Gran Colombian News, 1919

[TexanCowboy]

Get's him a good wife....

[Sachmle]

Get's him a good wife....

Nein! He needs to learn respect and self control, not obedience and self depreciation.

[Carthaginian]

Get's him a good wife....

Nein! He needs to learn respect and self control, not obedience and self depreciation.

So, he also needs to dish out a bit of the latter to a woman. ;)

[Marek Gutkowski]

Get's him a good wife....

Nein! He needs to learn respect and self control, not obedience and self depreciation.

Oh my god that is one depressing altitude You have. 

[Sachmle]

Get's him a good wife....

Nein! He needs to learn respect and self control, not obedience and self depreciation.

Oh my god that is one depressing altitude You have. 

Sorry..forget American 'dry' humor doesn't carry well in Eastern Europe. Was joke Marek. :D

[The Rock Doctor]

18 April 1919:  Cartagena

"Gentlemen, since the world is currently quiet and at peace*, I think this is a good time to make it official:  Eduard Torres has retired as Foreign Affairs Minister", President Alizandro announced.

The reaction around the room was muted, and not at all surprised.  Torres had been in a fragile state for months, leaving most of the heavy lifting in the hands of his deputy.

"Have you determined a replacement?", asked Edmund Fitzroy.

"Not yet", Rey said.  "This is a rather profound loss to the Cabinet, so I'm open to suggestions."  The assembled ministers nodded.  "Thank you.  Okay.  Next order of business:  Long term planning.  Aquileo, do you want to run us through this?"

"Yes, Senor President", Aquileo Alizandro replied.  "By long term planning, we are speaking of our medium term investment interests.  Our current priority is to encourage private sector investment in development of the African vice-presidencies, and it is expected that this will continue to be the case into 1921 or 1922.

"At that point, we expect that the Africa will represent a functional and reasonably well-exploited primary sector economy, based on cash crops and mining.  There may be a modest service sector to support expatriates, but an interdepartmental working group has advised me that there is little upside to investing in heavy industry there:  it is too exposed, too remote, and there is no significant workforce capable of supporting it."

"Agreed", said Industry Minister Nicholas Benson.

"At the same time, a look at the books tells me that we are increasingly finding that our ability to invest in government programs is limited more by cash availability than the ability of heavy industry to provide raw goods.  That seems especially true of the military, as increasing amounts of money are spent on the Ejercito, specialized naval vessels, and aircraft."

"That's quite correct", Minister Fitzroy concurred.

"So that leaves us likely looking for further investments that will yield taxes, royalties, or other revenues, rather than additional heavy industry at our disposal", Aquileo continued.  "However - there are no under-developed sectors of our own economy to invest in, which is why we acquired the Dutch Congo in the first place.  With Africa soon to be uplifted to a basic level of development, our analysts have concluded - and I agree - that we should begin looking for another overseas destination for investment.  Whether this would be a royalty deal, as seen in Iberia and Japan, or an acquisition, such as Zaire and Montana, would depend on the circumstances.  The enclave model being employed by our Confederate friends in Mexico and China may also merit consideration."

"Overseas investment probably means Asia", Rey noted.

"It probably does, but opportunities may exist elsewhere in Africa", Aquileo observed.  "Questions?  Comments?"

"Logistically speaking, could we support colonization in Asia?", Minister Benson asked.

"We've maintained key bases in the mid-Pacific, and could work out of Manila", Minister Fitzroy replied.  "We and Foreign Affairs have been buttering up the Siamese and Burmese a bit as well, so something might be doable there."

"Do you mean a base, or investment?", Benson inquired.

"I mean a base", Fitzroy clarified.  "I don't know what the economic situation is in those nations."

"Both are somewhat under-developed, with resources of interest", Benson said.

"Well, there you go.  Two candidates and we haven't even left the room", Rey said.



*The Colombians not having been made aware of many of the hijinks currently underway around the world...

[TexanCowboy]

"Logistically speaking, could we support colonization in Africa?", Minister Benson asked.

"We've maintained key bases in the mid-Pacific, and could work out of Manila", Minister Fitzroy replied.  "We and Foreign Affairs have been buttering up the Siamese and Burmese a bit as well, so something might be doable there."

"Do you mean a base, or investment?", Benson inquired.

