NationStates Jolt Archive

Rio de Janeiro Summit for Rubber Exporting Nations (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=513767)

OOC:
Unless you have any new ideas to throw out or want to propose a renewal period or new name (here's your chance to propose the name RuPEC!), we can probably just sign the treaty and get on with our lives.

The 4th Dutch/Danish Expedition set out late 1919, the late spring of the southern Hemisphere, dramatically different to the late Autumn in their homeland.

Their task was to locate and mark the highest mountain, they started near the Ronnie Ice Shelf they walked along the foothills of the Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range. They identified what would have been named the Vinson Massif, calculated it's height to 16,050 feet (4,892m) while such claims of the Vinson Massif being the heighest mountain in Antarctica are too early, considering only a small fraction of the mountains have been mapped it will certainly be the yard stick by which all other mountains will be measured.

Returning successful to Denmark and the Netherlands they arrived to a heroes welcome.

OOC: Wiki on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/Vinson_Massif)

Changes to real names.

Vinson Massif -> Mt. Christian the Xth
Mt. Craddock -> Mt. Wilhelmina
Mt. Segers -> Mt. Rasmussen

---

In the Beggining of Spring, 1st of Feburary,1920. a second expedition to the north pole after the failed attempt that resulted in death of a few of the expedition team, however months passed and no one had heard from the crew nor Ejnar Mikkleson the leader of the expedition. In fact it had been a whole month where there was no word from the team when they should have returned. An expedition was sent in July to determine the fate of the expedition and see if they needed... however one month later the rescue vessel limped back to Denmark battered and brusied barely sailable. Apparently one of the crew member's was a brother of one of the men that lost thier lives once they landed on the ice shelf a minor injury caused a total freak out. He went on about an old viking curse that had been put on the ice cap. Which made totally no sense since the people of Denmark where descended from Vikings and that no one else on the crew had ever heard of such thing. Apparently he had gone abit unstable mentally caused damage to the vessel. The main mast fell on some sailors killing them. Once again the Northern Ice Shelf had defeated the Danes in a most spectacular way.

Once it limped backed in immeadiate plans where drawn up to do a full scale quick expedition to indeed find out what happened. It is scheduled to leave September braving the arctic conditions coming upto August. It returned with undeniable proof that the explorers had reached the Artic Ice shelf but it was too late, any traces or tracks where long gone. The 4th expedion and to date the only succesful one returned without even attempting to reach the North Pole.

Once back in Denmark the exploration team was officially declared "Missing Presumed Dead", a memorial service was held for them and after the service King Christian the Xth made a public statement.

"Exploration is indeed a risky business, everyman that was onboard the doomed expedition knew the risks that it entailed, however this has indeed left a mark on our nation. I'm now officially claiming all of the Arctic Ice shelf as a fitting moment and burial grounds for those that lost their lives. Also I am halting all expeditions for 10 years from this date the 21st of September 1920. This includes all North Pole, South Pole and exploration and colonisation of Greenland."

OOC:
To Summarise...

1. Denmark claims the Arctic Ice Shelf as a Burial Ground for those explorers that lost their lives. It will remain the biggest mystery in Denmark and perhaps even the source of some conspiracy theorists in years to come.

2. The 40 year Colonisation plan of Greenland will be delayed by 10 years and no exploratory expeditions at all will be done by Denmark in the next 10 years.

As the general strikes continue in the Imperium and the government not yet reacting, several right-wing groups, often funded by wealthy politicians and their members made up by former army members, begin to form after quiet permission is given by Emperor Karl I. While the military is finally called up to crush the strikes, the army commanders are sure to give plenty of time for the fascist and right-wing militias to have their fun.

The Parliment quickly reacts to the news of the strikes, lead by the noble-backed Christian Social Party, and appoints the right-wing Miklós Horthy to the position of Prime Minister.

As the general strikes continue in the Imperium and the government not yet reacting, several right-wing groups, often funded by wealthy politicians and their members made up by former army members, begin to form after quiet permission is given by Emperor Karl I. While the military is finally called up to crush the strikes, the army commanders are sure to give plenty of time for the fascist and right-wing militias to have their fun.

