Iberian News 1914 - Onwards

[Tanthalas]

Me thinks that the NS ships at sea wouldnt be able to avoid seeing the total lack of Iberian ships at sea in the eastern Pacific... or maybee our famous spy network noticed them departing from Manila (either way this calls for a Briefing) ^.^

[miketr]

Not total lack just cut in half.

Michael

[miketr]

Annoucement of Iberian Government

There have been many rumors circulating to the effect that Iberia is going to attack New Zion.  Two years ago the Pope was killed in Rome and a number of leaders including the Iberian Emperor, his son the crown prince, the Emperor of Austria and the Italian Emperor were all in attendance at a special Papal Mass.  The Italian Security forces have been hard at work attempting to track down the party responsible for the heinous murder of the Holy Father.  In early December the Emperor received a personal letter from the Italian Emperor explaining the final conclusions of the investigation. 

In brief Italy believes the murder of the Pope was in fact a case of a botched assassination of the Italian Emperor.  The party the Italian Government holds responsible is the government of New Zion as part of a plot to seize the Italia Colony of Burundi.

The murder of the Pope is a loss to all Christendom and an affront to all true Christians.  At the same time while the evidence is damming vs. New Zion and the Iberian Government has no reason to doubt the word of the Italian Government the evidence is not absolutely damming.

The Iberian government doesn't believe that a Casus Belli exists over this matter between the Empire of Iberia and the Kingdom of New Zion.  Still the Empire of Iberia cannot and will not maintain diplomatic relations with a nation that engages in the attempted murder of a head of state.  As such the severing of diplomatic relations between Iberia and New Zion is final. 

However the Italian Empire chooses to deal with the matter is one internal to Italy. The Iberian Navy has been dispatched to the Indian Ocean to see to the protection of Iberian interests and the well being of Iberian subjects. 

Prime Minister of Iberia, Don Felipe González y Márquez

[P3D]

Herr Kranitz (Industrial and Mining Equipment Import-Export Company, Durban) was spotted in Madrid, no doubt trying to straighten out some misunderstanding with the Orange-Iberian sub deal. In January he was seen to board the express train to Berlin in Gare de L'Est, Paris.

[miketr]

Gibralter lease to Russia to end

The Russian Government has decided to end its 30 year lease early and will return "the Rock" to Iberian Control this year.

War in Africa Over?

Following a naval battle vs. Orange and New Zion the Italian Government has asked for a cease fire.

Pirate Warship spotted off New Zion

The famous raider T.A.G. has been spotted off the coast of New Zion.

Italy bashes Orange with paid ad

The following ad has been paid for by the Italian Government.

The Empire of Italia does not usually fight its battles in the Court of Public Opinion but as some nations have impinged the Honor of the Empire we will respond by providing some facts to interested readers.

The Republic of Orange despite its claims to the contrary is a Slave holding state.  To support these claims the Empire of Italia will provide referenced sections of the relevant Legal Code of the Republic of Orange.  Before the Citizens of any country support a position that supports the Republic of Orange the Empire of Italia feels that they should have all the facts and to decide for themselves if they would choose to live under the authority of such a government.
http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=626.0

The reader should note that the Word Slave only appears once in the legal documents referenced and then only to deny that they exist.  But if the reader compares the legal rights of those persons to those of a Slave in the period where they were legal in more of the world I think the readers will find that slavery does still exists in the "Civilized World".
We will start with the section detailing the rights of the Native Population:

Natives ("Kaffirs" or "Blacks")
The black primitive masses originally inhabiting the continent. But the tribes were chased away from the better lands, forcing them to live on marginal farmlands. They provide the bulk of the cheap workforce in the mines and agriculture. Laws restrict their employment in the industry, and they cannot live permanently in white settlements. There are strictly enforced segregation laws to avoid unnecessary intermingling of the white and black population. Few lucky ones are able to work in the white towns - for a maximum of three months a year. They are not slaves legally, but they have limited rights and even that is often ignored. Moreover, when black people stay in "white" areas, they must belong to a white (not colored) person who is not only responsible for them, but also have almost unlimited power over them - this is often translated as slavery by ignorant foreigners.

