NationStates Jolt Archive

An Official Envoy, Clément Pathé, a typical inoffensive bourgeoisie North Amestrian civil servant, arrived in Hamptonshire City directly from Central City (the Capital of Amestria) to personally deliver the following message to the Hamptonian Foreign Ministry.


From: Duke Dominique de Villepin, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The State of Amestria

To: Dr. Dr Wolfgang Hayek, (Acting) Foreign Minister,
Grand Archduchy of the United Realms of the Hamptonian Empire

For too long has Amestria delayed in the establishment of direct formal relations with the United Realms of Hamptonshire, one of the worlds most significant and prosperous liberal democracies. We feel that increased communication and coordination between our two respective States in regards to conflict prevention, trade, and economic management would be of enormous mutual benefit.

Therefore the State of Amestria hereby requests an exchange of Embassies with the Hamptonian Empire and the establishment of mutual Trade Consulates. The Amestrian Foreign Ministry has compiled and dispatched for the Hamptonian Government’s convenience all the necessary details concerning the proposed Amestrian Embassy and Trade Consulate.

Amestria’s Ambassador shall be the Honorable Countess of Angoulême, Amélie de Gabriel, an exceptionally distinguished and highly regarded diplomat. The Trade Consul shall be Dr. Victoria Bolloré, former Professor of Economics of the École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique*.

We await your reply.

[signed]
Dominique de Villepin, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs

(*OOC: National school of the Statistics and the Economic Administration)

Details concerning the proposed Embassies and Consulates Staff are provided with the letter.

The Proposed Amestrian Embassy in Hamptonshire

1 Ambassador (The Honorable Amélie de Gabriel)
2 Assistants to the Ambassador
28 Staff Members from Amestria
1 Limousine (Armored)
1 Secret Service Bodyguard for the Ambassador
2 Armed Amestrian Military Guards
3 Unarmed Amestrian Military Guards
1 Head Gardener (Amestrian)
10 Gardeners (Locally Hired)


The Proposed Amestrian Trade Consulate

1 Consul (Dr. Victoria Bolloré)
2 Assistants to the Consul
23 Staff from Amestria
2 Armed Amestrian Military Guards
1 Head Gardener (Amestrian)
5 Gardeners (Locally Hired)


In addition the Envoy also has a personal gift from Minister de Villepin to (Acting) Foreign Minister Hayek, a book entitled Dans L'Éloge des voleurs de feu, par de Honorable Dominique de Villepin*

The book has not been translated into English and is written in Amestrian. It is a vast tome of poetry. Although some is written by the Foreign Minister himself, most of the book is a collection of historically significant poems from throughout Amestria’s various regions. De Villepin provides a critical analysis of each piece, a detailed examination of the region at the time of the writing of the piece, and an insight into the mind/intent of the author. This book is also personally signed by de Villepin.

(*OOC: In Praise of the Robbers of Fire, by the Honorable Dominique de Villepin)

Foreign Minister's Office, White Palace, Obsidia, Hamptonshire

The Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Hayek, tried to focus on the mounds of paperwork on his desk but he found himself thinking about tomorrow's election. In less than twelve hours nearly five billion citizens of the Empire would go to the polls. With all luck he would be Federal Chancellor by this time tomorrow he would be the newly elected head of government. However, the Foreign Office could not wait for the election results. Hayek had to run a ministry that operated 24/7. Thankfully he had very capable aides who were more than qualified to run the FO's affairs in his absence.

One of those highly qualified, and relatively young, bureaucrats was Alan Sheridan. Alan was technically the Minister's Deputy Chief of Staff. However, Hayek never had the time to hire an actual Chief of Staff. The thirty-something Sheridan was therefore the right-hand man to one of the most powerful people in the United Realms. At this moment aide and boss were seated at opposite sides of a large couch in the former's office.

"Did you read the book?" Hayek picked up the book in question, Dans L'Éloge des voleurs de feu, and placed it on the nearby coffee table.