The Parliment quickly reacts to the news of the strikes, lead by the noble-backed Christian Social Party, and appoints the right-wing Miklós Horthy to the position of Prime Minister.

the young radical leader, Adolf Hitler, gains increasing standing and fame among the Right during the summer and fall

Summer and Fall 1919
A wave of strikes hits France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Imperium, Poland, and Russia as leftist unions push for better working conditions and more democracy.

Meanwhile, pro Right parties gain ground in reaction as traditional minded people, tradesmen, small business owners, and managers react to what they see as a form of anarchy.


At the urging of the legislature, the government tries to negotiate compromises in the strikes, and in 1920, reimburses some companies for some of the lost profits (1.5 points in the fund). However, at the President's urgings, and, allegedly, the use of state funds, some riots are put down forcefully by armed vigilantes.

The French legislature, reflecting the increasingly left-leaning political climate in France, elects Paul Deschanel President in February of 1920. Deschanel is a Radical further to the left than his predecessors, and is a great public orator. Interestingly, Deschanel is the first man elected to the Presidency without prior ministerial experience, leading many to wonder if perhaps the legislature is searching for leaders without established contacts and interests in the government.

The Roaring Twenties

The Reds make their move
In the summer and fall of 1920, Socialists and Communists lead more strikes in Europe, North America, and Australia. They remain peaceful, but greatly alarm the public in English Speaking countries and in France. However they result in violence in Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Italy and Argentina as counter protesters, led by Right Wing extremists, including Fascists, launch into the Leftists with rocks, clubs and other weapons, and brutal street fighting occurs. In Russia, the government continues to try to reason with the protesters, and the Communists led from afar by Lenin sense weakness.

Meanwhile, in China, both the Imperial and KMT government have similar problems, and the Imperials quickly and brutally crush the strikes and protests that occur with police troops, while the KMT has a more difficult time.

In 1921, the Left finds that it has lost the support of Americans with the new Democratic Administration in Washington. An important blow to the Left is the deportation of the influential and radical publisher of the Daily Worker in New York City, Trotsky, who is deported (he subsequently makes his way to Russia).

The summer of 1921 is bloody again as the more extreme Left, the Communists, attempts to take over the movement in the Imperium, Germany, Spain, and Italy, as the moderate Left has been cowed by increasingly violent responses on by the ultra Right. In the summer of 1921, a General Strike is called for in all four countries, as well as strikes in France, the United Kingdom and even Australia and Canada.

The British, Australians, Canadians and French governments react peacefully to the strikes, which eventually fizzle out as a sharp recession has occurred, and workers find themselves needing their wages more and more. Offers of reform are also made by main stream parties which recruit heavily to build up their power bases.

Things however are different in Germany, Italy and the Imperium, as police and eventually the Army is called in to break up increasingly violent street fighting and protests and the first mass arrests begin. It also leads to the ascent to power of ultra right leaders in Parliament in all three nations.

Red Revolution in Russia
In Russia, street protests also occur, and more importantly, strikes in the coal and steel industry, by railroad workers, and more seriously, by common sailors in the Navy break out. By this time, Lenin and Trotsky have both made their way to Russia, and Stalin has escaped custody and is working with them, as well as a number of other Communist leaders. Eventually the government is forced to use the Army to break the strikes, and bloody street fighting as fierce as 1905 occurs. Among the dead is Trotsky, who is killed by Cossacks on the street in Petrograd.

Just when things are looking very serious in Russia, Lenin is betrayed and arrested by Stalin, who in exchange, is given a place in the Russian Secret Police as an agent. The execution of Lenin and several other communist leaders in 1923 effectively destroys the Communist Party in Russia.

With the principal leaders of the Communists dead or arrested, the movement begins to fall apart by the winter of 1921-22, and the promise of continued reforms takes the teeth out of the threat from the Communists.

By 1924, most of the former Communists in Russia have joined the more moderate Socialist parties, and the threat of armed revolution recedes in Russia.

The Third Reich
In Germany and the Imperium however things continue to worsen. A team of men manage to assassinate the Emperor and his wife and many of their staff when poison gas is somehow pumped into the Emperor Karl’s menagerie in Vienna. Also among the dead are their children. This makes Archduchess Gisela, who has recently married Prince Wilhelm (the grandson of the Kaiser and 3rd in line for the German throne), the Empress of the Imperium, and their oldest will be Kaiser of Germany AND the Imperium.

