On April 9, 1880, the Colombian government severed trade with Peru under the pretext of a previous border conflict with Peru.

When the news reached Vienna, the Austrian government was in an uproar, clamoring to give the Colombian government a little color.

Anyone with a modicum of political acumen knows what Colombia's choice means.

Prior to this, the Austrian government could have promised the two countries that it would ensure the smooth flow of their foreign trade routes during the war.

The coastline was blocked by the British, that was because the Royal Navy was too good, and the Austrian Navy couldn't hold back, and there was no way to retreat.

Now that the land trade routes have also been lost, does the Vienna government still want face?

The French are also troubled by this, and the Paris government has made similar promises to Peru and Bolivia.

Now that he has been slapped in the face by the Colombian government, if he doesn't retaliate and go back, how can everyone be embarrassed to mix in the international community.

It has to be said that the Colombian government made a wrong decision at the wrong time. If they hadn't finally announced the severance of the trade line, I'm afraid they wouldn't have been so hateful.

Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Ecuador, which made similar decisions earlier, also caused dissatisfaction among Fao.

It's just that Fao's influence in these countries is weak, and they jumped out together, and it was very troublesome to retaliate back, so this account was temporarily deposited.

This is not the pot of President Rafael Núñez, who did not act with the four countries to the end, and it was entirely the responsibility of the previous administration.

Everyone knows that choosing between Britain, France and Austria is not only an offending thing. Seeing that his term of office is coming to an end, the smart President Julián will naturally not jump into the pit.

Relying on the fate of Britain, France and Austria, President Julián still won a lot of benefits for Colombia, but these benefits are not so easy to take.

It doesn't matter, anyway, President Julián retired with a whole body of political achievements, and the trouble is the next term.

After Rafael Nunez took the throne, the tightrope game could not continue, and the patience of Britain, France and Austria reached the limit, and the Colombian government had to make a choice.

The tragedy is that no matter what choice Rafael Nunez makes, the end result will be the worst option.

……

At the Vienna Palace, Franz, having received this "good news", convened a meeting of the government for the first time.

Foreign Secretary Wesenberg: "It is not surprising that the Colombian government has turned to the British, and the pro-Austrian and pro-French factions are also at odds with each other, and they have only begun to cooperate because of our alliance with the French.

But this cooperation is only in name. We can influence their decisions, but we can't make decisions for them.

They will not budge in the face of interests. For example: the presidential election.

In a way, we also helped the British. Had it not been for the forcible mediation of pro-Austrian and pro-French factions, which had consumed a lot of energy in the infighting, Rafael Nunez would not have won so easily.

Since it was the pro-British faction who came to power and made decisions in favor of the British, it is not surprising.

The only thing worth noting is the excuse that the Colombian government has found for a 'border conflict'. This excuse is very interesting, and if it is extended, the Colombian government can also make territorial claims to Peru.

According to preliminary analysis, in order to win over the Colombian government, the British should have given them territorial promises.

The absence of direct territorial claims to Peru is presumably due to the Colombian government's fear of our and the reaction of the French. ”

Bringing together pro-Austrian and pro-French factions is a political necessity, and it does not matter to Austria whether the Colombian government will win the elections or not.

Supporting Peru and Bolivia to continue the war just to add to the British's troubles. Franz was not yet confident that they would be able to turn the tables with Austria's backing.

Peru and Bolivia are clearly superior to Chile in this war of rottenness, and they are already rotten.

Pig teammates are the hardest to bring. Just think of the Bolivian troops who went into battle with bows and arrows, and Franz did not have the slightest confidence in them.

In this respect, the decision of the Colombian government is nothing more than to hasten the end of the war, and does not change the outcome of the war in a real sense.

Prime Minister Felix: "What the Colombian government thinks is no longer important, since they have made the wrong decision, they have to pay for it.

It's just that we have a tacit understanding with the British, and it is obviously not worth it to rush to break this tacit understanding for the sake of a Colombia. ”

This is the crux of the matter, since the alliance between Britain, France and Austria, in the overseas struggle, everyone has tacitly supported the agents to do it, and there is no precedent for going into battle in person.

"It's not a difficult problem to solve, and I'm sure the colonial governments of Central America can handle it, because they have long wanted to annex Panama, but they have never had the right opportunity.

Now the French and we are in an awkward position, and the government of Paris can only support our actions, even for the sake of our own face. Colonial Chancellor Stephen replied calmly

Austria has not expanded externally in recent years, and with the continuous localization of Africa, the scope of the colonial ministry has become smaller and smaller.

The scope of jurisdiction is decreasing, and the voice of the Colonial Ministry in the government is also weakening. If this situation is not changed, I am afraid that the colonial minister will not be seen in future cabinet meetings.

Localization of Africa is Austria's national policy, and Stephen naturally does not want to change it. It was not without officials who resisted the localization of the colonies, but these people were sent home to farm.

