December World - game thread
- Thread starter Ahigin
- Start date
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- Apr 4, 2010
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- 8,873
Signed, Lord-Protector Strange of the British Royal Commonwealth
Signed, Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India.
Signed, Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India.
Belgarion95
Walking Enthusiast
- Joined
- May 21, 2014
- Messages
- 102
Signed, President DeLuna of the United Communes
Traveller76
Prince
Signed Porfirio Díaz, President of Mexico
Espiridion Hector Lobo, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs
Espiridion Hector Lobo, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs
DuneBear
Warlord
Signed, President Schönberg of the Free Boer Republic
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thomas.berubeg
Wandering the World
The Office of President Watie congratulates all signatories to the Treaty of Montreal, and strongly hopes that this is a sign of greater things to come. Peace in our age and in the next is something to which one must aspire, for the sake of the living and the unborn.
Shadowbound
Incorrugible
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2007
- Messages
- 4,079
Truly this is a lasting peace with honor.
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Seon
Not An Evil Liar
Jagers, Part 3
Here's something Benedict Neuman knows how to say:
I'm going to kill that one. Yes, I got him. Say it like this: "I see him. Target down."
And the man in his sights, raised in some other country by hands not unlike his own, breaks apart under lead hammer. Cloud of blood. Scream in the air. Behold Benedict: a lightning maker. (In a clear day, you could occasionally tell where the man was hit by observing the blood splatter).
Benedict made his first kill in Lothringen, in an engagement against a group of partisans who maybe thought that bravery and valor could replace discipline and well-guarded supply lines. Sometimes, rookies fall apart after the first kill, eaten up by guilt. Benedict's seen this, but the cry-scream-puke cycle never hits him, even though up to that moment, he had been afraid of his own compassion. Even though the nicknames his comrades gave him was almost: Flower Boy.
Instead he feels a high.
There's a chaplain waiting at the barracks, prepared to provide support for post-kill trauma to soldiers. He waves him away. Twenty years of being raised by humanist parents and academies, cherish all life hammered into his very bones. All meaningless. All wasted.
The high says: a born killer.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Who is Captain Roland? Benedict thinks about this question often, puzzles and probes. Sometimes, it's a joy. Sometimes, it hurts. Sometimes he doesn't think about the question at all--mostly when he's with the Captain, patrolling, and killing.
Maybe that's what Roland is to Benedict. A moment. A place where Benedict never has to think, reflect, or be anything other than a laughter and a killjoy. That's a selfish way to look at it, though, isn't it? Roland is his own man: impatient, ferocious, and profane. Benedict shouldn't go around making an icon of him. He's not a lion, not some kind of war-god, and not some kind of oblivion that Benedict can just crawl into.
A conversation they have, halfway into the war:
"I've heard you moved like **** today," Roland says to him, waiting in line to use the barracks showers.
"You got sloppy. Exposed yourself twice to enemy fire. You do realize you are the only one with marksman training?" Roland continues.
"I wanted to identify where the fire was coming from, sir. It was a calculated risk."
"Not much good if you get killed before you can brag about it."
"Yet here I am, sir."
"You'll spend a few hours with the staff sergeant regarding the use of effective cover and concealment before I let you in the lines again," Roland says, with a little crack of authority at the end of the sentence. Then he grimaces as if he just noticed the fear-stink of all the soldiers waiting in queue for cold water. "He assures me they were good kills, nonetheless."
Benedict grins toothsomely at his captain and Roland, exasperated but grinning back (!), shakes his head. "You love it, don't you?" he says. "Being out here in this war. You are happy here."
Benedict puts his hands on the back of his head--an improper attitude towards a superior officer, and holds the grin.
..........................................................................................................................................................
Near the end of the war, on leave in Belgium, officers and a few of the enlisted men decide to put on an exhibition for all the oddities, inventions, and improvisations for the army. They decide to make Lieutenant Kriegsmesser a promotion girl.
"What? Why the hell?" he calls out as somebody thrusts his outfit into his arms.
