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Region: Commonwealth of Liberty

History

Post by China32 suppressed by Paramountica.

China32

Hello! Udv mindenkinek. Kiveve a szocikat es a komcsikat. XD

Post by Libermexania suppressed by Paramountica.

Libermexania

Oh hi

[list][ هل يخسر الأسد صراع السلطة؟ ]

[sub]ASSAD LOSING POWER STRUGGLE?

1968[/sub]

[list] دمشق | DAMASCUS

[sub]NATIONAL PARTY CONGRESS OF 1968[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][sub]| As the ideological and personal gaps between Assad and his counterpart Jadid grew, it became more apparent that this dual-powersharing agreement was not to last, as each of the strongmen held each other accountable for Syria's miserable defeat in 1967. Even though Jadid had led the coup himself, in his pursuit of a complete reform of Syria in perhaps the most radical regime in the nation's history, he had lost the reins he had on the army in exchange for a whip over the party. Meanwhile, Assad had grown more suspicious following Jadid's attempt to expel him from the army apparatus and had gone, so Assad had replaced many positions with his own allies and close friends, the most significant being the removal of the Jadidist Chief of Staff, with his own childhood friend, Mustafa Tlass. However, their political differences had gone public in the Congress of 1968, where while Assad had a steady hand over the military, Jadid's popularity within the party was shown. On critical differences like his desire to make the party more accessible to the people rather than an intellectual elite, his prioritization of pan-Arabist foreign relations over Jadid's pursuit of scientific socialism, and reconciliation with the Aflaqist Old Guard, Assad had lost the vote. The only minor victories he scored were the removal of prominent socialist hardliners Prime Minister Yusuf Zu'ayyin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brahim Makhous from the government apparatus. With this, doubts began to arise on who was winning, as the army and party became increasingly severed from each other.|[/sub][/list]

[sub]| Chief of Staff Mustafa Tlass | "How'd the vote go?"[/sub]

[sub]| Minister of Defense Hafiz al-Assad | "As expected. Jadidists and his utopian cronies spit on every policy. Barely enough to get 2 morons out of here."[/sub]

[sub]| Chief of Staff Mustafa Tlass | "I see...you reckon we win?"[/sub]

[sub]| Minister of Defense Hafiz al-Assad | "As in?"[/sub]

[sub]| Chief of Staff Mustafa Tlass | "As in we come out on top of this whole mess. Over Jadid and that fu** Jundi."[/sub]

[sub]| Minister of Defense Hafiz al-Assad | "The pen is mightier than the sword, but the T-54 is mightier than both."[/sub]

[sub] They would both share a laugh before Assad had returned to his normal poker face.[/sub]

[sub]| Minister of Defense Hafiz al-Assad | "Jadid lost this the moment he launched this stupid coup anyway, and then when he screwed us in Golan. Just wait and watch, victory is ours."[/sub]

[spoiler=ugh

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Arcanda, Lieobria, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium, China32

The Story of the Century

March 4, 1968

| Across Tanzania, one news source was dominant. The Daily Nationalist, the only allowed source of media, served as a way for the government to maintain a constant cap on what information the public was allowed to know. Unfortunately for the government, their own mouthpiece had turned against them.

The Story Leaks: March 2, 1968

| As Tanzanians awoke on August 2nd they were greeted by a horrifying sight on the front page of the Daily Nationalist. Murder, Extermination, and Trafficking by Top Government Officials: President Included was at the top of the newspaper in bold letters. This immediately sucked in people’s attention, even before the propaganda mill had begun to swirl and ramp up public support for the Rwandan intervention, the media rarely ever fairly criticized the government, especially not top officials.

Now, across campuses, and coffee shops, students, middle-class citizens, and intellectuals poured over the information. The human trafficking going on in Zanzibar, the forceful villagization that ended in the wiping out of entire villages. Worse yet, despite cloaking themselves in the righteousness of stopping the genocide in Rwanda, and building an anti-racist future in Tanzania, evidence had come out that the Nyerere government had adopted aggressive policies to effectively wipe out the cultures and ways of life of multiple Hunter-gathers/pastoralists in the northeastern part of the nation. Perhaps most damning for President Nyerere is that due to his increased oversight and centralizing role, he had to sign off on each and every order before it was carried out.

Despite attempts from the Head of the Daily Nationalist, Grey Mataka to hasten paper from reaching Nyerere’s desk, it very quickly did. The President would issue an order to the police to shut down the newspaper stands, and destroy the copies. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the arrest of Mataka and the entire staff of the Daily Nationalist.

Unfortunately for the president, these plans failed to pan out. While some police initially followed his orders, when Police Chiefs read the paper, and then read it to their police force, many refused to take any action to hide the truth. As for Mataka, he had long since escaped, with many of the head editors and writing staff who had produced the story. This small fact did not stop Nyerere from arresting the entirety of the remaining staff using military units.

The Rising Tide: People Take to the Streets

| As word quickly spread from campus to coffee shops, to factories, and farmland, so too did the story itself change. Karume leading the trafficking, became Nyerere organizing it. Overzealous governors leading resettlement efforts became Nyerere ordering brutal retribution against enemies of the state. Forceful settling of nomads became fanatical campaigns of extermination.

As the image of Nyerere plummeted from respected teacher, to malicious tyrant, people once again took to the streets. Dar Es Salaam for the 3rd time now in its history saw daily protests from anti-war advocates, student protestors, and worryingly, an increasing number of workers. The city began to swirl as the police refused to crush protests despite Nyerere’s demand, so he began ordering military units again, this time he promised, things would be different.

Arcanda, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, China32, Libermexania

Post self-deleted by Al-Jammahirya Al-Arabiyya.

[list][list]April 1968

[sub]The Achievements of the 1964-1968 Labour Government[/sub][/list]

DOWNING STREET, LONDON, ENGLAND, Great Britain Gb

| In the period between 1964 and 1966, with a very slim majority, HAROLD WILSON oversaw the abolishment of capital punishment, the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales, a relaxation of divorce laws, limiting immigration, and liberalising birth control and abortion law. Whilst all of this was achieved with a slim majority, HAROLD WILSON knew that to continue his transformative policies he would need to secure an even bigger majority. And so he did, in April 1966 the Labour leader secured an ever bigger majority of 48 seats which granted the Labour government the security and the mandate of the British people to continue their path. |

| Prime Minister HAROLD WILSON, in the years since 1966, has achieved many accomplishments. Wilson's government put faith in economic planning as a way to solve Britain's economic problems, but this has not been without its challenges. In 1964, upon coming to power, the newly elected Labour government was informed that they had inherited a large deficit of £800 million on Britain's balance of trade from the previous Conservative government under the leadership of Harold Macmillan. By 1968, this deficit has largely been reduced through shrewd measures by WILSON and Chancellor CALLAGHAN. In fact, the Labour administration established Girobank, a publicly owned bank that operated via the General Post Office network. As most working-class individuals in the 1960s did not have bank accounts, this was created to suit their requirements, as such it was marketed as the "people's bank” to much success. WILSON came under criticism for the devaluation of the pound sterling in 1967, particularly due to the fact that the ATTLEE government had done the same in the previous government. WILSON did not want Labour to be known as the party of devaluation, however by 1967 it had become apparent that it was a necessity. |

| Other fiscal indicators such as unemployment have been extremely low under the Labour government between 1964 and 1968, hovering between 1-2%, demonstrating that even despite the enormous fiscal restraints that had to be imposed due to the previous Tory government there were many successes to highlight. The biggest achievements of the WILSON government to date have been outside of the economy, with the Labour government carrying through an expansion in the social services, health, welfare and housing, unparalleled in British history. Labour’s investment within technology has also been a staple of their tenure during the current period, with Minister for Technology Tony Benn spearheading a technological revolution to put Britain on the map as a world leader in research, development and science. WILSON believes heavily that in order to grow and develop Britain, technology will play an extremely important role, and applying such advancements in technology democratically within the workplace. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Al-Oman

Amsterwald

Arcanda

Brazil Toucan

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Sudesam

Turkiye 1St

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Kotakuan Ii, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, China32

[list]1968년 04월 1일

[sub]A Royal Visit[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The King to Visit Norden[/sub][/list]

[sub]Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, Korea[/sub]

| The news that King Haneul was to visit Norden was unexpected, the monarch had yet to make on official state visits since his enthronement in November 1961, having made several unofficial and private visits during his reign. While on the surface the announcement didn’t seem that unusual for a monarch to make, the King’s visit played a role in the Government's approach to Western Europe. The news was wholly positive for the Korean Kingdom, with the press having a field day over the announcement and seemingly odd timing and manner of announcement. However within the royal household it had caused a slight issue, who watches the Palace while the King is in Norden? |

| The King’s office was cosy, some might privately suggest it was cluttered, but it suited Haneul. He’d lived several lives during his time, and collected a vast amount of trinkets, furniture and paperwork. Sat at his desk, a drink of nokcha in his hands, he’d be looking over the top of his glasses towards Suzaku Kururugi, the Palace's probably most well known staff member. |[list]

[sub]King Haneul: “Now as you may be aware I am travelling to Norden, I will be leaving at the beginning of next week-”[/sub][/list]

| The King would stop as Suzaku’s eyes widened, there was hardly much time at all to prepare the household for the King’s absence, especially when it had never happened before. |[list]

[sub]King Haneul: “-I can see you’ve realised the suddenness of the situation. I want to place my third son in charge of the household. Hence why I’ve brought you in here.”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “I understand your majesty. I can begin to rearrange his highness's diary accordingly. Are there any meetings his highness will be required to cover in your absence?”[/sub]

[sub]King Haneul: “Just the weekly meeting with the Prime Minister, I will set up a meeting between yourself and Kim Su-jin to discuss any other events that I may be unaware of”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “Of course, your majesty”[/sub][/list]

| Suzaku would give a polite bow, as he turned to leave the King’s office. Before he could leave the King would clear his throat, Suzaku would snap back around a slight panic in his eyes. Fearing he'd broken some royal protocol or hadn't in fact been dismissed he'd tilt his head downwards slightly. |[list]

[sub]King Haneul: “You have been dimissed, Suzaku. However I have a more personal question. How is your father doing? I hope your employment hasn’t been too much of an issue with his work.”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “He, uh, there was an argument, followed by a slightly less vulgar and quieter discussion, he wasn’t happy about how sudden the appointment was. The embassy threw a lot of questions his way for obvious reasons.”[/sub][/list]

| The King threw Suzaku a quizzical look, not quite understanding what the younger Japanese man meant, taking a sip of his drink as he did so. |[list]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “They were worried about perceived diplomatic backchannels, and how it might affect relations between Japan and Korea. He’s assured them that is not the case, but he took the frustration out on me. He’s had a lot going on.”[/sub]

[sub]King Haneul: “Well I’m glad, he’s, well at least getting comfortable to the concept, I just thought I’d ask as I’d noticed you don’t seem to leave the Palace until past midnight, sometimes I never see you leave at all.”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “I- I’m just very dedicated to my work that’s all.”[/sub]

[sub]King Haneul: “Mhm. Suzaku. I am no fool, I know a reluctance to return home when I see it. I may be King, but at the end of the day you are my employee, I have a duty of care. We can quite easily set up a place for you to stay when you get overwhelmingly dedicated to your work, rather than your office floor.”[/sub][/list]

| The King would offer a warm smile to the man, an air of understanding surrounding them, Haneul didn’t want to probe too much further into the matter, that would be something for Suzaku to speak on when he was comfortable. Suzaku would offer a small nod and bow as he left the office, back towards his own. Unsurprisingly, Third Prince Hee-seung was waiting, leaning against Suzaku's desk awaiting the others return. Hee-seung locked eyes with Suzaku as soon as he appeared in the doorway offering a quizical look with a slight smile. |[list]

[sub]Prince Hee-seung: “So, that was a fairly long meeting? What did he need you for?”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “He wanted to discuss some diary rearrangements with me. I also need to attend a meeting with Su-jin, to discuss other appointments.”[/sub]

[sub]Prince Hee-seung: “Why? Are you arranging his diary now too?”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “Has he not told you? I would have assumed he had.”[/sub]

[sub]Prince Hee-seung: “Tell me what, Suzaku? I am your Prince, you can’t keep secrets from me.”[/sub][/list]

| Hee-seung would shuffle closer to Suzaku as the pair chuckled at Hee-seung’s campy gesture as he spoke, only to be met by Suzaku’s slightly over the top response. |[list]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “Well, your royal highness. His royal majesty of Korea has decided that you, his royal highness, shall be placed in charge of the Royal Household in his majesty's absence.”[/sub]

[sub]Prince Hee-seung: “What. Also you missed a royal in there somewhere, but what?”[/sub]

[sub]Suzaku, Royal Secretariat: “I think you heard correctly judging by your reaction, but yes, you will be in charge.”[/sub][/list]

| What followed was the office door quickly being slammed closed by Suzaku as the Prince let off a series of expletives in frustration, only silenced by the sound of something, likely a paper basket, being kicked followed by a smash. The Prince was fully aware of what his father was doing. First Prince Yi Cheong had failed the stress tests, he was now being stress tested instead. Hee-seung willingly played his part in royalty, but in truth he desired a quiet life, but his brothers abject failure was now landing at his doorstep. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin, China32, Libermexania

Lieobria wrote:[list][pre]Ripples of Revolution II | II أمواج الثورة[/pre]

[sub][pre]18 February 1964, Baghdad, 1:04 PM[/pre][/sub][/list]

[list][pre]Ripples of Revolution III | III أمواج الثورة[/pre]

[sub][pre]20 February 1964, Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan[/pre][/sub][/list]

Unity Unraveled - Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Declares Independence from United Hashemite Kingdoms

Baghdad Times, February 20, 1964

Ishaaq el-Fares, Baghdad Times Jordanian Correspondent

In the aftermath of Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim's bold and unexpected coup in Baghdad, King Hussein bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan made a shock announcement, declaring the cession of Jordan from the United Hashemite Kingdom and the proclamation of Jordanian sovereignty. This decision signals a seismic shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region. King Hussein, backed by powerful Palestinian factions within Jordan, aims to secure and consolidate power in Amman amid the post-coup uncertainties.

In a solemn and reserved speech to the Jordanian people, King Hussein provided a detailed explanation for his decision to break away from the United Hashemite Kingdoms. King Talal voiced apprehension regarding the broader union's ability to protect the interests and stability of Jordan in the aftermath of the Iraqi revolution and in the face of growing Pan-Arabist movements across the near east. He highlighted the shifting political dynamics across the near east, underscoring the imperative for a more independent strategy to meet the aspirations of the Jordanian people.

Palestinian Factions Act as Key Players in the Kings Decision

An integral, all be it unseen, element of King Talal's decision is the backing of influential Palestinian factions within Jordan. These factions, historically seeking greater influence over Jordanian affairs and with an outsized influence in the country as a result of the Nakba, have strategically aligned themselves with King Hussein to assert their presence in the kingdom's political landscape. The implications of this uneasy alliance are likely to reverberate through the delicate balance of power in Jordan, and the broader region, although it's likely to go unreported on further.

Shifting Alliances and Loyalties

As Jordan secedes from the Federation, internal dynamics are rapidly evolving. The Arab Legion, the highly effective British trained Branch of the Hashemite Kingdoms Armed Forces, have mostly declared their loyalty for Amman, while elements loyal to Baghdad, and other units of the Royal Armed Forces have begun to withdraw from Jordan. The King's alliance with Palestinian factions also suggests a reconfiguration of traditional power structures within Jordan, raising questions about the future distribution of influence and authority.

What Lies Ahead?

Jordans decision to declare it's independence from the Hashemite Federation introduces both uncertainties and opportunities for Jordan and the now de facto independent Iraq. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan now stands at a pivotal moment in its history, as it charts an independent course in a region.

As the near east grapples with the implications of Jordan's independence, the eyes of the international community remain fixated on Amman, where a new chapter in the Near Eastern narrative is unfolding.

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Greater Adriatican State

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

Sudesam

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Adro, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin, China32

APRIL , 1968

A New Ideology Emerged

| In Bandar Tutong, Brunei a new ideology would become publicly known with the spreading of the ideology coming from the selling of a green coloured, pocket sized books in bookstores. This new ideology was created by [URL=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=51012839]Briane Ricuelmae James[/URL] the founder of the Big Tent Party. The new ideology was titled as Mazism as a callback to Brunei's previous name "Maziya". |

| The book would be titled as The Principles Of Mazism with it having a total of 12 principles which are as follows:

[List][I]1. The Necessities Of Man- To figure anything else. One should first define the necessities that would be needed. These Necessities Of Man are the following, a place to live, basic food, water, income and work.

