Chapter 0888: The Empire's Conditions

The war between Germany and Spain in Gibraltar captured the attention of the entire world. Of course, no one truly believed that Spain could turn the tide and defeat Germany. Rather, the debate centered on how long Spain could hold out against the German onslaught.

Both Germany and Spain kept the details of the conflict a secret, making it difficult for other nations to ascertain the true state of affairs. However, this did not hinder speculation regarding the situation.

Surprisingly, just one day after the battle began, the Spanish government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requested the United States to mediate the conflict.

This request astonished the American government. Could Spain really not endure for even a single day? This was far from what they had anticipated. Initially, they had hoped Spain could hold out a few more days, possibly even transforming the conflict into a full-scale war between Spain and Germany.

But alas, the Spaniards were not fools. They were not willing to court their own demise. Realizing the vast disparity in strength between the two sides, Spain quickly capitulated. They knew that prolonging the war would only lead to further losses. The wisest course of action now was to seek an end to the conflict. After all, if it escalated into a total war, there was a real chance that Germany would annihilate them.

"Have our ambassador in Germany inform the Germans of our request. Let us mediate this conflict!" President Woodrow Wilson said. Though the scale of the war had not reached their expectations, if the Spanish no longer wished to fight, then so be it. The alternative, of course, was too severe to consider: if the Spaniards were pushed too far, revealing the behind-the-scenes machinations of Britain and the United States could have catastrophic consequences.

While Germany was certainly aware of the covert actions of Britain and the United States, knowledge and revelation were two different things.

"Understood, Mr. President," Secretary of State Bryan nodded.

On February 1st, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany officially presented the request to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking mediation in the conflict between Germany and Spain. The use of the term "conflict" rather than "war" was clearly a diplomatic gesture, aimed at providing both sides with a graceful exit. This choice would make it easier to resolve the matter.

Both Germany and Spain accepted the mediation willingly.

Spain, unwilling to continue fighting and fearful of further escalation, welcomed the opportunity to end the conflict. Germany, for its part, had no desire to destroy Spain—its primary goal was to acquire Gibraltar. With Spain now requesting mediation, Germany's objective was likely to be achieved. In such circumstances, there was no reason to continue the war.

The venue for mediation was chosen to be the American Embassy in Berlin, with German Foreign Minister Wächter and the Spanish Ambassador to Germany acting as representatives to formally discuss the cessation of hostilities.

Before the official negotiations began, German Foreign Minister Wächter sought the Emperor QinTian's counsel on what conditions should be presented during the talks. QinTian's instructions were simple.

"First, Spain must cede Gibraltar to the German Empire. It was originally a lease, and since they are unwilling to continue, they should now directly transfer it to the German Empire.

Second, Spain must pay a war indemnity of one billion marks to the German Empire as compensation for the losses incurred during the conflict.

Third, Spain must cede the Balearic Islands to the German Empire!"

These were the only conditions QinTian proposed. The first two were not unexpected by Wächter. Spain, having failed in the conflict, was now forced to soften its stance and make reparations, including the cession of Gibraltar. This was entirely reasonable. However, the demand for the Balearic Islands caught Wächter off guard. He considered it highly unlikely that Spain would agree to this, given the islands' substantial size—over 5,000 square kilometers—which made them a valuable territorial asset for Spain, particularly after losing nearly all of its overseas colonies.

"Your Majesty, the first two conditions are likely to be accepted by the Spaniards, but the third, I fear, will be a much harder sell," Wächter said, his concern evident.

"With a firm stance from the Empire, I believe they will concede. After all, the Balearic Islands are simply an archipelago off the Spanish mainland. They hold little economic value for Spain and are of limited use. However, if the Empire gains control of these islands, our Mediterranean holdings will expand once again. The Balearics, Corsica, and Sicily will be strategically aligned, and we will build airports and ports on these islands to deploy aircraft and fleets. This will ensure the Empire's interests in the Mediterranean are further protected!" QinTian explained.

Germany, not naturally a Mediterranean power, had its North African colonies, but its lack of direct access to the Mediterranean left these territories vulnerable. In times of conflict, these regions would be prime targets for enemy attacks, and any reinforcements from the homeland would take precious time. In times of peace, the journey from Germany to the Mediterranean might not take long, but in the event of war, it would take much longer. Thus, strengthening Germany's presence in the Mediterranean was crucial.

QinTian even had a vision of gradually acquiring all the larger islands in the Mediterranean, ensuring that Germany could establish a true foothold in the region. Beyond the islands already under German control—Sicily, Corsica, and the soon-to-be-acquired Balearics—there were still Sardinia, Crete, and Cyprus that remained outside German hands. QinTian was determined to strategize and ensure his plan's success.

"Very well, Your Majesty, I understand what needs to be done!" Wächter nodded. Now that QinTian had clearly laid out his demands, it was their duty to work toward achieving them. Moreover, acquiring the Balearic Islands would be of immense benefit to Germany.

So, when the negotiations began, German Foreign Minister Wächter wasted no time in laying out these terms, leaving the American and Spanish ambassadors momentarily stunned.