Because he was the only one who looked effeminate enough in the officer corps and were of low enough rank, thought Benedict, although he didn't say it out aloud. "Because you have a very convincing high voice," he says instead.
Kriegsmesser sighs, and moves to the dressing rooms.
Few hours later, Benedict sees him again at the entrance to the exhibition, collecting entrance money while dressed as a nurse. Yellow straw hair, pink cheeks, very red lips, and a false bust decollete gave the him a very meretricious appearance. When Benedict drops a rather generous donation, 'she' throws 'her' arms around him and kissed him on both cheeks to the riotous laughter.
"Not a word of this later," 'she' says.
'She' collected almost a thousand marks that day alone.
.......................................................................................................................................................
It's one of the last months of the war. It's nearing Christmas, and the soldiers are pissed in a way only soldiers can be.
On route to a rendezvous location, they come across a section of a city heavily shelled by artillery fire, and find a group of French military engineers trying to access a collapsed building. The Germans immediately disperse and take firing positions. The French repeat the gesture.
But then they hear someone crying from within the building. Lieutenant Kriegsmesser immediately order a ceasefire. Neither the French nor the Germans have enough gear to save those inside the building. The light infantry Germans don't have the equipment or the engineering expertise (ironically enough) to mount a rescue without risking further collapse. The French engineers are not carrying medical supplies.
Captain Roland negotiates a truce with the French commander, symbolically lighting each other's cigarettes as the medics and engineers try to work out a plan of action.
Benedict doesn't move an inch from his sniping position, fingers on the trigger, quietly looking through the scope at the uneasy truce. Some of the soldiers shout insults at the French, and they shout back in French, their humanity still plain.
Lieutenant Kriegsmesser seem amazed by the female soldiers of the French engineering battalion, and wanders over to them, seemingly cooing over their uniforms and exchanging buttons. He shows his prized officer pistol to a rather unimpressed looking group. Say what you want about him--he always seemed to fit in fine wherever he went.
One of the enemy soldiers--a rather boisterous and tall Frenchman, struts out, asking for Benedict by name. There's a bounty on Benedict's head--as part of the Enemy Marksman Initiative. The smartass French wants to talk to him and live to tell the tale. Benedict tunes him out as his gaze wanders over elsewhere.
When he stops to think about it, he thinks that this war isn't really necessary. So it's quit--or, don't think about it. That's what Roland taught him: always pack and move light. You throw away everything about yourself that doesn’t help you kill. Strip down, sharpen up. Weaponize your soul.
Another Federation squad, wondering why Captain Roland's platoon have not shown up at the rendezvous show up. They have no idea about the civilians or the truce. They assume the worst. When they show up, they immediately open fire on the French, and everything goes back to being very simple.
Benedict gets the smartass, he's pretty sure.
Lieutenant Kriegsmesser immediately shoots the French soldiers with the very pistol that he was showing off.
Say what you want about him, he always fits in.
.................................................................................................................................................................
One night in the gym, the platoon gets to sparring and Benedict's in the ring with Roland, nervous and half-fixed on quitting until they get into it and slam into the sand, grappling for the arm-bar or a joint lock, and something inside Benedict clicks. It's just like sharpshooting--predicting movement and waiting for the perfect moment to cut in and shoot.
He gets Roland in guard, flips him, puts an elbow in his throat. Feels himself grinning down with pressure while everyone else circles and hoots. Benediiiict! Look at him! He's got it!
Roland looks back up at him and there's this question in his wary, wonderful eyes, a little annoyed, a little curious, a little scared. What are you?
He rolls his shoulders, lashes his hips, and throws Benedict off sideways. Benedict's got not breath and no strength, but he figures Roland must be feeling just as tapped and the rush feeds him, sends him clawing back for the finish.
Roland puts his finger up, thumb positioned like firing hammer of a revolver. Before Benedict reaches him, he says: "Bang."
Benedict falls on his belly. "Oof, aargh."
It's important that Roland don't laugh too hard. He's got to maintain command presence. He's been careful about that since their first mission.
