20) New Balkan League
After considering the situation, Geórgios I found that although the Bulgarian army was larger, the Istanbul area was close to Constantinople, and the Bulgarian army was to bear the major part of the war.
The Greek Army is still confident in its fighting ability. If not for fear of Bulgaria doing the dirty work, the Greek government is ready to take on the Ottoman Empire alone!
"Great, Ferdinand! I will bet on behalf of the Greek government! Put this one in the treaty, too, and don't you regret it?" Geórgios I said confidently.
Ferdinand smiled slightly, waiting for the Greek Army to show up on the field. There will be you crying then!
On August 12, 1895, Ferdinand signed the famous Balkan Treaty with King George I of Greece in his estate on the outskirts of Sofia, marking the initial creation of the Balkan League!
The treaty stipulates that: 1. The two countries undertake mutual defense tasks against the Ottoman Empire; once either country is at war, the other country must also unconditionally declare war on the Ottoman Empire.
2. Within three months before the outbreak of war, one must notify the other side to prepare in advance, or the other side can join the war one week after it breaks out!
3. The outbreak of war must be after five years, or Bulgaria will have the right to delay entering the war for one month! (Ferdinand proposed this because Bulgaria had just finished fighting Serbia and needed to recover.)
4. On the issue of loot, in principle, first come, first served in individual battles, joint battles are divided by the number of enemies destroyed by each side divided by the total number of enemies destroyed and distributed according to their respective proportions.
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In addition to the secret treaty, the two countries also signed a treaty of friendship and commerce. Still, of course, it was no longer Ferdinand and Geórgios I who signed it, and the ordinary treaty was naturally handled by both sides' ministries of foreign affairs.
The contents include: 1. The two countries grant each other the most-favored-nation treatment to facilitate direct trade and commerce between the two countries.
2. The two countries strengthen civil cooperation and encourage cultural exchanges.
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After digging a severe grave for the Greeks, Ferdinand returned to the palace satisfied. Since the Greeks were not on the right track, they could not blame him for the shady dealings.
However, a slight change in Bulgaria's strategy, again, is about to take place! The access to the Mediterranean Sea, and not always Albania, all based on Macedonia, plus Thrace, Epirus may be a better choice!
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In fact, Ferdinand did not care about the 'Balkan League', and the fighting ability of the Greek army at the end of the 19th century was really doubtful.
Serbia is ruined, and they will not appear in the Balkan Wars for at least twenty years. After twenty years, if Austria-Hungary does not annex them, it will be too late to emerge from the bubble.
Montenegro is too tiny in size. Even if it blows their wallets and bridges, the most they can come up with is that 20,000 to 30,000 troops can play the game.
The biggest purpose of the alliance was to cheer up the Greeks and encourage them to come out and challenge the Ottoman Empire. It would be perfect if, by the way, by the hand of the Turks, they could abolish Greece as in history!
If Geórgios I had known what Ferdinand really thought, one wonders if he would have been furious! Now he was returning to Athens with confidence. As Ferdinand asked for the war to be in five years, the Greek government had not even begun preparing for the war. Of course, if you want to do it, there is no money!
Ferdinand did not yet know that there were people who played on his ideas when too plotted against Greece. After the Second Bulgarian-Serbian War, Bulgaria came into the eyes of those who wanted to. This foreign loan became another game of the Great Powers!
Since the Bulgarians have presented their plans for loans, they have attracted the attention of the Great Powers. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Metev, the Minister of Finance Kennedi, and Prime Minister Konstantin have become the focus of public relations in the various capitals.
Of course, this is not a good thing because now Germany, Austria, France, and Russia have joined forces to form a consortium. The British Empire is naturally still working alone. In addition, the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and other countries also participated in the banking consortium.
Bulgaria will again face diplomatic choices, leaving aside others regardless. Bulgaria must choose between Germany and Austria and France and Russia!
The benefit of choosing German and Austrian is that they can repay long-term loans later. Once the World War broke out, German and Austrian did not have the ability to collect debts. After the Great War, maybe Bulgaria will be able to clear the debt of one hundred Leva.
However, Bulgaria was awkward in the next Balkan expansion. Would Germany give up the Ottoman Empire for Bulgaria? Ferdinand would not believe it anyway!
The key is the Russian Empire's response. Bulgaria can not afford it. Ferdinand does not think his political maneuvering is so contrary. He can be swayed!
Even though the German-Austrians offered more favorable conditions, Bulgaria had no choice. Ferdinand knows this problem; others also know it is estimated that the German and Austrian themselves do not hold much hope, giving the Russians more hope to add to the problem!
The British are worthy of being spoilers, and their ability to fool people is not a secret. In addition to loans, Bulgaria was advised to build a navy and invited to join the fight for African colonies.
The cabinet was confused. Even Ferdinand was secretly tempted. He knows the end of the 19th century was the peak of the Great Powers to divide Africa. There is no such store after this one!
If there is British support, then Bulgaria will focus on the full force, smashing all the fleet out, and will not be able to get a share of the pie in Africa.
Ferdinand still ruthlessly refused. The navy is not a day to build and wait for the Bulgarian fleet to form a fighting force. It is believed that it is not!
It was a big cake, but you couldn't eat it. Do not know if the Greeks were so fooled by the British, desperately wanted to get a fleet, and finally not get the colonies, but play a deadly fight with the Ottoman Navy!
Do you think that after refusing, the British are done with it? Next, the British Empire invited Bulgaria to join the intervention army to meddle in the Armenian question. Oh, and the Greeks were already on board.
This time the temptation is much greater. The three countries have joined forces to overthrow the Turks. In theory, there is no problem when the Balkans are left to the two countries of Bulgaria and Greece to divide.
Ferdinand knew that this was actually a huge problem. While the British Empire may be able to handle the Turks in the navy easily, the Bulgarian army is ready to fight the Turks alone!
It is not that Ferdinand looked down on the British Army. If not for the Boer War experience, the First World War, there was no room for the British Army to play!
Ferdinand had to use his prestige to forcibly suppress the turmoil in the people's hearts at home, but it also made him profoundly aware of the influence of the British Empire!