IBTCPOTME Novel - Chapter 119
**Chapter 119**
**The Oregon Boundary Dispute (2)**
“‘Fifty-Four Forty or Fight,’ those Americans are crazy.”
54°40’ North latitude means they want us to give up half of what was British Columbia in my previous life.
It happened in the original timeline too, but I thought that the United States in this world, which was greatly influenced by the changes I made, wouldn’t do such a crazy thing, but it happened anyway.
“It wouldn’t be bad for us, would it?”
That was Diego’s opinion.
“That’s right. It could even be considered an opportunity. An opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with Britain.”
I don’t know how likely it is, but since the opportunity has come, we should try it, shouldn’t we?
The Americans’ expansionist desires have come to the surface, and as long as politicians are stimulating them, there’s almost no chance that it will die down without anything happening.
‘Right now, I’m aiming for Britain, who has a good reason, but will they really go to war with Britain, leaving us, the easier target, alone?’
No way.
In the original timeline, they had taken a tough stance and gained practical benefits diplomatically, and they didn’t go to war with Mexico. Mexico has become much stronger than in the original timeline, but the comparison is with Britain.
Anyone in the world, including Mexicans, would say that Britain is stronger, so if America’s expansionist desires don’t subside, they will target Mexico, even creating a reason out of thin air.
‘But those expansionist desires won’t subside that easily. That cursed desire can only be calmed down by eating until they’re full to the point where they can’t digest it, or by suffering a devastating defeat.’
That means war with the United States is inevitable.
“You’re thinking of using this opportunity to push for a military alliance.”
“That’s right. If we hand Oregon over to the United States like this, it’s like opening up a path to the Pacific for them, so even Britain won’t be happy about it.”
I summoned the British ambassador to Mexico.
***
“···Refusal?”
“Yes, Your Highness. There were many discussions in the home country, but they ultimately decided to refuse.”
That was what Charles Bankhead, the British ambassador, said.
“Can I hear the reason why they decided to refuse?”
My proposal was that in the event of a war with the United States, Mexico would join Britain as an ally, and in exchange, Britain would take the northern 2/3 of the Oregon territory, and Mexico would take the southern 1/3.
“The British Empire prefers to resolve such disputes diplomatically rather than through war. After comparing the military and diplomatic options under the conditions you have proposed, we have concluded that the diplomatic option is in line with the interests of the British Empire.”
‘They prefer to resolve disputes diplomatically···. They were brazenly talking like that after waging two wars simultaneously not long ago.’
But it was true that Britain preferred to resolve things diplomatically with countries that could fight them, like Europe or the United States, rather than militarily.
“‘Military option under the conditions I proposed.’ So, do you have any other conditions you want?”
The ambassador didn’t say they compared the military and diplomatic options. There must be a reason why he used the phrase ‘under the conditions I proposed.’
“As I mentioned earlier, Britain is trying to resolve this diplomatically. But if we have to go to war, Britain’s decision is that they should take the Oregon territory.”
“···If war breaks out with the United States, it’s Mexico who will be shedding blood, but Britain will take all the benefits?”
“Since there was a previous secret agreement, shouldn’t Mexico take all the territory in South America? In that case, I believe Britain should take the Oregon territory.”
Bankhead, the ambassador, mentioned the secret agreement that acknowledged Mexico’s dominance in the South American region. But how could taking over Oregon, which is considered unclaimed land, be the same as taking over a territory where an independent country exists?
“To have as much land in South America as the Oregon territory, you’d have to swallow up all of Colombia, would you allow that?”
The Oregon territory being discussed here is not just the combined area of what was Oregon and Washington states in my previous life.
It’s a vast area that includes half of British Columbia, Canada, most of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming. It’s a larger territory than the entire current Nueva Granada.
“We in Britain intend to respect the agreement and not interfere with what the Mexican Empire does in South America.”
Britain is saying they will tacitly allow it, but taking over an entire country isn’t something that can be done just because Britain tacitly allows it.
Mexico’s reputation in the international community will plummet, and South American countries will become extremely wary of Mexico. On the other hand, Britain will have a reason for taking the Oregon territory, so no one will say anything.
Even mentioning ‘South America’ specifically means they won’t even allow Mexico to take any other territory in the United States, not just the Oregon territory.
“I understand. I understand Britain’s intention, so let’s just forget about this.”
I gave up negotiating. I realized a crucial fact.
‘Britain is wary of our Mexican Empire as much as, or even more than, the United States.’
It was a fact I didn’t want to admit. But Britain’s attitude couldn’t have come out without that being the case.
The conditions I proposed were that Mexico would take on a greater risk but have a smaller return, and Britain thinks that even that small return is too big to give us.
It’s unfair.
How much had Mexico been bowing down to Britain all this time? We paid off all the debts, which were calculated at an absurd amount, like suckers, and even after winning wars against Spain and France, we asked Britain to mediate and gave them a generous reward. We allowed them to freely investigate the ironclad ship, a new weapon developed in Mexico, we signed a non-aggression treaty, and we even made a secret agreement not to invade each other’s territory.
