by ExiledAtHome » 14 Sep 2014, 22:30
The key in 1900 as either England or France is an early partnership with the other that is mutually beneficial. The two are almost mandated allies, lest they gut one another early and leave the spoils to Germany, Italy, Russia, and even Turkey.
Without good relations, France cetainly finds the English presence in Gibraltar to be a constant threat, and England finds the prospect of an isolated Egyptian garrison to be a huge setback.
The two must agree, right away, on shared division of the southwestern SCs, with France holding priority on the MAO, as it's too much trust, too early, to allow England to hold this. The Channel must be a DMZ. The French fleet in MAO can allow English fleets to pass through to Egypt, or the English can sail east through Gibraltar to aid their Egyption unit. It's logical, therefore, that England secure Portugal, and France take Morocco and Spain.
Ths arrangement allows for both to secure early SCs, without blocking one another, but the two must work as one, and this requires a tremendous amount of trust. If this can be attained, then France/England can be a lethal force that dominates both the northern waterways around Germany and Russia, and the entire Mediterranean against Italy and Turkey.
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