Make France Great Again-Chapter 151 "I Am Already a German

"Hmm! Hmm?"

Tocqueville instinctively responded to Jerome Bonaparte, and then he realized that the President was going to deprive him of his power as Minister of Foreign Affairs to participate in German affairs!

If every president wantonly interferes in foreign affairs, then what is the need for a Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government? They might as well have the President also serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Tocqueville showed a resistant expression, but he did not verbally oppose the President’s decision. He wished to express his dissatisfaction through silent language.

Tocqueville’s expression was thoroughly observed by Jerome Bonaparte.

In routine foreign affairs, of course, he would choose to respect the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Even if Tocqueville himself lacks the capability to handle the complexities of foreign affairs, to maintain internal harmony, he would choose to respect the administrative power of the minister.

However, the issues between Prussia and Austria are no small matter, as it concerns France’s strategic issues for nearly 20 years in the future. He really couldn’t entrust it to a Minister of Foreign Affairs who hastily dismissed a large number of old-time diplomats.

[After Tocqueville took office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was dissatisfied with the diplomatic policies of some diplomats from the Orleans period, so he dismissed a number of diplomatic personnel and transferred some diplomats who didn’t meet his expectations to other countries as ambassadors. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Te. Ruyi, due to his distinct pro-Austrian Empire diplomatic policies, was directly transferred by Tocqueville to London to serve as the ambassador to the French Embassy in London.]

"Minister Tocqueville, I believe you should prioritize solving the issues in the Rome region! The issues between Prussia and Austria are not just political problems but also involve military issues. These issues are mixed together, exceeding the authority of a Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Rather than outright excluding Tocqueville from the German system in a tough manner, Jerome Bonaparte preferred to subtly preserve Tocqueville’s dignity. Allowing him to get involved in Roman diplomatic affairs was evidently a better choice.

Jerome Bonaparte’s words, gentle yet firm, successfully dispelled Tocqueville’s thoughts. Roman diplomatic affairs were indeed a "mess."

In early June, General Renio led the French Army to successfully occupy the entire Rome and spent nearly a month "cleaning" the city of Rome.

By mid-July, with the reorganization of the clergy by the local council, the entire Pope State was once again under the control of the clergy class. The local militia defending the Pope also became fanatical defenders of the Pope under the brainwashing of the clergy class. They were given a batch of weapons seized from the Roman Republic by the French Republic to maintain local order, stirring a frenzy of counterattacks throughout the Pope State.

In early August, Pope Pius IX moved into Rome at the invitation of General Renio and Cardinal Antonelli.

Upon entering Rome, Pope Pius IX recalled how his excessive indulgence of the liberals during 1848 led to his expulsion from Rome. He resolved to rigorously curb the spirit of the liberals within the Pope City.

Indeed, the "kill" mentioned by Pope Pius IX was meant literally.

Apart from a few renowned figures in Europe (such as the Governor of the Roman Republic, Mazzini), thousands of Roman liberals were arrested by the "army" commissioned by Pope Pius IX. Antonelli re-assumed the position of Secretary of State, also serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Under Antonelli’s brutal executions, many Roman liberals met their demise in prisons, while another group of liberals was publicly executed in the execution grounds.

The entire Rome was engulfed in a white terror.

Even General Renio, the commander of the Expeditionary Army, could not bear it. He personally met with the Pope to request an end to the inhumane massacres, while also writing to France pleading with Jerome Bonaparte, as President of France, to stop Pope Pius IX’s regressive practices.

Since Jerome Bonaparte was still on an inspection tour at the time, he did not receive the letter from Rome until late August.

He immediately sent a private letter to Pope Pius IX gently advising him to stop the killings. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

Pope Pius IX, upon receiving the letter, replied to Jerome Bonaparte in early September. In the letter, he complained about the ungratefulness of the Roman liberals, and then told Jerome Bonaparte that under the "persuasion" of General Renio, he would no longer kill people. The remaining individuals would face life imprisonment in Rome’s prisons.

Jerome Bonaparte, who intended to have Pope Pius IX offer clemency to win the people’s hearts, realized that the current Pope didn’t seem much different from historical Popes. The only addition was a parliament made up of clergy and a group loyal to the Pope.

"Mr. President, I would like to ask what our policy towards Rome is? Or rather, what is our bottom line regarding Pope Pius IX?" Tocqueville inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.

