KuK Wiener Zeitung 1/1906

[Borys]

1905 events

- rebellion in Tirol, and almost-rebellion in Hungary;
- Tirol and Kustenland lost to Bavaria, Hungary granted widereaching autonomy;
- Galizien split into two provinces, in part due to events in Russia;
- Taipei residents paid compensation;
- Riddermark input useful in putting Karl Zeis factory in Kronstadt in operation;
- Crusade in Brazil ends with exhausted troops reaching the coast in Arpil; laggards and recovered wounded keep turning up in Brazilan ports over next 2 months;
- in December second child born to Stefan and Yelena - Olga now has sister Ludmila;

added later:
- State organised emigration of landless peasants - 200,000 to Parana, and 50,000 to Catanduanes
- two corps raised to replace Tiroleans, and one for defence of Parana

[Borys]

January 1906, Shoenbrunn Palace, Wien

Stefan walked up and bearhugged his visitor.
- I am glad to see you, Freiherr. As always. Please, take a seat.
After seating themseves at a side table in the Kaiser's office, the host asked:
- Of what service can my wrecked realm be for a shattered empire?

[Borys]

OOC
Split off North Sea post, as it must be from late spring, and there are January events to attend to.

****************************
Late January 1906, Wien
Topmost civilian and military officers of the German-Hungarian monarchy, discussing the Dover Rippoff crises:
- We, at the fleet, cannot grasp the reasons for this move ... Srnicek, Vize-Admiral
- And how are they gonna do it? I now know enough about ships to be aware, that you don't just set up a toll-house ... Svetozar Boreovic, General der Infanterie
- They are provoking the Nederlanders and the Baltiks into war .. Giulio Di Runio, Foreign Minister
- It still is a bore, with the Kievite mess and the despicable Bavarians in the way, we must import iron ore and wood by ship ... Brzeczyszczykiewicz, Trade Vice-Minister
- Are the Muscovites in shape for war? Or will their fleet be fit for a war after the ice melts? ... Hutni, Treasury Minister

[Borys]

1st of February 1906

UNEXPECTED TREATY
Out of the blue, the KuK Government and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands disclosed the signing of a Free Trade and Non-Agression Treaty, in a hunting lodge outside of Brussels. Foreign policy experts understand this pact to be a counter-move to the controversial "warships pay for passage" French and UKN initiative. 

[Borys]

2nd February, Pola

Hastily fitted out for a longer trip, the Panzerkreuzer SMS Innsbrueck left the port today.
It is to pay several North Sea ports - both Dutch and Baltic - courtesy visits. And gain experience in winter navigation in those waters.
In a show of solidarity with the Upholders of Free Passage, the Danube Monarchy's vessel will take the route around the British Isles.

[Borys]

5th February 1906
Ballpaltz
Briefing on Foreign Policy for high officials.

... 1905 events and those of January this year have put the Monarchy in a totally new geopolitical position. Certain axioms remained - the Middle Kingdom Alliance, the Steel Bond with the Habsburgs, the Enminity towards the New Swiss. Interestingly, it has been Europe whch had seen the most flux. Not that Habsburg lands were free from that flux ...

Relations with the Spanish Burbons are good, although in a state of supension. It is too early to say what impact will the internal issues related with absorbtion of the Portuguese and PESN political bodies have on external policy. Also, the return of Brazil to the fold, so to speak, adds another interesting twist.

The breakup of Russia creates a new, tricky situation to our East and in the Balkans. On one hand, Russia was quite friendly, and could be relied upon in case of trouble with the Ottomans. On the other hand, Sankt Peterburg was treaty-pledged to come to France's aid. And its army was something we always had to keep an eye on.
So now we no longer feel the oppressive weight of the Russian army on Galizien. To retain the dagger at our back, we can count on French diplomats to be very busy in Sankt Peterburg, Constantinople and Kiev. It has been French policy since Francis to aly themselves to whatever power was threatheining us from the East, South or North. Ugh - at they time they allied with Suleyman the Ottomans call the Law Giver. So, in some ways the Russian situation is ideal - we have 25 Kievite corps, not 70 Russian ones on our border.  On one hand, due to blood ties - Vladimir of Muscovy is his father-in-law - and legitimacy - the Kaiser should support Sankt Peterburg. On the other hand, Kiril is also kin-by-marriage. And, as stated, in some ways two Russias are better than one. However, if the Polish or Ruthenian populations start getting restless due to some reckless signals from Kiev, we might have to throw our weight behind Vladimir. Unless some other soluton to the Polish Question is found ...
The difficult task is to keep Vladimir friendly enough as to back us, if need be, in anti-Ottoman adventures we might contemplate. And at the same time not to alienate Kiril as to make him throw his lot behind the French.
Bucarest might add further complexity to both Balakn and Kieviete problems.

