The news that Arthur had finally chosen Archduchess Mary soon reached the ears of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra.

The two were very pleased with the result, believing that it was another beautiful union between European royalty.

For now, at least, the alliance between Australia and Russia has the same interests, Russia needs more support in the Far East, and Australia needs an ally at the level of a great power, while also limiting the rise of a potential future enemy, the island nation.

After marrying into the Russian royal family, he was able to effectively accept immigrants from Russia. Excluding some revolutionaries and dangerous elements, Russians who had been living under Tsarist autocracy were actually more suitable to become residents of Australia, and they would be more receptive to autocracy than other European immigrants.

On August 15, 1905, Arthur and Archduchess Mary had a brief contact for a few days, and after meeting several times, they were engaged in St. Petersburg.

In the past few days, Arthur has also sent a telegram to China to seek the advice of his mother, Princess Louis, who naturally has nothing to do, and even urges Arthur to get engaged quickly.

Although the engagement was attended only by members of the Russian and Australian royal families, only a handful of high-ranking Russian officials were eligible to congratulate them on the spot.

But the engagement caused a stir in Europe, and it was another great union between the Romanovs and the Saxony-Coburg Gotha family.

For the Tsarist Empire, this engagement also had a certain sense of joy, so that some people in the Tsarist Empire focused on the protagonists of the two sides of the engagement, and some of the processions were even much thinner.

Because of Arthur's good reputation among the people of the British Empire, many British people paid great attention to Arthur's engagement and offered sincere blessings.

Although Russia's current relations with Britain are not very good, in the face of Arthur's marriage, this little conflict can be forgotten for a while.

Taking advantage of the engagement, Arthur negotiated many close cooperation with the Russian Empire on behalf of Australia, including the introduction of more immigrants, the strengthening of trade between the two sides, and the import and export of resources on both sides.

Because of the good relations established with the Russian Empire, Australia was also able to open up some markets in the Far East and establish some negligible interests.

What concerns Arthur the most is the issue of immigration import. By 1905, the total population of the Tsarist Empire was 143,980,000, making it a proper populous country.

Because of the large population, Russia does not care about human casualties in the war, which gives it the title of European bulldozer.

Russia's weapons and equipment are generally relatively backward, but it is precisely because of the continuous population that Russia's army strength remains quite strong.

Russian immigrants had many advantages, not only being able to accept absolute monarchy well, but also being hard-working.

The Russian people are relatively strong, and the army they have formed is also very strong in combat and is not afraid of death.

In addition to the long period of oppressive rule, the excessive exploitation of the ruling class and the low status of the Russian civilian population are also very important factors.

This is unlikely to happen in Australia, and it is a prerequisite for Australia to be able to maintain national stability after receiving these migrants.

Coupled with the marriage between Arthur and the Russian royal family, the relationship is also closer to the Russians. The Russians will also be the most loyal immigrants to the Australian royal family, in addition to the British.

This is, of course, after the removal of the revolutionaries and insurgents. Arthur would not accept those dangerous elements who instigated the revolution, and the interests of the common people in Australia could be guaranteed by the royal family, and the common people had to work hard and maintain order.

The Russian government remained indifferent to Australia's proposal to immigrate. Russia has a large population, and emigration can also reduce some of the burden.

Even if it weren't for Australia's limited affordability, the Russian government would like to sign a migration treaty with Australia for at least half a million immigrants a year.

Russia's population has been growing at around one to two million per year, and in some cases more than three million.

In 1800, the total population of Russia was just over 35 million, and 100 years later, in 1900, it reached a terrifying 132 million, nearly quadrupled.

In just 16 years from 1900 to 1916, Russia's population grew by about 51 million, and even by more than 3.1 million per year.

This kind of trouble with a large population is actually something that a country with a small population cannot envy.

Russia's population grows by the same size as most of Australia in a year, and in an age when numbers still determine the advantage of war, more numbers also represent more advantages and expendable manpower.

Arthur's immigration treaties were not so devastating. The treaty will be implemented from the date of signing, and the specific number of migrants will be determined according to the transportation situation in Australia.

