Art of the Possible

[christos200]

- Emperor Mingjun​

Chen Jiongming (Emperor Mingjun) was sitting in his desk. His office was situated in the Guangdong Governor's Residence, due to a lack of a Palace. Chen was a man of action but he was not rush. So, he had called some of his officers to come to his office to talk about the proclamation of Anhui. His office was relative modest. Despite being an able commander and an inspiring orator, he was a simple man. Despite the fact that he was crowned Emperor, he was not really ambitious. He was forced to take that decision when he saw that the world had plunged into chaos and that the people needed someone to look after them and protect them. It was his soldiers, officers and the people who persuaded him to crown himself Emperor of China.

Minister Li spoke first. "Your Imperial Majesty, I believe that it is not the Qing that are our major enemy. They are weak, unpopular, numerically inferior and far away from us. So they pose no real threat. The real threat is Anhui. Their radical ideas threaten to bring turmoil and bitter civil war in our country. They also have numerous soldiers and pose a real threat to us while they are in a better position to capture Beijing."

Chen sighed. "It is so unfortunate that they decided to undertake the road of radicalism and publicly declared us their enemies. I hoped that we could sign with them a Non-Aggression Pact like that we signed with Fujian. I do not see any reason to fight among ourselves when the Qing crown and Warlords ravage the country. I did not want Han blood to be shed, but it seems that we will have to battle them."

"Indeed.", Minister Li commended. "They are radicals who want to eradicate our traditions and plunge the world into further chaos. They do not understand the fact that while modernization is needed, there is also a need to keep the best of our traditions."

Minister Wang intervened. "Even though we have many enemies to face, we will win because Your Majesty is a humane ruler. You are not a tyrant nor do you ignore the common people. You do not refuse to modernize our country but at the same time you refuse to abandon all of our traditions. You want to unite both the modernizers and the traditionalists. You want to unite the Han people and lead them to new heights of glory."

Chen laughed. "Nice words, but will I succeed? Will I be a Liu Bang or a Liu Bei?"

"No matter what the outcome is", Minister Wang replied, "we shall serve you even if it leads us to our death!"

"Anyway, I believe that we should at least try to avoid this conflict. We need to make an effort to avoid a needless war."

_________________________________________

Declaration of Shung​

His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Mingjun notes with displeasure that the rebels of Anhui have adopted radical ideas and threaten to eradicate our traditions and our ethics. We wish to state that modernization is one of our major goals. And we have already began efforts towards modernizing the country. His Imperial Majesty is not against modernization which will make our country stronger and will allow Him to rule more effectively. But he is also against the eradication of our traditions. As much wrong as the Qing were to reject all proposals to modernize, even more wrong are the rebels of Anhui for they reject all of our traditions. The right path is neither to reject modernization nor to reject tradition, but rather to modernize the country while maintaining the best aspects of our past and our traditions. Without our traditions, will we still be Hans? For this reason, His Imperial Majesty believes that modernization without tradition and tradition without modernization both ensure complete failure.

Even so, His Imperial Majesty pleads the rebels of Anhui to reconsider and recognize that the real enemies of the Hans are the Manchu Barbarians that enslaved us for so many years. His Imperial Majesty hopes that unnecessary wars can be avoided and that Han blood is not shed. If the radicals in Anhui deem that the patriots are more dangerous than the Manchus, then it means that they are only power hungry people seeking only glory and wealth while not caring for the people and the Empire.

 

[Traveller76]

To the International Community
From His Majesty King Rama VII Chakri

We, the Kingdom of Siam and the people of Siam first would like to thank those countries like the United States and others for the support of our Kingdom. We shall remember our friends when peace returns to our land.

We have been accused of being aggressive since we ordered the mobilization of our army and our people. Have our soldiers marched into another country? Have we expelled anyone or seized any properties of any country? The answer is no. We asked those representatives of the French and British government to return to their embassies simply for their protection only.

So we have been asked by two empires who already own or control land across the globe to allow them to control our foreign affairs and reject any commercial treaties with the United States. Note that these are commercial not military agreements. Who among us is naive enough to believe that these two empires would simply leave us alone after that agreement. Would they force us to do business with only their merchants and allow their citizens freedom from the local law. We have seen their results in China with their treaties.

We propose the following to the United Kingdom and Imperial France. We want peace and want to live freely. We propose a non-aggression treaty between the three of us. No foreign militaries will be stationed in the Kingdom of Siam. Siam shall deal with commercial entities on its own terms. We await France and Britain's reply.

Sincerely,
Rama

Long live the Kingdom of Siam!

