Coercion and temptation, blatantly combined together.
After five days of intensive negotiations and private maneuvering, a memorandum was signed.
Although it is not the final official agreement, the framework is set: French capital will gain exclusive rights for thirty years to extract, process, and export assets related to bauxite, and have priority use of certain berths at Memphis Port. In exchange, France will grant a loan for infrastructure restoration in Tennessee and "assist with training" local armed forces.
The news sparked some protest within the "Freedom Alliance," but the voices were quickly suppressed. The Governor of Tennessee appeared on television, describing it as a "precious lifeline secured for the people of Tennessee during tough times," which "will protect our industries and jobs and enhance our self-defense capabilities."
The Germans have a different style, more discreet but more systematic.
