The fool (April-June, 1889)

The roads of Europe]

1889 begins and the European situation is undoubtedly not the best, a long list of rulers of the great powers had been withdrawn or had died in a period of just 30 years, generally by murder but with few exceptions:

* Tsar Alexander II of Russia, assassinated in 1866.

* Napoleon III, laid off during the Franco-Prussian War, died in 1873.

* Sultan Abdulazis, suicide in 1876 (supposed suicide).

(* Murad V, deposed and locked up since 1876.)

* Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, assassinated in 1882.

* Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, assassinated in 1882.

* Kaiser Wilhelm I and Kaiser Frederick IV, death of natural causes in 1888.

* Kaiser Rudolf I, suicide in 1889.

This had led to the early rise of a generation of monarchs, and was one of the contributors to broad changes in Europe.

* Alexander III of Russia, reigning since 1866.

* Napoleon IV of France, reigning since 1869 (although initially under regency).

* Edward VII, reigning since 1882.

* Kaiser Wilhelm II, reigning since 1888.

* Kaiser Franz II or Franz Ferdinand, reigning since 1889.

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*Germany.

The death of monarchs, civil wars and victorious wars added to the opportunities present and seized by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, led to the formation of Germany, and later to an even more powerful Germany that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has under his hands. (under the monarch Heinrich I) and its colonies.

The German Empire is generally a land power in Central Europe with remarkable industrial development, and a war machine in its own right, however recent developments lead them to a constant collision course with other powers (France, United Kingdom, Austria- Hungary or even the United States).

It doesn't help that Kaiser Wilhelm II is increasingly taking command of state affairs, driving another nail in the coffin of Otto von Bismarck's political life. Among other failures is the growing division between the political left-center (Christians, Social Democrats, liberals, etc.) and the political right (conservatives, nationalists of pan-Germanicist origin).

The kaiser rules a colonial empire that extends from possessions in West Africa (Togoland), through East Africa (Tanzania and Uganda) to Indonesia and German New Guinea.

The naval aspect began to be a growing aspect of the Wilhelm II government, with Alfred Peter Friedrich von Tirpitz commanding the Marine-Kabinett of the German government.

A particular theory was developed, not only to defend the German colonial empire, but also to defend international interests, Germany needed a navy so powerful that it would force the United Kingdom (or other powers) to yield to certain points in Germany.

Such a theory would be important with developments in Samoa.

In foreign diplomacy, the German Empire has an alliance with Italy and pacts with minor powers such as Romania, being one of the main European trading partners of Russia and Mexico, the problem is France eager for revenge and the United Kingdom.

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*United Kingdom.

Albion was in danger, suddenly other powers simply stopped playing the power game as the United Kingdom had played, the table was thrown and the cards lost their value. Russia struck and Germany repeated with another blow, France fell and Austria-Hungary was a disaster.

The Russo-Germanic power was simply threatening everything that the United Kingdom, an empire based on trade and maritime dominance, had built through various methods.

While the UK's economic and diplomatic situation looked "good", the truth is that they were running out of options, narrowing down and lacking vision in many ways.

The war in Sudan was proving unsuccessful, their diversions of money to the Ottoman Empire and Qing failed to stop Russia and Germany, France was necessary but occupied important space, Buganda-Uganda and Kenya were lost, and the possibility of alliances with Japan, Irish nationalism was still a problem, etc.

As if that were not enough, the British Empire with all its power, lacked an adequate vision to learn, change the helm and solve its problems, they continued to play the game of the Victorian era when it was clear that Russia, Germany and even France had had enough of it. play that game.

The English did not think of industrializing their colonies, because they were simply a source of resources for home islands or strategic points. With this they lost valuable political allies and the potential development to stop Germany and Russia.

In turn, the British Empire could not put too much pressure on any group or abruptly change its current foreign policy, if they left France and Austria-Hungary stranded they would not get them back for a long time, pressuring Russia would be throwing them into Germany, and Germany was seen as the main English enemy due to its more aggressive ways of behaving in international politics.

