Remove ads

The March of Remembrance: A TL-191 Nation Game (Game Thread)

Reader mode
To: Great Britain
From: Brazil

Confidental: We are concerned by the recent usurpation of the Portuguese crown by the Miguelist pretender. Surely such an abysmal and illegal act shall not be tolerated by the old monarchies?
 
@Alex Costa

To Bolivia
From Argentina
The great rivers of the world have enabled trade and prosperity between nations. From the Danube to the Yangtze these trade byways assure access to the sea and allows otherwise landlocked regions to access the worlds markets. Sadly South America lacks these truly great trade arteries. But it is almost the twentieth century, man need not accept the boundaries inflicted upon it by nature.

To promote trade and relations between the nations of our region we propose creating a heavy rail networks linking our nations and Paraguay. Using a heavy rail gauge we can assure efficient and cheap trade between our nations and provide your markets access to our ports and through them the rest of the world.

To Paraguay
From Argentina
The great rivers of the world have enabled trade and prosperity between nations. From the Danube to the Yangtze these trade byways assure access to the sea and allows otherwise landlocked regions to access the worlds markets. Sadly South America lacks these truly great trade arteries. Yes the Rio Parana is an avenue but an imperfect one, for it to remain a trade route one must forever prohibit development on it such as rivers and dams. such is the tyranny of nature, with one hand it gives and another holds us back. But it is almost the twentieth century, man need not accept the boundaries inflicted upon it by nature.

To promote trade and relations between the nations of our region we propose la heavy rail networks linking our nations and Bolivia. Using a heavy rail gauge we can assure efficient and cheap trade between our nations and provide your markets easier access to our ports and through them the rest of the world.
 
Atomicwalrus said:
@Alex Costa

To Bolivia
From Argentina
The great rivers of the world have enabled trade and prosperity between nations. From the Danube to the Yangtze these trade byways assure access to the sea and allows otherwise landlocked regions to access the worlds markets. Sadly South America lacks these truly great trade arteries. But it is almost the twentieth century, man need not accept the boundaries inflicted upon it by nature.

To promote trade and relations between the nations of our region we propose creating a heavy rail networks linking our nations and Paraguay. Using a heavy rail gauge we can assure efficient and cheap trade between our nations and provide your markets access to our ports and through them the rest of the world.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Our country was not always landlocked, in fact as recently as the past decade, Bolivia had a coastline and flourishing maritime trade, until the Chilean usurpation stole our rightful territory and the livelihood to which Bolivia's people are entitled. As we understand it, the Chileans are not merely content to continuously undermine our nation and aggressively seize Bolivian territory, but also seeks to take control of the Strait of Magellan from your state. For which you have our sincerest sympathies and a friendly warning not to underestimate the thirst for conquest that exists among the Chilean people. Only if Argentina stands strong will it resist their aggression.

In any event, with regards to your offer, we cannot consider such a project to be economically viable: any rail route would pass through the Altiplano region with its notoriously high altitudes and difficult conditions for construction. We must regrettably decline your offer despite the goodwill with which it is intended.

Atomicwalrus said:
To Paraguay
From Argentina
The great rivers of the world have enabled trade and prosperity between nations. From the Danube to the Yangtze these trade byways assure access to the sea and allows otherwise landlocked regions to access the worlds markets. Sadly South America lacks these truly great trade arteries. Yes the Rio Parana is an avenue but an imperfect one, for it to remain a trade route one must forever prohibit development on it such as rivers and dams. such is the tyranny of nature, with one hand it gives and another holds us back. But it is almost the twentieth century, man need not accept the boundaries inflicted upon it by nature.

To promote trade and relations between the nations of our region we propose la heavy rail networks linking our nations and Bolivia. Using a heavy rail gauge we can assure efficient and cheap trade between our nations and provide your markets easier access to our ports and through them the rest of the world.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

While we appreciate the poetic solicitation of our support, we must politely decline this offer.

We object for a series of reasons, chief of which is Argentina's present maintenance of revanchist claims against our entire nation owing to Paraguay's erstwhile status as part of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata. For this reason, we would not be interested in building a railway connecting our territory to that of Argentina.

Moreover, Paraguay already has a significant and growing network of railroad coverage throughout its territory, and the free navigation of the La Plata Basin which has traditionally been guaranteed by all of the states of the region is perfectly sufficient for our economic needs.
 
