Empire Rising: Spain

The Cuban Colony is immensely important to Spain, which is why the Cabinet Ministers were shocked and surprised when they heard the Minister of Colonial Affairs, Frank, saying that the Cuban Colony might not be as important.

How important is the Cuban Colony?

In 1876, the total fiscal revenue of the Spanish Government was 793.3 million Pesseta, marking a new high in Spain’s financial income over the past decade.

The revenue brought by the Cuban Colony to Spain was as much as 58.27 million Pesseta, accounting for 7.3% of Spain’s total fiscal revenue.

The reason why the proportion doesn’t seem very high is partly because Spain’s mainland has developed well in recent years, and fiscal revenues have surged with the development of Spain’s mainland.

The second reason is that during Duke Serrano’s last suppression of the Cuban rebellion, he signed a tax agreement with the local Cuban populace, allowing the Cuban Colony to retain more tax revenue locally, which temporarily stabilized the Cuban Colony.

58.27 million Pesseta is by no means a small number; the Cuban Colony is also the only colony controlled by Spain where net income can exceed 20 million Peso. (The Peso is the currency of the Spanish Colonies, equivalent in value to the mainland’s Pesseta)

In comparison, the larger Philippine Colony, with a larger population, provided Spain with only 12 million Pesseta last year, further highlighting the importance of the Cuban Colony.

For the Spanish Government, abandoning the Cuban Colony equals giving up nearly 60 million Pesseta in revenue. How can such a proposal not shock the Cabinet Ministers?

Since the proposal was already made, Minister Frank naturally would not back down halfway. He first nodded in acknowledgment to the thoughtful reminder from Duke Serrano before continuing to express his views:

”Ladies and gentlemen, I am, of course, aware that the Cuban Colony brings us nearly 60 million Pesseta in revenue annually. However, we should also consider the risks of continuing to hold the Cuban Colony.

Although Cuba has a population of only one million, Cubans, both white and black, are opposing our rule. Even when I visited Cuba last time, the plantation slaves were shouting for autonomy and independence.

Faced with such a Cuba, are we to keep suppressing it? The reason the last suppression cost only 50 million Pesseta was mainly due to the tax bill which swayed some plantation owners to our side.

But these plantation owners will eventually demand more. We either continue to concede or continue to deploy troops to suppress the Cuban rebellion.

If each suppression incurs tens of millions or even billions of Pesseta, is the revenue from the Cuban Colony really that important?

Moreover, let us not forget that the Cuban Colony is at the doorstep of the Americans. The chaos in Cuba is undoubtedly linked to the Americans.

Unless we are prepared to engage in a war with the United States, it would be better to hand over this trouble to another country. If we can secure another colony of equally high value, it wouldn’t be a significant loss for us.

The sugar and tobacco industries in Cuba indeed can generate significant revenue, but Cuba is not irreplaceable in these sectors.”

After Carlo assigned this challenging task to Minister Frank, Frank had prepared his arguments thoroughly, ensuring he could persuade the Cabinet Ministers, or at least have ample justification to prove his standpoint was correct.

To Spain, Cuba is its last remaining colony in America and the final testament to the once Spanish Colonial Empire.

Both the Spanish Government and Spaniards are unwilling to lose the Cuban Colony, which they have held for hundreds of years.

Even if Minister Frank can prove his views are correct, it will still be challenging to convince the Cabinet Ministers to give up the Cuban Colony.

After all, if the Cuban Colony is abandoned now and any issues arise, it’s they who will bear the blame. Conversely, if the Cuban Colony is retained, and it seeks independence in the future, it has nothing to do with the current Cabinet Government.

For the Cabinet Ministers, their primary consideration is the impact on themselves, only then considering the impact on Spain.

Persuading them to abandon the Cuban Colony is indeed extraordinarily difficult.

As Carlo looked across the Cabinet Ministers, some were contemplating the views presented by Minister Frank, while others appeared lost in thought, seemingly indifferent to what Minister Frank was saying.

Seeing no one stand up to support his views, Minister Frank paused briefly before continuing: ”The greatest disadvantage of the Cuban Colony for us is its considerable distance from Spain’s mainland.

Once a rebellion occurs in the Cuban Colony, we have to cross the ocean to suppress it. If we can acquire a colony closer to the mainland, and implement a long-term integration strategy, perhaps we can directly convert it into our homeland.

Africa still has vast unexplored lands, and we can also exchange for African Colonies from other powers. For us, African Colonies are closer and more convenient for our management.”

Though the naval technology of various countries is constantly upgrading, the current speed of ironclads is only about 13 knots, roughly equivalent to 24 kilometers per hour.