Richmond Times-Dispatch; July-Dec 1907

[Carthaginian]

The confused issues in the Pacific have forced the Confederacy to withdraw much of our involvement in that theater. It is our sincere hope that the current tensions will be diminished before full-scale war develops.

[Carthaginian]

EXTRA, EXTRA! SPECIAL AFTERNOON EDITION!!!

Today, at 2:15 PM Atlantic time, the Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, Mitchell K. Sparks, died from complications due to malaria. At present, the president pro tempore of the Confederate Senate, the Honorable Mr. Thadeous Deveroux (C, La.) has assumed the office of Vice-President in the wake of this national tragedy. For the first time in the history of the Confederate States of America, a Negro now holds high office.

In his first speech as Vice-President, Mr. Deveroux announced: "I don't see any color... except for gray. I wore the uniform of the Confederate States Army for more than 12 years; and though I saw my fair share of discrimination while I did so, I also found that the simplest way to overcome our differences is to remember our similarities. We all love our country, we all value our freedom, and we all wish to make our collection of States the most successful nation that we possibly can. I swear to you all today that I will put for every possible effort to do this."

[Korpen]

The Queen sends a telegram with Her personal condolences.

[Borys]

The Habsburg Embassy behaves as per protocol

[P3D]

Orange ignores the new president.

[The Rock Doctor]

Gran Colombia sends its condolences, and advises that its ambassador to the CSA, Sr. Torcuato Arrondo, will represent the Republic at Sr. Sparks' funeral.

[Carthaginian]

Orange ignores the new president.

OoC: He's the VP. ;)

IC: The CSA regrets the cooling of relations between the Republic of Orange and attempts to smooth things over... (see PM).

[Carthaginian]

IC: The CSA  thanks all nations for their sympathies and condolences.

OoC: The CSA advises people to watch this space as over 200 years of racism and dirty dealing are about to come to a head.

[Borys]

Kaapstadt, Habsburg Embassy

Orange ignores the new president.

OoC: He's the VP. ;)

IC: The CSA regrets the cooling of relations between the Republic of Orange and attempts to smooth things over... (see PM).

Excerpt from report by the Ambassador, Gróf Lugosi Bela
The public opinion in Orange is aghast that a "kafir" has become Vice-President of the CSA. This is intepreted, by various groups, as a sign of the Apocalypse - i.e. the coming of the Anti-Christ, or evidence of CSA decadence, or both. A group called "Wit Belang" is calling for volunteers to aid oppressed Christian Whites in the Confederacy, so far without much success.
A visible chilling of official Orange attitude is visible, but not action has been taken, i.e. relations continue to be at Embassy leve.

[Ithekro]

The Kingdom of Rohan expresses its regret of the Confederacies loss of their Vice President, though such a loss was expected given his condition.  Rohan will remain as it has been in its relationship with the Confederate States of America.  The sance of the King and his subjects over the color of the man that is now Vice President is not a matter that will change Rohan's views, nor should it reflect on the national character.

(I honestly don't know how Rohan would act to a black man in the number two spot of a friendly nation or otherwise.  Most native reactions to blacks are from the point of view of the Union Armies use of them against various native nations in the post Civil War years...since that is not the case here, I can't fathom a proper mindset at the present time.)

[Borys]

OOC
HARADRIM ....

[Ithekro]

OOC
Perhaps, but those would be with the Haven of the Peoples (well at least what is left of their territory) assuming they exist anymore as a race.

[Carthaginian]

OoC: I think that the reaction of the Orangemen is the one that would most likely be the historical outcome of such a turn of events- complete and total lack of desire to deal with him.

In N-verse, though, I think that this won't be quite so much of an issue.
The US Army's brutal and genocidal march across the continent didn't take place, and the forces of Rohan stopped a similar event by the UKA. The racial similarities between the men of Rohan (allies) and the Europeans (enemies) would confuse the 'White Devil' issue for the Indians, and the greater predominance of Africans in Confederate service would probably lend them a more favorable outlook in the eyes of the Native Americans, as the Confederates and Rohan are often working together.

[swamphen]

The Reich extends its condolences to the CSA, and sends its best wishes to Herr Deveroux.

[Carthaginian]

Baldwin Aerodrome
Pensacola, Florida

"Major Baldwin, are you sure that this is a good idea? We've only got 5 of six of them, and we just got them working well enough to fly reliably. They're still very delicate pieces of machinery..."

"Gentlemen, this is a must-have situation. We can no longer afford to build a ship to cover every square mile of ocean that needs to be covered. This unpleasantness between the Swiss and the Dutch illustrates that future conflicts are going to be conducted over enormous distances, and scouting becomes an absolute necessity. We must learn how to make use of the most economical means of covering the largest area possible.

I understand that the technology is very much untried, and that the concept itself seems almost the definition of insanity- but I am convinced that it can work. 35 knots, gentlemen... a combined speed of 35 knots between ship and wind. That's all we need to ensure success."

"Major, I will agree to some preliminary tests. We have plenty of old frigates that can be converted for tests,and if necessary, we could even construct a new vessel entirely... though we'd prefer to see some successes prior to this."

"Understood, General. I'll begin with the necessary testing at once. I'll also notify one of the ships that you suggest to be taken into drydock for the modifications."