Chapter 465: Quasi-Alliance
After sending Ferdinand away, Franz summoned his advisors to discuss whether it was necessary to form an alliance with East Africa. To be cautious, he decided to first consult the Austrian government.
"Why should we ally with an African country? Do we want to become a laughingstock across Europe? Honestly, even forming an alliance with the heathens of the Middle East sounds better than partnering with an African state—well, except for Egypt," said the Austrian Chancellor.
"But as far as I know, the Hechingen royal family of the East African Kingdom holds considerable influence within the Empire. They control crucial sectors of the imperial economy, including railways, steel, grain, and electricity. This is vital for stabilizing our economy and regime. If we don't choose to cooperate with East Africa, we risk harming our relationship with the Hechingen family. Besides, we have tangible interests in East Africa. The basis for cooperation exists," the Finance Minister countered.
"If the Empire joins with East Africa, I'm certain the Hungarian government will be the first to oppose it," the Chancellor retorted.
Franz agreed, "That's exactly why I've called you here. Working with East Africa would indeed harm our international reputation. And if we were to ally with them, would that provoke other powers—like Britain and France—to misinterpret our intentions and respond aggressively?"
"Your Majesty, that's inevitable. Every move we make is closely watched. Any sign of interest in East Africa could spark a chain reaction. The issue is, we have neither the ambition nor the capacity to colonize Africa. That runs completely counter to our continental strategy," the Chancellor affirmed.
"Still, we can't ignore East Africa's rising strength—especially in naval power. The Hechingen royal family has placed numerous warship orders with Austria. And because of Princess Karina, the royal families of both nations have decent relations."
"But that doesn't prove anything. International relations are still based on national interest. What benefits do we actually gain from an alliance with East Africa?" the Chancellor challenged.
Franz responded, "We don't understand East Africa well enough. Its geographical position has long been dismissed by Europe, but what is its true strength? How firmly does the Hechingen royal family control Africa?"
"You don't know, either?" the Chancellor asked, surprised. As far as he was concerned, the royal marriage should've given Franz insight into East Africa's internal affairs—especially with the East African Navy commanded by one of their own.
Franz shook his head. "I had some idea a few years ago, when East Africa already had notable scale. But too much time has passed."
"From East Africa's ability to purchase Austrian steel and warships, we can infer its national power isn't weak," said the Finance Minister.
"That's different. The Hechingen royal family's wealth must be viewed separately from East Africa. If the Rothschilds wanted, they could probably build their own private navy. Plenty of American tycoons could too," the Chancellor dismissed. To him, the Hechingen family was merely another nouveau riche clan—albeit one with aristocratic roots.
Hechingen's vast wealth was no secret. A single institution like Hechingen Bank was practically a financial empire. Many nobles envied them—but that was as far as it went. Firstly, nobles upheld unwritten codes. Secondly, the Hechingen Consortium wasn't just some dead asset—it was vast and dynamic, supporting the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers. Targeting them would be like stabbing yourself.
Unlike Jewish capital, the Hechingen Consortium focused heavily on real industry. While enriching its owners, it also created value for Germany and Austria. To hurt them would mean hurting yourself. For an old empire like Austria-Hungary, that was unacceptable—any shock could be catastrophic. No noble wanted a repeat of 1848.
"So the real issue is the Hechingen family. East Africa is practically their private property. The question is: do we align with them or not?"
The Finance Minister said, "I support cooperation. It would stabilize our economy. I believe the Navy agrees—without East Africa's orders, we wouldn't have had two new ironclads appear out of thin air."
"Yes, cooperation benefits us," the Chancellor admitted. "But East Africa's sudden request for imperial protection clearly shows they need something. For the Hechingen family to act this way, there must be a reason. What is it?"
Franz paused. That's right—why had they never made this request before? Now that they'd grown stronger, why were they changing tack?
The Chancellor continued, "East Africa must be facing a threat they can't handle—perhaps from Britain, France, or Portugal, all with strong African interests."
"Exactly. East Africa wants us as a shield against external threats."
"That would explain it."
"So should we do it? What if Britain or France really do intend to act in Africa—would we be dragged into it?"
Franz fell silent. If the Chancellor was right, this wasn't a simple decision.
"Is there a way to maintain friendly relations with the Hechingen family without getting dragged into Africa's chaos?" Franz asked.
After some thought, the Finance Minister suggested, "Perhaps we can engage in limited cooperation. We could court East Africa without becoming entangled in African affairs."
"How?" Franz asked.
"By cooperating under the name of the Austrian government—not the Empire. Austria alone does not represent the entire Empire. If East Africa gets into a conflict, the Empire can remain neutral. Since Hungary also influences imperial policy, the Hechingen family couldn't complain."
In short: Austria takes the benefits, Hungary takes the blame.
"Cough. Let's avoid divisive talk," Franz said. "But yes, the Austrian government can handle the matter separately."
The Chancellor agreed. "That's a workable plan. We'll negotiate with East Africa in Austria's name only—it won't reflect the Empire's stance."
…
June 1876
The Austrian government signed the "Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance between the Kingdom of Hechingen and the Kingdom of Austria," establishing a quasi-alliance with East Africa.
Hungary was immediately displeased. "What's going on here? Why didn't you consult with us?"
The Austrian Chancellor responded, "This was done for Austria's economic development. Our commercial groups have strong, tangible interests in East Africa."
Hungary replied, "Then why call it a 'quasi-alliance'? A trade agreement would've been enough!"
"We have our reasons. The treaty is limited to the Austrian Kingdom and will not negatively impact Hungary."
"So it doesn't represent the Empire?"
"Of course not. If it did, we would have consulted you," the Chancellor said, laughing it off.
This answer satisfied the Hungarians—for now. Their main concern was Austria not overstepping into imperial authority. If Austria acted alone, Hungary didn't mind too much—after all, it had its own foreign office.
Austria-Hungary had three governments: the central imperial government, the Austrian government, and the Hungarian government. Austria and Hungary each held certain autonomies. So Austria could bypass Hungary and form a kind-of alliance with East Africa. Thus, the two became partners—without becoming full allies.
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