African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1173: Chapter 182: Prime Minister Kaiboer

This is extortion! Wilhelmina looked at the scoundrel before her with a complex expression. Indeed, the British Empire and France were preoccupied, leaving room for the clownish antics of East Africa?

As Wilhelmina was deeply troubled, the Dutch Prime Minister Kaiboer couldn’t watch any longer.

Kaiboer was actually a pro-Allies person, causing the Netherlands during World War I to lean towards Germany despite its neutral position.

As a result, although the Netherlands remained neutral, it was also affected by the war.

On one hand, almost all of the world’s resources flooded into Europe due to the war, causing the prices of tea, sugar, and rubber to drop drastically.

These products were almost the main output of Dutch colonies, which included the East Indies and the Caribbean’s Andres Islands. Being tropical regions, they could only produce a limited range of tropical agricultural products.

In reality, British and French colonies, as well as countries in America, could produce similar types of products. At this time, East Africa, a major exporter of tropical agricultural products, exacerbated the situation, impacting not only the Netherlands but also tropical countries like Brazil with its deep-seated malice, sharply diminishing Dutch colonial trade earnings.

On the other hand, in order to secure victory, the Allies banned imports that could be redirected to Germany in the late stages of the war, with the Netherlands being crucial due to its role as the quickest exit route for Germany’s Ruhr District, heavily reliant on Dutch transshipment.

In the late war period, the United States also joined the blockade against the Netherlands, halting the supply of petroleum, coal, and iron to the country.

Hundreds of ships carrying food were captured in English ports, all contributing to the ”Potato Revolt” of 1918.

The ”Potato Revolt” was essentially the Belgian refugees fleeing to the Netherlands staging a riot due to inadequate relief.

Nearly 900,000 Belgians fled to the Netherlands during the late war, with over 100,000 of them being Belgian soldiers. For the Dutch population of just over 6 million, this influx of nearly a million war refugees was indeed overwhelming.

This is the fundamental reason why Terel proposed to help the Netherlands with the refugee problem, which Wilhelmina agreed to instantly. Of course, it was only the early stages of the war, and the Netherlands hadn’t yet reached that limit, but the tens of thousands of refugees were already causing headaches for the Dutch government.

Ultimately, the war’s outcome was favorable for the Netherlands on the whole. Although there were setbacks along the way, the Netherlands gained substantial silver from Germany.

For East Africa, the presence of Prime Minister Kaiboer was good news; his pro-German stance created a convenient door for trade between East Africa and Germany.

Kaiboer was keenly aware of the value of the Netherlands to East Africa, thus he felt unbothered by Terel’s extortion.

Kaiboer spoke: ”Sir Terel, your demands are quite excessive; you must know matters concerning territory are at the core interest of any nation. Although our influence on Kalimantan Island is not prominent, the island remains an inseparable part of the Netherlands.”

The so-called ”not prominent” was in comparison to the presence of the United Kingdom and East Africa on Kalimantan Island. The UK controlled the northern part while East Africa occupied the west. The Dutch held East Kalimantan.

The Netherlands itself was a small country with its colonial core centered on Java Island, limiting its ability to disperse resources onto other islands.

In contrast, East Africa’s control over West Kalimantan was central to its interests in the South Sea Region, with population and military resources surpassing Britain and the Netherlands. West Kalimantan had become one of East Africa’s provinces and the only overseas province far from its homeland, unlike the two provinces on Madagascar Island, which were considered part of its homeland.

Terel then said: ”Prime Minister Kaiboer, please don’t be quick to refuse. Even in Europe, territorial transactions are quite common, so we in East Africa approach this deal with the Netherlands with a friendly attitude.”

”While Kalimantan Island is large, it remains underdeveloped. East Kalimantan, under Dutch control, barely produces economically, and the Bulong’an Sultanate and Kuwait Sultanate under your rule have had disputes with the British. From a security standpoint, even if we in East Africa don’t covet East Kalimantan, the British won’t abandon these areas. It’s better to sell East Kalimantan to East Africa, letting us serve as a buffer zone between the United Kingdom and your nation.”

The Bulong’an Sultanate and Kuwait Sultanate are regimes in East Kalimantan, within the sphere of Dutch influence. In the previous century, British expansion on Kalimantan Island resulted in fierce clashes with the Dutch.

The result, of course, was influenced by East Africa’s interference; East Africa was established upon the British loss of much of Africa’s colonial foundation, making their expansion in other regions even fiercer.

Kaiboer laughed in frustration: ”Oh, according to you, we should thank East Africa for its contributions? And how does handing Kalimantan over to your country make it a buffer zone!”

Terel explained: ”This is easy to understand. Currently, the South Sea Region can be divided into five major blocs: the United Kingdom, France, East Africa, the Netherlands, and the United States by strength ranking.”

”British colonies in India and Myanmar are adjacent to the South Sea Region, controlling the Malacca Strait, with southern territories like New Guinea and Australia. Most of your colonies border the UK, controlling the northern South Sea while yours are mainly in the south. East Africa sandwiched in between can sever direct contacts between you and the UK, advantageous for both our countries.”

As for France and the US, they occupy relatively wealthy colonies compared to many South Sea regions, but cannot distribute influence as widely as the UK, Netherlands, or East Africa, thus unable to extend their influence further.

”Currently, East Africa lacks East Kalimantan as a strategic fulcrum. If your country trades East Kalimantan with us, our colonies can stretch from west to east, cutting off the southward influence of the UK and US.”

If East Africa occupies Kalimantan Island, it can cooperate with Mindanao Island, Balabac Island, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands to form the second-largest regional force next to the UK, further escalating East Africa’s influence in the South Sea.

Terel added: ”Of course, your nation values tangible benefits more. We can ensure certain privileges for your citizens in East Kalimantan, and both countries can jointly develop the area, sharing subsequent profits. But, territorial sovereignty remains with East Africa.”

”Moreover, we’re willing to offer a fair price for East Kalimantan, letting your country gain dual benefits. Is it still important that East Kalimantan remains your colony?”

”Be aware that your country alone finds it hard to hold East Kalimantan as colonial activities are more difficult and costly. Your national power struggles to maintain even Java Island. It’s better to enjoy future benefits under East Africa’s protection; we already have development plans for East Kalimantan, which your country can join.”

As a great power, East Africa’s capacity to develop East Kalimantan is unquestionable, whereas for the Netherlands, it is more challenging. Without development and facing independence risks, the Netherlands naturally lacks the ability to further expand East Kalimantan’s economic value, despite having treasures.

Kaiboer somewhat agreed with Terel’s latter explanation but hesitated, as East Africa’s ultimate actions remained uncertain. Since...