Heavy W. Guy said:
Our country was not always landlocked, in fact as recently as the past decade, Bolivia had a coastline and flourishing maritime trade, until the Chilean usurpation stole our rightful territory and the livelihood to which Bolivia's people are entitled. As we understand it, the Chileans are not merely content to continuously undermine our nation and aggressively seize Bolivian territory, but also seeks to take control of the Strait of Magellan from your state. For which you have our sincerest sympathies and a friendly warning not to underestimate the thirst for conquest that exists among the Chilean people. Only if Argentina stands strong will it resist their aggression.

In any event, with regards to your offer, we cannot consider such a project to be economically viable: any rail route would pass through the Altiplano region with its notoriously high altitudes and difficult conditions for construction. We must regrettably decline your offer despite the goodwill with which it is intended.
.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

To Bolivia
From Argentina
Private

The Antiplano is indeed a barrier, for trade moving east but it is also a barrier moving west. Maybe a smaller less ambitious network could value us both, a network could still reach Santa Cruz and the Amazon regions. The proposed route could pass through Yacuiba before heading North East skirting the Antiplano and staying on comparatively level ground onto Santa Cruz, Trinidad and beyond. Such access would greatly increase the economic viability to further develop these regions.

With rail access to the Atlantic you could exploit the wealth of these regions and let it reach foreign markets without paying to access Chilean port. We can mutually strengthen our nations and in doing so spite Chilean moves to curtail your development.

This could be the start of a relationship that can stand against aggression where ever it comes from.
 
FROM: THE COURT OF CARLOS VII
--GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT--

The legitimate government of Spain bids any who wishes to assist in its restoration to send ambassadors, funds and supplies to the port of Bilbao.
 
The History of Belgium 1865-1889

Leopold II, King of the Belgians

On the 11th of December, 1865, Belguim began a week of sadness as across the nation the news was spread that the controversial King Leopold I had died at 74 years of age and in the 34th year of his reign. A week later his son Leopold II ascended to the throne. It was Leopold's belief that to become relevant and have even a little bit of power, Belguim must find a way to establish a colony, but this would take a long 24 years, filled with multiple steps

In the first ten years of Leopold's reign, the Liberals held a majority in Parliament, ending in 1876 when the Catholic Party finally won a majority. In that time they would pass a semi-controversial act into law that secularized school, but to win back voters passed a widely progressive act that gave Universal male suffrage and breaking ties with the Vatican. Meanwhile, the Labour party was able to win a few seats in the Belgian parliament, causing over confidence and it's eventual total weakness. The semi-popular Liberal Prime Minister Walthère Frère-Orban was ruthlessly attacked by the Catholics to his eventual failure in the 1876 elections, which caused his forced retirement from politics for a short time.

Meanwhile, Leopold was shocked in 1869 when his son, and heir apparent, came down with a bitter fever. Leopold gravely feared his royal line may come to an end, however, Leopold III would survive but be plagued with poor health for the rest of his life. A year later catching Smallpox which would permanently scar him for the rest of his life, and constantly be prone to coughing fits.

With the Catholics under Jules Malou now holding almost total control of Parliament immediately asked the Vatican for forgiveness and reestablished ties, which remained rather controversial, and ended the secularization of schools in Belgium. These two acts caused rioting within the more liberal Brussels, and Malou took the full brunt of it, causing Leopold to excuse him in 1877. Malou would be exchanged for the German-descended Charles Woest, who would win multiple elections in 1878 to 1888. Woest was able to garner extreme popularity to the Catholics and struck it off with Leopold, even stating he would support future plans of colonization, although for most of woest's time as Prime Minister most of those in the Catholic Party was against it.

With such opposition to Leopold's plan to colonize Africa, With many Liberals calling such a plan "Insane" and the Catholics while coming around to the idea, still had lot's of opposition within the party. And so Leopold took money from the royal treasury itself to privately outfit a ship with supplies and people to travel to southern Africa to create a private colony in which he could rule, however in that year of 1886 the ship broke and the crew drowned off the coast of a Portuguese Colony in West Africa.