I'm assuming you meant Asia in the first sentance?

[The Rock Doctor]

Why, yes, I did...

[ctwaterman]

I think someone missed the letter on Eduard Torres Desk I did forward a letter to your foreign office along with the ESC, Japan, CSA, and France I used PM.

[The Rock Doctor]

Oh, okay - I thought I received that as a Moderator FYI.

[ctwaterman]

Nope As a Player.

Charles

[The Rock Doctor]

20 April 1919

"Okay, so two days ago we're talking about how peaceful the world is, and all of a sudden I've got a missive from some Confederate priest ranting about New Zion selling out to the devil, in addition to less irrational notes from Italy and the Confederation", Rey Alizandro grouched.  "What exactly is going on?"

"It seems the Zionites acquired some hardware from the Swiss, free of charge", Benicio Delgado explained.  "Submarines, reportedly.  Possibly other things."

"Why?"

"Submarines are useful weapons in the Rift Sea", Edmund Fitzroy replied.

"No, no, no", Rey said, "Why are the Swiss doing this now?  Africa's been calm.  Nobody has been threatened.  Why stir the pot?"

"It's the Swiss", Delgado sighed.  "What other reason might they have?"

"Do I recall correctly that the Zionite/Italian war saw fighting immediately adjacent to our subsequently acquired territories?"

"Yes", Fitzroy replied.

"Are we sufficiently equipped to maintain our sovereignty if things get unpleasant over there again?"

"Additional forces would be useful", Fitzroy confirmed.

"Fine - work up a list for me to approve.  Next, line up the Zionite, Swiss, and Italian ambassadors, or their alternates, for chats with me this week.  I want to hear what they have to say before I head out to meet President Hoover.  Let's also talk with the French, Orange, and our Iberian friends in case they've heard anything we should know."

"I'll set those meetings up", Richard Granville said. 

"And find out where that Swiss 'Goodwill' tour is at", Rey added.  "In fact, park a cruiser on their tails for the duration of their time in our waters."

"Will do", Fitzroy concurred.

[Carthaginian]

When the world gets quiet... count on the Swiss to try and get a noise ordinance violation.

[The Rock Doctor]

30 April 1919:  La Guaira

Young Manuel was an uneasy fellow.  In no sense a youngster, he could recall his father's tale about the time soldiers had packed the place before the occupation of Cuba and ended destroying much of the interior in an all-out brawl.  Before that, during the Fifth War with the Island Commonwealth, the bar had been badly damaged on three occasions.

He was starting to wonder if this would be another such evening.  To be fair, the city was probably not as crowded as it had been back in '03, but word had it that as many as ten thousand additional soldiers were in the city at the moment - as well as an unusual number of sailors, no doubt related to that squadron of warships anchored offshore.

One of the bouncers came over just after eleven.  "We're kinda lucking out - all the soldiers are from one outfit, and the sailors are all from one group.  But I still figure the two of them are going to have at it."

"I've got Old Manuel's shotgun beside me, for all the good that's going to do us", Young Manuel replied. 

"I recall hearing your papa waited for fists to fly before he fired into the ceiling.  That's too late", the bouncer said.  "The moment you see any sudden movement, you shoot.  It'll get their attention."

"Better to have to patch the stucco than risk having to replace the furniture", Young Manuel agreed. 

Twenty minutes later, as an incensed ejercito corporal leapt to his feet, he fired a round of shot into the ceiling over the bar.  The startled patrons turned to face him and noted that the double-barrelled weapon was now longer pointing vertically.  "Listen here - I'll serve you all the drink you want, and all the nuts you can eat, but the first hijo de puta that throws a punch in here isn't gonna like what else I serve him.  Got it?"

"No worries, friend.  Ain't a one of us wanting to miss out on some fun in Africa because we're in the local slam", a leather-faced sergeant said after a moment's silence.  "Ain't that right, boys?"  The soldiers muttered their concurrence.  "How 'bout you, Armada?"

"None of us wanna miss out on taking you fine fellows over to Africa", a petty officer replied.  "So I reckon we get back to celebrating our eminent departure."

[maddox]

 ;D   ;)   

This is promising a load of fun.

The Congo Beauties are awaiting the Gran Colombian Men....


click at own risk