The Republic of Orange claims it pays all its workers, but if it only pays them enough for subsistence living in abject poverty subject to the order of and I quote here "White (Not Colored) person then if this is not Slavery what is?

Next we will cover the section on the so called Brown People:

Colored ("Kleurlinge"): a mixed group of neither-white-nor-black part of the population, mulattos, people from India and native Khoisans - who has lighter skin than bantu tribes. They are subject to negative discrimination, but their rights are much closer to whites. For example, there are already a limited number of colored officers both in the Army and the Navy, and they can marry white people. They make up a significant part of the urban poor, as blacks are prohibited to stay any extended period id the city. Negative discrimination makes it harder for them to rise up, but there are examples of successful entrepreneurs, engineers and doctors who rose from their ranks.
Although they are considered 'genetically' (no one use this exact word) than whites, their white ancestry is held to allow them to rise up by their own talents. Their political power, mainly to their diversity and low number of colored who are wealthy and educated enough to be enfranchised - thus eligible to vote.

It appears that Brown people are allowed a bit more latitude within the Republic of Orange but are still not afforded the full protection of the Law.  They make up a significant portion of the Urban Poor because the White persons of the Republic of Orange appear to allow them to live in the cities full time.   

So this is the nation that people see as the champion of the Poor Zionite Nation in East Africa.  The Empire of Italia does not ask for your support it simply asks you to think what does the Republic of Orange hope to gain in New Zion a huge nation containing a very large number of "Kaffirs and Kleurlinge".  Perhaps they intend to sell them off as a work force as they did with most of the Zulu Nation of Africa?

[miketr]

Prize Liners leave Atlantic Run

SS España and SS Brasil have been pulled from their normal Altlantic run.  Tickets have been canceled or offered to be converted to one of the slower and smaller liners of the line.  It is rummored that a member of the French Diplomatic mission left the offices of Línea Ibérica Real the day before the annoucement.   

[miketr]

Offices of Banco Imperial de Madrid

"Director we are getting word that there is going to be a major shake up in Brazil."

The bank director looked up for the monthly report and looked at the head of South American Operations.  "What type of shake up Jorge?"

"One of the industrial groups there is looking to expand in a major move."

The director raised his eye brow, "Not the rolling mills? They are already expanding I thought."

"No director not steel production."

"How much are we talking about here Jorge?"

The other banker paused before he spoke, "At least $75 million Peseta's perhaps even more and it's not expansion but an acquisition."

The director blinked at that statement, "Not expansion?  Any more details at all?"

"Not as yet director this is preliminary right now."

The director leaned back in his chair, "I see Jorge.  Very well let's forward with it and get some more details ASAP."

"Of course director."

[miketr]

1915 Election Primer

Parties of the Left

Partido dos Trabalhadores e dos Camponeses, PTC: A hard left party of Brazil with strong communist overtones.  Last election saw the PTC ejected from control of the Brazilian Provincial Parliament and combined with voting splitting between it and the PSOI saw a far weaker result than was hopped for.  The PTC leadership intends to retake control of Rio de Janeiro and defeat interlopers from the PSOI.

Partido Socialista Obrero Iberia, PSOI: One of the oldest parties from the old Kingdom of Spain.  Founded in 1879 as the Partido Socialista Obrero Español.  The PSOI faced an unexpected bruising fight with the Brazilian based PTC instead of a hoped for alliance.  In the years since relations between the two socialist parties have continued to worsen.  The PSOI will directly challenge the PTC from the start across all of Iberia.

Partido Comunista de Ibéria, PCI: An umbrella for the various communist organizations that wants a communist state across all of Iberia.  As become the pattern it is expected that the Emperor will ban the party from the polls and the communist will attempt to disrupt the elections.  The expected result being to give an excuse for the PNS to continue to use heavy handed methods to keep control of Portugal.