At least with the exception of the Irish, the population of the islands remained relatively loyal, the enemies would never be able to reach the soil of the British Isles.

... To the rest of the empire, that was another matter.

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*France.

Generalissimo Georges Boulanger established the Nouveau Pays (New Country), the French economy was recovering by enormous strides, with a mixture of corporatism and privatization (with companies controlled by the state by methods, less legal), state works and the supply of capital foreigner with products of colonial origin (resources and labor).

This was used to strongly reactivate the purges, the French war machine and production, all aimed at the ideology of Bolangisme, revenge on Germany and a new French society.

Many freedoms had been suspended (civil and political liberties), while the army, secret services, and propaganda played a new and important role in a militaristic, colonialist-imperialist and nationalist French society.

There was only one thing, the regime and what was useful to the regime. And actually most people didn't care, because many of the extremisms of the new French state were still unknown.

In foreign policy is where things were more complicated, by simple necessity Vienna and Paris continued their alliance, and there was also London.

The problem was that London saw France as her artillery against Germany ... while Boulanger simply saw France, a France that was not a pawn of anything or anyone.

The French machine was making a comeback, and Boulanger was learning fast, the French equipment was modernized, there was a new generation of officers, the new methods of propaganda were being used, etc.

France was getting frighteningly close to the other great powers after their catastrophes, going from an agricultural nation to an industrial one.

But there were still a few more nudges missing, nudges that Boulanger was going to give in the early 1890s, before shaking up international affairs. When London learned that Paris is nobody's toy.

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* Austria-Hungary.

Franz Ferdinand inherited the cabinet from his cousin Rudolf I, a temperate and calm cabinet, but which, while useful, could not solve the problems of Austria-Hungary.

Austria-Hungary is the Central European paper tiger, powerful but unstable, surrounded by enemies, and with few real friends. Romania, Serbia and other Slavs, Germany and Russia would not hesitate for a moment to gut the second largest state in Europe (only after Russia) if the opportunity presented itself.

Paris and London were only with Vienna for convenience.

And why else would they be? Austria-Hungary was full of problems, the Hungarian military and civil administration against many of the emperor's interests, nationalists of all kinds, economic backwardness and other social problems, etc.

It was not pretty, Kaiser Franz Ferdinand was coming up with new ideas, the political ideas of a change, but unfortunately without much energy or capable administrators or the perfect situation to carry them out.

Something that hindered the military advance of Austria-Hungary, were various refusals of the Hungarians to contribute economically in a significant way to the joint army, and Franz Ferdinand now in the government would not help either, since he was against the strengthening of Hungarian units (prohibiting the Hungarian artillery training for example).

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*Russia.

Alexander III had been one of those responsible for the fall of the European order, a genius, a fool, no matter who he was, no matter what happened.

* Russian neutrality was a powerful weapon against Berlin-Rome and Vienna-Paris-London.

* The treaty of Paris had been avenged and now the Russian fleets were free, increasing and constantly expanding in research and others.

* Russia became an industrialized power.

* The largest country in Europe, and with almost all the necessary resources for the great state machine were there.

* Propaganda, a lot of modern propaganda.

The people of Russia, still considered barbaric by many, had adopted a new style of national autocracy, unique to Russia, for the average European Alexandrian Russia was so extraterrestrial that it could not be understood.

The tsar was simply strange: imperialist, nationalist, expansionist, industrializer, fond of the sciences, arts and animals, etc.

Russia was in a new position of power, on numerous occasions they simply threw themselves into their new game and perhaps by luck or fate they won (certainly not much people abroad believed in Russia's own possibilities or abilities).

It was a paradox, or Russia was so barbaric that she was not a threat, or Russia was so powerful that she was a threat to all of Europe. There was no middle ground.

The tsar commanded an empire that went from Europe to North America, passing through territories in Africa and the Pacific. And the sky was the limit of Russian ambitions, no, not even the sky.

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As indicated by various historical omens, such as some members of the Austro-Hungarian general staff, such as the Bloch Report, Europe was heading for a great war.

Product of the various historical events that occurred.

