Capto Iugulum: 1920 - 1939

I shall let Colombian Ambassador's words speak for themselves.

We do not trust the United States government is nearly capable enough to be given responsibility over interpreting the vague terms of an internationally significant treaty,

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Ok?

given the facts

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that they are led by a dictator

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Yes, the elected ones are the worst dictators of all! Just like you! What a fact! An elected dictator who is bound to the rights of the people!

who just tried to hold the entirety of the Americas ransom by threatening economic suicide,

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I haven't heard them demanding economic investment in exchange for not signing any economic treaties. And the only economic homicide going around here, whether threatened, assisted, or self-induced, is your threat to close the Canal or jack the rates to absurd levels because of a mistaken notion that nations experienced in the matter of lowering tariffs and rates (see: Columbian Banking Act of 1918, Pacific Concord, Florida-American Friendship Treaty, Florida-Venezuelan Tariff Act of 1920, Florida-Portuguese Tariff Act of 1921... etc.) shall do something stupid in the act while experts monitor the pulse of the economies of the interested parties. What a fact. A responsible nation experienced in such affairs and creating new agreements of the types it has concluded before, expect this time it is apparently suicidal!

not long after ordering the assassination of a Brazilian diplomat on the grounds of an official diplomatic pow-wow.

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And thus proving that you don't trust said official diplomatic pow-wow's official investigation on this matter which said that there is no evidence of such a thing. This investigation, ran by Vinland and Argentina, facilitated to the full extent and powers of Florida (where it occurred) and the United States (the accused government), has come up with nothing. What a fact!

The thing us, the time plan is somewhat complicated by several facts. One is the "Most Favored Trading Partner" status offered by the Pacific Concord, specifics of which must be negotiated out in conference at Houston between American diplomats and their counterparts. Secondly, your threatening to close the canal causes us to be unsure of what kind of time plan you would accept that would also be realistic in consideration to our own economies. Finally, the Columbian Friendship Treaty is also in effect at the same time, and it's tariff reductions have to be negotiated in conjunction with the total balance of trade with the other changes in policies as well. (OOC: basically, I always let my NPC experts run by EQ to handle realistic tariff reductions and expansions. What? you'd expect me to much around with hypothetical numbers and "7% is too much, but 6% isn't" when there's less than 24 hours left?)

Regarding accusations that I am a dictator, is that not for the American people to decide in the upcoming elections? - President Robert Wallace

We thank the Floridan representative for revealing things that we could not find the words to describe. We had resolved that further negotiation was futile and that we ought to let Colombia simply reap what they have sown, but we now see that a solution is still possible.

OOC: Because of diplomatic shenanegins, I can't send orders tonight.

Terrance888 said:

I haven't heard them demanding economic investment in exchange for not signing any economic treaties.

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As discussed before, we cannot see any other possible reason for the USA to sign and publicly announce a treaty so detrimental to them, than as a form of blackmailing an unknown 3rd party by threatening general economic unrest. We do care to guess what specifically the USA is trying to get out of this, because that is not our business and frankly does not interest us.

And the only economic homicide going around here, whether threatened, assisted, or self-induced, is your threat to close the Canal or jack the rates to absurd levels

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As mentioned before, we are putting in place measures to raise tariffs to levels high enough to where the Colombian economy will be at least somewhat insulated from the economic fallout in the USA. If they decide to commit economic suicide, we want nothing to do with it.

because of a mistaken notion that nations experienced in the matter of lowering tariffs and rates (see: Columbian Banking Act of 1918, Pacific Concord, Florida-American Friendship Treaty, Florida-Venezuelan Tariff Act of 1920, Florida-Portuguese Tariff Act of 1921... etc.) shall do something stupid in the act while experts monitor the pulse of the economies of the interested parties. What a fact. A responsible nation experienced in such affairs and creating new agreements of the types it has concluded before, expect this time it is apparently suicidal!

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This isn't a lowering of tariffs. This is a complete abolishment of all tariffs, between two of the largest producers in Northern America, with the industrially-developing resource-rich Florida as a third. The economic impact of the resulting redistribution of jobs and industries between Jacksonia and the USA will be enormous, and in all likelihood followed closely by a crash of Florida's nascent industry. While, sure, according to some modern economists, this will lead to a more robust and efficient economy in the long-run, even they say that, "In the long run we're all dead." The government of Colombia prefers to worry about our people's well-being in the present, rather than fall back on statements like "everything should work out for the better, if you wait 200 years."

And thus proving that you don't trust said official diplomatic pow-wow's official investigation on this matter which said that there is no evidence of such a thing. This investigation, ran by Vinland and Argentina, facilitated to the full extent and powers of Florida (where it occurred) and the United States (the accused government), has come up with nothing. What a fact!

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A widely-publicized investigation, run weeks if not months after the crime was committed, failed to find any evidence against the United States' organized and experienced intelligence service. What a fact!

