Chapter 143
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: A Devil's Choice (3)
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Dragging out and defusing unfavorable situations was the traditional American way, but this time, they couldn't afford it.
Far to the southwest, the war with Mexico was still ongoing, and the great exodus and riots of Black people in the South had yet to be suppressed.
On top of that, the British Empire was contemplating whether to join the fray, so they had to put out the most pressing fire first.
Congress, deciding to act swiftly, declared the incident a unilateral move by the White House. They chose to pin all the blame on President John Tyler and prostrate themselves.
Perhaps thinking that leaving it all to Ambassador Everett lacked weight, Secretary of State Webster himself came all the way up to Kingston to bow his head.
“Our investigation has revealed that this incident was staged by the President and the Governor of Virginia to mitigate their own responsibility. Congress has decided to hold them strictly accountable and promises to take follow-up measures that will be satisfactory to the British Empire.”
“I’m curious as to what those satisfactory follow-up measures might be.”
“That is… if your nation has any requests, we will do our best to prioritize them.”
“Formal negotiations have yet to begin, so there’s no need to discuss the fine details just yet. Let’s address the most urgent matter first. We want no more territorial disputes in the Oregon region. We have de facto control over most of the land, so we would appreciate it if you would recognize our sovereignty. What do you say?”
“The entire Oregon region seems a bit too vast…”
The Oregon of that era did not just refer to the modern state of Oregon but was an immense territory that included nearly all of Washington state, Idaho, British Columbia, and parts of Wyoming and Montana.
To hear that they intended to gobble up all that absurdly vast land was astonishing, but what could be done?
All they could do here was nod their heads meekly.
“If the border isn’t clearly defined, slave hunters might invade our territory again, just like last time. No, wait, they attacked our town with firearms even when the border was clearly drawn. Isn't it obvious what will happen if the territory remains ambiguous as it is now? We are already receiving reports of looting on the Oregon frontier under the pretext of war. If this drags on any longer, we will have no choice but to intervene in this war. Are you alright with that?”
“Ah, no, sir. I… I understand. We will recognize the British Empire’s occupation of the Oregon region.”
“As for the rest, we will decide after hearing what terms the United States proposes. What conditions does your country have in mind?”
“Well… first, all those involved in this incident will take responsibility and step down from their positions. We will also pay reparations to the affected areas and show appropriate sincerity to Her Majesty the Queen…”
“Is that all? It seems the United States still fails to grasp the gravity of this situation.”
As Webster droned on with his explanation, Disraeli, who had been listening from the side, let out a smirk and interjected.
“Parliament in our home country is now seriously considering entering the war. Frankly, we have already fought two wars with the United States and do not wish to repeat the same thing again. But public opinion at home perceives this as a direct threat by the United States to Her Majesty the Queen, who is the very symbol of our pride. This is not a matter that can be concluded simply by calling it the President's unilateral action.”
“That… that is true. I am aware.”
“Besides, even if it were the President's unilateral action, what is the presidency? It is the representative and face of the United States, bearing the will of its citizens. If a person in such a position caused this incident, isn't it naturally the responsibility of the entire United States? That is the essence of the democracy your country holds so dear, is it not?”
Of course, of course.
Palmerston and I nodded in unison, lending weight to Disraeli’s words. Beads of sweat, so large they were visible to the naked eye, began to form on Secretary Webster's forehead.
“Ah… um. Yes. But the concessions we can make in this situation are not very many…”
Having applied this much pressure, it was time to start harvesting the seeds I had sown.
I gave a subtle nod to Disraeli, who was about to press the attack further, and took the reins once more.
“Not many does not mean none. I had intended to hold my tongue until a formal treaty was signed, but since things have come to this, I will say a few things. First, you will agree that such an incident must never happen again. Correct?”
“Of course. To that end, we will enforce border control more faithfully in the future…”
“That’s good, but no matter how thoroughly you lock your doors, if thieves are rampant outside, they will eventually break in. Isn’t the most important thing to reduce the number of thieves to the point where locking doors becomes unnecessary?”
“His Highness’s words seem correct.”
“For that to happen, there must be no one crossing the border under some ridiculous pretext. What would be necessary to achieve that?”
Webster’s face turned white in an instant.
As expected of a man seasoned in diplomacy, he seemed to have immediately caught on to what I was about to say.
“B-but then, there will be considerable backlash from the South.”
“Oh, is that so? So, you are saying that because the South will inevitably protest, the British Empire must continue to be exposed to this kind of danger. If that is the will of the United States…”
“N-no, that’s not it! I was merely saying that there will be backlash, so it might take a few months. Hahaha… of course, that was not my intention.”
“Good. Then we must clearly state in the treaty that from now on, anyone who crosses the Canadian border will be protected by the laws of the British Empire, regardless of their status, and that dragging such people back will be considered the abduction of a British citizen.”
In other words, taking back an escaped slave from the South would not be considered repatriation of a slave, but rather human trafficking by kidnapping a citizen of British-held Canada.
The southern plantation owners who lost their slaves would surely protest, calling it nonsense, but what could they do?
If their property was so precious, they should have guarded it better.
“If such an act is discovered, not only the kidnappers but also those who dared to purchase a citizen of a British territory—even a colony—as a slave must be punished, correct? If we just firmly establish this in law, the madmen who cross the border with guns to catch runaway slaves will disappear.”
“…I understand. We will discuss this as quickly as possible.”
The South would foam at the mouth in opposition, but for the North, which wanted to abolish slavery, it was a timely gift, so they would actively support it.
And to those who opposed, one could simply retort, ‘So you want to go to war with the British Empire in this situation?’
“And how about you stop the war with Mexico soon? Continuing such an unjust war won’t gain your country anything more.”
