The Rise of the Empire

"We attach great importance to your country's concerns. Your country needs more funds to prepare for war in order to cope with the unpredictable future. We fully understand this, so we have decided to increase the annual loan amount to 80 million U.S. dollars , and keep the time limit unchanged.” After a short greeting, Roosevelt put forward the revised negotiation conditions.

"President Roosevelt, what we care about is not the amount of money. You should be very clear that even if the United States doubles the amount of loans, we still have the ability to repay. What we lack is liquidity, and we have limited supplies. After it can be purchased from the United States, the currency is actually just a symbol. Even if we ask for an annual loan of 200 million U.S. dollars, Germany is still able to repay it, do you admit this?" Ruprecht asked impatiently.

Is Germany rich? If we talk about the government’s working capital, it may be less, but if we talk about fixed assets, there are quite a lot, not to mention domestic ones. Even if we simply invest in foreign assets, it is a very large number, even if we take out a very small amount of it. Part of it is enough to wipe out the loans and interest of Americans.

Historically, in 1900, Germany's total foreign investment was 15 billion marks! By 1911 there were 35 billion marks! Although it is still not as good as the old empires of Britain and France, the amount of foreign investment is half of that of the United Kingdom and two-thirds of that of France. Don't forget that Britain and France have accumulated foreign investment for hundreds of years, while the foreign investment of the German Empire It started only after the establishment of the Second Empire.

And because of the frequent economic and trade activities between Germany and Germany on this plane, Germany also has a large amount of investment in the United States. During the war, these assets can be used to make up for the cost of foreign purchases. The 35 billion mark is nearly 1.75 billion pounds, even if it is only a quarter. One of them can be accepted by Americans, and it is enough to compensate Americans for their loans and interest. Therefore, it seems that the risk of Americans is quite high, but in fact it is not great at all. It is even possible to take advantage of the war to acquire Germany's foreign assets at low prices.

"I'm afraid you, the U.S. Congress behind you, and those capitalists have already begun to think about how to distribute the assets of the German Empire overseas after the outbreak of the war? Buy various assets from us at an even lower price. You have exchanged a little liquidity for the great expansion of the US economy. I understand the truth." There was a strong disdain in the prince's words.

"But we have still solved the liquidity problem that your country needs most now. This is already a very important support, isn't it?" said Rutte on the side.

"With the overseas assets of the German Empire as a guarantee, we can also raise enough funds from your country's consortia and banks. If we are only for money, this negotiation is not attractive to us. So, I want to talk about Anything else." Ruprecht said, staring at Root opposite.

"I once talked to Secretary Rutte about this issue. I need a guarantee, a practical political guarantee. When the German Empire and the Entente Group are at war, the United States can at least remain neutral, but such a simple one, for the allies Speaking of the minimum requirements, you and your government have never given them. You are waiting for the price. As long as the situation is right and the profit is reasonable, you will stab us in the back without hesitation. Maybe not you, but maybe It's someone else."

"Everyone is a politician. We should be clear about the saying that there are no permanent friends, but only permanent interests? Especially in your country, a simple change of public opinion and government can turn the previous agreement into a waste of paper.

After what has happened before, I am skeptical of the promises you and your government have made. "The prince is now somewhat grateful to those descendants of Poland, because they gave His Royal Highness an excuse to question the credibility of the US government, and in the face of such doubts, Roosevelt could not refute. After all, no one can always be the president.

"Then what kind of guarantee do you want?" Root regretted saying this, because he found that he had been brought into the opponent's rhythm.

"A breach of contract that your country cannot afford! The delivery of our colonies in the Far East after the war is only a small part of the agreement. This alone does not make us feel at ease. I ask the United States to give us a part of the loan must be in Pay in gold!" said Ruprecht.

"This is impossible!" Root first vetoed, although this era is still the gold standard, but no country's gold and precious metals can be exchanged 1:1 with the currency, although in theory it is still possible to exchange paper money for the corresponding gold , but in fact these expensive precious metals will only be used to balance currency fluctuations, but it is still undeniable that gold is a symbol of wealth, and 10 million U.S. dollar bills and 10 million U.S. dollars in gold are definitely not the same concept!

What the prince said is easy. In fact, a large amount of strategic reserve gold is used as a bond of credit between the two countries. Naturally, the Germans will not use these gold to buy things directly, at least not in peacetime. After all, the dollar and the mark are in peacetime. Real money.

Some may be used during wartime, but the most important thing is that these hundreds of tons or even thousands of tons of gold are originally a kind of guarantee. If Germany loses, then these gold will naturally become the spoils of the victor. The exhausted Britain and France spit out hundreds of tons or thousands of tons of gold? What are you thinking? And if Britain and France can obtain this gold, whether it is the stability of the pound and the franc or regaining the lost market, it will become easy. Therefore, from this perspective alone, the Americans must count on Germany to win, or at least the war. In order to ensure that one's own interests are not lost.

Even if it was not Roosevelt when the war started, it was replaced by a president who was pro-British and French, as long as Germany held hundreds or even thousands of tons of gold. As long as the Germans don't kill themselves, the United States will never go to war with Germany. Even if the president wants to fight, the parliament will not pass it. This cost, this price is too high! If he insists on going his own way, it is possible for the president to take a bullet!

"This risk is too great. We can't accept it." Roosevelt shook his head and said. The Americans did this with the idea of ​​picking up foreign goods, eating up Germany's colonies in the Far East, and then eating up Germany's fixed asset investment in the world along the way. Well, that's about it. As for whether Germany wins or not, Americans don't really care. At least most of the American people and capitalists just have a good impression of Germany. Germany lost, and the situation in the United States was naturally not very good, but during the war, the Americans used a small loan to obtain a lot of income, which can be regarded as a profit. If they win, they can naturally continue to squeeze the living space of Britain and France together with Germany.

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