Chapter 239: Assassination
Due to the established diplomatic relations between Australasia and the major European powers, informing the great powers simply required summoning their foreign ministers. Among these European powers, Australasia particularly invited the highly influential countries in the international community: Britain, Germany, and Russia, with whom Australasia had very good relations.
The responses from the great powers came swiftly. On September 30th, Russia issued its response, expressing its willingness to participate in the mediation as a neutral country, aiming to bring peace to both Australasia and Portugal.
Soon after, Germany and Britain also agreed to participate in the mediation. Germany had no involvement in the war, and the war zone was far from Germany. Germany's willingness to participate was actually due to Kaiser Wilhelm II's personal support for Arthur.
Finally, there was Britain, which had some connection to this war, since the main battleground between Portugal and Australasia was Portuguese India, an important region near the British Empire's domain. Given Britain's strong influence in India and Southeast Asia, it was the most suitable and influential country to participate in the mediation.
Once Britain, Germany, and Russia agreed to mediate, the participation of other powers was less significant. These three nations alone could easily overwhelm Portugal in any region, and whether or not Portugal agreed to mediate was no longer their decision to make.
On October 1st, 1907, Australasia officially issued an announcement on behalf of its government, publicly inviting Britain, Germany, and Russia to participate in the mediation of the war. At this point, Australasia was the favored side in the war, and the fact that Australasia actively sought mediation surprised the Europeans.
In response, the Australasia government provided a seemingly reasonable explanation: that all citizens and the government of Australasia longed for peace and did not wish to bring disaster to the world. The real reason was that Australasia had already achieved what it wanted, and continuing the war was unnecessary.
Soon after, the three countries publicly responded to Australasia's request, announcing their intention to participate in the mediation as neutral nations, striving to bring peace to the warring parties.
On October 2nd, the three countries invited both the Australasia and Portuguese governments to peace talks, which would take place in London. After all, London was not only one of the most developed cities in the world, but also the capital of the most powerful nation, the British Empire.
The invitation from the three countries made the Portuguese government feel conflicted. The development of the war had completely surprised the Portuguese government. Even from the current trends, the possibility of Portugal winning had dramatically decreased. However, this war was crucial for Portugal's prestige—if they won, the government and monarchy would gain a significant amount of popular support, which could solidify their rule and stabilize the situation.
If Portugal were to truly lose, they could still claim they had done their best to protect the people's interests, using the excuse that the enemy was too powerful. But if they directly entered negotiations and abandoned the protection of their fishermen before the war had concluded, the prestige Portugal had gained before the war would evaporate. This could even lead to the collapse of the monarchy.
In the midst of this anxiety, at the behest of King Carlos I, the Portuguese government chose to remain silent.
The response from the three countries was one of anger. After all, these countries were recognized powers, and Britain and Germany were currently the two dominant world powers. They had declared their intention to mediate the war, and yet Portugal had refused to engage—wasn't this a slap in the face to three great powers?
The day after Portugal chose silence, a British government official publicly stated that, given the terrible impression Portugal had left on Europe during this war, the British government would reconsider its relationship with Portugal. While the official did not specify what would happen, the implied threat was clear to everyone.
This was not the end. Germany also expressed its stance that same day. A German official openly stated that Germany supported Australasia's efforts toward peace and urged the Portuguese government to join the peace talks to create a peaceful environment for both sides.
Russia, of course, also made a statement, with Russia publicly announcing that its navy was considering organizing a global tour, which would perfectly cover the battlegrounds between Portugal and Australasia.
The statements from the three countries put immense pressure on the Portuguese government. At the same time, domestic dissatisfaction with the war grew, and Portugal's internal and external problems became even more severe.
On October 3rd, after a day and night of discussions, King Carlos I reluctantly bowed his head and announced that Portugal agreed to begin peace talks with Australasia.
On October 11th, 1907, at the command of Arthur, David, the Royal European Affairs Director, and Henry Canya, the Ambassador to the United Kingdom, formed a delegation representing Australasia to participate in the peace talks.
The peace talks were to be held with Portugal's Foreign Minister, Herbert Simon, representing Portugal. David, Ambassador Henry, and representatives from Britain, Germany, and Russia would act as neutral parties to ensure the fairness of the talks and guarantee the smooth execution of the agreements.
The first day of talks was anything but smooth. Portugal seemed to have no intention of negotiating and proposed conditions that were truly shocking. Despite being the losing party in the war, the Portuguese demanded war indemnities from Australasia and insisted that Australasia apologize to the Portuguese government and people for starting the war.