Center Parties

Unión de Centro Democrático, UCD: With little ideology and a few votes last election saw a crushing defeat in the 1910 polls.  Matters haven't much improved and a number of defections have occurred to the CCA.  Few expect much of the UCD this year.

Confederación de Cristiano Autónomas, CCA: The largest party in Iberia a coalition of various small Christian parties united in 1910 and then catapulted to leadership in the Cortes and two thirds of the provincial parliaments.  The CCA is working to expand its already strong power base.  A number of veterans of the Balkan War are running for office. 

Parties of the Right

Partido Ibéria, PI: The former Carlist Party is attempting unseat the PNS as the lead conservative party of Iberia.  The PI is attempting to sow decent by focusing on the "corruption" of the PNS.

Partido Nacional-Sindicalista, PNS: The Blue Army of Iberia is currently the second strongest political party and has achieved what is hoped to be a major political coup as the UDCyL has agreed to merge with the PNS.  To the left the party is a collection of rich strongmen that hire goons to break up political activity by the workers and farmers.  The PNS will continue to focus on nationalist rallies and since the Balkan War the PNS has added Muslims to Communists as natural enemies of Iberia.  The PNS has coasted to victory in the provincial elections of Portugal in 1907 and 1910.  That the PNS has a habit of using their status as auxiliary police in Portugal to round up communists and anyone else that gets in their way no doubt has played a roll. With the addition of the UDCyL the PNS hopes to achieve victory across Iberia.

Other Parties

Partido Autónomas, PA: An umbrella organization for the various regional autonomy and anti federal power parties and organizations.   Won control of the Philippines provincial parliament in the 1910 election and looks to expand on that victory.  The PA looks to broaden its apply by focusing on Regional Rights vs. the central government in Madrid.

Partido de Pilipinas Autónomas, PPA: A party that advocates independence for the Philippines but was banned last election has been weakened by the rise of the PA and its control of the Philippines Provincial Parliament.  As a result the PPA's rhetoric has turned even more incendiary and the Emperor has already banned the PPA for the 1915 elections.

Defunct Parties
Unió Democràtica de Castilla y León, UDCyL: A right wing party regional party focused on the Spanish Successor kingdom that was created following the civil war.  While rabidly anti communist and pro church it is also if not anti Monarchist anti Carlist.  Supporters of the pragmatic succession tradition for the Spanish / Iberian crown.  The party's goal is to take control of Spanish regional parliament.  Has agreed to merge with the PNS.

1910 Election Results

........Canarias..Brazil..Philippines..Portugal...Puerto Rico..Spain......National Total   
PTC.....0.........8.......1............1..........0............4..........14
PSOI....0.........4.......3............1..........0............8..........16
PCI.....B.........B.......B............B..........B............B..........BANNED
UCD.....0.........4.......0............0..........0............5..........9
CCA.....1.........12......2............2..........2............10.........29
PI......0.........4.......3............1..........0............8..........16
PNS.....0.........8.......1............7..........0............2..........18
PA......0.........0.......4............0..........0............1..........5
PPA.....B.........B.......B............B..........B............B..........BANNED
UDCyL...0.........0.......0............0..........0............2..........2


Seats in Parliment
Prov T..1.........40......14...........12.........2............40.0.......108
   


Party...Seats.Provincial Parliments major party
CCA.....29....Canarias, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain
PNS.....18....Portugal
PI......16....
PSOI....16....
PTC.....14....
UCD.....9.....
PA......5.....Philippines
UDCyL...2.....
PCI.....BANNED
PPA.....BANNED

[The Rock Doctor]

Election fever looms again...

[Kaiser Kirk]

Bavaria would favor the CCA, the CCA won, all is rosy

[miketr]

An Estate outside of Madrid
Don Roberto
Don Carlos
General Manuel (ret.)

Roberto – "Why should we care if the Castilian's joined the Blue coats?  So we see some street entertainment as they class with the unions and some lazy drones.  The bull fights have been boring of late."

Carlos – "While the UDCyL was no friend of the communists they were also not friends of the Carlists.  Recall that they were supporters of the pragmatic succession tradition for the crown in the Spanish Kingdom."

