Currently within Europe’s major environnt, the conflict between Germany and France is the most intense, followed by the conflicts between England and France, and Austria and Russia.
Outside of Europe, there is also the conflict between the United Kingdom and Russia; the relationships among several European Powers are rather complex.
In this situation, Pri Minister Prim truly did not think of having Spain join these competitions. For Spain, reform is the most important matter, followed by the developnt of industry and economy.
As for participating in the competition among these powerful countries, that is a matter for much later. Currently, Spain does not possess that strength, and forcibly joining in may instead lead to becoming cannon fodder in the struggle of nations.
Upon hearing Pri Minister Prim’s words that Spain would not join any military alliance with either France or Germany, President Thiers’s expression improved significantly.
The main purpose of this journey is still to ensure that Spain will not join the blockade against France, and Pri Minister Prim’s promise carries considerable weight.
However, whether Spain is a military ally of France also relates to the extent of France’s assistance to Spain.
If Spain is France’s military ally, President Thiers would not mind providing Spain with more favorable industrial aid, helping Spain to once again ascend to the throne of the European Powers.
But since Spain is unwilling to enter into a military alliance treaty with France, naturally the aid France provides to Spain will not be too generous.
After all, this is rely an exchange of interests between the French Governnt and the Spanish Governnt, ensuring Spain maintains a neutral stance in the competition between Germany and France through industrial aid.
Since it’s just a normal exchange of interests, there is no need to offer France’s more advanced industrial technology; simply using so already outdated industrial technology will be enough.
Pri Minister Prim seems to understand President Thiers’s thoughts, and before President Thiers takes the initiative to speak, Pri Minister Prim proactively says:
But sotis the developnt of things does not go as expected. You know this, Mr. President. Although Spain is a constitutional monarchy, the Parliant’s power exceeds that of His Majesty the King.
If, in the European competition, the Spanish populace chooses to support one side, it will greatly influence the opinion of the Parliant.
The Cabinet Governnt is elected by the Parliant; to a certain extent, the opinion of the Parliant represents the opinion of the Cabinet Governnt. Though currently Spain will not sign a military alliance treaty with any country, if your country wins the support of the Spanish people, I am willing to follow the public sentint."
President Thiers’s smile once again stiffened.
Pri Minister Prim’s words seed like he was explaining the situation of the Spanish Governnt to President Thiers, but in fact, he is still reminding President Thiers that if France does not show sincerity in its cooperation with Spain, perhaps Spain will lean towards Germany.
In Spain’s political system, the Parliant indeed holds significant power. The Cabinet Governnt is elected by the Parliant, and the King only has the power of appointnt after the Parliant has chosen its mbers.
But the issue is, currently most of the seats in the Spanish Parliant are controlled by Pri Minister Prim. President Thiers is not foolish; before visiting Spain, he had already understood most of the Spanish Governnt’s situation.
It would be more accurate to say that Pri Minister Prim can influence the Parliant’s decisions, rather than the opinions of the Spanish populace affecting the Parliant.
If Pri Minister Prim believes that France’s aid lacks sincerity, perhaps the Spanish Parliant’s inclination will be towards Germany; this is precisely the reminder or rather, the implicit threat in Pri Minister Prim’s words.
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