Update 0
1930
EUROPE
Blacks and Tans return from Ireland with success!
The British Fascist Party scored a major victory with the return of the “Black and Tan” volunteers from Ireland. These brave paramilitary forces had fought in Ireland for three years with great success and near religious fervor. While some Parliament members have called for inquiries in the massacre in Cork on Easter Sunday, the population of England in particular have met the returning heroes with flowers and flags (both British and the Fascist party flag), and their march through London turned out significant numbers, likely heralding a major Fascist swing in the 1931 elections.
Oliver North contemplates coalition government with Fascists!
Speaking to the BNN, London MP Oliver North has confirmed that in the event that his National Conservative Party were able to form a majority coalition with the Fascists, that he would “for certain political concessions”. This clean break with the Conservatives and Michael Spencer’s transitional government is looking to deliver a part of Britain’s wealthy to the Fascists, long a goal of Tom Black. For their part, the Conservatives have stated repeatedly they are not interested in a coalition government that they do not lead.
Debate over role of non Socialist parties emerges in France
While the 1934 elections are still some time away, a new political debate has swept France on the role of parties that are not fundamentally socialist. Hardline socialists, particularly union voters in the cities, are actively calling for the end of any parties that do not promote socialism as their central ideology. However, liberals, Fascists, and monarchists have formed a sort of unholy alliance in opposition to this, and even some socialists feel that this goes heavily against the ideology of democratic socialism.
Catalan unions pull out of Socialist, Republican blocs
In a continuing sign of unrest for both the Republic and the Socialist parties, the Catalan worker unions have opted to pull out of both blocs and instead play spoiler to both parties in an effort to bring legislation to a gridlock. Much of the issue stems from the lack of autonomy for the Catalan regions of Spain, and most Catalan parties are refusing to support any party that is not looking to decentralize to a degree.
Rumors of Dutch Fascists reaching out to Prince William
With the elections in 1932 fast approaching, the Dutch Fascist Party is looking to take advantage of the rise of fascism in Britain and expand their base of power. In one such move, there are rumors of a high level delegation from the Dutch Fascist Party arriving in Denmark to an audience with William, son of King William V. While his father had significantly maligned the image of the Dutch royal family among liberals, there are some conservatives who do long for at the least a return of the monarch. It has not yet been finalized, but the hope is that if the Prince gives the fascists his endorsement, it might help the fascists win supporters from nationalist and conservative voters.
Frankfurt Government to call for German summit in 1931
With the regional party splits becoming increasingly pronounced, the Frankfurt Council Republic, nominally the central governing authority of Germany, has called for a summit in 1931 between the Ruhr, Bavarian, and Prussian parties. The previous attempt in 1924 only served to exacerbate tensions, but there is hope that with the very real threat of Russian expansionism and Britain still aligned with reactionary forces on the continent, that some form of cooperation could be enacted with the long term goal of ending the regional power struggles. While many in Frankfurt are optimistic, many observers believe that no member of the “Triumvirate” will be willing to commit to anything that might restrict their power or independence.
Danish film industry off to surprising start!
The fledgling Danish film industry has not yet traditionally been considered a major player internationally, but that may be about to change with one of the first great Danish releases. Adapted from a story of Søren Kierkegaard, Denmark has looked to its past once more to find the future, with a hit animated film adapted from the story of The Ugly Duckling. Animated films generally have not seen much light in the world, and Danish films have traditionally been inaccessible due to language barriers. However, the ease of dubbing over the cartoon characters in English and German has made it a splash hit in other major markets, and Danish animation studios have bloomed up overnight in hopes of further successes in this medium.
Russian Crown Prince Peter speaks to conclave of former German nobles; Princess Wilhelmina also in attendance
In continued affirmation of the unsettling marriage rumors, Crown Prince Peter of Russia spoke to a conclave of former German nobility in St Petersburg, in a report confirmed by unnamed sources. Though it was a closed door meeting, it was also confirmed that Princess Wilhelmina, the daughter of the deposed Kaiser, was also in attendance. It is the latest of moves designed to curry favor with German exiles, likely in hopes of getting them to endorse Princess Wilhelmina as the rightful claimant to the German throne. There has been no official announcements either way yet, and there is some thought that Peter may go to Denmark and possibly even England to speak with exiles there as well. Some exiles still hold out hope for a proper restoration of the true Kaiser, but some are more than willing to place the Russian yoke on Germany if it means they are restored to their proper places.