Even as this is going on, General Lundendorf, a leader in the Ultranationalist Right has become Defense Minister in Germany, while Anton Drexler has become Prime Minister and is even more to the right. Facing a serious threat from the Left in the Imperium, the head of the new Nationalsozialistische (Nazi) Party in Austria, previously known as the German Workers Party, recruits sufficient members of more conservative parties to gain sufficient influence to take power and Hans Knirsch becomes Prime Minister of the Imperium.

By 1924, events are moving rapidly in both the Imperium and Germany. Austrians see themselves as Germans first, and Admiral Horthy makes a deal toward separation of Hungary and Austria and the effective end of the Imperium. Hungary will keep Bohemia and parts of the Slavic areas, while Austria will keep Slovenia, the Tyrol, Serbia, and maintain control over Montenegro, in effect splitting the Empire in two. To keep the Poles happy, and out of mischief, the remainder of Imperial held Poland is given to them as well.

With the Gisele giving birth to the child Wilhelm in 1924, the unification begins in earnest. By the end of 1924, the Parliaments of both Germany and Austria agree to unification and it moves quickly. On September 1, 1924, the German and Austrian Empires merge to form the Greater German Reich, or Third Reich (in shortened form) and the Kaiser becomes Emperor of all Germans.

(Adolf Hitler as this point is a senior party official in Austria and more will be heard from him eventually. Meanwhile, Stalin is likely to become head of the Russian Secret Police one day).

Fascist Italy
In 1921, as strikes threaten to bring down the Italian economy and the middle and upper classes watch with concern the events in Germany, Austria Hungary and Russia, growing pressure is placed on the Italian government.

Mussolini and his Fascist Party become a major force and increasingly, the Army and elites begin looking toward him to save the country from the Reds. On July 21, 1921, he announces that he and his Blackshirts will march on Rome to save the country, and proceed to do so, with over 40,000 men walking from Milano to Rome over the next few weeks, stopping only to clash with Leftist demonstrators in towns along the way. It is really however little more then a glorified political rally, as the Fascists are lightly armed but the Army and National Police make no effort to stop him, and in fact, provide food and drink and rest stops along the way. By mid August, Mussolini is in Rome, and the King invites him to form a government.

Crackdowns on Reds begin almost immediately after that, and several thousand are arrested and sent to work camps in Sicily and Libya. Leading writers are imprisoned in Italian Somalia, along with their families in some comfort, but isolated from communications. By the end of 1922, the Communists and Socialists have been driven underground and the Centrist parties find that their leaders too are facing long vacations in Somalia.

The Great Mississippi Flood

The flood began when heavy rains pounded the central basin of the Mississippi in the summer of 1921. By September, the Mississippi's tributaries in Kansas and Iowa were swollen to capacity. On New Year's day of 1922, the Cumberland River at Nashville topped levees at 56.2 feet (17 m).
The Mississippi River broke out of its levee system in 145 places and flooded 27,000 square miles or about 16,570,627 acres (70,000 km²). The area was inundated up to a depth of 30 feet (10 m). The flood caused over $400 million in damages and killed 246 people in seven states.
The flood affected Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Arkansas was hardest hit, with 14% of its territory covered by floodwaters. By May of 1922 the Mississippi River below Memphis, Tennessee reached a width of 100 km (60 mi).

As the flood approached New Orleans, Louisiana, 30 tons of dynamite were set off on the levee at Caernarvon, Louisiana and sent 7,000 m³/s (250,000 ft³/s) of water pouring through. This prevented New Orleans from experiencing serious damage, but flooded much of St. Bernard Parish and all of Plaquemines Parish's east bank. As it turned out, the destruction of the Caernarvon levee was unnecessary; several major levee breaks well upstream of New Orleans, including one the day after the demolitions, made it impossible for flood waters to seriously threaten the city. There is some belief that the purpose the levee explosion was to save the wealthier parts of the city by directing the flow of water to the more blighted communities.

By August 1922, the flood subsided. During the disaster, 700,000 people were displaced, including 330,000 African-Americans who were moved to 154 relief camps. Over 13,000 evacuees near Greenville, Mississippi were gathered from area farms and evacuated to the crest of an unbroken levee, and stranded there for days without food or clean water, while boats arrived to evacuate white women and children. Many blacks were detained and forced to labor at gunpoint during flood relief efforts.

