Balance of Power (Gameplay Thread) - Epilogue and Game Over

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

While the Sultan cannot make official comments regarding partisan policy in foreign countries, he welcomed the Republican victory with satisfaction and congratulates President McKinley via unofficial channels.

The Sultan is also worries about political crisis in Germany, but restrains himself to sent a standard congratulatory cable to the Chancellor.

[Lumine]

End of Late 1902:

The Balance of Power keeps shifting dramatically, and it seems the Quadruple Alliance is in real trouble. While Italy and Japan keep rising as stronger powers thanks to industrialization, good trade proposals, alternate alliances and effective takeovers of territory (the Philippines and Trieste, for example), Austria-Hungary and Germany are going through a series of political crisis due to the unpopularity of Wiihelm III and Franz Joseph I. On the other hand, the rest of the world is not necessarily united against the Quadruple Alliance, but closer ties between America, the British Empire and the French Republic could mean that a new super bloc might be born soon. The Ottoman Empire and Russia have few allies, but their are getting stronger as time passes (thanks to Russia's potential and Abdul Hamid surprisingly efficient leadership after the end of the war).

Thanks to political maneuvering and the commitment to peace of some leaders (which has made them unpopular), a great war between the powers and the end of the balance has been avoided, and despite the crisis in Venezuela, everybody is waiting for the next spot of trouble. Some point to recent ethnic strife in the Middle East, some to the Russo-Japanese rivalry, some to McKinley and Salisbury's imperalistic designs. Anyway, war might come sooner than expected if some pieces fall into line...
 

Alliances, Wars and Popularity:

-Ongoing Wars:
  
-Venezuelan War.
  -Naval blockade of Puerto Cabello.

-Popularity Ratings:
(Updated)

-Tsar Nicholas II: Low.
-President William McKinley: High.
-Kaiser Wilhelm III: Low.
-Kaiser Franz Joseph I: Very Low.
-Prime Minister Waldeck-Rousseau: Medium.
-Prime Minister Salisbury: High.
-Emperor Mutsuhito: Very High.
-Sultan Abdul Hamid II: Medium.
-King Vittorio Emmanuele III: High.

Current Alliances:

Three Power Alliance (USA, UK and Japan)
Quadruple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Japan)
Franco-Russian Alliance (France and Russia)
Franco-British Alliance (France and the UK)
Turkish-American Alliance (Ottoman Empire and USA)
Orthodox League (Russia, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania)
Russo-American Defensive Alliance (Russia and USA)
Adriatic League (Greece and Italy)

The Map:

Map Changes:

-German South West Africa split in half.
-French Republic buys parts of Alsace-Lorraine.

[Lumine]

I'll take most of the day off (I have to work on my novel), and hopefully I will be able to start the fifth turn in the night. I have a couple of technological discoveries, a horrible diplomatic accident and a massive amount of ethnic strife ready for next turn! Also, in a good touch of European irony, Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau and Wilhelm III have been nominated (and are currently facing a powerful couple of pacifists) to the Nobel Peace Prize for their Alsace-Lorraine initiative. Stay tuned!

[Cranberry]

Don't rush, take all the time you need

Then I've got at least that going for me, which is nice

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I was going to nitpick your map, but I realize it's conditional on whether or not the Armenian nationalists accepted my deal, so I will wait.

[Dr. Cynic]

Can't wait to see where this will go! Take your time though, no rush.

[Lumine]

Turn Five - Early 1903: (Part I)

-Russia:

Italy was humiliated in the Italo-Abyssinian War a few years ago mostly thanks to your intervention on behalf of the African nation. Even if most of the armament you sent was confiscated, the rifles that did arrive and the training by Count Nikolay Leontiev helped the Abyssinians to win the war. Emperor Menelik II wrote Leontiev to see if Russia could continue to help Abyssinia militarily and economically to prevent another power from invading his Empire, and Leontiev has made his case before Witte, who turns to you for approval.

The Armenian nationalists have been realistic enough to accept your terms, but they do have a couple of issues they’d like to discuss with you before closing the deal. First, they would like an assurance that no Russification policies of any kind will be enacted, securing Armenia’s domestic independence. And second, since the current government is comprised of a mixture of revolutionaries, aristocrats and exiles, they request permission to choose their own King.