Every newspaper from Rio to Bogota knows what happened, even if no state officials will publicly acknowledge it.

Secondly, your threatening to close the canal causes us to be unsure of what kind of time plan you would accept that would also be realistic in consideration to our own economies.

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A figure of 12 years, in consideration to Jacksonia and the USA's economies, seems just barely viable according to Colombian experts. That is, a gradual transition from current tariffs to zero tariffs spread over twelve years.

This isn't a lowering of tariffs.

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Abolishment of tariffs is lead to by a lowering of tariffs. You continue to assume that we are stupid enough to do just that, when we have shown multiple times to the contrary. But let's get beyond that:

Now that you have given us some indication of what you want, I shall inform our diplomats to Jacksonia and the United States, as well as economic experts, about the validity of your demand.

As a new member of the Concord India stands with the US, Florida and Jacksonia in solidarity against this Moralist bullying.
On a practical note, we look towards to working out long-term economic arrangements for the years and decades ahead.

To: Kongo
CC: Russia, roman Empire, Italy, Whomever it may concern
From: Adjuuramark

It is known among all members of the Coalition of Free States of Africa that Kongo has approached several of its members with different peace offers, which have been all rejected. Publicly and in name of the Coalition, we would like to once again remind Kongo that only full and unconditional recognition of sovereignty of all free states will be accepted by any members.

Barring something catastrophic in the update or the opening up of a really juicy PC, I'll be claiming Tanganyika after the update.

The Grand Republic of Florida, in the name of the Pacific Concord, welcomes the Kingdom of Kalinga into our Concord. May we be peaceful and prosperous together!

No more order revisions are accepted beyond this point. I will still take new orders for the next 24 hours.

The Grand Republic of Florida, with the blessing of the United States of America and on advice from their economic experts, expects that 12-18 years shall be a suitable guide for tariff reduction with a minimum of 12 years, depending on the economic changes this undoubtedly would cause.

As Colombia's minimum rate for "her own safety" has been met, we expect that Colombia shall comply with her promise of lifting their economic sanctions on the canal presumably in all shapes and forms.

If Colombia does not comply, we would be forced to seek alternative solutions. What these solutions may be shall depend on the nature and extent of her non-compliance.

I would like to state to Colombia that before the fiasco, a tentative limit between 10-20 years was under discussion between negotiators at Denver. Her aggressive actions forced us to throw out these negotiations and then later resume talks in a rather hurried fashion. If Colombia had merely asked instead of aggressively held the Canal hostage, we could have completed the former discussion and sent her the results, calming her fears, and maintaining international decorum. Despite the ending of this diplomatic crisis, I condemn Colombia's mishandling of this affair and the rash, unneeded actions they threatened.

Terrance888 said:

The Grand Republic of Florida, with the blessing of the United States of America and on advice from their economic experts, expects that 12-18 years shall be a suitable guide for tariff reduction with a minimum of 12 years, depending on the economic changes this undoubtedly would cause.

As Colombia's minimum rate for "her own safety" has been met, we expect that Colombia shall comply with her promise of lifting their economic sanctions on the canal presumably in all shapes and forms.

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Done.

To: Russia
From: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

As you must be aware, Russian equipment and Rubles have been appearing in places they should not be appearing. The Russian government claims innocence, but while we cannot prove the contrary, we cannot take these claims at face value. Furthermore, Russia has once again engaged in barbarity unbecoming of a civilized nation, senselessly butchering white civilians in the Kongo and only inflaming the situation rather than taming it and making Africa all the more unstable. Therefore, we will no longer be allowing Russian vessels through the Suez Canal, whether it be for support or otherwise.

OOC: I'm sorry that I'm doing everything so late. I'm still adjusting to my new schedule and all, and I've been on a Civ V craze. I'll try to return to a normal pattern soon.

By Gaston Blaché

Today the ever sympathetic sounding Pierre Durand produced what liberals in this kingdom uphold as a speech to signify the beginning of an era. Standing at his side while he accepted his second term as Premier Ministre, were the ever jubilant Maximilien Auvergne and Crispin Vidal. The former a vulgar economist and economic liberal, and the latter, the chief designer of Occitanian failure in the war with the Italians.

There is no doubt the presence of the king’s son in this speech (a speech which included animosity towards unions, which were especially critical of the government during the war, and threats of “freeing” the worker even further, by which Mr Durand means decreasing the minimum wage of course) is pivotal in the symbolic exchange occurring in France. After exiting our noble army, which he merely bungled commanding from afar during the war, Maximilien has a new conquest in sight: our meagre freedoms enshrined in the constitution. I’ve studied his policies thoroughly, and believe he’s prepared to seriously hurt our freedom of protest, our leverage in unions, and the salary of the working man. With assent of the monarch already obtained, Maximilien has thoroughly entrenched Mr Durand in his camp, proved by the Durand’s shuffling of the cabinet to include ministers Maximilien personally recommended, and the detailed changing of many other staff members of the administration.

