Shaoyi was stunned, but Zhu Erdian was also stunned, both of them understood that if the Netherlands insisted on a tough position, then this Sino-Dutch war might be difficult to avoid, and once China pulled Japan and Tura into this South China vortex, then the Netherlands would have no limbs, and more importantly, China would become the de facto leader in Asia.

There is no doubt that the sound of the Asian boots is becoming clearer and clearer, and the sound of artillery from Europe actually provides enough confidence for the boots. ,If you want to know what happened next,Please log in to the overlook than a few,More chapters,Support the author,Support genuine reading!