Chapter 26-Across the Atlantic
Hearing this, Constantine also frowned.
The Congo River is such a large area and the territory of more than 2 million square kilometers is not so easy to obtain. A feasible strategy must be thought of.
"Banning, do you have any good ideas?" Constantine asked.
"Your Excellency, I think European countries are coveting African colonies. We are still looking for a country that is weak in African interests and has international influence. As a breakthrough for the Congolese Committee, we will open up the situation." Banning Said in a hurry.
With international influence and little involvement with Africa's interests, there is only the United States for such a country.
"Are you talking about America? What's the reason?" Constantine said.
The United States was first chosen as a diplomatic breakthrough, and Constantine was not unprepared.
"Compared with European countries, the United States is very special. Since the American Civil War in the North and the South (1860), Americans who settled domestic disputes have embarked on the fast lane of economic development." Banning had clearly planned for a long time.
"The biggest difference between the U.S. and European countries is that the U.S. is sparsely populated and rich in various resources. Whether it is coal, iron ore, or copper ore, the reserves are large. The area of arable land is the largest in the world and the existing population is far. It is far from enough to develop the existing land in the United States, so the United States' willingness to acquire colonies is very weak," Banning said.
To put it bluntly, the American land in North America is too fertile. The raw materials needed to develop industry, coal, iron, copper, and even oil, have huge reserves, and they simply look down on overseas colonies, especially in Africa.
In the northern part of Africa, sand is still sand. Libya, Algeria, Egypt, the most impressive are the endless deserts, such as the world's largest desert, the Sahara Desert.
The area south of the Sahara Desert, because it is located near the equator, has a hot, humid and rainy climate, which is not suitable for Europeans to live in.
Speaking of America's rich resources, Constantine immediately remembered the world's largest coal field (now), the Appalachian coal field.
It covers an area of 180,000 square kilometers and reserves 310.7 billion tons.
The Appalachian coal field is located in the eastern United States. The coal fields are distributed in the nine states of the eastern United States, extending from the northeast to the southwest, with a total length of 1,200-1250 kilometers and a width of 50-300 kilometers.
What is even more exaggerated is that the thickness of its coal is 500-900 meters, and most of it can be mined in the open pit.
What is even more disappointing is that the quality of the coal produced in this coal mine is not bad, almost reaching the level of bituminous coal.
The vast majority of American coal in the 19th century came from this coal mine.
Looking at the poor lignite in Greece (the worst quality coal, between coal and peat), it can only be said that there is no harm if there is no comparison.
Constantine only needs to think about these data, and his saliva leaves three thousand feet.
With such a resource endowment, it is no wonder that he can become the hegemon of the world.
Thinking of this, the desire to obtain the Congo River Basin does not seem to be so strong anymore.
You work hard to count the things you want, but big dogs don't like it at all.
"Well, let's start in America," Constantine said listlessly.
"By the way, if you go to the United States, someone must pay attention to it," Constantine thought of it alone.
"Sanford"
Sanford is the US ambassador to Greece, because Constantine's Africa plan requires the support of major powers, so he has been friendly to him.
"Yes, to become a US ambassador abroad, this person must have a deep network of relationships in the United States, let's start with him," Banning suddenly realized.
The three who made up their minds crossed the strait from Hamburg to London, and then took a cruise to the North American continent.
A ticket for a first class warehouse with a balcony on the cruise, asking for a price of 30 pounds, even Constantine, who is not so sensitive to money, lamented the high price.
The entire annual income of a British worker is about this price.
Cruise ships of this era, just like airplanes of later generations, are an indispensable means of transportation for international travel.
Sitting at the dining table near the window, the three of Constantine dines while watching the vast and undulating Atlantic Ocean, which is a pleasing thing for the eye.
At this moment, a 4 or 5 year old girl with tousled hair in a gray skirt and unkempt hair walked up to the three Constantines who were dining.
The girl's right index finger was in her mouth, there were some obvious dirt on her face, and a pair of big blue eyes looked at the three people pitifully.
The three of you look at me, and when I look at you, they all shook their heads, saying they don't know whose child this is.
"What's your name, miss?" Constantine asked, standing up and squatting in front of the little girl.
Constantine seemed to startle her, and took a step back timidly, only staring at the dining table.
At this time Constantine also reacted, This little girl should have come up from the lower-class warehouse. She was hungry and smelled the scent of the restaurant, so she ran to the restaurant.
Constantine raised his hand, and the waiter hurried forward.
These first-class customers will enjoy the most considerate service.
"Do you know which child this is?", Constantine asked the little girl.
The waiter just took a lot of glances and saw the clues, and bowed and said, "I'm very sorry to interrupt the meal of a few gentlemen, I will..."
"Go and prepare a lunch for this lady, a glass of milk, white bread, fried sausage, and, oh," Constantine interrupted.
Having said this, he really didn't know what to eat for four or five-year-old children.
"Anyway, prepare a suitable food for her"
Seeing that Constantine was not angry that the "inferior people" interrupted the guests, the waiter nodded and said yes.
The three of them looked at the relish little girl who was eating at the table. It was obvious that she was starving.
"What's your name?"
"Woooo Emma"
The little girl said vaguely with food in her mouth.
"Where are you from?"
"From below"
This answer is tantamount to not saying.
The waiter just now brought a young man sweating profusely and hurriedly walked towards the dining table where Constantine was.
"This gentleman said his daughter is missing," the waiter said to Constantine, pointing to the young man.
The man walked quickly to Emma, hugged him up, crying in his vocal cords; "Why are you running around, Emma"
Emma, who was held in her arms, held a fried sausage in her hand and handed it to the man. She said with a voice; "Dad, you eat it."
Seeing the three of Constantine dressed well, the young man explained uneasily, "I woke up and found that Emma was gone. I'm sorry, dear gentlemen, bothering you."
The man held Emma and bowed to apologize.
"Sir, you don't have to be so nervous, Emma is very cute"