2. The Rights Of Man- Everyone should have the right to work. A right to be educated in any of its forms. A right to self destruct. A right to defend themselves from a threat. A right to decide their own religion. A right to vote. A right to recall an election. Finally, a right to consent to a binding contract

3. The Mandate Of Responsibility- The government at any level whether it be as small as the head of a community or as large as the head of government. Have a mandate of responsibility entrusted onto them by the general populace. If the government has failed to uphold their mandate of responsibility, as deemed by the general populace. That government should be ousted with an emergency general election.

4. The Position Of Religion- Religion should be left out of any affairs that aren't religious. If a person's own religion gets in the way of their rationality and train of thought, it could harm themselves or harm others around them and subsequently harm the state.

5. Malaysian Identity- There should be a singular Malaysian identity. An identity that will be put first over one's own race. This will be achieved by putting forward laws that'll help make all races equal and remove the laws that give benefits to a specific race.

6. Division Of Government- Government should be separated into two forms of government. One is the central government and the other is the state government. The central government's purpose is to make laws that impact the nation as a whole and keep the states together and not break away to form their own nation. Meanwhile the state government's purpose is to keep their state functional under the laws placed by the central government.

7. A Strong Central Government- While the central government won't have any power over a specific landmass in the nation, it will have the power to do anything that impacts the structure and functionality of the states and all levels of government.

8. Sacrifices For Stability- A core ideal for a modern democratic nation, is that of a nation which enshrines in its constitution the right of free speech. However free speech is a very dangerous weapon to the stability of the nation. As with free speech, the government legally cannot do anything to suppress groups that are enemies of the state from spreading their verbal messages, so to maintain stability there needs to be a violation of free speech, any criticism of the government needs to be pre-approved. If not, the critic should suffer severe punishment for their crimes against the nation's stability.

9. Location Resource Independency- Each location should have its own means of production of any type. Allowing for a location to thrive on its own without necessitating much outside help to keep its functionality. Which as a result of its relative resource independence would allow the nation to improve as a whole.

10. Industrial Alliances- An industrial alliance is an alliance of industries within a local area. An example of how an industrial alliance should work would be like this: the agricultural industry, steel production industry, oil industry and motor vehicles industry forms an industrial alliance. This alliance would help each member of the alliance. The agricultural industry would provide the food for the workers in the factories, the steel production industry would provide steel for the creation of machinery, the motor vehicle industry would produce tractors and other agricultural assisting vehicles to help the agricultural industry improve their efficiency and the oil industry would supply the fuel needed for those vehicles.

11. The Need For Skilled Workers- For a nation's industry to develop. There needs to be skilled workers, who could perform the job as efficiently as possible. So there needs to be laws put in place that'll allow for more skilled workers to be in the nation. With one right of man being the "right to be educated", vocational schools should be made available and affordable for all members of society. Along with if vocational school is somehow not affordable or they don't want to receive a vocational education, a senior from their workplace should be helping them learn so that when that senior is gone, there'll be someone who could take his place at the workplace.

12. Meritocracy- Every position in government with the exception of head of government and head of state. Should be a position that is attained by merit rather than being selected based on the opinion of the head of government or head of state. How merit should be judged will be based on an examination, in which the highest scorer in the examination would receive the position in government. This'll not only allow for a better government but also gives even the poor a chance at attaining a position in government and climbing up that political ladder.[/I] |[/list]

| Eventually the ideology would arrive in peninsular Malaysia, with a shipment of the Principles Of Mazism hitting the shelves of peninsular Malaysia's bookstores. With a copy of the book being bought by leader of the Democratic Action Party, Goh Hock Guan. |

______________________________________________

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Greater Adriatican State

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

Sudesam

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, China32

[list]April 1968

[sub]The First Summit[/sub][/list]

[pre]D I E B U N D E S R E P U B L I K[/pre]

WEST AND EAST, TOGETHER

[sub]THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM OF BENELUX - Hollunde - MORNING[/sub]

| The FIRST BILATERAL SUMMIT - though subtle, quiet and clandestine in many ways - between the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was to be held in THE HAGUE, one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom of Benelux, a neutral broker nation that had agreed to host the delegations of both East and West Germany for its first ever diplomatic interaction. In the weeks leading up to the summit, Chancellor Willy Brandt held regular meetings with his ministerial Cabinet to discuss the future of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland's relationship with the East. Leading the BRD delegation would be Interior Minister Hans Dietrich-Genscher, who had himself conducted several foreign visits on behalf of Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior in the past. As the delegation's turboprop aircraft departed for The Hague, Chancellor Brandt hours later stood before the German Bundestag and, together with his Cabinet members and pro-Ostpolitik members of the CDU and DPD, defended the summit and its end goals. |

[list]| [sub]WILLY BRANDT, German Chancellor[/sub] | "This effort [Ostpolitik] is not an effort meant to compromise the security and the integrity of our country, it is designed to empower it by formally acknowledging the fact that we have a neighbor to the East. This initial contact meeting is by no means an affirmation of our recognition of existing territorial lines, but marks a step forward for peace and prosperity on the European continent for all Germans."[/list]

| Genscher was a pragmatic person, known for his advocacy for Realpolitik doctrines. A member of the moderate wing of the Free Democratic Party from which party leader Erich Mende hailed from, Genscher was the likely successor to Mende and currently held the position of Minister of the Interior in the Second Brandt Cabinet. He had conducted numerous visits abroad already, representing the Interior Ministry in various delegations and advancing German business interests abroad as a reliable representative of the federal government in Bonn. He had always viewed rapproachment on this level with East Germany with caution; too much of it could lead to a weakening of Bonn's position in European affairs, and too little of it could lead to unnecessary tension between the so-called East and West. Nominally, however, he was supportive of the "contact conference", as the Hague meeting was being dubbed within Germany's halls of power. He led the delegation with seriousness and with pragmatism. |

| Their arrival in The Hague was uneventful, their presence their practically unknown to all. It was of the utmost imperative that the meeting occur with as little external influences as possible - like the media - to prevent unforeseen events from interrupting a crucial first contact between the two governments of Germany. Genscher would be meeting with Werner Eggerath of the German Democratic Republic delegation for initial discussions on the deployment of representatives to each's respective nations, for stationing in West and East Berlin respectively in particular, as well as the establishment of formal lines of communication. On these, the federal government was amenable - representatives and lines of communication would be crucial in the case of heightened tensions, which Brandt, seeking to cut military funding in favor of broadening his social programs, was interested in keeping as low as possible, thus Ostpolitik. |

| The greatest point of friction, however, came with the discussion of entry permits - a complicated affair, to say the least. With the East German delegation's proposition of rules that included a commitment to returning East Germans who overstayed their visit to the West, and vice versa, the Brandt government in Bonn signaled - "NO FURTHER". Entry permit discussions were to be delayed until a future conference at which it could be fleshed out in detail and a compromise agreement be signed onto by both parties, but for now, the priority would be opening lines of communication. The conference would generally advance without a hiccup. Much of the world would not be aware of the conference until after its conclusion, whether successful or otherwise. |

[list]| [sub]HANS DIETRICH-GENSCHER, Federal Interior Minister[/sub] | "What we are doing here is God's work. It is crucial to making sure that our children never see the mushroom cloud of a nuclear bomb over their heads."[/list]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Kewtpuff, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, China32

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚

| 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆

𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜í𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒.𝐑.𝐋. (𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐂𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐚, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐂𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬.

𝐀 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐢ó𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐜á𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟎𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐌 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝟔𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎𝐦², 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐭á, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞, 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐳𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐞ș𝐭𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐌 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝟑𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎𝐦² 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐞ș𝐭𝐢. 𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦" 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐥í𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐒.𝐀. 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 "𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚" 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧.

𝐀 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬. 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚.

𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐑í𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒.𝐀., 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐬𝐨𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐮𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚. 𝐀 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.

𝐂𝐅𝐑 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐒.𝐀, 𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝐄𝐧𝐢, 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜í𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐫ó𝐥𝐞𝐮 𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐢 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

OOC: deal with Colombia was reached when the South American nation was player controlled

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Zingium, China32

Post self-deleted by Vietnam Sv.

International Olympic Committee - Comité international olympique

X Olympic Winter Games - Les Xes Jeux olympiques d'hiver

1968 - Grenoble, France

----------------------------------------------------

After two weeks of intense competition, the curtain falls on the 10th edition of the Winter Olympic Games, held here at the foot of the Rhone Alps in Grenoble. Yet another successful tournament has seen countries from around the world join together to celebrate their unity through winter sports. These games have been as significant as the last, and the legacy that has been set by the French authorities for hosting these games will remain for years to come. From the memorable opening speech from President Charles de Gaulle, to the success of Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy, to the lighting of the cauldron by former figure skater Alain Calmat, this Grenoble Olympics will be etched into the memory of fans and athletes alike for the years to come.

Grenoble won the bid to host the Olympics after the 61st IOC session held in Baden-Baden, West Germany. The bid was the work of François Raoul, the prefect of the Isère Département, and Raoul Arduin, the president of the Dauphiné Ski Federation, who first orchestrated their bid in 24 November 1960. Grenoble faced stiff challenges, from Calgary in Canada, Lahti in Finland, Sapporo in Japan (which was later awarded the 1972 games), Oslo in Norden and Lake Placid in the United States. Grenoble won in the first round of voting, and came second in the second round to Calgary. It was in the final round of voting in which Grenoble surpassed Calgary and secured their hosting bid, marking the second occasion these games were held in France after the 1st games were held in Chamonix.

The games are among the most expensive and intricately planned games in Winter Olympic history. The Grenoble games were the first in history to have an Olympic mascot, though unofficial. Following on from the success of 'World Cup Willie' at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the presence of mascots at these international sports events have become far more popular and integrated into the standard framework of these events. The mascot was named Schuss, and presented as a stylised skier wearing a blue skiing costume and a large red ball as a head. It was designed by artist Aline Lafargue, but due to the mascot not being expressly sanctioned by the IOC, it was marketed discretely, appearing solely on commemorative pins and several toys.

Grenoble had seen major investments into its infrastructure to host these games and to accommodate the influx athletes and spectators. While infrastructure took most of the investment amount, the investments towards building sports arenas was comparatively small. Of the events, the Olympic Stadium would be used for the opening ceremony, a temporary purpose built venue, and the first of its kind in Olympic history. Le Stade de Glace would host the closing ceremonies, as well as the medal ceremonies, and figure skating and ice hockey. The Nordic sports, including biathlon, cross-country, Nordic combined and ski jumping were held in Autrans. The large hill ski jumping were held in Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte. The mens alpine skiing was held at the resort of Chamrousse, whilst the womens were held at Recoin de Chamrousse. Bobsleigh and luge events were held at purpose built venues, the Piste de Bobsleigh and the Piste de Luge.

Looking back at the 1964 games held in Innsbruck, the Soviet Union entered the games as the clear favourites to top the medal table, having finished first in every Winter Olympics since their first appearance in 1956. Norden were a strong contender, the traditional champions and a strong runner in previous years despite Soviet dominance. France, as the host nation, would be competing on their home soil and would obtain a definite advantage. As well as this, the other Alpine nations, such as West and East Germany, the Alpenland and Slovenia would each be looking to secure medals in these games.

The opening ceremony was attended by 60,000 spectators in the Olympic Stadium and many more around. The Olympic Village was packed full with fans and athletes in anticipation of the event. At the very back of the stadium, the Olympic cauldron was held aloft by a steel scaffold, capable of supporting up to 550 kg of weight. Over 500 guests of honour were invited to join President de Gaulle in attendance, including the IOC president Avery Brundage and the Nordic Crown Princess Margrethe. The ceremony was opened by the singing of the Marseillaise, followed by cultural performances from around France. After this, the procession of athletes, led by the Greek team, came through the stadium, with the first teams after Greece being East and West Germany, and the final team being the hosts France. Figure skater Alain Calmat had the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron, where a sound of his heartbeat was amplified as he lit the Olympic flame. The ceremony was concluded by a reading of the Olympic oath, followed by a display by the Patrouille de France, the aerobatic flight display team of the French Air Force.

----------------------------------------------------

THE GAMES

The hosts France dominated in the Alpine Skiing events, taking 5 out of the 6 available gold medals, with the last gold being awarded to Italy in the mens slalom. France also took 5 out of the 6 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals to dominate the sport. Alpenland failed to replicate their dominant performance from Innsbruck but managed to secure a silver and a bronze medal, with West Germany picking up 2 bronze medals and the United States picking up a lone bronze medal in the women's slalom. These events proved controversial for the battle between French hero Jean-Claude Killy and Alpine superstar Karl Schranz. Killy set the record for the mens downhill at 1:59.85, though Schranz had been looking quicker in practice. However, during his race, Schranz claimed that a mysterious man in black had crossed his path during the slalom race, and caused him to skid to a halt. He was given a restart on this technicality, and beat Killy's time, but was later disqualified by a Jury of Appeal. This event has gone down as one of the most controversial in Winter Olympic history.

The biathlon saw the Soviet Union and Norden each come away with a gold medal, in the Individual and Relay events respectively. Poland and Norden finished in silver and bronze respectively in the individual event, and the Soviet Union and Norden finished silver and bronze for the relay, marking the true beginning of the fight between the Soviets and the Nordic athletes for the top spot on the medal table.

In the bobsleigh, Italy and Alpenland shared the gold medals in what proved to be a dominant performance from the Alpine nations. Alpenland also secured a silver and bronze in the fours event, and Italy secured silver in the twos event, followed by the United States with a bronze medal. Italy's hero was Eugenio Monti, a star bobsleigh pilot who replicated his World and European championship successes at the games to set a new Olympic record.

Cross-country skiing saw the Soviet Union dominated in the womens events, taking 3 gold medals, 2 silvers and 1 bronze medal, challenged only by the Nordic athletes who took a silver and two bronze medals. Nordic star Toini Gustafsson was unable to gain a gold in these games but cemented herself as a strong contender for the future games. Norden dominated the mens events, with 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze. Finland took the last remaining gold, as well as 4 silver medals and a bronze. History was made by Italian cross-country skier Franco Nones, who became the first athlete not from Norden, Finland or the Soviet Union to win a medal in cross-country skiing, followed by a West German athlete who won bronze the next day.

Figure skating saw golds shared between three nations. Alpenland took gold in the mens events, with the United States taking silver and France taking a bronze medal. The United States won gold in the womens events, with East Germany taking a silver medal and Czechoslovakia taking a bronze. Peggy Fleming built up a huge lead after the compulsory figures and won the first-place votes of all nine judges in one of the best-ever Olympic performances, and marking the first gold medal one by an American athlete after the tragic death of an entire US figure skating team in air crash in 1961. The Soviet married pair Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov successfully defended their gold medals in the pairs events from Innsbruck, with another Soviet pair taking silver and the United States taking a bronze medal.

The Ice Hockey saw the return of the Soviets, taking another victory over the Czechoslovakian team, that finished in second. The Canadian side took bronze after defeating the Nordic team in the bronze medal match.

The Luge events saw the best performance by the newly admitted East German squad in Olympic history, becoming the one of two nations in the games to win every gold medal available in a single sport. The dominant East Germans also took 2 out of 3 silver medals. Alpenland were second best, taking a silver and 2 bronze medals. Italy also factored into the medal table, with a single bronze in the mens doubles event.

The Nordic Combined saw a shocking turn where no Nordic athletes featured on the medal table for the first time in Olympic history. The gold and silver medals were taken by the West German athletes, and in third were the Alpine athletes.

However, Norden took both golds in the main event of the Nordic sports, the ski jumping, winning in both the normal and large hill events. In the normal hill, the East Germans were narrowly beaten out by the Nordic jumpers and took a silver medal, and the Finnish jumper took the bronze medal. Japan took only their second Winter Olympic medal in history, with a silver in the large hill events, with Norden taking the final available bronze in the category.

Speed-skating rounded out the eventful and thrilling games. Norden took two gold medals in the mens 5,000 and 10,000 metre, with West Germany taking the short 500 m gold and Benelux taking their first gold of the games in the 1,500 m. Norden also took 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals in the mens events, Benelux taking a silver and 2 bronze medals, and the United States taking a single silver medal. The womens events saw Benelux take 2 gold medals in the 1,000 m and the 3,000 m events, Finland take gold in the 1,500 m events and the Soviet Union take gold in the 500 m events. The United States and Benelux would take a silver and 2 bronzes each, with the Soviet Union and Finland each taking a lone silver medal each. The women's 3,000 m event was of particular note, with the top 10 finishers all beating the previous Olympic record set in Squaw Valley 1960, however the gold medallist from Benelux Johanna Schut was unable to beat the World Record, only narrowly missing out.