"I read a translation produced by RAFIS. I found the poetry intriguing but some of the analysis was, to put it bluntly, rambling."

"Is that what you honestly thought, Mister Sheridan?"

"Yes, Minister."

"Then I suppose we both know why I am the diplomat and you are the bureaucrat." The two men laughed. Hayek pushed himself off the couch and walked toward one of the office's large picture windows. "The book is a window into Mister De Villepin. He has an intellect that none should underestimate and he has a fine grasp of history and critical analysis. But this work also shows that he may be too sure of himself. A little too eager to show others his superiority. All in all it is an interesting work from an interesting man."

Alan also left the couch but he walked to the small bar by the book shelves on the wall's rear wall. He poured himself a glass of gin. Out of instinct he turned to Hayek to offer him a drink but he remembered that the Minister abstained from nearly all forms of alcohol. Not one to kowtow unnecessarily, Alan put three ice cubes in his glass and returned to the couch. "What about the embassy exchange request?" He asked while taking in the gin's floral-citric aroma.

"I discussed the topic with Lord Rosecrans. We both decided that there is no pressing reason for us not to formalize our diplomatic relations with the Amestrians. The mess in New Albion is not at the forefront of either government's mind."

Alan sipped the gin while he thought about what was happening in New Albion. Hamptonshire went out on a limb and declared its support for the United Kingdom. In fact, it was practically alone in the international community in doing so. Lord Rosecrans and Dr. Hayek were both firm in their commitment to stand by the Oceanians but even they were beginning to voice concerns about the continuing instability in the breakaway colony. So far it seemed to most Hamptonians that Hamptonshire was getting precious little, if anything, in return for standing by Lord Salisbury and his government. Amestria was critical of Salisbury though it was more reserved in its condemnation than most other governments.

"Handled properly there is no reason why New Albion should cast a shadow over this endeavor."

"We can hope." Was all the young aide could say as he gulped down the remainder of his gin.

"You should not drink like that before a long plane flight."

Alan was confused by the statement. He hadn't planned on taking any trips soon let alone one that would require a long plane ride. "Pardon me, sir?"

"De Villepin took the time and effort to send the message by personal courier," the Foreign Minister could barely contain the urge to laugh, "so I must return the favor. There is a Royal Air Force supersonic transport waiting for you. If you leave now you should be in Amestria by morning."

The Deputy Chief of Staff could tell that Hayek enjoyed the thought of sending him thousands of miles away with no warning. The intent wasn't malicious but it did smell of the Minister's rather quirky sense of humor. "I suppose I'm off then. Is there anything else beside the letter?"

Hayek crossed the large room to get a small box he had placed behind his desk. He handed it to the younger man. "Now you can go."



My Lord Duke,

On behalf of His Grace, Lord Rosecrans and the Government of the United Realms I extend our best wishes to the people and government of the State of Amestria. The United Realms greatly desire a formalized diplomatic relationship between our two great nations. While our two governments may have disagreements, we both hold ourselves to the same rigorous standard of human rights and democracy. The Foreign Office agrees to your request establish an embassy and trade consulates in Hamptonshire. As is established Foreign Office policy, we ask for the same terms to be granted to us in Amestria as we have granted you in our nation.

The Lord Protector has appointed Hugo Anderssen, the extremely talented and capable current Hamptonian Chargé d'affaires ad interim to Praetonia, to be the first Hamptonian Ambassador to the State of Amestria. It is our hope that he shall be but the first of many Ambassadors that we will send to Amestria over the course of our continued diplomatic relations.

On a personal note I must thank you for the signed copy of your book. It was a fascinating work and I shall treasure it as one of the highlights of my personal collection. As a token of my gratitude and respect I have sent you two dozen Blood Tulip bulbs. The Blood Tulip is our national flower. The particular bulbs I have sent you are from a subspecies that I personally breed. I hope that once planted they will blossom for as long as our two nations count each other as friends.


Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Wolfgang Hayek, Ph.D.
(Acting) Foreign Minister