NationStates Jolt Archive

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This thread is for all interviews with The Herald newspaper. The first interview is with Questers's Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Winston Foxbury, MP. If you would like one of your characters interviewed by The Herald then feel free to post here OOC or (better) TG me with a request.

Background Information

The Herald is one of Praetonia's leading daily broadsheets, with an average circulation of over 98 million in the Crown Commonwealth alone. The paper sells abroad anywhere it is allowed and there is a market demand for it, and it operates an advertisment-funded website which can be accessed anywhere in the world.

Politically, The Herald supported the governing Liberal-Tory Party at the last election, and is generally supportive of them. As such, The Herald supports free trade market liberalism, as well as civil liberalism with regards to issues such as freedom of speech, identity cards and gay marriage. The Herald could be described as 'centre right' relative to other Praetonian newspapers, and is considered mainstream.

The Herald is privately owned by Herald Media & News plc., an ICI-1200 listed company.

Interview List

The Rt. Hon. Winston Foxbury, MP (Questers) - Current
King Alexander of Skinny87 (Skinny87) - Queued
Business Minister Vas Aderon (Yafor 2) - Queued
Imperator Maximus III of Doomingsland (Doomingsland) - Queued
Emperor Paulus of Whyatica - Queued
Sacred Emperor Lucifer I of The Warmaster (The Warmaster) - Queued

George Buckley placed his small voice recorder down on the table. He fumbled with the miniature buttons on its side for a few seconds, and then sat back in his chair. He looked across at the Questerian Prime Minister - easily the most important man he had ever interviewed.

"Mr Foxbury, welcome to Kingston. Before we begin, I would like to thank you for agreeing to be interviewed today.

"Now, the most important issue on our readers' lips right now is the current Freek-Doomani War. It's certainly raised a number of problems with at least one country leaving the Sovereign League over some countries' support for Doomingsland. How does your government view the situation, and what would you say most Questerians think about it all?"

"Thanks Mister Buckley. Of course, yes, the Freek-Doomani war is the hottest issue today. H.M Government is extremely interested in promoting a Doomani victory here - of course, we think it will happen anyway, but we could be cooperating with the Doomanis in some areas. Quite frankly, I think - well, I mean, I'm not supporting slavery - but I think, no, well, I know that if the Freeks poke their noses where they're not wanted they'll get a bloody nose. I mean, Questers isn't a slaving nation. But we have our laws on convicts, I'm sure you know - and thats something the people support, and something I support, the law is there for a reason.

You might have heard Questarian ships now travel in convoy. Thats because the Gholgoth Bloc is poking its nose where its not wanted. Of course, I know - you know - Praetonians and Questarians know, that we're not intimidated by the Freeks, or any of their client states, or "allies.""

Foxbury sniggered.

"But we're doing this for safety, for our ships, that carry our convicts. Again, by our constitution, our ships are bound to be free to carry whatever they're chartered to - if another nation is chartering slaves on our ships, well thats not my business. I probably wouldn't know about it anyway!"

He paused.

"And most Questarians, well, it depends where you are. In the South, or so i've seen an heard, there is protest. I know I'm not liked in the South, but they're supporting our decision to stand up to AMF - and they're supporting Doomingsland too. I believe some of them have already gone over to fight. I think most people want to see the Doomanis throw the Freeks into the sea and then some. Its about time too."

"As I'm sure you already know, the Praetonian government has expressed skepticism about the true motives for Automagfreek's actions - why they are attacking Doomingsland rather than the Slave Trade Union and why they are doing this now rather than, say, a year ago.

"It's a fairly common opinion here that Automagfreek has deliberately induced this situation in order to justify attacking a geopolitical rival. Would you say that there is any weight to this, or is it mere cynicism, as others have suggested?"

"Well, yes, I think it holds substance. If they wanted to annihalate a geopolitical enemy, they'd have gone after Praetonia and Questers. Of course, Dreadfire knows we'd give them a jolly good hiding - he also knows he'd be surrounded by enemies if he attacked states like ours for no reason. So he went after Doomingsland instead - I mean, noone likes Doomingsland, right? Apart from they actually do, which is a pretty bad situation for Dreadfire. Now, of course, he might actually be trying to cut the head off the snake, if you get my meaning. Doomingsland is the most powerful slaving state, after all, and Dreadfire knows he'd get blasted politically if he went after the weaker Slave Union states.

So I think its a mix. He wants to take out Doomingsland because he'd be supported for attacking a state as disliked as theirs, and its a good coincidence the Doomanis are leading slavers."

"How would you respond to critics of your government's policy on Doomingsland? Ollieland, for instance, has resigned from the Sovereign League allegedly due to some members' support for Doomingsland. Do you think there is a major contradiction between your support for Doomingsland your liberalism?"