Six rumored dead in Turkey from cross border raid
A Turkish militia group is claiming that a Bulgarian border guards crossed over the Turkish border to kill six men and kidnapped four women from a Turkish village ten kilometers from the Bulgarian border. The Bulgarian commander has countered that infact the Turkish militia had earlier raided Bulgaria and took back four women as prisoners, whom the Bulgarian troops subsequently rescued. Neither side is yet willing to admit guilt. The incidents seem to be happening at a more frequent pace and there is pressure on Ankara to humble the Bulgarians.
THE AMERICAS
US Elections of 1932 taking shape
A gathering of American Republican and Progressive governors in Denver has confirmed the biggest nightmare for the Democratic party; a united, anti-Democratic movement. Citing a litany of abuses of power, corruption, and poor governance, the two parties have created what they call “The National Freedom Party” for an election designed to end over a hundred years of uninterrupted control of the government by the Democratic party. In terms of a platform, the National Freedom Party has the central platform of calling for democratization of American society. In addition, both the Republicans and the Progressives have embraced an anti-war mentality and even a minor commitment to social liberalism. Many feel this is the first time in decades that the United States is close to at last casting out the Democratic Party, especially with the reintroduction of both Columbia and Madison to the elections, it seems the Democrats may see an end to their rule…
Tidewater passes new “right to work” legislation
In a controversial move in the Great State of Tidewater, Governor Keith Hamil has passed new “right to work” legislation, guaranteeing large landowners the right to the work of black laborers residing in Tidewater. The new legislation guarantees that plantation owners and other large landholders will have a guaranteed supply of blacks at “a fair market rate” for their agricultural needs, allowing the landowners to deny the rights for blacks to travel freely. In addition, the new law states that, in a situation where the labor supply does not meet the labor demand, landowners can press blacks living in cities in Tidewater into labor service. While the move is popular with hardliners, even some Democrats are concerned about the move, particularly in the North where Thomas Wayne of Gotham decried it as “ridiculous and not fitting the conduct of a civilized state. Many party elders are privately complaining to Hamil, worrying that it will sway moderates against the Democrats during a particularly vulnerable election year.
Mexico City overcrowded!
As Mexican migrants continue to be either unwilling or unable to find refuge in the United States, many have turned to Mexico City as a safe harbor. Mexico City’s slums have grown rapidly, and there is mounting pressure on the Republic to figure out a way to house and feed these refugees. Some Mexican authorities are advocating sending them to fight one of the Republic’s many enemies, but it is more than likely that doing so would create a dangerous fifth column within the Republic’s greatest city
ASIA
New oil negotiations in Persia coming soon?
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company is looking to London to help extend the oil contract in Persia, citing difficult access to other foreign markets. With the APOC concession to expire in 1938, London is hoping to secure an agreement sooner rather than later. For the Persians, the current agreement’s share of 16% of profits for Iran is seen as grossly unjust, and there is a demand that any new agreement would provide significant concessions to Persia.
Seven hundred locked into church on Luzon, burned alive
American authorities continue to deal with Filipino insurgents in a brutal fashion. A Filipino guerilla had killed two American soldiers, and found shelter in a nearby village. When the guerilla was found, the American captain ordered the villagers into the Catholic church, where he locked them in and burned them alive. The Papacy, long seeing the suffering of its faithful at the hands of the Americans, has denounced the United States once more, and there are moves to recognize the faithful that died to protect one of their own.
Miao refugees slaughtered outside Nanjing!
An unfortunate incident was reported outside Nanjing, as a local Han militia, armed with mostly knives and clubs, attacked a Miao refugee camp outside Nanjing, killing 120. This is not the first incident of this kind, but it is the largest to date. The Miao have been some of the most persecuted people in this conflict, and many are trying to make their way to Qing lands. National Republican leaders have not issued a response yet to the incident, and so far the police have yet to open an investigation.
Buddhist monk burns himself in Saigon
With French authorities continuing their modernization programs in Indochina, traditionalist Vietnamese have escalated their protests against France, with a Buddhist monk burning himself alive on the streets of Saigon. French authorities were able to crack down quickly before the protests turned into riots, but many are sensing that the trouble in Indochina is far from over.
