The Rise Of Australasia
Chapter 526: Chapter 412: Land Exchange

On the evening of August 11th, Australasia's Foreign Minister Daize Taylor, accompanied by several subordinates, knocked on the door of the British Minister of Foreign Affairs Grey's room and personally delivered a well-prepared gift.

"It's Minister Taylor! Please come in. I wonder what brings you here so late; I was just about to rest and get ready for tomorrow's negotiations," Minister Grey said with a smile as he accepted the gift and invited Minister Taylor and his subordinates to enter.

"Minister Grey, to be honest, I have come here on a mission. Today's negotiations have reached a stalemate, which is not good news for us. If possible, I hope that both sides can resolve the territorial disputes as soon as possible, bring peace to the Middle East region, and deploy more troops to the Eastern and Western battlefronts, ending this war," Minister Taylor said with a smile.

"Of course, Minister Taylor. Australasia and the United Kingdom share the same origin. We are unbreakable allies and kinsmen. However, as you know, the British military has suffered many casualties in the wars in the Middle East. It is not unreasonable for us to demand the Iraq region," Minister Grey nodded in agreement but did not yield in his words.

"Certainly, Minister Grey. But as you know, in the war against the Ottoman Empire, the majority of the contribution was made by the Australasia Army. This includes defeating Bulgaria, the attack and defense of Constantinople, landing on the Anatolian Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula, and so on.

It was our occupation of the Ottoman Empire's most important grain-producing area that led the empire to seek peace. Therefore, I think our request for the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia and the Iraq region is not a problem.

If your country is willing, we can compensate and make up for it in other areas," Minister Taylor nodded without refuting the fact that the British Empire had made contributions, but also pointed out that Australasia's contributions far exceeded those of the British Empire.

"I would also like to say the same thing, Minister Taylor. If your country is willing, the British Empire can use other lands to exchange for Iraq and recognize Australasia's occupation of the Saudi coast of the Persian Gulf," said Minister Grey, smiling but with a firm tone.

The Iraq region is located right at the center of the Middle East. To the west, there is British-occupied Egypt, and to the east, there is British-occupied Afghanistan and India. Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e'-NovelFire.net

If Britain could control Iraq, it would also control the majority of the Middle East region. Coupled with colonies in Yemen and Oman, British territory in the Middle East region would be connected, further consolidating its rule over India.

Iraq's position in the Middle East is somewhat special. The Mesopotamian Plain is one of the few grain-producing areas in the Middle East and has a relatively large population.

The value of occupying Iraq is much higher than that of Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and the Saudi coastal region.

Moreover, Iraq's geographic location not only allows Britain to control the northwest Ottoman Empire but also helps defend against the Russian Empire in northern Iraq. It does no harm to the British Empire.

With such vital geographic location and economic value, Minister Grey naturally will not let Iraq fall into Australasia's hands, even if it is an ally.

However, Minister Grey's offer is precisely what Minister Taylor wants. Despite Iraq's higher economic value, the downside for Australasia outweighs the benefit.

Such a colony with a large indigenous population is not only challenging to manage but also likely to provoke jealousy and covetousness from other powers.

On the other hand, the small colonies of the Saudi Persian Gulf coast and some parts of the Arabian Peninsula, though still vast in size, have little population, mostly desert, less development potential, lower economic value, and less likely to cause discontent from other powers.

"In that case, Minister Grey, we do not want to break our good relationship with the British Empire. If the British Empire is willing to cede Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman, and the Truce Nations, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, we are willing to give up our claim to Iraq and support your exclusive occupation of Iraq," Minister Taylor raised his demand and expanded it slightly.

Negotiations between countries are no different from doing business. It is common for the foreign affairs departments to haggle with each other.

Therefore, Minister Taylor directly opened with a lion's share, asking for more than half of Britain's colonies on the Arabian Peninsula, waiting for the British to slowly bargain down to a range acceptable to both Australasia and the United Kingdom.

"Oh, my God. Minister Taylor, your request is absolutely impossible. Using so many colonies in exchange for Iraq would cause a devastating blow to the British Empire's control in the Arabian Peninsula," indeed, Minister Grey immediately feigned surprise and incredulously spoke to Minister Taylor.