Several reports on the terrible situation in the refugee camps, including one by the Colored Advisory Commission by Robert Russa Moton, hit the newspapers, forcing Whites to face the fact that the promise of the Civil War and Emancipation were still hollow promises.

The aftermath of the flood was one factor in the Great Migration of African-Americans to northern cities. Previously, the move from the rural South to the Northern cities had virtually stopped. As a result of displacement lasting up to six months, millions of Southern blacks moved to the big cities of the North, particularly Chicago.

OOC
Economic effects
Food production in the US is reduced by 30% for 1921 and 1922

following production centers are damaged (and require repair at 12 points per center)
St. Louis 4;Memphis 3,New Orleans 3

following resource centers produce at only 50% for 1921 and 1922
St Paul 5; Minneapolis 5, Memphis 8

10 shipping units are not available for 1921 and 1922 (Mississippi River barge traffic snarled severely)

US NPC thread (for reference)
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=510830

US Army has 5 garrison units committed for the duration of the crisis, along with all National Guard units in the affected areas and surrounding states.

1 Million people will need emergency relief (3 points) each year for 2 years.

In addition, US overall production 1921-22 suffers an extra hit of 10% due to dislocation (taken AFTER damage is accounted for). Congress does however agree to higher spending for the emergency (US can go to reduced spending from austerity budget)

The Kanto Earthquake (Great Tokyo Earthquake and Firestorm
On September 1, 1923, just before noon, an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 occurred near the densely populated, modern industrial cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan. The epicenter was placed in Sagami Bay, just southwest of Tokyo Bay. Destruction ranged from far up into the Hakone mountains, home to popular tourist resorts, to the busy shipping lanes of Yokohama Bay, north to the city of Tokyo.

Though not the largest earthquake to ever hit Japan, the proximity to Tokyo and Yokohama and the surrounding areas, with combined populations numbering 2 million, made it one of the most devastating quakes ever to hit Japan. Tokyo's principle business and industrial districts lay in ruins.

At a time when thousands of homes and restaurants had lit fires, mostly gas ranges, for noon-day meal preparation, the quake hit, demolishing buildings and toppling contents of the traditional wood and paper Japanese houses. Flamable materials in the industrial plants and explosions at a munitions factory helped fuel the flames at such a pace that the normally well-prepared firefighters could not keep up. Broken water mains made water unavailable to fight the fires.

Deaths were estimated at nearly 100,000, with an additional 40,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were left homeless in the resulting fires. Fires in the Honjo and Fukagawa districts of Tokyo surrounded over 30,000 people who took refuge in a large open area. The meager possessions they had fled with became additional fuel for the firestorm and they were literally incinerated on this spot.

The quake is remembered by Japanese authors as the Great Kanto Earthquake, Kanto being the name of the region which includes Tokyo. The year of the quake, 1923, is referred to as Year 12 of the Taisho Era, the 12th year of Emperor Taisho's reign which lasted from 1912 - 1926.

OOC
Japan suffers damage to 20 production centers, and 5 more are actually totally destroyed. 10 Shipping units are lost (destroyed), and 20 more shipping units are considered neutralized for 1923 (represents damage to ports and disruption). Japan also suffers and additional 10% penalty to production for 1923.

Japan calls for calm in the resulting chaos. Large amounts of aid is allocated (OOC: 8 points, more if needed) is given to those displaced or injured

OOC: what do I need to do to rebuild Tokyo?

The Depression
By 1920, overproduction is becoming a serious problem in the American Heartland, as demand for crops is falling world wide, and growing numbers of American farmers who are living on marginal land west of the 30th Meridian find themselves facing falling farm prices, a drought, and high mortgages. This trend accelerates for the next three years and begins to result in a growing number of farm foreclosures and bank failures by regional banks in the Plains States.

The world economy also suffers a series of shocks in the early 1920s as growing labor unrest is a problem in Western Europe and some of it finds its way to North America, South America and Australia as well.

Another issue is institutional. The countries that fought the Great War find that they are unable to return to the Golf standard as vast amounts of Gold and Silver were used to pay off debts to the United States and Great Britain post war. In effect, their currencies are still floating against the Dollar and Pound Sterling, and their value begins to plummet beginning in 1919 as confidence in those currencies falls because of labor unrest and political turmoil. This leads to serious problems with inflation in Germany, Austria Hungary, Russia, France, Italy and Spain.

