African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1270: Chapter 279: East Africa and the Netherlands Renegotiate

At two o’clock in the afternoon, the East African ship officially docked at the port of The Hague, and personnel from the East African Embassy in The Hague had arrived at the dock area in advance to welcome Baron Frier.

”Your Excellency, welcome to The Hague. I wonder what work is required from us with your personal visit this time.” The ambassador to the Netherlands said respectfully.

Frier was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of East Africa, which made him the direct superior of the East African diplomatic personnel stationed in the Netherlands, so his arrival couldn’t be treated lightly.

Frier said, ”Antara, I am here representing the Imperial Government to discuss some sensitive issues with the Dutch government, concerning territorial issues in the South Sea region. First, give some information to the Dutch government and arrange a meeting for me with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.”

Frier was in no rush to negotiate with the Dutch government because he felt that East Africa had a firm grip on the Netherlands, unless the European war suddenly ended and world order was restored, which was clearly impossible, so Frier was patient in discussing territorial issues with the Dutch.

Two days later, at the official residence of the Dutch Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Kaiboer looked dismayed at the ”unwelcome guest” in front of him and said helplessly, ”Your Excellency Frier, you’ve come to extend your hand to the Netherlands again, aren’t you being a bit too greedy?”

It should be noted that the Netherlands had just sold East Kalimantan to East Africa, and now East Africa was raising territorial demands again, Kaiboer’s mood couldn’t possibly be good.

Frier cheerfully said to Kaiboer, ”Your Excellency Prime Minister, don’t be anxious. East Africa has no grievances against the Netherlands. The two countries have always maintained friendly relations.”

”Take the last transaction involving East Kalimantan for instance, we showed your country great sincerity, purchasing the region at a premium and sharing some of the benefits. So you could say that your country didn’t lose out in the previous transaction; instead, you earned a great deal.”

”After all, if your country were to develop East Kalimantan, who knows how long it would take before you could recoup your investment? We effectively lifted a burden off your shoulders.”

Kaiboer wasn’t buying any of it and said, ”If possible, the Netherlands would prefer not to engage in such transactions. After all, the East Kalimantan area represents long-term interests, your country paid a lump sum to buy out the future of East Kalimantan, and it’s clear that the Netherlands is the losing party.”

Frier said, ”Heh, that’s uncertain, because just north of East Kalimantan is the British. If you had discovered any resources there, would you have been able to hold onto them, Your Excellency?”

”Not to mention, besides the UK, the United States and France also have significant power in the South Sea region, especially the new player, the United States. I think all of this could cause uncertain impacts on your country’s interests in the South Sea.”

”So, handing East Kalimantan over to us is actually the most advantageous. If it were any other country, they might have taken action directly.”

Kaiboer sneered inwardly that Frier had the nerve to say the Americans were the new player when East Africa had only entered the South Sea region a decade or so earlier.

Looking at the other colonial powers in the South Sea, each has been in the region for almost a hundred years, especially the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, the old players.

Of course, Kaiboer couldn’t mock this in front of Frier, so he said, ”Even if you are right, the last transaction for East Kalimantan was somewhat fair, but this time the Netherlands has no intention of selling territory.”

The two were each presenting their views, but there was some sense in both. From the perspective of East Africa, they were treating the Netherlands with ”manners,” after all, East Africa could have simply seized it, yet they came to negotiate instead.

Frier said, ”Your Excellency Prime Minister, don’t be quick to reject. I certainly know that the East Indies are at the core of your nation’s interests.”

”Our demands this time will naturally not be excessive and are driven by national defense strategic issues, so we must ’seek assistance’ from your nation. Rest assured, we only require places that are negligible to your country.”

While speaking, Frier took out a map book from his briefcase, which was a map book of the Dutch East Indies Colony.

The map book was incredibly detailed, with all the densely packed islands and their names clearly marked.

Watching this map book, a warning bell rang in the mind of Dutch Prime Minister Kaiboer.

Frier calmly opened the first page and then said to Kaiboer, ”Your Excellency, please take a look. This is a map of the South Sea, and the dotted lines represent the current navigation routes in the area.”

”Here is the Malacca Strait, while at the easternmost end of the Malacca Strait is the Singapore Strait, which is currently the most important trade route between East and West.”

”And the Singapore Strait is firmly controlled by the British, which for us in East Africa, is evidently detrimental to the safety of the Empire’s trade with the East.”

”Apart from the Malacca Strait, almost all alternative routes go through your East Indies Colony, including the Sunda Strait, Lombok Strait, etc., and your nation also controls some islands with great strategic value, such as...”

Seeing Frier about to continue, Kaiboer hurriedly interrupted, ”Alright, Your Excellency Frier, I am quite aware of the situation in the South Sea region and don’t need your introduction.”

”However, since the Malacca Strait is controlled by the British, you could negotiate with them. Why are you eyeing our small country, the Netherlands? We have to make significant sacrifices to maintain stability in the East Indies. It’s impossible for us to damage our own interests for your country’s so-called safety.”

In Kaiboer’s mind, it was clear that the East Africans had an eye on the Sunda Strait, as it was the second most important maritime passage after the Malacca Strait.

And to control a strait, it obviously required controlling land on both sides, but that land was some of the prime Dutch possessions, so Kaiboer wasn’t about to concede.

Frier reassured, ”Your Excellency Prime Minister, don’t be anxious. We certainly know the balance and won’t make jokes with your nation’s interests.”

”We just aim to obtain some ’negligible’ areas from your country to ensure the smoothness of our trade routes without making it difficult for you.”

Frier didn’t hide any longer and directly said, ”We highly respect your interests in major colonies such as Sumatra Island and Java Island.”

”Our demands are only for some islands, such as Sangiang Island in the middle of the Sunda Strait, Pantai Island to the west, Belitung Island to the east...”

Frier called out nearly a dozen islands before stopping.

It seemed like a lot, but it must be remembered that the islands of the East Indies number in the tens of thousands, so over a dozen islands are just a drop in the ocean.

Moreover, the islands named by East Africa were not large in terms of area, with the largest being Belitung Island, which is about 4,000 square kilometers.

Of course, a 4,000-kilometer island might not be small for a small country like the Netherlands, but on the map, it’s barely like a pea.

Kaiboer’s mouth twitched slightly as he inwardly mocked that anyone would think they came to restock! Although these islands have little economic value, some even uninhabited, and several only a few square kilometers in size.

However, they all have an obvious characteristic: their strategic location is favorable. For example, although Sangiang Island is less than ten square kilometers and without population, it only has a large rain forest.

But this island is right in the middle of the Sunda Strait, though Kaiboer didn’t know what significance East Africa saw in having it.

After all, the island yields nothing and relies on external supplies, while its size limits its development potential. On the other hand, Belitung Island is larger and can support some population.

Still, Kaiboer also noted that East Africa seemed to have considered Holland’s situation; otherwise, they should have demanded Bangka Island next to Belitung Island instead. Bangka Island is much larger and has more abundant population resources.