Of course, although East Africa still maintained its neutrality, it did not stand on ceremony before the bait cast out by Britain and France. Anything it could swallow, it would consider gulping down in one bite.
Two days later.
"Ambassador Thomson, East Africa has always been a peace-loving nation. At the present stage, we have no intention of participating in the European War," East African Foreign Minister Freer said with a solemn expression.
Yet Ambassador Thomson still did not dare let down his guard. Freer had said the four words "at the present stage."
While cursing the cunning East Africans inwardly, Thomson wore a beaming smile and said to Freer with a trace of flattery, "Your Excellency Freer, France has always known that East Africa is a great power safeguarding global and regional stability, one that has made important contributions to the peaceful development of the world."
"Moreover, our two nations share a long historical connection and have always maintained friendly relations. Therefore, France also supports your country playing a more important role in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic in the future, thereby advancing the world's peaceful and stable development."
Not a single word from his mouth was true. East Africa's history amounted to barely sixty years, and in those short sixty years, it had scarcely known a moment of peace. East Africa could be called the greatest destroyer of regional stability. Otherwise, its more than ten million square kilometers of territory and colonies could not possibly have been picked up off the street.
But circumstances were stronger than men. To win East Africa over, Thomson had even thrown away his face. After all, for a diplomat, speaking blatant lies with eyes wide open was a basic skill.
Freer said with a genial smile, "Not at all, not at