Make France Great Again-Chapter 767 - 758: Poland Discrepancy
When the grandfather clock placed in the ambassador’s hall pointed to 1:55, the French Empire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valerovsky, appeared before the crowd.
All present, including Earl of Clarion, stood to pay their respects to the minister before them.
Valerovsky, the arbiter of the entire peace conference, first glanced at the eight ministers sitting at the round table and then glanced at the envoys in the audience seats, and slowly spoke, "Please be seated, everyone!"
Upon hearing Valerovsky’s words, everyone present sat down, and Valerovsky slowly walked to the center of the round table, sitting with his back to the portraits of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.
Seated in his position, Valerovsky quietly awaited the beginning of the conference. Soon, the grandfather clock in the hall emitted two dull chimes, marking the start of the meeting at 2:00.
As the conference arbiter, Valerovsky solemnly rose and declared, "By the grace of His Majesty The Emperor of the French Empire and His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, I have been appointed to preside over this Near East peace conference!
I sincerely thank all the ministers and envoys present for coming to Paris with the concept of peace, participating in this conference that heralds the future of all Europe!
I deeply hope that through this conference, we can advance the path of peace across Europe!
Let the light of reason once again illuminate all of Europe..."
Valerovsky chose to set a grand tone in his opening remarks, highlighting the main theme of this conference, which is to completely end the war between Britain and France against the Russian Empire.
The subsequent so-called peace concept was merely routine rhetoric spoken by Valerovsky, as everyone present knew the value of peace, but knew that peace was hardly worth mentioning in the face of absolute interests.
If there were no sufficient benefits serving as the impetus for adventure, everyone present would become pacifists.
Though everyone understood these simple truths, they had to patiently listen to Valerovsky finish speaking.
After all, it is a unique right of the arbiter nation.
After Valerovsky finished speaking about the concept of peaceful development, those present also clapped according to custom for his speech.
"Thank you all!" Valerovsky humbly bowed to everyone present before sitting back down.
After the applause ended, Valerovsky again scanned the crowd with peripheral vision and spoke to them in a cadence, "Since this is the Near East peace conference, it cannot be without the countries of the Near East!
Minister Fuad..."
Valerovsky turned his gaze to Minister Fuad of the Ottoman Empire. After hearing Valerovsky’s call, Fuad quickly stood up.
Immediately, Valerovsky said to Fuad, "As one of the most important countries in the Near East, I would like you to take the lead! What do you think?"
"Of course, I can!" Fuad nodded and responded to Valerovsky.
"Then let’s begin!" Valerovsky replied with a smile,
Receiving Valerovsky’s go-ahead signal, Minister Fuad launched into full force, directly condemning the Russian Empire’s persecution of the Ottoman Empire, and claimed that this war was entirely initiated by the Russian Empire alone, therefore, the Russian Empire should bear full responsibility.
Following this, Fuad presented his "proposal" (in fact, it was discussed with Valerovsky beforehand).
In addition to the conditions previously agreed upon by the Russian Empire, he also hoped for the Russian Empire to withdraw from the Caucasus Region, allowing the Caucasus Region to become independent countries and providing the Ottoman Empire with a compensation of five million pounds.
Faced with Fuad’s conditions, both Nesselrode, representing Duke Golitsyn’s government, and Gorchakov Envoy, representing the Orthodox Monarchy, expressed opposition.
Gorchakov Envoy claimed that Fuad’s actions were taking advantage of the Russian Empire, and their aim was not to compensate for their losses but to eliminate the Russian Empire once and for all.
Nesselrode similarly claimed Fuad’s terms were too harsh. They openly intended to force Russia into demise.
He believed no conscientious country would allow this to happen. Having said this, Nesselrode looked at Valerovsky meaningfully.
Seeing his objective achieved, Valerovsky also spoke to Fuad, "Minister Fuad, we are here to discuss how to permanently maintain peace in the Near East Region, not how to destroy Russia! Your terms are somewhat harsh!"
Fuad hurriedly apologized to Nesselrode and Gorchakov after listening, and then sat back down. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Valerovsky continued, "Minister Fuad’s conditions are indeed somewhat harsh for the Russian Empire, but this opens a good start for our ensuing talks. I hope everyone can speak enthusiastically!"
