To: US, Mexico, Japan @Alexo@emberofshadow@bigseb31213 From: Nativists
While we are encouraged by the willingness of the Pacific powers to negotiate and ignore the perfidy of the usurpers, there are a number of issues we have with the proposed solution.
1. The Kingdom of Hawaii will be considered an area of interest for the USA, USM, and Japan. All nations will have free access to port facilities in peacetime
3. Wake Island will be leased to the Empire of Japan in order to more effectively enforce the peace settlement
4. The integrity of Japanese, American, and Mexican investments will be guaranteed
5. Hawaii will not establish trade barriers with Mexico, Japan, or the United States, and will not establish external trade barriers without approval with all three interested powers.
5. A joint American-Japanese force will be deployed to ensure compliance with the other points
We are fighting to remove the undue influence of foreign powers in Hawaiian affairs. It was those Mexican and American investors who kicked off this entire conflict, and we will not allow further foreign influence to usurp power again.
To: US, Mexico, Japan @Alexo@emberofshadow@bigseb31213 From: Nativists
While we are encouraged by the willingness of the Pacific powers to negotiate and ignore the perfidy of the usurpers, there are a number of issues we have with the proposed solution.
We are fighting to remove the undue influence of foreign powers in Hawaiian affairs. It was those Mexican and American investors who kicked off this entire conflict, and we will not allow further foreign influence to usurp power again.
We understand that the above results aren't ideal. However, it's the only practical way that you can maintain your independence. Japan has had a similar history, where we temporarily succumbed to British, French, Dutch, and American influence until we were finally strong enough to resist. Hawaii is less fortunate than Japan in that she is at the focus of everybody in the Pacific.
Think. The Mexican will be inevitably discredited after this peace deal is arranged. The Americans, for all their faults, have been focused on economics, and with their internal problems, they don't wish to annex Hawaii. With Japanese aid and friendship, the day will come before too long when you can truly assert your independence from western influence. But you need to bide your time before such an outcome is possible.
To: Philippine Civilian Leaders @inquisition
From: The Japanese Empire
*awkward cough* It appears that our original intentions with regards to the Philippines have not turned out in a mutually beneficial manner. Therefore, we have a proposal for you.
1. The Philippines will be allowed a free and fair election for their civilian government.
2. Current Japanese and Philippine military leaders will remain in place, but will not interfere with the election unless Societist or other explicitly anti-Japanese governments are elected
3. Full Filipino control of the Philippine military will be achieved within ten years
4. Japan will withdraw all troops from the Philippines, aside from treaty-mandated bases and previously discussed high-level officers
5. Japan will pass an extensive economic investment package, intended to greatly increase the Philippine economy in both the primary and secondary sectors
6. Filipino students will have free tuition in the Japanese Empire, at the expense of the Japanese government
We hope that these measures will create an equitable arrangement between Japanese security concerns and Philippine domestic concerns
From: Hungary
To: Ukrainian Hetmanate @inquisition Confidential
Greetings from Budapest. We were wondering whether or not you might be interested in Materiel Aid against the Nechayists and French? We would be willing to grant you tanks, planes, artillery, and other armaments in exchange for Ukrainian Resources of equal value upon the successful conclusion of the war. What say you?
To: US, Mexico, Japan @Alexo@emberofshadow@bigseb31213 From: Nativists
While we are encouraged by the willingness of the Pacific powers to negotiate and ignore the perfidy of the usurpers, there are a number of issues we have with the proposed solution.
We are fighting to remove the undue influence of foreign powers in Hawaiian affairs. It was those Mexican and American investors who kicked off this entire conflict, and we will not allow further foreign influence to usurp power again.
Perhaps we may be of assistance. We offer ourselves as a unbiased negotiator in this matter, and would gladly host a conference here in Brussels in order to draft a mutually agreeable agreement.
We understand that the above results aren't ideal. However, it's the only practical way that you can maintain your independence. Japan has had a similar history, where we temporarily succumbed to British, French, Dutch, and American influence until we were finally strong enough to resist. Hawaii is less fortunate than Japan in that she is at the focus of everybody in the Pacific.
Think. The Mexican will be inevitably discredited after this peace deal is arranged. The Americans, for all their faults, have been focused on economics, and with their internal problems, they don't wish to annex Hawaii. With Japanese aid and friendship, the day will come before too long when you can truly assert your independence from western influence. But you need to bide your time before such an outcome is possible.
SECRET
Forgive us for being doubtful of your completely altruistic intentions. The recent 180-turn in your Philippines policy does not exactly fill us with confidence.
In any case, regardless of intention, the agreement--as proposed--would be almost as bad as a government led by the foreign planters. We would be willing to negotiate on terms 3, 4, and 5, but we will not be opening our economy to the same foreign influence that corrupted it in the first place.
To: Philippine Civilian Leaders @inquisition
From: The Japanese Empire
*awkward cough* It appears that our original intentions with regards to the Philippines have not turned out in a mutually beneficial manner. Therefore, we have a proposal for you.
