My Italy

Chapter 33 Surrender

Prime Minister Cairoli fainted in a conference room. In the past, such a big event would have made the front page of the newspaper. But today he failed to make the headlines because France issued an ultimatum to Italy. Such stormy news was the front page of the newspaper.

This ultimatum requires Italy to withdraw its armed forces from Tunisia within three days, otherwise France will take necessary measures. As for what the necessary measures are, I believe it goes without saying.

After this news was revealed by the newspaper, people were immediately shocked. Large-scale anti-French demonstrations broke out in various cities, and people who felt offended used their actions to express their dissatisfaction with France.

As a national hero, Garibaldi gave a public speech in Palermo as soon as he got the news, promoting the formation of a new red shirt army to fight for Italy.

However, although there are many tough voices among the Italian people, some even think that going to war is not a big deal. But within the government, everyone is pessimistic about the ultimatum issued by France.

It can be said that if you are not a householder, you don’t know how expensive firewood and rice are, unlike people who can vent their emotions at will. Officials have their own concerns.

In fact, in the face of France's threat of war, the opinion within the Italian government is to accept France's request and withdraw its troops from Tunisia. Even the military has acquiesced in this attitude, otherwise it would not have said that the army would fight for Italy instead of fighting for Italy's interests after France issued a war threat.

Now that the toughest military has backed down, peaceful people in the government are grabbing a lot of attention. Therefore, the issue of troop withdrawal has become a top priority, and if you want to withdraw troops, someone needs to give the order.

At this time, the first candidate that everyone thought of was Prime Minister Cairoli, who had just returned from the hospital. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, is in a very bad state right now. After passing out at the venue, he seems to have aged ten years. But with the issuance of the French ultimatum, everyone knows that the prime minister's political life has entered a countdown.

So for many people, jumping off the sinking ship of the Prime Minister has become the first factor.

Since you want to jump ship, you need to choose a destination. The most popular one at the moment is former Prime Minister Despretis. Of course, Speaker Leslie and the rebel trio also have a lot of people who have joined them. However, among them, those who surrendered to King Carlo were at the forefront. If Carlo hadn't been strict in his selection and only required capable people, he would have been ranked second.

This is just an unexpected surprise. Carlo is currently most concerned about how the government handles the crisis in Tunisia.

In fact, not only him, but now Italy and even the whole of Europe are paying attention to how Italy responds to the threat from France.

However, among these countries, the most active one is the UK, which has been silent for a long time.

After France issued the ultimatum, the British ambassador paid a visit to Foreign Minister Sforza and expressed that Britain firmly stood with Italy and opposed French diplomatic blackmail. And is willing to provide an emergency loan for Italy to strengthen its own armaments.

Although the interest on this loan is a bit high, and the warships and weapons provided are also of high quality and price, Sforza, as the Foreign Minister, still said that Italy would never forget to thank the British Empire for its help in this critical moment. British kindness.

Except for the United Kingdom, other countries basically showed indifference when Italy faced the French ultimatum. At most, they called on both parties to exercise restraint and not to bring war slogans to Europe.

Among them, Germany, which Italy has high hopes for, privately told Italy that Germany could not help with the Tunisian issue. However, if France takes action against Italy, Germany will provide Italy with enough supplies, but of course Italy will have to spend money to buy all of this.

The attitudes of European countries are enough to illustrate their disregard for Italy on the Tunisian issue. Of course, this is also the consequence of isolation diplomacy. Italy has no friends in Europe. Of course, now is not the time for reflection. The priority that needs to be resolved is France's ultimatum.

Everyone has their own solution, but they all know that no matter who gives the order to evacuate from Tunisia, they are destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame.

Therefore, it has become everyone's consensus that Prime Minister Kairoli, who has reached the end of his political life, issued an order to withdraw troops.

In order for His Excellency the Prime Minister to issue orders, all cabinet members went to the Prime Minister's official residence collectively.

"Cough cough cough."

Prime Minister Cairoli coughed a few times with a sick look on his face, took a glass of water from Secretary Doss and took a sip. This fainting made the Prime Minister feel as if most of his life had been sucked out. All the problems he had never felt before appeared on him. Symptoms such as coughing, unable to straighten his waist, and general weakness all made him feel really old. , no longer has the all-powerful attitude before.

However, even though Cairoli has become old, the cabinet ministers surrounding him still do not relax at all, which shows his energy in the hearts of these people.

These people gathered in a circle and watched every move of the Prime Minister. Everyone had different thoughts, but they all had a tacit understanding and did not express it. So this made the atmosphere very weird. You didn't speak and I didn't speak, we were all watching the Prime Minister silently.

Of course, this weird situation didn't last long, and finally someone couldn't help it anymore. I saw one of them stand up and say. "Your Excellency Prime Minister, currently the French only give us three days to decide whether to withdraw troops from Tunisia. The time is tight and the Prime Minister needs to make an idea."

This time it was Interior Minister Medici, one of the trio, who spoke.

Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief when they heard someone speak.

As the person being questioned, Cairoli put down his water glass and spoke. "So what do you mean?"

This time the answer was surprisingly unanimous, everyone said in unison. "Let the Prime Minister decide."

Hearing the words of the people present, Cairoli couldn't help laughing. "Hahaha, I didn't expect you all to be so united now."

As an old politician, he certainly knows that this is just rhetoric. The main reason is that these people do not want to leave any excuse. After all, there were many people present. If someone revealed what happened today, it would be possible for someone else to catch on to what he said, so he would rather not express his position than leave any evidence.

Seeing these people in front of him, Cairoli's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning. "Since it's up to me, then I will reject France's unreasonable demands, even if it means war with Italy..."

"Prime Minister, please consider this carefully."

Faced with what Cairoli said, the people present quickly tried to dissuade him. Including military representatives, everyone is urging the Prime Minister to consider it carefully.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing that the person in front of him was frightened half to death by his words, Cairoli laughed loudly.

Only then did the others realize that they had been tricked by the Prime Minister, so they all stood here in embarrassment. You look at me, I look at you.

Feeling like teasing them, the Prime Minister, who was in a good mood, responded at this time. "Okay, I won't embarrass you. I know you want me to issue an order to withdraw the troops. Now I order the military to be responsible for withdrawing the Tunisian troops and it must be completed within three days."

"Obey the Prime Minister."

Finally we got the result everyone wanted.

Cairoli signed his name under the order to withdraw his troops. He knew that this signature would definitely make him infamous in the Italian history books, but he still signed it with a natural expression.

"Okay now, you can take this document and leave. Later I will announce my resignation to make way for the impatient Depretis. I will recite the insults. Then it will depend on his ability. Come on for me." Tell him not to let me see the joke."

With a small nod to the cabinet members in front of him, Cairoli kicked these people out because he needed to prepare their uniforms.

An hour later, news spread in Rome that Cairoli had ordered the withdrawal, and at the same time Italy's fifteenth prime minister announced the resignation of his cabinet.

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