Chapter 416: The Second Industrial Revolution Begins
Franz was very busy. After the localization of the African colonies was approved, more than a dozen colonial cities had already submitted applications.
There was no doubt that this was a roundabout route. Let the regions that met the requirements localize first; the rest could wait until they met the requirements.
After all, these cities were the cores of the colonies. They would still be entrusted with administering the surrounding regions, which could be split off later once they developed.
This was the consensus reached between the Vienna Government and the colonial powerholders. No one wanted to agitate for independence now, so naturally no one cared about the administrative divisions.
To show how seriously he took the matter, Franz personally received the colonial representatives. These nobles were his supporters and would also be the cornerstone of future rule over the African Continent.
In terms of interests, they all belonged to one great interest group. Franz was the major shareholder of this group, while they were the minor shareholders. One would suffer, all would suffer; one would prosper, all would prosper.
Internationally, the United Kingdom was becoming restless again. It seemed that the growing closeness between France and Austria had provoked them.
On September 2, 1866, the British Foreign Secretary visited Saint Petersburg. The public explanation was that he intended to improve Anglo-Russian relations. On September 28, the London Government issued a diplomatic note, offering to mediate the Prusso-Russian War.
If Franz had not received intelligence that the Russian Revolutionaries had been secretly sent back to Russia by the Prussians, he might almost have believed it.
A Franco-Austrian Alliance versus an Anglo-Russian Alliance—just thinking about it was thrilling.
Yet it could only remain a thought. Apart from the fact that the contradictions between the