Chapter 91: Poaching Corners
In the midst of the Paraguay War, in the Allied occupation area, specifically in South America's Paraguay, Devon Gearhart observed George Swinding emerging from a village with a large group of children. Devon commended George for his humanitarian efforts, expressing his belief that good deeds would be rewarded by God with good health and business prosperity.
George Swinding, an employee of the Hechingen Consortium, clarified that their actions were driven by a desire to alleviate the suffering of innocent children caught up in the war. He emphasized that war should not harm the innocent. Gearhart, an Argentine officer stationed in Paraguay, concurred and acknowledged his support for the consortium's work.
The Paraguay War had inflicted immense suffering on the population, resulting in a severe gender imbalance and leaving behind numerous orphans. Recognizing the dire population issue in the East African colonies, Ernst devised a plan to attract people from war-torn Paraguay.
Ernst's goal was to bring orphans and women from Paraguay to East Africa to balance the population and provide a better future for those affected by the war. Paraguay, with its predominantly female and child population, represented a valuable source of immigrants who could assimilate into East African society.
The plan was set into motion, with the Hechingen Foundation offering to adopt the war orphans and providing support to single women who had lost their husbands in the conflict. This initiative aimed to help these women and children find a new life in the East African colonies.
Paraguay's population had suffered greatly during the war, and its future prospects looked bleak. With the Triple Alliance pressuring Paraguay further, the country faced even graver challenges. Ernst's plan to attract people from Paraguay was a strategic move to bolster the population of the East African colonies.
Ernst understood the importance of demographic balance and the potential contributions of these immigrants to the development of the colonies. Despite the challenges these new arrivals would face, the promise of subsidies and free education in East Africa made it an attractive proposition.
Additionally, Ernst considered the issue of single women with children and anticipated that many of the male immigrants from the Far East would be open to marrying women with children. Traditional concepts and a willingness to support extended families were common in the Far East, making the adoption of children from previous marriages acceptable.
In pursuit of this plan, Ernst opted to bypass negotiations with the beleaguered Paraguayan government and instead sought to influence officials from the Triple Alliance through bribes.
The initiative aimed not only to provide a better future for Paraguay's war victims but also to address the population problem in the East African colonies. Through these efforts, Ernst sought to secure the stability and growth of his colonies.
(End of Chapter 91)