----------------------------------------------------

CLOSING CEREMONY AND MEDAL TABLE

The closing ceremony was held at the Stade de Glace, in the Paul Mistral Park not far from the Olympic Village. The ceremony included an ice dancing demonstration event, where no scores nor medals were given. The final award ceremonies for the figure skaters took place shortly after. The Marseillaise played, and all athletes still in Grenoble reassembled onto the ice and the flag bearers formed a circle, whilst a special torchbearer brought the Olympic flame into the stadium and ignited a small version of the Olympic cauldron. The IOC president Avery Brundage thanked the organisers and declared the games were over, with the lowering of the Olympic flag and retired from the venue, to gun salutes that were heard across town.

Norden took the top spot on the final medal table from the Soviet Union, the first instance this ahd occurred since 1956 when the Soviets began competing in the Winter Games. France, the hosts, would finish third followed by East Germany, beating out West Germany in the rankings. The top ten medallists are as follows:

1. Norden - 8 gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze, 20 total

2. Soviet Union - 7 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze, 13 total

3. France - 5 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze, 13 total

4. East Germany - 3 gold, 4 silver, 0 bronze, 7 total

5. Benelux - 3 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze, 9 total

6. Finland - 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

7. Alpenland - 2 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze, 10 total

8. West Germany - 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

9. Italy - 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

10. United States - 1 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze, 9 total

With another Winter Games now over, we look ahead to the Summer Games, to be held in Madrid, Spain, to mark 1968 as a celebration of world sport and unity through competition. Join us next time, for the Summer Games, and before that, we have our coverage of the AFC Asian Cup.

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin

[list][list]MARCH 1968

[sub]Surviving Every Day[/sub][/list]

[pre] C R I S I S I N V I E T N A M [/pre]

DISTRICT 5 — NOON

[sub]SAIGON, Vietnam Sv[/sub]

| After a month of war, the South Vietnamese capital completely lost its atmosphere of peace and well-being and developed a split personality. During the day, Saigon struggles to regain normality; At night, as artillery rains down on the suburbs and searchlights hit the sky, the city retreats into a climate of fear, awaiting another Communist attack that most South Vietnamese consider inevitable. Public transport is not operating in some places. The mail piled up without being delivered to the post office. The city’s hospitals are full and schools remain closed. The twelve-hour curfew (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) further harmed the Saigon’s population. In the past, the average Saigonian had one or two extra jobs, now he can only hold down one job — if he’s lucky enough to still have one. Due to reduced working hours, there is much less economic activity. 20 freighters, for example, are waiting to be unloaded. The lack of these imports means fewer jobs and lower wages. Partly due to the slowdown, hundreds of small businesses have gone bankrupt. As a result, Saigonese have less money to spend when they need it most. |

| Because of the curfew, there is almost no entertainment in Saigon. Government-controlled television dedicates 90% of its programming to anti-Viet Cong propaganda. Cinemas and theaters are closed. President NGUYEN VAN THIEU also ordered the closure of all bars in the city, but only about half of them complied. Others try to avoid the curfew by opening early. The battalions of U.S. troops that were brought into Saigon to eradicate the Viet Cong were withdrawn, but platoons of South Vietnamese airborne troops continued a house-to-house clearing operation on the outskirts of Saigon. Viet Cong snipers fire at American military personnel and Vietnamese army patrols from rooftops and windows. The government is present throughout the city. Police or soldiers set up checkpoints throughout Saigon. For years, the Viet Cong have maintained active operations in the capital, but in a city under siege, their presence is more unbearable than ever. |

Paramountica, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Vancouver Straits, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Sport-Internationale, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin

[list][list][sub]15 APRIL | 1968[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN[/sub][/list][/list]

[pre] ꜱᴛɪʀɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ʜᴏʀɴᴇᴛ'ꜱ ɴᴇꜱᴛ [/pre]

[list][sub]| The idea of creating an independent Palestinian government would seem quite futile given that the Palestinian Liberation Front does not currently have any liberated land within its grasp nor the ability to bring such land to their hands soon. However given the post-Naksa world which they found themselves in, and a need for complete and total legitimacy following the slow but now seemingly inevitable collapse of Pan-Arabist nationalism, the leadership (composed mainly of George Habash, Yasser Arafat, Khalil al-Wazir, and Nayef Hawatemeh) of the PLF found that perhaps no better time was now then to capitalize as well on the victory in Mahis. |[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]| And so on the 15th of April, 1968, the Palestinian National Council (the legislative arm of the PLF) passed by a decision of 242 to 46 the 'Declaration of the Formation of the Palestinian Government'. This act officially provides the legal basis for the creation of the Palestinian government-in-exile. Using the United Nation's Resolution 181 and the Treaty of Lausanne as official international basis, the government-in-exile according to the passed act establishes its sovereignty over all of 'historical Palestine' (defined as from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea). |[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]| No doubt an act that will cause some international anger from the Zionist occupation, nonetheless, the act continues by establishing the Palestinian Liberation Front as the sole and mass representative of the Palestinian people, recognizing its leading role in society, and its status as a 'vanguard' organization of the Palestinian people. Further, it defines current PLF Chairman George Habash as the 'Premier' of this government-in-exile, with Fatah leader Yasser Arafat as his deputy. |[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]| As for the rest of the cabinet, Abu Jihad was appointed as Minister of Defense to oversee military operations and the Palestinian Liberation Army, Abu Iyad as Minister of Interior putting him in control over the PLF's intelligence apparatus which had been established a year prior, Nayef Hawatameh as Minister of Finance tasked with forming a financial stream for the PLF and managing its financial policy as well as formulating the economic direction of the future Palestinian state, and Ghassan Kanafani as Minister of Information whose job is to serve as the media front of the PLF and serve as its official spokesman. |[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]| The decision to form the government was made to thousands of Palestinian refugees in Amman, where Yasser Arafat read it out to those that were in attendance. Reportedly, wide celebrations followed suite with the Palestinian militias taking part as well as bringing out captured tanks to parade them once again. |[/list][/sub]

[list][sub]| Coming so soon after the Battle of Mahis, this has served as a further transitional step of the Palestinian people no longer relying on other states such as the U.A.R or Jordan to achieve their rights for them, and instead taking the battle right to the enemy by their own hands. While its still going to be a long while before the Palestinians are fully in control of their destiny, that time looks closer and closer by the day. |[/list][/sub]

Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Belarus Sr

Post by Libermexania suppressed by Paramountica.

Libermexania

I just have a request, you can just help me choose a country, and then I will probably be in RP

Post by Libermexania suppressed by Paramountica.

Libermexania

Though no lol, I'm going to be some kind of Soviet republic within the USSR. I'll just create another country in NationState to play the role of a Soviet republic

Completion of the Galați Steel Works

[sub]Aprilie 1968, Comitetul Central al Partidului Comunist Român, București, Republica Socialistă România[/sub]

[sub]April 1968, Central Committee of The Communist Party of Romania, Bucharest, Socialist Republic of Romania[/sub]

| The completion of the Galați Steel Works stands as a monumental achievement in the Socialist Republic of Romania's relentless pursuit of industrial glory and self sufficiency. His Excellency Comrade Constantin Rotaru, General Secretary of The Communist Party of Romania, President of The Presidium of The Great National Assembly, President of the State Council, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Supreme Commander of The People's Army, beloved and esteemed son of all Romanian people, the Genius of the Carpathians, the revered Conducător of the nation, graced the inauguration ceremony alongside his esteemed wife, Ms. Comrade Magdalena Rotaru; a first big step in the new 5 years plan.

| The Galați Steel Works inauguration was a grand event, befitting its significance in the nation's industrial landscape. The entire city of Galați was adorned with grand portraits of the Presidential couple, red banners, and flags, creating an atmosphere of celebration, joy and pride. The city's streets echoed with the cheers of thousands of citizens, eagerly anticipating the moment when their collective efforts and sacrifice would be symbolized in the colossal steel plant.

His Excellency Comrade Constantin Rotaru, the "Genius of the Carpathians" and his wife, Ms. Comrade Magdalena Rotaru were welcomed with thunderous applause and cheers as they entered the ceremony. The couple stood side by side, the embodiment of the nation's leadership, ready to witness the fruition of years of planning and hard work.

[sub]The Galați Steel Works, now one of the largest in Europe, boasts an annual production capacity of 4 million tons of steel. This remarkable scale positions Romania as a key player in the continent's steel industry, fulfilling His Excellency's vision of economic strength and self-reliance. The plant incorporates cutting-edge technology in steel production such as Electric Furnaces, first in Romanian Steel Mills, emphasizing Romania's commitment to progress and innovation. Advanced machinery and processes ensure efficiency and quality in every ton of steel produced. The completion of the Steel Works has not only boosted Romania's industrial capabilities but has also been a catalyst for economic and social development. Thousands of jobs have been created, providing a better life for workers and their families in the surrounding areas of Galați.[/sub]

| In his address, His Excellency, Comrade Constantin Rotaru expressed profound gratitude to the workers, engineers, and citizens who contributed to the realization of this monumental project. He hailed the Galați Steel Works as a symbol of Romania's determination to break free from the chains of dependency and to forge its destiny as a self-sufficient independent socialist nation.

[sub]"...The Steel Works are not just a testament to our industrial might, but a symbol of Romanian unity, a symbol of Romanian perseverance. This steel, produced by the hands of the hard working people, will build the foundations of a stronger, independent, more prosperous country..." - Comrade Constantin Rotaru, the brave Conducător of Romania, Genius of the Carpathians.[/sub]

[sub]| The completion of the Galați Steel Works is a defining moment in the economic and industrial history of the Socialist Republic of Romania. Under the visionary leadership of the brave Conducător, Comrade Constantin Rotaru, the nation has achieved yet another victory. As the Genius of the Carpathians and his wife, Ms. Comrade Magdalena Rotaru, inaugurated this monument to industry, they ushered in a new era for Romania — an era of strength, self-reliance, and the relentless pursuit of a brighter future for all Romanian people. |[/sub]

[sub]E scris pe Tricolor unire! Pe roșu steag liberator! Prin lupte sub a lor umbrire, spre Comunism urcăm în zbor![/sub]

[sub]Trăiască Partidul Comunist Român în frunte cu al său secretar general, tovarășul Constantin Rotaru![/sub]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Ababemba

Adriatican Islands

Alzarikstan

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Bayern Kahla

Bescania

Brazil Toucan

Canovia

Cascadla

Central Arstotzka

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hashemite Kingdoms

Hatzburg

Honghai

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

La Granadinas

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Moroavia

Nevbrejnovitz

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Nonador

Nosautempopulus

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Reyzen

Rutannia

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Sri-Lanka

Sudesam

Taiiwan

Teymour

The Black Star-

The Sun States

Turkiye 1St

Ubertica

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin, Belarus Sr

Post by Belarus Sr suppressed by Paramountica.

Belarus Sr

Belarusian SSR, new education system?

By order of the fourteenth "First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus" it was announced that the education system of the BSSR would be updated in order to improve it.

The new school curriculum will include the study of English as another foreign language, like German. Before that, teaching English was difficult, but now specialists will be trained.

According to Pyotr Masherov (First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus) he said that "our education system should have received investment from the state a long time ago, at the moment it is in my interests to introduce the English language, and then we will see what to do."

Newspaper "Радзіма"

Lieobria, Kewtpuff, Spain-, Ma-Li, Zingium

Post by Belarus Sr suppressed by Paramountica.

Belarus Sr

The BSSR is confidently moving along the path of socialist development!

Minsk, April 24, 1968. Soviet Belarus continues to successfully implement plans to develop the national economy, improve the lives of workers and strengthen friendship with other socialist countries. First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus Pyotr Masherov, in his speech at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the BSSR, summed up the work for the first quarter of 1968 and outlined prospects for the future.

According to him, the BSSR has achieved high levels of growth in industrial and agricultural production, increased the production of consumer goods, increased wages and pensions, improved social security and cultural development of the population. In particular, in the first quarter of 1968, industrial production of the BSSR increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year, agricultural production - by 9.8%, and retail trade turnover - by 12.4%. The average salary in the BSSR was 97 rubles per month, which is 8.5% more than in the first quarter of 1967. The average old-age pension reached 47 rubles per month, which is 10.6% more than a year ago.

Pyotr Masherov also announced plans for the further development of the national economy of the BSSR in 1968. He noted that this year 42 new large industrial enterprises are planned to be put into operation in the BSSR, including factories for the production of tractors, cars, chemical fibers, electrical equipment and other products. In agriculture, it is planned to increase grain production by 12%, meat by 14%, milk by 15%, vegetables and fruits by 20%. In retail trade, it is planned to increase the range and quality of goods, including clothing, shoes, furniture, household appliances and other products. In the field of social welfare and culture, it is planned to build and renovate more than 2 million square meters of living space, 150 schools, 100 kindergartens, 50 hospitals, 40 cinemas, 30 clubs and other facilities.

Pyotr Masherov emphasized that all these achievements and plans are the result of the unity and cohesion of the working people of the BSSR, their loyalty to the ideas of communism and friendship with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. He called on all segments of the population of the BSSR to actively participate in the implementation of plans for the development of the national economy, increase the pace and quality of work, preserve and rationally use material and spiritual resources, improve their professional and social skills, strengthen socialist law and order, develop culture and science, strengthen interethnic harmony and friendship with other peoples. He expressed confidence that the BSSR, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Belarus and with the support of the Soviet Union, will successfully follow the path of socialist and communist development, making its contribution to the common cause of peace and progress.

Newspaper "Радзіма"

Lieobria, Amsterwald, Kewtpuff, Ma-Li, Le Equatoria, Zingium

THE UNION OF NORDEN

24 April, 1968 - Copenhagen

-----------------------------------------

THE NORDIC SYSTEM: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ANNOUNCED AHEAD OF 1968 SNAP-ELECTIONS

The retirement of Landsfaren Einar Gerhardsen from his position as Prime Minister sent shockwaves around the Union. For 20 years, Gerhardsen had been at the very apex of Nordic life, a figurehead representing the Union of Norden at home and abroad. His larger-than-life presence as a figure representing Nordic interests earned him the title of "Father of the Nation", and his work as Prime Minister will not soon be forgotten. However, in the wake of his resignation and the vacuum of power, the competing political interests of the nation, that had been reduced to whispers and murmurs under the uniting presence of Gerhardsen, have re-emerged and have become so loud and audible that they cannot simply be ignored. These political interests represent not just the competing ideologies of the nation but the herculean task faced by the Nordic Council of governing and administering three previously separate and relatively distinct national identities, made harder by the history shared between those nations. With Gerhardsen now gone, a change was in need to redraft the Nordic system, in order to preserve the Unity of the Realm.

As early as 1966, cracks in the political system began to show. The small but growing divide between the supporters of Scadinavianism and the Union, and those regional Nationalists pushing for the further devolution of powers and even some for disbanding the Union. These Nationalist elements were bolstered in their cries after the 1958 secession of Iceland from the Union, fuelling ideas across the nation that the remaining three states of the Union deserved autonomy and self-rule. Looking deeper into the cracks, similar calls in autonomous territories of the nation, especially the Faroe Islands and to a lesser extent Greenland, for home rule and greater autonomy had already sprung into the public view. Polls showed that these Nationalistic sentiments, while not overwhelming, were gradually rising particularly in right wing political parties. A majority of these sentiments came from certain groups, namely rural populations and the elderly, who formed the majority of supporters. In contrast, younger, urban populations were in support for the Union. The greatest support came from Danes and Swedes, with growing Nationalistic sentiments emerging in Norway.

In response, the Parliament established a committee to investigate the findings and suggest potential avenues for reform. The express objective was to ensure unity between the constituent nations of Norden and to find sustainable, long-term solutions to the issue. Upon announcing this to the Parliament, some representatives felt that there was no need for reform, especially from the Conservative elements of the Parliament, who believed that the committee was an overreaction to a situation that had not and would not cause problems for the the Union even in the future. The belief among the Conservatives has been dismissed by some elements of Nordic society as representing an unwillingness to act, and that a potential reform may serve to strengthen the position of the already dominant Nordic Labour, though others have sympathised with the viewpoint of the Conservatives. The Liberals have been especially critical of the move, which they see as unnecessary government expenditure into a problem that they too claim is an invention of Labour. From it's inception, the mere thought of reform had already brought the long-simmering divides into the open.