Then Valerovsky turned his gaze to the audience and said to the state delegates sitting there, "If the representatives in the audience have any unique insights, they are also welcome to speak!
This meeting is not only for the Near East but for all of Europe!
Every one of your suggestions could become the cornerstone of peace in Europe!"
As soon as Valerovsky finished speaking, Prince Czartoryski stood up from the audience and said to Minister Valerovsky, "Your Excellency Valerovsky, may I say a few words as an old man!"
The nine ministers seated at the round table showed different expressions, with representatives from Austria and England smiling slightly; representatives from Switzerland, Sa, Turkey, and France appearing indifferent, while the representatives from Russia and Prussia exhibited expressions of helplessness.
"Of course!" Minister Valerovsky feigned ignorance and asked Czartoryski, "Mr. Czartoryski, I wonder which country you represent now?"
"Minister Valerovsky, I represent my homeland Poland!" Czartoryski answered Valerovsky with great solemnity.
"Poland, I believe Poland should be under the rule of the Russian Empire! Shouldn’t you and Russia be part of the same monarchy?" Valerovsky responded to Prince Czartoryski, pretending to be unaware.
"Your Excellency, we indeed developed under the protection of His Majesty Emperor Nicholas I before, but now we have freed ourselves from the control of the Russian Empire! Poland is now an independent sovereign nation!"
Although these dialogues had been rehearsed in advance, Prince Czartoryski still showed an excited expression when he uttered "Polish independence."
"Independent and sovereign!" Minister Valerovsky turned his gaze to Envoy Gorchakov and Nesselrode and asked, "Mr. Nesselrode, Mr. Gorchakov, is what Prince Czartoryski said true?"
"It is true!" Nesselrode and Gorchakov responded in unison.
Afterward, they did not forget to credit themselves, saying it was due to their monarch’s benevolence that allowed the Polish people to gain independence.
Prince Czartoryski did not refute the fact that Envoy Nesselrode and Gorchakov stated the Polish people’s independence as the retreat of the Russian army from the Warsaw region as voluntary by the Russian Empire.
Even though it was inevitable for Poland and Russia to become adversaries, he still hoped the time for the two countries to completely break off would be slightly delayed.
"Mr. Czartoryski, what system do you plan to implement in Poland?" Valerovsky asked Czartoryski once again.
"Mr. Valerovsky, we intend to implement a monarchy in Poland!" Prince Czartoryski said to Valerovsky, "Moreover, we have already chosen a suitable monarch in the German Region!"
"Could you kindly reveal who your chosen monarch is?" Valerovsky continued to ask Prince Czartoryski, with the purpose of making Czartoryski disclose the monarch candidate for the Kingdom of Poland to Prussia and the Russian Empire.
"We have chosen the virtuous Grand Duke Maximilian as the future Grand Duke of Warsaw!" Czartoryski replied to His Majesty Emperor Bonaparte.
Immediately, Prussian Minister Mantel, along with Nesselrode and Gorchakov, unanimously opposed Czartoryski’s opinion.
If Poland were handed over to the Habsburg Clan, the situation for Prussia and Russia would become dangerous!
At this time, Earl of Clarion also expressed his stance, "I believe Grand Duke Maximilian could become an excellent monarch, what do you think, Mr. Bauer?"
Clarendon turned his gaze to Bauer, needing the Austrian Empire to make a statement.
"I do not understand for what purpose Prussia and Russia are obstructing Grand Duke Maximilian from going to Warsaw to inherit the Grand Duke position, but we, the Austrian Empire, firmly support Poland’s decision!" Count Baur boldly replied to the representatives of Russia and Prussia.
Regarding the matter of Grand Duke Maximilian inheriting the position of Grand Duke of Warsaw, the Austrian Empire was ready to advance this affair even if it meant waging war with the Prussian and Russian Empires.
"Mr. Mantel, Mr. Nesselrode, Mr. Gorchakov, what are your reasons for opposition?" Minister Valerovsky asked the three ministers.
"As the Kingdom of Poland was once a vassal state of the Russian Empire, we should personally select a suitable heir for it!" Envoy Gorchakov confidently responded to Valerovsky, "So I suggest finding a suitable person in one of the small states in the German Region to serve as the monarch!"
"I agree!" Mantel responded immediately thereafter.