Here's something Benedict Neuman knows how to say:
I'm going to kill that one. Yes, I got him. Say it like this: "I see him. Target down."
And the man in his sights, raised in some other country by hands not unlike his own, breaks apart under lead hammer. Cloud of blood. Scream in the air. Behold Benedict: a lightning maker. (In a clear day, you could occasionally tell where the man was hit by observing the blood splatter).
Benedict made his first kill in Lothringen, in an engagement against a group of partisans who maybe thought that bravery and valor could replace discipline and well-guarded supply lines. Sometimes, rookies fall apart after the first kill, eaten up by guilt. Benedict's seen this, but the cry-scream-puke cycle never hits him, even though up to that moment, he had been afraid of his own compassion. Even though the nicknames his comrades gave him was almost: Flower Boy.
Instead he feels a high.
There's a chaplain waiting at the barracks, prepared to provide support for post-kill trauma to soldiers. He waves him away. Twenty years of being raised by humanist parents and academies, cherish all life hammered into his very bones. All meaningless. All wasted.
The high says: a born killer.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Who is Captain Roland? Benedict thinks about this question often, puzzles and probes. Sometimes, it's a joy. Sometimes, it hurts. Sometimes he doesn't think about the question at all--mostly when he's with the Captain, patrolling, and killing.
Maybe that's what Roland is to Benedict. A moment. A place where Benedict never has to think, reflect, or be anything other than a laughter and a killjoy. That's a selfish way to look at it, though, isn't it? Roland is his own man: impatient, ferocious, and profane. Benedict shouldn't go around making an icon of him. He's not a lion, not some kind of war-god, and not some kind of oblivion that Benedict can just crawl into.
A conversation they have, halfway into the war:
"I've heard you moved like **** today," Roland says to him, waiting in line to use the barracks showers.
"You got sloppy. Exposed yourself twice to enemy fire. You do realize you are the only one with marksman training?" Roland continues.
"I wanted to identify where the fire was coming from, sir. It was a calculated risk."
"Not much good if you get killed before you can brag about it."
"Yet here I am, sir."
"You'll spend a few hours with the staff sergeant regarding the use of effective cover and concealment before I let you in the lines again," Roland says, with a little crack of authority at the end of the sentence. Then he grimaces as if he just noticed the fear-stink of all the soldiers waiting in queue for cold water. "He assures me they were good kills, nonetheless."
Benedict grins toothsomely at his captain and Roland, exasperated but grinning back (!), shakes his head. "You love it, don't you?" he says. "Being out here in this war. You are happy here."
Benedict puts his hands on the back of his head--an improper attitude towards a superior officer, and holds the grin.
..........................................................................................................................................................
Near the end of the war, on leave in Belgium, officers and a few of the enlisted men decide to put on an exhibition for all the oddities, inventions, and improvisations for the army. They decide to make Lieutenant Kriegsmesser a promotion girl.
"What? Why the hell?" he calls out as somebody thrusts his outfit into his arms.
Because he was the only one who looked effeminate enough in the officer corps and were of low enough rank, thought Benedict, although he didn't say it out aloud. "Because you have a very convincing high voice," he says instead.
Kriegsmesser sighs, and moves to the dressing rooms.
Few hours later, Benedict sees him again at the entrance to the exhibition, collecting entrance money while dressed as a nurse. Yellow straw hair, pink cheeks, very red lips, and a false bust decollete gave the him a very meretricious appearance. When Benedict drops a rather generous donation, 'she' throws 'her' arms around him and kissed him on both cheeks to the riotous laughter.
"Not a word of this later," 'she' says.
'She' collected almost a thousand marks that day alone.
.......................................................................................................................................................
It's one of the last months of the war. It's nearing Christmas, and the soldiers are pissed in a way only soldiers can be.
On route to a rendezvous location, they come across a section of a city heavily shelled by artillery fire, and find a group of French military engineers trying to access a collapsed building. The Germans immediately disperse and take firing positions. The French repeat the gesture.