Roberto- "They kissed Emperor Carlos' ring once he took the crown and re-unified the nation."

Carlos- "What choice did they have?"

A nod from Roberto and a thoughtful look at the other man present who despite his current dress was clearly a military man... if a retired one.

Roberto- "General what do you make of the latest turn of events."

General Manuel- "I don't much care for the Blue Coat's pretentions.  If all it took to make a soldier was to march in a straight line Spain would have ruled the world long ago.  Still they have numbers and a number of former soldiers are in their organization." The general paused with a harsh smile spreading across the rugged face.  "Mostly noble and or rich fools that I was able to drum out of the service or at least stall their advancement enough to get them to retire, but they do have a few competent men."

Carlos merely nodded but Roberto looked alarmed.

Roberto- "You don't suggest that they might attempt a coup or revolt General?"

General Manuel- "I very much doubt it but they have made clear their first loyalty is to Iberia or at least their vision of it and the monarchy is much lower on their list of loyalties."

Roberto- "What will they do if they win here in Spain let alone the Empire at large?"

Carlos- "Press for the setup they have in Portugal of course but so far that hasn't happened in Brazil let alone here."

Roberto- "Still they could expand and they manage to out poll the CCA..."

The General sorted by Carlos responded – "The good thing is the socialists will not work with them at all, either of the two parties.  That would leave us and the other center party assuming they get themselves organized at all that is."

Roberto- "Our leadership in Brazil refused to work with them after the 1910 elections because of their demands.  So no one would join with them in a government then.  So it would fall to us or your people to form a government then Carlos."

General Manuel, "That will work this year certainly but once it is clear that no one will work with them they might change tactics.  They are pig headed thugs but not stupid."

Roberto- "Yes I can see that but we will have to deal with whatever that change is when it occurs.  Thank you General and Carlos I will talk to my fellows.  For now though the Partido Nacional-Sindicalista is to be frozen out."

[miketr]

July News

With reports received of a strange warship in the Straits of Gibralter 5th cruiser squadron and 2nd Torpedo Boat Destroyer Division leaves Cartagena to be begin a sweap of Western Mediterranean; nothing is found.

October News

With word of disturbances received in Bharat and the peace apparently holding in the East Africa conflict the 8th Cruiser Squadron made up of HIIMS Apra and HIIMS Colonia is ordered to Bombay to recover any Iberian Civilians wishing to be removed.
   

[miketr]

Backroom of a Union Hall in the industrial district of Rio de Janeiro

Ricardo - Partido Socialista Obrero Iberia
Felipe - Partido dos Trabalhadores e dos Camponeses
Estefan - Partido Comunista de Ibéria

"So Ricardo your still people aren't going to own up break the deal back in 1910." Said the delegate of the Brazilian Socialists to the Spanish Socialist fresh in from Madrid.

The experienced political organizer gave the Brazilian a measuring glance up and down before he spoke, "Felipe I don't know what happened five years ago.  All I know is the order didn't come from..."

"Blah, blah, blah..." interrupted Felipe, "More of the same bullshit in other words why did you even bother to waste your time in coming over here if you had nothing new to say?'

Suppressing the strong urge to pummel the face of the Brazilian sitting across from him Ricardo started to speak again, "I was going to say 'the order didn't come from us.' But that doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter!?!"

The Spaniard pressed on, "That's right it doesn't matter.  What does matter is this battle isn't going to help either of the socialist parties or the workers and it will be years before one of us comes out on top of the other."

Speaking for first time the third person present spoke up, "Exactly comrades only the Capitalists, Monarchists and their lackeys gain because of our divisions.  If the revolution is to be restored we need to work together."

The Brazilian gave a slight nod at Estefan's statement while Ricardo said nothing.

"Till the people's political conciseness is brought back to a sufficient level we will not be able to sweep away the restored Ancien Régime and bring back the glory that was the people's revolution." Said the little would be revolutionary.

