Chapter 574: Stirring the Pot in North America
"You might be a bit too pessimistic," Lord Grenville said kindly, attempting to console his senior colleague. "We haven't come away empty-handed.
"It's been over three months since the plan began, and the cost of production for French factories has surely exceeded £500,000. While this didn't meet our initial objectives, it still delivered a blow to their industrial competitiveness.
"Furthermore, this incident will undoubtedly foster resentment between France and countries like Austria and Italy. Driving a wedge between them aligns perfectly with our strategic goals.
"You've done a fine job."
The Duke of Leeds, prepared to accept blame for his failure, was taken aback by Grenville's optimistic interpretation. He looked at him in surprise. "Do you really believe that?"
"I swear it." The British Foreign Secretary smiled. "In fact, that's exactly what I wrote in my report to Parliament."
Grenville understood well that strategic clashes between major powers inevitably included both victories and losses. Complaining about one's own team after a setback would only undermine morale.
"You are truly wise! Thank you," the Duke said earnestly.
"It's nothing," Grenville said with a wave of his hand. "However, we must seize this opportunity to continue striking at French industry."
"What do you mean?"
"Mr. Hope's schemes were mere petty tricks. To dismantle a massive industrial system like France's, we must target raw materials and markets at a national level."
As he spoke, Grenville opened the carriage door for the Duke of Leeds and gestured for him to step inside. He then sat across from him.
"My recent trip to Russia brought back some good news.
"For instance, the Empress of Russia has agreed to trade interests in the Balkans and has threatened to intervene militarily in Silesia to force Austria and Prussia to halt their conflict."
The Duke's face lit up. "That's indeed excellent news!"
Grenville nodded. "However, we must persuade Prussia to mobilize at least 80,000 troops to support Russia's invasion of Poland while ensuring Austria does not oppose the action."
He raised a hand, signaling a shift in focus.
"Now, back to trade.
"I signed supplementary trade agreements with Russia to increase our imports of raw materials. Additionally, we secured authorization to mine coal and iron in southern Donbas under the same terms offered to France."
Though Grenville's words seemed modest, the diplomatic gains were significant.
For example, regarding Russo-British trade: Previous Russian tsars had been wary of relying too heavily on the British market and sought alternatives, such as France, while limiting exports to Britain.
However, Catherine the Great reversed this stance, agreeing to expand exports to Britain to facilitate the war in Poland.
Given Britain's superior purchasing power, this increase in imports would inevitably squeeze France's access to raw materials. After all, most of Russia's exports were industrial raw materials.
As for Donbas, if Britain successfully developed large-scale coal and iron mines there, it could undermine the Russo-French partnership and even outcompete French companies in the region.
Grenville continued, "Now, we must turn our attention to another major source of raw materials for France."
The Duke of Leeds considered this. "You mean… America?"
"Exactly," the Foreign Secretary nodded. "I hope you'll travel to Philadelphia."
The Duke frowned slightly. "But France and America are quite 'close' at the moment. This will be difficult..."
"As long as we're willing to concede certain interests, it's achievable," Grenville said confidently. "For instance, the Native Americans."
The Duke was startled. "Parliament agreed to this?"
"Yes, His Majesty signed off on it last week."
Since losing the American colonies, Britain had been covertly supporting Native American tribes to retaliate against the Americans who had driven them out.
For years, Native Americans, armed with British muskets and clothed in British textiles, had resisted American settlers in the wilderness, significantly hindering westward expansion.
Defeated tribes often fled to British-controlled territories. Despite losing the Thirteen Colonies, Britain still held numerous scattered outposts in North America, especially in Canada. These outposts persisted until the 1830s, when the Americans gradually absorbed them.
If Britain were to withdraw its support for the Native Americans, the U.S. would gain substantial territory in a short time—an enormous strategic concession.
The Duke's expression brightened. "The Americans have long desired access to our markets. If we give their Congress a reason to embrace us, I'm confident we can persuade them to abandon the French."
As a former British colony, America's production had been designed to meet British demands. It was only due to the Revolutionary War that they turned to France. Restoring pre-war trade levels would undoubtedly benefit the United States economically.
Grenville, however, was not finished.
"While negotiating with the Americans, you might find time to stir things up in Saint-Domingue.
"I'm sure you've heard that the abolitionists and slaveholders there are at each other's throats. Members of the 'second estate' are leading slave revolts to demand voting rights."
"Currently, the French maintain strong control over the colony. But if the second estate were supplied with weapons and funds, they could leverage the overwhelming number of slaves to give the French government a massive headache—or even drive them out altogether."
Saint-Domingue, later known as Haiti, was located in the Caribbean southeast of the United States and was one of France's most important colonies.
The colony was a global sugar powerhouse, alongside Brazil and the British West Indies. French plantation owners imported vast numbers of African slaves to cultivate sugarcane, generating 30–40 million francs annually for France.
However, the brutal exploitation and abuse of the slaves sparked fierce resistance.
Over a century of colonization had also produced a large population of mixed-race individuals, known as the "second estate."
In Saint-Domingue, society was divided into three classes: whites (first estate), mixed-race individuals (second estate), and free blacks (third estate). Slaves were not even considered part of society.
The island had 30,000 whites, over 500,000 slaves, and tens of thousands of mixed-race individuals and free blacks.
Influenced by abolitionist ideas in Europe, the second estate pushed for the abolition of slavery and demanded citizenship rights for slaves.
The white plantation owners responded with bloody repression. However, as time passed, the voices of the second and third estates grew louder, pushing Saint-Domingue to the brink of upheaval.
Historically, in late August of this very year, Saint-Domingue would witness its largest slave uprising, culminating in the end of French rule two years later.
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