The Idea of a colony was not lost though, Woest eventually left the place of Prime Minister having elevated the Catholics o extreme popularity, and was followed by Theophile de Latsheere, who was able to uphold the Catholics in 1888, and would finally agree to establish a Belgian colony in Southern Africa. And so the decision was made and the area was mapped out for the "Colonie nationale de Kongo"

Summarry:
Liberals remain in power for 5 more years than in OTL
Prince Leopold III survives but is weakenned
Catholics take power in 1876, and after the repeal of popular laws Jules Malou is forced to step down as Prime Minister, and is succeeded by Charles Woesg
Belgians have better view of germans after the popular Prime Minister Woest leads a successful term
Belguim decides to colonize the area of OTL Congo Free state for the national colony of Kongo.​
 
ByzantineCaesar said:
To: Great Britain
From: Brazil

Confidental: We are concerned by the recent usurpation of the Portuguese crown by the Miguelist pretender. Surely such an abysmal and illegal act shall not be tolerated by the old monarchies?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

To: Brazil

From: The British Ambassador to Brazil

Confidential

The Foreign Office has cabled its assurances that the present situation in Portugal is being given the utmost consideration.

However, speaking only as an observer to this matter, I can say that with Spain on the brink of a Fourth Carlist War, Her Majesty's Government must at present tread carefully with regards to Portugal, and that Miguel's apparently widespread popular support along with the lack of suitable male heirs to the Portuguese throne does make his claim a stronger one than it normally would be.
 
W.S Hancock's comfortable reelection in 1888 was neither surprising nor particularly avoidable. What was however was the the increased majority in congress which came about almost entirely through the socialists diverting vital republican votes in close states. This state of affairs along with the increasingly revitalised North Eastern section of the party allowed for the first talks for a reunification of the party.

In terms of policy as was fitting for a campaign promising "more of the same" there was an expansion of conscription and the reserve period to allow an increased army of 750,000 by 1890 and a reserve expected to number 2,000,000 by the same. Significant attention was also paid to consolidating and expanding the industries to maintain this military machine that now for the first time was one of the chief employers and economic drivers in the U.S. Confederate belligerence led to mass support for this state of affairs and even the socialists did not oppose the new bills.
 
To: Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Austro-Hungary and all others who may be concerned (@Ceslas @acecipher @Comrade Jeff @Azecreth @Theravis )
From: Kingdom of Belgium

We as the nation of belgium were pondering of repealing our policy of eternal neutrality so we may build up an army, navy, defences, and alliances that will aid our nation. However before we make any such decisions we would like to know what the international communities opinion is.
 
Duke of St. Paul said:
To: Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Austro-Hungary and all others who may be concerned (@Ceslas @acecipher @Comrade Jeff @Azecreth @Theravis )
From: Kingdom of Belgium

We as the nation of belgium were pondering of repealing our policy of eternal neutrality so we may build up an army, navy, defences, and alliances that will aid our nation. However before we make any such decisions we would like to know what the international communities opinion is.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

To: Belgium
From: France

Considering the effort that went into negotiating the Treaty of London as well as the current geopolitical situation of Europe, the French government would advise against the course of action proposed by the Belgian government. It will cause more problems than it solves
 
Azecreth said:
To: Belgium
From: France

Considering the effort that went into negotiating the Treaty of London as well as the current geopolitical situation of Europe, the French government would advise against the course of action proposed by the Belgian government. It will cause more problems than it solves
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Your feedback is important to us, we would like to here at least 3/5 other nations, but we can at least agree with you here.
 
Remove ads
French Colony of Grain Coast
  • Threadmarks
    • French colonial Adventures


    ​
    In late 1888, as the situation in Europe was heating up the French Colonial Office set up plans for further expansion of the French Colonial Empire. Even as the French and British were disputing who owned Madgascar, the French were looking into other areas of the African Continent for settlement. For this purpose the French begun seeting up in the area known as the Grain/Pepper Coast just west of the British Golden Coast. In it the French would add up to the already present Assinie settlement, establishing trade and treaties with most of the coastal chiefdoms.

    By 1889, the French had already secured control over the coastline and were now looking to expand to the Interior.

    Results: @Azecreth

    The French sucessfully establish a presence in the Grain Coast.

    ​
     
  • Threadmarks
    • The Meiji Constitution is enacted​

    A handy diagram of Japans government.


    Following the victory in the Sino-French War, the annexation of Taiwan, the progressive westernisation of the nation and the unanswered question of who will dominate Korea, the Emperor has finally put into practice the reorganisation of the Japanese state, replacing his privy council with a cabinet headed by a Prime Minister and a government modelled on those in the West, such as France and Germany, in order to have the empire be ran more effectively than before.