Ricardo suppressed the urge to pound the communists, the world was filled with lots of foolish people and none were more foolish than the deranged communists with their pipe dreams of a new red revolution.  Ricardo recalled the bitter fighting and chaos that resulted from that back home and had no wish to go through that again and more importantly neither did the rest of Iberia.  Still if he could put up with the Brazilian he could put up with the RED; forcing a smile on his face Ricardo said, "Yes a first step to that is for us to put aside the mistakes of the past so we move forward... Together."

"That would be nice if we... if we could trust you which you and those that came before have given us no reason to do so."  Said the Brazilian in a flat voice filled with venom.

At last letting out a sigh Ricardo then asked, "So you want the CCA, Conservatives and or the Blue Coats to remain on top?"

"They will misstep and then our time will come." Answered the Brazilian.

Standing up dramatically and then pounding the table the revolutionary exclaimed, "Exactly comrades the day will come when its time to once more man the barricades and then we can shot all the oppressors, starting with the capitalists and the priests."

Shaking his head at this point Ricardo stated, "That day is going to be a long time coming, a very long time coming unless we can work together.  The Blue Coats are expanding and the CCA is showing no signs of weakness.  While we are wasting our strength on socialist infighting."

"Yes our Eastern Comrade is correct our true enemies are the fat cats.  We need to work together but not to win ballets.  That just means we are working within the oppressors system, one that is fixed against us we should take to the streets, if your people would join the Comunista in raising the Red Flag we could sweep them all away tomorrow."

The Brazilian started to say something but before he could get anything out Ricardo said, "I am sharing a room with a pair of lunatics; hell is going to freeze over before we would have chance of armed revolt.  Besides it being treason and getting us shot all it would do is increase the popularity of the Portuguese Fascists."

"Its only treason to work against ones class... COMARADE.  Which also has it own price." Said the revolutionary in a deadly tone.

With an equally deadly tone Ricardo responded with, "Are you actually threatening me?" *LAUGH* "All your people have managed to do is get yourselves locked up for the last ten years and print bombastic posters.  Fine live in your fantasy world; I am on the next boat back to Europe."

As Ricardo left the room the other two spoke quietly to each other.

[miketr]

Iberian Chagos

A recently erected 500 foot tall tower on the island received a message from near by Neue Heligoland.  It was quickly decoded then the stations 500 kW radio was set to its highest wavelength and the message was resent. 

Off the Horn of Africa "Pizarro" received the message.  Vice-Almirante Juan de Balmaseda informed his second in command on Cristóbal Colón that he was now in command of the task force.  Then Pizarro and her sister ship "Balboa" turned east and began the 1,600 mile voyage towards Bombay and would arrive in just under 5 days; the 26th.

The next day the station on transmitted another message inquiring of Iberian shipping in the Indian Ocean to report their location and cargo.

[miketr]

Palace in Madrid
Meeting of Council of State
November 20th, 1915

Emperor, HIRH Jamie
Prime Minister of Iberia, Don Felipe González y Márquez
Foreign Minister, Diogo Freitas do Amaral
Finance Minister, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Head of the Army, General de Ejército Julio Macías y Santander
Head of the Navy, Almirante Antonio Bermejo

"Admiral what the hell is going on over there?" The Emperor with a look of pure confusing asked the chief of his navy.

The Iberian fleet commander handed over the photo's to the emperor and then answered, "These came back on the Colonia, they were taken by the Bombay police and combined with what the police chief told us paints a very ugly picture."

The emperor a man who had scene combat himself during the civil war looked at several of the photo's with clear disgust on his face and then closed the folder and handed it to others to look at.  The civilians present were sickened and da Silva in particular looked like he was about to become ill.  General Santander looked over the pictures and shook his head, "This is more gruesome than incidents I saw in the Balkan Wars or reports on what went on in Greece.  What the Greeks did when they would go into a Muslim quarter or vice versa; sometimes they would take their time with their victims...  Did they really cut the hearts out of people Admiral and what did they do to their faces?"

