Make France Great Again-Chapter 768 - 759: Rehashing Old Grievances and Shelving Disputes
The already foreseeing opposition from the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire, Valerovsky remained calmly seated in the chair. As the arbiter, the more tense the situation became, the less he could afford to step directly into the arena.
"Since everyone has different opinions on the issue of the succession of the Kingdom of Poland, I suggest that we temporarily set aside the issue of the Polish monarch! After we solve all the other issues, we can discuss the candidate for the Polish monarch! What do you all think?" Valerovsky proposed in a neutral tone.
As soon as Valerovsky finished speaking, Count Baur and the Earl of Clarion looked surprised. They didn’t understand what kind of game Valerovsky was playing. Grand Duke Maximilian was clearly a person personally chosen by Jerome Bonaparte. Why was Valerovsky not siding with them?
Likewise, Mantel, Gorchakov, and Nesselrode also showed some surprise. They also believed that in this matter, France and Austria were on the same front. Could there be any turning point?
Of course, the most surprised person present was Prince Czartoryski, who was also bewildered by Valerovsky’s maneuver.
Could it be that France was going to change its stance again?
"I agree!" Mantel promptly agreed with Valerovsky’s opinion.
The best outcome in this matter would be for Grand Duke Maximilian to give up the Polish throne, and the worst outcome was merely agreeing to Grand Duke Maximilian’s ascension.
Since Valerovsky suggested setting it aside for now, they had no reason to disagree.
"I agree as well!" Gorchakov Envoy and Nesselrode also responded similarly.
Then, Valerovsky turned his gaze to Sardinia, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire.
The three Ministers of Foreign Affairs also followed Valerovsky’s lead and agreed to temporarily set it aside.
Thus, the issue of the choice of the Polish monarch was temporarily set aside.
Next, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden stood up to explain to everyone the historical connection between the Grand Duchy of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, hoping to re-merge the Grand Duchy of Finland with the Kingdom of Sweden.
"Mr. Nesselrode, Mr. Gorchakov, what do you two think?" Valerovsky asked Nesselrode and Gorchakov for their opinions.
With no Russian troops left within the current Grand Duchy of Finland, the two could only express their willingness to support the Kingdom of Sweden in re-merging the Grand Duchy of Finland.
However, as a diplomat from the Golitsyn government, Nesselrode discreetly requested from Valerovsky that the Karelia region should remain under the control of the Russian Empire to prevent potential conflicts between the Kingdom of Sweden and Russia.
"What do you think?" Valerovsky turned his gaze to the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden.
"Of course!" The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden understood that on this issue, they couldn’t press too hard on the Russian Empire, so it was acceptable for the Karelia region to remain with the Russian Empire.
Subsequently, Gorchakov Envoy also made a suggestion: since this involved territorial exchanges, perhaps the Kingdom of Sweden should also return the Kingdom of Norway, obtained at the Vienna Congress, to the Kingdom of Denmark.
Upon hearing this suggestion, the Kingdom of Denmark felt as though they had been hit by a windfall from the sky.
Could it be that during this Paris Peace Conference, they (Denmark) would not only be able to reclaim the islands seized by the Russian Empire but also regain Norway, which was lost at the Vienna Congress?
If Denmark regained the Kingdom of Norway, they would essentially lock down the entire Baltic Sea.
In the future, ships passing through the Baltic Sea would have to pay taxes to the Kingdom of Denmark, promising a prosperous future for Denmark.
Of course, all of this depended on what France, England, and Austria had to say!
In response to Gorchakov Envoy’s malicious suggestion, the Foreign Minister of Sweden immediately shifted the conflict toward Prussia in hopes of gaining support from the Austrian Empire.
Thus, the Swedish Foreign Minister angrily informed Gorchakov Envoy that during the Vienna Congress, the Kingdom of Sweden not only lost Finland but also Pomerania.
To ask Sweden to give up Norway, Prussia must return Pomerania.
An unsuspecting Mantel looked perplexedly at the Swedish Foreign Minister; he couldn’t comprehend whether the swords of the Prussian Kingdom had grown dull, or if Sweden was overconfident, as the conflict between Sweden and the Russian Empire had now dragged in the Kingdom of Prussia.
Since Sweden was willing to bring up old grievances, Mantel unhesitatingly did the same.
