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24-April-1921
''The money we have to contribute this year has already been sent. Inside the Rada, questions are being asked about what it is used for, although it was clearly demonstrated that, when we needed a defense, not a single Ukrainian died in it beyond those who could not be evacuated. Some politicians, you know, try to get the maximum possible gain out of everything and, since what we have to pay into our alliance is quite high considering our situation, I was wondering if we could speak about some deliveries of equipment'' Vasyl said, standing with me as we observed some works near the Riga sea.
''Such as?'' I asked while taking out my canteen and drinking some water to clear my throat a little.
''I know you are experimenting with something like a kind of aircraft that you are using for some agricultural tasks. If you could deliver… I do not know, about seventy of those prototypes to support Ukrainian agriculture, I could present them as one of the benefits of continuing to pay that contribution to the common fund without so many problems'' Vasyl said while turning toward me and raising his chin slightly.
''Seventy? We do not even have five ready, Vasyl. They are prototypes, although functional… relatively cheap to manufacture now that we have the model ready…'' I replied while thinking for a few seconds about what I would have to do to fulfill such an order. ''Two months. In two months, you will have the seventy.''
''Perfect. Would it be too much to ask for some facilities to be built for those aircraft as well? Considering that part of that money is delivered for that purpose, it would not hurt to have some airfields built throughout Ukraine, especially in these areas'' he said while spreading a map in front of me.
It did not take me long to extend my hand to receive it and observe the regions he had marked for the construction of those airfields.
''Which just happen to be near some of our agricultural zones with the highest intensity of grain planting. And, of course, while we are at it, we could also install the necessary infrastructure to prepare the fertilizers and place those agricultural aircraft in good hands. That would allow us to encourage the improvement of our agricultural techniques even further'' Vasyl explained while, from time to time, standing slightly on tiptoe.
''Huh… And since when can you afford the luxury of replacing the work of thousands of peasants with aircraft?'' I asked, quite interested.
''Well, as I informed you, the rebound of the Ukrainian economy is turning out to be excellent for the interior of the country. Free trade with many of our neighbors and the good treaties we have achieved are leaving us many opportunities to sell in other markets. With that, self-employment has increased and numerous small companies are also beginning to form around the large companies and the needs of their workers'' Vasyl explained, looking quite satisfied.
''Besides, with the latest orders for tractors and agricultural machinery we have received, the factory continues expanding constantly. We are even building another plant near the Donbass to reduce the time needed to transport materials.''
''Interesting. Then I suppose unemployment is falling to somewhat more tolerable levels if you can begin mechanizing agriculture again without throwing too many people into the street…'' I said while looking back at the map. ''Well, I will see what I can do with that. Seventy aircraft and some airfield facilities intended for those works, with their respective fertilizer infrastructure… Is there anything else His Majesty wishes his regent to fulfill?'' I asked sarcastically while looking at Vasyl.
''Now that you mention it… pilots'' Vasyl replied immediately, giving me a mocking smile. ''Although the whole aeronautical development program is supposedly joint and all pilots answer to the Baltic Duchy, I would greatly appreciate it if you lent us some to carry out those jobs and, in passing, trained several Ukrainian pilots to perform such a simple task.''
''That was sarcasm'' I replied while looking him directly in the eyes.
''I know, but one loses nothing by asking'' Vasyl answered.
''Ha, very funny, but it is true. Aircraft are useless without trained pilots; they would only be expensive flying coffins. So consider it done. I will make sure some crews from the Baltic Construction Company head to Ukraine and build everything you have requested'' I replied, nodding after letting out a small laugh.
''Good. And why exactly am I here? Besides those strange plans you sent and the order to produce a pile of those enormous steel boxes you need for something'' Vasyl said with some doubt in his eyes while moving a little closer to me and looking at the port.
''A commercial advantage. The only way to obtain enormous economic benefits is to continue producing more and more, but for that, the investments must first prosper. We have to make our trade much more efficient. Those containers I sent you to produce will be the new standardized system for transporting food, resources and merchandise. Try to keep the dimensions I sent you as the standard for normal products. Later, I may ask you for some larger ones, but those would be for bigger machinery parts if we want to transport them. For now, we have everything necessary to manufacture them, do we not?'' I asked while looking at him for a few seconds before turning back to the port.
''Yes, it is not difficult. They are corrugated steel plates that simply have to be welded to obtain that structure, so it is not a big deal. In fact, it is fairly simple and that helps us greatly in recovering part of the work related to steel that we have been losing due to the fall in demand. Since it is no longer needed as much as before, some facilities are working below capacity, so producing a few dozen a day should be perfectly possible'' Vasyl said while beginning to nod at his own words.
''I do not need dozens, Vasyl… hundreds. Hundreds per day at minimum. Do you see that shipyard that can be made out over there?'' I asked while pointing toward the port.
