Episode 171 Breach of contract or performance

Hitler gave Schuschnitge four days of grace and ordered him to give him the ultimatum by 15 February with a "most binding reply." In addition, a grace period of three days, until the 18th, was given to allow Hüshnyg to fulfill the specific conditions of the ultimatum.

At half past seven o'clock that evening, Hitler approved General Keitel's order to exert military pressure on Austria - "to disseminate uneventful, but believable-sounding news, to give the impression that Germany was making military preparations against Austria."

Under the threat of German invasion, Hüshnyg succumbed. On December 15, he officially informed the German ambassador to Austria, von ? Papen, he will fulfill the Berchtesgaden agreement by the 18th. On the 16th, the Austrian government announced an amnesty for Nazis, including those convicted in the murder of the former president of Taolfis. The Austrian government also unveiled the names of the new cabinet members, with Seth Inquart appointed as police minister. The next day, Inquart, the Nazi minister, went to Berlin to meet Hitler and accept his orders.

On 20 February, Hitler delivered a speech in which he spoke eagerly about Schüschniegg's "understanding" and his "sincerity" in bringing Germany and Austria to a closer understanding. But at the same time, Hitler said:

“…… There are more than 10 million Germanic people living in two countries bordering us! There can be no doubt about one thing: the right to self-determination cannot be denied just because of political separation from Germany! A world power cannot stand the fact that his brothers of the same race around him are constantly tormented by sympathy or unanimity for his entire nation, destiny and worldview! Since these Germanic fraternal peoples are not able to gain political and spiritual freedom on our borders by their own efforts, it is Germany's duty to protect the freedom of these Germanic fraternal peoples! ”

This was tantamount to a straightforward notice: Hitler believed that the future of the 7 million Austrians and the 3 million Germans of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia was a matter for the Third Reich.

This "notice" was not noticed by London, not by Paris, not by Nanking and Washington. But Vienna and Prague have noticed.

Four days later, Schüshnitge gave an identical speech in reply to Hitler. He said impassionedly:

“…… Austria has conceded to a limit, and we are standing on the edge of a precipice. At this moment, I heard a clear voice behind me: 'This is the end of the road, no more retreat!' ’…… Austria will never give up on her **! Red-white-red (the color of the Austrian flag) and swear allegiance! ”

Hitler's speech on the 20th provoked a series of large-scale Nazi demonstrations in Austria. At the same time as Hüshchnigg was speaking. Twenty thousand Nazi thugs stormed the square in Graz, removed loudspeakers, removed the Austrian flag and raised the swastika flag of Nazi Germany. And the Austrian policeman next to him didn't care at all, just looked at it with a smile.

Hüshnig's regime is falling.

Not only was there political chaos, but there was also economic chaos. There are a large number of foreign accounts and domestic citizens withdrawing money in banks. Fearing that something would happen, foreign trading houses cancelled orders from Vienna. Foreign tourists were also scared away.

Throughout February, Nanjing received requests from Germany to fulfill the secret treaty made by the Ming two years ago and to publicly declare its support for the German-Austrian merger. And the Nanjing government has been hesitating and has been prevaricating with the idea that "the time is not right". The German ambassador to Nanking asked again and again to meet with the First Minister, and his attitude gradually changed from earnest to urgent. In the end, the German ambassador implicitly conveyed the meaning of a Führer, which can also be said to be a threat: your country is not trying to settle the bill, is it? Don't think about it early, it's black and white, and you can't rely on it. When the time comes, Germany will announce this agreement in the international community, and your country's "feathers" will not only not be able to keep it, but will also have to bear the reputation of "not keeping your word."

This is exactly what Da Ming is most worried about. What Daming wants now is to drag it first, and drag it until the water is ready and the raw rice is cooked and mature, and then Daming will push the boat down the river to make a statement, so that the impact can be minimized. But on the German side, it is most useful for Daming to make a statement of support before the matter is done, and it will help the most to get it done. Really wait until the "raw rice is cooked and mature", wait until I have done the thing, and then you make a statement to express your support, so is there still a lack of you?