The Trans-Siberian Railway, considered the key of Russian power in Siberian and the Far-East, is going through enormous difficulties. The fact that there’s only a single track makes things slower, some tracks are badly built, corruption is everywhere and anarchist seem to have grown fond of blowing up entire sections from time to time.

-United Kingdom:

While your proposals for the Middle East and the potential creation of an Arabic state have led to positive reaction from most of the Princes (and the House of Saud has stopped military movements in order to participate in the talks), the peace did not last long. The occupied Middle East was already incredibly tough to handle thanks to refugees leaving, Ottoman Army units left behind and ethnic and religious rivalries. But once it was announced that the Jews would be allowed to return to Palestine, hell broke loose. Arabia kept mostly calm (although there’s growing resentment at the lack of discipline of the troops near Medina and Mecca), but Palestine has erupted in outright chaos. It’s not a revolt yet, but Jews are being assassinated and British troops harassed, ambushed and even killed when wandering alone. Palestinian leaders have made it very clear that they will not stand for the loss of their homeland, and if swift measures are not taken soon, the Middle East will rise.

Despite a mild heart attack, Cecil Rhodes still lives, and he has become the strongest supporter of the Jerusalem-Cairo railroad now that the British Empire has a clear land route. However, there is still one state blocking the railway in Nigeria. Colonial troops led by General Frederick Lugard have been clearing the road and capturing some parts of the hostile Sokoto Caliphate, leading Sultan Attahiru I to declare war on Lugard’s troops. Rhodes has requested that the government launches a full scale attack against Attahiru I, but it should be remembered that, as a Muslim head of state, his defeat might increase unrest in the Middle East.

The London Exposition was considered a resounding success across the Empire, allowing the people to rejoice at the increase in British strength and position. Of course, the world knows no superpower but the British are getting closer and closer as time goes by in light of the failures and hardships of other adversaries. Problem is, there is a growing number of people and politicians who believe that it is time to strengthen the Empire and stop expanding it. Chief among them is Joseph Chamberlain, who is been rumored to be interested in a plan for tariffs in the name of “Imperial Preference”.

-France:

While the French troops have held control over key Libyan cites like Tripoli, Benghazi or Tobruk, the Senoussi rebellion keeps growing in size, now controlling most if not all of the Libyan desert. They seem to be preparing to strike the cities as soon as they have enough power, and the local population fully supports their efforts. The French commander requests more reinforcements, and there’s talk of installing harsher policies against this rebellion.

Congratulations, Prime Minister! Your Alsace-Lorraine deal has shocked France, and while some say this is not enough, most people are hailing you for recovering some lost territory, leading to a heavy surge in your popularity. Whether that will allow you to follow a more ideological agenda is left to be seen, but so far you are popular enough to last your term without any problems.

Brazilian Alberto Santos Dumont was a very known figure in French society as an adventure, inventor and sometimes philanthropist. While he was a strong supporter of the dirigible (amazing Paris by flying along to the Eiffel Tower), he became interested in heavier-than-air aircraft in Late 1901, and after contacting some friends in the United States and some potential investors, Santos Dumont managed to create his own “airplane”, which he proudly called “Oiseau de Proie”, and he managed to make the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight near Paris, recorded for posterity. Santos Dumont is now a hero across Europe and the World (and let’s not mention Brazil), and it seems a new technological era approaches.

-Germany:

Bernhard Von Bülow is still the Chancellor, and while he remains loyal to the memory of Wilhelm II, he is determined to fight in order to pursue his military agenda. For starters, he wishes to go through with a naval surge focusing on Battleships, a surge in military garrisons in the Colonial Empire, the prosecution of the war in German South West Africa and new fortifications built across Alsace-Lorraine. He is also requesting permission to make plans for certain events, and he has recommended that, if the Kaiser is interested in expanding the Empire and its influence, Germany should try to approach Latin America, bully China or even invade Abyssinia if needed be. It’s up to you to veto or approve some of these proposals.

Today the Krupp factories in Essen suffered a major attack with bombs, leading to the loss of several tons of military equipment and the lives of many workers. Von Bülow suspects the anarchists, but one his young adjutants, Captain Franz Von Papen, shares his suspicions of this being the work of foreign agents from Britain or France seeking to undermine Germany.