European imperialist ambitions in other parts of the world, pan-Germanicist and pan-Slavic nationalism, Boulangisme, the worst capitalist attitudes of the time, etc.

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[More antiques for home]

Tsar Alexander III visited Vienna after the funeral of Kaiser Rudolf I, he was not exactly a friend of the late Tsar but Rudolf and he were on positive terms (two emperors who lost their parents to terrorists and with many responsibilities, the difference was undoubtedly that the tsar and the kaiser did everything very differently).

Kaiser Franz Ferdinand was not as kind or friendly to Alexander III as he was to Rudolf, but he was not negative or hostile, just very ... neutral and not very energetic.

However, the Kaiser of Austria-Hungary allowed the Russian Tsar to go through Vienna shopping, in particular Alexander III was investigated in various historical and artistic collections that resided in Vienna or other parts of Austria-Hungary.

The tsar bought collections of various pieces, pieces from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, various parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Some older than others, for example the delegates of Tsar Alexander III found and bought pieces that went from the Holy Roman Empire when it was united with Spain.

That is how Moctezuma's headdress (feather headdress sent at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Americas) was bought by Tsar Alexander III.

Instead Franz Ferdinand not only received some money, but was also able to fulfill his own hobbies, such as some exclusive house permits from the Russian Empire.

Franz Ferdinand was such a fan of hunting that he collected more than 10,000 hunting trophies with which he adorned various imperial properties.

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[Sanctuary]

Back in Russia, Tsar Alexander III decided to continue to focus on his passions for wildlife, and money. Tsar Alexander III would order the construction of remarkable botanical gardens in St. Petersburg, expansions of the Moscow Zoo, and the world's first modern aquariums.

Although fish tanks and fish ponds were already for observation in various zoos around the world, they were not considered "aquariums" in the modern sense of the word.

Tsar Alexander III wanted aquariums with lighting, robust flora and environments, and multiple fish, a new tourist attraction for Russian facilities.

And obviously, what the Tsar wanted, and was within the scope of logic and a budget, could happen. With this, Russia would obtain other sources of income due to tourism and / or services related to these attractions.

Also the tsar could continue accumulating species of all kinds (common or in danger of extinction).

The expansions of zoos and the creation of botanical gardens were very similar, Russia had new lands that were expanding all over the world, with fauna and flora so disparate and varied that it would be a shame not to save it and / or use it in some way.

Tsar Alexander III also planned to export these projects to some Russian colonies (notably Novaya Gvineya).

The point is that Russia could benefit a lot from charitable works and the enormous biodiversity that it possessed, plants and birds of New Guinea, endangered species that were easier to find in Russia than in their habitat, etc.

Whether through tourism, hunting permits, research, or gathering, Russia could do good and earn money at the same time.

Tsar Alexander III was excited to buy and receive Tasmanian tigers.

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Among other projects, Tsar Alexander III began to investigate the possibility of developing a Marine Research Institute (Морской научно-исследовательский институт, Morskoy nauchno-issledovatel'skiy institut).

Dedicated, as its name suggests, to the study of the ocean, marine life and more.

It could and certainly would be useful in the future.

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[Military tests]

Of course Russia did not stop at all the most peaceful affairs of science, humanities and economics, wars were very important matters in Russia.

That is why Tsar Alexander III and the war ministry of Minister Iosif Romeyko-Gurkp and Deputy Minister Mikhail Skobelev had to review the results of their various military investments.

The first and foremost was the one referring to Sergei Ivanovich Mosin, who presented his mosin rifles, a three-line rifle to which the Russian government urged certain modifications (such as integrating a switch, etc).

The tests were successful, so in Tula under Mosin and the war ministry began preparations for the production and integration of the rifle in the Russian army from 1889-1891 onwards.

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[International]

April 1, new laws begin in the French state, the so-called Nuovo Pays, dedicated to the formation of propaganda, the continuation of ideological doctrine (boulangisme-Bonapartism, Catholicism and nationalism) and the standards of conduct expected of a good French citizen under the regime.