The Nordic system had previously operated in the way prescribed by the Gothenburg Conference. In which, governance was split between the Parliament (known then as the Riksdag) and the Nordic Council, in which legislative and executive powers are vested respectively. Both act as the Nordic government, though each constituent nation maintained their own legislative assembly with reduced powers. The Nordic Council acted as a collaborative executive branch between the three constituent nations. It rotates between the capitals of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo every five years. The Prime Minister, sometimes known as the High Prime Minister, is elected at the start of each term and remains so until the next election.

There are a number of criticisms of this system which were discovered by the end of the committee's work in December 1966. The selection of a single High Prime Minister was deemed to be exclusive of the other democratically elected heads of state, irregardless of the triumvirate nature of the Nordic Council. This was apparent under the rule of Gerhardsen, where Danes and Swedes felt their issues were not well represented under the rule of a Norwegian. Further to this, rotation of the capital between the three capital cities of the Union was also not seen to be representative enough, with each city feeling that their status as a capital should be continuous, rather than rotational. Finally, the name Riksdag was another point of contention, with the name coming from the Swedish name for the Diet, which was seen to be exclusive of Danish and Norwegian languages, which call their legislative assemblies the Thing. By the completion of the work, the committee had also charted a steady rise in support for devolution and for independence within the Union.

At the start of the 1967, the Council pledged to call snap elections to be undertaken the following year. Criticisms were levied at the length of time between the announcement and the elections, though it was claimed that the length of time was selected in order to allow for final works to be completed and to give the various parties enough time to conduct their campaigns. It was at this time that the Committee began to draw up it's recommendations for reform in the form of Constitutional Amendments, some of the first in the history of the Union. The amendments were submitted to the Riksdag by March 1967, and were debated and changed various times until their final format in August of the same year. Some of the key points of these amendments were:

[list]

[*] The Nordic High King/Queen would be given to the monarchs of Denmark, Norway and Sweden on a rotational basis on 10 years, as opposed to by generation.

[*] The Riksdag would be renamed the Parliament, and would be a union of the three legislative branches of the three nations.

[*] Representatives to the Parliament would be elected for a 6 year term.

[*] The Nordic Prime Minister would be a rotational position between the three elected Prime Ministers of the Union, to change every 2 years.

[*] The Capital City of Norden would equally be shared between Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, with the Nordic Administrative organs to relocate with the changing of the Nordic Prime Minister.

[/list]

Some other changes were eventually proposed, these being compromises requested by the Conservatives and granted by the Labour majority. The vote took place in February 1968, after several months of deliberation and of preparations. The Nordic Constitution required that two-thirds majority of the Parliament must vote in favour to secure the amendments. In the first vote, much of the Liberal Party refused to vote, meaning the vote was without quorum and therefore could not pass. This decision to block the vote was done tactically by the Liberals, hoping to secure further concessions. By April, the reforms had finally gone through, with a 71% vote in favour.

These new amendments are due to take effect in the coming General Elections by October 1968, and present the first major change to the Nordic system since the inception of the Union.

Paramountica, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Vancouver Straits, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Maziya, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin, Belarus Sr

From Turkiye with Love - Turkish diplomacy in Africa from guns to steel

A container ship sat moored in the Port of İzmir. The port, the largest in the Republic of Turkiye was the epicenter of all inbound and outbound trade to the country. The ship, bearing the flag of the Republic on its stern was being loaded with containers marked with the name ‘Koç Holding’ one of Turkiye’s two major shipping companies. Inside the containers were many thousands of pounds of goods, products made in Turkiye destined for overseas. Some of the containers were filled to the brim with steel products. From beams meant for construction, to thousands upon thousands of screws, nails, and other steel products. Machinery, such as tractors and engines were also mounted onto containers before carefully being loaded upon the vessel.

By late morning, the ship’s captain had made final preparations and the crew ran a final check on every single container, ensuring each of them was secured for their weeks-long journey. Soon, they set off, joining other container ships as they crossed the Aegean and sailed into the open waters of the Mediterranean. Three days later, the ship had crossed the Pillars of Hercules, better known as the Strait of Gibraltar before changing course South. The captain, a former Turkish Navy sailor and experienced navigator checked his schedule one final time as they entered the Atlantic. He had a few stops to make along the Western coast of Africa, with his final destination being the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania where he was to unload the majority of his onboard goods.

Not too far behind was another ship. Smaller, and with a very different set of cargo. It’s crew was composed of disguised members of the Turkish Republican Navy and guarded closely by members of the Su Altı Taarruz (SAT), a commando unit attached to the navy. Their cargo were weapons, ammunition, disassembled vehicles and artillery, all of them destined for customers in Africa. The delivery was stricken from official books, and only known to the highest echelons of the Turkish Republican Armed Forces and the General Staff. The ship’s flag and registry placed it as a vessel of another country and its cargo was hidden by more benign goods. Their delivery, destined for Cameroon and Ganda was to be kept strictly secret, lest Turkiye anger its Spanish and Portuguese allies.

These, and many other shipping vessels represented the beginning of the re-establishment of a Turkish presence in the African continent. Long removed by Ottoman failure during the Great War, Turkish leaders had planned for a revival of Turkish trade and influence in Africa. However, this would be a lengthy process that would undoubtedly take many years to unfold. Nevertheless, the delivery of Turkish goods, both civilian and military in nature to countries such as Cameroon, Ganda and Tanzania was the first step in a plan to place Turkiye at a prominent position on the ‘Dark’ Continent. While some indeed dreamed of competing with the Soviets and Americans for influence, President Bülent Ecevit, along with Prime Minister Alparslan Turkeş and Turkish businessmen were more than happy to finally sell their goods outside Turkiye’s immediate periphery.

Lastly, Turkish businesses were more than happy to see factories resume operations again and laborers were glad to return to work to finally earn their wages again. While not as large as the European market, Africa would ease some of the burden upon Turkish businesses suffering from the dreaded export glut.

Paramountica, Lieobria, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Le Equatoria, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin, Belarus Sr

[list][list][pre]| V E R E N I G DㅤㅤK O N I N R I J KㅤㅤB E N E L U X

| "ㅤE E N D R A C H TㅤㅤM A A K TㅤㅤM A C H Tㅤ"[/pre]

[list][list][pre]Misschien hebben we het verpest,

de zaken worden steeds erger, in Namen...[/pre][/list]

[pre]// 26 APRIL 1968, VRIJDAG

LA CITADELLE DE NAMUR, NAMUR, WALLONIE //[/pre][/list]

O M N I AㅤㅤB E N EㅤㅤE R U N T :ㅤㅤT H EㅤㅤC R A C K E DㅤㅤP I L L A R

[list]ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ[sub]The ominous grip of the Walloon Crisis tightened around the nation's throat, thrusting itself to new, harrowing heights. The notorious region, the vying political beast in fierce competition, rose with a malevolent determination to seize liberty, heedless of the toll it exacted. The tragedy of the Palace of Brussels echoed across the European continent, a mournful tale of how it transformed into a macabre graveyard, claiming the lives of over thirty souls—just another blood-stained pearl adorning the necklace of the relentless Walloon menace. Brussels, once a vibrant tapestry of life and activity, succumbed to an eerie hush, replaced only by the unsettling cacophony of clashes between the State Police and the rioters. The lively shopping streets, once adorned with colourful displays of jewellery, fashion, and tempting baked goods, now lay desolate. Fear overshadowed the once-thriving town, compelling its residents to remain hidden within the confines of their homes until absolutely necessary. To some, the plight of Brussels may seem like the ultimate tragedy, but a cursory glance at the depravity consuming the city of Namur would reveal Brussels as a fleeting haven in the midst of the storm for the beleaguered Walloon population.[/sub]

[sub]Namur, once teeming with life, metamorphosed into a haunting ghost town, forsaken by its inhabitants. The desolate streets, patrolled by a stern police force, cast a chilling, dystopian pallor over the cityscape. In contrast to the vibrant protests echoing in the streets of Brussels, where the spirit of the Walloons resisted with fervour, Namur became a place devoid of courage. A pervasive sense of absolute authority loomed over the capital, stifling any inkling of dissent. The sombre scenes playing out in Namur were mirrored in other cities like Charleroi and Aarlen (formerly known as Arlon). There, a thick atmosphere of control and restriction permeated the air, snuffing out any flicker of hope for freedom in the hearts of the people. In the shadows of these once-thriving urban landscapes, the pulse of resistance grew faint, as the oppressive grip of authority tightened its hold, extinguishing the flames of freedom.[/sub]

[sub]Perched atop the Citadel, overlooking the hushed expanse of Namur, the caretaker regional chief, Boudewijn ten Winkel, raised a mug to his lips before surveying the desolate streets below. Taking in the eerie stillness, he turned to the companion at his side and, with a sip, uttered a calm yet ominous warning. "If we don't act swiftly, Brussels could be our next quagmire," he said, his gaze heavy with concern. A sigh escaped him, laden with the weight of the situation. "Efficiency is paramount; we can't afford any missteps. Unprofessionalism is a luxury we cannot indulge." The silence of the chamber served as a stark reminder that the looming crisis demanded a meticulous and decisive response from the caretaker chief and his team.[/sub]

[sub]"This is quite a perilous game you're entangled in, Winkel," the gentleman replied, his gaze fixed on the table as he contemplated the weight of their actions. "Wiping out an entire nation – do you truly believe this won't end in catastrophe? The Walloons have deep roots, an enduring part of Belgium, woven into the very fabric of the nation. They are Belgium. How do you intend to consign them to the annals of history? Eradicating an entire group is not a feasible solution. No, not at all." The gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air, as the gentleman expressed his reservations about the perilous path they were treading.[/sub]

[sub]"So, what's your proposal, Wolsheijner? Where do we navigate from here? Do we merely stand by and witness the conflagration, let them raze every building in their path, mercilessly kill innocents, and revolt like savages? Giving up is not an option. No, the die has been cast. We've entered the realm of no return," Ten Winkel responded, a palpable undercurrent of anger tainting his tone. Seating himself, he took a moment to compose his emotions. "Listen, Wolsheijner. Our choices are stark at this juncture. We either persist in this futile war, uncertain of its direction, or extend an olive branch and hope for a semblance of peace. The lines between these decisions are blurring with each passing day, and I find myself torn," he admitted, the weight of the decision pressing on him like an unrelenting force.[/sub]

[sub]"We could entertain the idea of letting them establish their own state, don't you think? Consider it. What purpose do the Walloons serve? They stand as an exceedingly troublesome ethnic minority, a financial burden on the union. Their contributions are meagre, while they drain double the funds they provide from the treasury each year. With the escalating anti-terrorism measures, we're pouring even more billions of guilders into Wallonia. It's money straight down the drain. How can you argue it's in our best interest to retain them? What value do they bring? Come to your senses! This isn't how realpolitik functions. Landmass isn't the only quality of a strong state.”[/sub]

[sub]Offended by the confrontational tone, Winkel assumed a defensive stance. "If you have grievances, direct your anger at Minister Van Veerenjans. I'm just a regional chief. What do you expect me to do?" he retorted, pushing back against the blame being placed squarely on his shoulders. The tension in the room simmered as the implications of their conversation stood heavily between the chamber walls.[/sub]

[sub]"Request a referendum. That's what I expect. You wield all the authority necessary to initiate an independence referendum. Given your connections to the Prime Minister, it's unlikely to be easily rejected. I'll also discuss it with the Privy Council. Take action; don't just ponder. I shouldn't be the one instructing you on what needs to be done," the gentleman urged, his words carrying the weight of urgency and expectation.[/sub]

[sub]"And here we stand, proposing to gift Duchemin the keys to our demise, sheer brilliance!" he exclaimed with biting sarcasm. "Do you truly believe that setting Wallonia for independence will miraculously untangle every knot of conflict with the Walloons? Perhaps, while we're at it, we can carve out a separate realm for every minuscule minority—Frisians to the north, Luxembourgish to the south. Why stop there? Let's toss our entire land to the whims of random factions. Your lack of logic is astounding, yet here you are, levelling accusations at me. This has to be a twisted joke.”[/sub]

[sub]"The real joke is your statesmanship," he countered sharply. "Disagree with me? Fine. Revel in the daily clashes with the Walloons. You're dismissing the only viable solution for a laughable reason. I won't stand by and watch my country endure further suffering. With or without your support, I'm advancing a proposal, and I am confident in my ability to persuade," he menacingly countered Winkel's words, the tension in the room palpable. Then, rising with a fury that seemed to shake the very foundations of the chamber, he stormed out of his chair and marched out of the room. His footsteps echoed through the halls of the Citadel as he muttered to himself in seething discontent. His rapid and angered pace carried him towards the telecommunications room, each step more forceful and resolute than the last. Without bothering to knock, he burst into the room, a storm of frustration and determination in his wake. The atmosphere crackled with the intensity of unresolved conflict as he prepared to take matters into his own hands.[/sub]

[sub]His entrance disrupted the room's quietude, and without preamble, he addressed the young man on duty, the tension hanging thick in the air. "Mr. Lajoie, I'm here to telegram an important message to the office of the Prime Minister in The Hague. Pay close attention and record every word I'm about to say.”[/sub]

_______________________________________________

[/list][spoiler=[sub]Dit is een fictief stukje creatief werk voor[/sub]

de GEMENEBEST VAN FRIJHEID [ CoL ]

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Lieobria, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Le Equatoria, Zingium

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚

| 𝑨𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 & 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐬𝐨𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟓, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟓, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐃𝐏, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐡𝐮𝐦, 𝐬𝐨𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐱 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟, 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫, 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐚𝐧, 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐨𝐣𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬, 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐮𝐜𝐮𝐦á𝐧, 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐣𝐮𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞.

𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟎𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦á𝐭𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚. 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 (𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠) 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 (𝐞𝐠. 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬).

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚. 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐬. 𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐡𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐭.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚'𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬, 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐭𝐜, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 (𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐠. 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬) 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐬" 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲; 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲, 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲. 𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Zingium

[pre]|April, 1968 - Avril 1968|[/pre]

[list][list][list][pre]RSC ★ REVOLUTIONARY STATE OF CAMEROON

ÉTAT RÉVOLUTIONNAIRE DU CAMEROUN ★ ÉRC|[/pre][/list][/list][/list]

A RIFT BEGINS TO GROW IN THE OUANDIÉ-MEKA RÉGIME POST LIBERATION WAR:

HUMBLE MEKA BEGINS GROWING WEARY OF BRAGGADOCIOUS AND RADICAL MINDSET OF POLITICAL MENTOR OUANDIÉ!

UNE CRISPE COMMENCE À SE GRANDIR DANS LA GUERRE APRÈS LA LIBÉRATION DU RÉGIME DE OUANDIÉ-MEKA :

HUMBLE MEKA COMMENCE À SE LASER DE L’ÉTAT D’ESPRIT BRAGGADOCIE ET ​​RADICALE DU MENTOR POLITIQUE OUANDIÉ !

