Gran Colombia, H1/08

[Walter]

Japan thinks that Samoa could be used as regional headquarters and administrative center of the Green Cross (Green Cross South Pacific Region). However, the main headquarters and world administrative center of the Green Cross should be in either Dublin or Brussels.

[The Rock Doctor]

I didn't anticipate that line of conversation...

Gran Colombia would not object to the Green Cross establishing a base of operations on Tutuila, but notes the concerns raised by several other nations on the matter. 

In response to the Hapsburger inquiry, it is noted that most Gran Colombian ports are closed to either the Alliance or the Swiss.  If the Hapsburgers (or any other belligerants) wish to participate in the venture, they can do so - but they will not have access to the facilities while they remain belligerants in the current war.

In response to the Rohirrim observation, it is true that belligerent shipping making use of the port may be at risk of raiders in the vicinity.  The port is more likely to be of use to neutral ships making trips between neutral destinations; these are ships which belligerent raiders should not be harassing.  Pago Pago can also serve as a convoy waypoint if neutrals were to implement such a system.

Besides - a belligerent causing too much mischief in the vicinity of Gran Colombian waters may prompt Gran Colombian measures aimed at discouraging such acts.

[miketr]

Since the Treaty of Manila 1908 was signed the Island of Yap and its port of Colonia (Tamil Harbour a level zero base) is also available to neutral shipping.

As to the Gran Colombia suggestion Iberia is not able at this time to provide anything other than diplomatic support to such an idea.


Iberia

[swamphen]

The DKB welcomes the Colombian initiave; of course unfortunatly the Reich will not be participating both due to its belligerant status and the presence of Deutsch Samoa next door...

We also join the general chorus of head-scratching over the French suggestion.

[The Rock Doctor]

If any nations are, in fact, planning to contribute $ or BP, kindly let me know when (H2/08, or in '09) so I can reflect it in my planning. 

[The Rock Doctor]

30 June 1908:  Cartagena

"This will be our last meeting before I head out for Europe", President Rey Alizandro said.  "Minister Alizandro will have the usual travel-related signing authorities, with matters of national interest to be directed my way via the appropriate cable.  You all have a copy of my itinerary." 

The other ministers nodded.

"So, let's do the round table first, as Sebastien and Aquileo have some appointments in an hour.  Let's begin with the overseas territories."

Sebastien de Soto spoke:  "In Coquimbo, my ministry is poised to begin a year's worth of upgrades to the copper mining industry.  We'll be upgrading the smelter, undertaking some intensive mine-site exploration, and modernizing their equipment in general.  The total cost of the project will be about seventy-five million Bolivars.  Our investment will take about thirty years to be paid back in taxes, but in the meantime, the local economy and workforce will be doing quite well, and we can expect the usual one to one ratio of new service-sector jobs being created alongside the new mining jobs."

"What're copper prices like, these days?", Ricardo Alizandro asked.

"On a slight up-tick.  Mainly speculation that the DKB can't protect shipments coming out of Africa."  Nods of agreement met that remark. 

"Will the smelter still be importing coal from the Heartland?", asked Rey.

"Actually, no.  The Hapburger consul in Valparaiso put the mining company in touch with a coal mining outfit down by Punta Arenas.  It's a much shorter shipping route, the quality is adequate, and the locals were willing to make a good deal - our canal's taken a toll on their business."

The President nodded.  "Sounds good to me.  The Pacific?"

De Soto continued.  "In Polynesia, we've had considerable public discussion about the proposed port in Pago Pago, but little in the way of solid commitments.  I'm proposing to limit ourselves to a basic port, with further expansion in two or three years."

"What about the Green Cross?", Rey inquired.

"I haven't heard what their final decision is, but we'll need to inform them if we are backing away from the larger port for now.  It may affect their decision to invest."

"Mmm", Rey muttered.  "War news?"

"A bit of sad news to start with", Ricardo began.  "Admiral Ruiz suffered a serious stroke two days ago and is now in hospital.  His prognosis is not good, and it is probable that Vice-Admiral de Irujo's stint as Admiral of the Navy will not be a temporary one."

"I'm sorry to hear that", Rey replied.  "Admiral Ruiz has served the Republic well.   Make sure that his family is taken care of."

"They will be", Ricardo confirmed. 

After a few seconds of silence, Benicio Delgado spoke up.  "In terms of the War of the Pacific, the two sides continue to be at each other's throats.  The Allies have landed, or are reported to have landed, at Tasmania, New Amsterdam, the Aleutians, and Saipan.  Hainan and Formosa appear to have already fallen. 

