Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

7. Gold Rush – 6

Federal State Council member Caudran Pollins left for the United States with a secret document bearing Napoleon’s seal. However, Dinsmore, the U.S. Ambassador, decided not to leave immediately, but to stay at the Tuileries Palace. Their discussions on France-U.S. state affairs and diplomacy had not yet been concluded.

France and the United States were at war with Britain, but in fact there was one more common enemy in between: Spain. Spain, which had the largest colony in the New World among the European powers, was also facing the United States.

“I’ve heard that the Emperor will soon go to the Iberian Peninsula.”

Napoleon raised one eyebrow at Dinsmore, who asked in a soft voice.

He clicked his tongue and put down the teacup he was holding.

“Oh, I’m sure we’ve decided to treat this as a top secret military information, but rumors have spread all over the town. Where did you hear that?”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

Napoleon raised his chin as if to ask him to keep talking.

“If you come forward, the war on the peninsula will surely end with a great victory for the French Empire. So, at this point, I would like to make a suggestion that would serve the interests of Your Majesty, the French Empire, and the United States as well.”

The United States was fully willing to start a war with Spain. However, before that, the U.S. would like to sign an agreement with France on the territories to be shared after the victory.

William Dinsmore’s opinion was about this.

“Our federal government is willing to work with the French Empire to have a common front against Spain. And we’re going to request the return of ownership of Florida, Nueva Filipinas and Nueva Mexico.”

“What a mugger you are!’

Napoleon, who noticed what the U.S. was up to, uttered a curse inside. He had lived in Louisiana, and was well versed in the geography of the New World. The areas required by the United States were larger than the entire French Empire. He could not believe it and laughed.

Spain had supported the United States along with France in the American Revolutionary War, and in exchange had received Florida, which originally belonged to the 13 States (the predecessor of the United States).

That meant that Florida was originally a territory of the United States. As such, he could understand that the United States wanted to take advantage of the international affairs to get Florida back somehow. But they wanted to get Nueva Filipinas and Nueva Mexico as well?

‘There’s no control over the U.S. in the New World, so we’re going nowhere. What he’s asking, doesn’t that mean that we’ve been fighting for more than four years, our feet soaked in red waters, and that we’ll only have bones to nibble? These wicked guys.’

At present, the French were fighting a tough war on the Iberian Peninsula. Hundreds of thousands of French people were killed by a strong resistance from Britain, Portugal and Spain. In comparison, Spain’s New World colony, Nueva España, which the United States would fight, was almost empty of soldiers.

After the abdication of the Spanish king for two consecutive times, the U.S. even rebelled, saying that they could not comply with both the Spanish government (of King Joseph) and the provisional government of Fernando VII). When France asked them for help, they did not bat an eye, but when the events moved this way, they stuck like a ghost, trying to get as much as they could.

They wanted to take profit without much effort, just like when they purchased Louisiana. He was listening silently to U.S. Ambassador Dinsmore’s lengthy remarks, but Napoleon’s insides were boiling. There was a degree of practical diplomacy. And he did not want to let the other person know what he was thinking inside. But if he kept it inside too much, he would just be treated as a pushover.

‘The world has changed so much. In the other world, the United States would tremble just by hearing me sneeze.’

Nevertheless, Napoleon was able to clearly establish his attitude and course toward the United States. Napoleon smiled like a viper hiding its fangs.

“Hmm… I think the federal government’s strategy back home is a bit of a problem.”

“Yes? What do you mean a problem? Your Majesty?”

“Oh, the word problem is my mistake. I’d say it’s not efficient at times like this.”

Napoleon, leaning against his chair, crossed his legs and continued.

“Maybe your grand strategy is to seize supremacy in the North American continent and make the entire continent one giant island, the fortress of the United States, by making an advance to the West, to the Pacific Ocean. Completely free from interference from the European powers.”

U.S. Ambassador Dinsmore did not respond, but Napoleon’s sharp glance sensed his eyes shaking, as he hit the nail on the head.

“Our country and Spain have become bitter enemies, but your country and Spain have been doing well. Oh, I don’t mean to pinch your diplomatic route. I just wanted to tell you that declaring war on Spain without any cause would only undermine the image of freedom, democracy and equality achieved by the United States.”

“Going back to the explanation of your grand strategy… I am just wondering if your country can make better choices and judgments. If you want to escape the interference of European powers, you have to break the link. Your priority is to oust Spain’s influence in the New World. Only then can your country be guaranteed full security, expand and progress.”

Currently, the New World was experiencing a time of chaos that could not be predicted.

This was because the Spanish colonies of Venezuela, the Viceroyalties of Peru, of Nueva Granada, and of the Río de la Plata, Bolivia, and Chile had declared a war for independence as Spain’s national power plummeted due to the Peninsular War. Spain’s largest colony, Nueva España, was also likely to join their ranks soon. Napoleon was now saying that the United States should look far ahead and support their independence.

