Capto Iugulum

To: the United Kingdom
From: Flanders

All of the nations you listed have vested interests in their respective territories. Vinland's north is a relatively easily accessible territory which could be developed for resources in the future. Siberia serves the same purpose for Russia, while the Gobi and the Sahara help to preserve the territorial contiguity of their respective nations.

The Antarctic has nothing; no ports, no easily accessible resources, and is indeed nothing more than a simple trophy for Britain, Brazil, and Argentina to put up on the wall and admire. And to suggest that Flanders feels any jealousy or remorse over its lack of colonial holdings is laughable. Colonies and imperialism are among the chief causes of conflict in the times we live in, as, based off of recent history, we are sure Britain is painfully aware of. To avoid conflict has been Flanders' main foreign policy goal for the last half century, and to hold colonies would do nothing but undermine this goal.

To: Flanders
From: The United Kingdom

If Antarctica is so purposeless a territory as you claim, why fuss over its claimants?

We find it laughable that you assert Vinland's north to be quote-unquote "easily accessible." Clearly, Flanders has never had any seaman attempt to negotiate those treacherous waters.

To: Roman Empire
From: Hungary

It may be of some interest for you to note that it was Georgia who came to us. Our alliance is simply a defensive pact and a mark of international friendship, and we have no interests of upsetting the balance of power anywhere.

A Note from Vinland regarding our Arctic Islands

The waters of Nordvinland are indeed icy and treacherous, though they are traversible enough by dogsled when the whole area has frozen into a solid body of ice.

To: the United Kingdom
From: Flanders

We object to the claims on Antarctica because it is the ultimate expression of imperial hubris, seizing territory simply because it is there. We also believe that Antarctica's fate must be decided by a meeting of all of the Great Powers.

OOC: I was under the impression that Crezth was talking about the OTL mainland of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, though I must admit that I was interpreting it in that way more for the sake of my argument than for any other reason.

From: Empire of Scandinavia
To: Concerned Parties
CC: Poland, Roman Empire
We disapprove of the alliance signed between Poland, Hungary and Georgia, and agree with our Roman allies that it evinces an intention to destabilize the Caucasus region for the purpose of international prestige and position. We call on our friends in Poland, with whom we have had historical cooperation and an ongoing pact of non-aggression and friendship, to encourage their Hungarian and Georgian allies to peace and mediation regarding this matter. We will be watching the situation closely.

To: Flanders
From: The United Kingdom

Funny that only now should criticisms of imperialism crop up. How very arrogant and hypocritical of you.

To: the United Kingdom
From: Flanders

Imperialism appears to be the only concept which Britain has a grasp of, considering their lack of understanding of compromise, so it makes sense to argue in those terms.

m.t.cicero said:

To: the United Kingdom
From: Flanders

We object to the claims on Antarctica because it is the ultimate expression of imperial hubris, seizing territory simply because it is there. We also believe that Antarctica's fate must be decided by a meeting of all of the Great Powers.

Click to expand...

TO: Flanders
FROM: Empire of Brazil

Where was Flanders when the Great Powers seized Africa? How about India and China? Those lands were taken just because they are there to take. The difference between our claims and those is our claims can hurt no human beings, can displace no human beings and can cause the economic failure of no one. Antarctica is ours by right, and if any other great power wishes to take our sovereign territory it will trigger our defensive alliances.

To: Flanders
From: The United Kingdom

How insulting. As of now, we are slashing all funding to and suspending the Channel Tunnel Investigation Committee. Maybe next time you will think twice before burning bridges with your harsh words and judgements.

To: Brazil
From: Flanders

The avarice of the Great Powers would have prevented any compromise over the conquest of the territories you have listed, but we had hoped that these "claimants" to Antarctica would be more open to compromise, since there is not nearly as much in the frozen continent to pique the greed of nations in so strongly.


To: the United Kingdom
From: Flanders

We apologize for our harsh words, but we believe very strongly in the neutrality of Antarctica. We hope that time will quickly heal these wounds, which we admit we had a great part in inflicting, so that we can get back to the business of the construction of the Channel Tunnel.

To: Whoever it may concern
From: Empire of Spain
Re: DRS Reusachtig

We, too, find the fact that Brazil so readily pointed out at us as the guilty party so fast and without any proof as a suspicious action. Either they want to paint us as brutal murderers with the paint that has fallen on them, or they truly do not know what happened and just point out at us because they hate Spain. Their suggestions that Spanish ships may have had a role in the explosions are also a clear attempt to grab at weak straws, for they offer no proof to support a theory that cannot stand on its own: as they know very well, all Spanish ships were much further from the scene than their own warships, which clearly did not pay attention to the calls that our ships did. Besides, the presence of a Spanish warship nearby the Brazilian coast before the explosion would have been clearly detected by both the people on board of the DRS Reusachtig and the previously mentioned Brazilian warships.