1. The Philippines will be allowed a free and fair election for their civilian government.
2. Current Japanese and Philippine military leaders will remain in place, but will not interfere with the election unless Societist or other explicitly anti-Japanese governments are elected
3. Full Filipino control of the Philippine military will be achieved within ten years
4. Japan will withdraw all troops from the Philippines, aside from treaty-mandated bases and previously discussed high-level officers
5. Japan will pass an extensive economic investment package, intended to greatly increase the Philippine economy in both the primary and secondary sectors
6. Filipino students will have free tuition in the Japanese Empire, at the expense of the Japanese government
We hope that these measures will create an equitable arrangement between Japanese security concerns and Philippine domestic concerns
To: Japan
From Republic of the Philippines
This arrangement would suit us, although our military will still require aid in stamping out undesirable elements.
To: Japanese Government
From: Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy
SECRET
Would you mind explaining the sudden shift in policy regarding the Philippines?
From: Hungary
To: Ukrainian Hetmanate @inquisition Confidential
Greetings from Budapest. We were wondering whether or not you might be interested in Materiel Aid against the Nechayists and French? We would be willing to grant you tanks, planes, artillery, and other armaments in exchange for Ukrainian Resources of equal value upon the successful conclusion of the war. What say you?
To: Kingdom of Hungary
From: Ukrainian Hetmanate
SECRET
Anything you could provide would be of help to us. In particular, aircraft would be appreciated.
To: Kingdom of Hungary
From: Ukrainian Hetmanate
SECRET
Anything you could provide would be of help to us. In particular, aircraft would be appreciated.
We can have 3 Squadrons of Aircraft For you by the End of the Year, two of Fighters and one of Dive Bombers. Will you be requiring advisors to help you train pilots and air crews?
Name: Federated States of Colombia Head of State: President Basilio Humberto Ortiz - Federalist Party Head of Government: President Basilio Humberto Ortiz - Federalist Party
President of the National Assembly: President Pablo David Ramirez - National Conservative Party
Type of Government: Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic Population: 22,999,621 Capital: Santa Fe de Bogota, Districto Capital (D.C.)
Domestic
Bogota, Colombia, 1935
The 1920s were not kind. The Great Depression was a tough time in Colombia; prior to the the 1922 crash, the Federated States of Colombia was the fastest growing economy in South America and had been among the 12 largest economies on earth. The anger and nationalist backlash that had been growing at the Liberal Consensus, particularly among the lower, rural classes who had sent their sons and husbands off to fight, in the aftermath of the disastrous and foolhardy Maritime War against the British Empire was muted by the booming economic period immediately following the Treaty of London. The Nationalist wing of the Federalist Party, from which the President belonged to, was appropriately shellacked in the proceeding national elections but the long powerful Federalist Party continued to dominate the government.
Having been born of the Santanderista Party, the unofficial name for the supporters of Vice President (and later President) Francisco de Paula Santander who took the reins of the country following the death of Simon Bolivar. The popularity of President Santander led to a liberal flourishing in Colombia, known as the "The Man of Laws", Santander and his administration helped form the foundation of a constitutional republic with powerful institutions and strong adherence to the rule of law and the Colombian National Constitution.
The Liberal nature of the Colombian Republic would not be in dispute, however the struggle between Federalism and Centralism remained between the Federalist and Conservative parties. The Congress of Caracas, called by President Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera in 1892, cemented the Federalist system in Colombian politics, ushering in the Liberal Consensus. Low tariffs, free trade, little-to-no immigration barriers and what is to be generally expected from a liberal hegemonic power dominating a late 19th century western state. For a time, Colombia could hide the ugly scars left behind from the Independence War, the legacy of the Spanish colonial empire and the typical pitfalls that face Latin American states, politically, socially and economically.
A career soldier and general lauded for his bravery and competence, yet just as cunning a politician, President Mosquera would expand the franchise to the lower classes as a ploy to reinvigorate and expand the Federalist Party, and would win the Federalists the rural, lower class vote for the next three generations. Always promising a way out of poverty and into the middle class, a chance of prosperity in exchange for hard work, the promise that immigration would not harm their chances at finding work, and that the Federalist Party had their best interests at heart, truly. With the increasingly unpopular immigration and trade positions, the devastated manufacturing and industrial labor force has been leaving the party in droves and into the arms of the Nationals in the National-Conservative Party. However, with their support among immigrant laborers, the conservative landowners and merchants leaving the Conservative Party for the Federalists and the rising, educated middle class in the cities has, until now, been a means to tip the electoral scales in their favor with some dirty tricks and machine politics.
