Chapter 380: Influence
Without a single exception, representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and Spain appeared at the negotiating table. Unable to get what they wanted through secret talks, the Southern Government did not hesitate to invite the great powers to intervene.
Balancing the strength of the North and South was the shared desire of all four nations. The Northern Government's overall national power exceeded that of the South, so it naturally became the target everyone wanted to restrain.
Even Indian representatives appeared at the negotiating table. Don't talk about racial conflicts or white supremacy—before interests, all of that had to take a back seat.
Of course, the Indians, being the weakest force, were merely present as observers. They only needed to wait for the outcome; they still had no voice at the negotiating table.
As a loose alliance of tribes, the Indians were far too weak, equivalent only to a federal state. They could not be mentioned in the same breath as either the North or the South.
From the very beginning of the conference, the North and South argued endlessly over legal issues. Their private secret contacts were concealed by both sides.
Contacting the enemy in private without parliamentary approval was the sort of thing that could not see the light of day. Once exposed, it would become a political crisis.
Just as the talks began, news also arrived of the Russo-American Joint Fleet's results in suppressing pirates in the Channel Islands of the United States. How many pirates they had killed was unknown for the moment, but the Russo-American Joint Fleet had practically been wiped out to the last man.
"The navy lost to pirates" was not exactly news. If a naval vessel occasionally found itself alone, it was understandable for it to lose to pirates.