Your voting reform was passed by the last Reichstag given that you still had almost absolute powers, but since you relinquished half your power the rest of your domestic proposals are now stalled. The next one to be voted is the proposal to abolish the nobility, and it’s becoming obvious that it will fail miserably with the current votes. Von Bülow has recommended that you drop it in order to appease the Junkers and to you the embarrassment, but even if you do, the Junkers are determined to see you going down in flames, and it won’t be easy to win them back.

-Ottoman Empire:

Despite losing the war, you have led a very aggressive push for reforms in domestic and military policy, leading to the surprise of the Empire. While leaving the minorities behind will be of great help, your Empire is still economically weak and the Secret Police still bloated. Your reforms have helped to avoid a coup or a revolution and it seems your military forces are on the road to achieving efficiency and true strenght, but hard work will be crucial for your Empire to retake the position of a true would power. The new association with the United States and Japan has proved popular, but more than Grand Vizier Mehmed Said Pasha can handle, so he has presented his resignation.

A great number of European philanthropists and adventurers have arrived on Constantinople to participate in the works to restore the Dardanelles, and many of them have offered to help with modernization and industrialization. Some are already helping with the first movements to build the Baghdad-Constantinople Railway, and some are going as far as to apply to become officers in the army.

With the war over and nationalism on the rise, your people continue to hate the powers who humiliated the nation. France and Russia were already strongly disliked, but Britain was regarded in a more positive light for saving the Empire in 1878. Not anymore. The British Empire is now hated across the entire Empire, and British citizens are often attacked and even lynched by mobs if found alone. Your Empire wants revenge, and it hopes to get it one day.

Continued pressure by your troops has led the Kurdish militia to retreat to the mountains to continue a guerrilla war which they will probably lose very soon, and it has been confirmed so far that Persia has nothing to do with them. It should be noted that their weapons are modern, so it has been theorized that someone really powerful is behind them.

[Lumine]

Turn Five - Early 1903: (Part II)

-Japan:

Your comprehensive and surprisingly tolerant policies in regards to the Jews have proved enormously beneficial in hindsight, as the growing anti-semitism of Europe have led thousands of European and Russian Jews to seek asylum in the Empire, becoming incredibly loyal subjects of the Emperor. More of them are expected to arrive now that the Middle East is becoming a chaotic place, and while providing shelter for them will prove somewhat expensive, they bring economical and technical expertice that might prove decisive in the future.

Governor-General Matsukata has tried his best to avoid bloodshed in the Philippines, and so far he has faced much more success than “Bloodbath Taft”. President Aguinaldo and General Malvar have agreed to put down most of their forces. They appreciate the attempt to give them a good degree of autonomy, but they warn that the Philippines won’t accept you forever. Alas, some of the more extreme Filipino patriots have continued a guerrilla war, ambushing a good number of your troops near Manila. They are armed with modern weaponry and seem to be instructed in the European way, leading Matsukata to believe one of the major powers is disrupting your efforts there (and he believes Russia or Britain to be responsible).

The Japanese General election will come in 1903, and it might prove an interesting chance for you to continue your quest to retake your power. Saionji Kinomichi aims to maintain his hold over the Diet with his Seiyukai Party (a mixture of conservatives and liberals who are mostly pro-europe), and he currently faces Prime Minister Katsura and his group of independents and small clubs. There is another wildcard, the renewed (after almost collapsing in 1898) Kensei Honto Party, of Former Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, one of the most liberal politicians in Japan (who advocates for a stronger navy and a liberal constitution). There are fears that Okuma and Saijonji might unite to fight Katsura’s independents and conservatives, but the good part is that losing the election won’t topple Katsura (as he already lacks parliamentary support) unless you wish to dismiss him.

-Italy:

-Your offer to Greece has had a very positive result, and Greece and Italy are now members of the so called “Adriatic Pact”. The Greeks are quite enthusiastic about regaining some territory from their past glory (part of why they don’t trust the Russians), and they are already asking for economical assistance and military cooperation to share the benefits of Italian technology. They have also express a willingness to fight wars against Albania and Bulgaria, if there’s a need for that.

 -A report from the Interior Minister reveals that organized crime is growing stronger and stronger in the poor rural areas of the South. The so called Sicilian Mafia alone has more than a 1000 members divided in eight clans, and they are basically the rules of the almost feudal island.