"On the other hand, the Swiss have put together a mild winning streak at sea, inflicting serious losses on the DKB in particular - perhaps singling them out with the intention of eliminating the Brandenburgers as a threat.  They are continuing to engage in commerce warfare on the high seas, and are having some effect.  I hear that rubber prices are spiking today, which coincides with Swiss reports of a DKB convoy being destroyed.  Also of interest is some uncollaborated information I've received, to the effect that Swiss raiders and UNK warships have tangled at least once in the past few months."

"Another country moving away from neutrality", Rey muttered.

"Not just the Normans", Eduard Torres commented.  "France has been actively hunting Swiss raiders, and the Confederates are poised to institute their own response to Swiss activities as soon as tomorrow.  My sources, and those of Senor Delgado, indicate that Orange is contemplating how to take advantage of the DKB's predicament."

"Not our concern.  What about the Iberian/Dutch confrontation...?", Rey noted.

"It has not happened, but the Iberian neutrality protocols single out the Dutch for stricter measures", Torres replied.  "I would say their relationship is strained, but civil."

"That's a relief.  Getting back to the mention about rubber:  obviously the Brandenburgers will be hurting, but how are our warehouse inventories?", Rey asked.

"I'm hoping to have an updated figure this afternoon", Jorge Escalante replied.  "If our levels are strong, do we want to consider putting some on the market to take advantage of the spike in price?"

"We can consider that", Rey agreed.   "How is the contigency planning going along?"

Ricardo answered, "The basic plans are in place, and we're updating every week as news trickles in."

"What are these plans, exactly?", asked Minister Escalante.

"Essentially a continuation of our old 'Front Porch' policy", Ricardo said.  "Contingency planning for intervention around, or occupation of, belligerent territories in our sphere of interest.  Basically to keep each belligerent's presence in the region from expanding, and to reduce, if possible, the overall foreign influence in the region."

"This supports our diplomatic activity", Eduard Torres continued.  "Some of our territorial acquisitions in the past year have been as much about removing foreign influences in our sphere of interest as they have about gaining something useful in return." 

Escalante looked back and forth between his two colleagues.  "So...just how grandiose are these plans?  Are we talking about atolls and so forth?"

"I think the most complex plan covers Hawaii", Ricardo replied.  "Although the combined Parana/Porto Alegre operation would be fairly elaborate as well."

"And what exactly would trigger these plans?", asked Sebastien de Soto.

"If the territory was cause for, or the supporting base of, military activities that threatened our miiltary and civilian interests.  If the owner suffers a catastrophic defeat or collapse that prompts its enemies or third parties to consider a 'land grab'", Ricardo replied.  "That kind of thing."

"Ah", de Soto said.  "Very well.  So - before I go - let me update you on the petroleum discovery at Maracaibo..."



Edit:  Expanded on Coquimbo a bit...

[Borys]

June 1908 Cartagena

The Habsburg Ambassador offers 6$ and 1BP towards the construction of the port at Pago-Pago.  The Habsburg Gov't understands that A-H shipping vessels would not benefit from the safe haven while A-H remains a belligerent in the current Pacific War.

[The Rock Doctor]

Gran Colombia accepts this offer, and asks that Vienna indicate when it would be able to deliver this contribution (sometime in 1909 being the expected answer).

[Borys]

The Habsburg diplomat smiled and replied - would the 3rd quarter of 1908 be acceptable to the Gov't of the His Excelency the Hereditary President?

[The Rock Doctor]

"Naturally", the Gran Colombian diplomat replied without hesitation.  "We simply didn't wish to impose upon you during the current conflict."

[Borys]

"Settled then" - beamed the European - "Some things have to be done, war or no war."

[The Rock Doctor]

Spring, 1908

Outside Haikou, Hainan

"How are you this morning, my son?", Padre Batista asked.

"I think I'll live, Father", the Hainanese replied.  He wasn't being facetious in saying so, having spent the last four days half-delirious with a serious fever.

"It seems that way", Batista agreed.  "Your wife and two children have been by daily to visit.  They will be pleased to see your condition today."

"Two children?", the man asked hesitantly.

"Yes, my son."

The patient bit his lip.  "I have three children, Padre."

Batista placed his calloused hand upon the man's shoulder.  "You do, my son, but one is with the Lord at this time."

The Hainanese broke down, wept for a few minutes.  Batista remained with him, silent.  Finally, the other man asked, in a trembling voice, "Padre...what am I to do?  My home is destroyed.  My workplace is destroyed.  My government overthrown.  My child is...what am I to do?"

