TLKNES: The Congress of Genoa Thread

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formally inaugerates the Congress of Genoa in order to form an Equitable and Agreeable Settlement on the Colonisation of Africa and all Issues Therehof.

Formally Attending Are, In No Particular Order:

1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Grandkhan)
2. The Empire of France (LordofElves)
3. The Republic of Venice (mrrandomplayer)
4. The Ottoman Empire (NPC)
5. The Kingdom of Prussia (SouthernKing)
6. The Kingdom of Portugal (NPC)
7. The Kingdom of Spain (NPC)
8. The Commonwealth of New England (NPC)
9. The Kingdom of Denmark (DC123456789)
10. The Kingdom of the Netherlands (NPC)

(Please correct me if I make a mistake somewhere).

With this, the Congress if formally inaugerated. Powers shall hopefully come to a meaningful resolution with regards to the division of the African Continent and all attendant issues therehof and ensure the peace, security, and civilisation of the African Continent forevermore.

The delegation of the French Empire is present.

ZeletDude is Russia. Prussia is SouthernKing.

The United Kingdom firmly believes that as a guideline for the division of Africa, territory and land should be divided according to the Principle of Best Access:

That is, to ensure that the territory allocated is used in the most globally optimal way and does not represent a burden to an unwitting reciever, in general the nation with the easiest capacity to access and exploit the territory and its resources. This implies that, for example, Spain should not recieve territories deep in the Congo Basin, as just because it may have a land connection to the region does not mean that it can exploit those territories with the efficiency of the Empire of France, which has access to the mouth of the Congo.

As such we nominate the below map as the proposal for the division of Eastern Africa. Please note that the Khaki colour in the map is the Ottoman Empire. Britain categorically rejects the notion of the Mahdi surviving or recieving territory and will do everything in its power to ensure that the Ottoman Empire regains control of the Sudan and retains Egypt. The Grey is the territory that will be recieved by Prussia, through its protectorate in Zanzibar, whereas the Pink shall be ceded to Great Britain in keeping with last year's formal claim for the territory which was unopposed by any power.

The remaining territory east of this is best accessed by France, who shall likely recieve the remainder of the territory due to its difficulty of access from Kenya or Zanzibar.

On another note, Britain formally and categorically rejects teh Mahdi's revolution and calls upon all powers in the region not to support or aid the forces of the Mahdi in any way. The Sudan is to rest in the hands of a civilised and modern nation such as the Ottoman Empire and the encouraging of Islamic revolutionaries or Savages is beneficial for noone.

The. Republic of Venice proposes that borders in Guinea either stay the same or are fully given from France to Venice; France already has many more colonies, and what may be a small, little African dirt colony to France is of much greater importance to Venice. Additionally, giving a colony to a smaller imperial power will do a better job at preserving the balance of power. Lastly, Venice has already been bullied by France, and siding with the cruel bully who has threatened war shows a lack of Christian charity and morals.

As usual the Venetian ambassadors embarrass themselves by applying logic more appropriate to a kindergarten classroom to the great and important issues of the day. Western Africa has constituted a region of French interest for some fifty years. According to the British-proposed "Principle of Best Access," the French Empire has the best ability and best justification to administer a colonial presence in Guinea.

The French proposal for the fair and equitable distribution of territory in Guinea and the Ivory Coast region.


We additionally propose the following settlement in regards to colonial presences in Tripolitania and Libya, where Venice can actually hope for some justifiable colonial expansion, which may finally put a cork in the Venetian delegation

The Kingdom of Spain would like some territorial and economic concessions in Morocco, and further into the Sahara. It will not give up it's Equatorial colony.

The Netherlands finds France's proposal somewhat agreeable, though feels it got a bit territoriality shafted, and would like some sort of compensation; either in islands in the Indian or Pacific Oceans, or monetary.

The Commonwealth of New England is fine with France's partition, so long as all parties acknowledge the Commonwealth's heavy economic interest in the Niger river, and the lands that surround it.

Portugal will accept France's partition, so long as France backs a Portuguese claim to the interior of it's East African colony.

Lord of Elves said:

As usual the Venetian ambassadors embarrass themselves by applying logic more appropriate to a kindergarten classroom to the great and important issues of the day. Western Africa has constituted a region of French interest for some fifty years. According to the British-proposed "Principle of Best Access," the French Empire has the best ability and best justification to administer a colonial presence in Guinea.

The French proposal for the fair and equitable distribution of territory in Guinea and the Ivory Coast region.

Spoiler :

We additionally propose the following settlement in regards to colonial presences in Tripolitania and Libya, where Venice can actually hope for some justifiable colonial expansion, which may finally put a cork in the Venetian delegation

Spoiler :

Click to expand...

Can we see a current map of Libya? We will be willing to drop our claims in West Africa if a sufficient amount of land in Libya is ceded to Venice in exchange, from either the Ottomans or France.

The Russian Empire is always more than glad to mediate any disputes.

It is ridiculous that the Venetian delegation believes it has the authority to speak regarding the African continent when they are apparently not even cognizant of their own affairs.

We believe it is presently in no one's best interest to contest the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco. Consequently, we are in opposition to any condescension of Morocco's autonomy until a separate and independent settlement can be reached regarding the Moroccan question between ourselves and our Spanish allies. Having said this, we believe this is a fair distribution of territory in regards to western Africa and Spanish possessions in the Rio de Oro.