However, the bitter thing is that the original secret agreement was not detailed, but only stipulated that in the future, "at an appropriate time", the Ming Dynasty would declare its support for the German-Austrian merger. As for when is the right time, there is no rule. It is no wonder that two years ago, the annexation of Austria was only a dream in Hitler's mind, and Hitler was not sure whether there would be such a "German-Austrian merger" in the future and when. Therefore, even if there is a secret contract, it can only be written very vaguely. Moreover, at that time, "Daming supported the German-Austrian merger" was at most an additional clause, which was the icing on the cake. At that time, Hitler's most important thing was that "the Ming Dynasty supported Germany's claim to the Danzig Corridor".

But today, the secret agreement of "Ming supports the merger of Germany and Austria" has become the most important thing in Germany. Hitler was holding it in his hands and did not intend to let it go at all.

Cabinet meetings in Nanjing were also held many times. During this period, some people thought that the contract should be broken, and some people thought that the contract should be fulfilled.

Those who support the breach of the treaty believe that now the benefits of cooperation with Germany are basically in hand, the Northern Qing Dynasty has also been destroyed, China has been reunified, Germany has given us almost everything it can give, and we have also applied, developed, digested, and become our own things with many new German technologies. On the other hand, what Germany has done in the past two years has become more and more unbearable, and mixing with it again really ruins its own image. What the Ming Dynasty needs most now is the support from Britain and the United States, especially the huge production capacity of the United States, to help us win the two wars. Breaking the contract is naturally very bad, but there is no way. If Daming wants to re-align himself and maximize his interests again, it is also a price that must be paid to bear the reputation of breaking the contract.

But proponents of compliance argue that things cannot be seen that way. Daming has such good popularity and so many allies in the world in the past hundred years, so many countries believe in themselves and do not guard against themselves, relying on the word "integrity". When a country mixes in the world, it is the same as a person who mixes in society. A country that keeps its word, must fulfill its signings, and must keep its promises will make many countries willing to interact with you and not be very wary of you. Why is the Ming navy so strong and the national strength so strong, but Britain, France and the United States are not worried about the Ming plotting against their Nanyang colonies? Why is it that Japan's naval strength is similar to that of the Ming Dynasty, but its national strength is greatly inferior, but the Western countries have never been wary of the Ming Dynasty, but have been strictly vigilant against Japan? Why did the Ming Dynasty send a note to the Western countries asking them not to send ships to help Japan transport goods, and they all complied?

It's because everyone thinks that the relationship with the Ming Dynasty is worth maintaining, and the relationship with Japan is not so worth maintaining. Breaking the treaty is tantamount to playing hooligan, Daming may think that it is harmless to break this treaty, and besides, it is Nazi Germany's treaty that is ruined, but other countries do not see it that way. Although in this matter, they definitely supported the Ming Dynasty and Germany to break the treaty, but everyone will privately think: the first time in the Ming Kingdom has a second time. This time it was Nazi Germany that was broken, but next time we might break ours. Then Daming's credit will suffer greatly. Once a country loses its credibility and becomes a rogue state in the eyes of all countries, then no matter how strong and powerful it is like the Soviet Union, it will still be unanimously excluded by the international community.

Xiang Xiaoqiang prefers the latter opinion. He also thinks that a country is mixed in the world, just like a person is mixed in society, not to mention benevolence, righteousness and morality, at least the "relationship network" is very important. The 20th century has begun to globalize, and it is not possible to rely on one's own brute force alone, but to form gangs, cultivate contacts, and when necessary, use one's strength to respond to every call. Just like the United States in later generations. Then how to get along with others is very important. In any case, "not believing in words" is definitely the way to die. If you break the contract, you will gain immediate benefits, and what you will lose will be long-term benefits in the future.