In 1922 and 1923 a pair of severe natural disasters continue to accelerate the slide, as a massive earthquake in Japan and a catastrophic flood in the United States inflict severe shocks to both of those economies.

By 1924, the stage is set for a severe fall and in October 1924 it happens. A Communist group places bombs on Wall Street, and several people are killed as a result, and more seriously, panic selling begins as investors worry that the Reds are attempting revolution in the United States. On October 20, 1924, the American Stock Market plummets nearly 10% in a single day, and this causes several major banks to fall.

Things worsen as the failure of those banks become public knowledge, and this triggers runs on American banks as depositors fear the worse, forcing the Cox Administration to declare Bank Holidays a mere few weeks from the time he faces a close reelection race from Herbert Hoover (Republican).

By 1925, the effects of the severe US recession have added to the effects of recessions elsewhere and every nation is facing economic problems.

OOC
1921 - Russia, Germany, Spain, the Imperium, France and Italy lose 10% of their budgets to inflation issues and labor disruption. American (South and North), Australia, United Kingdom and Canada lose 2% due to disruption.
1922- 24 – Russia, Germany, the Imperium, Spain, France and Italy lose 15% of their budgets to inflation and continued turmoil. All other nations suffer lose of 5% due to recession.
1925 - Depression has begun. All commerce, energy and resources are worth 50% of value. Production is figured normally, then a 25% penalty applies (for reduced demand).
Any nation that doesn’t have level 3 social spending finds that the people are demanding it immediately.

these effects are on top of any losses suffered due to natural disasters above

November, 1923

In late 1923, mutterings among right-wing elements in Romania culminate in a startling and unexpected move. On November 4th, members of the para-military arm of the Legiunea Arhanghelul Mihail, the Garda de Fier, or Iron Guard beginning gathering in Bucharest. The government notes this with some concern, having kept tabs on the members of the only semi-legal organization. By November 9th, almost all of the Iron Guard’s members have arrived in the nation’s capital. Extra police are called, and the local army troops are activated by Parliament, hoping to contain any possible violence.

Unfortunately for them this tactic backfires. On November 10th, the Guard marches on Parliament, and begins a loud demonstration, calling on the “corrupt, spineless politicians” to resign and allow the Legion to take over he governance of the country. Parliament responds by ordering the army to put down the demonstrators. The response from the general in command of the local troops is to order his soldiers to stand down. Without the army, Parliament is helpless

The Guard take Parliament by force and faces only minor resistance from the police. In a short but violent gun battle, 3 police officers are killed and 6 injured, while 8 Guard members die, and 20 are injured. All present members of Parliament are placed under arrest, excluding members of other right wing parties, as well as General Averescu, who is hailed as a hero by both the Legion and the rest of the nation. He is, however, politely asked to retire from politics and limit his role to that of the Chief of Staff of the Romanian Army. Taking over as Head of Government is Alexandru C. Cuza, leader of the Legion. The rest of the Parliament positions are other members of the Guard, and the few other right wing parties are allowed to retain their positions.

The King, Ferdinand I, is horrified by the coup, but finds himself unable to act. He is now kept, along with his wife and children, a virtual prisoner in his own home by the army and members of the Iron Guard. He is now little more then a figurehead king, brought out to make speeches and to rubber stamp what laws and actions are dictated to Parliament by Cuza, who has become virtual dictator of Romania.

1921-Red Storm Rising

Since the unofficial exile of Czar Ferdinand and the forced retirement of Prime minister Vasil Radoslavov in 1916 by parliamentary elements organized in a grand coalition has the influence of the Agrarian Party been rapidly growing along with its Radical and Communist allies in parliament.

Eventually the Agrarian Party reached a formidable size and became the dominant faction of the coalition, even demanding positions in cabinet from the Prime Minister Teodor Teodorov, which he found hard to refuse. These turns of events lead to a variety of secret meetings between the various opposition factions.

