African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1297: Chapter 306: The Frenchman’s Assets

Although the climatic conditions are extremely harsh, Davao City’s development into a large city with a population of over thirty thousand on Mindanao Island must have its reasons.

Besides its geographical location advantage, Davao City’s mining industry is its pillar, with abundant resources of gold, iron, manganese, and more in and around Davao City.

This area belongs to the relatively resource-rich regions of the Philippines in the past life; East Africa has always emphasized mining exploration work in overseas colonies, and East Africa’s exploration of Mindanao Island’s minerals started from Davao City and Zamboanga City, gradually extending northwards and inland.

Compared to the Lanfang Overseas Province, both East Kalimantan and Mindanao Island are mineral-rich regions, hence East Africa’s investment in these two areas is also relatively high. Most of the effort is focused on the development of mineral resources.

Moreover, the exploration work for minerals in rainforest areas is quite challenging, while Davao City is most blessed by its close proximity to the coast.

Davao City covers a large area, encompassing the entire surrounding of Davao Gulf. This place falls within a geologically active region, with frequent earthquakes and volcanism, which also provide excellent mineral formation conditions.

East Africa’s mineral exploration work is carried out along Davao Gulf, and once minerals are discovered, the development and transportation are quite convenient.

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October 1917.

Rhein City.

Compared to the British, the French are much more concerned about ensuring East Africa doesn’t join the Allies.

At the French Embassy, Ambassador Thomson is discussing related issues with his subordinates.

”According to the requirements from the homeland, no matter what, we are determined not to allow East Africa to join the German side. Currently, our country is at a disadvantage in the European battlefront. Unlike Britain, which can retreat to the other side of the Channel if defeated, if this war leads to failure, all of Europe will be shrouded in the shadow of the Germans.”

”If Germany wins, they will dismember France, making us unable to rise again for eternity. So preventing the Allies from further gaining advantage is our work’s focal point, and diplomacy with East Africa is the top priority.”

French Ambassador to East Africa, Advisor Kao’Er said: ”Your Excellency, the problems we face now are very complex, it is very challenging to hold onto East Africa, because essentially East Africa is also a German Country, and the leading powers of the Allies, whether Germany or Austria-Hungary, can be seen as German Countries. Although East African official media has never disclosed any political inclination, the private support for Germany and Austria is significant in East Africa.”

”This is completely different from the domestic public opinion our government faces in the United States, yet we are unable to effectively interfere with such intense nationalistic sentiments in East Africa through newspapers, radio, and other forms.”

Ambassador Thomson said: ”This is not entirely bad news, at least it shows that the East African government has not been attracted into involvement like the Ottoman Empire due to changes in the European war situation.”

”The East African government is evidently much more rational, so we must actively win over the East African government. As for the East African populace, this extreme nationalist sentiment can only be eased as much as possible to prevent them from interfering with the East African government’s decisions.”

The words were spoken, but the tight furrow on Thomson’s brow indicated his mind was not at ease. After all, the sentiments of the East African people largely represent the thoughts of East African government officials.

After all, they are Germans, and if East Africa joins the war, there is a significant possibility of seizing the entire Indian Ocean’s hegemony, which Germany and Austria-Hungary would certainly be able to use as leverage to entice East Africa.

Germany and Austria-Hungary are well aware that after defeating England and France, they definitely will not have the capability to enter the Indian Ocean. However, just processing Europe is enough for both countries, considering Russia alone is sufficient for the Allies to divide and settle their investments in the war.

Thomson paced back and forth in the embassy while analyzing: ”Compared with Germany and Austria, the promises we can offer to East Africa are evidently easier to fulfill.”

”Because Germany and Austria do not have overseas colonies, so even if they can promise East African interests, it can only be achieved if East Africa joins the war itself.”

”Whereas we have quite a few colonies overseas, which is also our negotiating advantage with East Africa. Sacrificing some overseas colonies in exchange for a guarantee that East Africa won’t join the war might be a feasible approach, and the British seem to have similar intentions.”

Getting to this point, England and France have no other choices left, if concessions aren’t made to East Africa, victory in the war won’t be visible.

Thomson said: ”We can promise East Africa benefits that they can receive immediately without joining the war, this is our advantage, and as for the places of West Africa, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, we definitely cannot consider them.”

West Africa, North Africa, and Southeast Asia (Indochina) are the essence of French colonies, and as for other colonies, they are mostly small in area and population.

Of course, they do not lack strategic locations, but maintaining the status of a global power after the war will be extremely difficult for France. Currently, the most important thing is to consider how to survive.

Thomson continued: ”Previously, President Clemenceau has communicated with us, we can negotiate some less important overseas territories with East Africa. Where do you think we should try to gauge East Africa’s attitude first?”

Advisor Kao’Er said: ”For East Africa, regardless of which of our colonies, they all have great attraction to East Africa.”

”East Africa’s location happens to be surrounded by our colonies, whether it is along the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, or Pacific Ocean, it can expand East Africa’s strategic range.”

This point is indeed as Kao’Er said, France’s colonies include French Guiana, West Africa, North Africa, Syria, Indochina, India, Madagascar, Indian Ocean islands, and Pacific Ocean islands.

Take French Guiana, for example, it may not seem that important, but East Africa itself has no colony in South America, and French Guiana is close to the Caribbean Sea.

If East Africa acquires French Guiana, it would be akin to possessing a forward base for confronting the United States in South America, greatly enhancing East Africa’s competitiveness in South America and with the United States, while further ensuring East Africa’s energy interests in Venezuela.

As for Syria, its importance to France is self-evident, as it represents France’s eastern depth in Mediterranean power, considering France itself is also a Mediterranean coastal country.

If East Africa obtains Syria, it’ll be even more significant. It means East Africa will penetrate into the Mediterranean, thereby enhancing East Africa’s influence on North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Clearly, Syria is not within the scope of negotiation between the French Government and East Africa.

As for the colonies in the Pacific Region, excluding Indochina, only those islands in the depths of the Pacific. If given to East Africa, they would strengthen East Africa’s influence in the Pacific, particularly in Oceania.

Previously, East Africa has already acquired a series of Oceania colonies represented by New Guinea from Germany. If absorbing all surrounding islands from France, East Africa would become the second largest force in the regional scope after the United Kingdom, which also implies East Africa can seize the opportunity to contend with Australia.

After all, East Africa is only separated from Australia by the Indian Ocean, and the distance from East Africa’s native navy to Australia is not considered far. Coupled with a bunch of colonies shrouding Australia, it means East Africa can blockade Australia’s external contact at any time.

Regarding other countries capable of assisting Australia and posing a threat to East Africa, actually, only the United States fits that description. Yet, traveling from the United States to Australia is far more challenging than from East Africa, the Indian Ocean between East Africa and Australia is much less difficult to traverse compared to the Pacific between the United States and Australia. Not to mention the United States and Australia are located in different hemispheres.

Other countries, like the United Kingdom, Australia’s Sovereign Country, have already been isolated by East Africa. Conversely, the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope serve as leverage points for East Africa to restrain the United Kingdom.

Indeed, the Japanese Navy’s strength is not weak, but it still cannot pose a threat to East Africa currently, it can only be said to have potential.