[pre]| As Ouandié continued his tour around the country after the miraculous success of the recent military operation against Spain a bitterness was forming in Yaoundé as Ouandié seemed to promote a idea that he was the mastermind of the military operation while in reality he was nearly non existent in the planning stages dealing more with creating and supplying guerrilla groups. These groups were originally required to report directly to the Revolutionary Cameroonian People’s Army, but as the fog of war came undone it was noticed that these forces would solely report to Ouandié leaving Meka and the rest of RCPA council out of the loop, slowly becoming Ouandié private military force. Meka one of the minds between the two minds coup now felt himself in a dangerous position of Ouandié having a private army and Meka not solidifying his grasp on the military yet left his well being in jeopardy as him and Ouandié have not been on talking terms except for brief public appearances together for celebrations after the success of the military operation. Meka now set out to solidify his military alliances and turn them against the political intelligentsia that found themselves a solid foothold in the guerrilla groups and political factions supporting Ouandié. Meka feared if he did not strike soon enough this rift could turn to civil war allowing an opportunity for foreign imperialists to gain a grasp so soon after such a monumental success. |[/pre]

[pre]| A secret meeting was held by Meka in one of his private residences in the outskirts of Yaoundé. Meka tasked himself with instilling a fear in the RCPA top brass of Ouandié undermining their new found authority with the junta and setting up a “civilian” government controlled by Ouandié and his guerrilla leaders. Meka reported to them that Ouandié was conducting meetings with the heads of the SDM, NMM-AL, ADF, RBA-AS, PA-AL. The PA-AL worried the Council the most as they were a hardline Marxist group previously acting without any government support and had been at odds with the RCPA leading to skirmishes in western Cameroon. Meka claimed that Ouandié was going to unite these groups into a new military force outside of the jurisdiction of the RCPA and under the control of the Director of the Nation to protect the position during times of Anti-Military rule reform. |[/pre]

[pre]| Meka has started planning an operation that could create a stable future for Cameroon under military rule or launch a bloody internal conflict, would the young officer go through with it. |[/pre]

[list][list][pre]PEACE — WORK — FATHERLAND![/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][pre]PAIX — TRAVAIL — PATRIE![/pre][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Vancouver Straits, Metropolitan Francais, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Provenancia, Maziya, The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Zingium

Kambona Arrives in Dar Es Salaam Speaks Before Parliament

April 27 - May 12, 1968

”Flora, you would not believe the chaos in the streets. Protesters are overrunning police barricades, and the military is just waiting to gun them down. Here I am, stuck in the middle, perhaps the second most hated man in Tanzania. I know I asked for this when I joined the coup, but sometimes when I watch those people getting clubbed down, I fear that I’ve made a mistake. Hug Mosi and Neema for me, I will send another letter as soon as I can.”

Oscar

-

Arrival - April 27, 1968

| After 2 days, Oscar Kambona had reached Dar Es Salaam. Despite the ridicule leveled against President Nyerere, and those politicians who had fled, Kambona couldn’t say he blamed them. The streets were a mess, most of the outer city had been entirely abandoned by police as manpower shortages due to desertions had restricted their ability to keep order in the city. The army waited on the outside of the city, awaiting orders to rush and beat down the protesters and rioters where they stood. Passing through the streets, Kambona looked out the backseat window of the car. Protestors with burning effigies likely depicted the President, and all of them scowled at him as he passed by.

Reaching the police barricades of the inner city wasn’t much better. He watched the hateful eyes of the police and army bore into him as they drove through the barricade. Barely holding any loyalty to the state, only to their Police Chiefs or more worryingly a paycheck. The police and army were reduced to glorified thugs and mercenaries, but Kambona could not judge, for at this point, he was not better than any of them.

Kambona would spend days attempting to negotiate with protestors, unions, and even the police who had left the job. Over, and over one single demand was given to him: “There could no longer be negotiations, this had been the second attempt to remove the President, and this time Julius Nyerere must resign”

Unbeknownst to the people he had negotiated with, this was all going to plan for Kambona. He had even had his co-conspirator John Chipaka, as the Captain in charge of the soldiers surrounding the city. This ensured that the city remained filled with protestors, and kept the army from marching in and clearing the streets. With the people effectively polled by Kambona, and protestors in Dodoma, Mwanza, and several local “model villages” expressing similar sentiments, Kambona knew the time was right. He called the National Assembly.

-

The Great Speech - May 2, 1968

| Stopping at the Tanzanian National Assembly (or the Bunge), Kambona quickly hurried inside under the deafening roar of the crowds in the distance. Inside the National Assembly, the MPs of the TANU and ANC were not happy to see him. Most of them had long since soured on the government, especially those who had been forced into the United Front. Among them was a slowly brewing mix of anti-socialist, anti-nationalist, and most importantly, anti-Nyerere ideas. Kambona for his part had one shot to make this work; he had to give a speech, the greatest speech in his life, something that would maybe not absolve himself, but show the people what they wanted most of all… humility, and repentance. When he asked to speak to the gathered group, he had also included recorders to play the speech on loudspeakers across the city and journalists to copy it down.

Stepping up to the speaking podium, before the hissing, and jeering crowd of politicians, Kambona adjusted his tie, and began to speak:

-

“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the National Assembly, and the multitude of citizens tuning in from across the nation, I stand before you today with a heavy heart and a resolute commitment to truth. I understand that there may be expectations for me to assert my innocence, deflect blame onto President Nyerere, or engage in a futile defense. However, I refuse to deceive you any further, as you have endured disrespect, oppression, and hardship during the almost eight years of Nyerere's presidency. The least I can offer you all is the truth.

I take full responsibility for my role in signing off on and silently witnessing President Nyerere's actions. Every document filed, every archived form signed – I was part of it. I saw the heart-wrenching images of destroyed villages and fallen nomads, and for too many years, I did nothing. It was only recently that I decided to break the silence, leaking the truth to the press and all of you. This wasn't an attempt to escape punishment or seek forgiveness; it was a realization of the deep-seated wrongs in our governance.

I confess to being swayed by radicals for far too long, thinking I could change their course from within. I believed in the power of reasoned arguments to deradicalize and thought I could guide the President with rational plans. I compromised my morals in pursuit of the so-called "greater good" and the promise of a utopian future. Now, I see the errors of my ways. Progress cannot be achieved by appeasing radical ideologies – whether it's fascism, communism, socialism, or the countless quick fixes pushed by deceivers.

The road to true progress lies in a solid moral framework, a united populace, and the elimination of radicalism. I acknowledge my mistakes, accept full responsibility, and express my deepest regret for not putting a stop to this destructive path sooner.

But today is a turning point. No more appeasements, no more excuses. In my role as the Minister of Home Affairs, a Member of Parliament, and the highest-ranking government official in the city, I recommend the immediate impeachment of President Julius Nyerere and Vice President Abeid Karume. The time for decisive action is now, as we strive to rebuild our nation on the foundations of justice, morality, and unity.

-

An Applause Heard Across the Nation - The Impeachment of President Nyerere - May 2

| As Kambona stood there with bated breath, everything was down to the politicians and the wider populace now. Looking out across the crowd he heard grumbling and whispers before a sound that at first scared him.

What started as a solitary slow clap, quickly began to pick up as more and more politicians and journalists joined in. Before long it was the entire crowd, clapping, cheering, and whooping loudly. The first MP, the elder statesman 43-year-old Ali Mwinyi, a noted reformist, and dissenter against Nyerere’s forceful policies, joined in calling for an immediate vote to impeach and remove President Julius Nyerere causing the MPs to explode into furious agreement. Outside of the National Assembly, the people cheered in the streets, as for the first time in nearly a decade, they had been heard.

Immediately a vote was held, as both Mwinyi and Kambona together co-sponsored the motion for “The Impeachment and Removal of President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Julius Kambarage Nyerere” Oscar Kambona took to the stands laying out the evidence for the crimes of the President over his 8 years as Prime Minister and then President.

A small cabal of pro-Nyerere members of the National Assembly remained. They furiously rebuffed the allegations, laying them squarely at the feet of Kambona, and other members of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This allegation; however, fell flat when Mwinyi pointed out that it had been Nyerere who centralized power, effectively stripping both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Assembly of any degree of independence or power.

When the vote was finally held, 141 members of Parliament voted aye, to 47 nays. President Julius Nyerere would be impeached. Vice President Abeid Karume would also unsurprisingly be impeached 175 ayes, to 13 nays.

As the 3rd highest ranking member of the executive, Oscar Kambona was to be sworn in as President of Tanzania. Due to the emergency circumstances the nation found itself in, Kambona would within the same day be sworn in as acting President of Tanzania. Upon exiting the National Assembly before the roaring thousands of protestors, and supporters, President Kambona gave a peace sign to all those in the crowd.

Despite this, perhaps the most troubling, and looming question still hung over Kambona’s head. What if Nyerere refused to resign?

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Vietnam Sv, Ma-Li, Belarus Sr

“Foreigners with native tongues”

[The Hague, United Kingdom of Benelux]

April 1968

Werner Eggerath was not a grand figure.

He was not particularly impressive as a man, he wasn’t particular imposing physically and he certainly wasn’t a Statesman. This was why he had been chosen to be the first East German to make proper contact with the West.

The Federal Republic of Germany and The German Democratic Republic’s first meeting had to be low-key and simplistic. Hence why it had taken place in Benelux, which may have been a grand nation, but it wasn’t one that would have created any problems on either side of the negotiating table.

Eggerath had gone into the meeting expecting to be bullied. He expected the West German’s to be a condescending and intolerable group. However, he had come away with nothing but respect for Hans Deitrich Genscher. Besides some tense moments over the issue of entry permits and some slight unease over their handling of East Germans in their territory, he had been reasonable and personable.

When Eggerath left the meeting, they had agreed on official lines of communication and made steps towards allowing permanent representatives to cross the Berlin border. Things had gone well.

However, for everything that had gone well, the whole situation felt so odd. There were men sat across the table from each other, German speakers who proudly called themselves Germans, yet they were foreigners to each other. This was a strange atmosphere for all involved. What was clear was that the West German state would have to take a unique place within the DDR’s psyche, for they were foreigners with native tongues.

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium, Rio De La Plata Basin

[list][list]APRIL 1968

[sub]GOP Primaries +4 States[/sub][/list]

[pre] ' 6 8 E L E C T I O N ¹[/pre]

REPUBLICANS VOTE IN FOUR STATES ACROSS Paramountica[/list]

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1032833

[list][sub]New Hampshire on March 12th[/sub]

[pre]NIXON 80,666 — 77.61%

ROCKEFELLER 11,241 — 10.82%

REAGAN 362 — 0.35%[/pre]

[sub]Wisconsin on April 2nd[/sub]

[pre]NIXON 390,368 — 76.69%

ROCKEFELLER 50,727 — 10.36%

REAGAN 7,995 — 1.63%[/pre]

[sub]Pennsylvania on April 23rd[/sub]

[pre]NIXON 171,815 — 59.65%

ROCKEFELLER 52,915 — 18.35%

REAGAN 8,636 — 3.00%[/pre]

[sub]Massachusetts on April 30th[/sub]

[pre]ROCKEFELLER — 30.0%

NIXON — 25.8%

REAGAN — 1.7%/pre]

____________

[sub]¹ '68 ELECTION, Covering the 1968 Presidential and Congressional elections that took place in the United States, of that same year and their surrounding events.[/sub]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Meerkien, Zingium

[list]April 1968

[sub]The Corregidor Incident[/sub][/list]

[pre]S I L E N C E O F T H E B A Y[/pre]

| TWO booms were reported along MANILA BAY on the evening of April 16, 1968. The Manila Metropolitan Police Department quashed the reports as simple noise complaints, and when inquired, Malacanang Palace - residence of the President of the Philippines - issued a statement citing ongoing "military exercises" on the nearby Corregidor Island, at the mouth of MANILA BAY, standing between the Bay and the South China Sea. The incident, however, dug down deeper into the quiet calculus of the Marcos Administration and, oddly, the question of SABAH PROVINCE - on the island of northern Borneo and currently a province of Malaysia. The question of what happened on Corregidor was eventually answered by journalists from the MANILA DAILY, one of the most widely-circulated papers in the Manila provincial area, who issued the following headline on April 24, 1968: |

[list][pre]MANILA DAILY - Administration Covers Up Mutiny of Soldiers on Corregidor![/pre][/list]

| The incident became known as the "Corregidor Incident" to the press, and the in-depth journalistic investigation that followed revealed what had happened. According to the articles and a variety of sources, public records showed that, as Senate President and later as Vice President, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was a "sympathetic and at times enthusiastic" supporter of conservatives' claim that the Sabah province was, by virtue of its ties to the former Kingdom of Sulu in southern Mindanao, a territory that rightfully belongs to the Philippines. In his time as President, Marcos had largely refused to address the issue - at least publicly. The investigative reports revealed that Marcos had discussed with military leaders at the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the issue of Sabah province. No specific topics discussed were published, and the media flurry caused questions to be hurled at Malacanang practically every hour. What followed? |

| Total media silence. Within a week, two top editors at the Manila Daily had resigned their positions, and Malacanang Palace issued a statement on the question of the investigative report, criticizing it as "overly anti-government" and "sympathetic to communist guerilla groups". The Department of Justice opened a preliminary investigation into the Manila Daily for yellow journalism, which was prohibited under a Marcos executive order issued in fall of last year. Behind the scenes, within the halls of power, however, the true question of what happened on Corregidor was formally confirmed in a report for the President's eyes, and kept secret from the public - for the sake of national security, of course. |

[list][pre]PRESIDENT's NATIONAL SECURITY REPORT

APRIL 1968

RE: JABIDAH INCIDENT, CORREGIDOR, APR 16 1968

Mr. President,

The following is for your eyes only.

After extensive internal deliberation, the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs Council is able to now verify the series of events that occurred on the night of April 16, 1968, on Corregidor Island.

In November of 1967, the Marcos administration issued to the AFP Central Command directives to recruit Moro personnel to the "Jabidah" special forces unit, established formally for the purpose of strengthening interoperability and special forces operations by the Philippine Army, but covertly established to prepare a strong military force to destabilize the Sabah province and eventually facilitate for its annexation by the Third Philippine Republic. Moro personnel from Mindanao were recruited to expand the group's native knowledge of the region, language and culture to allow the unit to blend in and disappear if they were to ever insert into Sabah province.

The true mission of the special forces unit was kept secret from the Moro forces involved, but was eventually leaked - source of leak undetermined. We believe that at 1852 local time on Apr 16, the Moro members of the Jabidah unit mutinied against command forces in an effort to prevent the success of the mission. Nominally, they succeeded in their objective - the public questions around the conduct of AFP units on Corregidor prevents any further progress on preparations for a Sabah insertion mission. However, the Moro forces who mutinied were also eliminated by AFP military police forces who intervened.

52 members of Jabidah unit were unfortunately lost during this incident, 51 of whom were Moro unit members. 12 other Moros in the unit are MISSING and presumably fleeing. It is recommended that actions be taken to apprehend these missing persons.

For President's Eyes Only.[/pre][/list]

| For the rest of the month, the entire situation was suppressed. The media was quiet and the AFP conducted their internal investigation privately and behind closed doors, citing national security concerns. Until on April 30, 1968, when, in Batangas province, a journalist for the Manila Daily is called far from their home in Tondo, Manila to investigate a report of a person recovered from sea by fishermen who they claim was dressed in AFP uniform and riddled with gunshot wounds, claiming he was attacked by members of the AFP . . . |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Kewtpuff, Tallahan, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Meerkien, Zingium

Post by The Pyro Dragon suppressed by Paramountica.

