NationStates Jolt Archive


From the ashes of a shattered nation[A Past World]

Philanchez
03-11-2005, 02:24
With the memory of the crushing defeat given to him by the Americans only four years ago Alfonso XIII took the throne. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world he would bring a wave of change to his nation and raise them from their low standing.

Alfonso's first act as King was to quell the push for democracy by the citizens. To do so he created the Peoples Prince. A Prime Minister like position. The Prince is elected by the people for a life term. The nations first Peoples Prince was Pablo Iglesias. A renowned Socialist and founder of PSOE, one of Spains first Socialist partys. This was a sign of things to come...

By 1909 a Constitution had been ratified based on the American Constitution includeing a Bill of Rights. Alfonso and Pablo finally decided on a unicameral legislature called Cortes General. The Regions would be represented by population and the Cortes General would have all the legislative powers.

A milestone in Civil Rights was reached in 1910 with the approval of Universal Suffrage for those aged 25 and over followed the next year by the creation of a Publis School System of Spain. This, pablo said, would contribute greatly to Spains success in the future and right he would be...

In 1917 the Cortes General agreed on a minimum wage and two years later massive industrialization began showing the effects of Pablos Public Schools. This industrialization would help the country during the nearing depression and provide many more jobs for the unemployed and poor.

In 1920 an Air Force is created and in 1921 the garisson in Morrocco was dealt a crushing defeat at Annual by the 'Republic of the Rift'. The Navy was revamped in the following years with four new Pocket Battleships. 1925 dealt the Socialists a blow that was felt around the country. With the death of Pablo Iglesias a new man was chosen from the Partido Republicano, a liberal party, called Alejandro Lerroux. The year also gave the nation a great victry with the surrender of the 'Republic of the Rift'.

In 1927 the voteing age was lowered to 18 and the next years elections proved what the younger voters cared about. Within three years both Basque and Catalan regions had been given semi-autonomy. It was hoped that this would also put the nation in good standing with the Catalans of France who had taken the throne of France only a decade ago.

In 1935 there was an attempted coup by a bright young General named Fransisco Franco whos brother, Ramon Franco, was a pioneer aviator and a member of the Cortes General. He took Ceutta but was quickly put down before his rebellion could spread much further than Cadiz. He was executed and his allies sent into exile. Then in 1941 the nation was dealt another blow. King Alfonso XIII, already being called the Great, died of natural causes. His son, Juan Carlos, was coronated on May 5, 1941 as King Juan Carlos I de Borbon, King of Spain.
Philanchez
03-11-2005, 22:35
Relations with Catalan France had been good sincethe take over with both acting as allies to each other in Africa. King Juan Carlos I wanted to take this association to the next level, a level his father had never considered. He wanted a full fledged Alliance with France...

"Mr. Lerroux, I know your feelings about the French. Napoleon this Napoleon that but you must understand that they are under a better monarch and a monarch that has ties to our nation. It would be in the best interest of our nation to ally with the Catalans and their new French Empire. We would recieve much more trade and have a helping hand incase of hostilitys from another nation."

Alejandro Lerroux stood. He normally could not stand the French. After all just over a hundred years ago they had invaded Spain and placed a puppet on the throne. Yet he could see the Kings point and understood his concern. Things were changeing in Europe. Nations were focusing on their militarys a lot more and there had not been a large scale war since Napoleon. It appeared as if the whole of Europe and indeed the world was a powder keg just waiting for the tiniest of sparks.

"I will agree to an alliance with the French given they agree and I also believe we should pursue alliance with the Portugese for both us and France to have a united atlantic coast and a united mouth to the Medditeranean. The possibiltys are endless."

"Indeed they are Mr. Lerroux. i am happy that you see things my way. We will send a comminique to Paris right away."

And so a letter was written. A letter that could prove to be the salvation of Spain one day...

From: Madrid, Spain
To: Paris, France

Jean,
Your house has served the Borbon crown in Spain for many years and we are glad to see that you have finally been rewarded for being such loyal and trustworthy subjects these many years. As we have become equals on the world stage I am glad to say that Borbon Spain wishes to solidify that friendship in an alliance with Catalan France. This would have provisions for increased trade and lowered tariffs, a mutual protection pact, and a non-agression pact. Please consider this offer as it may be our salvation when the powder keg that is Europe finally erupts once more.

J.C.
Philanchez
05-11-2005, 19:06
The Army includeing reserves and the Legion Extragera has been mobilized to defend Spain from German Imperialism. The Navy has begun sortying in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Communique to all Nations:
The Kingdom of Spain has declared its neutrality in the conflict sweeping across Europe for the time being. All shipping from belligerent nations will be accepted in our ports but no nation is allowed to use Spain or Spanish possessions for docking military vessels or moving troops. Borders with belligerent nations have been fortified and the King hopes for a quick end to this terrible war.