For the past few months I've had an idea floating around in my head where, in a world where Germany wins World War I, an increasingly unstable and nearly bankrupt France deems itself unable to hold onto French Polynesia, and proceeds to sell the islands to Chile in an attempt to raise money.
That got me thinking about other scenarios where Chile established its presence in OTL French Polynesia. One scenario I thought of is where France upholds the 1847 Jarnac Convention (which they later broke in OTL), keeping Raiatea, Huahine and Bora Bora out of both British and French hands. Then, some time in the 1880s or 1890s, Chile, having recently annexed Easter Island, seizes the opportunity to further expand their Pacific presence by establishing protectorates over the neutral islands.
How likely would either scenario be? Would Chile, being no stranger to expanding their borders for resources and strategic locations, have any interest in the islands if they had the opportunity? Discuss.
That got me thinking about other scenarios where Chile established its presence in OTL French Polynesia. One scenario I thought of is where France upholds the 1847 Jarnac Convention (which they later broke in OTL), keeping Raiatea, Huahine and Bora Bora out of both British and French hands. Then, some time in the 1880s or 1890s, Chile, having recently annexed Easter Island, seizes the opportunity to further expand their Pacific presence by establishing protectorates over the neutral islands.
How likely would either scenario be? Would Chile, being no stranger to expanding their borders for resources and strategic locations, have any interest in the islands if they had the opportunity? Discuss.