But then they hear someone crying from within the building. Lieutenant Kriegsmesser immediately order a ceasefire. Neither the French nor the Germans have enough gear to save those inside the building. The light infantry Germans don't have the equipment or the engineering expertise (ironically enough) to mount a rescue without risking further collapse. The French engineers are not carrying medical supplies.
Captain Roland negotiates a truce with the French commander, symbolically lighting each other's cigarettes as the medics and engineers try to work out a plan of action.
Benedict doesn't move an inch from his sniping position, fingers on the trigger, quietly looking through the scope at the uneasy truce. Some of the soldiers shout insults at the French, and they shout back in French, their humanity still plain.
Lieutenant Kriegsmesser seem amazed by the female soldiers of the French engineering battalion, and wanders over to them, seemingly cooing over their uniforms and exchanging buttons. He shows his prized officer pistol to a rather unimpressed looking group. Say what you want about him--he always seemed to fit in fine wherever he went.
One of the enemy soldiers--a rather boisterous and tall Frenchman, struts out, asking for Benedict by name. There's a bounty on Benedict's head--as part of the Enemy Marksman Initiative. The smartass French wants to talk to him and live to tell the tale. Benedict tunes him out as his gaze wanders over elsewhere.
When he stops to think about it, he thinks that this war isn't really necessary. So it's quit--or, don't think about it. That's what Roland taught him: always pack and move light. You throw away everything about yourself that doesn’t help you kill. Strip down, sharpen up. Weaponize your soul.
Another Federation squad, wondering why Captain Roland's platoon have not shown up at the rendezvous show up. They have no idea about the civilians or the truce. They assume the worst. When they show up, they immediately open fire on the French, and everything goes back to being very simple.
Benedict gets the smartass, he's pretty sure.
Lieutenant Kriegsmesser immediately shoots the French soldiers with the very pistol that he was showing off.
Say what you want about him, he always fits in.
.................................................................................................................................................................
One night in the gym, the platoon gets to sparring and Benedict's in the ring with Roland, nervous and half-fixed on quitting until they get into it and slam into the sand, grappling for the arm-bar or a joint lock, and something inside Benedict clicks. It's just like sharpshooting--predicting movement and waiting for the perfect moment to cut in and shoot.
He gets Roland in guard, flips him, puts an elbow in his throat. Feels himself grinning down with pressure while everyone else circles and hoots. Benediiiict! Look at him! He's got it!
Roland looks back up at him and there's this question in his wary, wonderful eyes, a little annoyed, a little curious, a little scared. What are you?
He rolls his shoulders, lashes his hips, and throws Benedict off sideways. Benedict's got not breath and no strength, but he figures Roland must be feeling just as tapped and the rush feeds him, sends him clawing back for the finish.
Roland puts his finger up, thumb positioned like firing hammer of a revolver. Before Benedict reaches him, he says: "Bang."
Benedict falls on his belly. "Oof, aargh."
It's important that Roland don't laugh too hard. He's got to maintain command presence. He's been careful about that since their first mission.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2010
- Messages
- 8,873
The British Royal Commonwealth is pleased to announce that we have reached a peace agreement with the members of the Thale Noi Treaty, ending hostilities between our nations and bringing peace to the world.
TREATY OF HONG KONG:
Section 1 - General:
1.1 For the purposes of this treaty, the Thale Noi Treaty refers to the the Sikh Empire, the Third Burmese Empire and the Tokugawa Shogunate; both collectively and individually.
1.2. Hostilities will be ended between the British Royal Commonwealth and the Thale Noi Treaty.
1.3 All POWs will be returned to their home regions. If POWs lived in regions that are transferred by latter sections of the treaty to another nation, then they may apply for citizenship of the country that now rules the region that they lived in.
Section 2 - East India:
Figure 2.1
Spoiler :
2.1 The British Royal Commonwealth will cede the regions of Bengal, Khasi States, and Tripura as depicted in Figure 2.1.
Section 3 - West and Central India:
Figure 3.1
Spoiler :
3.1 The British Royal Commonwealth will cede all land coloured in yellow in Figure 3.1 to the Sikh Empire, except portions already ceded to the Third Burmese Empire per clause 2.1.
