Chapter 139: The Arms Import and Export Agreement
In order to better demonstrate the quality of the weapons to the two island nation envoys, Butler Hunt specifically moved the meeting venue to the back mountain of the arms factory, a place frequently used for weapon testing.
This back mountain had been thoroughly tested by bombs and bullets, and the land had long been sterilized of any living animals or plants. The several large craters at the mountaintop and the scattered metal scraps and stone debris revealed the past tragedies that had occurred here.
At the middle of the mountain, several square targets had already been set up for testing the power of the German rifles.
Heavy machine guns didn't need these targets, as their bullets would instantly tear them apart upon firing.
The mountaintop was reserved for testing artillery, with several brightly colored flags erected as reference points for the artillery gunners to aim at.
To hit the target, the artillery must strike near the flags, making them disappear in the explosion of the shell.
The weapons being showcased included the Gew98 rifle, the German-made Maxim heavy machine gun, the 75mm Krupp smoothbore cannon, and the 105mm Krupp howitzer.
These weapons all shared one thing in common: they were all from German military technology, the same excellent weapons currently being used by the German army.
There was no doubt about German arms manufacturing. Although produced by Australia, the production technology was entirely German and the production lines were set up under the guidance of German military experts.
These Germans had a very rigorous character and meticulous approach to work, which meant that Australia's military production inherited this advantage from the Germans. The production of weapons and equipment was carried out with extreme precision, leaving no room for mistakes or defects.
As a result, the German-made weapons produced in Australia were virtually identical to those produced in Germany, with perhaps only one difference—the country of production marked on the stock.
These weapons naturally met the expectations of the island nation. As the standard issue for the German army, their firepower needed no further explanation. These were among the most advanced weapons in the world.
In particular, the artillery produced by the Krupp factory was incredibly powerful.
After witnessing the entire weapon demonstration, the two envoys from the island nation became extremely excited and eager.
During the brief return to the government building, they repeatedly urged the Deputy Foreign Minister and Butler Hunt, requesting to quickly sign the arms export agreement and purchase a large quantity of weapons.
The export of German-made weapons was a key strategy for Australia, as well as one of their most important plans for the upcoming First World War.
German weapons were not only reliable but also reasonably priced. In addition, the German army's formidable strength and reputation made German weapons highly respected worldwide.
Many countries during the First and Second World Wars equipped themselves with German-made weapons. Some even modeled their army divisions after the German structure, creating so-called "German-armed divisions."
These divisions not only used the same weapons as the German army but were also trained by German instructors and officers.
Of course, these armies lived up to the trust placed in them and performed brilliantly in war.
Unfortunately, such divisions were not affordable for everyone, meaning their scale was limited, and they didn't have a significant impact on large-scale warfare.
But this still reflected the tremendous influence and impact that German weaponry and the German army had on nations worldwide during this era.
This was also why Arthur chose to export German-made weapons. Germany's military was already renowned, and German weapons had a global impact.
For Australia, which had just begun its arms exports, this was advantageous as it allowed them to rapidly raise awareness about Australian-made weapons and capture a share of the global arms market.
Of course, in the short term, Australia could not compete with the weapon export shares of the major powers. But because the arms race among the great powers was intensifying, Australia could still capture a portion of the market, particularly in some regions.
When the European powers were all caught up in the waves of the First World War, that would be Australia's opportunity to truly emerge in the arms industry.
With a solid combination of British and German-made weapons, Australia had an early lead in the arms export market.
After all, being able to retain their own national weapons systems without needing to switch weapons and equipment was the best solution for logistical support.
Once back at the government building, Koichiro Tozawa eagerly requested a meeting with Arthur to quickly finalize the arms import and export agreement between the island nation and Australia.
Since Arthur had already given the green light for arms exports, the Deputy Foreign Minister didn't hesitate and relayed the island nation's request to Arthur.
On November 14, 1902, Koichiro Tozawa and Toshiyoshi Hirano finally met with Arthur and quickly brought up the arms import-export agreement between the island nation and Australia.
The allure of German-made weapons was undeniable in this era. With Britain already focused on its arms race and other factors, the amount of weaponry it could provide to the island nation each year was limited. This was why the island nation was eager to sign an arms import agreement with Australia.
"Your Excellency, Duke of Australia, I come here on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, the entire diplomatic delegation, the government, and the people of the island nation to extend our sincere greetings to you and Australia," Koichiro Tozawa said respectfully and earnestly upon meeting Arthur.
Arthur nodded and responded with a slight smile, "I've heard from Butler Hunt that your country is interested in purchasing our German-made weapons, is that correct?"
Upon hearing Arthur's direct inquiry, Koichiro Tozawa was momentarily unsure how to respond. But driven by his enthusiasm for the German weapons, he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, Your Grace. After seeing them in action, the German-made weapons truly meet our needs. They are among the most powerful weapons in the world. To maintain domestic stability and protect the interests of all our citizens abroad, we have had to expand our military. This has increased our demand for weapons. We have signed an alliance with the British Empire, and we also believe that Australia, with its good relationship with Britain, can build a strong partnership with us. That is why we are here today."
(End of Chapter)
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