The National Conservative Party carries the mantel of Bolivar's vision, or so they claim. The National Conservative Party is a marriage between the National Party, a nationalist, Catholic right-wing party popular among ex-military types, some peasants and "activist" Catholic priests, and the traditional Conservative Party that has typically functioned as the Eternal Opposition to the Federalists. While the Conservative Party has had periods of national prominence and held the presidency for significant amounts of time, that hasn't been since 1890. The National-Conservative alliance has allowed the Conservatives to expand their voting bloc and add to their traditional voting base but they've been forced to lurch further and further right on trade, Church involvement in politics, women's suffrage and a whole other slew of issues. The traditional aristocratic, landowning Conservative constituency is gradually being pushed out (into the arms of the Federalists) and being replaced by radicals.
The Colombian Workers Federation, a labor movement that flirts with Eurasian Societism, became a strong national contender - after having absorbed and allied with numerous other labor, workers and Societist movements - in national elections in the 1920s. Having been a strong contender in the early 20th century, anti-labor, anti-leftist and anti-anarchist governments had hollowed out the various, disparate workers movements by 1922. With the rise of Nechyian Societism in Russia and the Great Depression at home, the Left exploded with activity and activists. The Worker's Federation is a powerful amalgamation of Colombian leftist parties and Societist labor unions, seeing itself as the "Societal Big Tent" of Colombian politics and would have you think it is resolutely united in the common good of the worker: It isn't. The various trade and labor unions are divided, often by class, trade and profession. Some are anti-immigrant while some of the biggest leaders in the Worker's Federation are immigrant dissidents from the Europe.
And then, there are almost two dozen minor and independent parties from across the country inhabiting the seats of the Federal National Assembly. With the 1936 National Elections coming up, the national political scene is a chaotic mess. The Federalists are divided between a traditional, liberal candidate backed and supported by the party bosses and national elite, former Minister of the Treasury and current governor of the state of Antioquia Hector Cabello, and reformist liberal Bonifacio Salcedo, also a senior member of the National Assembly. The two will likely battle it out in a leadership contest for the Federalist Party candidacy.
The National-Conservatives have run into trouble as major classes between Nationals and Conservatives commences. The nationalists do not take kindly to the moderated and conservative party platform which has been co-opted by Conservative elite and party bosses that came into the merger with significant funds and influence. The nationalists demand higher trade tariffs and immigration quotas, this being the group known for greeting immigrants arriving to Colombia by way of Caracas, Cartagena, Barranquilla and even Guayaquil (from Asia), and beating them as they get off their boats, they have some very strong and even violent rhetoric. The party is essentially in the throes of the civil war between the Conservative old guard seeking to keep the conservative nature of the party intact and the Nationals, who are upstart radical nationalists and populists who are absolutely tired of the elite, conservative or liberal, that has dominated the party since independence. Over a dozen men have announced their candidacy to be the National-Conservative Party's candidate for the presidency, which isn't counting the dozen or so men running as "Independent Conservatives" in the Assembly and for President.
The Colombian Worker's Federation is busy arguing amongst itself, as well as clashing with populists, rightists and Integralists at rallies and in the streets. The Worker's Federation, after making great strides in the 20s, has decided to quibble about ideological purity and the nature of "Colombian Societism" in the same vacuum as Brazilian and Eurasian Societism. The question of immigration has also reared its ugly head as many workers themselves are outright against the Worker's Federation's stance on immigration and its many first and second generation (often from Germany and Eastern Europe) immigrant supporters.
Internal Events:
The Federalist Leadership Contest starts off normal enough with a "Party Candidate" and a "Reformist Candidate" as there have been so many times before in the past. However, Hector Cabello is surprised by a powerful and competitive campaign from Bonifacio Salcedo, who manages to poach a significant amount of delegations and votes. For the three weeks in December of 1935, the Federalist Part racks over the decision of who to select. The lower classes are dissatisfied with the selection process, declaring they've been left out. While their support for Salcedo is misguided (he doesn't care, for the most part, about the plight of the poor), he's more than glad to accept their votes and complains to the press that Governor Cabello has been attempting to shut him out of the race through illegitimate means (nothing new in Colombian politics) and accuses the Cabello campaign of intimidation, threats, bribery and even stuffing ballot boxes. The final result remains in doubt...
The National Conservative Congress is no better. The Nationals revolt against the Conservatives and demand radical changes to the party's domestic and foreign platforms. Tariff barriers, subsidies for local industries, nationalization of key (rail, coal, petroleum, etc) industries, immigration quotas, a "review" of Colombia's involvement in the Organization of American States and... and end "to the decades of rampant abuse towards Colombia's indigenous and African populations". For the Conservatives, they're taken aghast by these radical demands and begin to look around for the "perfect" candidate to block the Nationals. While the Nationals (mostly a political coalition of ex-military, peasants, urban workers and some members of the Church) quickly coalesce behind a few "anti-Traditionalist" candidates, they can find no true leader to take their message to Bogota. The Conservatives do even worse, unable to truly coalesce behind a candidate of their own. The Leadership Contest essentially becomes a vanity project and National Conservative voters are frustrated with the chaotic Congress. Everything seems lost until a last minute, dark horse candidate enters the running...
