Empire Rising: Spain

If the method of colonial exchange fails, Carlo will then consider other approaches.

After all, Portugal is a country on the Iberian Peninsula, right in front of Spain. For Spain, Portugal is like a piece of meat on the chopping board, eating it is just a matter of time, Portugal will not escape.

After the New Year, Spanish Prime Minister Canovas approached the Portuguese Ambassador to Spain to discuss the situation of the two countries jointly developing colonies.

Due to the cooperation between Portugal and Spain in developing New Guinea, Portugal and Spain still maintain relatively good relations in colonial expansion.

After talking for half an hour, Prime Minister Canovas finally shifted the topic to matters related to African colonies and directly revealed the colonial exchange agreement related to the secret deal between Spain and the United Kingdom.

When the Portuguese Ambassador heard that Spain used the Cuban Colony to exchange for three colonies in West Africa from the United Kingdom, he first showed a surprised expression, and then felt somewhat regretful and remorseful.

What was he regretting? Of course, he regretted that Portugal did not learn of the news earlier and could not obtain the Cuban Colony from Spain.

Regardless of the Cuban Colony’s shortcomings, Cuba is still a highly valuable colony at this time. Portugal did not expect Spain to give up the Cuban Colony, even less did they expect the British to exchange three not very valuable West African colonies for an entire Cuba.

This was possible because Spain was large and prosperous, coupled with their expansion in Africa with the acquisition of Congo Territory, they had the capital to abandon the Cuban Colony.

Portugal, on the other hand, could not do that; first, Portugal does not have many colonies domestically, and second, the Portuguese citizens would not accept the government’s actions of voluntarily abandoning colonies.

Though slightly surprised by the Spanish government’s decision, the Portuguese Ambassador could only express affirmation of the situation. He’s not foolish, naturally understanding that proposing a different opinion would surely offend the Spanish government.

Regardless of whether the Spanish government’s actions are right or wrong, Portugal has no right to speak on the matter. If the Portuguese Ambassador speaks out, wouldn’t he be creating trouble for Portugal?

After chatting for a while longer, the topic finally shifted to Congo Territory and the land south of Congo Territory.

Canovas first stated that after acquiring three colonies in West Africa, Spain no longer had the capability to carry out a new round of colonial actions on the land south of Congo Territory.

Then, Canovas seemed to have thought of a good idea, proposing to the Portuguese Ambassador a compromise on colonizing the Congo Basin similar to that of New Guinea.

Spain would completely abandon colonizing the land south of Congo Territory and support Portugal in colonizing these lands.

In return, Portugal would transfer its few colonies in West Africa to the Spanish government, aiding the Spanish government in better executing the West African development plan.

Of course, to demonstrate Spanish sincerity, Portugal can first expand colonies onto the land south of Congo Territory, and after achieving certain results, then transfer the West African colonies to Spain.

For example, the Lunda Kingdom in Portuguese West Africa east, this is the land closest to the Congo Region controlled by Portugal, the Portuguese government can colonize this first and then transfer the West African lands to Spain.

The proposal to deliver before payment is due to Spain’s fearlessness of Portugal breaching the agreement.

It is believed that the Portuguese government should have self-awareness, facing the large disparity in strength between Portugal and Spain, unilaterally breaking the treaty would only lead to Portugal’s faster demise.

If the war is caused by Portugal’s unilateral breach of the treaty, the United Kingdom doesn’t have a good reason to help Portugal, at least not to safeguard all of Portugal’s interests.

This is precisely the reason for the Spanish government’s confidence; as long as an agreement is reached between Portugal and Spain, the Portuguese government can only comply, there are no other choices.

Upon hearing Prime Minister Canovas’s proposal, the Portuguese Ambassador was initially stunned, and then started to think carefully.

If previously Spain’s two most important colonies were Cuba and the Philippines, then for Portugal at this moment, the two most important colonies are Portuguese West Africa and Portuguese Mozambique.

Here, Portuguese West Africa does not refer to Portugal’s scattered colonies in West Africa, but Portugal’s colonies established after annexing the Congo Kingdom downstream the Congo River.

The southern region of Spain’s Congo Territory is precisely located between Portuguese West Africa and Portuguese Mozambique. According to Spain’s statements, although Portugal has sacrificed scattered colonies in West Africa, there is hope to connect the Congo Region with Mozambique, thus establishing a larger Portuguese African colony.