U.S. Ambassador Dinsmore replied, raising his eyebrows.

“No matter what you say about our nation’s affairs, it is your opinion only. So I won’t make an official position on this.”

“Of course. This is only my personal opinion, and I have no intention of interfering with the internal affairs of our allies to direct or enforce state management. But France and I want the United States to help us keep Britain in check and pressure during the upcoming reorganization of the international order. To do so, we need to have stronger national and international influence than now.”

“If I were president of the United States or a member of the State Council, I would not declare war on Spain. Rather, I would support the independence of the Spanish colonies, including Nueva España. Or at least watch Spain and its colonies from the sides, until they declare a complete independence. After that… well, it’s up to you.”

If the United States invaded the Spanish colonies now, it would be a declaration of war on Spain, and they would not be able to avoid the attention, interference, and checks of European powers in America. However, the story would be different if the Spanish New World colonies became independent and each had sovereignty.

There would be no room for European powers to intervene in the conflict in the New World. That meant that it would be possible to discuss the hegemony of the continent entirely under the leadership of the United States. New countries that had just regained sovereignty inevitably experienced great political turmoil. If the U.S. could take advantage of it, they would be able to enjoy great national interests.

In other words, Napoleon was saying not to eat the mouth-watering prey, but to wait, raise it and then eat it. U.S. Ambassador Dinsmore, who had stayed silent, opened his mouth.

“I am the Ambassador of the U.S. Embassy. Therefore, I am fully aware that my remarks here represent the official position of the federal government. Therefore, I have no intention of expressing my opinion on what your Majesty is unilaterally asserting.”

Dinsmore’s remarks were diplomatic.

He pretended that he did not hear, because of his position. He had no intention of taking responsibility… but he would deliver Napoleon’s proposal to the federal government. Napoleon grinned inwardly.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am always working for the French Empire. What serves as the cash cow for Spain’s provisional government is the resources that Spain has poured out from the colonies of the New World. Among them, Nueva España has the largest stake.”

They were also a great force for Britain, the enemy Napoleon had to finally defeat.

This was because Indian and Spanish colonies were the ones who eagerly bought British-made goods isolated from foreign trade due to the continental blockade. This allowed Britain not to lose its place in economic hegemony despite accumulated financial losses.

“If they completely break away from Spain, I assure you, the Empire can end the war on the peninsula ten times as fast. Now you know what I want?”

“I’m sure… that could be possible for the French Empire.”

Napoleon, who had been rolling in the political arena for a long time, was able to read Dinsmore’s psychological state with his own instinct.

Ambassador Dinsmore was hiding his facial expression with his skills aquired in his diplomatic career, but Napoleon saw that he was quite satisfied with the conversation. It looked like Napoleon himself had revealed his intention with the above strategy.

Napoleon insisted on it.

“I have no interest in the hegemony of the New World. The stage where I am running is Europe. It would be better for our allies to establish a new order than for the British and Spanish to set up on another continent.”

Only then was Ambassador Dinsmore able to remove all doubt and smile warmly. Of course all of these were not Napoleon Bonaparte’s true intentions.

‘The nations and citizens who have regained their sovereignty once lost… will always have a desperate obsession and desire for freedom. The United States was also born that way.’

Nueva España could be invaded by the United States under Spanish colonial rule, or by the United States after becoming an independent nation.

The two cases were essentially different.

The Nueva España’s ruling class came from Spain, but most of the subjects were indigenous to the region. Since the 16th century, Spain had ruled over them by dividing them into native, colonial, mixed-race, and indigenous people.

The history of contradiction, discrimination and oppression, just like the former French kingdom of Ancien Régime, was the seed of tragedy deeply rooted in their minds. The brutal exploitation of tax revenues to fund the war, the king’s throne being trampled twice, and the great decrease of the king’s power was a decisive blow for the germination of those seeds.

If there was a war between the United States and Spain in this situation, would the colonists really try to help Spain with all their heart? That was not at all. They would be divided into quarters, and each would struggle to survive. But what if the colonies won a long war with their homeland and regained sovereignty, and thus reborn as an independent nation like the United States?

What if it just became independent and was invaded by external enemies when the nationalist and liberal sensibilities of the people reached their peak? Napoleon was sure of this. They would be the second Iberian Peninsula, where the lowest class of people would rise with guns and risk their lives to fight the U.S. invasion.

‘Especially in the highlands of Mexico, where guerrillas would be the most effective.’

He knew how American militias, in disorder, defeated the British red coats. Napoleon predicted that there would be another war like that. Under the assumption that the United States would move as he intended, Napoleon was poisoning the brilliant American road ahead.

This was the result of a national view of the great nation rather than personal feelings. He was mindful of the hegemony of the world after defeating Britain and Russia. The United States, among others, was a threat. For the bright future of France, it was necessary to nip it in the bud.

The areas in purple are the territories wanted by the United States.