A key player in these events was the Young Monarch, Czar Boris III, who was instrumental in initiating talks, however in order to keep secrecy he was not able to follow up and delegated various tasks to a trusted man in the Military Intelligence, Atanas Vatev. A strong albeit secretive coalition was agreed upon in Saxe-Coburg-Gotha consisting of the Army, the National Police, the Reactionary, the Monarchists, the Macedonian Faction, several Conservatives and a number of paramilitary Right-Wing Group.

This Coalition had one purpose: to stem the threat of Communism, to be prepared to repel it and to restore the Monarchy as the rightful authority of Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, communist power further grew and in 1921, as Socialist protests spread through Europe, Protestors led by an extremist the Bulgarian Agrarian Front surrounded the Parlament, the Palace and the Residence of Prime Minister Teodorov and demanded his resignation and the appointment of their Leader Stembuliski as Prime Minister aswell as the Resignation of Key Officials of the Government and Military and the Abolishment of the Monarchy. Other Factions of the Agrarian Front lead protests in the Streets of Varna, Burgas, Plovidiv, Ruse and various other cities in the Kingdom.

The Nation's Security, having being long preparing for such a scenario quickly moves in troops to secure the Capital, while various Far-Right Groups clash with Protestors in other cities. The King, once the palace is secured, announces his full support to the Right wing Factions that have rallied to support the Monarchy.

With Martial Law Declared by General Nikola Zhekov, the reserve Police Unit Mobilised (to keep peace in Dobrudja) and full support from the King, the upheaval lasts for a number of weeks as police units and eventually the Regulars are called in to control the increasingly violent protests.

Finally with the Agrarian Party defeated and outlawed, along with the exile, arrest and execution of many of its leaders. The ordeal is over and Martial Law begins to be lifted gradually. As Parlament is also restored, it comes as no surprise as the majority is dominated by the Bulgarian Imperial Front with the remainder of the seats going to various but Small Moderate and Independents.

The King declares July 15 as day to commemorate those who have risen to overcome the Communist Threat and awards the leaders of the various Right Wing Paramilitaries several medals to thank them to their contribution.

Spain enacts against the first acts of violence with force. The Civil and Assault Guards are sent to stop the actions against eachother. Decrees are put out, stating that the peaceful protest rights shall not be infringed for the country to survive, and that if the two sides want to throw garbage at eachother and yell at eachother from two different sides, that's fine. But violence will not be tolerated. Spain once again tries to take the middle ground of force and a soft touch. Those who deserve it get the fist, those who don't get the soft touch.

(Cause ya left SPain out of that since it is kinda in the middle of those countries.)

First Chinese Communist Revolution

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12216663&postcount=145

So no penalties for 1923 and 1924?

OOC
1922- 24 – Russia, Germany, the Imperium, Spain, France and Italy lose 15% of their budgets to inflation and continued turmoil. All other nations suffer lose of 5% due to recession.
1925 - Depression has begun. All commerce, energy and resources are worth 50% of value. Production is figured normally, then a 25% penalty applies (for reduced demand).
Any nation that doesn’t have level 3 social spending finds that the people are demanding it immediately.

these effects are on top of any losses suffered due to natural disasters above
The parts that affect mexico

Just a few minor things:

Romania

Whilst the majority of the nation sees the new dictatorship as the necessary step to reduce bureaucracy a minority does support a democratic system. Several underground resistance groups form, though they are that in name only as they lack the means and numbers to be an obstacle to anyone. Several of the more vocal ringleaders are arrested by the police on charges of treason and plotting to bring down the government, having been betrayed by their comrades or infiltrated by government agents. With their arrest the majority of anti-government groups are wound down.

Albania and Macedonia

Various disparate anarchist and anti-government parties seem to be on the rise. Nothing much comes of it though demonstrations against the government become more commonplace, they are generally contained peacefully by the police.

Conclusions

It is clear to all interested parties that the trouble is probably originating from a foreign country trying to incite chaos in the region. Though any nation with an intel agency will conclude that the plans are likely failing due to a lack of funds to support them, all neighbouring countries are cited as possible sources though real sources are almost untraceable due to the fact that little cash has been given.

OOC: Nothing much really going on nor likely to come of it, just the usual E20 tradition of meddling in other nations!