The French Empire considers the Niger River delta and its tributaries a region of New English possession and will support whatever proposal New England might make regarding the distribution of land there, within reason, and assuming that French interests will be respected and accounted for.

Similarly, the French Empire considers the east African region of Mozambique an area of Portugese priority, and will support whatever proposal Portugal might make in distributing that territory between itself, Great Britain and the Kingdom of Prussia. (Within reason)

The amount of land proposed to be given to Venice is outrageously small. Venice would request a larger portion of land in Africa be given to it.

The United Kingdom backs France's proposal for Guinea and the Ivory Coast, with a few caveats.

The French strip of land between New English Liberia and the British Ivory Coast is, aside from the small portion on the coast, a dense jungle. Britain, or New England, which already possess colonial territories in this region, would be much better served by having the region ceded to them. Especially in the absense of any French colonial settlement between New English Liberia and the British Ivory Coast.

If the territory described above is transferred to New England or to Britain, we will sign off. We will be happy to compensate with a roughly equivalent amount of territory sheared off from the northern part of our colony. This exchange ensures greater prosperity for all powers involved. See below for our proposed amendment to this map.

It is clear, though dissapointing, that no compromise may be reached re: Guinea between France and Venice. As such, according to the Principle of Best Access the Guinean territory should be ceded to France. France, having an established colonial presence in the region and easiest ability to administer all territory, would have the best ability to utilise the territory's colonial resources.

It is regrettable that compromise may not be reached, but in the interests of fulfilling the aims of the Conference the United Kingdom must firmly back the cession of Venetian Guinea to France.

The United Kindom firmly considers the Niger Delta and its accompany tributaries a New English sphere of influence and a New English colony in waiting. In a few moments we will present a proposal for the division of the Niger and Congo Basins (as well as Southern Africa).

Venice is now more understanding of the Congress' reasons for giving Guinea to France. Venice is willing to cede its West African colony to France if a sufficient piece of African land is given to Venice, preferably either in Libya or somewhere unclaimed as compensation.

Venice has already been suitably compensated vis a vis the French proposal for the partition of lands in Tripolitania and the Libyan desert. The French Empire is willing to accept the British amendments to the proposal for the division of lands in western Africa and Guinea and will accept any proposal in southern and central Africa which respects the established borders of the Imperial District of the Congo and French intentions for the connection by land of its Congolese possessions and its territories in western Africa.

The French delegation notes that the Congress has not been convened so as to stroke the egos of minor colonial powers.

OOCly Grandkhan, I think you could make your borders a great deal more aesthetically pleasing while respecting the spirit of the concessions. I'm willing to do that or whatever if it's more convenient that way

OOC: I thought those borders were plenty aesthetically pleasing :C Feel free to fix up though

IC: the United Kindom presents the following map as a proposed divsion of Southern and Central Africa, as well as the Niger Basin. The lilac represents Prussia's colonial gains through its protectorate in Zanzibar. If it is preferrible that It's territory is directly administered this is up to the Prussians and Zanzibarians themselves to decide.

The orange is the Ottoman Empire, my Paintbrush clone was messing up, which is also why there's white dots in Portuguese Africa. Pretend they're not there

I can agree to the above, if I'm allowed to make the borders look nice

Portugal feels that the United Kingdom is short-changing itself with it's last proposal. French domination of the entirety of the interior will be a bitter-pill to swallow. It also worries about it's small colony in Guinea being completely engulfed by the French, and support Venice's claim to the area.

The Commonwealth of New England feels similarly to Portugal. It also feels like, as per the Principle of Best Access that it should receive more territory north of the River Niger, towards Lake Chad.

The Ottoman Empire is worried that French expansion across the desert may threaten it's already tenious grip on Upper Egypt, and would like a bit more of a buffer between the two.

Spain and the Netherlands are content with the division as proposed by the United Kingdom, so long as they are guaranteed free-trade along the Congo.

Portugal's colonial concerns have already been amply addressed by France's guarantee of Portugese priority in eastern Africa. The borders of the Imperial District of the Congo, as established by the mandate of His Imperial Majesty's government, are non-negotiable and are represented fairly and accurately in the British approximations. Meanwhile, it is imperative that the French Congo be connected to French possessions in western Africa by a land route.

The French delegation considers its trust and goodwill towards Portugal betrayed, per Portugal's agreement to respect the French proposition in west Africa in exchange for French support in securing the interior of Portugal's east Africa colony. We are willing to tolerate concessions which are directed towards the best interest of all powers and the best interests of the European peace, but we will not have the wings of the Bonaparte eagle clipped to ease others' worries.

This is our proposal.

Venice states that it's territory would provide for a good buffer between The Ottomans and France, and the buffer zone would be more viable if it were enlarged somewhat.

While the United Kindom is pleased with the spirit and general ethos of the French proposal above, we must make a few amendments to reflect the current realities on the ground.

1) The Prussian Protectorate of Zanzibar currently extends north into Kenya, and it is not for this Conference to confiscate existing longstanding settlements which are not in conflict (unlike the issue of Venetian Guinea, which is currently a conflicted area).

2) the Boer Republics in Southern Africa are sovereign states and are not savage nations to be divided up at will, unlike the Ashante or the Africans of the Niger Basin.

OOC: Grandkhan, you spelled my username wrong on the first post. There's no 0 at the end.