Section 4 - Sri Lanka:
4.1 An independent nation with a government committed to ensuring domestic peace, protection of religious minorities and the continued neutrality and independence of the Sri Lankan state will be set up in Sri Lanka.
4.2 The new Sri Lankan government will maintain a policy of neutrality in regards to both the British Royal Commonwealth and the Thale Noi Treaty. No aid and/or influence of any kind including political, economic, military or otherwise will be accepted from any power without the consent of the British Royal Commonwealth, the Thale Noi Treaty and the North German Federation.
4.3 All parties agree that Section 4.2 cannot be used to prevent the North German Federation from conducting actions that will allow it to maintain a functioning, neutral and independent government in Sri Lanka.
4.4 Sri Lankan independence and neutrality will be guaranteed and enforced by the North German Federation.
Section 5 - Peace in the Pacific:
Figure 5.1
Spoiler :
5.1 The British Royal Commonwealth will concede all Polynesian, Melanesian and Oceanic islands outside of the Red Circle in *Figure 5.1* to the Tokugawa Shogunate. This specifically includes Cocos and Christmas islands.
5.2 The British Royal Commonwealth will concede Papua New Guinea to the Tokugawa Shogunate.
JohannaK
Heroically Clueless
Signed, V.G. Lakshmi, minister plenipotentiary of Indostan
Signed, C.K. Singh, minister plenipotentiary and Ambassador to China
Signed, Grand Vizier Bhajan Singh of Indostan
Signed, C.K. Singh, minister plenipotentiary and Ambassador to China
Signed, Grand Vizier Bhajan Singh of Indostan
From Third Burmese Empire
The Treaty of Hong Kong is signed by High Adviser of His Majesty Konbaung Emperor, Kinwun Mingyi U Kaung
From Sardinia-Piedmont
The Treaty of Montreal is signed by Prime-Minister of the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia, Luigi Federico Menabrea, 1st Count Menabrea and 1st Marquess of Valdora
The Treaty of Hong Kong is signed by High Adviser of His Majesty Konbaung Emperor, Kinwun Mingyi U Kaung
From Sardinia-Piedmont
The Treaty of Montreal is signed by Prime-Minister of the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia, Luigi Federico Menabrea, 1st Count Menabrea and 1st Marquess of Valdora
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Immaculate
unerring
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 7,623
Bugyō Ōta Ieyasu, director of Shogunate Foreign Affairs, signs the Treaty of Hong Kong
DuneBear
Warlord
OOC: I updated my previous message with President Schönberg's signature. Sorry for the late formal edit, irl caught up with me.
The map has been updated in the second post of this thread.
I will respond to people's PM for trade on Monday.
Now that everyone has everything they need, the deadlines for the next turn are set:
Early orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all economic, domestic, and diplomatic orders are due by: November 12, 2018, 9 am CST
Late orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all military orders are due by: November 19, 2018, 11 pm CST.
I will respond to people's PM for trade on Monday.
Now that everyone has everything they need, the deadlines for the next turn are set:
Early orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all economic, domestic, and diplomatic orders are due by: November 12, 2018, 9 am CST
Late orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all military orders are due by: November 19, 2018, 11 pm CST.
Hey Decembrists!
Due to my work schedule, I extended the deadlines for orders by 2 additional days. I recommend not waiting till the last moment, still.
Early orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all economic, domestic, and diplomatic orders are due by: November 14, 2018, 9 am CST
Late orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all military orders are due by: November 21, 2018, 11 pm CST.
Due to my work schedule, I extended the deadlines for orders by 2 additional days. I recommend not waiting till the last moment, still.
Early orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all economic, domestic, and diplomatic orders are due by: November 14, 2018, 9 am CST
Late orders deadline for Update 9, i.e., all military orders are due by: November 21, 2018, 11 pm CST.