The Worker's Federation... well it's a leftist coalition of parties and it looks like a mess. There's no clear candidate arising at the moment.
Economic Status:
- Mixed
- For the rich and powerful, the "Great Recovery" to the Great Depression has been among the most profitable and prosperous in Colombia's history. Having risen from the ashes of the economic despair of the 1920s and early 30s, the Colombian "New Rich" has been positioned to capitalize on the advent of new technology (radio, air plane, movie theater, car, etc) and make never before seen fortunes (at least, since the last great economic boom since the Great Depression). All of this occurs at the expense of the poor, both in the fields and in the cities.
Thanks to the Depression, the rural classes (both low and middle) were thrown into economic chaos and many were forced to default on debts, declare bankruptcy, or otherwise enter into an economic position where they are forced to sell their land. Of course, Colombia has historically had a strong independent, small farmer class thanks to land reforms in the 1840s but the economic collapse of the 20s forced the sale of hundreds of acres of small farming land to increasingly larger and more powerful agricultural companies and big landowners. The return of the Hacienda greatly clashed with the vision of a Colombia dominated "by the people". Waves of people fled the countryside to the cities in the greatest urbanization process to date in Colombian history. With the arrival of European migrants and refugees (fleeing the aftermath of the Great War in Europe) and those fleeing the countryside and the collapse of their farms, the labor pool swells in industrial cities like Cartagena, Medellin, Bogota, Barranquilla and Caracas. Wages are depressed and not many people seem to be hiring outside of low-wage factory labor, strikes don't work like they used to because scabs are always aplenty.
This has resulted in a very "hollow" recovery, with the lower and middle classes still feeling the effects of low wages, little job opportunity and, for the first time in decades, little in the way of social mobility. Anger and resentment at a placated ruling class seems to be at a tipping point...
Military
The Colombian Armed Forces are a robust and adaptable fighting force. The Navy is the pride and joy, which is why the legacy of the Maritime War hangs so heavily upon the Federal Navy, while the air force has taken the fascination of military theorists and aficionados alike. The army, a mostly professional fighting force that still gathers auxiliary support from State Militia, is at a resolutely confused period in its existence. Lowered funding, bureaucratic confusion and personal conflicts between powerful State Militias, their governors and the military continue.
Army:
150,000 Regulars
500,000 Reservists
25,000 State Militiamen
65 Tanks
Navy:
WIP
Air Force:
150 Fighters
25 Bombers
10 Recon Zeppelins
Alliances, Agreements, Pacts, and Trade:
Trade with most of the world
Founding Member of the OAS
Colombian-Haitian Treaty of Mutual Friendship, Prosperity and Cooperation (Treaty of Barranquilla)
Colombia has long had a mission to civilize. From the indios to the Africans, such is the mission of all European and European-descendant peoples. It is selfish of Mexico City and Washington to deny you that right... and as such we will extend to you a line of credit.
SECRET
Forgive us for being doubtful of your completely altruistic intentions. The recent 180-turn in your Philippines policy does not exactly fill us with confidence.
In any case, regardless of intention, the agreement--as proposed--would be almost as bad as a government led by the foreign planters. We would be willing to negotiate on terms 3, 4, and 5, but we will not be opening our economy to the same foreign influence that corrupted it in the first place.
We have never claimed to be altruistic, but the enhancement of the power of any asians resistant to European imperialism is a strategic and political goal of Japan. Our recent policy to the Philippines (OOC: I thought that was secret?) is simply a reorganization of that policy.
To be frank, your goals, though admirable, are not possible. If we were to advocate what you want, American and Mexican marines would be landing in support of their white settlers within the month. We have not treated you as stupid, as the Mexicans and Americans have. What we offer is the most realistic outcome that
Mexico and the United States can accept. Until Hawaii is strong enough to defend itself, it cannot avoid being a focus of international attention. Ask the West Germans, Marathas, or Serbs: they will tell you that it is hardly a Hawaiian misfortune.
But to alleviate your concerns:
Clause 1 is just a recognition of the facts of the situation, but could be made "secret" or implicit if that would be preferable. The blanket access to port facilities could be replaced by individual treaties if you would prefer.
Clause 3 is the best way to ensure Japanese friendship and economic aid to the Hawaiian govermment. The USA and Mexico have far closer naval bases, and thus far simpler power projection, than Japan does: the lease, at a generous price, of an uninhabited atoll is hardly an odious burden. Would you prefer the Americans or Mexicans to annex the atoll outright?
Clause 4 again is something that it is unlikely that foreign governments will accept changes to. Mexico and the US would rather send soldiers than give up their economic interests. However, if all governments agreed to allow Hawaii to nationalize a percentage, say 10-20%, of investments, or pay a lump sum to the govermment, would that suffice? We believe we could get the US and Mexico to agree.
