Europe and the Great Game Mk II

chris N

1892 The French Emperor was concern about a sudden down turn in the French economy. There had been some internal problems in France as a result of this down turn. There had been a series of labor strikes.
But was about to take place was something that was out of Character for France. There was an attempt to kill the Emperor. . Napoleon IV life was saved by the quick action of a French Police officer.
The result was a massive investigation into the background of the assassin.
This sent shock waves throughout not only France but all of Europe.
There was some speculation that the Kingdom of Italy's intelligence service was behind the attempt. The Italian Government ordered an investigation.
 

chris N

Britain, Austria and Germany's intelligence service all began an investigation into the attempted assassination of the French Emperor.
It was believed that if there was any evidence of involvement by a foreign power the intelligence services would uncover it.
After nearly 6 months of turning over ever rock all evidence indicated that it was an archaist action.
The British pointed the French in the proper direction.
 

chris N

The attempt on Napoleon IV life was not the only attempted assassination that was to take place. The Prime Minister of Italy was shot by a socialist. In the Kingdom of Serbia a pro-Russian attempted to Kill his country's Prime Minister when he was welcoming the new Austrian Ambassador.
 

chris N

The series of incidents that had occurred due to actions by anarchist or socialist elements in Europe appeared to die out as quickly as they had started. Perhaps it was due to raids by the Police or in some cases the Secret Police but it appeared that the crack down had but an end to these events that nearly triggered a European War.
In Russia the Czar continued the reforms which could be traced back to Alexander II. Russia seemed to be transiting from an absolute Monarchy to a Constitutional one. Czar Michael had sometimes wondered how things might have been different if his father had died and his Uncle had become Czar Alexander III . His late uncle was a hard liner who would have used force against the reformers.
The only thing that his Uncle and his father agreed upon was the close relationship with the United States. Indeed it had been the Americans who had help to build the Trans_Siberian Railroad..
Russia and Japan did not get along. Their interest regarding China and Korea lead that to happen.
The Czar was also attempting to reach an understanding with the British. The areas of friction were the Russian claims on the Ottoman Empire and a belief that Russia was still a threat to India.
Austria and Germany were dominating Middle Europe. The Hapsburg's ruled not only the Austrian Empire but the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom.
 

chris N

As the 19th Century was drawing to a close Europe was changing. The attcks by Anarchist and socialist on the establishment had sent shock waves throughout Europe. Napoleon IV knew that the world that his son would inherit would be far different than the one that he had. Surprisingly Napoleon IV had been far less of a ruler to engage in wars and hehad also begun to carry out reforms but the attempt on his life had made him question that decision.
The French Emperor had attempted to bring about improved relations between France and Great Britain. Queen Victoria had always felt a strong attachment for the Young French Crown Prince and this had resulted in disagreements between herself and the various Prime Ministers of Great Britain. For Britain had found a more dependable ally in Austria. This ally had come to her aid during the Indian Mutiny and the troubles in the Sudan.
Both nations shared a distrust of Russia and this kept them united, especially as France moved toward Russia to balance the possible threat from Germany and Austria.
Several European Conferences had managed to help prevent another European conflict. Crown Prince Ruphardt of Germany would one day become Emperor. He had made a life in the Imperial german Army but it would soon be time to leave that and take up the job of state.
Relations with France had improved but the fact that France allied with Russia was always disturbing. Germany's chief trading partners were Austria, Britain and Poland. Related to the Greek King, the germans had attempted to prevent a conflict in the Balkans and especially one between Greece and Germany's allies.
 

chris N

Napoleon IV after 25 years of ruling the French Empire was quickly preparing his son to take over more of the duties of a Monarch of the French Empire. It was clear to him that his son may come to power much sooner than he had originally though he would have to.
In Austria the aging Austrian Emperor had seemed to always have been on the throne but since the death of his son he had to pick an Archduke as his heir that he frankly did not care for. Still the Austrian Empire was far larger than it had ever been. Even though much of the Italian lands had gone to the Kingdom of Italy the Empire still had lands that included Italian speaking people.
The argument over the Austrian Colony in East Africa was emerging more often in the Imperial Legislature.
 