After several lengthy discussions and some heated arguments, the United Kingdom and the Third Republic arrive at a new friendly understanding in mid-1925. This newest Entente Cordiale outlines the shared interests of the two respective nations, including joint naval reviews and a comprehensive policy of non-interference in the respective spheres of influence in the Middle East. In addition, a partnership is announced in which the two powers pledge to support one another's interests in the Mediterranean and in Africa, and Britain has offered to assist in the modernization of the French Navy once the current depression begins to alleviate and more funds become available.

In addition, Britain has pledged to defend French India and French merchantmen in the Indian Ocean from attack during times of war, and France has promised to come to the aid of Britain in the event of a colonial war in Africa, provided there is no conflict with pre-existing French treaties.

Secret IC: Britain and France also agree to have their respective Caliphs step down in the near future, to be replaced with a single Caliph, more acceptable to and under the control of both powers. Both nations also agree to disarm harmful third-party factions within their respective Middle Eastern spheres.

Trouble in the Colonies

Burma

A Buddhist monk, Saya San, in the employ of the primarily British ruling administration of Burma as a surveyor of the living conditions of the peasantry, begins to incite the peasants to revolt against the "foreign naga" and particularly their tax policies which favour the British landowners over native peoples. His support is quick to grow amongst the peasants who prefer a man who can speak their language and is a local to a foreign elitist government, dominated by British and Indian bureaucrats over Burmese. The situation is agitated by British officials wearing their shoes inside Buddhist shrines and holy places which infuriates worshippers.

The students of Rangoon University strike in support of their rural brothers though the European-educated Burmese upper classes are still supportive of the British administration. Demonstrations in the streets of Rangoon by students are contained, sometimes forcefully by the local police units. The governor requests authority to place the Burmese Rifles at his disposal in-case the situation worsens. Before the message is received in London reports reach the governor of several Indian and British officials going missing in isolated postings, though nothing is confirmed as of yet.

OOC: A little early for this incident, though there is a reason for this and Saya San was in the right employment at this time so an earlier incident is possible.

India

Several new political parties are set up (Swaraj Party, Hindu Mahasabha, Communist Party of India and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) with aims for Indian Independence from Britain. Their popularity is nothing compared to that of the Indian National Congress and Ghandi. Ghandi spends this period actively campaigning against the evils of alcoholism, illiteracy, poverty and the caste system though he is known to be considering restarting his independence campaign whilst the Amritsar massacre remains fresh in everyone's minds. Occasional threats of violence are made in the subcontinent but British Intelligence regards the risk of a revolt very unlikely.

OOC: India is following the RL disobedience timeline at the moment.

Indonesia

The Communist Party of Indonesia leads violent revolts against the Dutch colonial government in the Western Java and Sumatra provinces. Arms have apparently been smuggled into the country to the party and other disaffected locals. The local government is quick to move on its own initiative and brutally crushes the rebllion before it can spread. Despite this the fighting is hard, particularly in the cities, and 4000 rebels are killed, with a further 15000 people arrested in relation to the incident. The casualties on the government side are heavy (spread amongst 3 garrison units in the area they amount to no ingame units) but less than the untrained rebels. The local government dispatches light infantry division and marine brigade in their control to the area whilst the other 5 garrisons keep watch for signs of dissent in their regions. There is little further trouble as the regulars mop up and quell the rebellion.

1500 ringleaders are taken to a prison camp in the area to serve out their lengthy sentences, local officials also authorise the arrest of several other troublemakers with no links to the Communist rebellion on charges of treason, sentences are generally a minimum of 15 years with hard labour. The Communist Party is outlawed and barred from any elections due to its large part in the uprising. The Dutch East Indies governor asks for permission to call up his reserves (1 reserve light infantry division, 1 reserve cavalry division, 1 reserve infantry corp) to dissuade any retaliatory violence. Weapons recovered from the rebels bear marks indicitive of foreign makes, particularly Britain and Russia, and are generally weapons marked as condemned by their governments and released for commercial sale. Some pro-government locals remember slightly greater commercial ship movements recently but could not recognise the flagging of the vessels and official records are unclear of origin.

The governor also presses for a police unit or two for the area to be paid for by national government, though he stresses that he thinks he has the situation under control at the moment.

OOC: based on the 1926 communist uprising in the DEI, little is varied except the greater use of weapons and hence larger casualties.


