Chapter 0651: The Exorbitant Reparations

"Your Excellency, this war has now been ongoing for nearly a year. In this time, both of our nations have suffered tremendous losses, with countless lives lost and unimaginable wealth expended. The only outcome this war has brought is destruction. The French Republic yearns for peace and no longer wishes to continue this conflict. This would not only benefit France, but also the German Empire." Théophile Delcassé delivered this pompous opening speech.

Clearly, the French were no match for the Germans. They could not endure much longer, and the very survival of France was at risk. Yet, in an effort to preserve the dignity of the Republic, they used their citizens as an excuse. Naturally, this was a tactic all too familiar to politicians.

Von Kidderlin-Washit, observing Delcassé's performance, made no attempt to expose the pretense. The French were already in dire straits, so why unmask them now? After all, Germany would show no mercy in these negotiations.

"Yes, Minister. The German Empire also does not wish for this war to continue. That is precisely why we agreed to enter into peace talks with France," Washit replied.

Delcassé seemed quite satisfied that both nations had reached a consensus on this matter. It was, without a doubt, a good beginning for the negotiations.

"Minister, I believe we will reach an agreement very swiftly this time," Delcassé said.

Washit nodded, then continued, "Minister, I must inform you that due to the urgency of the situation, we have only three days for these talks. If we have not come to an agreement by then, I fear I will have no choice but to declare the negotiations a failure."

Delcassé was taken aback. He could not understand why Washit's tone had changed so suddenly. How could such negotiations possibly be concluded in just three days? If the differences between the two parties were substantial, even three months would not be enough! He was at a loss as to why Washit's attitude had shifted so dramatically.

"Your Excellency, three days is far too short!" Delcassé exclaimed.

"Not at all. If we can reach an agreement, we won't need three days—one day will suffice," Washit retorted.

Delcassé felt a wave of unease. He could sense that the Germans' stance this time would be very firm. A sense of helplessness washed over him, though he was powerless to change it.

"Very well, Minister, let us not waste time. Let us begin," Washit urged.

Delcassé nodded.

"Minister, given that the German Empire has suffered immensely in this war, and considering that it was the Entente Powers who instigated this conflict, the German Empire believes that the French Republic must provide reparations," Washit stated.

Delcassé opened his mouth to refute the German claim that the responsibility for the war lay with France, but ultimately said nothing. He understood that the Germans were now demanding war reparations—a typical move in such negotiations. Even if he objected, it would be of no use.

After all, following their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the Germans had extracted fifty billion francs in reparations. What was uncertain now was how much more they would demand this time.

"Your Excellency, France has also suffered catastrophic losses in this war. Much of our territory has been reduced to ashes. If the German demand for reparations is too high, we may not be able to meet it," Delcassé began to plead. Given that reparations were unavoidable, he was eager to minimize the payment.

Washit ignored Delcassé's appeals and directly stated the sum: "The German Empire believes that France should pay a total of one hundred billion marks in reparations. This amount seems appropriate."

"What? One hundred billion? One hundred billion marks? How could this be?" Delcassé sprang to his feet. This figure was nothing short of astronomical.

He had initially thought the Germans might demand two or three hundred billion marks. While that would still have been a large sum, it would have been manageable for France. However, one hundred billion marks—this was beyond what he had ever imagined. Even if the French sold everything, they could not possibly raise such an amount! Of course, if their overseas investments were factored in, it might come close to one hundred billion marks. But if France were to hand that over to Germany, how would they fund their own reconstruction? After all, much of France was on the brink of ruin, and rebuilding would require vast amounts of capital.

"Minister, one hundred billion marks is not excessive. The casualties suffered by the German army on the French front, as well as the war material expended, were equally severe. Moreover, we do not believe that France is incapable of raising one hundred billion marks. Reliable information indicates that France's overseas investments exceed one thousand billion francs. Therefore, this amount of reparations is not unreasonable," Washit replied firmly.

"Minister, are you truly trying to take the last franc from us? If France is forced to pay such an enormous amount in reparations, it would spell the end for us. We, too, have suffered tremendous losses. Thousands of our people are in urgent need of care. Vast areas of rubble must be cleared. Our citizens cannot even feed themselves. All of this requires funding," Delcassé said, his voice tinged with desperation.

Washit, however, remained unmoved. What did the fate of the French matter to Germany? The more France was weakened, the more advantageous it would be for Germany. Though France had been defeated in this war, the Germans knew that the French would never forgive them. The French would surely wait for their chance to exact revenge. Therefore, Germany's goal in these negotiations was to cripple France completely, to ensure that it could never retaliate. Only then could Germany feel truly secure.

"Minister, France can pay two hundred billion marks in reparations. This would demonstrate our sincerity," Delcassé said, his voice strained.