Moreover, they demanded that Australasia release all captured Portuguese prisoners without charge and provide substantial compensation for all Portuguese soldiers who had died in the conflict.
This did not even take into account the property damage in the occupied Portuguese colonies. If those were included, Portugal's demanded compensation from Australasia would total at least 40 million Australian dollars.
Such conditions were met with several cold laughs from David, and the representatives from Britain, Germany, and Russia had nothing to say. It was hard to understand how the Portuguese could have so much confidence to propose such an astronomical amount in such a situation.
In response, David conveyed Australasia's counteroffer: first, that Portugal pay compensation for the war, including damages to Australasia's assets, casualties among its soldiers, and damages to civilian property, totaling 100 million pounds, to be paid over five years, with interest at 15% for unpaid amounts.
Given that Portugal had set such high demands, David was not about to hold back. Besides these enormous compensations, Portugal would also need to cede Portuguese Timor, Portuguese India, and grant Australasia joint control of the Portuguese East Asia colonies.
Lastly, for the more than 1,000 Portuguese prisoners, each would need to pay £5,000 to return safely to Portugal.
These conditions were undoubtedly harsh. The financial compensation alone might drive the Portuguese government to the brink of bankruptcy, not to mention losing two colonies and likely failing to retain control over its East Asian colonies.
Herbert Simon, the Portuguese representative, realized that even if he could avoid punishment from King Carlos I, he would definitely be torn apart by the angry Portuguese public if he agreed to these terms.
However, the harshness of Australasia's stance made Herbert Simon realize that Portugal was not in a position to push Australasia around.
Moreover, with Britain, Germany, and Russia watching over the negotiations, continuing to drag out the peace talks would likely antagonize these three great powers.
After the first day of negotiations, Herbert Simon quickly sent a telegram to the Portuguese king to seek King Carlos I's opinion.
Both Australasia and the three great powers—Britain, Germany, and Russia—were not naive. The strategy of dragging out the peace talks would no longer work.
On the second day of talks, Herbert Simon's stance shifted dramatically. He dropped the demand for war indemnities and instead only asked for compensation for the Portuguese soldiers who had died. He also demanded that Australasia withdraw from the three occupied Portuguese colonies and restore the spheres of influence to the pre-war status.
Such conditions were naturally unacceptable to Australasia. David, unable to hold back any longer, directly conveyed Arthur's message to Herbert Simon: "If the Portuguese do not accept peace talks soon, Australasia will lease warships from Russia and destroy Portugal's military at any cost. Then we will sign the agreement on Portuguese soil."
Given the current military strength of Portugal and Australasia, the only disadvantage for Australasia was the navy. However, if Australasia successfully leased warships, even a battleship, from Russia, the naval balance would be overturned, giving Australasia a significant advantage.
With that in mind, David ordered his subordinates to gather details about the assassination of King Carlos I and spread the news, making Portugal's terms and aggressive stance known to the public, painting Portugal as the aggressor in the war.
The public opinion was something Australasia had to manage. The support from European publics was crucial, and it also helped make Portugal the target of much criticism in this war.
Despite the negative portrayal, what really allowed Australasia to maintain its advantage in public opinion was not European newspapers under their control, but a small newspaper from Portugal.
Though it was a small publication, after its release, it was widely reprinted by Portuguese newspapers and gained considerable attention from European media.
This small report spread throughout Europe in just a few days, and its content became widely known.
The article mainly contained statements from a Portuguese political party, the largest opposition party in Portugal. It opposed not just the government, but the monarchy itself and King Carlos I.
If the Portuguese Republican Party had been little more than a local force before, its name had now spread throughout Europe.
One of the party's radical members openly stated that the recent assassination of King Carlos I had been planned by the Republican Party to eliminate the greatest threat to Portugal—the monarch who had brought Portugal into this war and caused its defeat.
The member of the Republican Party listed many of King Carlos I's faults, such as his authoritarian rule, turning democratic Portugal into a monarchy, disregarding the interests of the common people, and pushing Portugal into a war that should never have happened just to preserve his power.
The article pointed out that this war had already cost Portugal tens of thousands of soldiers, but the Portuguese government still had no intention of negotiating peace, continuing to plan retaliations that would only lead to more senseless deaths.
This explosive statement became the most damaging to King Carlos I's image.
(End of Chapter)
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