African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1304: Chapter 313: The Temptation of India

Speaking of East Africa itself, there is evidence; for instance, the East African Air Force was initially established merely as an aviation unit to support the army. It is only in recent years that it officially became an independent branch, standing alongside the East African Army and Navy.

In summary, the East African Navy was burdened from the beginning with the mission of becoming a significant naval power in the world, an essential part of the development strategy for East African countries.

Such an important naval force aimed at contesting global maritime supremacy apparently lacks the historical depth and overseas bases it needs the most.

Frier said, ”During the South African naval battle, the British Navy crossed the Socotra Islands and launched an attack on what was then our northernmost port, Mogadishu.”

”Later, when the British Navy withdrew to India, they used the Seychelles as a transit point. At that time, the East African Navy was still weak in strength, so we could only shelve plans and retreat to the homeland. Yet, the presence of the Seychelles still exerted immense pressure on the Imperial Navy.”

In such a situation, how can others be allowed to sleep soundly by one’s pillow? The British, who control these strategic points in the Indian Ocean, possess the strength to make the East African Indian Ocean Fleet uneasy.

Of course, Ambassador Thomson naturally does not believe Frier’s words alone. If East Africa is apprehensive of Britain, conversely, does not Britain similarly regard East Africa as its main rival in the Indian Ocean? East Africa worries about Britain attacking the East African east coast, just as Britain fears East Africa might launch a surprise attack on Mumbai Port!

After all, in the eyes of the British, India is their cherished possession. To talk about exchanging the safety of India with East Africa is completely unnecessary and worthless.

Ambassador Thomson said, ”I remember the East African naval battle vividly. That battle between your country and Britain shocked the world.”

Although the East African naval battle ended in a draw, the then newly-formed East African Navy managing to hold its ground against the Royal Navy indeed left many countries and media astounded.

After all, there is hardly any country in this world that can draw with the British Royal Navy and even fewer that can defeat or dare to say they have defeated them.

The German Navy, currently the world’s second-largest naval force, does not dare to claim it can challenge the British Royal Navy. It continues to be blockaded in the Baltic Sea, and other countries, let alone compare to the British Royal Navy, find it difficult even to match the German Navy’s power.

Although the German Navy hasn’t achieved any particularly outstanding feats thus far, being able to maneuver with the British Royal Navy in the Atlantic Ocean is enough to earn other countries’ respect.

As for the East African naval battle, that was an achievement of the previous century’s Ironclad Ship Era. Nowadays, there’s no objective standard to measure the combat capability of the East African Navy.

The strength and combat capability of a navy have a big difference. For instance, the United States Navy’s paper strength is formidable with over a dozen battleships, but it lacks advanced cruisers.

It is unclear what the United States Navy’s thought process is. Although battleships are the main naval combat vessels of today, they cannot handle everything. Tasks like reconnaissance and cruising, escort, and destroyer missions in sea battles are cumbersome for battleships.

Currently, the skirmishes between Britain and Germany are exploration duels between reconnaissance fleets led by battlecruisers, while the main forces are light cruisers.

This also led to the mediocre performance of the U.S. Navy in the early stages of World War I, only being masked by the eventual victory in the war.

The East African Navy’s development is relatively conservative. Apart from attempting and exploring submarine and carrier operations, East Africa currently closely observes Britain and Germany in conventional vessel development, hence the East African Navy’s broad and comprehensive nature.

However, it is also difficult to assess how strong the East African Navy’s combat capability truly is. Ever since the East African naval battle, the East African Navy has been without real combat experience for over twenty years.

Thomson continued, ”The difficulties your country faces in the Indian Ocean are challenges we French are clearly unable to solve, especially since, Frier Your Excellency, the strategic focal points you mentioned are under British control.”

Frier sighed and said, ”Naturally, considering Britain’s entrenched presence in the Indian Ocean, we East Africans are merely a latecomer nation with inherent shortcomings, particularly in lacking stable naval bases in the Indian Ocean.”

Ambassador Thomson said, ”Since this is the case, even though we French don’t have great capabilities in the Indian Ocean, we still possess several barren territories, and I wonder if they can assist your country.”

With these words, Ambassador Thomson effectively laid all his cards on the table, having paved the way for the coming transaction through this long conversation with Frier.

Frier obligingly inquired, ”What does your esteemed country have that could assist East Africa? If it can solve our problems, East Africa would certainly reciprocate.”

Ambassador Thomson said, ”Frier Your Excellency also knows that our presence in the Indian Ocean is quite insignificant today, and as our country has shifted its focus to other regions, such as Europe, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, our emphasis on the Indian Ocean has decreased further.”

”We have a few colonies in India and are willing to trade our eastern Indian outpost and additionally offer to sell Rodrigues Island of Mauritius to your esteemed country.”

”The Empire’s three tracts of land in India include locally governed Yan, and Galligal, and I believe your esteemed country might be interested in these three places.”

”As for Rodrigues Island, I believe Your Excellency is quite familiar with it, located to the east of the main island of Mauritius.”

France once battled Britain for over fifty years in India, only to end up left with five colonies. Besides the three mentioned by Ambassador Thomson, there is one on the Indian West Coast, Ma’ey, and Chandernagore in the Indian Northeast.

Evidently, even when attempting to draw East Africa into a conflict with Britain over India, the French did not forget to keep a foothold for themselves, with one colonial outpost on both the east and west coasts.

After all, the French are also covetous of India! However, they lack the power to compete with Britain. In such a case, why not let East Africa disrupt the Indian scenario? Perhaps in the future, France might benefit from the confusion.

The remaining two colonies are the last hope of French India. Of course, there’s another consideration for handing the other three to East Africa: these three locations are close to each other.

Since Britain has been rooted in India for so long, France fears East Africa might be ineffective in the Indian theater. These three closely located colonies make it easier for East Africa, newly entering India, to confront Britain.

As for Rodrigues Island, it’s a volcanic island about five hundred kilometers from Mauritius, yet it does have development conditions. In previous lives, nearly forty thousand people lived on this island, and there’s potential for port construction.

It’s just that France previously prioritized the development of Reunion and Mauritius, which led to the neglect of Rodrigues Island.

From what France has presented as bargaining chips, Rodrigues Island is the most appealing to Frier. Controlling this island means East Africa would have a stable foothold east of Madagascar.

Actually, France initially had no intention of giving this island to East Africa. They first wanted to negotiate using islands from the former French Southern and Antarctic Territories.

However, the French Government eventually abandoned this idea, realizing these islands held no value. Proximity to Antarctica meant they were uninhabitable and unsuitable for long-term residence.

Thus, offering a developable, albeit less key, Rodrigues Island seemed more sincere.

Regarding the French Government’s generosity, Frier felt secretly pleased. Although aware that what France offered was a poisoned bait, Frier was not the least bit concerned.

The principal issue laid by the French is India’s three colonial outposts. They seek to inconvenience the British in the future, while East Africa certainly will not fear Britain, especially within the Indian Ocean realm.

Hence, Frier believed that agreeing to the French terms was feasible. Nonetheless, Frier would not employ rhetoric such as ”non-intervention promises” concerning matters involving the core interests of the East African countries to achieve these terms.