Jagged Germany: Chapter 656 cornered
Toulouse, a city in southern France, the city hall, the temporary residence of the French government.
In the conference room, all the cabinet ministers of the French government gathered here. There is only one issue for everyone to discuss today, and that is that Foreign Minister Théophile Delcase has sent back the conditions of the Germans by telegram. Now what everyone has to discuss is whether to agree to the conditions of the Germans.
President Poincaré and Prime Minister René Viviani had read the telegram first. However, the faces of the two became very ugly. This allowed those cabinet ministers to guess without even thinking about it. The conditions put forward by the Germans must be very harsh. Otherwise, their faces would not look so ugly.
"Is everyone here? Then, the meeting starts now." President Poincaré said.
Suddenly, the meeting room was silent, and everyone shut their mouths and stopped whispering.
"Everyone, there are five conditions put forward by the Germans. Now, we will tell you these conditions. Then, it is up to everyone to discuss and discuss whether we should agree to the conditions of the Germans." President Poincaré said.
"The first article is about war reparations. The Germans asked us to pay them 100 billion marks in war reparations. After the efforts of the foreign minister, the war reparations were reduced to 55 billion marks. The attitude of the Germans is already very We are firm, and we are not allowed to lower it any further," President Poincaré said.
"My God! One hundred billion marks? Are the Germans crazy?"
"How could they frantically propose so many war reparations? Do they want to **** the last franc of the entire French Republic?"
When the ministers learned of the amount of war reparations, they immediately yelled. Although, they were able to guess before that the amount of war reparations Germany demanded would not be too small. However, still did not expect so much? Even if it is 55 billion marks, that is an astronomical figure. That is already equivalent to 68.75 billion francs. Such a large amount of war indemnity is completely to let France sell its iron! You know, even during the Franco-Prussian War, war reparations were not so scary. The war indemnity that the Germans demand now is more than thirteen times the war indemnity paid by France during the Franco-Prussian War.
"Your Excellency, we simply don't have that much money to pay the Germans. If it's 20 to 30 billion, we can still consider it. But, this amount, France simply can't afford it!" Finance Minister Alexander Ribert said .
"The Germans are very aware of our overseas investments and assets. Therefore, they proposed this amount." Prime Minister René Viviani said.
"Asshole! How would the Germans know how much overseas investment we have? Could it be that there are German spies inside the government?" Alexander Liebert roared angrily. After all, this is undoubtedly a country's confidential information.
"Okay, it's useless to say these now. The Germans have offered so many war reparations, should we agree?" President Poincaré asked.
"If the Germans have paid so much war reparations, then we will have no money to stabilize the country and heal the wounds of the war." Alexander Liebert said.
"If we don't agree to the conditions of the Germans, will the Germans continue to attack?" asked the Minister of War Alexander Millerand.
President Poincaré nodded.
Seeing this situation, Alexander Millerand stopped talking immediately.
"The second condition, the Germans require us to transfer all our overseas colonies to them." President Poincaré continued.
"The Germans really have a good appetite! There are so many colonies in the Republic, they actually want to claim them all, and don't leave them to the Empire? Do they have so many people to manage those colonies?" The Colonial Minister looked indignant.
If France transfers all its colonies to Germany. Then, he, the Colonial Minister, probably doesn't have to be any longer. This is an obvious thing, even the colonies are gone, what do you want the colonial minister to do? Do you eat rice?
"The Germans have always coveted our colonies, and, of course, the British. That's why they started the war. Unexpectedly, they won in the end. Next, the Germans are about to become the most powerful people in the world." A powerful colonial empire." Said Navy Secretary Victor Gagnul.
"There is no way to do this. Who let the Germans win the war? We have been defeated and can only be slaughtered by the Germans." Secretary of War Alexander Millerand said.
Although, losing so many colonies is a heavy blow to France. However, if peace can be won by abandoning these colonies, the ministers still have no objection.
"The third condition, the Germans require us to cede the territory north of the Loire River, including Paris, plus the island of Corsica. All ceded to Germany!" President Poincaré continued.
"What? The Germans want half of our territory?"
"Damn it, the Germans clearly want to destroy France. Given half of their territory, or the most prosperous and developed half, is it necessary for France to survive?"
"Fight! Fight to the end. Even if we can't beat the Germans, we can go into exile overseas. We still have so many colonies, we can organize troops in the colonies and continue to fight against the Germans."
Almost all the cabinet ministers were angry when they heard the news. They roared angrily, cursing loudly at the wolf ambitions of the Germans.
"The Germans are very clear on this point. If we don't agree to their terms, their army will continue to attack. Even if we go into exile in overseas colonies and continue to resist. The Germans will continue to pursue us until the All overseas colonies are occupied. In addition, in order to obtain sufficient compensation, they will wantonly seize wealth in France. If the French dare to feel emotional, they will not hesitate to carry out massacres. It is said that if that step is really reached, Germany People even plan to massacre two or three million French people to make other French people give up resistance and let them be slaughtered." Prime Minister René Viviani said.
Suddenly, all the cabinet ministers shut up, and their fear could be clearly seen from everyone's faces. The Germans have already made such a decision, and they clearly want to drive France to a dead end!