Chapter 1285 Digging a Hole
Finally, the French colonies were basically concentrated in the Indian Ocean region, including Djibouti, Madagascar, India, Mauritius and other islands.
Yes, the French also have colonies in India, but these colonies are not large in area and are not even as large as the Portuguese colonies in India. Although Portugal only has three colonies in India, France has five.
However, the area of Portuguese Goa alone is much larger than the combined area of France's five Indian colonial strongholds.
Cahors said: "Among these colonies, we should first consider the Pacific Islands. Today is no longer the era when France is at its peak."
"Those islands in the Pacific are quite useless to our country. They are far away from the mainland, and their area and population size are not optimistic."
"We don't have any decent resources. To put it bluntly, if the countries on the Pacific coast really occupy these places, we have no good solution. As for sending an expeditionary force, it is just a waste of military expenses and the risk is high."
"So, we might as well take this opportunity to throw the Pacific islands to the East Africans. For us, these colonies are actually a heavy burden."
France's colonies in the Pacific are mainly composed of three island groups: New Caledonia, New Sea Breed Islands and Polynesia.
From a global perspective, it can be said that this is a truly peaceful place, deep in the southern Pacific Ocean, not close to Australia, Asia, America, and Africa, and very far away from Europe.
Ambassador Thomson said: "If it is a territory in the Pacific, it may have some value to East Africa, but it is not attractive enough. After all, the value of these islands to us is almost zero. The same is true for East Africa. They are dispensable places, especially After East Africa received German colonies in the Pacific.”
There are many islands in the South Pacific, and it is not a strategic location. In addition to being a possible threat to Australia, it also has some impact on the trade between South America and Asia.
However, the trade between Asia and South America is almost negligible. In this era, the three major centers of world trade are Europe, the United States and East Africa. Raw materials from all over the world flow into these three regions, and then become industrial products for transportation. to all over the world.
In fact, Europe, the United States and East Africa can also be understood as the three major industrial gathering places in the world.
Asia and South America play more roles as raw material suppliers and colonial markets. Direct trade between them can almost be ignored compared to trade with the three major industrial centers.
Therefore, Thomson does not think that East Africa will be interested in Pacific islands, unless it is an island with extremely important strategic position like Hawaii. Obviously, France does not have such a place in its hands.
Counselor Caol said: "Then consider Guyana. Although Guyana is not small, it is mainly dominated by tropical rainforest. It is very difficult for a tropical country like East Africa to develop such a place."
Thomson said: "But Guyana is also an important stronghold of France in South America. At least I think it is possible for France to return to South America in the future. It is not as far away from us as the colonies in the Pacific."
According to Thomson's opinion, France will inevitably restart its overseas expansion after the war, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans can basically be abandoned.
In this way, the only place where France can expand is South America. The main reason is that there are no powerful countries in South America. Although the United States, East Africa, and even France's suspicious ally Britain all have strong influence in South America, this also means that the future of South America The situation is chaotic, and France may be able to fish in troubled waters.
So Thomson said: "Today, France is facing a very passive situation. Even if we can defeat the Germans in the future, we still have to compete with the United Kingdom, the United States, and East Africa."
"So we have to leave more escape routes for France, one in Africa, one in Southeast Asia, and South America is the last choice."
"Whether it is North Africa or West Africa, Africa is the foundation for France to return to a world power in the future. The biggest gap between us and emerging world powers such as the United States and East Africa is territorial area."
"If the integration of North and West Africa can be completed, France will still be the world's top power."
"In Southeast Asia, we have invested a lot in Indochina, and based here, we have a huge influence on Siam and the Far Eastern Empire. Therefore, the importance of this place to us is second only to Africa."
"Finally, there is South America. It is obviously impossible to open up colonies in South America, but I don't think the United Kingdom, the United States, and East Africa can monopolize the South American market."
"After the war, the disputes between the three countries and the demands of South American countries made it possible for us to make a difference in South America."
Counselor Cahors and others also agreed with Thomson's statement. The main reason is that France has become increasingly powerless in the process of competing for world hegemony in recent years.
In the past, the French believed that Germany was their life-or-death enemy, which was indeed no problem. However, even if Germany could be eliminated, France was still in decline, especially in competition with other countries.
The country that poses the greatest threat to France, besides Germany, is France's current ally, the British. The conflict between France and Germany is nothing more than continental hegemony, but as long as the British exist, France will never be able to completely control the entire Europe.
The inability to grasp European hegemony means that it cannot compete with emerging powers outside the region such as the United States and East Africa.
For the French, the safest way is to digest the colonies in North Africa and West Africa. If the African colonies can be integrated, the land area of France can reach millions of square kilometers. Although it is much different from Russia, East Africa and the United States, it is not too different.
Moreover, the African colonies are only separated from the French mainland by the Mediterranean Sea. The distance from the Mediterranean Sea is not far for France at all. This is also the reason why France wanted to localize Algeria in the past.
Thomson said: "So, our next consideration scope is further narrowed. Madagascar and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, or some islands in the Caribbean Sea, and even the colonies in India can negotiate with East Africa."
"Although India is a piece of fat meat, if we introduce East Africa there, it will only be the British who will have a headache. Anyway, our interests in India can be almost negligible."
It has to be said that the two enemies, France and Britain, spared no effort in digging holes for each other. France's Indian colonies are nothing more than a few commercial bases.
But if we really hand over these bases to East Africa, it is just like putting a mouse in a rice jar. After all, there is no country in the world that does not covet India's lucrative colony.
And it seems that Thomson thought of this, saying: "Let's use India as bait to fish for East Africa. Our interests in India are very small. Even if we really give it up, it will not cause any trouble, and it can also cause trouble for the British."
"Hehe, the British were greedy in overseas colonization at the beginning, and now they naturally have to bear this kind of evil consequences, especially in the Indian Ocean region. It can be said that the British have the greatest interests, and it happens that this is also the place that East Africa is eyeing. Conflicts will inevitably break out between the two countries."
"So, we don't mind adding fuel to the fire in the Indian Ocean."
France did work hard in the Indian Ocean back then, but it basically couldn't compete with the British. This can be seen from France's colonies in the Indian Ocean.
Egypt was originally a French colony, but if even the Suez Canal is behind the British, France will only have Djibouti, but there is also a larger British Somaliland next to it, and there is also the British colony in the Gulf of Aden opposite.
In the Persian Gulf, the British also had a monopoly, and even more so in India, while France only had a few islands such as Madagascar in the southwest corner of the Indian Ocean. However, even in the southeast corner of the Indian Ocean, Britain still occupied the South African colony.