We may be a small nation with little interest in current affairs. However, while we may be fighting each other over Denmark, the Kingdom of Belgium would like to see oif we mayhelp you in any way. Can we support you economically so you may build up colonies or a better economy? Can we send teachers and Monks to help with your illiteracy? Would you like Belgian expeditionary to help you conquer west Africa? We as the nation of Belgium are willinh to help you build up however we can.
To Italy
From: The Catholic Party And Nationalist Figures
While we may have supported Denmark, her alliance with the French anger us, we would love to join waters with you and Germany and we may be able to get the Progressives to join us. Just know that many in Belgium are now on your side.
@Heavy W. Guy
(This is some old diplo from the expedition).
To: Peoples Near Settlements (Ewe, Yoruba, Gen) @Heavy W. Guy
From: Kingdom of Belgium
The kingdom of belgium wishes long life to your leaders and prosperity to your kin. We are a people from europe and wish for you to send representatives to our settlement of (place nearest settlement here) so we may understand your people and find ways to work with them.
To: Kingdom of Dahomey@Heavy W. Guy
From: Kingdom of Belgium
We would like you to send diplomats to Belgium immedeatly to speak about the future of your nations and Belgium.
To: Porto Novo @Heavy W. Guy (@Azecreth ?)
From: Kingdom of Belgium.
Greetings, we are wondering if we may send diplomats to porto Novo to speak about colonization near you?
Absolutely. In truth, we already rescinded them but some fools in Africa didn't understand that they were supposed to annex the lands outside those sultanates and to leave them be. (OOC: Seriously, that wasn't part of my war plan)
To: Majerteen Sultanate @Heavy W. Guy
SECRET
*Shows correspondance*
It seems you were not worth as much to the Italians as you thought - they'd throw you away just to get their hands on some desert. Fortunately for you, we wouldn't, and we offer you our aid. Just agree to these terms here ((similar to the Italian deal with some extra provisions regarding basing rights for the Royal Navy)). Unlike Rome though, we will never abandon you, and you will be protected by the world's most powerful nation. Furthermore, we'll make sure that some of your most talented sons can come and study at British universities - paid for by us. So, what do you say?
To: Hobyo Sultanate
SECRET
*Shows correspondance*
The Italians have abandoned you. In fact, they have completely washed their hands off you, just to get their hands on Namibia. It just goes to show the kind of nation that they are. Why not throw your hat in with an actual great power, and sign here. We propose the same terms as the Italians, and we'll also compensate your merchants for some of the more... egregious occurrences that have happened in Aden.
Secret: We must ask the noble Russian Tsar--surely these matters in Korea trouble you as much do us, correct? If Japan is allowed to take full control of the nation, the balance of power in northeast Asia will shift dramatically, and we fear for our ability to defend the Bohai ports that have given Russia access to the sea
As the chief European Powers with Asian interests, it is necessary that a joint front is presented to this latest Japanese aggression. A joint ultimatum from all our powers would undoubtedly succeed in restraining them.
From: Russia
To: Korea
Food, money, weapons - whatever you need, it's yours!
From: Russia
To: Japan
Russia condemns in the strongest terms the Japanese invasion of Korea, and demands the immediate cessation of this aggression.
To: Peoples Near Settlements (a 20 mile radius and along coastlines.) @Heavy W. Guy
From: Kingdom of Belgium
The kingdom of belgium wishes long life to your leaders and prosperity to your kin. We are a people from europe and wish for you to send representatives to our settlement of (place nearest settlement here) so we may understand your people and find ways to work with them.
*There is occasional contact but otherwise little is done. The centuries-long slave trade in West Africa has undoubtedly created entirely-justified suspicion about the arrival of armed Europeans. Rumours begin to build of a force massing to prevent further Belgian incursions*
To: Kingdom of Dahomey, Oyo Empire, etc. @Heavy W. Guy
From: Kingdom of Belgium
We would like you to send diplomats to Belgium immedeatly to speak about the future of your nations and Belgium.