The Order of the Tower and Sword
There are six ranks of the order; from highest to lowest, they are the Grand Collar, the Grand Cross, the Grand Officer, the Knight Commander, the Officer, and the Knight.
The Order of the Tower and Sword is the highest honor of Portugal-Brazil and is handed out solely at the discretion of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress. Foreigners and imperial subjects alike are eligible for the honor, and it is both a civilian and military honor; however, it is rarely given. Generally, the recipients of this medal would include particularly successful generals or admirals of Portugal-Brazil, and of allied nations who fought with Portugal Brazil, including their heads of state. For instance, Lord Strange of the Royal British Commonwealth, received the Order after the First Atlantic War, as did two British Admirals. Other important dignitaries may receive The Order of Christ, The Order of Aviz, or another royal honor from the Empress herself.
The Medal is intended to reward "heroic deeds of extraordinary selflessness and bravery or great moral courage and exceptional ability to make decisions, whether in war or in time of peace, but always in circumstances where there is proven or suspected danger to life". It comprises three grades - Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Award of the Medal in Gold confers entitlement to wear a fourragère. As opposed to the Order of the Tower and Sword (which is intended to reward more strategic service), the Medal of Military Valor is seen as a 'front-line' achievement; it is an honor that is highly sought after, as it shows the bravery and prestige of the wearer. Though still difficult to earn, it is an honor that many Portobrazilian soldiers won in the Second Atlantic War; unfortunately, many will be awarded posthumously.
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J.K. Stockholme
Right Opposition
From the Union
To the World
The Union reminds the world that the Centroamerican Federation and Liberia remain under the protection of the Union. While Liberia is neutral toward the Union, the Union still unilaterally guarantees the Liberian government's independence and sovereignty and vows retribution to any nation that should interfere in Liberia. The Union also grants unilateral protection to the Centroamerican Federation - the Union will respond to any attempts to undermine their domestic stability or threaten their government militarily or otherwise with swift retribution.
To the World
The Union reminds the world that the Centroamerican Federation and Liberia remain under the protection of the Union. While Liberia is neutral toward the Union, the Union still unilaterally guarantees the Liberian government's independence and sovereignty and vows retribution to any nation that should interfere in Liberia. The Union also grants unilateral protection to the Centroamerican Federation - the Union will respond to any attempts to undermine their domestic stability or threaten their government militarily or otherwise with swift retribution.
In recent years, there has been some talk about our relationship with our neighbors, which I suppose includes not only our nearest neighbors, the Ma or the Annamites, but also the furthest neighbors we have, in the Dutch East Indies.
Everybody I think wants good neighbors. But for some time these have been words only, the ideal has never been fulfilled. Mutual suspicion on both sides has clouded the relationship between the Hague and Nanjing. We have not been good neighbors to each other.
For this China must bear considerable responsibility. In our enthusiasm for trade, we took much and gave little. Such an imbalance in a trade relationship is frankly no good for either side. This visit was made in the spirit of addressing this so that we might both move forward
The main point I want to make is that this past trouble ought not to get in the way of our future relationship. In my view this relationship must absolutely and without equivocation be built on mutual respect, shared interests and collective benefit.
This morning I laid out these principles to the Lords Seventeen. I said to them plainly and simply:
“I think the time has come for us to both be good neighbors to each other. Both our countries are in the midst of straitened circumstances. We cannot afford to compete. It will beggar us both.”
Well, there was a lifting of eyebrows among a good many of the the Lords Seventeen. What is the new ambassador to the Hague suggesting?
I said, “Gentleman, I propose instead that we work together in the modernization and improvement of the trade of the Dutch East Indies and in this I see an expanded role for the Dutch East India Company.”
Well, that was the beginning. The Bible says, "By their fruits shall ye know them."
And those words, have had an effect, because the Lords Seventeen were very keen to discuss the practical implications of this proposal. This is why I was late to this dinner for which I must most heartily apologize.