 

[Masada]

Sanctions is a better read but it's an anachronism so I declined to use it. Can you please address my issue?

 

[Immaculate]

Ooc: Who r u talking to? What issue?

 

[Seon]

The British Government views the inclusion of the "Boer Republics" in the negotiations as a hostile act intended to undermine the Empire's position in Africa and does not feel inclined to negotiate until they are ejected.

I think this is what he's referring to.

 

[Immaculate]

To: Those involved with Siam-France-Britain dispute
From: Italy

Italy stands on the side of peace. Our view is similar to that of Poland in that we would not want to see a war erupt over a trade dispute. We will remain neutral for the time being on the matter, and would gladly open our borders to host a forum or discussion for those involved to help find a peaceful solution for all.

From the USA,
To Italy,

The USA will send a representative to Italy in support of Italy's dedication to peace.

The British Government views the inclusion of the "Boer Republics" in the negotiations as a hostile act intended to undermine the Empire's position in Africa and does not feel inclined to negotiate until they are ejected.

Purely OOC: I don't think Siam cares what the Boer Republics do and you are in negotiations with Siam not the Boer Republic so i don't really understand the concern.

 

[Decamper]

Purely OOC: I don't think Siam cares what the Boer Republics do and you are in negotiations with Siam not the Boer Republic so i don't really understand the concern.

The Boer Republic is part of the Fort Lauderdale Conference, I think that's what the issue is.

 

[Civ'ed]

OOC: If possible, I'd like to jump into the game next turn as the Dervish state.

 

[Masada]

The British Government notes that the American Government does not seem interested in negotiations.

 

[Immaculate]

The British Government notes that the American Government does not seem interested in negotiations.

OOC:
What are we supposed to do?
The USA has no formal treaties or arrangements with Siam. We have not recognized or even referred to the Boer Republic. This isn't about the USA. I just post a lot.

IC
Jonathan Hay has offered to remove Siam from his Pacific Trade mission. The governments of Siam and the USA have no trade or military treaties. We are responding to your dispute with Siam, not part of it.

Instead of looking to the USA or other third parties to solve this issue for you, you must look to yourselves. Only you can negotiate for the UK. And only France can negotiate for France. And only Siam can negotiate for Siam.

If you want the US to solve this issue for you, let us say that the say that the solution is very simple; just don't go to war with Siam. The entire world is beseeching you to act rationally and in the interests of peace. Listen to them.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Unfortunately for whatever reason, Siam has absolutely refused to negotiate. It is the opinion of the crown of France that the United States is emboldening Siam, promising something to them. Perhaps the United States is seeking to turn Siam into its own dependent state, so that they might threaten French and British possessions?

In any case, it is clear to the French crown, that no matter how the US cries for rationality, it is egging the world on in tensions. There is no reason for the United States, nor the rest of the world, to be involved in this affair with an Asian backwater that is traditionally been a neutral buffer state between France and Britain.

It is clear instead that the United States has designed this crisis to humiliate France and Britain, and to expand its own empire. At this present state, France and the United Kingdom refuse further negotiations until the immediate, and unconditional lifting of sanctions.

We are still at war with Siam, and are more than willing to continue this until we have a peace where we are satisfied of Siamese neutrality and American non interference.

 

[Traveller76]

Unfortunately for whatever reason, Siam has absolutely refused to negotiate. It is the opinion of the crown of France that the United States is emboldening Siam, promising something to them. Perhaps the United States is seeking to turn Siam into its own dependent state, so that they might threaten French and British possessions?

We are still at war with Siam, and are more than willing to continue this until we have a peace where we are satisfied of Siamese neutrality and American non interference.

We propose the following to the United Kingdom and Imperial France. We want peace and want to live freely. We propose a non-aggression treaty between the three of us. No foreign militaries will be stationed in the Kingdom of Siam. Siam shall deal with commercial entities on its own terms. We await France and Britain's reply.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

Fort Lauderdale Trade League

With peace talks between Siam and the French and British stalling, and in fact seemingly deliberately sabotaged by the latter parties, it appears increasingly obvious that the Fort Lauderdale Sanctions will have to proceed. Ultimately our goal is to bring peace to Siam and avoid the insanity of war. To that end, we hope these sanctions will help the British and French people to pressure their governments into ceasing their irrational and baseless war.

Denying ourselves access to the French and British markets and preventing the sale of their goods on our markets will not be without consequence and to alleviate the commercial and economic concerns of the French and British sanctions, we hereby commit to reduce trade tariffs on all goods being traded between our fellow signatories.