The missionary said, "My son, there is a Gran Colombian hospital ship sailing tomorrow for home.  I can see if there is room for your family."

Tuvalu, New Switzerland

"What, you mean go to Gran Colombia?", the Polynesian asked, startled at the thought.

"That's what I mean", the deckhand replied, as the two men smoked on the pier beside the Gran Colombian-registered tramp freighter.

"I can't live in a city.  I'd go crazy", the Polynesian replied.

The deckhand snorted out smoke.  "It's not one big city, Rosey.  Yeah, the coast is pretty built up, but there's all sorts of jungle and rain forest down south.  Last I heard, they were giving it away to anybody who'd settle there."

The Polynesian looked skeptical. 

"Oh, fer f**k's sake, Rosey, forget the mainland then.  Just head over to Tutuila; we bought the place a few weeks back from the Japs.  Scuttlebutt is that we're building a big-ass port there.  Guys like you would have a job easy.  Just aren't enough locals to fill all the jobs, you know."

"I could handle that", Rosey agreed.  "I'd be amongst kinfolk there."

Lae, Paderborn-Delbruck

"Absolutely", Senor Gomez agreed.  "Valparaiso's probably a quarter German.  You'd be right at home."

"Perhaps, but uprooting my family is one thing - selling my prospects is another", Herr Goebbels noted.  "The mining sector isn't exactly booming here just now."

"Well, no, of course not.  For all you know, that silver showing we toured last year is still behind Swiss lines."

"It is hard to mine when your mine is mined", Goebbels said glumly. 

"So don't sell the mine or the prospects", Gomez suggested.  "No need.  You've got capital, and you've got experts.  Move your entire operation over to Coquimbo."

"Are you serious?", Goebbels exclaimed.

"Hans - in case you haven't been reading the Southern Miner, the government's investing seventy-five million Bolivars into the copper camp there.  It's the next big thing.  Could even top Zambia if the tensions between you guys and Orange scare away investors from thereabouts."

"The Coquimbans will have experts - geologists and prospectors like us."

"Their sector's been in the dumps for a decade.  How many are still practicing?  It's the land of opportunity, Hans.  No bloody stupid wars.  Free enterprise.  Government investment in science and infrastructure.  Do I have to buy you a ticket?"

Taipei, Formosa

"I can't buy anything.  I've got absolutely nothing of value left, and only accept charity for the sake of survival", the Formosan butcher noted.  "It will making rebuilding a challenge."

"I know.  You've told me this every day for a week", the Green Cross worker said, doling out a cup of gruel. "But like it or not, the Swiss and Chinese have trashed this whole island.  The food rationing's going to continue - probably for years.  You used to stock the best pork and chicken - well, Lo, people are happy to catch rats these days.  How're you going to rebuild your store when you're not going to have any stock?

"I will find a way", the Formosan replied.  "There is always a way."

"Yeah, there is.  Here's one:  apply for refugee status at the Gran Colombian consulate.  It's still standing.  Mostly."

The Formosan eyed the aid worker.  "And why would they let me in?"

"Lo, they can be a snotty bunch at times, but believe me when I say this:  there's nothing they respect more than work ethic, and you've got that in spades.  Doesn't matter where you come from, doesn't matter what you look like.  If you're willing to work, there's a place for you.  Go have a chat with Abraham over there; he knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a Hapsburger Jew who found oil over in Colombia a few months back.  The man is rolling in cash."

"That's nice...but I'm a butcher", the Formosan pointed out.

"Yes, you are, and a damned good one.  So let me vouch for you, move over to wherever this oil discovery is, get a job with somebody, and in a couple years, you'll be selling prime rib and those little tiny fancy meat birds to these oil men for more money than you can imagine.  Do I have to draw a picture for you?"

"No", the Formosan replied.  "I know how to get to the consulate.  I'll go over tomorrow."

[Walter]

Looks like someone is trying to boost his population. :D

For some reason, I see Padre Batista as a person who uses his muscles now and then in order to show people the Way of God. :)

[The Rock Doctor]

Boost my population?  Me?

For some reason, I see Padre Batista as a person who uses his muscles now and then in order to show people the Way of God.

...and his shotgun and machete.

Padre Batista was told, a few years back, and I quote:  "You have a reputation as the baddest son of a bitch in a collar that's ever been seen."

[Borys]

OOC
Ahoj!
Is the Blasphemer still alive, or was his Pennance dealt out immediately?
Borys