Clause 5 is in your self interest. The Mexicans have the most weapons and money. Who exactly do you think the Japanese forces will prefer to aid: mexican troublemakers, or the noble natives of Hawaii? Obviously, the forces would be withdrawn within a certain reasonable period. The Mexicans will fight for their power, and Hawaii has proven that it does not, at the moment, have the resources to fully resist.
To: Japan
From Republic of the Philippines
This arrangement would suit us, although our military will still require aid in stamping out undesirable elements.
To: Japanese Government
From: Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy
SECRET
Would you mind explaining the sudden shift in policy regarding the Philippines?
Secret:
To: The Republic of the Philippines
From: Japan
Excellent, we hope that this agreement can inagurate a more cooperative relationship between Manila and Tokyo. Of course, we will continue to fund your military for that and other reasons, but we would prefer the Philippine military to be used solely against undesirable elements and western imperialists.
Secret:
To: IJN, IJA
From: Japanese Government
I would prefer for our brave soldiers and sailors to be prepared to defend Japan's interests against foreign imperialists and other enemies, rather than our supposed allies. With this agreement, we can hopefully redeploy SNLF and army battalions to more productive enterprises than shooting Philippine strikers. This agreement doesn't deprive us of our crucial naval bases, nor our export markets and resources, nor our effective control over the Philippine government, but it does give us credibility with other Asian anti-imperialist groups, and allows us to end an unprofitable occupation of a nominal ally. We keep all the best benefits of the Philippines, and discard the negative implications.
We can have 3 Squadrons of Aircraft For you by the End of the Year, two of Fighters and one of Dive Bombers. Will you be requiring advisors to help you train pilots and air crews?
Colombia has long had a mission to civilize. From the indios to the Africans, such is the mission of all European and European-descendant peoples. It is selfish of Mexico City and Washington to deny you that right... and as such we will extend to you a line of credit.
To: Colombia
From: Reformistas
SECRET
Your assistance is very much appreciated, friends. With the Japanese and Americans strongarming the Mexicans, we need help from sensible Western powers more than ever.
We have never claimed to be altruistic, but the enhancement of the power of any asians resistant to European imperialism is a strategic and political goal of Japan. Our recent policy to the Philippines (OOC: I thought that was secret?) is simply a reorganization of that policy.
To be frank, your goals, though admirable, are not possible. If we were to advocate what you want, American and Mexican marines would be landing in support of their white settlers within the month. We have not treated you as stupid, as the Mexicans and Americans have. What we offer is the most realistic outcome that
Mexico and the United States can accept. Until Hawaii is strong enough to defend itself, it cannot avoid being a focus of international attention. Ask the West Germans, Marathas, or Serbs: they will tell you that it is hardly a Hawaiian misfortune.
OOC: Derp. I just saw the "secret" bit. Sorry, it's pretty late and I'm a bit out of it.
IC: To: Japan
From: Nativists
SECRET
Yet what you have proposed will simply be no better than what the Reformistas are aiming to do. We have seen the effects that foreign powers have had on our nation and on others, and simply put, without some modifications, your offered deal is little better than the goals of the Reformistas--it would just be three nations holding the leash instead of one.
Secret:
To: The Republic of the Philippines
From: Japan
Excellent, we hope that this agreement can inagurate a more cooperative relationship between Manila and Tokyo. Of course, we will continue to fund your military for that and other reasons, but we would prefer the Philippine military to be used solely against undesirable elements and western imperialists.
I would prefer for our brave soldiers and sailors to be prepared to defend Japan's interests against foreign imperialists and other enemies, rather than our supposed allies. With this agreement, we can hopefully redeploy SNLF and army battalions to more productive enterprises than shooting Philippine strikers. This agreement doesn't deprive us of our crucial naval bases, nor our export markets and resources, nor our effective control over the Philippine government, but it does give us credibility with other Asian anti-imperialist groups, and allows us to end an unprofitable occupation of a nominal ally. We keep all the best benefits of the Philippines, and discard the negative implications.
SECRET
While the idea is sound, the "free and fair elections" you have promised are what concerns us. How "free" or "fair" will these elections be? If the wrong party is elected, we may be faced with the choice of either leaving or, ah, reasserting ourselves, neither of which is an enviable prospect.
Sugar magnate and sudden political superstar, Domingo "Dom" Josemaria Terrazas
Like many Dominicans, Domingo Terrazas was born to a long and complicated line of slaves and (former) slave owners. The mixture of black, white and indigenous is one that pervades the culture and island society that inhabits the eastern half of Hispaniola. The State of Santo Domingo, formed out of the filibustered annexation of the corrupt Dominican Republic, facing internal collapse or invasion by Haiti, the Dominican people, while distrustful of soldier of fortune and "adventurer for hire" Micheal Savage of Glasgow who had led the "private expedition" to overthrow the Dominican government, quickly grew fond of the Federated States' following its annexation of the island nation and the flowing in investment and access to Colombian internal markets while having its trade laws suddenly changed over night to facilitate trade and break down tariff walls.
