"Your Majesty, the British have extended us an invitation. They plan to hold a naval arms conference in London this May to limit the arms race currently underway across the world!" Foreign Minister Metev said.
Ferdinand asked in confusion, "A global naval arms race? When did that happen? How did I not know about it? Has a new round of arms racing begun?"
After thinking for a moment, Metev said, "Your Majesty, the Japanese government has been stirring things up in the Far East. The British are probably targeting them this time!"
At the thought of the Japanese, Ferdinand shook his head. How had he forgotten them? Given the dreadful state of their domestic economy, it was hardly surprising that they had taken this road.
But even if they wanted to make trouble, shouldn't they first gauge the wind? The British had only just settled their colonial problems, and Japan had gone and delivered itself right to their doorstep. Did they really think the world hegemon was a soft persimmon to be squeezed?
Well, the Japanese government felt quite wronged too. They had indeed been preparing to make trouble. The problem was that before they could do anything, the British had dealt them a stunning blow in finance, leaving them dazed and dizzy. Before they had even recovered, this London conference had arrived.
"Let the Foreign Ministry handle it. This time, we're just going to be there for the ride. As for limiting naval tonnage, that's negotiable—as long as it matches our international standing!" Ferdinand said.
Metev immediately replied, "Yes!"
Yet inwardly, he was calculating what trick the British would play this time. The Royal Navy stood head and shoulders above all others; logically, they had no need to convene this conference unless they had some other scheme in mind.