The signatories recognize that reduced tariffs between our members may not alleviate the entirety of the economic difficulties of sanctioning France and Britain, but we hope it can alleviate the majority of the damage our valorous stance will cause and create new opportunity for prosperity and growth that might otherwise have been stifled by the dominance of French and British goods on our markets.

This trade agreement is open to any nation who engages in sanctioning French and Britain over their unjust war in Siam.


The Confederate States of America

 

[Immaculate]

Fort Lauderdale Trade League

With peace talks between Siam and the French and British stalling, and in fact seemingly deliberately sabotaged by the latter parties, it appears increasingly obvious that the Fort Lauderdale Sanctions will have to proceed. Ultimately our goal is to bring peace to Siam and avoid the insanity of war. To that end, we hope these sanctions will help the British and French people to pressure their governments into ceasing their irrational and baseless war.

Denying ourselves access to the French and British markets and preventing the sale of their goods on our markets will not be without consequence and to alleviate the commercial and economic concerns of the French and British sanctions, we hereby commit to reduce trade tariffs on all goods being traded between our fellow signatories.

The signatories recognize that reduced tariffs between our members may not alleviate the entirety of the economic difficulties of sanctioning France and Britain, but we hope it can alleviate the majority of the damage our valorous stance will cause and create new opportunity for prosperity and growth that might otherwise have been stifled by the dominance of French and British goods on our markets.

This trade agreement is open to any nation who engages in sanctioning French and Britain over their unjust war in Siam.


The Confederate States of America

Signed Theodore Roosevelt on behalf of the United States of America

From USA to France:
Repeating a lie does not make it true.

 

[Masada]

The British Government has legitimate concerns about the decision to include the Boer Republics in the Fort Lauderdale Conference. Such a step amounts to recognition of a group which are in the process of committing acts of violence against the British Government, representatives of the British Government, British property and their subjects. Recognizing a group undertaking such acts – quite apart from one's view of the legitimacy of the Boer Question – invites nothing less than violence against the government's of all legitimate states. That the American Government has been informed of this concern and ignored it is intolerable. That others in the Conference recognize the issue, speaks volumes for the American Government's intentions.

 

[Immaculate]

The USA suggests that a step-wise de-escalation be attempted.

In concrete terms such a de-escalation would take the following shape:
1) UK and France would rescind, at least temporarily, their blockade and declaration of war upon Siam.
2) In return the sanctioning nations withdraw their sanctions, at least for as long as the declaration of war is rescinded.
3) And in such an environment of de-escalation and commitment to peace, the UK, France, and Siam commit to renewed negotiations.

Really we believe at this point the UK and France are dedicated to war and are making NO efforts to negotiate. Siam has twice offered an agreement and twice been ignored. In the interest of world peace, we ask that France and the UK drop all preconditions for returning to the negotiating table and make a committed and honest effort to find a workable peace with Siam, for how else other than negotiation and diplomacy can peace be found? And if they cannot even do this small thing, this minute gesture of goodwill, it is all too obvious that despite their declarations to the contrary, war with Siam is not something they seek to avoid but instead are actively pursuing.


OOC: Also, Masada, which of the Americas?

 

[Masada]

The United States calls for moderation while sanctioning and blessing violence in South Africa. The United States preaches for peace while calling on the British Empire to disarm itself while Siamese troops stand at the frontier of India. The British Government rejects the terms as unworkable, unrealistic and offensive.

 

[Masada]

The British Government must note that it desires peace between nations, but that it sees no reason to accept terms in pursuance of that which are so obviously weighed against it.

 

[Masada]

Britain mobilises.

 

[Decamper]

Fort Lauderdale Trade League

With peace talks between Siam and the French and British stalling, and in fact seemingly deliberately sabotaged by the latter parties, it appears increasingly obvious that the Fort Lauderdale Sanctions will have to proceed. Ultimately our goal is to bring peace to Siam and avoid the insanity of war. To that end, we hope these sanctions will help the British and French people to pressure their governments into ceasing their irrational and baseless war.

Denying ourselves access to the French and British markets and preventing the sale of their goods on our markets will not be without consequence and to alleviate the commercial and economic concerns of the French and British sanctions, we hereby commit to reduce trade tariffs on all goods being traded between our fellow signatories.

The signatories recognize that reduced tariffs between our members may not alleviate the entirety of the economic difficulties of sanctioning France and Britain, but we hope it can alleviate the majority of the damage our valorous stance will cause and create new opportunity for prosperity and growth that might otherwise have been stifled by the dominance of French and British goods on our markets.

This trade agreement is open to any nation who engages in sanctioning French and Britain over their unjust war in Siam.


The Confederate States of America

Signed, Sultan Abdul Hamid II Osman