With the support of the elites of French industries, various companies under indirect state control, military power, and cooperation with local religious authorities, the Boulanger regime's grip on the population only intensifies.

May 1, an influenza pandemic occurs in the British Raj that lasts until 1890.

May 2, King Menelik II and Tsar Alexander III sign a friendship treaty, Ethiopia can trade with whoever it wants but it is simply more effective, easier and more beneficial to trade with Russia, while Russia is not the master of Ethiopia but it is a positive pattern and influence.

With this treaty ensuring investment, some Russian military and merchants continue the expansion of the Russian Somaliland coast, now the objective is to connect it with Kenya and secure the southern border of Ethiopia.

May 6, the reconstruction of Paris is completed under the Boulanger regime, and the French economy continues to grow and grow unabated.

The state-controlled Michelin company is founded, dedicated to the manufacture of rubber products for the French army and people.

However, France needs and wants more, which is why Boulanger fixes his attention on the African colonies of the Second French Empire.

June 6, the city of Seattle suffers a great fire that ends with the death of more than 2000 people.

June 19, in Italy the Neapolitan Raffaele Esposito creates the Margherita pizza in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy.

June 26, the Second French Empire under Generalissimo Boulanger begins to create military structures, move military resources and train military personnel in various African positions of the Second French Empire.

In certain cases, forcing the population transfer because the army maintains strictly prohibited territories in public view, mainly for military tests, military games and potentially other actions.

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[Samoa tripartite crisis]

In the archipelago of Samoa, there were a series of warships in the port of Apia, on the one hand the three American ships and on the other the three Germans, with a British cover watching the situation at all times.

What were the ships doing there? Well, big countries always intervene in the affairs of small countries for their own interests, and at that time Samoa was going through the First Samoan Civil War.

The war began in 1886, between factions that supported Malietoa Laupepa and those that supported Mata'afa Iosefo as the legitimate monarch (Tafa'ifa) of Samoa.

In this conflict, Germany supported Laupepa while the United States supported Mata'afa Iosefo. The German intervention was due to the destruction of some of its investments and attacks on its contingents in Samoa, but the United States wanted to protect its interests.

However an accident occurs in a funny sense, the Apia cyclone occurs, which leads to the destruction of the American ships and the English ship, but the German navy survives.

Kaiser Wilhelm II is only more convinced of how important a navy is to German interests, with the American and English lag in the region, Germany advances to fulfill its interests in the region, supporting Laupepa but making the mistake of not leaning on in other local Samoan leaders.

The German intervention in the region obviously only worries the British-American diplomatic services.

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[The Bullmoose]

* Theodore Roosevelt perspective.

"The Travels of Theodore Roosevelt Jr".

"After my travels through Alyáska, I ventured to set sail for the Pacific, and arrived in Vladivostok. The pearl of the Pacific of the Russian Empire, when arriving in the city the first thing that receives a traveler like me are the three gigantic statues of the Brotherhood.

They were quite a vision by themselves, the new colossi of Rhodes of the modern world as mentioned in various brochures and mentions of the statues.

The reception was great, but the city was even more so. The ports were overflowing with Russians, Koreans, Japanese, Finns, Americans, English, Germans, among many other ethnicities and cultures.

Leading to markets packed with produce, in Vladivostok I found Asian spices and spices that I had never seen before. When one asks about the origin of these products, they usually find their answer in Tsar Alexander III's 'New Silk Road', which linked Russian Indonesia, Dutch Indonesia, German Indochina, Siam, Korea and Japan (among many other regions). with the European market through the Russian railway networks.

This allowed for impressive raw commercial potential, and it goes without saying manufactured goods. Japanese-Korean silk, porcelain, toys, tools, etc. "

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[Russian Soccer League: Quarter finals]

* Saint Petersburg vs Kharkov: The Saint Petersburg team wins by 2 to 1.

* Arkhangelsk vs Vladivostok: Arkhangelsk's team wins by 2 to 1.

*Baku vs Murmansk: The Baku team wins by 1 to 0.

*Minsk vs Erivan: The Minsk team wins by 3 to 1.