What does this mean, that is, how many immigrants Australia can transport, how many immigrants can get from Russia every year.

Of course, immigration matters cannot be rushed. According to Arthur's estimates, starting in 1905, the number of Russian immigrants to Australia will not exceed 100,000 in each of the three years, and the average annual import will only be about 40,000 or 50,000.

This is because Russian immigrants need to be carefully screened, and any factors that could join the revolution and chaos and affect Australia's stability need to be eliminated in advance.

Of course, this is what Barty Crouch's Royal Security Intelligence Service will do.

More than three years have passed since the establishment of the Royal Security Intelligence Service, and the original group of personnel selected from the army is already very skilled in intelligence work.

Of course, the expansion of the staff in the past three years has not stopped, but intelligence officers need to undergo more rigorous background checks and loyalty tests before they can successfully join the Royal Security Intelligence Service.

So far, the Royal Security Intelligence Service has more than 500 personnel, but the most elite backbone is still more than 100 people selected from the army.

At present, the Royal Security Intelligence Service has sent more than 100 intelligence officers to all regions of the world, who live in other countries in various capacities to provide intelligence work for the Royal Security Intelligence Service.

Of course, the main scope of the work of the Royal Security Intelligence Service is still in Australia and New Zealand, which have more than 200 intelligence officers stationed in these two regions, collecting all the intelligence of Australia and New Zealand for the Royal Security Intelligence Service and Arthur, and also being able to monitor all officials and political parties in the two regions to detect some unstable factors in advance.

Compared to the sensation caused in Europe, the engagement caused a bigger sensation in Australia.

After all, one of the protagonists of the engagement was their beloved Duke Arthur, and the other protagonist was also a princess of a powerful power-state, Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Tsarist Russia.

Such a strong alliance has made the Australians very satisfied, and they have offered their blessings.

Even if it weren't for the persuasion of Australian government officials, the people would even spontaneously form a parade to celebrate, offering greater blessings and cheers to Arthur.

It can only be said that the parade, an action used to express one's own thoughts, has been deeply engraved in the minds of Europeans.

Whether expressing displeasure or excitement, the march is already at the top of the list that Europeans can think of.

Because of Arthur's good reputation in Australia and New Zealand, a large number of residents in the entire Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand paid great attention to this engagement, and even used their imagination to create many versions of this engagement.

It is said that Arthur and Archduchess Mary fell in love at first sight, and both parties decided to stay together for life, and there are various other versions, and they are widely circulated.

Even the Australian government sent a telegram asking Arthur if there was a limit to all kinds of gossip about the engagement in the country.

After all, this is about the prestige of the monarch himself, and entertainment gossip may also deviate.

Although Arthur did not agree to a ban on the news, he instructed the Victoria and the Australian Daily to report the engagement publicly, dispelling some of the increasingly outrageous rumours of development.

But the good news is that Arthur's reputation is good, and all kinds of entertainment gossip is limited to this engagement, and most of them are blessed, without any smears and negative emotions.

On August 29, 1905, after spending more than half a month in Russia, Arthur finally set out on his journey back to Australia.

This trip to Europe has already taken more than two months, and the journey back is almost exactly what was planned.

This trip was somewhat unexpected by Arthur's expectations, not only did the negotiations with Germany and Russia go very smoothly, but also the signing of further immigration treaties.

It is expected that in the next few years, the number of immigrants in Australia will usher in a larger explosion, and Russian immigrants will also become the main force of the Australian immigration group.

In addition to immigration and engagement, the technology of basic industries negotiated with Germany was something that Arthur was looking forward to.

At present, Australia's industrial situation is relatively biased, and the steel industry and some manufacturing industries that can be used in Australia are relatively developed, and this aspect has begun to take shape.

However, the basic industries involved in all aspects and the industries that are not currently needed in Australia are still in a relatively weak state, and the development of these industries may take a long time to make up for without a strong boost.

Compared to Australia, Germany's basic industry is very strong and has few shortcomings. Germany's aid to basic industries could also lead to growth in Australia's basic industries.

If it can be combined with certain incentive policies, it is hoped that the weak basic industry will be compensated for within a few years.

The first is to ask for support!

(End of chapter)