-Due to a poor economical situation, more and more Italians are abandoning the nation to seek new opportunities in the "New World". This has resulted in more than two million Italians in the United States, and about 1.5 million in Argentina (causing a massive shift in culture in that country). Some politicians argue that immigration should be stopped and that the government should work with President McKinley on this issue, but Giolitti would prefer to put only mild restrictions.

Your insider sources in the Vatican report that Pope Leo XIII will die very soon. Leo XIII has been known for his Austrian sympathies and his reformist spirit, and he has often critized the Kingdom of Italy for being too anti-catholic for him. Some argue that it might be wise to seek support for a Cardinal more friendly to the government, and so far the leading candidate for the Conclave is Cardinal Mariano Rampolla, an expert diplomat and a more liberal candidate than other options.

-Austria Hungary:

-Greetings, Kaiser. You have taken over after the abdication of Franz Joseph I, and it’s up to you to give renewed strength to your Empire in order to retake your lost prestige. Foreign policy failures and the handover of Trieste have reinforced the perception of your Empire as a weak state, but can certainly prove them wrong. For starters, you have to make a choice as to whom to back in regards to court politics. The most cohesive faction is led by Conrad Von Hotzendorf, unofficial leader of the militarist clique, who humbly request you support for him and his fellow officers to restore Austria-Hungary’s glory. You can also choose to ally yourself with Ernst Von Koerber the Austrian politicians, or take an unexpected choice in backing the leaders of the ethnic minorities or the Hungarians. Choose wisely.

 -Military reforms to increase cohesion with the army have led to a better performance, but there is still resentment among some regiments in regards to being forced to learn Austrian. Furthermore, the equipment is quickly becoming obsolete in light of greater and greater numbers of troops being recruited, so the search for new technologies and better weapons will be key for the success of the Army in a potential war. (From past turn)

The infrastructure program ordered by Franz Joseph I has been rather successful so far, managing to build many new roads, bridges and channels to increase connectivity within the Empire. Alas, money is now running low, and the army and navy surge ordered by him as well are taking a lot of money. Finding new revenue or cutting some of the programs will be needed to avoid deficit. (From past turn)

-USA:

The McKinley administration has survived the midterms and you still have Congress on your side, but there is a degree of resentment over the fact the domestic policy is still ignored. Furthermore, the Progressive wing seems to be unwilling to take Vice-President Hay’s olive branch, and they maintain their threats of leaving the party if the administration goes for policies that are too conservative.

Your Bureau of Investigation, currently overstretched thanks to massive efforts to jail and stop anarchists, has made little progress in regards to capturing the spy ring that provoked the Puerto Cabello scandal. However, they have been able to gather some pieces of information: The spy ring is acting within Washington D.C, and they are most likely acting and plotting with the active help of an Embassy, meaning that they could very well be sent by one of the major powers in order to embarrass the United States.  

Negotiations with the Cuban government have resulted in an agreement that is at the very least practical to you, given that you have left the Cubans no choice. There is one point that hasn’t been formally discussed yet, and that is the future status of Guantanamo Bay, currently used as a naval base and serving as the HQ to the Special Task Force in Venezuela. Will you ask for a  lease in Guantanmo? Buy it? Outright annex it? Perhaps return it to the Cubans?

Past policies and directives have led to a surprising expansion of the American Navy and Army. From being considered a pushover before the War with Spain mere years ago, America’s military might is now respected across the globe, but not feared. Most of the funds have focused on the navy buildup (with dozens of ships in construction), and while this reduces unemployment, there are fears of deficit or excessive spending if this continues for a prolonged time, specially with the expenses of maintaining such a large force.

[Lumine]

Crisis! – Sea of Japan incident!

TO: Japan and Russia.

Admiral Stepan Makarov was busy during 1902 preparing the Russian Navy for a war while also reforming it, but since he couldn’t be in every place all times, his reforms were bound to create a conflict. In this case, there was a conflict in the Far-East that led to a massive diplomatic disaster, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in years. Yevgeny Alexeiev, the Far-East Viceroy, was a supportive of Makarov’s aggressive tactics, and he decided to command the Port Arthur and Vladivostok’s fleets to have weekly sorties into sea to train the crews. He was opposed on this by his Chief of Staff, the more cautious Admiral Wilhelm Vitgeft, who argued that the fleet should be kept inside the ports. This led to conflicting orders and tension among the officers in the fleets, and one of the sorties became a full-fledged disaster.

