Chapter 648： Raise funds (1/2)

In the evening, the Russian embassy in Vienna was brightly lit, and there were sounds of music from time to time. There was no doubt that a diplomatic reception was going on.

Not many people participated. The host of the banquet only invited national envoys with good relations with the Tsar government, and some Russian nobles in Austria.

This diplomatic reception is held almost every month without any notice. The only concern is that Austrian Foreign Minister Weissenberg attended the banquet in person.

It was not surprising that Weissenberg appeared here before the Russo-Austrian alliance broke down. But now it's different. Russia-Austria relations have begun to alienate. Weissenberg's presence here is thought-provoking.

...

With a snoring sound, Weissenberg couldn't help squirting the drink out of his mouth. With his eyes widened, he stared at Russian Minister Alexander Niklayevich Hull: ”Sir, are you kidding me?”

Niklayevich nodded seriously and replied carefully: ”No!”

After speaking, he and Weissenberg stared at each other.

After a brief pause, Weissenberg refused directly: ”This is impossible!”

”How much is your country's fiscal revenue? 500 million Aegis has far exceeded your government's debt carrying capacity. Don't forget that your country still has a large amount of debt outstanding.”

Fortunately, the two were talking in the corner, and no one came to bother with disinterest, otherwise the audience would be sensational.

”500 million Aegis” This is not a small figure. It is equivalent to 250 million pounds, or about 1,830 tons of gold, compared to the total fiscal revenue of the three countries in Britain, France and Austria.

Borrowing, not to mention now, even in the Russian-Olympic League honeymoon period, Austria has not provided such huge sums to the Russians.

Of course, this is not that the Tsarist government did not want to borrow it in the early stage, mainly because Austria was not rich in previous years. Despite the rich heritage of the old empire, Austria has really made a fortune in recent years.

Capital accumulation also takes time. Even if it became the world's largest economy, capital accumulation in the Austrian financial community is still very limited.

It's almost time to catch up with France, a long way from England. To put it plainly, Austria's fortune was based on industry, not finance.

The 500 million Aegis is not out of the question, the problem is that after it is taken out, Austria will be short of money.

Not to mention Austria, even the richest capital of Britain, letting them take out this huge sum of money at one time, will also affect the entire financial market.

Wealth and cash are two concepts. The gap between wealth and liquidity on paper is even more different.

Of course, this is just going to be difficult. If enough time is available, the three countries will be able to raise the funds.

With reference to the Franco-Prussian War, the French lost 20 billion francs (approximately 1.6 billion Aegis) during the war, and after the war lost 5 billion francs (approximately 400 million Aegis), they paid in just 3 years.

Weissenberg refused, not even mentioning the conditions. The most important thing is that the tsarist government has no credibility. Now, lending money to the Russians is meat buns and dogs-no return.

The Minister of Russia Niklaevich said, ”My Excellency, this time we are very sincere. Interest on borrowings, we are willing to calculate 0.5% monthly interest, this income ...”

Weissenberg interrupted directly: ”IMHO, in the credibility of your government, no bank dares to lend you money.

Don't say five-thousandths monthly interest, even five-thousandths daily interest. Who dares to put a loan that is destined to not be returned? ”

According to the practice of international loans in this era, it is necessary to deduct handling fees, exchange fees, guarantee fees, and one-year principal and interest and re-lending. Five-thousandths of monthly interest is indeed very generous, not to mention a series of additional conditions.

As good as everything is, it is not worth the phrase ”poor reputation.” No matter how high the income is, it is also necessary to recover the money.

”We can provide physical collateral, and if the debt cannot be fulfilled later, your country can directly hold the collateral,” Niklavavic explained.

Weissenberg glanced at Nikolayevich and said coldly: ”If your country can use gold as a collateral, there will be no problem.

Don't say 500 million SHIELD, even if it is 1 billion SHIELD, I can lend it to you as a master, and even exempt your interest. ”

Niklarevich frowned, secretly suffering. If so much gold was used as collateral, the Tsarist government would have started printing machines.

In the gold standard era, gold is wealth. There is no problem whether it is used as the currency of a standard hair bank or directly used as currency.

”Sir, this joke is not funny at all. If we have so much gold, why do we need a loan?”

This is the fact that 500 million Aegis is about 1,830 tons of gold. Except for Britain and Austria, there is no third country and there are so many gold reserves.

Folks don't count. If you count folk gold, then India and the Far East Empire both exceed this number.

Niklavevich's words reminded Weissenberg that the tsarist government still had a large amount of gold in his hands.