Does Congo have oil?
Constantine carefully recalled the news about Congolese oil in his mind, but he hadn't heard much about Congolese oil.
Then there are only two possibilities, there is no oil and oil is poor, so the reputation is not obvious.
As a giant trust company that monopolizes the U.S. oil market, Standard Oil is a leader in petroleum refining and sales, but its crude oil extraction is relatively weak compared to the first two, accounting for only 25% of crude oil extraction.
As the helm of Standard Oil, it seems that he has decided to make efforts in the field of crude oil extraction.
"Mr. Rockefeller, I have not heard the rumors of Congolese oil. If your company is interested, you can go to the Congo region to conduct surveys, but I can ask the employees of the Congolese Commission in Africa to cooperate fully," Constantine said.
"You are so generous, I..."
While the two were talking, Constantine suddenly saw Banning hurriedly approaching with a different expression, and interrupted the conversation between the two.
Constantine apologized to Rockefeller and nodded, and then walked to the remote place with Banning.
"What's the matter? Banning?" Constantine said, looking at Banning who was sweating on his forehead.
Banning was calm and scheming, and there must be important things in such a gaffe today.
"Your Excellency, I just received the news from the Greek office in New York that the French and Portuguese discovered our attempt. They blocked the mouth of the Congo and no longer allowed ships with the gold star blue background flag of the Congo Commission to enter the Congo River." Ning said.
"What?" Constantine was also surprised when he heard Banning's news.
Although Constantine also understood that the Congolese Commission's attempt would sooner or later be discerned by the French and Portuguese colonists, the exposure now is beyond his expectation.
But consider that Stanley has established dozens of trade strongholds and hundreds of entrusted rule treaties. As long as the French and Portuguese in the north and south of the Congo River pay a little attention, the guise of the Congolese Council will be dismantled.
After all, the Congolese Committee is operating near the Congo River in the name of scientific investigation and geographical discovery.
It is inevitable that a large number of construction sites have exposed their goals.
"How is the situation?" Constantine asked hurriedly.
"The soldiers led by Captain Brut had an armed confrontation with the French and Portuguese colonial military personnel. The two sides refused to give in and often harassed each other," Banning said.
"There was no large-scale fire? That would be fine." Constantine was relieved when he heard the words, thinking that the three parties were in conflict in Africa.
Constantine walked back and forth, thinking about the countermeasures to deal with the current situation.
After a while, Constantine turned to look at Banning and said: "In this way, we will act separately. I am in the United States waiting for news from the US government. You will return to the Congo immediately," Constantine said.
"You know the situation of the Congo River best, and have been dominating the activities of the Congolese Committee there. You must return to the Congo at this time."
"You don't have to worry too much. After arriving in Congo, stabilize the team's mood and encourage them. The French are now rapidly expanding in Africa. It is unlikely that they will respond too drastically to the Congolese Committee so that they don't have to fear the French." , Constantine ordered.
In the first half of the 19th century, European colonial countries paid more attention to those colonies that could directly obtain huge profits.
For example, India in the United Kingdom, Indochina (Vietnam) in France, and the East Indies in the Netherlands (Indonesia).
These areas are densely populated and mature land development, which can produce a large amount of various resources and grains as well as cash crops.
Before the colonists came here, there was already an organized and mature civilization.
After conquering by military, economic, and political means, the overlord can extract huge profits from these areas every year.
For example, spices from the East Indies have always been the main commodities traded by the Dutch.
Compared with the colonies in these prosperous and prosperous areas, Africa's poor mountains and rivers are savage and desolate, and the climate is unfriendly to Europeans. Except for some strategically important locations, they are not valued by Europeans.
Therefore, before this, European control over Africa was limited to those regions that were used as transfer stations and commercial bases for ocean-going ships, such as Cape Town in South Africa and Walvis Bay in Southwest Africa.
Until the 1880s, various technical conditions for entering Africa became mature, and countries successively sounded the clarion call for entering Africa:
France aggressively invaded West Africa in 1880, Tunisia in 1881, and Madagascar in 1883;
Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 and Italy invaded Eritrea;
As for the maritime pioneer Portugal, although it has declined, it still firmly controls Angola in West Africa and Mozambique in East Africa.
This is where Constantine's confidence lies. Although France is powerful, it has occupied a large number of colonies in a short period of time. I am afraid that it will not be digested for a while. Although the Congolese Committee has cut the Congo River basin under its own eyes.
Looks extremely annoyed.
However, the power of various countries in the African colonies is relatively weak, limited by the traffic conditions and communication conditions. Whether it is France or Portugal, the power in southern Africa may not be comparable to the just-passed committee with 500 regular soldiers.
Therefore, although the sudden military confrontation in Africa was beyond Constantine's expectation, is still under control.
"Of course, as long as the French are not too much, you try to tolerate it," Constantine continued to exhort.
In any case, the current France is not something Greece can provoke, and the strength of the two sides is not in the same order of magnitude.
As for Portugal, Constantine didn't say it, and Banning could understand it.
As far as the situation in Portugal is concerned, if it is not for the support of the British allies, let alone the colonies, even the mainland may have been annexed by Spain.
Compared with the current Greece, Enen, it is still stronger than Greece, although the strength is limited.
"I will go back to Europe immediately after the news from the Americans," Constantine said.
Seeing Banning leaving in a hurry, Constantine came to Sanford.
"There is an emergency in Africa, Sanford, can you use the network to finalize the Congolese committee as soon as possible?" Constantine looked at Sanford and said.
Although President Chester said it would take two days to consider, Constantine no longer intends to spend too much time on the United States. Changes in the situation require him to return to Europe as soon as possible.
"This way, it can be possible, but you need your consent to show some Congolese benefits," Sanford said indifferently.
"I heard that there are millions of elephants in the Congo. I can give them some elephant hunting teams," Constantine said.
"No problem, in a country where all resources revolve around the baton of money, as long as there are benefits, you can have privileges," Sanford was confident.
Constantine frowned and thought about the current situation, sighing in his heart that a small country like Greece that cannot influence the situation can only determine the next step by observing the further development of the situation.