While the British were making their moves, the other countries had not been idle either—especially the four nations at the heart of the whirlpool: the Kingdom of Prussia, Russia, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. All of them were working hard at diplomatic outreach.
To obtain the diplomatic support of the European nations, the diplomats of the four countries flitted constantly between embassies like industrious little bees.
France, Austria, and the German Federal Empire, likewise at the center of the whirlpool, seemed to be asleep, showing no movement whatsoever.
Hummel knew matters were not as simple as they appeared. It was not that they did not want to act, but that they could not. Meeting ten thousand changes with constancy was Austria's best choice.
He understood why the French had made no move as well. Thanks to the formidable prestige Napoleon had left behind, the nations of Europe had, even now, never relaxed their vigilance against France.
Under such circumstances, no matter how the Paris Government conducted its diplomacy, the European nations would never relinquish their wariness of it.
If France wanted to annex the Rhineland, then apart from Monaco, which it controlled itself, every country on the European Continent would stand against it.
The small countries could still be coerced or tempted into remaining neutral, but what about the great powers? Even if France wanted to trade interests, it could not afford the price. Since it was bound to be futile, why waste the effort?
The German Federal Empire's lack of action left Hummel puzzled. If it wanted to snatch the Rhineland from the tiger's jaws, it could not do without the support of the European nations.
Had it handed everything over to the British and simply intended to sit back and reap the rewards? Did it