The admiral looked at the report in front of him again, "Just the priests it seams but all the victims it appears were missing their eyes.  The defector believes it was some type of pagan sacrifice to some local goddess called Kaaly no... Kali.  The former police chief himself is unsure as this appears to have been the work of what he called a cult and this was way out of their normal pattern of operation."

The Prime Minister shook his head, "What can you tell us about these Thuggee I believe you said they are called?"

The Admiral nodded, "That's correct a type of local bandit we have been informed but they have this Kali as their patron goddess.  When they kill they are noted for the use of pick axes and for strangling; also for their brutality and ruthlessness.  The police chief... Kumar said that the Thuggee are involved with a great deal of crime in Bharat and neighboring areas but their normal motivation he said is monetary."

The emperor leaned back in his chair, "Do Amaral what else can you tell us about this?"

The foreign minister was clearly distracted by the pictures and it took a few moments for him to find his voice.  "The Bharat government is demanding we return the defector and his family.  They are sticking to their story that this was all his and the rest of the local governments fault.  Brandenburg and the Baltic's have their colonies on alert for disturbances while we are getting word of something going on in the French holding at Calcutta details are vague and Paris says its minor.  The Mughals and Bengal came down hard on their own protestors.  Italy, Gran Columbia, Peru, Austria have all sent ships to retrieve their citizens.  The Italians have elected to take everyone at the docks in Bombay it appears.   No word of additional major demonstrations."

The Prime Minister spoke up, "What about the other Great Powers?  The Confederates, Rohan, the Dutch, Orange and don't the Russians have some type of connection to Bharat?  Are any of them doing anything?"

Da Silva shook his head, "Of course we have very little information on the Dutch and that's all second hand from the Austrian Diplomatic Service or the other members of the Southern Cross.  Still it appears they are doing nothing, ditto for the rest."

A hard look came across the Emperors face, "So they don't care that some of their citizens might have been killed in all of this?"  The diplomat merely shrugged in response.  The Emperor drummed his fingers on the table, "We aren't going to return this... Kumar or his family .  Now what can we do about this?"  While asking the question the Emperor looked right at his two military chiefs. 
 
The pair glanced at one another before the admiral answered, "To be honest your majesty not much.  Austria offered to land over 10,000 troops and go looking for Hindu temples to burn.  Reports from Bombay show the Italians are also upset.  The problem is Bharat is a large place, it has a population of over a hundred million people we believe and with an army of around a million troops.  Their navy is 4th rate junk that we could blow of the water with what's in the Indian Ocean keeping an eye on the New Zion business and of course looking for T.A.G.  The army is something else even if we could seize a port I don't see how we could hold it and just seizing port would be difficult as the larger ones have forts to protect them.  Best we could do is 'butcher and bolt.'"

The Prime Minister looked confused at the term but the General filled in the details, "Butcher and Bolt as in we attack, kill anything that moves, blow up what doesn't move and then run for it."

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister traded looks of concern before the Prime Minister spoke, "I agree that these are horrific acts but doing what the General describes could present problems.  Recall the trouble our involvement in the Balkan Wars presented?"

The Emperor clearly annoyed bit off quickly, "So what DO you suggest we do Don Felipe?"

The Prime Minister answered quickly, "Get our people out of Bharat and warn others not to go there.  Talk to the other interested powers and see what they are willing to do.  While our own actions are limited collective actions might be more... varied than nothing or a glorified raid."

Admiral Bermejo added, "We also need more information I would like to order other ships to make port calls in Bharat and the rest of the region to look around.  It looks like the New Zion issue is stable for now at any rate so we can release the ships to return to their home stations or for this"

The Emperor was clearly unhappy but nodded agreement, "Very well Admiral see to it.  Don Felipe invite the various ambassadors to a meeting at the palace something well after lunch but before dinner I think and I would like to talk to them personally.  Also invite the Papal Nuncio to attend the meeting.  Lastly Da Silva I want a report on the region how does it affect us and see if any of the banking or merchant houses have any more information."

The finance minister who had been silent throughout the meeting nodded.