In this context, if the colonial ministry wants to expand its own voice, it can only continue to expand externally, and it is not surprising that it is eyeing the Panama region.

Not everyone has strategic vision, and there are many short-sighted people in Austria as well.

There were many people in the Austrian Central American colonies who wanted to occupy the Panama region, kick the French out, develop the Panama Canal themselves, and master a golden waterway like the Suez Canal.

Profit is the best motivator, and for the sake of Aegis, the seizure of Panama has become the goal of many local colonial companies.

Almost every year, there are many people who lobby the Austrian Colonial Ministry to occupy the Panama region. In order to seize the opportunity, some people even drew a detailed map of the Panama region.

Foreign Secretary Wesenberg objected: "If we just beat the Colombian government, under political pressure, maybe the Paris government will support us."

If you want to occupy Panama, there is no such good thing. The French will definitely take the opportunity to offer a piece of the pie, will we agree or not? ”

There is nothing wrong with it, this is the essence of international diplomacy. Gambling is also for profit, as long as the interest is appropriate, any gas can disappear immediately.

The French could not have contributed in vain and watched Austria take advantage. In the same way, Austria could not share Panama with the French, and it was not worth much, but its potential strategic position was very important.

Here's the problem, to attack an independent country and seize other people's territory is very hateful.

Without the French to share the pressure and bear the diplomatic pressure alone, the Viennese government would have to think twice.

After some thought, Franz said: "Now is not the best time, we have to take into account the international reaction." To make a move on the Panama region, it is best to instigate local independence first. ”

Austria is indeed very powerful, but it does not have the strength of the United States in later generations, and it has to consider the reaction of the countries of the world.

Compared with directly sending troops to seize Panama and instigating the locals to fight for independence, the new government after independence will join the colonial system, which will be much less problematic.

There are too many people doing this kind of thing. As long as you pay attention to the appearance of the food and frame it a little, you will have a nominal legal basis.

Colonial Chancellor Stephen explained: "Your Majesty, the Colombian government has stationed a division of heavy troops in the Panamanian region, and it has been suppressed before it has even started a riot with the strength of the locals. ”

Compared with the poor population of more than 100,000 in Panama, a division of troops is indeed heavily armed.

Franz asked in surprise: "How many troops are there in Colombia in one division?" ”

Colombia is typically sparsely populated, with Indians and blacks, and the population of the country is only two or three million.

Tiny Panama has a division of troops, and anyone who hears about it for the first time will be surprised.

Stephen replied directly: "There are about 30,000 regular troops, and about 50,000 militia reserves, and no one knows about the maximum mobilization."

Because of the Austrian colonies in Central America, Panama was a key defense area for Colombia, and they placed one-third of their troops here.

The situation in Colombia is also not very stable. As long as they eat the troops they deploy in the Panamanian region, the internal contradictions in Colombia will intensify. ”

It can be seen that the colonial department is very well prepared, is very familiar with the situation in Colombia, and has long figured out their military strength.

After entering the era of thermal weapons, "extreme mobilization" became the patent of industrialized countries, and even if agricultural countries could organize themselves, they could not conjure up weapons and equipment.

In the case of an ordinary country, an invasion by a foreign enemy is likely to put aside disputes and unite with each other, but Colombia is an exception.

The problem dates back to the time of the American Civil War, when Austria organized an emigration, and the Germans were already the second largest ethnic group in Colombia, with the Indians coming first.

Most of the Germans who immigrated to Colombia were ordinary people, and despite Austria's backing, they were still at the bottom of society as latecomers, and the upper class had long been occupied by Hispanics.

Fearing internal subversion by Austria, successive Colombian governments have consciously or unconsciously suppressed ethnic Germans, and even pro-Austrian factions have maintained sufficient vigilance against Austria.

There is no targeted discrimination answer on the surface, it is just a small action in the secret, and even if it is discovered, it is only a personal act, and the Austrian government naturally has no way to interfere.

These problems can arise not only in Colombia, but in any country in fact. It's not gold, how can it be liked by everyone?

In addition to this, racial contradictions have also been a difficult problem that has plagued South American countries for a long time. The blood of the Indians has not yet dried up, and if the government is strong, it can be suppressed by force, and once there is a decline and the problem of contradictions, it will erupt.

Franz never doubted whether Colombia's internal contradictions would erupt. Even if there are no contradictions, they can create contradictions, not to mention that Colombia itself is full of contradictions.

After hesitating for a while, Franz nodded: "Since Colombia has already prepared, then we don't have to be polite and find an excuse to eat this army."

However, for the sake of international reputation, we cannot directly occupy the Panama region. Immediately after the battle, the territory was handed over to the Panamanian Independence Organization, and the area was evacuated as soon as possible. ”

The "Panamanian Independence Organization" did not exist in the past, at least not yet heard of at the top of the Vienna government, but now it must be.