Argument

3 p.m.

Nine countries—East Africa, Britain, Portugal, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, France, and others—participated in the Venice Conference negotiations. Naturally, aside from the few parties directly involved, the other nations were mainly there to make up the numbers. Worth mentioning was that the Boer Republic had also sent representatives, though the Boers could only sit in the observers' seats.

Count Aerenthal presided over the conference. "Gentlemen, it is an honor to have you gathered in Venice for this conference on reconciliation in the South African War. I hope both sides can sit down and resolve the South African issue calmly, making their due contribution to regional peace. Now, let us first hear from the British representative."

As one of the leading players in this conference, Britain was naturally the most eye-catching nation. It was also the strongest power in the war, so the British spoke first, and East Africa had no objection.

British Foreign Minister Salisbury spoke first. "The South African War is a conflict that took place in Southern Africa. From last year until now, it has dragged on for a full year without ending. The chief culprit behind this war is the Kingdom of East Africa's barbaric expansion in Southern Africa, which has brought a grave humanitarian disaster upon Africa. In Angola, Mozambique, and other regions, vast numbers of people have been displaced or swallowed by East African artillery fire. Tens of thousands have lost their lives. Furthermore, the Kingdom of East Africa has flagrantly ignored the sacred and inviolable principle of private property, wantonly swallowing the lawful property of local residents throughout Southern Africa. Therefore, on behalf of the British Government, I strongly condemn the Kingdom of Hechingen's crimes in this war. The Kingdom of East Africa must pay the price for this..."

Right from the start,