Growing up poor, Terrazas and his family were lower class sugar farmers, his father working on a large plantation near La Vega and his mother dying in childbirth. With the tradition of a large land owning population and cheap prices per parcel on the mainland, Santo Domingo continued along its path of elite land ownership concentrated in the hands of the few, something Bogota had co-opted (along with the old Dominican landed aristocrats) in order to generate support for the annexation among the landowners and old civil servants, the class divisions in Santo Domingo were far more pronounced than they were in the rest of Colombia (which is saying a lot). It seemed impossible to move up on the social ladder on the island.
So Terrazas worked his way to the highest level of education financially available to him (fourth grade), saved up money over the course of his childhood and early adolescence (literally a few pesos every month) while working with his father (before his death at 58 when Terrazas was 13) on the sugar cane plantations that would hire them before essentially fleeing to the coastal Colombian city of Cartagena. A booming industrial and mercantile city, like many Dominicans looking for work on the mainland, Domingo Terrazas quickly settles in a crammed apartment in a shanty town "suburb" on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the bay. Working long hours in a shoe making factory, Terrazas studied at nights thanks to a Catholic literacy and basic education program funded by the local Catholic Church and quickly showed his shrewd business aptitude at work, rising up to become a trusted assistant to his managers and bosses, eventually becoming a manager himself. Working by day and eventually enrolling in a local business college for blacks and mulattoes (mostly made up of those returning home following the failed "Homeland" project designed to... send Afro-Colombians to Haiti via system of incentives and coercion) and studying by night.
His graduation from the Cartagena Junior Business School was quickly overshadowed by the outbreak of hostilities between the United Kingdom and the Federated States of Colombia following a surprise invasion by the Federal Army into British Guyana. Domingo is quickly drafted into the Federal Navy and performs admirably in the Caribbean, returning to his home of Santo Domingo as a sailor and based out of the capital of Santo Domingo. Upon the end of hostilities, Terrazas elects to return home after a few failed business ventures (including a ranching company, a Dominican restaurant in Bogota and an abysmal showing in the real estate sector) in the metropole over the course of two years.
Upon turning 35, utilizing his savings, some revenue thanks to his modest investments and stocks, his navy pension and a few loans, Terrazas returns to Santo Domingo, purchases some hectares of land and begins growing sugar. Now as the landowner, Terrazas slowly begins buying up the lands he worked on as a child, and becomes a well known name among the sugar business in Santo Domingo and, eventually, across the country. His slick charisma, natural charm and humor, as well as a friendly demeanor help mask the cutthroat businessman underneath the facade of nobility. His hostile take overs of his rivals' business demonstrates an aggressive means of conducting business and there are several rumors of unseemly actions taken to further his interests, however his public persona is of a friendly, if at times crass, businessman with a history of giving to charity and simply being known as the "World's Richest Mulatto".
By the time of the height of the post-war boom, Terrazas was indeed the "world's richest Mulatto" and one of Colombia's richest private citizens, having expanded his sugar holdings in to all kinds of agricultural holdings such as rice, corn and even tobacco. When the crash came, Terrazas was able to capitalize on the collapse of the middle class land owning class and quickly added their lands to his, greatly expanding his holdings but once again returning to his roots in mostly trading with sugar. By now, Terrazas owns sugar plantations in Cuba, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Terrazucar is a staple of most European and American households and Domingo Terrazas is mostly known as a funny black man who made his fortune selling sugar.
So it comes to everyone's surprise when Terrazas announces his intentions to compete in the National-Conservative Leadership Congress to become the party's Presidential Nominee. Rallying against immigrants, using bombastic campaign slogans and making unsubstantiated claims to win over a largely uneducated and illiterate lower class, which sees his support swell amongst the public and many delegates. His ready-made reputation precedes him, and allows him to bypass the need to introduce himself to the party and country at large. He's nearly denied the nomination, but before a final round of voting (which is largely predicted to be close but an ultimate defeat to the polarizing Terrazas) a rumor spreads among a crowd of onlookers waiting outside of the banquet hall where the congress was being held at, essentially passing along erroneous information that Terrazas had lost thanks to the party Conservatives attempting to enact a corrupt bargain to push forward their favored candidate.
A riot breaks out outside and fist fighting breaks out between Conservatives and Terrazas' supporters in the Congress. Pretty soon, feeling one of their candidates is being attacked, the rest of the Nationals break and join in on Terrazas side. Rallying the Nationals behind him, Terrazas has managed to somehow unify a ragtag group of blacks, mulattoes, indigenous, white peasants and white urban working class males behind him and form a patchwork coalition of nationalists, Catholics, and minorities from which to declare a political base. Utilizing intimidation, threats of violence and some back room deals, Terrazas manages to clinch the nomination just as the Federalist Leadership Contest was ending...