To: Porto Novo @Heavy W. Guy (@Azecreth ?)
From: Kingdom of Belgium.
Greetings, we are wondering if we may send diplomats to porto Novo to speak about colonization near you?
Dear King, understand us Belgians are not here to dethrone you. However, we ask you speak to us on matters of our colonization of the land you know as "Benin"
Dear King, understand us Belgians are not here to dethrone you. However, we ask you speak to us on matters of our colonization of the land you know as "Benin"
With Britain thus far proving reluctant, we must urge your government to put as much pressure on Japan as possible. Only a united front will dissuade them.
The Kingdom of Portugal officially recognizes the new Boulanger Government of France and the New Most Catholic Monarch of the Kingdom of Spain King Carlos VII.
Signed by official decree by his Majesty Dom Miguel II, By the Grace of God King of Portugal and the Algarves, of either side of the sea in Africa, Lord of Guinea and of Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, etc.
From: Kingdom of Portugal
To: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland @SuperMissile
Secret:
This Italian-Danish conflict over Namibia is a very pointless and drawn out conflict. Naturally we are willing to take a wait and see approach to what happens. But it seems to us Italy's position on the matter is merely on a position of trying to enforce a Conferance whose result weren't totally approved. We express our wishes to a peaceful resolution as a conflict over Namibia would affect us economically tremendously.
Secret: We thank Russia for its support, but without the armed support (especially naval), to some capacity, of a European power, we will almost certainly not be able to hinder the Japanese in Korea--we can certainly make such a thing worth the exertion for Russia through arranging the lease of a port by the Korean government or somesuch after the conflict.
To: World
From: The Great Qing
The Great Qing denounces this Japanese transgression into Korea in the strongest possible terms, and joins calls for the Japanese to withdraw immediately and cease its disruptions of the Korean government
With a crisis having emerged in the Matabeland between the Mthwakazi Kingdom and the Boer republics, it was only a matter of time until war was joined in full. And in 1891, with the first South African flying columns crossing the Limpopo River, the war was joined. The Boer flying columns in their initial advances encountered limited resistance. Initially, the Ndebele refused to give resistance, likely recognising that to engage the Boers in the open field was likely to end in disaster. But the more the Boers advanced, the more intense the pressure grew upon Lobengula, who ruled the Mthwakazi Kingdom, to meet the South Africans in the field of battle. The war was a war of skirmishes and periodic clashes until the Boers reached the Matopo Hills not far from the Mthwakazi capital of Bulawayo. There, hoping to use the hilly terrain to even the odds, tens of thousands of the Kingdom's warriors (true numbers for the battle would never be fully known to the historical record) attacked a forward scouting party and in so doing initiated a confrontation with the main army of the South African Republic coupled with their not-insignificant detachment of volunteers from the Oranje-Vrystaat and, as it turned out, the Battle of Matopo Hills was a grave miscalculation. The Boers circled their laagers and formed defensive perimeters while the vastly superior numbers of the Ndebele crashed upon them again and again but were soundly repulsed. The best soldiers of the Mthwakazi Kingdom were felled in that battle and not long after, the Boers marched on the city of Bulawayo, making them all but masters of the Mthwakazi Kingdom. It was only when they invaded Bulawayo that they found that Lobengula had died of complications from gout several months earlier and that his death had been concealed to avoid the collapse of his kingdom in war.
Of course, while the Boers had won, it did not mean that the matter was entirely resolved. For while they had bested the Mthwakazi Kingdom, a powerful Shona-ruled state still thrived in the east and was said to be gathering its forces to repulse the milk-skinned invaders. Moreover, to the south, the British South Africa Company could not fail to notice what was transpiring in Matabeland. However, it was not wholly unrestrained in its potential responses: for the South African Republic had waged an extremely successful public relations campaign in Europe and Britain in particular that had engendered a certain degree of sympathy for the Boers. Thusly, there would be domestic considerations at hand in any future dealings.