"If your country is willing, we can use Qatar and Bahrain to exchange for Iraq and support your occupation of the Rashid coastal area," Minister Grey continued to speak.

"Minister Grey, your proposal is also unrealistic. Just using tiny Bahrain and Qatar in exchange for the vast Mesopotamian Plain would cause significant losses to Australasia," Minister Taylor countered Minister Grey in the same manner and proposed his terms, "Minister Grey, in addition to Bahrain and Qatar, we ask for Kuwait or the Truce Nations.

We are willing to give up the entire Mesopotamian Plain and immediately hand it over to your country for management."

It should be noted that the entire Saudi coast of the Persian Gulf was conquered by the Australasia Army.

This means that the British Empire would get the entire Mesopotamian Plain with just Bahrain and Qatar, a completely unequal exchange.

Minister Taylor's request is not particularly high, and neither Kuwait nor the Truce Nations have the area or development value of the Mesopotamian Plain.

Moreover, the entire Mesopotamian plain has already been occupied by Australasia, and the British only need to hand it over, occupying this plain without the use of a single soldier, which is a great advantage for the British.

Now it depends on whether the entire Mesopotamian plain is more important to Minister Grey and the British government than Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait or the Truce Nations combined.

Upon hearing the conditions given by Minister Daize, Minister Grey did not rush to agree or refuse but looked at Minister Daize and thought carefully.

Seeing that Minister Grey was already wavering, Minister Daize continued: "Minister Grey, Australasia is a natural ally and a blood relative of the British Empire. We are too far away from Europe and have no interest in European territory. If your country is willing, we can form a closer alliance and maintain the England-Australia alliance until after the war.

Australasia is willing to support any action of the British Empire in Europe in exchange for Kuwait or the Truce Nations."

Although the war brought the Four Great Powers of the Allies and Italy together, it does not mean that the Five Powers of the Allies are inseparable.

First of all, Italy, which performed poorly in the war, is not at the core decision-making level of the Allies, and its status is naturally inferior to the Four Great Powers of the Allies.

After all, it is a country that betrayed its allies halfway and joined the Allies. Although other countries won't say anything, they still morally reject such behavior.

As for the Four Great Powers of the Allies, their relationship is very complex. The Allies can be divided into the Anglo-French Agreement, the Franco-Russian Alliance, the Anglo-Russian Agreement, the Anglo-Australian Treaty, and the Russia-Australasia Agreement.

France and Russia have a good relationship, Russia has a good relationship with France and Australasia, Australasia has a good relationship with the UK and Russia, and the UK has a good relationship with Australasia and France.

But it's not over yet. Although the British and French have a good relationship, the British are also guarding against the French and Russians.

In this way, the only ally that Britain can trust and rely on after the war is Australasia.

Due to Australia's unique geographical location, it is the only country that will not cause direct conflicts with Britain, France, and Russia.

After the war, France and Russia will definitely expand massively in their native land and colonies, and Britain is the most reluctant to see these two countries become more powerful.

If France and Russia join forces, a standalone Britain will be powerless, and Australasia's support becomes more important, as it can be used to divide the Franco-Russian Alliance.

Hearing the hint in Minister Daize's words, Minister Grey nodded and laughed, "Of course, Minister Daize. Australasia is the British Empire's closest ally and the most valued partner of the entire British government. Our relationship should be closer, and compared to our relationship, a Kuwait is not that important."

Yes, Minister Grey quickly made a decision to add Kuwait and use Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain to exchange for the entire Mesopotamian plain.

As for why not the Truce Nations (UAE), it can be seen from the map as well.

Although Kuwait is also close to the Mesopotamian plain, it has a smaller area of land and far fewer people than in the Iraq region.

More importantly, compared to Kuwait, the Truce Nations are located at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, and the British Empire already controls the exit of the Persian Gulf.

In such a situation, a small Kuwait is naturally not as important as the Truce Nations.

Moreover, the British Empire's rule over the Truce Nations has even begun nearly a hundred years ago.

As for the Kuwait area, the British Empire only signed an agreement with the Kuwait Emirate more than a decade ago, turning Kuwait into a protectorate.

Although losing Kuwait would make the coastal area of the Mesopotamian plain narrower,

as long as they can control the exit of the Persian Gulf, it is the same as controlling the entire Persian Gulf coast, and Kuwait will not be that important.