Admiral Vsevolod Rudnev was leading one of these sorties into the Sea of Japan when he found himself unexpected facing a Japanese Fleet headed by Vice Admiral Uryu Sotokichi, who has conducting exercises with his new British-made Cruisers and Battleships. Rudnev’s forces, notoriously bad trained and sometimes unruly, mistook the Japanese exercise as hostile maneuvers, and before Rudnev could take full command of his force his sailors launched torpedoes and started firing at Uyru’s forces, forcing the Japanese to answer fire. After several minutes of carnage, Rudnev retook control and forced his ships to withdraw. Uryu kept firing for a couple more minutes before realizing what had probably happened, and finally ceased fire as well. Both fleets returned (to Port Arthur and Kure, respectively) to tell the story, and this provoked mass indignation across Russia and Japan, with many people calling for war against the aggressor (of course, the other nation was the aggression in every version of the story). No ships were lost, but the Russians took heavier damage (with three battleships severely damaged), and both sides lost about 100 to 200 sailors between dead and wounded.

Blood will come at the gates of the East, it seems.

Crisis! – Venezuela resists the blockade!

TO: Germany, Italy, Ottoman Empire and the United States.

While the coalition against Venezuela kept a tight blockade against Puerto Cabello and survived the diplomatic scandal, President Cipriano Castro managed to manipulate nationalism sentiment enough to gain the backing of the entire nation against imperialistic aggression, and is now demanding that the four enemy powers leave Venezuela. Castro has also appealed to Tsar Nicholas II for his assistance, and to every other world power to condemn the blockade. While the Venezuelan government faces economic losses, there’s increased trade with its neighbors (specially Colombia, that hates McKinley’s meddling in South America) which allows them to survive for now. The world powers can now abandon Venezuela, outright invade the country or keep the blockade hoping Castro will eventually surrender, but the situation doesn’t look too kind for them.

Event – Prime Minister Salisbury found dead in his sleep!

TO: British Empire.

Despite the warnings of his doctors that his health might make it hard for him to continue as Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury kept fighting by showing both efficiency and strong leadership, thus helping the British Empire to win even more power. Alas, the strain proved too much for him, and he was found dead in his sleep shortly after the London exposition ended. The British Empire now mourns Queen Victoria’s last Prime Minister, and it is time for the Conservative and Unionist Party to choose a successor between Balfour, Landsdowne and Chamberlain to be appointed Prime Minister for the remaining three years of Salisbury’s last term. The Prime Minister will be missed.

Event – Waldeck-Rousseau and Wilhelm III won the second Nobel Peace Prize!

TO: France and Germany.

While the Alsace-Lorraine deal might have earned Wilhelm III many enemies in his homeland, it seems to have impressed the pacifists to a great degree. As a result, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Kaiser in order to acknowledge his initiative and his sacrifice to achieve peace, and Prime Minister Waldeck-Rousseau was awarded the prize as well for proposing the deal (although it has been rumored that the award was given to him as well to avoid antagonizing France). This will evidently raise the profile of the Nobel Peace Prize, as two heads of state now have. They might not accept it, of course, but it has been clear to the world that these two men have made history.

[Lumine]

OOC: I worked as hard as I could to see if I could force some of you to stop being so nice, so gentlemen: have fun with this turn!

[Lumine]

Updated Cast:

GM: LumineVonReuental
Assistant GM: Windjammer:

Current Players and Leaders:

Prime Minister Waldeck-Rousseau: Dr. Cynic. (1901- )
Tsar Nicholas II: Snowstalker. (1901- )
Emperor Mutsuhito: SJoyce. (1901- )
Sultan Abdul Hamid II: Kalwejt. (1901- )
King Vittorio Emmanuele III: Sawx. (1901- )
President William McKinley: Clarence. (1901- )
Kaiser Wilhelm III: TheCranberry. (1902- )
Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I: Oldiesfreak. (1903- )
Prime Minister Balfour: Spamage. (1903- )

Old Players and Leaders:

Kaiser Wilhelm II: IBDD. (1901-1902)
Kaiser Franz Joseph I: Jack Enderman. (1901-1902)
Prime Minister Salisbury: Spamage. (1901-1903)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Some formal stuff first:

To: The United Kingdom
From: The Ottoman Empire

Your Excellency,

I was very saddened by the passing of Lord Salisbury. Although we happened to face each other on the battlefields, he was truly a great statesman for which he had my deep respect. He was a brave leader, not afraid to reach a settlement to preserve the world peace, even against political pressure at home.