The Pyro Dragon

hello also i dont want to be rude but just for the record i am not reading all of that stuff

[list][list][pre]| V E R E N I G DㅤㅤK O N I N R I J KㅤㅤB E N E L U X

| "ㅤE E N D R A C H TㅤㅤM A A K TㅤㅤM A C H Tㅤ"[/pre]

[list][list][pre]Een natie is een levend organisme,

en een organisme stopt pas met evolueren als het sterft...[/pre][/list]

[pre]// 07 MEI 1968, DINSDAG

LANDHUIS AARNEBILT, DEN HAAG, HOLLAND //[/pre][/list]

O M N I AㅤㅤB E N EㅤㅤE R U N T :ㅤㅤAㅤㅤN E WㅤㅤE R AㅤㅤA W A I T S

[list]ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ[sub]The Aarnebilt Manor in The Hague stood as a colossal testament to power, its towering halls shrouded in an eerie silence that amplified every subtle sound into a haunting cacophony. A mere sigh reverberated through the grand walls like a spectral whisper, setting the stage for the unfolding drama within. Within those walls resided the sanctum of one of Benelux's most influential governmental bodies, a shadowy organ whispered to be the puppet master behind the Prime Minister's decisions—an eminence grise of unparalleled influence. Approaching the imposing entrance, crafted from the rarest Ivorian wood and adorned with glistening gold, one would step into a chamber of opulence. A table of twelve men, their wisdom and knowledge etched into the lines on their faces, convened amidst bookcases and exquisite furniture imported from the northern realms. The atmosphere, laden with gravitas, held the weight of decisions that could shape nations. As the silence hung thick in the air, an interruption shattered the quietude. The grand door creaked open, revealing the imposing figure of the Head Councillor. A hulking presence that eclipsed all others in the room, he strode in with an aura of striking command, casting shadows that danced ominously on the walls. The very air seemed to tremble in the wake of his entrance, and a palpable awe descended upon the assembly of twelve, as he took his place at the epicentre of this political theatre, ready to weave a tale of intrigue and power.[/sub]

[sub]"Gentlemen, good morning," Wolsheijner intoned, his greeting echoed through the hollow chamber, with his humourless expression once again on display, as he took his seat at the end of the table. The towering and imposing figure exuded an air of youthfulness that belied the gravity of his presence. With a deliberate motion, he placed a stack of folders on the table, the weight of their contents adding a sense of urgency to the room, casting curiosity among men. Clearing his throat, Wolsheijner signalled the beginning of a discourse that promised no respite. “I'm certain you're all wondering why I've gathered you here today, especially on what was supposed to be a bank holiday," he began, his words carrying the weight of unspoken burdens. "However, when it comes to matters concerning our fatherland, no day is a vacation day. As you would understand, we don't have the luxury to slack off, especially given the dire situation we find ourselves in." The room hung in a tense silence, the gravity of the situation settling upon the gathered assembly like an oppressive shadow.[/sub]

[sub]“Councillors, as you are all aware, the Walloon Crisis is escalating with each passing day. We are not merely witnessing protests; we are dealing with violent riots, attacks that claim lives on a daily basis. This is no longer an issue of civil unrest; it has transformed into a grave threat to our national security as a whole. The union is in peril, and it has proven itself to be a dysfunctional, failed project.” Wolsheijner pronounced, later to continue, “And with profound sadness, one will come to the painful realisation. The dream of Benelux, standing united, seems increasingly untenable in the long run. Therefore, gentlemen, we must brace ourselves, for the time has come to contemplate and enact drastic measures.”[/sub]

[sub]"I'm not sure I comprehend," Councillor Van Haarlem rose, his husky voice breaking the silence. "What can be done now? Your words hint at something that, hopefully, is just a misunderstanding. Are you suggesting the dissolution of Benelux?". Gasps of unpleasant surprise rippled through the room, followed by the murmur of concerned councillors in the wake of the accusation.[/sub]

[sub]Enraged by the chaos unfolding, Wolsheijner slammed his fist onto the table. "Order! Order! Gentlemen, this is no way to discuss!" he exclaimed angrily, commanding silence with a forceful gesture. "My proposal is straightforward. Walloons contribute virtually nothing to Benelux. The economic backbone of Belgium rests entirely on Flanders and Brussels, while Wallonia drains the royal treasury, providing only half of what it consumes. No resources, no output, and no stability. Is this the future we desire for our country? Wallonia is, in essence, a drain. We ought to consider offering them a referendum."[/sub]

[sub]The daring truth reverberated between the walls of the room, leaving the councillors in a state of dumbfounded contemplation. On one hand, Wolsheijner's words held an undeniable truth—Wallonia did contribute little to the union and posed a significant burden, and was of little worth. On the other hand, willingly relinquishing territory was a proposal that elicited mixed reactions. As the room drowned in a heavy silence, Councillor Maneschijn rose from his chair with unwavering confidence. "I am in favour!" he declared, breaking the hush with his resolute voice. "A referendum is the least we can do to address this situation. It is time to cease answering fire with fire and find a peaceful resolution."[/sub]

[sub]"I second!" Councillor Der Heijde chimed in, echoing the sentiment. "Wallonia is not ours to keep, so let them take care of themselves!" This sentiment gained momentum as Councillor Netters and Councillor Hondshorst voiced their agreement. "We've footed their bills for long enough, and now they're biting the hand that feeds them! Benelux was a mistake; it's time for us to get rid of the leeches!" Hondshorst exclaimed, his words met with nods and murmurs of approval from other councillors. "I believe the vote is unanimous, Mr. Wolsheijner. We approve the referendum proposal," Netters later concluded, capturing the collective sentiment in the room.[/sub]

[sub]"Then the decision is final, gentlemen. I shall inform Mr. Prime Minister tomorrow," Wolsheijner concluded, his tone carrying the relief of resolution. He rose from his chair, signalling the end of the discussion. "I thank each and every one of you." With that, he departed, leaving the room lingering with the echoes of a consequential decision that would shape the future of a nation.[/sub]

_______________________________________________

[/list][spoiler=[sub]Dit is een fictief stukje creatief werk voor[/sub]

de GEMENEBEST VAN FRIJHEID [ CoL ]

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][list][pre]K I N G D O M O F G R E E C E • Β Α Σ Ί Λ Ε Ι Ο Τ Η Σ Ε Λ Λ Ά Δ Α Σ[/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][list]GREEK INFRASTRUCTURE : REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES[/list][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]THE PROLONGING OF THE MIRACLE, Adriatican Islands[/list]

[list][list]APRIL 1968[/sub][/list][/list]


 | The Greek Economic Miracle had boosted the Greek postwar economy for over two decades. With extensive aid from the American ( Paramountica ) Marshall Plan, the Greek economy soared, seeing an average of upwards of 10% economic growth during this time. Greece's economy nowadays is primarily bolstered by its strong tourism, contributing upwards of 20% of the economy. The rest of the economy was made up of agricultural exports, trade, industry, and services. However, most in the Greek government had come to the verdict that Greece had not been maximised enough and that the Greek economy had the potential for further economic growth. A region in Greece that had the most economic potential was indeed Kypros, particularly in its strategic location for maritime sectors, along with extensive stockpiles of natural resources such as copper. |


 | As a result of this economic potential, proposals were put forward for further regional development, particularly for economic diversification. Regions of particular interest were Pindus, Thessaly, Macedonia and Kypros. The first three regions possessed arable land, and as a result, along with the regions already having a large local agricultural economy. To further boost economic growth in these regions, the Greek government poured in large funds, further boosting agricultural growth in the country, despite the continued industrialisation. Urbanisation in cities such as Kozani, Larissa, and Kalabaka was promoted to help improve civilian and consumer goods sectors in these regions. The last region mentioned — Kypros was the most important when it came to economic potential. A joint expedition was set out by the Greek, Italian ( Arcanda ), and Canadian ( Newauroria ) governments had been deployed in February 1968 to the southwest of the island to search for oil and natural gas reserves, and the operation is still ongoing. The strategic location of Kypros also turned the island into a shipping hub for vessels coming from and going toward the Suez Canal, therefore the development and modernisation of port cities such as Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos were put forward and are expected to be finished by 1970. |


 | Overall, regional industrialisation was still a priority, and with consumer goods now quickly rising to be one of Greece's strongest exports, domestic industries were expanded. It was not just consumer goods though, as even military equipment were mass-produced, including a Greek-made submachine gun, the EPK-39, along with anti-aircraft batteries, coastal batteries, and smaller pistols and rifles. To further improve the transport of these goods, railway lines were also necessary, and high-speed railway networks across the mainland, along with Crete and Kypros were planned, with construction to begin in Late 1968. |

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][pre]MAY of 1968[/pre][/list]

[pre]THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

Союз Советских Социалистических Республик[/pre]

[pre]VLADIMIR SHALATOV LEADS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL SOYUZ MISSION AS MOSCOW ANNOUNCES INTERKOSMOS![/pre]

[pre]ВЛАДИМИР ШАЛАТОВ ВОЗВЕДЯЕТ ПЕРВУЮ УСПЕШНУЮ МИССИЮ СОЮЗ КАК МОСКВА ОБЪЯВЛЯЕТ ИНТЕРКОСМОС![/pre]

| [sub]Georgy Beregovoy's lone Soyuz 3 test mission in October of 1968 had ended in an unfortunate partial failure, with the spacecraft failing to dock with the uncrewed Soyuz 2 spacecraft. Beregovoy launched in October of '68 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz spacecraft, designed under the Soyuz crewed spaceflight program that sought to serve as the USSR's direct counterpart to the American Apollo program - albeit without as much of the Moon fever. The previous Voskhod program, equivalent to the American Gemini, had succeeded with flying colors, motivating the newly consolidated Soviet space program under Alexei Korolev to advance the new Soyuz program. The first test flight of Soyuz 1 ended in failure in 1966, resulting in a re-design of the capsule to increase safety and reduce the risk of loss of cosmonaut life in the program. Soyuz 2 and Soyuz 3 took place concurrently, allowing the Soviets to achieve a successful rendezvous but a failed docking maneuver. Soyuz 1 was not publicly reported, and Soyuz 2 and Soyuz 3 were reported as a "historic success" for the Soviet space program as they technically proved the efficacy and success of the Soyuz launch infrastructure for the first time.[/sub] |

| [sub]The success of the Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 mission - including a successful docking thanks to a redesign of the docking system by engineers at the Energia Design Bureau in 1968 - was widely celebrated last month, in April. Crewed by Vladimir Shalatov, Aleksei Yeliseyev, and Yevgeny Khrunov, the mission launched on 27 April 1968 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, successfully testing all Soyuz flight systems over the next 24 hours. On 28 April, the Soyuz 5 mission, crewed by the lone commander, Boris Volynov, launched from Baikonur and successfully rendezvoused and docked with the Soyuz 4 spacecraft on 29 April. The mission's success marked the first time the Soviets had a single congruent space vessel in Low Earth Orbit with more than three people. It was celebrated in Pravda, the state newspaper, as a massive success for the Soviet space program that verified the integrity of the Soyuz manned spaceflight program and the inevitable success of Soviet Lunar mission efforts (privately, the Soviets were already directing more resources towards Mars and Venus). Shalatov, Yesliseyev, Khrunov and Volynov returned to the USSR as heroes, celebrated on the same level as Yuri Gagarin was when he became the first man to reach space. [/sub] |

| [sub]The success of the Soyuz 4 and 5 mission finally confirmed the three-person capsule as a generally operable, essentially safe spacecraft that could be used as the workhorse of the USSR's ambitious plans for a strong Low Earth Orbit presence. With direction from the Soviet space program, General Secretary Alexei Kosygin announced this May 4 with a delegation of lower Warsaw Pact representatives the establishment of the Interkosmos program, designed to allow allied nations to launch crew and satellites to Low Earth Orbit "and eventually beyond" aboard Soviet space missions. It would allow for Poles, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Kazaks, Cubans and more across the world to launch their own nationals to space through Interkosmos. It would also allow allied nations to launch satellites aboard Soviet launch vehicles at discounted cost, to allow the space program to receive additional funding while strengthening the prestige of the Union's manned and unmanned spaceflight programs abroad.[/sub] |

| [sub]Behind the scenes, however, the Soviets were readying themselves for a serious re-alignment. Soviet intelligence and the public nature of the Apollo program essentially confirmed that the USSR was not going to catch up with the aggressive pace being taken by the Americans' Apollo Lunar program, already approaching its final stages. With that in mind, Alexei Korolev, leader of the Soviet space program, lobbied Moscow to back a re-alignment of funding and resources towards a different goal - Venus and Mars.[/sub] |

____

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][list]SHOWA 43 | MAY 1968[/list]

[list][list]合併の波

[pre]A MERGER WAVE[/pre][/list][/list]

[pre] I N D U S T R I A L E S T A B L I S H M E N T [/pre]

[list][list][sub][pre] オー・スネイル 富士山に登ろう でも、ゆっくり、ゆっくり

O Snail; Climb Mount Fuji But slowly, slowly![/pre][/sub][/list][/list]

TOKYO, TOKYO BAY — EVENING

[sub]THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN, Nippon-Nihon[/sub]

| The giants YAWATA IRON & STEEL and FUJI IRON & STEEL are in the process of merging, the two together will produce around 22.3 million tons of steel per year, second only to U.S. Steel, which produces 30.9 million tons. MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES is in the process of merging with ISUZU MOTORS to form Japan’s third-largest automaker. Other mergers are underway in the petrochemical, electrical equipment, heavy machinery, banking, and shipbuilding sectors. This is part of a MERGER WAVE that is sweeping the Japanese industrial establishment. Greatness is nothing new in the Japanese industry. The merger trend began with the reconsolidation of some of the former zaibatsu — powerful families that controlled almost all Japanese companies and were dissolved during the U.S. occupation. |

[list]| SHOZO HOTTA, [sub]Japanese Banker[/sub] | “There is no doubt that a large-scale corporate reorganization is now underway.”[/list]

[list][list]大規模な企業再編が進行中であることは間違いない。[/list][/list]

| Three parts of a zaibatsu, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, were brought together in 1964 to form what is now the country’s third-largest company. Japan’s surprising post-war recovery was fueled by a kind of industrial hothouse, where government controls drove away competing goods and capital from abroad. Now, under pressure from trading partners, the Japanese government has embarked on the first of several “liberalization” measures to break down barriers to foreign capital. Some Japanese companies say that companies’ rush to find new partners is the result of “merger neurosis,” but for others, this is not neurotic at all. In a country where monopoly has never raised much concern, one would expect the government to support the trend. Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, which was created under vague antitrust laws drafted during the Occupation, has not yet ruled against any major mergers. |

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][list][list][pre]RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE

FRENCH BUREAUCRACY

MINISTÈRE DE L’INTÉRIEUR[/pre][/list]

______

MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR: THE PEOPLE UP IN ARMS AND A CITY IN FLAMES

[sub]VTH REPUBLIC | PARIS, APRIL 1968[/sub][/list]

[pre] THE RISE OF AL-RAHMAN PART III [/pre]

[sub]ALGIERS, CAPITAL OF FRENCH ALGERIA[/sub]

[sub]| HELM OF LIBERTÉ, MINISTÈRE DE L’INTÉRIEUR - | As the Algerian people continue to rise up against the French government in Algiers, the police, gendarmerie, and armed forces have become increasingly overwhelmed. Flames rise from city government buildings and smoke billows above the formerly attractive metropolis. The French Pied-Noir's have been fleeing Algeria for mainland France for the past three weeks, taking boats and planes in order to escape the Islamic terror brought upon them by the armed supporters of self-proclaimed Emir Al-Rahman Nasri. Meanwhile hundreds have been slaughtered in the name of Algerian independence. Chief among them is First Minister Houari Boumediene, who was gunned down in his office when the building was subsequently overran by an agree mob of thousands. The self proclaimed Emir Al-Rahman Nasri has taken up residence in the deceased First Minister's residence at El Mouradia Palace.[/sub]

[sub]The magnitude of the violence in Algeria has prompted a hasty response and sense of urgency from Paris, with President Charles de Gaulle ordering the military to stand down immediately, fearing that more bloodshed might lead to another war outbreak. De Gaulle chose to send his chief liaison to Algiers and current Minister of the Algerian Interior Ferhat Abbas, to meet with Al-Rahman Nasri and conduct a one-on-one conference. Minister Abbas' arrival in Algiers was met with very little fanfare as he was picked up at the airport by an armoured French military convoy. The scene Abbas saw from the window of the armoured car was a stark and horrific contrast compared to what he had seen just before leaving Algeria in January. The city was in utter chaos with dead French men and women laying in the streets or in some cases hoisted up on electrical posts for all to see. The convoy ground to a halt just outside the gates of the El Mouradia Palace before Al-Rahman's guards let them through. It was clear to both sides, that neither the French government, nor Al-Rahman wanted to escalate the already appalling civil unrest for fear of sparking another all-out war. Thus the French military had been ordered to refrain from firing on the rioters unless absolutely necessary. The Emir had given his men the same exact orders, thereby creating a bloodless faceoff between the French military, whom had become the real authorities in Algeria, and Al-Rahman's militias. In fact the only bloodshed occurring was being done by the most violent of the protesting Algerians, though most speculate that they may be acting on the Emir's orders. Nevertheless, with Minister Abbas arriving at the palace, he was met with a surprisingly warm reception by Al-Rahman.[/sub]

[sub]Minister Abbas went right into clarifying the French government's position on Algeria by stating that "President De Gaulle does not want another conflict here in Algeria and above all the French people and parliament do not want another war. So allow me to be clear, the French know they have lost their hold here in Algeria. Despite years of economic and social growth after the Algerian War, the people are fed up with being subjugated to the rule of the Frenchmen. It is clear that all they needed was someone like you to stand up and take the lead." While the two men discussed the grievances of the Algerian people, over 1,000 kilometers away in Paris, the French National Assembly was meeting in a special closed-door emergency session to discuss and vote on the issue of formal Algerian independence. As the Minister and the Emir strolled through the palace gardens, Al-Rahman gave his reassurances to Abbas stating: "The question of Algerian independence is not a matter of if anymore, but a matter of when. And when that day comes, I should hope the French government will have a meaningful and willing role in orchestrating it. This would be the only way that I can assure reconciliation between Algeria and France. Now naturally of course, the French will need to leave entirely, meaning no more military presence, no more business sector domination by Frenchmen, and no more interference in our affairs. The only thing I would be willing to entertain is allowing the current French oil and gas companies in operation here to continue their operations as oil and gas is the primary sector driving our economy. To cast out those companies would be economically catastrophic and then it'll be me in five years strung up from a light pole."[/sub]

[sub]It was becoming quite clear that Algeria would soon enough become an altogether different place. The Emir wanted the French out and the Algerian people wanted it even more so. On the 25th of March, the French Parliament ratified the documents that would finally give Algeria the long awaited independence she so desired. The vote in the National Assembly was 421 in favour to 159 against, giving them the clear two thirds majority they needed. After a seven year long war, bitter infighting, and a massive wave of civil unrest, the Algerian people could once again call themselves free, ending the more than 137 years of colonial and political domination. Right after signing the official documents granting Algeria it's independence, President De Gaulle took to the radio waves stating: "Today we have made history. The Algerian people have shouted, demonstrated, and fought and they have been heard. Just as Frenchmen, they too have determined to set their own path in this world. For their decades of companionship, we cannot deny them their destiny to achieve greatness on their own accord. Vive la France! Vive la Algeria!" De Gaulle's speech resonated with every Frenchman and Algerian alike. He would give the orders to withdraw all French military hardware from Algeria and formalize the organized separation of Algerian nationals from French government institutions over the span of the next 6 months. Only then would Algeria be left to cut its own path. |[/sub]

[list]______[/list]

[list][list][pre]VIVE LA RÉPUBLIQUE!