Thus, I declare solemnly, we are entering into a new, dreadful, liberal regime. The trick for the liberals will be controlling the Chambre des Pairs, as their new planned programs will inevitably strike the other elites as dangerous. This is why attacks on the socialist movement, labour unions, factory regulation, and minimum wage, are absolutely necessary to their program, to be able to pass their “liberalization” program in the upper house.

The hired thugs that make up our bureaucracy, and the elected capitalist panderers are not nearly the finality of the socialist movement’s problems. I turn here to our national ambassador Crispin Vidal, whose shrewdness knows no insurmountable terrain. Though I’ve previously lamented the numerous blunders of Vidal in the foreign sphere, despite his occasional virtue, such as his quickness to assist our French brothers when they were invaded by the Italians, what concerns me as of late is the power of his free trade policy. Vidal’s vision of free trade outside of France is troubling in that Occitania’s industries cannot be considered sufficiently developed to handle competition with foreign companies from across Europe. While this is a flaw which could be remedied with the kinds of large-scale nationalization programs the socialists can offer, incentives to exploit the worker are the best the liberals will provide.

I extend my solidarity to the Socialists, who are convening for a leadership race in only a few months. Their fight for the workers will become perilously hard if the campaign funding from unions is halted by the Party of Order and their associates. Thus supporters of the movement find themselves in the eternally amusing irony of politics; they must hope the incumbent government fails, making it prey to criticism, but yet wish the nation itself succeed, a wish which would make such criticisms superfluous.

Unfortunately, I no longer have the time necessary to be able to give CI the attention it requires. As much as I've enjoyed the UPRA, playing it properly requires more time allocated to diplomacy than I personally have. As of right now, the UPRA is open.

I hope that I've entertained some people with the long strange trip of the UPRA. If someone else wants to take it, I'm happy to provide my notes and advice.

For now, this will be the last newspost for the UPRA. If anybody wants to take it, please PM me; I'm happy to provide advice.

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JAMAICA STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT RATIFIED

The Party Headquarters has given its assent to the Status of Forces agreement, which grants the UPRA a military base on the island of Jamaica, as well as institutes an annual lease fee of 5 EP to the Jamaican government. Furthermore, a clear chain of command has been set forth in the treaty; a Jamaican officer will always be the senior officer in the joint military structure.

Logistics for the UPRA's military base will be handled by the Freedmen's Liberation Army itself, with some amount of EP budgeted annually for this task.

This bill ties the UPRA to maintaining Jamaican independence and sovereignty, and the UPRA is widely expected to increase its Caribbean deployments next year.

The treaty now awaits approval by the Jamaican government, who is expected to sign.

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UPRA DISCUSSES POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION FOR 1930 PLENARY SESSION

Riding high off its Jamaican victories (the second time the UPRA has defeated a Brazilian expeditionary force), the Proletarist Party has begun an open, frank discussion about the suitability of democratic governance. Many in the Party feel that the nation has not truly exited its democratic tutelage period; the consensus in this faction is that further development, especially military development to guarantee the security of the UPRA, is required before democratic governance can be instituted.

A growing faction, however, has expressed the opinion that the proper way to liberalize is to begin holding elections in the near future; that familiarity with the formalism of the electoral process is required to advance the UPRA to the next stage of proletarism.

Regardless of their tactics, a broad-based consensus exists within the Party that elections will simply legitimize the power of the Proletarist Party of the Republics; following the completion of Reconstruction and the progress towards cheap hydropower for the nation, that the Proletarist Party is capable of good governance, and that no real threats exist to its dominance of the political system.

Should a consensus for greater democratization emerge at the 1930 Plenary Session, the UPRA will hold its first elections in 1932.

@EQandcivfanatic, ChiefDesigner, for my own sake and sanity I am publicly requesting the creation of some kind of vetting process involving both or one of you for anyone interested in taking up the UPRA. I have had more than enough Ecuador-style debacles, thank you.

OOC: Good job on roleplaying and warring with the UPRA ChiefDesigner.

The United Principalities of India welcomes The Kingdom of Kalinga to the Pacific Concord!

---Sorry, ignore this, actually.---

Lord of Elves said:

@EQandcivfanatic, ChiefDesigner, for my own sake and sanity I am publicly requesting the creation of some kind of vetting process involving both or one of you for anyone interested in taking up the UPRA. I have had more than enough Ecuador-style debacles, thank you.

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I'd be happy to have a frank exchange of views with whoever is interested in taking the UPRA

IC Press Release: Brazil did not lose the War of 1912 to the UPRA. We withdrew after pushing the Prole scum back into Georgia. All blame for the loss of that war is on the United States of America, not the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (which slaughtered 400,000 Proles to minimal losses).