Secret: We thank Russia for its support, but without the armed support (especially naval), to some capacity, of a European power, we will almost certainly not be able to hinder the Japanese in Korea--we can certainly make such a thing worth the exertion for Russia through arranging the lease of a port by the Korean government or somesuch after the conflict.
We are prepared to render such assistance, although we will first have to see whether other powers shall join us in such a venture. We would certainly be interested in such a lease, undoubtedly.
This may not be the best time, but we feel it may be an idea to re-approach the issue of a shortcut to the Trans-Siberian through Manchuria. We wonder whether the Chinese government has changed its mind on this proposal.
-The Cristóbal Colón: one of the ships involved in the Conspiracy of 1891
The Carlist victory in the Fourth Carlist War was at the time regarded as one of the most improbable events in recent Spanish history. But in retrospect, the Carlist victory was almost a foregone conclusion: the Second Republic was an improvised, muddled affair. This was perhaps unsurprising as the heir to the failed and loathed regime of Leopold I. The Second Spanish Republic had promised a new constitution, elections, and a trial for Leopold I but in the end had delivered not even one of these promises. Despite the liberal outlook of the republican state, it had little real popular support among the people it claimed to rule. But the greatest failing of the Second Republic was, above all else, a lack of vision. The ascent of liberal rule had hardly destroyed conservatism in Spain, and there were many competing visions for Spanish governance and nationhood. Whatever could be said of the Carlists, that their views were unclear was not a criticism that could be made. Carlos VII had a singular vision for Spain's future and it was this vision that he pursued relentlessly from the very beginning.
Now, however, that the Carlists had taken Madrid and the Carlist movement's goals had been effectively realised, those associated with the Republic and with rival claimants to the Spanish throne began to flee. Large numbers of officers and others took the amnesty proclaimed by Carlos VII but a significant minority were simply irreconcilably opposed to Carlism and chose to flee rather than to remain. For most Spanish politicians who fled, Latin America was the obvious destination: with the nations of the Southern Cone being particularly popular choices for exile, but many went to Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela as well. For the military opposed to the Carlists, things were more complicated. And they came to a head in late 1891 with what Spanish history would remember as the Captains' Conspiracy, La Inconfidencia de los Capitanes (not to be confused with the Revolt of the Captains, which was a separate event). The Captains' Conspiracy was an event wherein a series of Spanish naval captains and other naval officers, particularly in the port of Sevilla where Carlist troops were delayed in arriving owing to their need to oversee the surrender of remaining republican troops in Madrid. However, in their efforts, the conspirators were ultimately undone by a mole from within. For the Carlists had anticipated a potential mutiny among the navy (as the navy could actually take the Spanish fleet and sail it to a foreign harbour) and, because of a spy within their ranks, a secret Carlist by the name of Victoriano Hedilla, knew of the conspiracy long before it was scheduled to happen. However, the Carlists chose to allow the conspiracy to proceed, as to do so would draw out other disloyal officers and allow them to be apprehended by the authorities. The arrests happened in mid-1891 in a flawlessly coordinated series of mass arrests and detentions along with deployments of loyalist naval units from Barcelona to block the escape of any rebel ships.
Interrogations produced a wide variety of accusations: accused and proven conspirators alike accused their superiors and each other, but the strangest revelation was where some of the conspirators had found support. They had been provided substantial funding by a third-party source: to pay bribes, buy the loyalty of their sailors and soldiers, etc. Despite being subjected to strenuous interrogation methods, none would claim to know the identity of their true benefactor. Whoever had supported the conspiracy had gone to great lengths to avoid detection. But there was, however well-hidden, a paper trail: people who had been paid off or contacted secretly. There were many loyal officers who had refused any enticement to get involved with the conspiracy. Slowly but surely, a case was built until finally the financial support was traced back to a resident of the city of Cadiz.