VIVE LA FRANCE!

VIVE L’EMPIRE![/pre][/list][/list]

[list][spoiler=[sub]𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘[/sub]]

Abessinienreich

Adriatican Islands

Al-Jammahirya Al-Arabiyya

Amsterwald

Andorra-

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Astarina

Brazil Toucan

Canovia

Cascadla

Connomia

Earstenia

Falastinyya

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Hollunde

Holy Vatican City States

Hong Kong Delta

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Le Equatoria

Lieobria

Lucki

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Monaco-

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Ngiera

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Osivoiii

Ozbekssr

Paramountica

Paseo

Poland1St

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Republica De Cuba-

Rio De La Plata Basin

Rutannia

Salisbury-Southern Rhodesia

Saudi Arabiyah

Slipway

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spain-

Spartansk

Tallahan

The Confederate Prussian Empire

The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye

The United States Of Africa

Vancouver Straits

Veliki-Kolombia

Victoria Harbor

Victoria Harbor Ii

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

Zeitenwende

Zingium

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, The Confederation Of Northern Germany, Amsterwald, Federated Arab Emirates, Sixth French Metropolitan Republic, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Holy Vatican City States, Federated Turkey, Nasrid Algeria, New Provenance, Monaco-, Andorra-, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list]May 1968

[sub]Nein zu Steuern![/sub][/list]

[pre]D I E B U N D E S R E P U B L I K[/pre]

BUCKING THE PARTY LINE

[sub]BONN, THE FEDERAL CAPITAL, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, New Provenance - AFTERNOON[/sub]

| CHANCELLOR Willy Brandt exited the Bundestag chamber quietly, various government ministers and deputies from the Ministry of Economy flanking him. The frontbenchers from the governing Social Democratic Party and their allied Free Democratic Party sat in surprised silence as the chair of the ongoing session, an SPD deputy himself, spoke quietly in hurried whispers with an FDP colleague just next to the chair's podium at the front of the room. The Christian Democrats were in a jubilant but quiet state, with CDU and CSU deputies lining up to shake the hand of their opposition leader - maybe next Chancellor? - Ludwig Erhard, the renowned statesman turned fierce fighter of the opposition. The German Democrats, the smaller center-right partner of the CDU, were quiet but raucous, celebrating their legislative victory. What had just transpired was what some conservative pundits were calling "THE END OF THE BRANDT GOVERNMENT". |

| Two months prior, CDU deputies, in cooperation with the leader of the FDP's conservative wing, KNUT VON KUHLMANN-STUMM, proposed a major tax cuts bill aimed largely at slashing taxes for German businesses, reducing regulations imposed on small businesses and new startups in Germany, as well as cutting taxes across the board for Germans. The bill's proponents, most loudly Kuhlmann-Stumm - a strong opponent of the government's Ostpolitik positions - called the bill necessary given the Federal Republic of Germany's increasingly weak position in the global trade scene, and stagnating export numbers that most economists domestically believed were the main reason for Germany's stagnating economic performance, at least in contrast with the growth in the 1950s. While the Brandt government had tacked to the center economically to solve the issue, passing minor tax cuts and incentives for businesses shortly after the previous general election, conservatives on the other side of the aisle were still extremely critical of what they described as the government's "economic ineptitude". |

|The tax cuts bill - formally dubbed "Erhard-Kuhlmann-Stumm Tax Adjustment Act", or the Tax Adjustment Act - was backed by the influential wings of German business. They lobbied the Christian Democrats and the ideologically similar German Democrats to support the bill, but the effort to flip votes in favor of the TAA was most obvious within the Free Democratic Party. Born after the Second World War as a successor to the liberal parties of the interwar period, the FDP rose to become a prominent socially liberal, fiscally conservative, pro-free markets party in German politics. They received most of their support from small businesses and liberal voters not interested in SPD rhetoric, but in recent years had been bleeding voters to the Christian Democrats. The FDP had shifted drastically leftward under the leadership of Erich Mende, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, and Walter Scheel, but a major right flank of the party still remained with Kuhlmann-Stumm at the head. |

| The FDP's divisions between its liberal-leaning leadership and its right-wing conservative flank had been boiling and simmering for quite some time, but the issue came to a head with the Tax Adjustment Act. Kuhlmann-Stumm flipped four FDP votes just hours ahead of the crucial Bundestag vote on the bill. Chancellor Brandt and his entire Cabinet was present, to lobby the support of their narrow, two-seat legislative majority in the chamber. Brandt spoke for most of the morning, followed by tirades from his Cabinet ministers against what they called a rebellion in government. A vote for the bill, they said, was a vote against national unity. SPD deputies had affirmed their intention to propose their own counter-legislation later that evening, after the vote failed. And so the clerk began counting, and the following was reported with bated breath: |

[list][pre]ERHARD-KUHLMANN-STRUMM TAX ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1968

AYE / IN FAVOR - 206 VOTES

NAY / AGAINST - 199 VOTES[/pre][/list]

| Five FDP deputies, including Kuhlmann-Stumm, had defected from the government in voting against the bill. PRESIDENT Helmut Schmidt, despite calls from his SPD colleagues to veto the bill, affirmed his impartiality to parties and signed it into law. Whether or not it was a death knell for Chancellor Brandt, nobody knew, but Kuhlmann-Stumm emerged from the vote understanding that the opposition, with his support, would have a majority in the Bundestag, a potentially dangerous sign for things to come. Despite the chaos, however, Brandt refocused his efforts right away to the ongoing detente negotiations with the German Democratic Republic. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list]MAY 1968

[sub]Think For Yourself[/sub][/list]

[pre] ' 6 8 E L E C T I O N ¹[/pre]

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON D.C., Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]OVAL OFFICE, THE WEST WING[/sub]

| A tie adjustment, shifting the BROADCASTING CAMERAs to the right slightly, which connect to America’s three largest; NBC, CBS and ABC — The PRESIDENT, seated before the Resolute Desk, stoic instead of barking down some Senator over Civil Rights — LYNDON B. JOHNSON, moments before a National Broadcast. |

[list][list][pre]--NATIONAL VIEWING--07/28/65--[/pre][/list][/list]

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “. . . I have today ordered to Viet-Nam the Air Mobile Division and certain other forces which will raise our fighting strength from 75,000 to 125,000 men almost immediately . . . Additional forces will be needed later, and they will be sent as requested. This will make it necessary to increase our active fighting forces by raising the monthly draft call from 17,000 over a period of time to 35,000 per month—”[/list]

| The PRESIDENT, with his stoic Texan expression, Only 125,000? American forces in Vietnam were at 536,100 by 1968. |

[list][list]https://youtu.be/vtx5NTxebJk

[pre]I’ve got a word or two, to say about the things that you do.

You’re telling all those lies — about the good things we can have if we close our eyes[/pre][/list][/list]

| It starts like this, the anti-war movement as we— |

INDUCTION CENTERS ACROSS America — DAY

[list][list]https://youtu.be/vtx5NTxebJk?t=26

[pre]DO WH-AT YOU WA-ANT TO DO

AND GO-O WHERE YOU’RE GO-ING TO[/pre][/list][/list]

| They’re called Military Entrance Processing Stations, as YOUNG MEN are standing on a long yellow line on the floor, MILITARY DOCTORS snap pull elastic gloves on their arms, it's the standard U.S. Army physical — We move from place to place. |

ALBANY, ATLANTA, BOSTON, BUFFALO, MIAMI, LANSING, ALBUQUERQUE, PHOENIX——

[list][list][pre]THINK FOR YOUR-SELF

‘CAUSE I WON’T BE TH-ERE WITH YOU[/pre][/list][/list]

| More YOUNG MEN are raising their right hands, taking pledges and oaths— |

HOUSTON, OKLAHOMA CITY, KANSAS CITY, BROOKLYN—

| Across America, delivery people of the United States Postal Service stuff YELLOW ENVELOPES into their satchels. |

[list][list][pre]I LEFT YOU FAR BE-HIND

THE RUINS OF THE LIFE THAT YOU HA-VE IN MIND[/pre][/list][/list]

RURAL IOWA, Paramountica — MORNING

[sub]It’s literally the middle of nowhere[/sub]

| A MAILMAN deposits an assortment of mail into the box, as BRADLEY, a young man hurries out of his garage, his red flannel shirt stained from an truck oil change — he retrieves the mail, giving a wave to the MAILMAN before quickly shuffling through the mail with excitement, finding what he wants — a pink envelope with a girl’s handwriting, accompanied by a nie picture and begins reading — BRADLEY’s smirk is wiped from his face when he notices the envelope underneath the girl’s, he stares at it — — This one’s from the UNITED STATES SELECTIVE SERVICE and we— |

[list][list][pre]AND THOUGH YOU ST-ILL CAN’T SEE[/pre][/list][/list]

MINNEAPOLIS, NEW ORLEANS, SALT LAKE CITY, SAN ANTONIO—

| A few MILITARY OFFICERS stand before well-scrubbed AMERICANS in their early 20s, clean of any sign of the hippie, crew-cut, that sort of stuff, there’s from the Youth Draft Advisory Committee as they stand before the PRESS. Before them, a goldfish bowl containing capsules, one of the OFFICERS pulls a capsule and reads, as if someone’s one something. |

[list]| [sub]DRAFT OFFICER, [sub]Draft Advisory[/sub] | “June 3rd, All those whose birthdays fall on June 3rd!”[/list]

[list][list][pre]I KNOW YOUR MI-ND’S MADE UP

YOU’RE GO-NNA CAUSE MORE MISERY[/pre][/list][/list]

RALEIGH, RICHMOND, SEATTLE, SHREVEPORT, SIOUX FALLS—

| YOUNG MEN across America continue to file into the INDUCTION CENTERS; check-ups, reciting oaths, hugging families goodbye, as TV NEWS REPORTERS across the nation broadcast reports on the nightly views. |

[list]| NBC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](VOICE OVER)[/sup] | “112,386 men have thus far been inducted into the—”[/list]

[list][list][pre]DO WH-AT YOU WA-ANT TO DO

AND GO-O WHERE YOU’RE GO-ING TO

THINK FOR YOUR-SELF

‘CAUSE I WON’T BE TH-ERE WITH YOU[/pre][/list][/list]

| Images of the increasing violence in Vietnam surge on TELEVISION SETs in American homes — President LYNDON JOHNSON, with his tall 6’4 Texan demonor, gives a slight weary smile to reporters as he strides the green SOUTH LAWN from a recently arrived MARINE ONE helicopter, accompanied by ADVISORS of the Pentagon. |

[list]| CBS NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “230,911 men between the ages of 18 and 26 have been—”[/list]

| BRADLEY, that middle-of-nowhere IOWAN, is now in a sharp MARINE ‘Blue Class C’ with a tan tie uniform, kneels down to give his younger brother, only 9 and in a Boy Scout uniform a hug — other guys do the same as an awaiting military bus sits. |

[list]| ABC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “382,000 give or take, as the war enters 1967, and there’s no sign that—”[/list]

[list][list][pre]AL-HOUGH YOUR MIND'S OPAQUE

TRY THINK-ING MORE IF JUST FOR YOUR OWN SAKE[/pre][/list][/list]

| All of this while the major American newspapers publish articles about NAPALMED tree-tops and VIET-CONG ambushes in the jungles of SOUTH VIETNAM. |

LIVING ROOM, LOWRIE HOUSEHOLD, Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBIA[/sub]

| The FATHER, yanks the Newspaper from CHARLIE’s hand, his son, and slams the magazine to the ground as CHARLIE stands his ground. |

[list]| CHARLIE, [sub]Son[/sub] | “DAD!? YOU CAN’T!”

| MR. LOWRIE, [sub]Father[/sub] | “No?”[/list]

| The FATHER slumps into a lazyboy chair, watching the game. |

[list]| MR. LOWRIE, [sub]Father[/sub] | “I just did.”

| [sub]CHARLIE, Son[/sub] | “You can’t stop paying my tuition. I’ll lose my deferment.”

| MR. LOWRIE, [sub]Father[/sub] | “Look at this! I GOT A GODDAMN GENIUS!”

| CHARLIE, [sub]Son[/sub] | “DAD—!”

| MR. LOWRIE, [sub]Father[/sub] | “The army’s gonna make a MAN outa you ‘CAUSE I SURE as hell CAN’T!”[/list]

| CHARLIE turns to his MOTHER, who is sitting nearby. |

[list]| CHARLIE, [sub]Son[/sub] | “. . . Mom?”[/list]

| MOM’s helpless as we— |

AMARILLO, ANCHORAGE, BOISE, BUTTE, DALLAS, DENVER, DES MOINES—

[list][list][pre]THE FUT-URE STILL LOOKS GOOD

AND YOU'VE GOT TIME TO RECT-IFY

ALL THE TH-INGS THAT YOU SH-OULD[/pre][/list][/list]

| The INDUCTION CENTERS continue to welcome drafted young Americans into the armed services, over this we continue to hear the NEWS REPORTERS overlapping from the three Major Networks. |

[list]| CBS NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “1,009 American troops killed in the month of October—”[/list]

[list][list][pre]DO WH-AT YOU WA-ANT TO DO

AND GO-O WHERE YOU’RE GO-ING TO[/pre][/list][/list]

[list]| NBC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “Between January and July of this year, over 11,512 troops have died between—”

| [sub]L/WBC NEWS, Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “29,992—”

| ABC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “56,013 wounded in action as of—”[/list]

[list][list][pre]THINK FOR YOUR-SELF

‘CAUSE I WON’T BE TH-ERE WITH YOU[/pre][/list][/list]

[list]| CBS NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](V.O.)[/sup] | “Total troop levels are at an all time high of—”[/list]

| Troop levels stand at 536,100, welcome to 1968. |

LIVING ROOM, MILLER HOUSEHOLD, Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBIA[/sub]

| It’s another family, in a different part of the country. The PARENTS sit down before unfolded tray tables and TV dinners — a spot is missing, but their son’s picture is set on a table nearby. The MOTHER pulls the plastic cover from the aluminum TV dinner tray and looks up at the TELEVISION set. |

[list]| NBC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](TV Broadcast)[/sup] | “As estimated 110,000 protestors marched on Capitol Hill today, the culmination of five days of similar anti-draft protests across America . . . Organized by Tom Hayden and Rennie Davis, leaders of the National Mobilization Committee to End of the War in Vietnam, the protest received a unique spark from the fringe group known as the Youth International Party, lead by activist Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin . . . At one point—”[/list]

FBI HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON D.C., Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]OFFICE CUBICLES[/sub]

[list]| NBC NEWS, [sub]Reporter[/sub] [sup](TV Broadcast)[/sup] | “During the day-long protest, Hoffman, Rubin and 2,500 others tried unsuccessfully to charge the Pentagon.”[/list]

| The NBC BROADCAST continues, on a small TV set in a corner office as we see a confidential interoffice MEMO being typed out on FBI Typewriter Stationery. |

[list][sub][pre]Bureau letter of 5/10/68 instructed all offices to submit detailed analysis of potential counter-intelligence action against New Left organizations and Key Activists . . .[/pre][/sub][/list]

