Chapter 1177:
April 15, 1915.
Luanda Port.
Since the development of the west coast of East Africa, the communication route of the French to East Africa has also changed. France, like most countries, used to need to take a ship to Dar es Salaam on the east coast of East Africa, and then transfer to the railway to reach the capital of East Africa.
Now the French can reach the mainland of East Africa only along the Atlantic Ocean, without having to transfer to the Mediterranean, which is much more convenient for France.
"It's been a long time since we last met, Special Envoy Thomson!" East African Foreign Minister Freer said to Thomson.
"Hello, Mr. Freer, you look more elegant than before." Thomson said to Freer with a smile.
The two are old acquaintances. Thomson is the former French ambassador to East Africa, so they often deal with each other when they were in Rhine City.
Looking at the more prosperous Luanda, Thomson couldn't help but sigh: "When I left East Africa, I returned to France from Luanda. Now it seems that Luanda is more prosperous than before. I think after the war, Luanda should also have a high international reputation like Dar es Salaam!"
The outbreak of World War I can be said to have installed an engine for the economic development of cities on the west coast of East Africa. The most proud people in the entire Atlantic are East Africans and Americans.
Luanda has also become the leader of East Africa's trade exports to Western Europe, North America, South America, and West Africa. In the development of East African cities in 1914, it surpassed the capital Rhine City and ranked first in East Africa's economic growth rate for the first time.
There are not only East African factories here, but also the most prosperous area for foreign investment and private economy. French business groups have invested in many new enterprises in Luanda, Cabinda and other places on the west coast of East Africa.
And Luanda made a lot of money in trade with France last year. Many industrial products manufactured in Luanda and agricultural products from the hinterland of East Africa departed from here and eventually arrived in France.
It is worth mentioning that France has become the largest exporter in East Africa, and its total import volume of goods to East Africa is higher than that of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
"Ambassador Thomson, you are an old friend of our East African people. This time you are back, we have arranged the highest level of treatment for you." Freer said to Thomson with a smile.
France's wealth makes the East African government very happy. Before the war, France was the largest creditor country in East Africa, and French capital's investment and loans to East Africa far exceeded those of Germany, Britain and other countries.
After the outbreak of the war, France became the largest buyer of East African goods, and East Africa's debts to France are being quickly filled. It can be said that France has made a significant contribution to the current industrialization process in East Africa.
"Haha, Mr. Freer is too polite. We in France have always regarded East Africa as a friend of the French. I believe that the future of both countries will be bright." Thomson replied politely.
In fact, the diplomacy between East Africa and France is a rather strange phenomenon. The relationship between the French government and the East African government has always been very good, while in contrast, the French public sentiment is not very friendly to East Africa.
After all, East Africans are also Germans, so East Africans, who are of the same ethnic group as Germany, have also been affected.
The French government is much more rational. For the French government, although East Africa is a German country, it is an independent country after all. Germany's interests are not consistent with those of East Africa, so France has been trying to win over the East African government.
Moreover, there is no conflict of interest between France and East Africa, which is the most important point. In the process of East Africa's rise, the main offenders are the British, and France, as an ally of the British, is actually happy with this.
The same is true for East Africa. East Africa has a bad relationship with Britain, so East Africa has a completely different attitude towards France and Britain in its attitude towards the Allied camp.
Britain has the United States in collusion, so East Africa can collude with France. In this way, even after the war, Britain and France will not be able to join forces against East Africa. Of course, the premise is that the Allies win the final victory.
In terms of betting on both sides, East Africa has shown no difference in its means. With the Allied Powers, East Africa can play the emotional card, and with the Entente Powers, East Africa can win over France and Britain to compete for the right to speak. In this way, no matter which side is the final winner of the war, East Africa has a huge room for maneuver.
Thomson said: "I won't say much about the small talk. I came here to ask for help from your government. Now France is in a difficult situation, so we need East Africa's material support, horses, cars, ships, food, etc. We hope that East Africa can increase its support for our country in this regard."
Obviously, this time Thomson came with the procurement task of the French government. After the outbreak of the war, although France's material supply was better than that of Germany and Austria-Hungary, which were inland, it was ultimately limited.
"Ships?" Freer's focus was different.
Thomson said with some difficulty: "Yes, because of the war, our ships are relatively scarce. Now the only countries that can help France are East Africa and the United States."
Thomson deliberately brought up the United States, which made it easier to bargain with the East Africans. After all, France, an old imperialist country, faced a war of the scale of World War I, and its surplus food was "not much."
After thinking for a while, Freer said to Thomson: "Speaking of ships, France might as well buy our second-hand ships. Now the war has turned ships into consumables, and the price of second-hand ships is cheaper. Moreover, our second-hand ships in East Africa are not old, so we can give your country the biggest discount."
After all, East Africa has only a half-century history, and even the oldest ship made locally cannot be more than fifty years old.
After just thinking about it, Freer decided to facilitate this deal for the government. On the one hand, France's demand must be large, and even second-hand ships can be discounted. On the other hand, East Africa also needs to clear its inventory. With the joint efforts of large and small shipyards in East Africa, the number of new ships launched in East Africa each year has reached an astonishing number in recent years.
Moreover, East Africa has no record of exporting ships to other industrial countries in history. Not to mention industrial countries, the only countries in East Africa that have achieved overseas ship orders are actually Paraguay and the Neretva region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
As for the three ships exported to the Neretva region, they are actually equivalent to giving them away for free, so the only country in East Africa that has truly achieved a record of ship exports is Paraguay.
And Thomson also thinks that what Freer said makes sense. After all, second-hand ships are in stock and cheap, which is perfect for dealing with transportation needs in this state of war.
"Very good, but I don't know how much inventory your country has. Our needs are very urgent." Thomson asked.
Freer: "This is very simple. Your country should believe in the strength of East Africa. Our country is the world's second largest ship producer, and the price is much cheaper than that of the UK, which can fully meet your country's needs."
The cost of shipbuilding in East Africa is already very low, which is mainly based on East Africa's world's largest steel production, as well as a large number of labor, cheap electricity and other factors.
The population of East Africa is second only to Russia and the Far East Empire. Although the population of Britain and its colonies is large, the British shipbuilding industry is basically concentrated in the mainland, and the population of Britain is less than half of that of East Africa, and the number of industrial workers in Britain is far behind that of East Africa.
Today, East Africa has in fact become the world's largest industrial country. This can be seen from the current world trade. East Africa is in a completely advantageous position in the competition with the United States, and its commodity output is far higher than that of the United States, the former world's largest industrial country.
Afterwards, Thomson negotiated with East Africa on other materials and products on behalf of the French government, including steel, horses, cars, sugar, cotton, arms, etc.
This time Thomson actually came to make large purchases, and the French were very willing to pay. It was not because the French were not short of money, but because East Africa owed France too much money before the war, so many supplies could be directly offset by the debts of the two countries.