The man in question was Vicente Amador Molina, a Cuban planter whose family had been on the island for several generations. The Amadors had fallen on hard times as a result of the economic decline of Cuba under Spanish rule but had used the Confederate purchase of Cuba as an opportunity: providing invaluable support to Confederate rule on the island in return for forgiveness of their debts and several seized estates being granted to their family. Vicente Amador, for his part, was no great Confederate supporter as his father and brothers were, but simply loathed the Spanish, and was more than happy to work to undermine the new Carlist regime. Of course, while this proved Amador's guilt quite effectively, it did little to tie him to the Confederate government. The Confederate Ambassador in Spain immediately claimed that Amador's actions were those of a private citizen working in the cause of Spanish freedom and that the Confederacy, while sympathetic to the Spanish people in their struggle for freedom, did not officially take sides in Spanish politics, after all, the Confederacy was a sovereign state that respected the rights of other nations and did not meddle in the internal affairs of respectable states in the way that their perfidious northern neighbour did.
The Captains' Conspiracy had been defeated in its infancy and its consequences had greatly disturbed relations between the Confederacy and the newly-established government of Spain. For, while Spain had no irrefutable evidence of Confederate meddling, this action, coupled with widely-speculated Confederate involvement in Puerto Rico, left very little trust remaining of Confederate intentions.
Results:
Spanish naval officers opposed to Carlism foment a plot to revolt and sail their ships to ports in Latin America before the Carlists consolidate complete control of Spain
However, an infiltrator in their ranks alerts the Carlists to the conspiracy
The conspiracy is allowed to proceed in order to draw out other officers opposed to Carlist rule
Only then is the conspiracy actively suppressed
The conspiracy is found to have a foreign supporter, a Cuban by the name of Vicente Amador Molina
Molina's intense loathing for Spain provides an obvious motive for his actions, but is a double-edged sword in that it gives the Confederate government justification to claim that Molina acted alone
Unsurprisingly, relations between Spain and the CSA are at an all-time low
João Franco the new President of the Council of Ministers
As a wave of renewed Conservatism spread across Western Europe, France and Spain in particular, Portugal also felt such a wave. It all started with the tragic cholera fever of 1861 which ended up killing the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Bragança branch of the Royal Family in the male line.
With no male heir and the oldest female heiress Maria Ana in Saxony, the Migelist branch took the intiative led by the still alive Dom Miguel I who would claim the throne with support of the Conservative Nobility and the Roman Catholic Church.
Thus Portugal in many ways can be considered the birthplace of the wave of Conservativism that would sweep Western Europe in the later half of the 19th century.
The current King and Head of the Dyansty Dom Miguel II has already picked a strong ally amongst the Conservative faction (Regenerator Party) in the form of João Franco, who would take over as the new President of the Council of Ministers following João Crisóstomo de Abreu's retirement from politics early in the year.
Franco, a clear admirer of Boulanger and sympathizer to Carlism and Miguelism is widely regarded as the right choice to lead Portugal at a time when Conservatism seems to be riding high in Europe.
To: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, Oranje Vrijstaat
We are delighted to send you a large amount of medical supplies and other provisions to aid you in your battles, provided by British societies and charities. Your nations are a shining light of civilisation inside the Dark Continent - best of luck.
To: British South African Company
SECRET
You would do well make preparations for a conflict, just in case something happens.
This Italian-Danish conflict over Namibia is a very pointless and drawn out conflict. Naturally we are willing to take a wait and see approach to what happens. But it seems to us Italy's position on the matter is merely on a position of trying to enforce a Conferance whose result weren't totally approved. We express our wishes to a peaceful resolution as a conflict over Namibia would affect us economically tremendously.
To: Portugal @Alex Costa
SECRET
Don't worry, the Danes will eventually be forced to retreat by the German embargo, and as for the Italians, they can't even get the expedition through their parliament. You're right though that not everyone left the conference completely happy - but that's on us, and we will make sure that Portugal and its possessions will remain untouched.
To: Spain @Space Oddity
From: Britain
We look forward to working together with your noble King.