We showed such a firm attitude of not being hostile to Britain, so they should consider us a friendly force, but Britain is still wary of Mexico.
It seems like I lacked an understanding of the British Empire’s sentiment, which shouts about the ‘balance of Europe’ and wages ‘wars for dominance.’
***
The blocks near the old city center of Chihuahua City began to be completed.
The university is also being built, with only the essential buildings being built first, and then the rest will be built gradually. We can’t complete an entire city and then open it all at once, can we?
“Let’s open the completed blocks.”
Following my instructions, the blocks, which had been surrounded by construction caution signs like modern construction sites, were opened.
“Wow~”
“Ooh···.”
The citizens who came in directly gasped in admiration.
The well-organized sections according to the city plan, the wide roads and sidewalks, the new government building with its attention to design, and the parks scattered throughout the various buildings.
Even Diego, who had been walking around the construction site with me, was amazed at the streets that had been cleaned up after the construction materials were removed.
“It feels like I’m in a futuristic city.”
“Haha, that’s high praise.”
I was a little surprised by Diego’s impression, but I walked down the well-maintained street with a relaxed smile.
Construction was still underway in a wide area on the outskirts, but quite a few blocks had been completed.
Walking down that street, which made you think of the modern era, my slightly heated head felt like it was clearing.
“I think I was thinking too easily.”
“Yes?···Ah, are you talking about Britain?”
Diego immediately understood, even though I brought it up suddenly.
“Yes. I understand when I think about it from Britain’s perspective. It was a natural outcome in a way.”
“Britain’s perspective? Wasn’t the condition we proposed good for Britain too?”
I explained slowly, walking down the street.
“Britain has as much intelligence about the United States as we do. They know that while the United States’ expansionist desires are growing, it’s more likely that they will compromise at a certain level than actually declare war on Britain.”
Our northern border with Mexico is neatly defined at 42° North latitude, and the United States is demanding 54°40’ North latitude, so the midpoint is 48°20’.
If you think about the fact that they compromised at 49° North latitude in the original timeline, it’s almost the middle.
“Hmm···. That argument is definitely more persuasive.”
“If they think they can compromise with the United States on the Oregon territory at about 50%, there’s no reason for them to join hands with us, Mexico, and go to war to share it. Of course, if that happens, it will mean preventing the United States from advancing to the Pacific, but if you think about it from the other side, even if it’s not the United States, we’re already advancing to the Pacific and expanding our influence, so from Britain’s perspective, it’s not bad for the United States to come out to the Pacific.”
“···It seems like they’re using the United States to check Mexico, just like they were using Mexico to check the United States.”
“That’s right. Just as Britain is trying to maintain a ‘balance of Europe,’ they’re trying to maintain a balance in North America.”
“They’re trying to manipulate the whole world according to Britain’s intentions.”
“That’s right. From Britain’s perspective, which wants to maintain a balance, it would be a burden to create a firm alliance, so they wouldn’t be able to accept the proposal.”
Britain decided that it would be better to give more than half of the Oregon territory to the United States than give even 1/3 of it to us. That’s my conclusion.
I’m erasing the plan to join hands with Britain. We’ve reached a point where we should worry about Britain’s interference instead.
It’s a pity, but our Mexican Empire already has an ally, so it’s better to focus on that. It’s a country that won’t be able to help us with the fight in America, but it will be helpful enough for negotiations with Britain.
To increase our negotiating power against Britain, the best thing to do is to strengthen our European alliance. Isn’t the balance of Europe what Britain values most?
We can’t use them in their current state, but things will be different if Germany is unified.
“We need to cooperate more closely with Prussia. I heard they have a weak navy, so I should ask them if they want to buy old warships at a cheap price.”
Anyway, all the new warships are steam-powered. This is because we converted all the wooden ship docks to steam-powered docks after the war with France.
Wooden ships and steam ships have a big difference in speed and operational doctrine, so they aren’t very efficient when used together.
“Let’s sell the old warships we received from Spain and France cheaply. Keep the French 120-gun ship of the line.”
The super ship of the line, once the pride of the French navy, has great symbolic significance. It would be good to keep it, even if it becomes a museum piece later.
***
A letter arrived from the Mexican Empire, which had forged an alliance by promising a royal marriage, but hadn’t had much interaction until then.
“Are you saying they’re giving this much fleet for this price?”
It was a shocking offer.
Even though Prussia is a country that values its army, it would be foolish not to accept this deal.
Even though they are old, wouldn’t this be a fleet that could instantly make them a naval power, based on the standards of three years ago?
“Your Highness, that’s not all. Mexico is saying they will sell us steel at this price. This is a price that’s more than 20% off the current international price.”
“···Then how can they sell it at this price? It’s not really a loss-making sale, is it?”
“I’m not sure about that···.”
Wilhelm IV had a slight doubt, but there was no reason not to buy it.
He immediately granted permission for the purchase.
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