In the West the situation is novel, with such a configuration never been planned against. As aftermath of the sorry Tirolean Rebellion, the Wittelsbachs, previously French lackeys, have bitten the hand that nurtured them and ripped off a sizable portion of the Master's flesh. Probably off a hair French bum, as French attention was directed elsewhere.
HUR-HUR
BUM
HUR-HUR
acknolwedged the 100% male audience.
The Bavarians after stopping their land-grabbing frenzy woke up to having unfriendly neighbors on all sides.
- The speaker paused for breath, effect, and to put up his fingers.
One, Italy. Two, us. Three, France. Four, the Baltic Confederation.
The BC and Habsburgers are old foes, but Italy and France are new.  If they are smart, they wil try to wiggle into France's good books. And France has herself handed them the branch they need to pull themselves out of the bog of their own making.

In the North the Dover Strait fees for BC and Dutch warships have brought much ill will towards the Normans and French. Both these Protestant nations were pushed into our arms, and signed non-agression and free trade treaties we had been trying to get them to sign for YEARS.

As far as we can tell the common front of the Northern Trading Powers - and the treaties with us - caused much alarm in Paris. They are likely to forgive - partly - the Bavarians - in order to have them on their side. But time will tell what will come out of this cauldron.

In the Blakans the situation is stable - the Ottomans are holding the Holy Land, and are the Enemy. The treacherous Welsche - Italians - after pacifying the napoliteanian pro-Burbon revolt, are now coming back to life. The Bavarian siezure of the coast between Venice and Pola is likely to improve our rlelations with Rome, but only time will tell.

to be continued





to be continued

[maddox]

8 february 1906

Paris, Minister Capets office.

Ah, monsieur Delacre, what news does the securité want to share with me?

Just a few tidbits very usefull for your office Ministre Capet.
For example, the UK Pas de Calais faux pas did allienate the Dutch a lot.  Your ammendments and the promise of a more friendly arrangement did fell on deaf mens ears. It did drive them to seek a more close relation to other major powers.  The only ones who aren't listingen yet are the Russians, in non of the 3 regions. Italy remains silent.

But the Habsburgers are the most worrysome. They see France as a real and direct treat. If we're not subtile and defuse this situation, 1905 will look as a minor disturbance in the force.
Quoted directly from the dispatch  "France is a dagger looming to our back"

That is indeed worrysome. Any results of our diplomatical and extradiplomatical actions in Kiev or Moskou?

Not directly Minister. But we have good hopes, even after the inital fear the Treaty of Versailles was destroyed by the shattering of the Russian empire, all of the new leaders see advantages in this treaty. Not at least now they lost their fleet in the pacific. It is an option to offer the Russian shipping there an escort. But before we do that, I would ask Admiral Geon to talk to the Middle Kingdoms diplomat prince Pu Lun.
That brings out another matter, he's the ideal person to talk to the Habsburgers. But that's the disturbing part. He is a very good diplomat, but his time on Greater Napoleon did bring out something in him.  He needs to be at sea. If we keep him to long in Vienna, he will lose his edge, and his capabilities. He's not a desk commodore.

Monsieur Delacre I thank you for this news. In this time of crisis France needs to use its assets to the most effect.  I hope you're also making progress on the corruption and graft issues following the late minister of State Rimauld.

Yes minister.  It's funny but it seems that the New Swiss made a serious mistake there. So did we.
His killers were not zulu's, but we traced at last 1 of the killers to capetown, a local tug. He swears after a torough interogation he was payed in Krugerrand gold coins. Now, our sources indicate that only the New Swiss had a free source of krugerrand coins. I believe our friends in Capetown will be glad with this information.
Now, as this was originaly a Palpaté Project I suggest we just confine the known associates of Rimauld, and feed them information that is real enough, untill needed otherwise.

At last that one going well.

[Desertfox]

Oh S****!

[Borys]

15th February 1906
Ballplatz
The French Minister for Foreign Affars will visit Vienna in late Spring. The exact date is to be finalised with the Quay d'Orsay, but it will be the last week of April or in early May.

[Borys]

20th February 1906
Ballplatz

The Donau-Monarchie  expresses its desire to attend the Free Seas conference in the Haugue in the Nederlands, which is planned for July of this year. The Foreign Minister Di Runo himself will attend, putting Duty above the Seasonal Break.

[Borys]

20th February
Di Runio reporting to the Kaiser:
- There has been no response from Madrid on Sao Luis, Your Majesty.
- Hmm, so what do you suggest? Keep it? Sell it? To whom?

[Borys]

June 1906, Fiume

Admirals Montecuccoli and Srnicek were talking quietly on one of the wings of the Baltikum's naval delegation. The Northerners had just been given a tour of the Whitehead works and were now asking the engineers further questions. Most of these officers spoke German, and everybody spoke some French, so no misinterpreters were needed.
- "I'm sure the very same thing is happening in the Skoda and Mannlicher works."
- "Yup. Not that I expect our lot in Hamburg to behave any diferent ... "
- "And the other technoliges and ideas?"
-"Shhhh - mum's the word ... "