Dimitri Vladimirovich Nechayev (foreground) and his wife, Svetlana
---
The sudden and unexpected turn for the worse experienced by Dimitri Nechayev, better known as the Father of Societism, has proven troubling for the Union of Eurasian Societist Republics. Led from the onset by the indomitable revolutionary, the U.E.S.R. has now found itself quietly struggling to determine who it is that will lead the Societern should the worst come to pass and Nechayev pass from this world into the next, a struggle accentuated by the fact that Nechayev has, by and large, dominated Eurasian politics. As of the current date, as a bloody struggle unfolds in Ukraine and the need for strong leadership becomes apparent, the foremost contenders within the Eurasian Societist Party is the head of the Emergency Committee, Grigory Mantsev, and Nechayev's son, Vladimir Nechayev, who holds significant sway within the party on account of his father.
And thankfully neither of them are from Georgia nor were either of them ever exceedingly handsome as a youth thus ensuring the Union will be spared from that particular kettle of fish.
The Great Depression of the 1920's affected Sweden much like the rest of the world. Factories closed, the Stockholm Stock Market collapsed and poverty increased. Sucessive Prime-Ministers like Hjalmar Sander and Oskar Thorsson failed to bring the country out of the Depression. Thus by the end of the 1920's the country was in very bad shape. Enter Karl Pearsson and his Social Democrats.
Karl Pearsson Prime-Minister of Sweden since 1930's
Pearsson a strong believer in a welfare state and Democracy saw the rise of Societist Russia as a threat to Sweden's position and its rule over Finland. While he saw the need of good relations with Prussia-Poland as a big neccessity he was also wary of Integralism as well. A force that was beginning to gain followers in Sweden but like the Swedish Societist Labour Party remained at most a fringe party. Nevertheless Pearsson who lead a coalition of the Social Democrats and the Agricultural League whose leader Gustav Larsson became Deputy Prime-Minister saw fit to combat this. He introduced various welfare policies to help combat the crisis as well as several Mass Transit Projects to decrease unemployment in the country. During this time the first railroad connecting Stockholm and Helsinki which went through Lappland was built despite the massive dificulties. The country experienced a growth in all sectors and many consider it was one of the first to actually surpass the Great Depression.
Now Sweden looks into the 1930's with what the future brings. While the country has enjoyed much better relations with Prussia-Poland due to the threat Societist Russia poses on both many in the Riksdag wish to retain its neutrality. A fact that is actually leading to a slow rise by the Swedish Integralist Movement.
Next - The Grand-Duchy of Finland and it's relation with Sweden.
From: Kingdom of Sweden
To: United Kingdom of Great Britain @Comrade Jeff
Greetings friend. Our two nations have in the past enjoyed very good relationship. We wish to continue said relationship in a very strong matter. We belive we gain a lot from cooperation.
Secret:
Incidentally what is your view on Societist Russia?
From: Kingdom of Sweden
To: United States of America @Alexo
We have enjoyed strong ties for a long time. Incidentally the United States is home to a large community of Swedish people. We are very strongly in favour of continuing said ties and enjoying strong relations with the American Government.
Secret:
That said we do have three families that have acquired estates in Hawaii. The recent talks by Mexico have left us worried. Can we get some assurance from the American Government our fellow Swedish in Hawaii will be kept safe?
To: The Imperial Diet of Japan @bigseb31213
From: The Republic of China
We understand we have not always been the best of friends, yet in earlier times it was Japan that sheltered us from the Qing and their pogroms to keep China stuck in the past. We would hope that you might see future benefits in supporting us. After all we have 1 billion people living under our control, the Qing's control and the Necheyavs control. That is a great market for the Japanese and if we were given your aid you would have access to our markets. Even greater we possess the only truly modern and capable army in China, we are the only ones capable of holding this great country together.
To: Columbia
From: Mexico
Secret
We simply cut our losses as we realized that we couldn't reason with them. We wished to avoid conflict and split some land between the US, Japan, and the natives to attempt to appease them all while avoiding war between the nations. When we realized what thier intent was we pulled out. We'd not lose many troops for a simple finical gain.
To: Columbia
From: Mexico
Secret
We simply cut our losses as we realized that we couldn't reason with them. We wished to avoid conflict and split some land between the US, Japan, and the natives to attempt to appease them all while avoiding war between the nations. When we realized what thier intent was we pulled out. We'd not lose many troops for a simple finical gain.
There's deescalation, and then there's totally pulling out. At least open up a line of credit for Reformists, after all you've been their primary backer for years. It makes no sense to throw away over a decade of foreign policy at the whims of Tokyo and Washington.
You just lost yourself, and quite possibly by extension the OAS, quite a bit of influence in Hawaii.
To: Colombia
From: Reformistas
SECRET
Your assistance is very much appreciated, friends. With the Japanese and Americans strongarming the Mexicans, we need help from sensible Western powers more than ever.
OOC: Derp. I just saw the "secret" bit. Sorry, it's pretty late and I'm a bit out of it.
