Foreign Aid

[Kaiser Kirk]

Foreign Aid

Greece
PrinzRegent Luitpolds slow decline and passing in 1912 kept Bavaria on the sidelines during the Greek Crusade. The Hapsburg penchant for war, and their alliance with Bavaria's foe, the DKB, proved worrisome here.

However the King felt the goal of the Crusade, liberating Christian Greece, birthplace of Democracy, cradle of Western Civilization was a good idea, and wished to see a successful independent Greek State.

As a result, the Bavarians have been providing funds the nationalist and conservative Greek parties, as well as supplementing the Greek governments budget. While Hapsburg and Iberian initial investments were far larger than the Bavarian commitment, it is hoped that the ongoing Bavarian funds will be appreciated and help in the establishment of a strong independent Greek state.

The subsidies are ongoing, though slightly diminished.

There is also hope to eventually gain a lease on an island with a harbor, giving Bavaria a base beyond the Straits of Oranto.

Russia
Commencing in Late 1916, the Franco-Bavarian co-mingled fund, based in Strassbourg, began a series of investments in Russia. A large French ($65) initial investment and a smaller ($10 / HY) ongoing Bavarian investment were made.

Bavarian survey teams had investigated Russia and confirmed she had substantial infrastructure deficits that could be addressed with large scale engineering projects. Once complete, these would substantially lower transport times and costs, allowing markets to be linked for much greater efficiencies. Additionally, this would allow the free movement of goods and labor, allowing better capital allocations.

Overall this would bolster Russia's output of cheap materials, and increase their demand for finished goods. While primarily benefiting the Baltic trade of the Netherlands and ESC, and secondarily the UNK and France; there is expected to be direct benefits for Bavaria as well, in addition to secondary effects from the other markets.

Siam
In 1916 the Bavarian trade ministry was approached regarding the possibility of investing in a canal in the Kra Ithmus. Considering the matter, it was concluded that Bavaria's mercantile interests were such that this would be of little long term interest in bolstering Bavarian trade, and thus not a good expenditure of funds. Further, it was considered a foreign policy issue, as the Kingdom of the Netherlands did not get along with the Kingdom of Siam. As such the request was politely turned down.  Subsequently the Dutch became aware of the proposal, and while Bavaria confirmed she had been approached and demurred, the Dutch believed plans were still in effect and that their 1908 Conditional Declaration of War had been met.

Mercantile Outreach

Background :  In 1913 the Bavarian Ministry of Trade started seeking business opportunities overseas with the hope of finding a commercial niche not currently exploited.   Should efforts go well, Bavarian Merchants would find a source of goods and a potential foreign market.  Additionally, consultations with the Marine narrowed the search to nations likely to be a military benefit as well.

Three nations were chosen.
1. Rumania.  
Rumania had angered the Hapsburgs in 1912, who had canceled trade with that nation. Bavaria was desirous of gaining market share in Rumania, as well as scooping up oil contracts abandoned by the Hapsburgs. Lastly, they did not want to see Rumania weakened and succumb to the Ottomans or Hapsburgs, so to funds to bolster the Rumanian economy were sent, as well as some military aid. The Dutch, unallied at the time, also sent aid in a seperate effort.  With the 7 Rumanian Corps and the 24 (at the time) Bavaria, the two nations were capable of aiding each other against either the Ukraine or Hapsburg.  Ultimately the Bavarian and Dutch outreach was ignored when Rumania drastically altered her foreign policy, cozied up to the Hapsburgs, and declared war on the Dutch.

2. Mughal Empire
The Mughals had access to the Ores of Afgahnistan, as well as the ancient trade routes in that region, and the produce the the Indus. Of the Muslim nations, they practiced a relaxed version of Islam, that treated the 'Peoples of the Book' very well. A mercantile partnership could benefit both, while the ports of the Mughals could, if leased, provide a military base for surface raiders and their supply ships. This later changed to seeking to bolster both the Mughals and Bavaria's allies in Gujarat.

This effort was swept away by the birth of the Second Caliphate. .

3. The Principality of Accra, Niger.
Separated from the rest of Niger by poor infrastructure, possessing the River Volta to reach the interior, and once known as the Gold Coast. The inland Asanite Kingdom had been independent into the late 1800s while various European enclaves held the coast.  Potentially holding mineral resources and fertile growing lands, the Principality of Accra is of interest. With a clime similar to parts o South America, the hope is some of the more established crops there can be transplanted to where there are no domestic pests.

Secondly, the Principality would a fairly good location for a home port for surface raiders or their supply ships.

Lastly, the Bavarian goals are altruistic. King Lugwig III is a pious Catholic and views this as an opportunity to help his fellow man.  King Lugwig III views the former exploitation of Afrika with some distaste, and questions if enslaving peoples is indeed justified by teaching them Christian ways. King Lugwig III hopes that  by treating the Prince of Accra as a sovereign, and offering to help enrich his people physically, mentally, and hopefully spiritually, that a new model for partnership with the savages of Afrika can be forged.

The Principality of Accra

The Treaty :

Late November 1915:

The ruling prince of Accra, Takye Obilie, has met with Bavaria's consul in the region.  

Herr Obilie is most pleased with the increased revenues resulting from trade with Bavaria.  He, personally, is richer, his administration is richer, and there has even been some improvements in quality of life amongst the peasantry.  

Herr Obilie believes that his region could support a thriving, modern agricultural economy based on exports of specialty crops such as cocoa; however, his administration lacks the fiscal resources for significant investment, and the central government in Lagos seems as dis-interested as always.  

This being the case, Herr Obilie has a two-pronged plan for economic development in which Bavaria can be the other partner:

-Economic investments totalling $75 (=1 IC) would be sufficient to introduce advanced plantation techniques, develop roads, bridges, and riverine transportation, and allow for some initial processing of crops prior to export.  Bavarian interests would be entitled to $1.2 per half year of the ensuing revenue, with the local government taking in the remainder.

-Infrastructure investments directed towards improved port facilities to allow docking, loading, and servicing of freighter traffic.  The local government proposes to lease a section of the Accra harbor front to Bavaria, for the development of such facilities as Bavarian business interests deem appropriate.  

Herr Obilie is interested in Bavaria's views on the matter...

basically this turned into a roughly 10 acre lease for promises of Bavarian investment, which they've been doing

Bavarian efforts so far :

Pretreaty : From 1913-1915
$9 civilian

Post treaty ( as of II / 1918)
Train and Equip one Ashkanite Royal Guard "Advanced" Infantry Brigade : $1, 0.125 BP

1,000t "Advanced" ammunition

$0.5 expended to train Accra in "Advanced Line Infantry" tactics

$1.00  exploring economic opportunities
6 x $0.25 in 'gifts'

Development
$5, 0.5  refurbishment/construction of modern civilian type 0 port facilities at Accra.
Now that Niger is updated, there may have been a port there, or perhaps thats the one the Bavarians built

75 / 75 of an IC

$0.986 , BP: 0.493  worth of rails linking coastal railroad at Accra to Kumasi

$2.01 to establish and endow the College of Tropical Agriculture[/b[ in Accra. (est 1916)
The College Chancellor is Princess Theresa. Students from Bavaria, Accra, and Dutch/GC settlers in the former Dutch Kongo, as well as South American Scholars from GC. Classes are to commence early 1918.  note, the as time goes, it is hoped to add students from other powers in Afrika, such as France, and more scholars from South America

On leased acres
$4 and 0 BP towards construction of Type 1 Port at Sekondi-Takarodi, Principality of Accra.  (part of 10 acres leased by treaty)

1 Battalion of Bavarian Marines will eventually be garrisoned here.