chris N

The Russian government had pursued a strategy of a firm alliance with France, so as to Check the possible German-Austrian_Polish threat. It had also attempted to convince the Bulgarians to join with Russia with some success. Greece had also tilted toward Russia but was under pressure from both Austria and Britain not to restart a war with the Ottoman Empire
Russia had turned its attention toward the Far East but the British Government was convinced that this was a threat to the Crown Jewel of the empire India. Russia was supporting the Chinese Republic because it was thought that it was in Russia's Best interest. Russia felt that Japan was a growing threat that needed to be dealt with.
 

chris N

It seemed like every 10 years or so the European Nations would gather in one of the Imperial Capitals and attempt to come to some kind of arrangement which might avoid the outbreak of another European War. The last large European conflict had been the Crimean War. That conflict had started as a conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire but if had seen France, Britain and Sardinia join the conflict. The Conflict had since Sweden join the allies and then Austria. The war had spread to Germany when Prussia had made the mistake of entering the war on Russia's side. By the time it was over the shape of Russia had changed as had the shape of Central Europe.
Austria had emerged as a strong ally of Britain. In the German Confederation Bavaria and its allies dominated it. With a second war the unification of Germany took place with the Hohenzollern controlling just East Prussia. It wasn't until Heinrich became the ruler of the Prussian state that East Prussia was admitted back into the German Empire. The period had seen the Ottomans pushed out of the Balkans and the emergence of the Kingdoms of Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Greece.
Greece's failure to end the push for a Greater Greece resulted in Crete Breaking away from Greece and a period of cold relations between Austria and Greece and Britain and Greece.
 

chris N

In Greece there was still support for a Greater Greece but the reality that to pursue that path would result in Greece paying an economic price that it could not afford to pay. Thus the Greek government attempted to repair relations with both Britain and Austria.
In Austria a move to give up Austria's East African Colony was put forward by a Hungarian member of the Imperial Parliament it was defeated by the government.
On the other hand the Austrian controlled Kingdom of Jerusalem had been an outstanding success.
 

chris N

It appeared that with Russia's attention now turned to the far East things would calm down in Europe. And so it did as the threat of a possible conflict in Europe receded there was hope that the cycle of crisis after crisis might finally come to an end. Indeed the police of a number of countries was more involved in tracking down anarchist and extreme socialist fanatics.
Relations between Greece and Austria as well as Great Britain were on the mend. The power of the Greater Greece Party had been broken, at least for the time. Britain was still worried that Russia was going to make an attempt on its crown Jewel but in fact the Russian Czar was more concern about the Japanese making an attempt to expand into Korea and then Manchuria.
 

chris N

Thus both Austria and Britain decided to employ pressure on the Greeks with a goal of creating stability in the region. Austria was using the Italians to keep the French in check.
 

chris N

With Russia's attention now in the Far East the British and Austrians hoped to stabilize the Middle East. They also hoped to reach an agreement which might allow a movement away from the Greater Greece idea and thus allowing for a permanent agreement before the Russians attention might return to the region.
 

chris N

Austria seemed ready to withdraw from East Africa. There had never been much enthusiasm in the Imperial Parliament for it and there was growing pressure to withdraw.If the Austrians withdrew the question was who would replace them. There were a number of European powers that would be ready to fill the vacuum. Among the group was Italy, France, Germany and Britain.
 

chris N

The Austrian Empire had decided to withdraw from the Colonial Game. There had been a lot of arguments in the Imperial Parliament regarding the colony in the Horn of Africa and the government had finally given in and ordered the withdrawal. The Empire would concentrate on the colony in the Holy Lands and in Europe.
 

chris N

Austria seemed to be concentrating on internal improvements and to making its colony in the Holy Lands a great success. It seemed to be hoping that the British would take control of its former colony in East Africa.
 

chris N

Indeed the Austrian Government was now concentrating its efforts on attempting to improve conditions within the empire It was attempting to overhaul the army and making it a much more capable military.
 

chris N

Austria was preparing for what everyone knew would happen the death of the Austrian Emperor and for a new Emperor who everyone would have to adjust to. France was looking at a changing world. Britain was trying to smooth things between France and Germany so as to prevent another war. Tensions between Russia and Japan seemed to be growing. After all Japan was attempting to establish itself leading to tensions with Russia.
 
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