We are looking forward to continue our cooperation in achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

x Abdul Hamid II


To: The French Republic and the German Empire
From: The Ottoman Empire

Your Majesty; Your Excellency,

I am pleased that your joint efforts to resolve the difficult Alsace question were rightly recognized.

x Abdul Hamid II


To: The Austrian-Hungarian Empire
From: The Ottoman Empire

Your Majesty,

Please accept my congratulations upon assuming the throne. I hope our countries will soon restore good relations.

x Abdul Hamid II

[free my dawg]

OOC: I'd like to protest the "penalty" I got because I'm 100% sure I answered all of my crises from the past turn, and just opted to do nothing about them (and I made it clear that I was ignoring #1 and #3 to not destabilize my economy). I sent in my orders, and I don't feel like I'm being penalized for anything wrong.

[Lumine]

OOC: I'd like to protest the "penalty" I got because I'm 100% sure I answered all of my crises from the past turn, and just opted to do nothing about them (and I made it clear that I was ignoring #1 and #3 to not destabilize my economy). I sent in my orders, and I don't feel like I'm being penalized for anything wrong.

Well, I may have made a mistake while collecting all of the answers and messages (and they were a lot so it was easy to get lost). I'll be more careful next time (and I'll search in case in case I actually overlooked the answer), and in the meantime I'll remove the penalty. The crisis will remain there in case you wish to chance the course of action, but I'll create new ones if you wish.

[windjammer]

Event-L'Aurore- 1902 Person of the year

Despite having lost the Second Great-Turkish war, Sultan Abdul deserves the first Person of the year awards. Indeed, Sultan Abdul reveals himself as a reformist Sultan. Machiavelic, ruthless in diplomacy, willing to reform his country, Sultan Abdul deserves this award. The Ottoman Empire has found his new Suleiman the Magnificient.

[free my dawg]

OOC: I'd like to protest the "penalty" I got because I'm 100% sure I answered all of my crises from the past turn, and just opted to do nothing about them (and I made it clear that I was ignoring #1 and #3 to not destabilize my economy). I sent in my orders, and I don't feel like I'm being penalized for anything wrong.

Well, I may have made a mistake while collecting all of the answers and messages (and they were a lot so it was easy to get lost). I'll be more careful next time (and I'll search in case in case I actually overlooked the answer), and in the meantime I'll remove the penalty. The crisis will remain there in case you wish to chance the course of action, but I'll create new ones if you wish.

Whatever you feel like doing is fine. I'd honestly prefer a few new crises, but if you don't have the time I understand.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The Russian Empire - Early 1903

-Venezuela must live up to its financial obligations to the rest of the world, and President Castro must be willing to come to the table with the great powers he is in conflict with. However, we also urge the United States, Britain, Turkey, Germany, and Italy to exercise restraint with Venezuela and be willing to renegotiate Venezuela's current debts.

-Russia considers itself a friend of the Ethiopian Empire, but in the past few years has become a closer partner to Italy as well. We urge Italy to respect the independence of Ethiopia but will not at this time renew military aid to Ethiopia.

-We will acquiesce to all current Armenian demands and hope for continued friendly relations with the Kingdom of Armenia.

-Especially with the immediate need for a greater presence in Northeast Asia and the Pacific, I am ordering a full investigation into allegations of corruption involving the Trans-Siberian railroad, as well as heightened security measures nationwide to weed out and destroy anarchist and Nihilist cells.