    Numerous laws have been put into effect, from religious freedom pending the acknowledgement of the Emperors supreme rule to the creation of an elected lower house of representatives to handle domestic rule whilst allowing the Emperor to retain overall authority of the country.
     
    Expansion of the Hellenic Navy

     ​

    Before Prime Minister Theodoros Diligiannis term came to an end in 1889, he could oversee one of his government's projects come to completion. Three battleships ordered from italian yards during beginning of the Bulgarian Crisis in 1885 were delivered to the Hellenic Royal Navy in late 1888 and entered service in 1889. Named after the three islands Hydra, Psara and Spetsai, whose captains and ship crews fought valiantly during the Greek War of Independence and laid the foundation for the modern greek navy. The new battleships would provide the Hellenic Kingdom with a qualitative edge that was desperately needed, as their most likely rival, the Ottoman Navy, outnumbered them significantly.
     
    Japanese in Taiwan
  • Threadmarks
    • The Japanese Occupation of Formosa



    -Japanese troops in Taipeh
    ​
    Formosa since the end of the Sino-French War had not been a willing part of the Japanese Empire. Resistance began in earnest among the Han Chinese populace of the islands well before the island was fully taken from the Great Qing, but also key to the resistance were the aboriginal people of Formosa (also known as Taiwan): Austronesian peoples who had actually in ancient history spread throughout East and Southeast Asia and beyond as far as Madagascar and Polynesia. Now under Japanese rule, neither the aboriginal peoples nor the Han accepted Japanese rule and resistance was intensely fought. The Japanese landed troops at all of the major ports (save Keelung which was leased to France over significant objection from the Imperial Japanese Navy) and now waged a counterinsurgency campaign to take control of the island. Japan installed a military governor to keep Taiwan under tight control while troops were deployed to coastal lowlands to keep order. Although the civilian Japanese government urged its commanders to make an example of rebellious peoples, the Governor-General of Taiwan, Kabayama Sukenori, disagreed with such crude methods of holding power and instructed his troops to be stern but fair in their pacification of insurgency. Revolt and sporadic uprisings against Japanese rule continued despite Governor Kabayama's earnest efforts to bring peace and stability, which prompted several requests for reinforcements from Japan on his part. However, it was clear that in the long-term, Taiwanese resistance alone would be unlikely to topple Japanese rule, even if armed insurrection would likely mandate the maintenance of a significant military garrison for the foreseeable future. The only other matter was the French presence on Taiwan, which was politically controversial in Japan and fueled concerns among the Imperial Navy in particular that France intended to seize control of Formosa at some point.

    To: Japan

    From: Formosa Garrison

    Confidential

    We need to keep every port operational that we can in Formosa to supply our forces. The French presence in Keelung is interfering with our ability to bring supplies in but also to keep a military presence in that port.

    Not to mention some of the officers are wary about it: they're afraid if we have any kind of armed uprising again that the French might instruct their troops to "pacify" (and inevitably occupy) Formosa themselves.
    ​
    ------------------

    @Dovahsith
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • Heavy W. Guy said:
    ​
    To: Japan

    From: Formosa Garrison

    Confidential

    We need to keep every port operational that we can in Formosa to supply our forces. The French presence in Keelung is interfering with our ability to bring supplies in but also to keep a military presence in that port.

    Not to mention some of the officers are wary about it: they're afraid if we have any kind of armed uprising again that the French might instruct their troops to "pacify" (and inevitably occupy) Formosa themselves.
    ​
    ------------------

    @Dovahsith
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    In return for access to that singular port so long as our alliance holds, our French ally is speeding up the construction of the facilities necessary to begin independent construction of modern warships. The benefits outweigh the costs and should the French attempt such a move, they would regret the loss of one of their few friends in the far east. You have been granted more than sufficient forces at your disposal.

    May the emperor rule 10,000 more years.
     
    Last edited:
    Dovahsith said:
    In return for access to that singular port so long as our alliance holds, our French ally is speeding up the construction of the facilities necessary to begin independent construction of modern warships. The benefits outweigh the costs and should the French attempt such a move, they would regret the loss of one of their few friends in the far east.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    But that sends a signal to the Western powers that Japan is weak and depends upon European support to sustain itself. That's how their governments and peoples will see it after all: a land of Eastern barbarians who need the guidance of a Western power to uplift themselves from savagery. Not to mention that we cannot simply assume the permanent goodwill of any power towards us, regardless of our present relations. We have no way of knowing if today's friend will be tomorrow's foe.
     