IC: To: Japan
From: Nativists
SECRET
Yet what you have proposed will simply be no better than what the Reformistas are aiming to do. We have seen the effects that foreign powers have had on our nation and on others, and simply put, without some modifications, your offered deal is little better than the goals of the Reformistas--it would just be three nations holding the leash instead of one.
To: Japan
From: Philippines
SECRET
Very well. Do you have a timeframe in mind for these elections?
SECRET
While the idea is sound, the "free and fair elections" you have promised are what concerns us. How "free" or "fair" will these elections be? If the wrong party is elected, we may be faced with the choice of either leaving or, ah, reasserting ourselves, neither of which is an enviable prospect.
Three nations holding the leash is preferable to being the newest territory of Mexico, no?
But what do you propose?
Secret:
To: Philippines
six months to a year, it's up to you.
Secret
To: Military
Well, we will work with the major Philippine parties to ensure that their candidates are the right sort of people for one. Societist and other similarly undesirable parties will of course be banned. These measures together should keep people acceptable to us in power. Additionally, the military of the Philippines will remain loyal to us, and the implicit threat of a coup should matters get out of hand will serve to keep things in hand. If we really need to, we can pay off some electoral officials.
Past our bases and economic interests, we don't care very much about who rules in Manila. As long as they stay within the framework we've established, their elections can be reasonably free and fair.
There's deescalation, and then there's totally pulling out. At least open up a line of credit for Reformists, after all you've been their primary backer for years. It makes no sense to throw away over a decade of foreign policy at the whims of Tokyo and Washington.
You just lost yourself, and quite possibly by extension the OAS, quite a bit of influence in Hawaii.
To: Columbia
From: Mexico
Secret
You do pose a valid point. As a sake of compromise, I'll send you weapons to give to the Reformistas. There can be no fixation on this without bringing Japan into this fight. Do you agree.
There's deescalation, and then there's totally pulling out. At least open up a line of credit for Reformists, after all you've been their primary backer for years. It makes no sense to throw away over a decade of foreign policy at the whims of Tokyo and Washington.
You just lost yourself, and quite possibly by extension the OAS, quite a bit of influence in Hawaii.
To: Japan
From: Nativists
SECRET
Simply put? The economic concessions as you have outlined them are unacceptable, as the central tenet of our ideology--as well as the very reason we are fighting--is to prevent such foreign influence from repeating the events of January of this year.
1. The Kingdom of Hawaii will be considered an area of interest for the USA, USM, and Japan. All nations will have free access to port facilities in peacetime
Designating Hawai'i an "area of interest" is not acceptable, and nor is free access to all Hawaiian ports. Each nation may negotiate separate treaties with Honolulu to station forces there, along with the appropriate compensation for basing rights.
2. The Hawaiian Constitution will be restored, and all constitutional changes will need to be approved by the representatives of all four major Hawaiian communities
2. Freedom of Worship, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Conscience, and Freedom to Bear Arms will be established for all major ethnic groups in Hawaii, specifically meaning indigenous Hawaiians, ethnic Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese, ethnic Americans, and ethnic Mexicans.
These two are perfectly fine, with the exception of the freedom to bear arms (we do not want the Fusileros to return); we are not naïve enough to believe that the existing foreign populations can simply be removed. As we said, our problem is that the next few clauses of the deal seem geared towards expanding the influence of foreigners.
What are the terms of this lease? How long will it be in place, what forces will be stationed there, will Hawai'i be permitted to revoke this lease if the terms of the agreement are not adhered to?
5. Hawaii will not establish trade barriers with Mexico, Japan, or the United States, and will not establish external trade barriers without approval with all three interested powers.
Here lies our biggest issue. Frankly, local Hawaiians are unable to compete in an environment where larger foreign powers operate with impunity. We have seen this occur again and again, in China, in Siam, in our own nation, and yes, in Japan. We are not interested in our own Bakumatsu, and nor are we interested in having foreign powers dictate our policies.
This is unfortunately something we cannot agree to without some... shall we say assurance? We would like a concrete timetable for the involvement of this force, with a concrete date for their withdrawal from Hawai'i once order has been restored.
Well, we will work with the major Philippine parties to ensure that their candidates are the right sort of people for one. Societist and other similarly undesirable parties will of course be banned. These measures together should keep people acceptable to us in power. Additionally, the military of the Philippines will remain loyal to us, and the implicit threat of a coup should matters get out of hand will serve to keep things in hand. If we really need to, we can pay off some electoral officials.
Past our bases and economic interests, we don't care very much about who rules in Manila. As long as they stay within the framework we've established, their elections can be reasonably free and fair.
To: Columbia
From: Mexico
Secret
You do pose a valid point. As a sake of compromise, I'll send you weapons to give to the Reformistas. There can be no fixation on this without bringing Japan into this fight. Do you agree.
Why would you send weapons to Colombia to then send to Hawaii? Why can't you just ship them from Mexico?
If the Japanese are looking for a fight, they'll find a bloody nose. Simple as that. We're not looking for a war but we don't see why we should let the Japanese dominate Hawaii.