First of all, regardless of the specifics of the situation, Rudnev acted recklessly and will be sacked for it. We will not be a successful navy without the strictest discipline among our men. The Russian Empire has no desires of war or conquest and any attempts to portray her as an aggressor are either ignorant or outright lies. However, there is a point when one nation which seeks control of the Pacific region, which has exploded its naval capacity directly to match and challenge the existing order in the region, and which now has spilled the blood of Russians, must be stopped. Therefore, The Russian Empire hereby declares war on the Empire of Japan. Before the war thread is created, we declare a mobilization of all current forces in Siberia and our Pacific coast, including Port Arthur, to defend our coasts and territorial waters from further Japanese attack. All Japanese assets in Russia shall be seized immediately. As proof that we have no intentions of war with any of Japan's allies, we will for now not mobilize anywhere else unless Germany, Austria, or Britain mobilize against us.


We appeal first to Japan's allies in the Pacific, the United States and the British Empire, to stay out of this war. The fact that Japan has provoked us should not obligate you to send your men into a war with the largest country in the world. And despite current pacts, Japan's voracious expansion in the long run will pose a direct threat to both your interests in the Pacific unless they are capped here and now. We ask Japan's allies in Europe to remain neutral as well; given the current political situations you face and given that this crisis comes out of a rash move by the Japanese, who are on the other side of the world from you.

We also appeal to our allies to join us in the fight against Japan. We do not expect much from our allies in the Orthodox League, though a declaration of war and seizure of any Japanese assets in your countries would be appreciated (OOC: Montenegro declared war on Japan in the Russo-Japanese war in real life but did no actual fighting). More critically, we ask our French allies to assist us in this conflict, especially as we see Japan's imperial goals as a direct threat to French Polynesia and French Indochina.

[Donerail]

The Empire of Japan continues to be deeply disturbed by Russian actions - from a naval buildup, to their extensions into Manchuria, to their proclamation regarding Korea, we have seen that Russian aims are ambitious, imperialist, and threatening to the continuing territorial integrity of Japan and her allies. The most recent incident only confirms the hostile intentions of the Russian presence, an attack on neutral vessels in international waters. The Empire of Japan officially declares that a state of war exists between her and the Russian Empire. We urge our allies in the Three Power Alliance, as well as those in the Quadruple Alliance, to join us in our effort. Russian aggression in the region must be checked.

Russian private assets in Japan shall be frozen, and state assets shall be seized to fund the war. The remainder of our war moves shall occur in the war thread.

To: the Korean Empire, the Qing Empire, France.
The Empire of Japan harbors no ill-will towards your nations and does not desire war. Should you not intervene in the current war between Japan and Russia, none of your nations shall see any disturbance from the Japanese military and your current territorial status shall remain free from any Japanese interference over the course of the war.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

(I will respond to specific issues later; awfully tired)

Honoring my obligations to the American ally, as well as to please the military, which hopes to regain some glory soon:


-- The Regiment dispatched to await transportation to the Carribean is to board.

-- If our transportation vessels are not sufficient, I hereby order drafting private boats fit to do the task.

-- The Regiment is to disembark in Cuba and await futher orders.


To: The United States

Honoring our obligations, we are sending a regiment of troops to the Carribean. We request a permission to disembark in Cuba.

To: United States Navy Task Force, Izmir

We request a small escort for our transportation vessels going to the Carribean.


Message to the Commander of the Regiment

Congratulations!

You and your regiment has distinguished yourself during the recent war. That is why you were selected to join our allies in the Carribean.

More importantly, you have been given the honor of becoming a foundation for a new, elite force: The Ottoman Naval Infantry.

You are thereby transferred under the Navy. Colonel, you are temporarily promoted to Brigadier General and named Commanding Officer of the Ottoman Naval Infantry.

The Sultan is proud of you.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Ottoman Empire

Cabinet:

Thanks a lot, Mehmed Said Pasha I need an active Grand Vizier, fully committed to my vision (GM, could I have some names?)

Economy:

Works on the Railroad and to clean up Bosphorus are a very good news, but I realize we're facing more wider challenges.

To responsible Ministries:

-- How are our roads? What should be improved?

-- We need to futher industrialize our country. Suggestions? Specific areas?

Kurdistan:

Good work, soldiers. Continue offensive against the rebels.

We need to double our intelligence efforts of all agencies involved to identify the source of support for the rebels. I order that works commences to establish an unified, modern intelligence service. Geographically speaking, there are two close possibilities: Russia and the British Empire. Hopefully, we'll be wrong as we were with Persia.