    Heavy W. Guy said:
    But that sends a signal to the Western powers that Japan is weak and depends upon European support to sustain itself. That's how their governments and peoples will see it after all: a land of Eastern barbarians who need the guidance of a Western power to uplift themselves from savagery. Not to mention that we cannot simply assume the permanent goodwill of any power towards us, regardless of our present relations. We have no way of knowing if today's friend will be tomorrow's foe.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    The last time we held to our pride without the ability to defend ourselves, we had the west enforce their desires upon us. If it but takes a single port, not even on the mainland, to give us the ability to create a navy capable of defending Japan without being reliant on bartering for the used unwanted hulks of the British, then it is a sacrifice worth making.

    If they wish to make a false assumption till that time, so be it. The opinions of barbarians lacks worth and will be corrected in due time, as inevitable as the rising of the sun.
     
    Dovahsith said:
    The last time we held to our pride without the ability to defend ourselves, we had the west enforce their desires upon us. If it but takes a single port, not even on the mainland, to give us the ability to create a navy capable of defending Japan without being reliant on bartering for the used unwanted hulks of the British, then it is a sacrifice worth making.

    If they wish to make a false assumption till that time, so be it. The opinions of barbarians lacks worth and will be corrected in due time, as inevitable as the rising of the sun.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    ...

    As you say then.
     
    FROM: THE COURT OF CARLOS VII
    TO: POPE LEO XIII

    --secret--

    Your Holiness, we beg your indulgence. We understand the Papacy has made some peace with this more... democratic era we live in, as our own sacred cause has. Nonetheless, may we hope for your recognition of our government as the sole legitimate authority in Spain? This "Second Spanish Republic" will doubtless prove as atheistic and anti-Church as the first!
     
    Last edited:
    Space Oddity said:
    FROM: THE COURT OF CARLOS VII
    TO: POPE LEO XIII

    --secret--

    Your Holiness, we beg your indulgence. We understand the Papacy has made some peace with this more... democratic era we live in, as our own sacred cause has. Nonetheless, may we hope for your recognition of our government as the sole legitimate authority in Spain? This "Second Spanish Republic" will doubtless prove as atheistic and anti-Church as the first!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    If your government can pledge to restore lands that, over the years, have been appropriated by successive Spanish governments from Church control and more generally pledge to provide a respectable amount of funding and support to the Catholic Church in Spain, we would be willing to recognise your state. For now we could attempt to rally the Catholic faithful behind the Carlist cause.

    Actual recognition we must be careful with for the time being. If your government continues to strengthen its position and thus emerges as a strong possibility to take control of Spain, then the Holy See will extend recognition. We would do so earlier, however, in this matter we must consider our relations with other European states as well as your foes in the Second Spanish Republic. If the Church openly sides with their enemies and they emerge victorious, the Catholic faithful in Spain will suffer the consequences.

    For now, however, you have our sincerest support, albeit in private rather than in public for the moment.
     
    Last edited:
    French colonial event

    With the successful acquisition of Tonkin from the Chinese government in the Sino-French War, the French hold on Indochina had been relatively secured. Efforts to consolidate their hold began shortly thereafter, with French army units beginning the effort of training colonial garrisons to take up protection duty within the region.

    Of course there was an insurgency to deal with, one that was eased with the removal of the Black Flag army following the war. Initial efforts were tricky, with France seeing some successes but also being dealt sharp blows by the insurgency, who were able to rely upon public sympathy to outmaneuver the French troops trying to fight them Even the installation of control points in the countryside did not make a major difference, though it helped.

    The eventual solution would come from a newly appointed governor-general, who returned the mountains to the control of the military and worked to instill public confidence in the French government, that they would be protected from retaliation, and that law and order would be maintained. It is too soon to tell whether it will succeed, but one can hope.

    Most importantly though, the administration of the region has been streamlined. Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina were merged into the 'Indochinese Federation,' a unified government structure for French Indochina with the capital in Saigon. It is hoped that this will ease the difficulties of setting roots in Indochina, and dealing with the occupation.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top