NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: The South American Council on Mutual Economic Sucess will begin at 1100 EST/ 1600 GMT tomorrow (March 20th 1901). It will last roughly 1/2 a year game time closing at 2300 EST Friday/ 0400 GMT Saturday (Sept. 20th 1901).

Also, if you feel your nation should be invited to this conference and you have not been, please TG me to request an invite.

IC: Itinerary for Council:

I: Discussion of the effects Free Trade may concievably have if implimented between the various nations thereof.

II: How best to gain Independance from loans of non-Latin American States, and if such a goal is feasable at this point in time.

III: The Implications of Socio-economic Freedom, and the importance placed on Private Ownership of property, (i.e. what precisely is important enough for the state to violate privelage of ownership)

IV: The Influence of Powers outside of our Region, and the Implications such Powers might have on our economic development.
A: The Monroe Doctrine, and the recent Spanish/E.U. War.
B: The Treaty of London.
C: The Potential for Colonies or Puppet Governments being established in Latin America by the E.U. or European powers.

Please feel free to bring up other topics of interest, or importance.

Also:

V: Bank Stabilization and Commodity Marketing, as such that is not covered in I or II above.

Venezula has announced that it will no longer attend the conference (OOC: Because he's Japan now...), and Great Britain has asked and been granted permission to attend.

OOC: any other nations that should be invited to attend?, maybe the Spanish or Portueguese as they used to own all of South America and the Spanish were recently involved in Cuba. Or maybe the USA for trade etc. and their involvement in Panama?

I will start posting again tomorrow.

Chile requests that the meeting restrict to South American states, exclusive of the Caribbean and Central America. Our position is that we need to set forward guidelines for our own economic development, especially with respect to our commodity prices and dependence on foreign capital.

Economic Minister Juan Serrato: Argentina declairs that the meeting is open to both Great Britain and France, as they control territories within South America. Mexico, and other major Latin American nations in Central America are also more than welcome to attend. Independant Carribian Island nations are welcome to send delegates as well.

Argentina decided to have and host this conference, and we will have anyone come that holds a territory that falls within the region. The economic development for the people of France's and Great Britain's territories is no less important to them, than ours is for our own people.

(OOC: Plus I'm not about to insult any major European Power by denying them a say in this conference. If they don't like what we happen to agree to though... That's a whole 'nother can of worms. /OOC)

We do not, at this time however, invite any non-Latin American nation aside from France and Great Britain. We remind any of our distinguished guests that their participation in this council is volentary, and that should they decide to disagree with the handling of this coucil, that they should, at an appropriate time, propose an additional council hosted by their own government.

Now on to business.

Summary of Argentinian arguements on the talking points already provided:

I. It is of the Argentinian oppinion that free trade is a beneficial thing if between the nations represented in this council (excluding *possibly* Great Britian and France, until such time as local industry has time to stabilize, and compete on par with Europe). Free trade will concievably serve to increase the production of manufactured goods in our various contries, open new markets for locally produced goods, and serve as a hedge against economic collapse by one or more of the gathered nations (Colombia, Chile, Argentina, maybe Brazil if they're still around).

II. Large loans from other countries can be a very bad thing. Unfortunately, it seems that the only way to spur industrialization is the bankrolling of large loans from one of three major nations: Great Britain, France, USA. If possible, greater care should be taken before taking out large loans of this type, and clear contracts should be drawn up, and debt paid back either on time, or before it falls due. The goal of Latin America should be freedom from foreign debt, or at least a reduction of such debt as a % of net wealth.

III. Major industries, vital to the stability of our countries and the region, should be nationalized, or heavily regulated in the event of an armed conflict, for the public good. Industries such as the railroad, telegraph, shipping, arms manufacturing, and even textiles must be prepaired for at least temporary nationalization during a time of conflict. Of cource, any industry that is private property must have it's owners duely compensated for it's use, but without price gouging that occurs during these times.