I am sure that come morning, the newspapers will call this a new policy, but I must insist that this is not the case. The agreement reached between myself and the Lords Seventeen this afternoon is no such thing. It is, we have all agreed, in fact exactly the same agreement as China has advocated for some time now in spirit and intent and has implemented in Malaya with our partners in the Portuguese East India Company.
Why then had we not signed earlier? To this question, I must answer: mutual suspicion and Chinese over-enthusiasm. Having now broken bread with the Lords Seventeen and talked through our issues I believe we have moved from not just being neighbors — but rather become partners to the mutual benefit of us both.
We are recognizing more and more our inter-connectivity with our neighbors and the desperate need we have to deepen our relationships into partnerships. If the Dutch East Indies is unhappy, full of unrest and in a serious economic funk this affects lives of their own people but also the happiness and the prosperity of all the others.
And on this dais I see a young women, and I think she has a vision. She was thrust into the limelight in very trying circumstances for her country, a state of affairs she bore no responsibility for but which, nonetheless, she has taken upon herself to fix. Today the Dutch people are very happy I am sure that she is holding the title of Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands!
And so while she started as a stranger to me — I met her Highness for the first time only a scant few months ago — I am now very pleased to have become her friend; and ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you join me now in raising a toast to her health!
***
Gentleman! Ladies!
I believe that the Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Assistance between the Taiping Mandate and Kingdom of the Netherlands which we have just signed is of great, historic importance.
The importance of this Treaty consists in the first place in that it signifies the radical turn of relations between the Taiping Mandate and Kingdom of the Netherlands towards alliance and friendship, a turn which took shape in the course of the present instability in Asia, took a first step with the Rio De Janeiro Treaty and which is now being formally consummated in this Treaty.
It is known that recent relations between our countries have abounded in elements of mutual estrangement and unfriendliness. Such relations weakened both our countries!
The importance of the present Treaty consists in that it puts an end to these old relations between our countries, nails down the lid of the coffin over them, and creates a real basis for replacement of the old unfriendly relations by relations of alliance and friendship.
No wonder, therefore, that the peoples of both our countries wait impatiently the signing of this Treaty. They feel that this Treaty is a pledge which guarantees the Netherlands, a pledge which will ensure her continued strength and enduring prosperity!
But matters are not confined to that. The present Treaty has also great international significance. As long as there existed no alliance between our countries others were able to take advantage of a lack of a unified front between us.
China's interests in this are straight forward. The greater part of our commerce flows through the Straits. The resources of the Dutch Indies fuel our industry and feed our people. A Netherlands under foreign dominion is unacceptable to China.
As to the Netherlands, a great part of her wealth comes from the East Indies and her growing intercourse with China. To lose the East Indies would devastate the Netherlands which is also an unacceptable result.
Now joined in this Treaty, we can stand together with strength and shared purpose!
No wonder, therefore, our mutual friends in Berlin and Sao Paulo, await impatiently the conclusion of this Treaty, for they see that this Treaty signifies a strengthening of our shared commitment to peace in Asia.
As to the rest of the world, we are confident that all those who love peace will welcome this Treaty.
May a free and independent Netherlands live and prosper!
May her Queen reign in peace and tranquility!
May her Eastern neighbor—the Taiping Mandate —live and prosper!
May our Kings Under Heaven reign in peace and tranquility!
Long live the alliance and friendship between our countries!
Everybody I think wants good neighbors. But for some time these have been words only, the ideal has never been fulfilled. Mutual suspicion on both sides has clouded the relationship between the Hague and Nanjing. We have not been good neighbors to each other.
For this China must bear considerable responsibility. In our enthusiasm for trade, we took much and gave little. Such an imbalance in a trade relationship is frankly no good for either side. This visit was made in the spirit of addressing this so that we might both move forward
The main point I want to make is that this past trouble ought not to get in the way of our future relationship. In my view this relationship must absolutely and without equivocation be built on mutual respect, shared interests and collective benefit.
This morning I laid out these principles to the Lords Seventeen. I said to them plainly and simply:
“I think the time has come for us to both be good neighbors to each other. Both our countries are in the midst of straitened circumstances. We cannot afford to compete. It will beggar us both.”