((Repost))
To: Majerteen Sultanate@Heavy W. Guy
SECRET
*Shows correspondance*
It seems you were not worth as much to the Italians as you thought - they'd throw you away just to get their hands on some desert. Fortunately for you, we wouldn't, and we offer you our aid. Just agree to these terms here ((similar to the Italian deal with some extra provisions regarding basing rights for the Royal Navy)). Unlike Rome though, we will never abandon you, and you will be protected by the world's most powerful nation. Furthermore, we'll make sure that some of your most talented sons can come and study at British universities - paid for by us. So, what do you say?
To: Hobyo Sultanate
SECRET
*Shows correspondance*
The Italians have abandoned you. In fact, they have completely washed their hands off you, just to get their hands on Namibia. It just goes to show the kind of nation that they are. Why not throw your hat in with an actual great power, and sign here. We propose the same terms as the Italians, and we'll also compensate your merchants for some of the more... egregious occurrences that have happened in Aden.
To: Kingdom of Porto Novo
From: France
Confidential
Let us know if the Belgians cause any issues for you. They may be adventurous, but they cannot match the sort of force France can bring to bear in defense of those she calls her friends.
To: Kingdom of Porto Novo
From: France
Confidential
Let us know if the Belgians cause any issues for you. They may be adventurous, but they cannot match the sort of force France can bring to bear in defense of those she calls her friends.
To: Portugal @Alex Costa
SECRET
Don't worry, the Danes will eventually be forced to retreat by the German embargo, and as for the Italians, they can't even get the expedition through their parliament. You're right though that not everyone left the conference completely happy - but that's on us, and we will make sure that Portugal and its possessions will remain untouched.
To: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland @SuperMissile
Secret:
We don't even care much who gets Namibia so long as the border between it and our Angolan colony is respected by whoever controls the region. We do thank Westminister for its show of support.
As a sign of good faith between fellow Christians engaging in the mission of civilizing the Negro people we would like to send whatever excess food we can provide from our possessions in Mozambique towards our good neighbours of the Boer Republics. May the Lord guide you in your mission.
From: Kingdom of Portugal
To: Governor-General in Mozambique @Heavy W. Guy
Secret:
Any shockwaves being felt over there by the actions of the Boers? If the Africans cause trouble you know what to do but we naturally wanna be made aware should things start to cause trouble for us down there. Do keep us informed.
We are prepared to render such assistance, although we will first have to see whether other powers shall join us in such a venture. We would certainly be interested in such a lease, undoubtedly.
This may not be the best time, but we feel it may be an idea to re-approach the issue of a shortcut to the Trans-Siberian through Manchuria. We wonder whether the Chinese government has changed its mind on this proposal.
Secret: We await the Tsar and her allies' further moves on this subject eagerly, and shall act with them
As for the matter of the North Manchuria Railway--we are not averse to the concept of such a thing existing, but the concessions requested by the Russian governments regarding profits and extraterritoriality and what not remain unacceptable. If such a thing is to run through our borders, we expect to be able to share in the revenue, whether through a lease or through partial ownership, and for no such legal privileges of extraterritoriality among the railroad to be put in place--we cannot simply bisect our territory in such a manner
To: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland @SuperMissile
From: Kingdom of Portugal
To: South African Republic; Orange Free State@bigseb31213; @Heavy W. Guy
As a sign of good faith between fellow Christians engaging in the mission of civilizing the Negro people we would like to send whatever excess food we can provide from our possessions in Mozambique towards our good neighbours of the Boer Republics. May the Lord guide you in your mission.
From: Kingdom of Portugal
To: Governor-General in Mozambique @Heavy W. Guy
Secret:
Any shockwaves being felt over there by the actions of the Boers? If the Africans cause trouble you know what to do but we naturally wanna be made aware should things start to cause trouble for us down there. Do keep us informed.
Nothing of importance, but all the same, I request reinforcements. I think we can generally trust the Boers to treat fellow Europeans with respect but we don't wish to present a target of opportunity either.
