Chapter 323： Ocean Fleet (1/2)

On June 18, 1861, the Austrian Ocean Fleet visited North Korea. The two sides reached an agreement on friendly exchanges between the two countries, and diplomatic relations were upgraded to the rank of minister.

North Korea, which was under the feudal system during this period, excluded foreign trade. Previously, Austria had little interest in North Korea, and had no embassy and only one office.

After this friendly visit, Hummer signed a friendly trade agreement with the North Korean government, and the two countries gave each other most favored nation treatment.

This is the practice. Along the way, Austria has signed commercial most-favored-nation treaties with more than a dozen countries, including Britain and France.

By the way, several military purchase orders were made. In addition to army equipment, Hummer also sold five iron armored ships.

Thailand, the more difficult each ordered one, and the Manchu government ordered three at one go. Obviously, they were scared by British and French and wanted to consolidate Haiphong. No matter how expensive an iron armored ship is, it is better than being a dog for funeral.

Austria is not ready to expand in the Far East, so it is natural to do business. As for whether this would cause trouble for the European colonial empire, it was beyond Hummer's consideration.

Without being able to flee to the North Korean government, Hummer was still a little reconciled, and it depends on whether the last Japanese in East Asia can gain something.

After all, everyone is selling army equipment. Under competition, profits have been suppressed. And only the Austrian family sold iron armored ships, twice the net profit is really not high.

If someone is willing to pay a high price, active-duty equipment can also be used. Like this ocean-going fleet, as long as someone bids more than 30 million Aegis, Franz will not mind packaging and selling.

Anyway, the production cost of these warships will not exceed 7 million Aegis. It takes more than a year to build such a fleet.

With the adoption of the gold standard in Austria, the international gold and silver exchange rate has also been impacted. Silver against gold has depreciated to 15.3: 1, and now 1 Aegis is equivalent to 1.5 ku silver.

Obviously, in this era, countries with the ability to take out 45 million two levels of Treasury and Silver at one time are rare. Unless it is forced, no one will come to be the head of this injustice.

...

Edo and Hummer just had a friendly visit with the shogunate government, and Austria's most-favored nation added another.

The ambassador Charlie asked in wonder: ”Her Count, why not take the opportunity to expand our interests in Japan?”

Hummer said with a smile: ”Isn't it expanded? We have signed a treaty of mutual most favored nation treatment, and any one of the powers expanding their rights here will enjoy the same treatment directly.”

This is a fact. On the surface, the treaties are completely equal. Because of the difference in national strength between the two sides, the final outcome is also different.

The most-favored-nation treatment signed with Britain and France is a pure equality treaty, with each side taking its own needs. Anyway, no one has the patience to force them to sign an unequal treaty and sell their domestic commercial interests.

If you change Japan, it will be different. The Japanese government will give commercial privilege to any country, and Austria will automatically enjoy it.

However, compared with the practices of different countries, Austria is actually quite mild. There is no force to take possession of it, it does not damage everyone's sovereignty, it is just limited to commercial cooperation.

Minister Charlie shook his head and said, ”Her Count, this is not enough. We can establish concessions, ports, or occupy several islands here.”