章 150: Chapter 150: War Reparations
Sir Tom's words put immense pressure on the Austrian diplomat, signaling tough times ahead if England ceased its support. Continuing the war would only become increasingly difficult.
Consequently, the Austrian diplomat, Izvail, relayed the message to Vienna, outlining the negotiation challenges and recommending acceptance of France's stringent terms. This added tremendous pressure on Austria.
Emperor Franz II convened an emergency meeting in the study room of Schönbrunn Palace. The agenda was singular: faced with British pressure, should Austria accept France's harsh terms?
Emperor Franz's frustration was palpable. He felt betrayed by Britain, once considered an ally. They not only failed to assist in the war but also backstabbed Austria.
However, it seemed Austria had no other option but to accept Britain's advice and reach a peace agreement with France. The alternatives were dire.
"What should we do, gentlemen? Should this war continue?" Emperor Franz inquired, his tone revealing anger and frustration. Given the circumstances, he was reluctant to capitulate, knowing it would be a severe blow to the Holy Roman Empire's dignity.
"Your Majesty, the current situation does not favor prolonging the war. As the British suggest, the Ottoman threat looms, and we must resolve our conflict with France swiftly. Otherwise, we risk facing a two-front war, which would leave Austria cornered," Prime Minister Josip Jelačić offered first.
"Your Majesty, England's stance is exceedingly firm. If we refuse their counsel, they will withdraw their support. Additionally, this would strain our relationship with Britain significantly. Therefore, the Foreign Ministry advises temporary acceptance of England's goodwill and future retaliation against France," Sergei, the Austrian Minister of Finance, added.
The other Austrian ministers concurred, advocating for a ceasefire.
Emperor Franz displayed a hint of hesitation. Temporarily halting the war and seeking revenge against France after defeating the Ottomans seemed like an appealing prospect—a way for Austria to overcome its current predicament.
However, Emperor Franz II also harbored some concerns. He feared that France's rapid development would only make them stronger after defeating the Ottomans. Seeking revenge against France would undoubtedly become even more challenging.
"Sigh!" With these thoughts, Emperor Franz II couldn't help but sigh. Revenge against France would have to wait. For now, he needed to focus on resolving the current situation.
Emperor Franz II cleared his throat and addressed the assembly: "Very well, since everyone is in agreement, let us continue negotiations with the French."
"On the matter of territory, France's willingness to return Venice to us is a significant boon. As for their demand for the Netherlands, let them take it! But if they encounter resistance from the Dutch people during the handover, I will not be held responsible," Emperor Franz II said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will handle this matter," Prime Minister Josip Jelačić immediately understood Emperor Franz II's intention.
On the surface, they could indeed hand over the Netherlands to France, as stipulated in the contract. However, manipulating the Dutch people's willingness to comply was entirely possible. Most Dutch officials were Austrians, and with a simple command, they could organize resistance against the French. The naive French thought they would obtain this valuable territory without any hurdles, unaware of the mess awaiting them.
"Regarding war reparations, whether it's indemnities or ransom for prisoners of war, 60 million pounds sterling is absolutely unacceptable. We will offer a maximum of 30 million pounds sterling," Emperor Franz II declared.
The ministers nodded in agreement. While Emperor Franz II had put forth his demands, his change in attitude undoubtedly resolved the major issues in this peace negotiation, whether regarding the reduction of war reparations or the matter of the Netherlands.
It's all just a matter of negotiation details. Although there are still some differences between Austria and France's proposed conditions, reaching a consensus is entirely possible after a few more rounds of negotiations. As long as Austria can escape this war, they can regroup and prepare for the possibility of larger-scale conflicts in the future.
Emperor Franz II and his ministers deeply resent this defeat. They reluctantly compromise with France now out of necessity but eagerly await the day they can seek revenge. As soon as they have the strength, they will retaliate against France without hesitation.
With Emperor Franz II's change in attitude, there has been a significant shift in the Austrian government's stance. This is undoubtedly good news for Britain, which is eager to see these negotiations succeed. Although there are still some disagreements, they all believe these are minor issues that can be swiftly resolved.
So, on September 20th, negotiations between France and Austria resumed. Both sides presented their conditions, which showed considerable compromise compared to their initial demands. Now, the main point of contention lies in the amount of war reparations or ransom for prisoners of war.
"60 million francs for ransom is too high. The Austrian Empire can only afford a maximum of 10 million francs," Austrian diplomat Izvér shook his head repeatedly.
Although there are over 60,000 Austrian soldiers captured, this sum is still substantial for the current Austrian government.
"No, 60 million francs is not excessive. Consider that each of the over 60,000 Austrian prisoners of war would only amount to about 1,000 francs each. Are these well-trained, brave Austrian soldiers not worth 1,000 francs each? Fortunately, these valiant Austrian soldiers are unaware of this news; otherwise, they would be heartbroken," Talleyrand shook his head with a sense of regret, as if genuinely empathizing with those Austrian soldiers.
"60 million francs is too expensive, and Austria will never agree to such a rude demand. We would rather keep these prisoners here," Izvér said angrily.
"Keeping them here is fine, but we won't let them freeload. Fortunately, there's much work to be done in the Italian region. Let them continue to work as laborers in Italy," Talleyrand shrugged indifferently.
The situation in Italy is perfect right now due to the war, with all the infrastructure needing to be rebuilt. This presents an opportunity to use manpower for reconstruction. If the Austrians are unwilling to pay even 60 million francs, then the Austrian prisoners of war will have no choice but to work as laborers.
These Austrian soldiers are all selected from the finest, each one strong and fit for manual labor. The wealth created by one such strong Austrian soldier working until his death is surely worth more than 1,000 francs.
Izvér's face darkened at the implication. While they had never considered the lowly common soldiers as significant, having the French use these prisoners as slaves would undoubtedly be a slap in the face to Austria!
Sir Tom also leaned in beside the Austrian envoy Izvér and whispered softly, "Your Excellency, I believe that redeeming over 60,000 battle-hardened veterans for 60 million francs is indeed a very cost-effective measure! After the defeats in Italy, I imagine your country is also in need of manpower. Recruiting new soldiers would also cost money, so why not invest in these ready-made soldiers?"
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