IV: Outside powers influencing the region can be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on the influence offered. While it is in the interest of the Latin American States to oppose undue influence upon its neibors, some cases of outside involvement may be benefitial, should the State be treated as an equal, and not as a subordinate.
A: The Estados Unidos (USA) is a case in point of a bad influence. While it was responsible for freeing Cuba from Spanish rule, the Monroe Doctrine is a Sword of Damacules (sp?) waiting to fall on the heads of those who rely upon it to keep them free of European influence. Again, Cuba is a case in point. The EU still maintains a large force there, and may be considering annexing the nation. The Philippines is another, as was the EU's constant wars with Mexico for more territory, as is the EU's staged revolution to sieze Hawaii from it's rightful Monarch. It's involvement in Colombia is worrying.
B: Great Britian, however, is great.
C: The people of Latin America should be free of intereference in the running of thier own government. That said, any nation that attempts to subjugate the people of a member of this council, should be declaired an enemy of all the members.

V. The best way to stabilize banks is to limit foriegn loans, and to repay those loans that are taken out on time. Commodity Marketing is important, as a set price for goods would allow for greater parity between the various states in the matter of trade. However, if a nation is capable of producing goods cheeper than its neighbors it should not be punished by recieving a smaller share of the proceedes. In short, Argentina is unwilling to commit one way or the other.

"I shall answer each point respectivly

I. Though we do not wish to engage in absolute free trade in this region we would be willing to give discounts on certain materials, if needed

II. The Nation of France shall always attempt to make the country wanting a loan to find all other alternatives before taking such an action, if none can be found then we will give loans, but we will attempt to give a lower rate

III. France has no need to nationalise it's industries in a time of conflict, do not take that as a offence but we do not agree to this point

We will skip over the last points as we believe they refer more to the less fortunate of the South American countries."

OOC: Britain had colonies at British Guiana, British Hondura and Jamaica, the French had French Guiana, the Dutch had Dutch Guiana and the Americans had Cuba. So some foreign powers will have an interest, though of course you don't have to invite them if you don't want to.

USA

The US will watch with interest the affairs of South America. Meanwhile, the Platt Amendment fails to pass in the Senate, and the US therefore promises to pull out of Cuba by 1903. The people of Puerto Rico are given the opportunity to determine their own destiny, and an election will be held in Puerto Rico giving it the opportunity for independence with the protection of the US or to remain part of the US as a territory. That election will occur in 1903 as well.

Talks with Colombia continue over the proposed Panama Canal, with an agreement in place already existing, its primarily to determine the mechanics and engineering of the project. Actual construction will not begin before 1904 as a number of problems need to be settled first (Yellow Fever being a big one for starters)

ooc
In other words, the US will continue to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, but will be taking a far less interventionist role in Latin American internal affairs than in actual history.

OOC: Sadly the USA is not invited to the conference. In the event that statment was a declaration of interest, the coucil minutes are public record. Nota Bene: this is a deliberate snub on Argentina's part, but a reletively minor one. I've got to get some drama in here somewhere.

Chile remains interested in better marketing of commodities through South American agreement. However, if Argentina will not be party to this we cannot see how this will be effective, unless subscribed to by Mexico.

With respect to foreign loans, we agree that less dependency on European and North American capital is better. At this time our Central Bank views the needs for industrialization as beyond the capacity of South American markets. This is especially true during periods of inflation.

In light of the above we cannot view commercial involvement with Europe or the United States unfavorably.

OOC: Sadly the USA is not invited to the conference. In the event that statment was a declaration of interest, the coucil minutes are public record. Nota Bene: this is a deliberate snub on Argentina's part, but a reletively minor one. I've got to get some drama in here somewhere.

actually, most of this becomes apparent in US newspapers and casual conversations between US and Latin American diplomats. The US actually has good relations with South America at the turn of the century, and even helped Venezuela resolve a dispute with the British about this time.

OOC: Oddly enough, while the US did have good relations with some of the South American nations at this time, most notably Mexico and Brazil, Argentina was frequently disenfranchised with US foreign policy. While it would be wrong to say that Argentina had bad relations with the US, it is safe to say that the relataions weren't precisely good.

I'm just going to emphasize the bad relations.

Oh, and the council is officially closed. Any further discussions are out of the context of the council.