NationStates Jolt Archive


Off the Speeding Train (Attn: RGL)

Kahanistan
24-04-2008, 18:35
After the last war, which led to Kahanistan destroying most of its infrastructure to deny it to the invading Questarian Commonwealth and Doomani forces, Kahanistan had been dragged kicking and screaming under the aegis of Praetonian protection. The Praetonians were currently in the process of rebuilding the economy as they had previously done for Clandonia, another RGL member, and Kahanistan now had a military force of some five million on paper, though in reality most of them had yet to complete training. In actuality it had a force of some 40,000 veterans and 1.3 million trained enlisted soldiers who could be called upon to fight in the event of a sudden attack.

While Kahanistan had managed to secure foreign investment from several powers owing to Nationalist fears that overdependence on Praetonia would lead to Praetonian hegemony over Kahanistan, or worse, "FWS syndrome" (a political term for a small nation taking a large protector and provoking others, named for Fascist White States which had done so with Automagfreek), relations with the rest of the Royal Georgian League had mysteriously degenerated - first came the Clandonian diplomatic attacks, in which Clandonia claimed that Kahanistan was one of its protectorates, and generally regarded them as undeveloped primitives, then the Cottish biological attacks, which had led to armed clashes and very negative feelings between Kahanistan and Cotland, and the Cottish insistency on not going through Kahanistanian diplomatic channels, but instead through Praetonian channels, which, many in Kahanistan feared, would escalate gradually into cold war or even a sustained shooting conflict when the protectorate period ended or Praetonian forces were too stretched in a war to be able to protect Kahanistan.

There were three main views toward the current protectorate status in Kahanistan. The rightmost view was that it was an encroachment on their freedom to formulate foreign policy, and it made them dependent on an ally of their mortal enemy Doomingsland. Adherents to this view often claimed that the Praetonians were political whores who sold out their ideals to the Doomani, and would sell out Kahanistan if it were in Praetonia's national interest. The leftmost view, having suffered a severe blow after a massive infusion of Praetonian aid into Kahanistan's welfare and education programmes, held that Praetonia wanted to impose capitalism. The most common, and more centrist view, was that the Praetonians intended to keep their word, that as long as Kahanistan fulfilled its sole obligation under the treaty, to refrain from provoking wars, Praetonian business interests would make it profitable to protect Kahanistan rather than leave it to the dogs of war.

Kahanistanian President Nadia Sklenova pondered the recent events in her office. She had to get Kahanistan off the path of hostility and militarism, and get it off that path before it collided with the Cottish forces which were larger even than the Doomani. Trouble was, the Nationalist Party, which had control of the Senate, while it may have claimed not to want war, was not going to blithely ignore racial attacks on the people of Kahanistan (absurd on their face - modern Kahanistan was a multi-ethnic society and the mainstream had scrapped racism a long time ago as barbaric) or risk looking weak in front of hostile nations. If it came down to it, they would probably fight rather than be exploited.

Sklenova was what many Kahanistanian politicians called a delicate flower. She was the youngest leader Kahanistan had had in decades, 33 years old. By most standards, she was attractive, a slim blonde woman of medium height and in good health physically, having kept her exercise regimen from when she was in the military. She was friendly, and generally warm to new people. However, she was still emotionally weakened from her wartime experiences in Kraven - while they had given her the prestige among the Communist Party to receive their nomination for President, they had also made her less willing to face conflict and the only thing keeping her sane was the cocktail of antidepressant medication she was prescribed.

Now, she was going to try to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the Royal Georgian League - George IV, founder of the RGL, King of Praetonia and Lord Protector of Kahanistan, William VII, King of Clandonia, and Haakon VII, King of Cotland. She was very nervous about it - she was going to be the most left-leaning person there, likely the youngest, and, though it shouldn't have mattered in modern politics, the only woman. However, the meeting was, ideally, going to be held in New Masada, Kahanistan, with Kingston, Praetonia being the Plan B location if New Masada were unacceptable.

Official Statement of the Free Republic of Kahanistan

The Government of Kahanistan is most deeply concerned with the rapid collapse of its relations with Royal Georgian League states. In the interests of maintaining amicable relations with the RGL, expanding trade, enriching our culture, and enhancing our security should the current or a future war impair Praetonian military capacity to act as our protector, the Government invites the Kings of Praetonia, Clandonia, and Cotland, or such representatives as the Kings may designate, to meet with the President of Kahanistan to shape official policy between our nations.

Signed,
Nadia Sklenova,
President of Kahanistan

She sent the letter to the three kings. If all went well, the meeting would take place in five days. Assuming the meeting went well, Kahanistan could end the state of emnity it had with Cotland since it began its immigration programme, and be seen by the Clandonians as non-primitive. Sklenova did not like the Clandonian government - Kahanistan had been invaded by Whyatica and Doomingsland and driven out of their Middle Eastern home when it had inserted spies into occupied Clandonia to report on human rights abuses alleged to be committed by the Whyaticans, and the Clandonians now seemed to hate Kahanistan. If all was smoothed over, with public acceptance of the protectorate status increasing somewhat, then maybe, just maybe, Kahanistan could prevent a conflict diplomatically...
Cotland
26-04-2008, 21:12
Royal Palace, Eeobroht, Cotland
”Those communist monkeys want what now?” The King asked, somewhat amused as he looked up from the pile of paperwork lying on the large and impressive red marble desk sitting in his personal office and onto the young aide who had just delivered the message to him.

“Majesty, the Kahanistanis want a conference with Your Majesty himself, King George of Praetonia and King William of Clandonia in order to discuss the relations between Kahanistan and the League.” The aide replied, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. He had only been a member of the King’s personal staff for three weeks, and the only reason why he was the one briefing the King was because the senior aide who normally did this was on a well-deserved two week vacation.

“I see. Will George and William attend?”

“That is unknown at this time sire.” The aide replied.

“And where do they intend to host this conference?”

“Unless any objections are heard, in their capital sire. If any member of the League protest, the Kahanistanis are willing to let it be held in Kingston.”

The King looked out the window as he considered the Kahanistani request. Personally, he didn’t have much love for the Kahanistanis or their godforsaken country, and he couldn’t for the love of God understand why the Praetonians were so hell-bent on being their protectors. The cheap labor they found there could be found in a hundred other countries, if not more. Never the less, that was a Praetonian decision and not one that Cotland could do anything with unless the Realm wanted to infringe on Praetonia’s sovereignty, which it didn’t.

Sensing the King’s difficulty in deciding whether or not to go, the aide dared to make a comment, disturbing the King’s deliberations.

“Majesty, the Kahanistanis open for Your Majesty sending a representative if Your Majesty so pleases…”

The King looked up and sent the aide a look that made the young man cringe. Still, he found new respect for the young man for having the courage to give him additional information without having to be asked.

“No. If the Realm is to attend this conference, I have to go myself.” The King decided. “Send a message to King George and King William through our embassies there. Find out if they’re going to attend. If so, I shall attend as well. If not, then neither shall Cotland. Understood?”

“Yes Majesty.”

“Good. You can go.”

The aide bowed deeply as he walked backwards out of the office, never turning his back on the King. Doing so was a sign of disrespect as well as a very bad career move.

A few hours later, discreet inquiries were sent from the Cottish Court via Cotland’s embassies in Kingston and Warminster to the Chiefs of Staff at the Praetonian and Clandonian Courts, respectively. The inquiries simply asked whether or not the respective head of state was to attend the conference the Kahanistanis had requested, and if so whether or not the Sovereign was to go himself or send a representative.