Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 719 - 627: Request from Charles
Chapter 719: Chapter 627: Request from Charles
Kobutsel and Count Rheinphels exchanged glances once again, each discerning a shared intention in the other’s eyes.
To tell the truth, the “Rhine-Saone Treaty” had brought nothing of what Austria had wanted.
At the start of the agreement, Austria as a whole had believed it could use this opportunity to penetrate the French market with its products and, by extension, dominate the Southern German market.
France had also allowed Austria to impose quite high protective tariffs on its own leading industries.
Little did they know, the pace of industrial development in France was astonishing; whether it was production scale, quality, or cost, it didn’t take long for France to completely surpass Austria, let alone the other Southern German states.
Even Austria’s traditional strengths, such as iron smelting and glass manufacturing, started faltering under French competition.
In the steel industry, France had invested heavily in the Southern Netherlands Walloon Region, establishing many iron foundries and employing very advanced smelting technologies. Every day, large quantities of high-quality iron products were transported nearby to the Rhine and sold throughout Southern Germany. In terms of quality and price, French products completely crushed Austrian products.
As for glass products, while Austria remained the largest exporter, the production process required importing soda ash and coloring agents from France—France’s soda ash was two-thirds the price of other countries and had an astonishing output, eventually monopolizing the European market. This meant that more than a quarter of the profits from Austrian glass went to France.
Meanwhile, French people, by using inexpensive soda ash, greatly reduced their glass production costs. Although they were still only able to produce mid to low-end products due to outdated techniques, it significantly impacted the Austrian glass industry.
On the other hand, French industries like paper, cosmetics, furniture, and chemicals, despite facing Austrian tariffs ranging between 60% and 80%, remained cheaper and better quality than Austrian local products.
Furthermore, at the time of signing the agreement, the French chemical industry had not yet developed, so the tariffs imposed by the Southern German states were only 15%. This led French products like soda ash and soap to sweep through Southern Germany overnight, leading to the bankruptcy of related industries in those states.
Additionally, the French were particularly adept at sales; the same quality and price of products, with some gimmicks and exquisite packaging placed in elegantly decorated department stores, sold several times more than Austrian products.
Although Kobutsel was loath to admit it, in reality, the Southern German states had gradually become a dumping ground for French products.
Thus, if it could be done as the English suggested, uniting all the Southern German states to renegotiate the “Rhine-Saone Treaty,” it was exactly what Austria desperately wanted.
However, there was still the risk of angering France.
Kobutsel had first sent away Grenville and then immediately reported the matter to Leopold II.
On his sickbed, the Emperor of Sanctum looked at the State Minister wearily and asked while coughing, “Baron Tugut, cough, what is your, cough, opinion?”
After a moment of reflection, the latter leaned forward and said, “Your Majesty, this is a good opportunity to change our nation’s trade situation.
“However, the British clearly aim to spoil our relations with France. And indeed, France might react angrily because of this.”
Leopold II, resting against his pillow, sighed and said, “So, cough, cough, should we ignore, cough, cough, the British suggestion?”
“No, Your Majesty,” replied Baron Tugut, “we should use the British intentions to our advantage and let them bear the pressure.”
“Please, cough, continue.”
“I think we could invite England to join the ‘Rhine-Saone Treaty’ and then have the British propose to renegotiate the tariffs.
“At the same time, let Salzburg suggest that we suspend the enforcement of the agreement during the renegotiation period and have all signatory states vote on whether to do so. I believe that, aside from France and possibly Baden, the other countries will agree to the suspension.”
“”In that case, even if France has grievances, it wouldn’t vent its anger on our nation.”
Leopold II coughed violently again and nodded, “Your method, cough, is very feasible, cough cough. Please go ahead and talk to the British. If they, cough, are reluctant to join, cough, you can offer them, cough, some benefits. For instance, improving relations with Prussia, cough.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
What Leopold II did not expect was that the next day, Baron Tugut proposed to Lord Grenville that England join the Rhine-Saone Treaty. The English agreed almost without hesitation, even suggesting that Saxon, Thuringia, and even Prussia could also be included in this trade agreement.
That same afternoon, Lord Grenville left Vienna and hurried to Wurttemberg to discuss the trade agreement.
In the carriage, he pondered and dictated a report to the British Parliament, which his assistant then transcribed.
Kevin Ronide looked at the draft report and hesitated, “My lord, this could involve our nation in risks. Congress might reject it…”
“No, the Prime Minister will definitely ask the members to agree,” Grenville replied with a smile. “Our confrontation with France is inevitable and does not constitute a risk.
“The Austrians want to use us to counter France, but they forget that this will also bring our nation closer to Austria. Moreover, the Southern German states will owe us a favor.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “Even if necessary, we can use our withdrawal from the Rhine-Saone Treaty as leverage in negotiations to threaten them.”
The renegotiation of the trade agreement was prompted by the addition of England, a vast market, and if the English were to withdraw, the unfavorable tariffs that the Southern German states dislike would naturally have to continue.
…
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
Paris.
Palace of Versailles.
Joseph checked the gift list transcribed by the Clerk and handed it to Eman, “Please have someone deliver this list to Twin Brothers Company. Have them complete the procurement within three days and transport it to Russia as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Joseph was about to head to the Petit Trianon Palace to discuss matters of national etiquette, when he saw his younger brother Charles pull away from his tutor’s hand and run in.
The young boy bowed to Joseph and then clenched his fists, his face becoming red as he loudly said, “Brother, please propose to Grand Duchess Alexandra!”
Joseph was momentarily stunned, but then noticed tears on Charles’s face, so he took a handkerchief from the tutor and squatted down to wipe his tears, smiling, “But you must give me a reason, mustn’t you?”
“I…” Charles hesitated, then puffed out his chest and said, “Because I want to play with her, and I want to beat her with a sword!”
Joseph laughed, “Oh? Then why do I need to propose to her?”
“Because she’s going back to Saint Petersburg!”
Joseph nodded, “She is going back for Prince Potemkin’s funeral, right?”
Charles burst into tears again, “If she could marry into the House of Bourbon, she could stay in Paris forever!”