AFRICA
French exile community in Morocco welcomes conservative Quebecois
In a strange turn of events, the city of Casablanca has seen a strange new uptick in Quebecois immigrants from occupied Canada. While many have found homes in France, a significant number of anti-communists have instead found a more inviting home in French enclaves in Morocco. Welcomed with open arms by the expat community, the Quebecois have settled in well with the French, who pressured the Sultan to accept the influx of refugees. Of some benefit to Morocco though is that many of the people who fled to Morocco have some desirable skills, and it may help boost Morocco’s economy for a generation to come. When asked why they preferred Morocco over a British dominion, many Quebecois answered that they had felt betrayed by Britain’s withdrawal, and that Morocco was one of the few non Communist French communities left in the world.
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Economic News Report
Global Financial Report - Die Zuricker Zeiten
The past twenty years have seen a drastic change in the economic reality of the world, and what has resulted is a bold new economy which we are all living today. It began, as we know, with the destruction of the classical French imperialist economy, one that had hitherto been held as a model of ideal imperial administration. The victory of the French syndicalists heralded strange times for France: workers’ rights and privileges were extended to previously unimaginable degrees, and the French legislature became a public forum of open debate. Whereas in other countries socialists would be scoffed in droves, if not driven from the chambers by force, in France their points were considered earnestly and debated by all sides. An intellectual tradition sprang up almost overnight as the entire world turned its eyes on the politics of the state of France.
That was then, of course. What has happened since then has revealed to the entire world the sheer destructive potential of new ideas. The socialist revolutions knocked entire markets out of the global economy, with their reintroduction not forthcoming. We have borne witness to an unprecedented amount of government interference in trade, as socialists and non-socialists begin to leave no stones unturned in their efforts to undermine their mortal enemies. Shipping has become so heavily decentralized that many sea traders have turned to piracy or protection work, with national navies taking more interest in the bottom line than the notion of fair trade. Both the United Kingdom and the United States, still reeling from their latest bout over the fate of lesser nations, protect long resource convoys with extensive escorts. The Franco-German axis has created a new economic pivot that only those who profess to the boon of socialism can drink from - but leaving a vacuum that the eager and youthful Italian state quickly occupied.
Although the global waging of war over the very souls of all mankind takes its tool on a weary world, the pace of technological innovation has accelerated rapidly. In any major city in Europe or the Americas, one can’t walk the streets without encountering an autocar, and most likely the queerly ubiquitous Royal Engines Company “Luxury” (although in the United States and allied territories, where British imports are banned, one is more likely to find the General Motors “A”-Model, an ugly, utilitarian little thing, most likely made in one of the hundreds of Japanese “efficiency factories”
. Meanwhile, armored autocars patrol the highways of every street in Central Europe, with overhead the ever-watchful eye of the steel monoplanes providing a dangerous new threat on the battlefield.
This is the world we live in, now. But what awaits on the horizon? No one can surely say, however I would be remiss if I did not leave here a mark as a sacred trust for the providence of future generations, whichever strange, new world they live in: I fear for the future. Half the world lives in the grips of fever dreams, and the other half fight each other tooth and claw over ever-dwindling capital. I sense a showdown is coming, one that will leave terrible shockwaves in its wake. It is almost difficult to grasp. Has it really been almost two-thousand years since the birth of Christ? And has all that has come to pass in the last twenty years compare to that?
We shall see. To all of you, I raise my glass; and upend it at once: drink while you can.
Oskar Luxemburg, Schriftsteller für die Zuricher Zeiten, “This Is the World We Live In” (dies ist die Welt in der wir lebens), Jul-9, 1930
Socialism’s Oil Problem
The annual Vichy Economic Conference for Socialism (VECS) had a startling theme this year addressing a significant weakness of the Communist economic bloc: oil. As militaries become further reliant on oil, it is becoming a grim reality that socialist states have minimal access to oil supplies. The only domestic production that occurs is in Poland, and the Socialist states are very reliant on trade for Romanian oil. Romania though is bordering Russia and in a war between the Communists and Russia, it could very well mean that they would lose those vital resources. While oil supplies are currently not an emergency (coal is still the primary fuel source), military speakers pointed out that continued military mechanization will mean that coal will no longer be the most needed fuel source. Solutions have ranged from trade with the Ottoman Empire, which has not yet opened its oil supplies to foreigners, as well as thoughts of trade with the South American states or even the United States for a mutual struggle against Britain. The conference ended on a somber note, and the last speaker, economist Michel Berger noted that at current rates of mechanization, oil supply will be the foremost military issue within ten years.
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