The approval of the shipbuilding program was a great joy for the Italian Navy.

However, it will take some time to see the launch of the new battleship, at least the drawings of the new battleship must be prepared, otherwise the shipyard workers will take what to build the ship. So if the Navy wants to get new warships, it will take time.

Of course, Italy's sudden shipbuilding plan was also taken by surprise to other European countries.

In Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II discussed the impact of Italy's shipbuilding program with his trusted ministers.

"Your Majesty, Italy's shipbuilding plan is an absolutely good thing for our country, at least they can help us share the maritime pressure from Britain and France, and maybe the balance of power at sea that we can take is also possible."

Field Marshal Tirpitz, Minister of the Admiralty, was the first to express his opinion. In fact, his views also represent the views of most of the current German political leaders on Italian shipbuilding. After all, Italy is an ally, and in the case of insufficient naval strength of its own country, it is beneficial for the allies to build ships no matter how they look at it.

"But whether this provokes a strong reaction from the UK and the attitude of our other ally, the Austrians, also needs to be watched." At this point, a different opinion was raised.

Tirpitz himself could answer this without the need for anyone else to speak. "If we build a ship, the British reacted violently, didn't they build it? As for Austria-Hungary's reaction to the Italian shipbuilding, what's so surprising about this, the navy is at a disadvantage, but the army maintains an advantage, and in the strategic situation, Austria-Hungary also has the advantage, what is there to worry about. ”

Well, this is not coarse, but it makes a lot of sense. Tirpitz's speech drew praise from others.

"Marshal Tirpitz is right when he says that the construction of Italian ships is very beneficial to our country, not only to contain the maritime power of Britain and France, but also to deepen their hostile relations with Britain and France, and we should give it a round of applause. After all, our allies are ambitious in the Mediterranean, and we should support their demands. ”

Speaking was the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, His Excellency von Bülo, Bismarck's successor, who was very skilled in diplomacy, and suggested that the Italian ship must have been built for the interests of the Mediterranean. The prime minister, who came by diplomatic background, had a real eye for Italy's core interests at a glance.

"Let me, then, send a telegram to my friend Carlo. At least Carlo and I certainly agree on the same attitude towards the French. ”

It was rare for the Kaiser to make a witty remark, and all the important ministers present laughed happily.

Unlike Germany, which was happy, the French government, Italy's neighbor and competitor, was a bit of a headache when Italy suddenly started building ships.

That's right, it's a headache. How could the French government not know about the tense relations between Italy and France all these years. And they also know the reasons for Italy's dissatisfaction with themselves, the seizure of Tunisia plus the competition for interests in the Mediterranean, which led to poor relations between the two countries. Now that Italy is preparing to aggressively expand its navy, the French government must be cautious.

Now in charge of France is the cabinet of the Combu, a prime minister with a background in theology, and one of the best things he has done so far is the separation of church and state (which always feels so familiar).

"Ladies and gentlemen, at present Germany is building its own fleet on a large scale, and Italy is now starting to build its own fleet, and our navy must be expanded, otherwise the consequences will be very serious."

At present, the French Navy is facing pressure from the German and Italian navies to build ships, which makes the French Navy sit on pins and needles, so as soon as this cabinet meeting begins, Pilate will make a preemptive speech.

However, his intention was not realized, and Finance Minister Ruvier immediately said: "We are all aware of the difficulties faced by the navy, but at present our finances are not optimistic, and it is a bit unrealistic to want to expand the navy on a large scale like Germany and Italy." ”

A veteran of French politics, having served as finance minister and prime minister for several terms, he was a very good figure in the cabinet when it came to balancing the budget, so his words were taken very seriously by others.

"Can't you think of a way? If our navy keeps up, it will be at a dangerous disadvantage in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. ”

"But we also need to consider the issue of fiscal revenue and expenditure, at present, in addition to the normal expenditure of our country, the pressure on land is not small, and we also need to consider our allies, there is really no extra money to build ships for the navy."

Ruvier was not unreasonable, and he analyzed the expenditures of the Ministry of Finance to the navy. In the face of Ruvière's analysis, Pilatten was not reconciled.

"I admit that the financial difficulties are also admitted, but the problems facing our navy are even greater. Our navy needs to protect not only the interests of the Republic, but also the maritime security of the homeland and the colonies, which are too stressful. ”

The words of the Minister of the Navy made the other members of the cabinet a little uncomfortable, who let France want to avenge the humiliation of Versailles. Lorraine and Alsace were the most important coal and iron bases in France.