Continue reaching to moderate Kurdish leaders. The Sultan wishes to move on and swears off  any kind of revenge for supporting the enemy during the war. He is serious about cultural and language autonomy, with possible reforms in future, but the Kurds must realize they won't be getting a better deal (given they were abandoned by the British when peace was signed), and unrests only delays peace.

Also, the Sultan wishes to work seriously with the loyal Kurdish leaders to build a strong, multinational state. But it can't happen before there is peace restored.


(More responses to follow)  

[Dr. Cynic]

The French Republic: Early 1903

--- With regard to the Russo-Japanese War, French troops and vessels stationed in Polynesia and Indochina are to provide technical support and assistance to the Russians such as refueling stations for Russian ships. France will protect our own soil in the Pacific, though I do not wish to declare war on Japan at this time and will only do so if attacked, so all troops in the Pacific are instructed to remain on high alert.

--- I will provide assistance to the commanders in the garrisons at Tripoli, Benghazi and Tobruk of 2,000 troops each, mostly out of France, but some out of French Equatorial Africa. I will also send more weapons, including cannon and will instruct my commanders that a strict curfew for Libyans shall be enforced and anyone rising against France will be subject to imprisonment and will forfeit all of their assets. All others who have accepted French rule will be treated with dignity and respect.

--- My government points with pride to the rightful return of portions of Alsace-Lorraine and we begin assisting those living in the areas with the transition. I wish to accept the Nobel Peace Prize and offer my thanks for it.

--- I will personally meet with Santos Dumont to congratulate him on his historic flight as well as work to encourage and expand in the field of aircraft. My government wants to encourage and foster this new age of aereo-exploration.

To: The Ottoman Empire
From: The French Republic

Your Excellency, I wish to pass on my sincere thanks for your kind words. I also would ask that in the spirit of the great reformist policies, we ask that you please do more to protect foreign citizens in your nation from lynch mobs.

To: The United Kingdom
From: The French Republic

I was saddened to learn of the death of Lord Salisbury. The British people have the deepest sympathies of France as he was a great friend to us.

To: The Russian Empire, The Japanese Empire
From: The French Republic

Dear sirs, France wishes to see an end to the hostilities between your two empires. France does not want to become engaged in a Pacific War and we wish to find a way to bring your nations together at the table to discuss these issues.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

We thank our French allies for their assistance, even if they do not wish to intervene directly in our war with Japan.

We also express our condolences at the death of Lord Salisbury and wish for continued cooperation with Britain.

[Lumine]

Warning - War has been declared between the Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire. A war thread will be created in a few minutes.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

To: The Police

You need to take serious measures to protect British and French citizens against attacks. It's understandable our people are angry and yearns revenge, but that is not a desirable course.

The people anger must be channeled in other, managable direction.

[Spamage]

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Jan-Jun 1903

--Arthur Balfour, the nephew of the beloved late Prime Minister Salisbury shall take up the office and continue to expand the might, power, and majesty of the British Empire. Salisbury is to have an elaborate funeral and is to be mourned throughout London.

--In Palestine announce that no Palestinians shall be forcibly relocated and the country shall be partitioned between Jews and Muslims. The Holy City of Jerusalem is to remain in the hands of the British Military as a free religious zone. No Muslim rights shall or will be trampled upon as we believe them true British Citizens and are proud to have them as part of our Empire.

--Pull back temporarily in Nigeria until tensions cool elsewhere in the Empire. Ask the Sultan for a peaceful mediation and in the meantime to halt the fighting there.

--Westminster shall pass a series of laws which serve to strengthen the British Empire. Research into aeronautics shall be expanded, as shall naval technology. In British schools offer scholarships to be given to the academically astute who may lack the income for schooling. Encourage factory construction in Africa, Egypt, Australia, India, and Canada with expanded roads and electricity in Britain proper.

--Britain urges Russia and Japan to seek a solution without bloodshed. We shall mobilize our men and gather our ships, but we will not declare war yet, as we are dealing with the death of a Prime Minister and a Muslim crisis. We have no wishes for war and reassert we want both sides to look for a peaceful solution.

To: Russian Empire, Empire of Japan
From: UK

We urge you to seek peace before this escalates too far.