"Your Excellency, German Ambassador wants to see you." In Spanish Foreign Minister Preto's office, the secretary was reporting to him.
"German Ambassador? What is supposed to come has come! Let him come in!" Preto said. He knew that there was no way to escape. The Germany people must have come to investigate this time. If you don't handle it carefully and anger the Germany people, it will be a serious problem. However, he received money from Britain people and promised to have a tough attitude. This makes Preto quite embarrassed.
Soon, German Ambassador, led by the secretary, entered Preto's office.
"Your Excellency Foreign Minister, good morning!" German Ambassador looked very humble. However, the pride of diplomats from the world's most powerful country is faintly revealed.
"Good morning, Your Excellency Ambassador. Someone, please bring two cups of coffee." Preto ordered.
"Yes, Your Excellency." The secretary quickly brought two cups of coffee.
After some pleasantries, the conversation got down to business.
"Your Excellency Foreign Minister, your country suddenly regained Gibraltar, which shocked our country. It also affected the peaceful and stable situation of the Mediterranean Sea." German Ambassador said.
Preto frowned, Germany's logic was somewhat unacceptable to him.
"Your Excellency, Ambassador, Gibraltar has always been the territory of Kingdom of Spain. Our country's recovery of Gibraltar is completely legal and reasonable, without any problems." Preto said. His attitude became tougher. On the one hand, it was the checks from Britain people that made the difference. On the other hand, the attitude of Germany people is so irritating.
"Gibraltar is Spanish territory, and this is just what you claimed unilaterally. At the earliest, Gibraltar was a Phoenician settlement in North Africa and was conquered by the Roman Empire in the second century BC. The Arabs occupied it in the eighth century AD. It was not included under Spanish rule until 1501. However, in 1704, the British occupied it until now. Therefore, it is not appropriate to say that Gibraltar is Spanish territory," the German ambassador said.
He did enough homework before making an appointment with Preto.
Preto's face couldn't help but become very ugly. From German Ambassador's words, it can be clearly felt how great Germany's ambition is for Gibraltar. Otherwise, they wouldn't bother to look up the information.
"Your Excellency, Ambassador, Gibraltar is now the territory of Kingdom of Spain. This is a fact that no one can change!" Preto said.
"Really? Your Excellency Foreign Minister. You should know very well that Gibraltar was originally a colony of the Britain people. When Empire was about to launch an attack on Gibraltar, the Britain people suddenly handed over Gibraltar to Kingdom of Spain. This makes Empire have to wonder if there is any incompatibility between your country and the Britain people. A shameful deal. Empire has reason to suspect that your country has colluded with the Britain people. You have even joined Allied Powers. But the war between the Empire and Britain is not over yet. If your country joins Allied Powers, then there will be a war waiting for you!" German Ambassador said in a sinister tone.
Preto's face suddenly changed. He was not a fool, so he could naturally tell that this was Germany people threatening them with war. The meaning of the Germany people is very obvious. If Spain does not compromise this time, then Germany will go to war with them. Is Spain the opponent of Germany? That is obviously impossible!
"Your Excellency, Ambassador, you are slandering! Spain did not collude with Britain, and we did not join Allied Powers!" Preto said quickly.
"Hmph! Then why would Britain people give Gibraltar to you? If there is no trick in it, who would believe it?" German Ambassador snorted coldly.
"Your Excellency, Ambassador, if Germany invades Spain on the basis of imaginary excuses, the entire international community will condemn you!" Preto said.
"Whether it is an imaginary excuse or not is not up to you. Your Excellency Foreign Minister, please tell your country His Majesty the King that Empire's patience has its limits. At this time tomorrow, I hope to get a satisfactory answer! Farewell!" After German Ambassador said this, he left Preto's office.
Preto's face was livid, and after German Ambassador left, he started to curse, "It's too much to bully others! Germany's bullying of others is too much. Are they really able to bully other countries just because they have become the world's hegemon? Spain will not compromise!"
However, after saying that, Preto immediately asked the secretary to prepare the car. He had to go to the palace to report the matter to Alfonso XIII. Germany people have officially put pressure on Spanish government. This is a big deal! If you are not careful, it may become a trigger for war.
Preto knows very well that if the two countries go to war, Kingdom of Spain will definitely lose and has no chance of winning.
"Your Majesty, Germany has gone too far to bully others. German Ambassador has just officially raised a war threat to our country. If we do not compromise this time, the Germany people may launch a war against us!" Preto said.
"What? What should we do? Otherwise, let's evacuate Gibraltar!" Alfonso XIII said immediately.
He doesn't want to really go to war with Germany, because he knows that once the war starts, Spain will definitely be defeated. And as König, he will definitely not end well. Rather than being a king who subjugates his country, it is better to keep his current glory and wealth.
"Your Majesty, Germany people may not really dare to go to war. Perhaps, they are just scaring us. If we are frightened by them and hand over Gibraltar, then the majesty of the kingdom will be completely lost." Prime Minister Count Romanones said.
"Scare us? What if the Germany people are serious? No, this is too risky." Alfonso XIII shook his head like a rattle, firmly refusing to take the risk.
Preto gritted his teeth. If he really followed what Alfonso XIII said and compromised now, then Britain people would definitely not be satisfied. He would never get the subsequent eight million Mark money.
"Your Majesty, I also think that the Germany people are mainly trying to scare us. If they wanted to take action, they would have done it long ago. They are not vegetarians in the Gibraltar fleet. In addition, there are transport ships in the fleet. Obviously, there are army or Marine Corps people. The Germany people's invasion of Gibraltar was definitely planned for a long time. But they did not expect that the Britain people would hand Gibraltar back to us." Preto said.