The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 405: Chapter 340: British-Australian Agreement

After several days of negotiation, on February 28, 1913, the last day of the month, the Australasian Government and the British visiting group reached a certain consensus on British aid to Australasia.

As both parties had a strong willingness to cooperate, Australasia wanted to obtain more assistance and gain more land and benefits in World War I to accelerate the country's rise.

As for the British Empire, it also needed countries like Australasia, which already have the strength of great powers in various aspects, and can provide the British Empire with mining resources, grain, beef, and mutton, medical supplies, and other logistical resources.

The navy of Australasia could also join the British navy in patrolling areas such as the Indian Ocean, protecting the British Empire's African and Indian colonies.

In this way, a complete transportation route can be formed, including Britain, France, the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the Indian Ocean, Oceania, the South Pacific Ocean, Chile, and the Atlantic Ocean.

This route almost covers all the colonies of the British Empire, important mineral resource providers like Australasia and Chile, and blocks Germany's access to external resources.

At the same time, if the navy of Australasia can share the pressure of the British Empire's naval forces in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean, the British Empire can mobilize more main fleets to the Atlantic Ocean and the European mainland to blockade Germany's transportation lines.

If this plan succeeds, Germany, no matter how powerful, will collapse under the attrition tactics of the Allies due to a lack of logistical resources.

In order to fully bring the country of Australasia onto their side, Minister Grey received instructions from the British Cabinet and was very generous in these negotiations.

In the preliminary assistance plan agreed upon by both parties, Minister Grey agreed to provide Australasia with approximately 30 million pounds in support in terms of funds.

Of course, this 30 million pounds would be paid over seven years, with 5 million pounds of aid provided to Australasia each year for the first three years, followed by 3.75 million pounds each year for the following four years.

Although this financial assistance does not seem like much, it is completely free and does not need to be repaid by Australasia.

In fact, the total amount of 30 million pounds seems quite significant. Even compared to the most advanced super dreadnoughts, it could build at least a dozen or so.

Even if the payments were made over seven years, the funds provided by the British government to Australasia each year could at least build one super dreadnought and one dreadnought. Arthur has no reason not to accept this, as it is free.

Both the British government and the Australasian government are satisfied with the financial assistance. m vl _emp y,r the story platform

For the British government, although the financial aid lasts for seven years, the highest cost in the first three years is only 5 million pounds per year.

For the British Empire, with an annual fiscal revenue of nearly 400 million pounds, this 5 million pounds expenditure is really nothing to them.

For Australasia, whether it is the first three years of 10 million Australian dollars or the following four years of 7.5 million Australian dollars, these amounts are not insignificant.

After all, Australasia's total fiscal revenue in the previous year did not even reach the level of 100 million Australian dollars, and the amount of aid provided by the British could give the Australasian government more financial reserves.

These funds, whether used for the people or the military, can bring many benefits to Australasia.

Both parties are satisfied with the agreed-upon amount of financial assistance, so it quickly became the first item in the agreement between Britain and Australasia.

Of course, compared to other forms of assistance, financial aid can only be considered an appetizer.

Both parties know that the 30 million pounds alone cannot allow Australasia to have a higher level of military and industrial strength and can only be considered a small embellishment.

If they want Australasia to willingly join the future European War, the British need to provide more support, including more land.

As time entered March, the discussions between the two parties continued fervently.

The next step in the negotiations, and the focus of this negotiation, is the scope and extent of British support for Australasia in terms of technology and personnel.

For any country, advanced technology, equipment, and talent are indispensable parts of national development.

Advanced technology and equipment constitute the present of a country, and a rich reserve of excellent talents is the future of a country.

Now that there is a big patron like Britain, Arthur certainly would not miss the opportunity to take advantage of the British.

At present, the proportion of global talent is as follows: 80% of top talents are in Europe, 10% in the United States, and the remaining 10% in other regions.

Although the clouds of European war are thickening, and European talents have been in massive decline,

it still cannot be denied that Europe is still the brightest pearl in the world, with the most advanced technology, the largest industry, the most prosperous economy, and the most advanced systems.

As the strongest country in Europe and the world, the talent reserve of the British Empire is naturally no small matter.

At least in the naval field, the talent reserve of the British Empire is the richest in the world, without any equals.

Due to previous assistance from Germany and Britain, Australasia's naval technology has already become world-class.