Look at the miserable situation of neighboring Italy, in order to develop its heavy industry, they searched all over the world for coal and iron ore, and they were lucky to find coal and iron ore in Kosovo and Libya, but the safety of the long transportation routes was not to be discussed, which directly led to the Italian steel industry can only rely on the protection of tariff barriers and can only develop in its own country.

Therefore, the naval issue made it difficult for everyone present to answer. But at this time, someone spoke instead.

"In fact, I think it is a little difficult for my country to contend with the German and Italian navies alone, and under the current circumstances, my country cannot take into account both the navy and the army, so we can only choose one side as a guarantee."

It was Foreign Minister Del Cacer who spoke, and the foreign minister's words immediately drew Pilaten's displeasure. Because if you can only protect one, it is not said that the government will definitely need to protect the army, after all, for France, land is much more important than sea.

"Isn't maritime safety important?"

In the face of the complaint of the Minister of the Navy, I saw Delcasse say. "Of course, maritime security is important, but when the safety of only one side can be guaranteed, our country can only choose land. Moreover, there is no way to solve the problem of maritime security. ”

Foreign Minister Delcasse's words attracted everyone's attention, after all, in this case, they wanted to see what good things he could do.

Facing everyone's gaze, Delcasse immediately said. "Ladies and gentlemen, at present, our country's security at sea can actually be solved by forming an alliance."

At this point, Delcasse immediately uttered the name of a country. "I think that an alliance with Britain can completely solve the problem of our country's maritime security."

Delcasce's words smashed into the water like a meteorite, and immediately set off a monstrous wave.

"What, you actually believe the British."

"I absolutely do not want to see the back of my country surrendered to the British."

"If the British can believe it, then I think the whole world can be trusted."

In the face of the fierce opposition, Foreign Minister Delcasse could still feel everyone's dissatisfaction with the British, even if he had been prepared in his heart.

There is no way that there is much to talk about between Britain and France, from the Hundred Years' War to the recent Franco-Prussian War, and the role of the British in it is not at all glorious. Moreover, the two countries are still clashing over African spheres of influence, so it would be unwise to talk about an alliance.

This is still at the government level, if you ask a Frenchman which country is the most annoying, the British are perennially at the top of the list. It was in these years that the Germans took the lead. Now he is proposing an alliance with the British, I am afraid that the government is too stable.

It was only after everyone had finished denouncing the British that Foreign Minister Delcasse continued. "I admit to all these questions. Everyone, including me, has a bad opinion of the British. But we are politicians and cannot be swayed by feelings, and what is more important between countries is interests. At present, the benefits of China's alliance with Britain are enormous. First of all, we can gain a strong ally, whose naval strength I will not say more, everyone has experienced it. ”

Although the people present were not very interested in the British, their naval strength was trustworthy.

Seeing everyone's thoughtful expressions, Delcasse continued to ride the hot railway. "I also think there is no doubt about whether Britain is worth co-opting and whether it can be trusted. At present, the colonies that can be divided in the world have been divided, and the British colonies rank first in terms of area, and China ranks second. Didn't the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany say that if he wanted to get land under the sun for Germany, it would inevitably come into conflict with England. Coupled with its massive naval buildup, it was enough for the British to regard it as a thorn in their side. With a little co-optation from our country, I'm sure the British will know who their friends are. ”

While Delcasse's words are heartwarming, some still point to the biggest diplomatic dilemma of the moment. "But now that the British are besieging our ally Russia, how are we going to reconcile the relationship between the two countries?"

Yes, the current bad relations between Russia and Great Britain are a difficult problem for the French government. If this problem is not solved, there is no way to bring the two countries together.

For the poor diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia, Delcasse also has its own solution. "This is very simple, Russian expansion in the East is not in the interests of our country, and we can deal with it without action. When Russia has touched a nose in the Far East, and then our country comes to our aid, then we will be able to calm down the irascible polar bear, and when the time comes, our country will be in the middle, and I believe that it will be able to make both countries seriously consider it. After all, the interests in the Far East are not as high as those in Europe, and I think that as long as I take some interests in the Balkans, the Russians will be able to rush to them. ”

True, Delcasse also knew the temperament of the Russians, greed was a weakness that could be exploited, and the Balkans, which he was most concerned about, would turn their gaze from the East back to the West if they let go of an opening.

"But be careful, what if the Russians rush out of the Black Sea?"

"This is a matter of pure fear, and when the time comes, after Germany has recaptured Alsace and Lorraine, it is a big deal that we will have another Crimean war. Besides, the British and the Italians are more worried about this than we are. ”

Delcasse's wonderful speech made everyone present nod their heads in approval, and Prime Minister Kombou, who presided over the meeting, immediately spoke. "Then do as Lord Delcasse said, and let us first show some goodwill to the British, and see if there is an answer from London."