''Yes, I can see it clearly'' the Habsburg replied while tilting his head.
''There, they will work on building ships designed to transport thousands of those containers and considerably increase the amount of merchandise we can move by sea. That will come later, but I want to begin with some medium-sized commercial ships dedicated solely to container transport. Therefore, we will need more steel than ever. I would begin thinking of ways to aggressively expand iron and coal extraction to send them to the foundries, because enormous quantities will be needed for such a project. So there you have where to absorb a good part of the agricultural workers who will become available once you start using those aircraft'' I said while placing my hands behind my back and smiling.
''Then that is excellent news. For the moment, the steel industry has been sustained mainly thanks to the enormous amount of construction we have, but with the reduction of some military expansions, certain facilities were left operating far below capacity because there simply were not enough buyers. So it is appreciated, Karl. You may even recover some reputation inside Ukraine if things continue this way'' Vasyl said while passing a finger beneath his nose.
''That matters little to me. As long as I do not have to keep sending politicians from your country to the coal mines, I think we will be quite fine. Beyond that, our roles are already established and we only have to fulfill them. Once everything is ready, we will be able to begin a true integration of our economies into the world market, when the first container ships are finished and the necessary facilities to move such a quantity of cargo are prepared. Then will come the hard work of trying to sell the system to other countries and seeing whether we can patent some part of all this. If we succeed, we could earn millions in royalties, although I do not know to what extent we will be able to register patents on the containers in every country'' I said more calmly.
''I understand. Is there anything else we have to do here before leaving?'' Vasyl asked.
''How are the preparations for the approaching drought going? We have to be ready. If you believe there will be major failures in agriculture, you must inform me immediately, because this year we could obtain record income from food. A bad harvest in several countries could cause prices to skyrocket and we have to be prepared to take advantage of the situation'' I said while looking at Vasyl.
''We are working on it. Thanks to your warning, we have already stopped releasing so much water from the hydroelectric dams we built in Ukraine in order to conserve it as a reserve. We are also preparing additional reservoirs while we can still gather water before the heat begins doing its work and less and less remains available. By the hardest point of summer, we should have enough reserves, especially because we have already begun drilling to access the Ukrainian aquifers. That should be enough to supply a good part of the fields, as long as it is a relatively short drought'' Vasyl replied quite calmly.
''Good. Any problem must be reported immediately. We may not be able to send trucks full of water or perform miracles of that sort, but we can prepare ourselves to, for example, ensure that we do not fail to fulfill the international contracts we already have with certain countries and, with the others, simply raise prices if the situation requires it'' I said while beginning to walk toward the port.
''Yes, I am clear on that, so do not worry'' Vasyl replied.
''By the way, how is that relative of yours?'' I asked while looking at the Habsburg.
''Ah, the imbecile? Badly, as one would expect from that idiot. He literally won an election thanks to the support we gave him to ease the people's unrest by providing cheap food and, even so, the imbecile tried to govern while thinking of the sectors that had lost instead of first consolidating the support of those who had brought him there'' Vasyl replied while shaking his head and clenching his teeth as he remembered the deposed Austrian Kaiser.
''Ah, we agree on something, from what I see. That was one of the worst ways of shooting oneself in the foot that I have seen in my life. He had everything necessary to try to stabilize his Empire and the imbecile came and threw it all overboard. He quickly lost the support of his own supporters and, in exchange, gained practically nothing from the opposition parties. My God, that should deserve a prize for stupidity. But well, Hans keeps me informed about him, only to make sure you do not get any ideas about some Habsburg rebirth, because any possibility of something like that died with that Karl'' I said without looking at Vasyl while listening to my guards walking behind us.
''Yes, I am clear on that. It is not as if I listen to him too much either and, besides, what could I do with the Anschluss already completed? Any opportunity for the Habsburgs to regain control over Austria has already been lost. I am not stupid enough to think Germany is going to voluntarily release what it had coveted for years in order to fulfill its dream of becoming the only Germany'' Vasyl replied.
''It is good to know. Well, I will not take any more of your time. I only needed you to observe the idea so you would realize everything that is needed for these plans, but if everything goes well, we will be swimming in foreign currency by being the first to take advantage of this new system of transporting merchandise by sea. I would only need to create a system for transporting canned food that allows containers to be filled systematically and we will have a way to move much more merchandise by sea than before. So you can return to Kiew without problems or stay a little in Riga if you want to get something that is difficult to find there'' I replied while finally beginning to descend to observe the progress of the port's construction.
''Do not worry, it is not as if I can get too much here that I do not have in Kiew, so I will return and quickly propose the necessary budgets for the expansion of the industries, as well as present what you are offering Ukraine to improve the fertilization of its fields'' Vasyl said quite happily while beginning to leave, accompanied by some of my guards, who would be responsible for protecting him during the journey.
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