We hope that the Netherlands manages to find the full truth behind this horrible incident, and that the guilty parties are punished to the furthest they can.

To: The World
From: Empire of Spain
Re: Antarctica

We share Flanders' opinion that Antarctica remains open for scientific expeditions of the whole world to study this completely unexplored continent: surely, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Argentina cannot claim to be the only knowledge holders of the world.

From Brandenburg
To Pomerania

We congratulate the election of your Democratic Party. We are heartened to hear of you working for less foreign influence in your nation, and we hope you'll be in Berlin for a smashing round of Balompie.

From Brandenburg
To Poland

Congratulations on your alliance with Georgia, we hope your alliance prospers and that you'll be in Berlin for a smashing round of Balompie

From Brandenburg
To Brazil

Congratulations on getting Antartica, finders keepers after-all, and we hope that you'll be in Berlin for a smashing round of Balompie

Milarqui said:

To: The World
From: Empire of Spain
Re: Antarctica

We share Flanders' opinion that Antarctica remains open for scientific expeditions of the whole world to study this completely unexplored continent: surely, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Argentina cannot claim to be the only knowledge holders of the world.

Click to expand...

TO: Spain
FROM: Brazil

And when Columbus landed in the Caribbean did the Spanish offer the New World as a neutral territory for scientific exploration? No. Brazilians explored the continent, reached the South Pole and planted our flag there. We thus have discovery rights. If Spain wishes to continue this hypocritical anti-imperialism discussion perhaps we can do so when I lay claim to your uninhabitable lands in the Sahara?

Regarding the Antarctic Dispute

Vinland notes that enforcing these claims would be next to impossible given the remoteness and size of the Antarctic continent. Claims without enforcement have little more than symbolic value, unless the involved nations intend to invest heavily in the peopling of that icy landmass. Furthermore, Brazil, Argentina and Britain are progressive nations, and Vinland has little doubt that they would be willing to host researchers and explorers.

m.t.cicero said:

To: Brazil
From: Flanders

The avarice of the Great Powers would have prevented any compromise over the conquest of the territories you have listed, but we had hoped that these "claimants" to Antarctica would be more open to compromise, since there is not nearly as much in the frozen continent to pique the greed of nations in so strongly.

Click to expand...

TO: Flanders
FROM: Brazil

You wish to steal the glory from our people? Flanders is but a tadpole, not worth mentioning on the world scale, and Brazil will hear no more of this anti-Brazilian propaganda.

TO: World
FROM: Brazil

We have stated and will reiterate that we will allow scientific research in our territories only if permission is granted to that power. Any illegal use of claimed lands in Antarctica will be met with a military removal.

To: World
From: The United Kingdom

Like Brazil, the United Kingdom will open her Antarctic holdings to researchers of all nationalities, races, and creeds - so long as they file the proper paperwork and check in and out at the nearest processing station, of course.

To this end, we would like to announce the construction of a research laboratory in British Antarctica starting this year. It will be a non-profit body dedicated to hosting scientists and providing them safe harbor for any and all treks into the interior of the unforgiving Antarctic wastes.

We hope this will put to rest any arrant nonsense about shiftless British iniquity, especially since it will be we who are investing, alone, into this endeavor.

To: Genoa
From: Naples

We are saddened to hear about the death King Victor, yet are happy to see your new King is doing well and hope he stays healthy and is able to lead Genoa into a good future.

To: The United States of New Spain
From: Naples

We gladly accept your challenge and eagerly await to see other nations join in for an amazing automobile race!

To: The Pope
From: Naples

It is unfortunate that you do not agree with these automobile races, we would like to personally invite you to view some in our nation this year in an attempt to show you what they truly are in person. Hopefully you will be able to see our point of view at that it is for the pleasure of our citizens as well as good fun.

To: Whom it may concern
From: Naples
CC: Antarctica

As we have no major say in the worldly events we would like to put in our opinion nonetheless. Naples believes that Antarctica, even though it was founded by Brazil, should be neutral and allow all nations to study it scientifically. However Brazil and their named allies should have first rights to setting up base camps, ports and having the first opportunity to begin research.

From: Empire of Scandinavia
To: Pommerania
We pledge to do everything in our power to assist you in the apprehending of the terrorists responsible for this year's inhumane attacks on our nationals. We remained committed to the Treaty of Stettin, and our alliance.

From: Empire of Scandinavia
To: Brandenburg
As this "lessening of foreign influence" has taken the form of murders on our nationals, we have little love for it. Needless to say, we have additionally little appreciation for your implied support of the murder of our citizens.

To: Scandinavia
From: Hungary

Like we have already said to Rome, our alliance is only a defensive one and we wish no destabilization of the balance of power. Georgia came to us, not the other way around, and we see no reason for any mediation at the moment.