Conclusions

OOC: Sorry Canadstein, your rebellion was too quick for player reactions and relied on your local government's reactions. Fortunately the government rolled well for their ability to quell the rebellion and it turned out well.

Malkyer: I await your instructions to the governor of Burma regarding what he should do. At the moment he is just requesting the Burmese Rifles, though sensible policy based on the past would suggest moving a few units of the Indian army towards Burma in case the situation escalates. MI6 advises that the Burmese Rifles are allowed to work with local police to stop the demonstrations and arrest, try and hang Saya San for treason (they even go as far to suggest planting evidence for his arrest as happened, supposedly, in RL), though tracking him down could require more units.

Prime Minister Pieter Jelles Troelstra applauds the local government in the Dutch East Indies for crushing the communist rebellion. Prime Minister Troelstra most of all thanks the action of the recently appointed Governor-General Jonkheer Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff and gives permission to call up any reserves. Once there is enough funding Prime Minister Troelstra promises to enlarge the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. Finding out the weapons the rebels used were British and Russian, Prime Minister Troelstra demands to know if the British or Russians had any actions of getting these weapons into rebel hands and if not then find out who did. Meanwhile, the Dutch government performs their own investigations.

July 1925
The Dutch Battleship Korenaer is destroyed in Batavia harbor when its forward magazine detonates. Later investigation determines that it was a combination of an accident, tropical conditions, and a flaw in the flash protection system.

OOC
historically, several dreadnoughts and predreadnoughts were lost the way. I have been rolling every year, and this is the first accident. Which is actually better then historical

Updates

Burma

The governor of Burma receives operational command of the Burma Rifles from London, the war ministry also places the Rangoon based Gurkha Brigade and a unit of light bombers from an Indian airfield under his command. The war ministry also places a Ghurka Brigade from Calcutta and a motorised infantry division on the Indian side of the border to prevent the rebellion spreading.

The governor dispatches two brigades of the Burmese rifles to Tharrawaddy, the focal point fo the rebels, whilst keeping the other to maintain order in Rangoon and to start work on small airfields for the light bombers to use, these bomebrs will operate as reconnaisance units and in the support of any bogged down infantry actions. The Gurkhas are spread out in battalion and company level forces into the countryside to track down and arrest Saya San.

These movements take a few weeks to coordinate due to teh dense nature of Burmese jungle and poor communications there. The protests in the capital are largely contained, though deaths amongst protestors number in the dozens and the Burmese upper class is beginning to see that they could benefit from a succesful coup, though heavy patrols by the Burma Rifles discourages any insurrection in Rangoon.

Indonesia

The Militaire Inlichtingendienst (Dutch Intelligence) dispatches several operatives to Indonesia to determine the origin of the rebels weapons and to question them. It is known that a foreign government is behind the operation, but no-one seems to know which one and it is clear that they have gone to great lengths to disguise their involvement. The weapons have all had their serial numbers removed and couldhave come from any number of military depots, arms traders or even from cheap copies of weapons. Several of the British Lee Enfield rifles bear distinctive markings of illegal Kyber Pass copies made in India by small manufacturers and generally unsafe to fire, some Russian rifles also look to be of similar provenence. The ammunition is generic and could be from any number of factories, official or otherwise. The investigation continues...

Prime Minister Troelstra is saddened to hear the news of the explosion aboard the Korenaer, but he also knows this is a learning experience. An investigation on the Korenear will be carried out. He promises that the government will pay each family their son's salary for the next five years, but Prime Minister Troelstra knows that this will never bring back there sons. Starting 1926 a statue will be constructed in Batavia to honor the dead.


Prime Minister Troelstra says that the investigation into the Communist Rebellion will not be ended until all the questions have been answered. Since most of the rifles seemed to have come from the Kyber Pass, a detachment of men is sent to the region. Prime Minister Troelstra also requests that the British government have an investigation of it's own in the area around the Dutch East Indies. Governor-General Dirk de Graeff also imposes a curfew on the Dutch East Indies.

Spain also investigates the explosion, wondering how it happened and if it could perhaps happen to SPanish ships.

THe current Communist uprising allows Spain to campaign for it's Communist circle investigations, which Portugal and the former IMperium had once belonged too. THis allows for criminals not to run away to other nations for sancuatary. Spain finds the chaos a perfect way to put a stamp on "The Red Devil."