Well, there was a lifting of eyebrows among a good many of the the Lords Seventeen. What is the new ambassador to the Hague suggesting?
I said, “Gentleman, I propose instead that we work together in the modernization and improvement of the trade of the Dutch East Indies and in this I see an expanded role for the Dutch East India Company.”
Well, that was the beginning. The Bible says, "By their fruits shall ye know them."
And those words, have had an effect, because the Lords Seventeen were very keen to discuss the practical implications of this proposal. This is why I was late to this dinner for which I must most heartily apologize.
I am sure that come morning, the newspapers will call this a new policy, but I must insist that this is not the case. The agreement reached between myself and the Lords Seventeen this afternoon is no such thing. It is, we have all agreed, in fact exactly the same agreement as China has advocated for some time now in spirit and intent and has implemented in Malaya with our partners in the Portuguese East India Company.
Why then had we not signed earlier? To this question, I must answer: mutual suspicion and Chinese over-enthusiasm. Having now broken bread with the Lords Seventeen and talked through our issues I believe we have moved from not just being neighbors — but rather become partners to the mutual benefit of us both.
We are recognizing more and more our inter-connectivity with our neighbors and the desperate need we have to deepen our relationships into partnerships. If the Dutch East Indies is unhappy, full of unrest and in a serious economic funk this affects lives of their own people but also the happiness and the prosperity of all the others.
And on this dais I see a young women, and I think she has a vision. She was thrust into the limelight in very trying circumstances for her country, a state of affairs she bore no responsibility for but which, nonetheless, she has taken upon herself to fix. Today the Dutch people are very happy I am sure that she is holding the title of Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands!
And so while she started as a stranger to me — I met her Highness for the first time only a scant few months ago — I am now very pleased to have become her friend; and ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you join me now in raising a toast to her health!
***
Gentleman! Ladies!
I believe that the Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Assistance between the Taiping Mandate and Kingdom of the Netherlands which we have just signed is of great, historic importance.
The importance of this Treaty consists in the first place in that it signifies the radical turn of relations between the Taiping Mandate and Kingdom of the Netherlands towards alliance and friendship, a turn which took shape in the course of the present instability in Asia, took a first step with the Rio De Janeiro Treaty and which is now being formally consummated in this Treaty.
It is known that recent relations between our countries have abounded in elements of mutual estrangement and unfriendliness. Such relations weakened both our countries!
The importance of the present Treaty consists in that it puts an end to these old relations between our countries, nails down the lid of the coffin over them, and creates a real basis for replacement of the old unfriendly relations by relations of alliance and friendship.
No wonder, therefore, that the peoples of both our countries wait impatiently the signing of this Treaty. They feel that this Treaty is a pledge which guarantees the Netherlands, a pledge which will ensure her continued strength and enduring prosperity!
But matters are not confined to that. The present Treaty has also great international significance. As long as there existed no alliance between our countries others were able to take advantage of a lack of a unified front between us.
China's interests in this are straight forward. The greater part of our commerce flows through the Straits. The resources of the Dutch Indies fuel our industry and feed our people. A Netherlands under foreign dominion is unacceptable to China.
As to the Netherlands, a great part of her wealth comes from the East Indies and her growing intercourse with China. To lose the East Indies would devastate the Netherlands which is also an unacceptable result.
Now joined in this Treaty, we can stand together with strength and shared purpose!
No wonder, therefore, our mutual friends in Berlin and Sao Paulo, await impatiently the conclusion of this Treaty, for they see that this Treaty signifies a strengthening of our shared commitment to peace in Asia.
As to the rest of the world, we are confident that all those who love peace will welcome this Treaty.
May a free and independent Netherlands live and prosper!
May her Queen reign in peace and tranquility!
May her Eastern neighbor—the Taiping Mandate —live and prosper!
May our Kings Under Heaven reign in peace and tranquility!
Long live the alliance and friendship between our countries!