“That may be so, but the Mexican side is protesting so strongly…”
“Ah, do not worry. We will take responsibility for mediating that. No matter how far away the region is, this is the continent where our British Majesty the Queen resides. The doctors are already stressing until they are blue in the face that she needs peace and quiet for her well-being. How can Her Majesty be at ease when the south is so unstable?”
“…I understand for now. I will convey Your Highness’s and the British Empire’s demands to Congress and get a response as quickly as possible.”
Webster tried to remain vague until the end, not giving a firm deadline for his response, but this time, Victoria, who had been watching from the throne, would not allow it.
“Excuse me, so is the United States saying they will grant our requests immediately?”
“Pardon? Your Majesty, that is not the case. They have their own circumstances, so they must go and receive confirmation from their Congress…”
“Killian, and my loyal members of Parliament. Since my arrival on this continent, the United States has not told the truth even once. How can I possibly trust their promises now?”
At the sound of Victoria’s frightened voice, thick with unmistakable anxiety, the expressions of Disraeli and Palmerston hardened abruptly.
“Your-Your Majesty! My apologies! We failed to fully comprehend Your Majesty’s feelings!”
“No, it’s alright. I trust that the members of Parliament made the best decision, considering the nation’s reality and circumstances. And the same for my love, Killian. But no matter how much I try to think positively, perhaps because of a mother’s instinct to protect her child, I find it difficult to suppress this ominous feeling. How can I believe the words of the United States, which has consistently been deceptive until now?”
As things took a strange turn, Webster’s face grew pale, but with the Queen now welling up with tears, he was suddenly a heinous criminal who couldn't even make an excuse.
And I, of course, had a husband’s duty to protect his anxious wife.
“Your Majesty. Do not worry. The British Empire will protect your safety above all else. Mr. Disraeli, Lord Palmerston, it seems my thinking was too shortsighted. Though it is an honorary title, as an Admiral of the Navy, I believe the Royal Navy must be dispatched immediately to protect Her Majesty’s person. Can I get Parliament’s consent for this?”
“Of course! We will send a man to the home country at once to convey the wishes of Your Majesty, Your Highness, and ourselves. Lord Palmerston, what are your thoughts?”
“I am of the same mind. It seems we have been viewing this matter too much from a diplomat’s perspective.”
“W-wait! Please wait a moment! Dispatch the Royal Navy! Does that mean you are declaring war on our country?”
“It is not a declaration of war. Our navy will, for now, enter Canadian ports. Because Her Majesty is so anxious at this moment. However, if Her Majesty’s anxiety continues even after the navy arrives, won’t we have no choice but to eliminate the source of the problem, even if it requires somewhat coercive methods?”
It would take about a fortnight for news to reach Parliament from Canada, and another fortnight for the British fleet to arrive in Canada.
This was tantamount to an ultimatum: if they did not return with a proper answer within a total grace period of one month, they should be prepared for their entire coastline to be laid to waste.
Webster looked as if he was about to protest that this was nothing short of blackmail, but after seeing Victoria wipe away her tears and fall into my arms, he let out a deep sigh and closed his mouth.
As he staggered out of the meeting hall, he didn't see me give a thumbs-up to Victoria, who winked at me from my arms, but it was probably better that way.
Probably.
***
After sending Webster away, I immediately summoned the Mexican ambassador, Cuevas.
“I have heard the news that Mexico is fighting splendidly. Now that the truth has been brought to light, we, the British Empire, have decided not to stand by and watch this outrage from the United States.”
“I-is that true? Then you will join us in a pincer attack on the United States…!”
“Ah, my apologies, but that is impossible. Her Majesty the Queen is in the early stages of pregnancy, so our top priority is her peace of mind and body. Therefore, our Parliament has come to a consensus to end this unjust war immediately.”
To be precise, a proposal to approve such a course of action was currently crossing the Atlantic, but since Parliament was unlikely to refuse, it was safe to say my opinion was Parliament's opinion, right?
I truly wanted to help Mexico, but what could I do if Parliament didn't want to spend any more unnecessary money?
Honestly, our British Parliament just hates wasting the budget.
“…So you are saying you will mediate an end to the war. Of course, if we could end this tiresome war immediately, we would have nothing more to ask for.”
“Thank you for your understanding. In fact, the news of the disturbances on the American continent has reached our home country, and our citizens are quite angered. This is the first time Her Majesty the Queen has crossed the Atlantic to another continent, so you can imagine how anxious the citizens must be with all this turmoil.”
“We fully understand your country’s sentiments.”
Strictly speaking, while the United States was in a state of disarray, once a new administration took over and the South stabilized, Mexico would be no match for them.
Having fought a few battles, Mexico couldn't be ignorant of this, so they too would want to end the war if they could.
And if they didn't comply when the British Empire was actively stepping in to end the war as quickly as possible, they might have some fear that our anger could be directed toward Mexico.
As Cuevas exuded an air of meek compliance, I smiled magnanimously and personally unfolded a map.
“Well then, since the ambassador has agreed, shall we discuss the schedule for ceding the Alta California region to our side as we discussed last time?”
“…Pardon?”
“Why are you surprised? Didn’t we say last time that if a war broke out between the two countries and we were to mediate, we would receive the Alta California region?”
It seemed his memory had gotten a bit muddled with all the recent incidents.
He must have been under a lot of stress, so it was understandable.
That’s why I was kindly pointing it out, in case he had forgotten.
“Ah, but the Alta California region is too large, so ceding all of it to your side seems a bit unreasonable. I think it would be good to discuss this a little more.”
The Alta California of that time was an impossibly vast territory that included not only California but also Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.
Eating too quickly can cause indigestion, so one must consider the other party’s financial situation a little.
Kind diplomacy that considers the other party's circumstances.
That was the motto of the British Empire under my leadership.