Chapter 63: The Führer's Office Negotiation
On December 18, 1900, it was the second day of Arthur and his delegation's visit to the German Empire.
Following the grand banquet the previous evening, Wilhelm II had arranged for Arthur and his group to reside in the Berlin City Palace, providing them with excellent guest rooms and attentive servants.
Thanks to this, after a full night and morning of rest, Arthur had finally recovered his energy and began to prepare for negotiations with Germany.
Unlike the negotiations with Britain, the general framework of the support plan with Germany had already been roughly agreed upon between Arthur and Wilhelm II.
All that remained was for the diplomatic delegation and German officials to finalize the specific aid content and cooperation model between Australia and Germany, at which point the negotiations could be considered complete.
Lunch was delivered by the guards and had been carefully prepared by the royal chefs, featuring a mix of German and British-style snacks and main courses.
After a quick lunch, Arthur went to find Wilhelm II, hoping to move the negotiation date forward.
Fortunately, the Berlin City Palace served not only as the royal residence but also as Wilhelm II's main office.
Inside the emperor's office, Arthur successfully met with both Wilhelm II and Bernhard von Bülow, the trusted Chancellor of the German Empire.
Bernhard was a renowned statesman and currently held the positions of both Imperial Chancellor and Prime Minister of Prussia.
One of Bernhard's most famous statements exemplified Germany's new foreign expansion policy: "Let other nations partition the continents and oceans—Germany is no longer content with just the blue skies. We too demand our place in the sun."
Two months earlier, following the resignation of Prince Hohenlohe, Bernhard had succeeded him, becoming the second Chancellor of Germany in the early 20th century.
"Your Majesty, Chancellor Bernhard, good afternoon," Arthur greeted them.
Before traveling to Germany, Arthur and his diplomatic delegation had done their homework and were well-acquainted with Germany's key figures, especially its rising star of a new chancellor.
"Hahaha, rested up, have you? Arthur, I was just planning to come see you this afternoon, but you've beaten me to it," Wilhelm II said with a laugh, nodding at Arthur.
"Good afternoon, Your Grace," Chancellor Bernhard replied courteously.
"I've rested well, Your Majesty. I believe we can begin preparing for negotiations. It would be ideal to finalize our agreement before Christmas," Arthur explained with a smile.
The end and beginning of the year are important periods for any country, and Australia was no exception.
The official founding date of the Duchy of Australia was January 10, 1900—the day Arthur received his new domain.
Although Arthur wouldn't make it back in time for the anniversary, he had already made preparations. There would be small-scale celebrations and the distribution of gifts, all aimed at boosting national identity among Australians.
Also important was the government's annual conference. Even though the administration hadn't reached its one-year mark, a year-end meeting and report were still necessary.
Whether it was a cabinet meeting or the annual government report, Arthur needed to be present.
That meant the diplomatic delegation's time was limited. They needed to complete negotiations with Germany before Christmas, enjoy a modest holiday there, and then immediately return to Australia.
"I was just discussing this with Chancellor Bernhard, Arthur. You're right on time—let's sit down and talk," Wilhelm II said, smiling in understanding.
The German Empire and the Duchy of Australia shared a common trait: both monarchs wielded significant power.
With Chancellor Bernhard present, the three of them could fully represent both Germany and Australia in their negotiations.
They moved to the meeting room adjacent to the office and took their seats.
"Arthur, we have high hopes for our relationship with Australia. Germany genuinely wants to support Australia's development," Wilhelm II began.
"Australia also greatly values its relationship with Germany, Your Majesty," Arthur replied.
"In that case, I believe we can agree on the general framework of support. As for specific details and future requests, we can leave those to the officials," Wilhelm II said, smiling at Arthur.
"Delighted, Your Majesty," Arthur responded with a nod.
Leaving the details to the officials might prolong the talks due to debates over minor issues. Since both Wilhelm II and Arthur were aligned on cooperation, there was no need to waste time.
Given that they could essentially decide matters between the two nations, it made more sense to settle the treaty directly and delegate the specifics to their subordinates.
"First, the previously agreed five hundred million mark grant and the one billion mark low-interest loan. I've already instructed Germany's major banks, and the funds should be ready early next year and delivered to you," Wilhelm II said with a smile.
The five hundred million mark grant would come from the German government, while the one billion mark loan would be raised by German banks.
This arrangement reduced the financial burden on the government while also generating income for the banks—a win-win for Wilhelm II, who got what he wanted without incurring loss.
"No problem, Your Majesty," Arthur nodded.
The financial figures had been agreed upon earlier, and Arthur had no objections about the time needed to gather the funds.
"Next is the issue of resource and equipment assistance. I've looked into your mineral reserves. For industrial development, you probably won't need to import raw materials. Equipment details will depend on the assessments made by our industrial experts once they arrive in Australia, so that's not a current concern," Wilhelm II continued.
Seeing Arthur nod again, he went on, "That brings us to the dispatch of industrial experts. I've selected over one hundred specialists from Germany's major factories and military industries. They will be stationed in Australia for at least five years and will provide all the assistance they can during that time."
"However, all expenses for these experts must be covered by Australia. Do you have any concerns about that, Arthur?" Wilhelm II asked with a smile.
"None at all, Your Majesty. It is only proper for Australia to bear the costs of these experts, including their travel and all related expenses. We are more than willing to do so," Arthur replied, shaking his head.
The experts Wilhelm II was sending were undoubtedly more skilled than any Australia could recruit on its own from Germany.
Even if they stayed for just five years, the benefit of attracting such talent at a modest cost was well worth it for both Arthur and Australia.
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you enjoyed the novel, you can subscribe to my Patreon channel.
Until November 30st, get 40% off both your subscription and the purchase of your novel. Thank you for your support.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Kira1997