"The government hopes that Pope Pius IX can implement reforms with enlightened theories, rather than using the weapons in his hand for mass slaughter." Jerome Bonaparte paused and added, "At the very least, have the Pope pardon some of the liberal individuals quickly!"

"I understand!" Tocqueville nodded in response.

"Minister Tocqueville, please take care of the situation in Rome! If necessary, I would like you to go to Rome in person to talk with Pope Pius IX!" Jerome Bonaparte said again to Tocqueville.

Tocqueville nodded once more to show he understood. Jerome Bonaparte chatted with Tocqueville for a while longer, before Tocqueville took his leave.

After seeing Tocqueville off, Jerome Bonaparte turned to Mokar and said, "Mr. Mokar, please call over the Prussian Envoy! Tell him I want to discuss the series of events happening in the German Region with him!"

"Yes!" Mokar left after receiving the order.

Half an hour later, Mokar brought the Prussian Envoy to the study.

"Hello, Mr. President!" The Prussian Envoy said to Jerome Bonaparte in a French accent more Parisian than that of Parisians.

"Hello, Mr. Envoy!" Jerome Bonaparte mischievously responded to the Prussian Envoy in Low German.

The Prussian Envoy first showed a surprised expression, then regained his composure.

According to the information the Prussian Envoy had gathered in Paris, the President before him had lived in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg from a young age, making German almost half of his native language.

It is ironic that someone born in Germany and grew up in Italy (region), became the President of France.

The Prussian Envoy didn’t know whether to say that France is inclusive, or perhaps that France can only become strong in the hands of foreigners.

"Mr. President, I didn’t expect your German to be so standard!" The Prussian Envoy also used Low German, feigning surprise as he said, "If you weren’t the President of France, I would have thought I was conversing with a genuine German."

Even though the Prussian Envoy was trying to build a closer relationship, his words still made Jerome Bonaparte feel a subtle discomfort.

If this sentence were used in 1945, it would be even more applicable than it is now.

At present, Jerome Bonaparte, too, could only thick-skinnedly draw closer, saying, "Perhaps it’s because there’s still 1/2 German blood left in my body, plus I grew up in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg! Mr. Envoy, don’t look at me as the President of the French Republic now, but my love for Germany is no less than yours! I have long been a proud German already!"

Of course, the second half of Jerome Bonaparte’s words went unsaid: it would be best if the entire Rhine Land joined France, and incidentally, have Germany become a vassal state of France, so he could alleviate his ’longing’.

"I am extremely delighted that Germany has a Frenchman like you, loving Germany as much as you do!" The Prussian Envoy, of course, didn’t believe Jerome Bonaparte’s nonsense, but as a diplomat, his main job was to say human words to people, and ghost words to ghosts, so he could only comply with Jerome Bonaparte’s viewpoint and seek a breakthrough to counterattack.

"Mr. Envoy, as an honorary German, I feel regretful about the recent tragedies happening in the German Region! Why must Prussia and Austria, Prussian and Austrian compatriots, reach a result of swords and bloodshed?" Jerome Bonaparte said, pretending to be melancholy: "I hope all Europeans can join hands for common development, French and Germans to not view each other with hostility anymore, Monarchies and Republics to not be at odds with each other anymore, Prussia and Austria to put aside their disputes, and for us to join hands for common development!

I hope Europe can form a United States of Europa, like the United States of America across the ocean! I wish for the French Republic to completely integrate into this European family. I know my uncle caused you, caused you all significant wounds, but after more than 30 years of reconciliation, the scars have long faded. Now, more than ever, we should join hands and unite for the peace of Europe."

Jerome Bonaparte concealed France’s demands in a long piece of rhetoric, believing that the Prussian Envoy, as a diplomat, would surely understand the meaning behind this statement.

"Mr. President, I can only represent myself in welcoming the French Republic to join in maintaining the order of Europe! The respected Emperor Napoleon indeed brought certain harm to Germany, but he also made Germany more tightly united as one! I believe it’s not just me, but our King William IV also welcomes France to be part of it!" The Prussian Envoy heard the demands in Jerome Bonaparte’s words, and immediately offered Jerome Bonaparte a blank check.

Of course, what this liberal Prussian Envoy didn’t know at the time was that a year later, Frederick William IV, whom he mentioned, would announce that he would not ally with France, nor accept a Republic.

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