Mantel responded to the Swedish Foreign Minister that Prussia could return Pomerania, but they hoped the territory lost at the Vienna Congress—namely Prussian Poland—would be returned, and naturally, Prussia would return Pomerania.
This decision immediately met with opposition from the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Britain.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saxony also stood up to demand the Kingdom of Prussia return the Saxon territories seized at the Vienna Congress.
...
Seeing the situation edging closer to being out of control, Valerovsky knocked on the table, bringing silence to the entire hall.
After a while, Valerovsky spoke solemnly, "Please calm down, everyone! This peace conference is to discuss peace in Europe, not for you to settle old scores!
If we proceed according to your ideas, Europe might once again undergo a massive upheaval!"
Everyone present inwardly agreed with Valerovsky’s words, understanding that this path of settling old scores would inevitably lead to another war.
"As for the issue of Norway’s ownership..." Valerovsky pondered for a moment before turning to the Kingdom of Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and said, "Why don’t we let the citizens of Norway decide for themselves, what do you think?"
"Agreed!" The Swedish minister nodded in response to Valerovsky.
After all, since the entire Norway is under their control, they can certainly make decisions on behalf of all Norwegian citizens!
"Mr. Gorchakov, what do you think?" Valerovsky turned his gaze towards Gorchakov Envoy.
Initially wanting to stir the waters, Gorchakov Envoy, upon seeing Valerovsky stepping in directly, had to withdraw his actions.
"Alright, let’s move on to the next issue!" Valerovsky nodded with satisfaction.
...
The entire meeting lasted nearly 5 hours and officially adjourned at 7 p.m.
The ministers left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in carriages, while Valerovsky ordered his Secretary of State to compile the records of today’s meeting. He was planning to go to the Tuileries Palace to report the entire meeting proceedings to Jerome Bonaparte.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over half an hour to compile all the contents of the meeting records and then handed them over to Valerovsky.
Valerovsky, holding the compiled contents, got into a carriage to head to the Tuileries Palace,
When Valerovsky entered the Tuileries Palace and found the Chief Steward Mokar, Mokar told Valerovsky that the Emperor was dining in the dining room.
"Then please take me to the study!" Valerovsky decided to wait in the study for the Emperor to finish dining.
"Please follow me!" Mokar led Valerovsky to Jerome Bonaparte’s study, then turned and left.
A while later, Mokar reappeared in front of Valerovsky, "Mr. Valerovsky, His Majesty invites you to dine with him!"
Valerovsky placed the meeting records on the desk and followed Mokar to the dining room. Upon entering, he saw not only Jerome Bonaparte but also Empress Augusta present.
Immediately, Valerovsky’s expression became slightly awkward, feeling as though he was an extra person.
"Valerovsky, have a seat!" Jerome Bonaparte, while scooping a spoonful of soup, pointed to a vacant seat on his left and invited Valerovsky to sit.
"Yes!" Valerovsky sat at Jerome Bonaparte’s left.
After the banquet ended, Valerovsky felt a sense of exhaustion.
After the banquet, Empress Augusta reminded Jerome Bonaparte not to stay up late and then returned to her room.
Watching Empress Augusta disappear down the hallway, Jerome Bonaparte, with his back to Valerovsky, reprimanded with a slight anger, "Valerovsky, I need an explanation!"
Valerovsky immediately realized Jerome Bonaparte was already aware of what happened in the hall, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, please move to the study! I will explain to you personally!"
"Alright!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and followed Valerovsky to the study.
"Your Majesty, these are today’s meeting records! Please have a look!" Valerovsky respectfully handed the meeting records to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte flipped through the meeting records page by page, satisfied with all the contents except the issue concerning the Polish monarch.
"Valerovsky!" Jerome Bonaparte’s tone softened a bit, "Do you have any different opinions on the issue of the Polish monarch?"
Valerovsky respectfully conveyed his judgment to Jerome Bonaparte, stating that the issue of the Polish monarch involved too many countries. The French Empire, although having already appointed Grand Duke Maximilian as the King of Poland, should not directly take sides.
This is because the French Empire is currently in an arbitrator’s position, and all interests should be maintained under the guise of "neutrality."
Therefore, the promotion of the Polish monarch’s candidate should be handed over to the Austrian Empire. They can ally with other countries to jointly pressure the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire, making Prussia and Russia abandon their propositions.
In this way, under the guise of an arbitrator, the French Empire can declare the Austrian Empire victorious.
