Originally, Prime Minister Kent had nned to prepare a wee banquet for Minister Grey and the British visiting group, but it was declined by Minister Grey on the grounds of exhaustion from the long journey.


    Indeed, the trip was quite taxing. Even though the British visiting group traveled on the most luxurious British cruise ship, apanied by British warships, it still took them about a month to reach Austrsia.


    During that time, the visiting group made stops at the Suez Canal and India, which indirectly prolonged their journey.


    Staying on the cruise ship for more than a month, even the seemingly ustomed Minister Grey couldn''t help but feel weary and tired.


    After giving brief instructions to his subordinates, Minister Greyy down on therge bed in the Victoria Royal Hotel, and fell into a deep,fortable sleep.


    The day after the British visiting group arrived at Sydney Harbour, on February 22, 1913, Arthur received the British visiting group at Sydney Pce, apanied by the Cab Government headed by Prime Minister Kent.


    After the British visiting group greeted him, Arthur smiled and looked at Minister Grey, saying, "Minister Grey, how did you sleep yesterday?"


    "Very well, Your Majesty. Sydney''s environment is much better than London''s, and the air is much betterpared to London," replied Minister Grey with a respectful smile and nod.


    British Foreign Minister Grey was, by this time, a well-known figure across Europe.


    Of course, this was due to Grey''s diplomatic stance towards European nations during his tenure.


    Minister Grey was one of the most determined figures within the British Cab Government advocating a tough stance against Germany.


    If there were a person in the British Cab who was most hostile towards Germany, it would undoubtedly be Minister Grey.


    During Grey''s tenure, Britain sessively signed agreements with France and Russia, ying a significant role in the formation of the two major European military blocs'' current confrontation.


    Such a clear-cut figureing to Austrsia not only aimed to win their support, but also send a message to the outside world that Austrsia was growing closer to Britain.


    This indirectly bound Austrsia to Britain''s war chariot. After all, after hosting Minister Grey with such high standards, even if Austrsia didn''t publicly dere its stance or release any messages drawing closer to Britain, they would still be naturally categorized as being close to Britain.


    As such, Austrsia''s previously strictly maintained neutrality would be broken.


    Unless Austrsia could immediately reiterate its neutral stance and dere that it would not join either side, their rtionship with the British people would inevitably be damaged as they had chosen to follow Britain over Germany.


    Since Arthur had already made a decision between Britain and Germany, he naturally would not hesitate.


    Although joining the Allies and bing enemies with Germany clearly harmed the rtionship between Arthur and William II as well as with the Germans,


    what could personal emotions count for in terms of national interest?


    At the very least, Arthur could try to ensure William II''s family and the German royal family''s safety during the war, which would be considered a form ofpensation to William II.


    Arthur hoped that William II could escape the fate of history, not losing the German royal position due to being stripped of power in thete stages of the war and causing the decline of the Hohenzollern family.


    In fact, the social ss most severely damaged in World War I was the deeply rooted and highly powerful monarchs and nobility.


    After World War I, the powerful countries that lost their royal positions included the Russian Monarchy, the German Royal Family, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Royal Family.


    Many countries were left with monarchies that had lost some, or even most, of their power.


    The worldwide decline of monarchism was not a good thing for Arthur. As a member of the European royal family, a stronger European royal family could bring some benefits to Arthur.


    Therefore, preserving as many national royal families as possible during the war was also one of Arthur''s goals.


    "Your Majesty, on behalf of the British Government and Royal Family, I would like to extend my greetings to you, the Austrsian Royal Family, the government, and all the people of Austrsia. We look forward to further exchanges with Austrsia.


    We are natural allies and even closer blood rtives." As an experienced foreign minister, Grey yed the emotional card from the start, emphasizing the good rtions between Austrsia and the United Kingdom.


    In fact, solely based on the rtionship between Austrsia and the United Kingdom, it would be impossible for Austrsia to stand against Britain.


    Among the current poption of over 12 million in Austrsia, more than half, nearly 8 million, are British immigrant descendants.


    This means that British immigrant descendants are the foundation of Austrsia. The government and the royal family in Austrsia must also consider the opinions of British immigrant descendants. -mp _y,r.


    Perhaps Arthur could rely on his enormous prestige and support from the people to go against their wishes and join Germany''s side.


    However, this would also hurt the British immigrant descendants'' feelings and have negative effects on Austrsia''s governance.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Under such circumstances, Minister Grey believed that at worst, Austrsia would remain strictly neutral and would not join Germany and the Allied Nations.