From: Kingdom of Portugal
To: Kingdom of Dahomey @Heavy W. Guy
Secret:
We have ever been very grateful ever since your great Kingdom allowed us to build the fort outside the lands of Whydah. Should you need anything considering the latest attempts by Belgium to court yourself in a way that clearly disrespected your stances on European affairs well as always the Kingdom of Portugal is happy to assist you as it has in the past.
Nothing of importance, but all the same, I request reinforcements. I think we can generally trust the Boers to treat fellow Europeans with respect but we don't wish to present a target of opportunity either.
To: Kingdom of Porto Novo
From: France
Confidential
Your worry is understandable, of course. Do not overly fret though. If they do make a more forceful offer then France will come to your aid. Of course it might be easier if you would prefer to move into a closer relationship with the Third Republic, but we respect your desire for continued autonomy. You do as you feel is best, and know that you have our continued support
The naval officers are facing charges of treason, sedition and conspiracy. Vicente Amador Molina is facing charges of espionage, sedition and conspiracy.
As the chief European Powers with Asian interests, it is necessary that a joint front is presented to this latest Japanese aggression. A joint ultimatum from all our powers would undoubtedly succeed in restraining them.
We believe that we have made our disapproval with Japanese actions clear already, but ultimately we do not believe that this is something which is a pressing matter for the French government at this time when there are other concerns at hand. Japan is not a threat to us and after our recent clash they would be foolish to try
The Kingdom of Portugal officially recognizes the new Boulanger Government of France and the New Most Catholic Monarch of the Kingdom of Spain King Carlos VII.
Signed by official decree by his Majesty Dom Miguel II, By the Grace of God King of Portugal and the Algarves, of either side of the sea in Africa, Lord of Guinea and of Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, etc.
To: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, Oranje Vrijstaat
We are delighted to send you a large amount of medical supplies and other provisions to aid you in your battles, provided by British societies and charities. Your nations are a shining light of civilisation inside the Dark Continent - best of luck.
As a sign of good faith between fellow Christians engaging in the mission of civilizing the Negro people we would like to send whatever excess food we can provide from our possessions in Mozambique towards our good neighbours of the Boer Republics. May the Lord guide you in your mission.
Pretoria is immensely grateful for your kind gestures, and for its christian neighbors in Portugal and Britain. The light of the white race shines dim indeed in this darkest part of Africa, but the lord will surely guide us to light and civilization.
It will be done, we may wish to... establish certain arrangements regarding the future of Matabeland. This war has shown that the local kingdoms are quite weak in the face of organised opposition, and it would be in our best interests to secure an amicable division of the region in cooperation with the Boers.
To: Majerteen Sultanate@Heavy W. Guy
SECRET
*Shows correspondance*
It seems you were not worth as much to the Italians as you thought - they'd throw you away just to get their hands on some desert. Fortunately for you, we wouldn't, and we offer you our aid. Just agree to these terms here ((similar to the Italian deal with some extra provisions regarding basing rights for the Royal Navy)). Unlike Rome though, we will never abandon you, and you will be protected by the world's most powerful nation. Furthermore, we'll make sure that some of your most talented sons can come and study at British universities - paid for by us. So, what do you say?
The Italians have abandoned you. In fact, they have completely washed their hands off you, just to get their hands on Namibia. It just goes to show the kind of nation that they are. Why not throw your hat in with an actual great power, and sign here. We propose the same terms as the Italians, and we'll also compensate your merchants for some of the more... egregious occurrences that have happened in Aden.
Clearly this is some manner of stratagem, only the foolish or overly brave kings declare their real target openly. This is clearly a ruse: to distract attention in one direction while moving in another. We decline your proposal.
To: Great Britain
From: Italy
We will not be abiding by the arrangements made at the Neuchatel Conference. The Hobyo and Majerteen are fundamental to Italian interests in East Africa.
Regarding Southwest Africa, that claim shall not be pursued further by Italy.