[list][list][pre]DO WH-AT YOU WA-ANT TO DO

AND GO-O WHERE YOU’RE GO-ING TO

THINK FOR YOUR-SELF

‘CAUSE I WON’T BE TH-ERE WITH YOU[/pre][/list][/list]

MANHATTAN STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Paramountica — NIGHT

| JERRY RUBIN, 28, is in front of a building we really can’t see yet, he’s talking to a few friends, all hippies and demonstrates something he’s holding. |

[list]| JERRY RUBIN, [sub]Activist[/sub] | “It’s named after Russian Commissar Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. You start with a glass bottle. I prefer Johinee Walker but that’s just me, you fill it to here with gasoline.”[/list]

FBI HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON D.C., Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]FOCUS ON TYPEWRITER SHEET[/sub]

[list][sub][pre]--Believed that the non-conformism in dress and speech, neglect of personal cleanliness . . . use of drugs, anti-American actions, these individuals are attempting to destroy American society . . .[/pre][/sub][/list]

MANHATTAN STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Paramountica — NIGHT

| RUBIN continues his demonstration, lighting a cigarette after stuffing a rag into the bottle. |

[list]| JERRY RUBIN, [sub]Activist[/sub] | “. . . and a fuse.”[/list]

FBI HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON D.C., Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]FOCUS ON TYPEWRITER SHEET[/sub]

[list][sub][pre]--As noted in the takeover recently at Columbia University, NY and other universities in the U.S. . . .[/pre][/sub][/list]

MANHATTAN STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Paramountica — NIGHT

| The cigarette fuse on the Molotov cocktail is almost burned to the bottom as RUBIN shouts. |

[list]| JERRY RUBIN, [sub]Activist[/sub] | “NOW!”[/list]

| —As his hand grabs the bottle, a half-dozen others grab bottles and HURL them into the dark at the unseen building. The EXPLOSION lights up the night surroundings as we can read, moments before the sign is blown off: U.S. ARMY RECRUITMENT CENTER. |

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]MAKESHIFT MEETING HALL, YALE UNIVERSITY[/sub]

| A banner tells us it’s a meeting of the National Organization to Mobilize the End of the War in Vietnam. |

[list]| FRANK ROTH, [sub]Yale Student[/sub] | “This war started in the Gulf of Tonkin, but where’s it gonna end?”[/list]

| The STUDENTs respond, shouting even — — “CHICAGO!” To Mayor RICHARD DALEY’s CHICAGO, host of the 1968 Democratic National Convention. |

[list][list][pre]THINK FOR YOUR-SELF

‘CAUSE I WON’T BE TH-ERE WITH YOU[/pre][/list][/list]

FBI HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON D.C., Paramountica — EVENING

[sub]FOCUS ON TYPEWRITER SHEET[/sub]

[list][sub][pre]It should be noted huge anti-war protests are projected to take place at the Democratic National Convention, President Johnson’s vice President, Mr. Hubert Humphrey is expected to be nominated.[/pre][/sub][/list]

| The written memo is ZIPPED! Up from the typewriter, and placed in a folder for mass-printing circulation to all FBI offices. |

____________

[sub]¹ '68 ELECTION, Covering the 1968 Presidential and Congressional elections that took place in the United States, of that same year and their surrounding events.[/sub]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

MAY , 1968

A Recount Of Atrocities: Japanese Occupation

| A man in his late 30's finishes his third and final book recounting his life starting from the period of British colonial rule being the first book. The second book being the brief Japanese occupation, including the aftermath of the occupation and his final book being on the Malayan emergency. |

| His first book wasn't all too popular. But his second book was, with it's premise of life under the Japanese. How different of a time it was when compared to the period of British colonial rule. How prior to that most people in the Malay colonies thought that the British empire was invincible and nobody could topple their rule over the Malay peninsula, until they were proven wrong when the Japanese arrived. |

| In his book. He recounts that life under the Japanese was harsh, especially for the ethnic Chinese. Very few recreational areas were allowed to stay open under Japanese rule, with most being cinemas. Even then the cinemas wasn't a time for fun and unwind from the stress of daily life, as there were times when the Japanese soldiers who had been stationed in the Malay peninsula could show up and round up the cinema goers to be taken under Japanese custody to work on public infrastructure. Many Chinese who had fled from the China to the Malay peninsula to escape the Japanese in the first place also had to suffer, with some men in Singapore having been shot into an open grave, with rumours floating around that their spirits still live and haunt that part of Singapore till this day. The only way to live underneath Japanese rule was to submit to the Japanese, by doing so you'd be given more favourable treatment. |

| That was until the occupation ended in 1945. That was when the communist began to gain more power among the populace, even enough power to perform public executions without much consequences and still having public support. Multiple people who had been affiliated with the Japanese were paraded around the street to be humiliated before finally being beheaded. Multiple men and women had been murdered without actually being affiliated with the Japanese under the post-occupation period. Multiple organised crime organisations also began appearing and growing more power during the post-occupation period before the British could restore order in the colonies. |

| The trilogy of books meant to recount the more private lives of the populace of the era to the populace of Malaysia during the three different periods of their history. Would teach them that Malaysia has its own history of violence that is recent and shouldn't be forgotten, so that an event on a similar scale could never happen again. |

______________________________________________

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Greater Adriatican State

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

Sudesam

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

[sub]MAY |-| 1968

The People VS The Party[/sub]

_________

Lynch was at a crossroads. On one hand, he became fairly unpopular amongst the party, with his ambitious reforms in infrastructure, and outlandish promises on post-election economic reform, which sparked big debate between the more traditionalist and protectionist TD's opposing his pledges reforms and has proved to be all but proactive with foreign policy, having made little announcements concerning policy on either the EEC or Northern Ireland. On the other hand, Lynch has kept his initial popularity with the public up, mostly due to a stronger than-predicted economy as well as a few of his earlier and more moderate reforms such as free secondary education and pledging to not increase income tax in his opening 2 terms (8 years). While he may personally poll at a good level, his party has fallen to a level where the 1969 election could be the most competitive in decades. Facing internal divisions from tax to abortion, the Fine Gael-Labour Pact - (FG-L) poll at 31%, just 4% percentage points from Fianna Fáil at 35%.

However, Lynch now knew that if he were to win an absolute majority in the 1969 election, his 68 budget would need to make savings in areas which didn't have perhaps a short-term impact on the populace. While inflation and unemployment remained at a steady low and a growing economy, promised reforms could see inequality grow in Ireland, by allowing foreign companies lower taxes and cutting public regulations in privatisation reform, a major area of his reformist plan. Personal and Party popularity was completely split and now he needed, as a party, to be much more united to create the idea that Fianna Fáil is the "catch-all moderate party" and to make out the progressive economic policies of Fine Gael and state-controlled pledges by Labour as being a step back from the free-market economics of Lynch and Fianna Fáil.

Furthermore, Lynch faced another problem, and while the budget could easily be amended by reducing how far savings went by reducing how much income tax would be cut, something which would've originally come down by an effective 10%, but to now only come down by 5%, was factionalism in the party. While still a uniting figure and the shadow of Sean Lemass reigned above the image of the party, his more secular and free-market sympathies had angered the more traditionalist and protectionist TDs, who saw his market reforms were not only going too far but his questioning of the importance of religion and vague promises on a referendum on homosexuality, which had grown as an issue in the youthful Dublin communities throughout the '50s and '60s and now seemingly one of the tops of the agenda issues for young people. If he was to answer this question which could gain the votes of the youth, Lynch needed to face the old hegemons of the 30s and 40s, the history of the party, some of them being the founders still lounging as infernal cavalrymen waiting in the isles. Lynch was part of a new, post-civil war generation of politicians, more progressive, secular, and more pragmatic than perhaps the ideological bands of the Old.

To the present, Lynch faces a party growing in division, a country questioning the values of the Past and an election which could shape the future of Ireland as we know it.

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

“A Berlin Betrayal”

[East Berlin, Deutsche Demokratische Republik]

May 1968

In East Berlin, as summer grew near, a storm was brewing of the political nature.

Erich Honecker and Paul Verner had been working hard to build relationships with West Germany, in the hope of securing the East German state amidst widespread economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, there were whispers amongst the Politburo that suggested not everyone was on board with this plan.

The words “Kapitalistisches Übel” had been spray painted and plastered around East Berlin. These were the physical manifestations of years of Soviet-themed propaganda and rumours of the Federal Republic’s soft approach to dealing with former Nazis.

Paul Verner’s response to any murmurs was to rebuff them with a carefully crafted speech in which he called relations with the West an opportunity to introduce other nations to the successes of a Socialist system. Erich Honecker’s answer was to shut down any attempt to raise the issue and to remind his cohorts of his direct line to Stasi enforcers.

There were rumours that some low-level Volkskammer members were plotting to table a motion of no-confidence in the current administration. This motion would never pass, but it would take a sledgehammer to the foundations that Honecker and Verner had built their credibility upon.

The leader of the German Democratic Republic was facing a fight like never before, and it was going to take some shrewd political manoeuvres and a degree of luck to ensure he survived it.

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

Arrest of NBSG leaders

On Friday, May 17, 1968, KGB officers of the BSSR detained three leaders of the New Belarusian Socialist Gramada (NBSG) - Zinoviev Semenovich Isaev, Svyatoslav Leonidovich Lebedev and Fyodor Inokentievich Sokolov. They are accused of anti-Soviet activities, undermining state security and attempting to collapse the Soviet Union.

NBSG is an illegal organization that was created in 1967 by a group of nationalist intellectuals, students and workers. She advocates turning the USSR into a federation of equal Soviet republics, expanding the autonomy of the BSSR and strengthening the Belarusian national identity. The NBSG distributed its leaflets, held secret meetings and contacted Western intelligence agencies.

According to the KGB, the arrested leaders of the NBSG planned to organize mass demonstrations in Minsk and other cities of the BSSR on the day of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. They were also preparing an armed coup with the goal of separating the BSSR from the USSR and creating their own state.

The KGB of the BSSR states that the arrest of the leaders of the NBSG is a blow to the head of the counter-revolutionary movement, which is trying to undermine the unity and solidarity of the Soviet people. The KGB of the BSSR calls on all honest and patriotic Belarusians not to succumb to the provocations of enemies and to remain faithful to the ideas of communism.

The arrested leaders of the NBSG face capital punishment - execution. Their trial will take place soon.

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

International Association Football Federation | Fédération internationale de football association

1968 AFC Asian Cup

LIVE - Pakistan

--------------------------

GROUP STAGES

After a brief pause in the calendar, you join us again for our coverage of continental football, this time travelling to Pakistan for the AFC Asian Cup. The successes of the previous expanded format tournaments continues to boost FIFA's confidence and increase their funding and investments to the previously overlooked confederations. Football has been gradually increasing in popularity and funding, especially following the performances of teams such as Japan and Korea in the last World Cup. This year, 16 teams will be competing for the title "Champions of Asia", with hopes and expectations high for all the qualifiers.

Looking back at the previous tournament in 1964, the 1968 games are far larger, with only 4 teams competing. The games were won by Israel, their last appearance in the AFC before their confederation switched to UEFA. Only India and South Korea, who finished second and third respectively, qualified this year from 1968. Hong Kong were prevented from competing this year due to a change in FIFA regulations preventing overseas territories from competing. Pakistan, our hosts, make their first ever appearance in international football competition, and after a series of investments are hoping to leaving a last impression on fans around Asia and the World. Let's remind ourselves of how qualification went for this years tournament.

Japan and Iraq qualified directly from Group 1, with Iraq making their first ever appearance. Lebanon secured third place and a chance at the play-offs, whereas Yemen finished in fourth. In their first qualifying appearance, Ceylon won their first competitive match but finished last in their group.

China qualified at the top of Group 2 in a dominant performance, finishing 7 points ahead of Saudi Arabia in second place and scoring a record 23 goals. Defying the odds, Bhutan managed to finish in third, marking their best ever performance in the qualifiers. Nepal only managed fourth while Cambodia finished at the bottom of the group.

Group 3 was won by Kurdistan, replicating their strong performance from the World Cup qualifiers and cementing their place amongst the dominant teams in Asia. India took second in the group and qualified just behind them, with Brunei only managed 5 points to finish third, and Mongolia rounding out the group in fourth.

Iran and Australia, both World Cup qualifiers, took first and second in Group 4, with Iran tying for the best qualifying performance. Burma, who had experienced a slight decline in their rankings since 1965, managed to secure third place but fell far short of second place with a 9 point gap. South Vietnam missed out on a potential play-off spot by only one point, whereas Singapore only managed 2 points in an underwhelming performance.

Korea took the top spot in Group 5, rounding out yet another dominant display, and securing the best performance of the qualification by statistics. North Vietnam pulled off the shock of the qualifiers by qualifying in second place, albeit with the largest margin between first and second place at 11 points. New Zealand finished in third, only narrowly beating out fourth place Afghanistan by one goal difference. Laos, who like Burma have experienced a major decline since 1965, finished last.

In Group 6, Thailand finished in first but only managed to beat out second place Malaysia by one point. The Republic of China, admitted to compete by FIFA controversially as Chinese Taipei, finished in third with 7 points, and Sikkim only managed to finish in fourth.

Finally, the Philippines finished at the top of Group 7 in one of the most contested groups of the tournament, with only 3 points separating the four teams. Syria record their first ever qualification by finished second, and Oman managed to secure third place, narrowly out-qualifying Indonesia, who record their worst qualifying performance since joining the AFC.

The play-off round was contested between Lebanon, Bhutan, New Zealand and Burma. New Zealand defeated Lebanon in the first bracket, winning 2-1 in the first match and drawing 1-1 in the second to go through 3-2 on aggregate. Burma advanced to the next round defeating Bhutan 3-1 in the first match, and drawing 2-2 in the second match. In the final, Burma took the final qualifying spot after defeating New Zealand. New Zealand won in the first match 2-1, but were picked apart by the Burmese in the second match 4-1, securing their place in the final tournament.

For the final tournament, the groups were drawn as such:

Group A: Pakistan (hosts), Iran, North Vietnam, Philippines

Group B: Korea, Saudi Arabia, India, Burma

Group C: Japan, China PR, Malaysia, Syria

Group D: Australia, Kurdistan, Iraq, Thailand

The group stage commenced with the opening match, between Pakistan and North Vietnam. The hosts, who were hoping to start their campaign with a win, were only able to muster a draw against the strong looking Vietnamese side. Iran won their opening match 2-1 against the Philippines. Moving on, the Philippines only managed to muster a single point in a 1-1 draw with Pakistan, giving both teams their first points of the tournament. North Vietnam caused the shock of the tournament in defeating Iran 2-1, taking the lead in the group. In the final match, Iran secured their spot in the next round defeating Pakistan 4-1, and North Vietnam took the top spot by defeating the Philippines 2-1 in the final match to secure their first knockout-round appearance.

Group B began with Korea and India drawing 1-1 to give each their first point of the tournament, and with Burma drawing with Saudi Arabia 2-2 to leave the group all level heading into match two. Korea outclassed a strong Burmese team to take their first victory 4-3 in a thrilling game, where India secured a victory against Saudi Arabia 2-1. In the final match, Korea and Saudi Arabia tied 2-2 in what had been an underwhelming performance, but enough to secure Korea's spot in the next round, where they will be joined by India, who's 1-1 draw with Burma secured enough points to advance ahead of Saudi Arabia.

In Group C, Japan opened out with a 3-2 win against Malaysia, and were followed by China who beat Syria 3-2 in their opening game. Syria would go on to disappoint the Japanese side by holding them to a 2-2 draw, allowing China to advance ahead of them in the group by claiming a second consecutive victory against Malaysia 2-1. However, Japan managed to secure the top spot in the group by defeating the Chinese side 2-1 in the final match of the group, with Syria securing their only win of the group against Malaysia.

Australia produced the largest victory of the tournament so far, defeating Iraq 5-1 in their opening match. This victory was replicated by Kurdistan, who managed to defeat Thailand 4-1 in a dominant showing. However, the tables were turned in the second round as Thailand managed to secure a shock victory against the Australians 3-1, followed by the clash between neighbours Kurdistan and Iraq finishing in a bitterly fought goalless draw. In the final match, Kurdistan delivered another shock to Australia, defeating them 4-1 to advance to the next round, and Thailand secured their spot in the next round after defeating Iraq 2-1.

Join us next time for our coverage of the knockout stages of the 1968 AFC Asian Cup!

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Belarus Sr

Timeline of the Nyerere Presidency (7 years, 8 months, 8 days)

- September 2, 1960: Julius Nyerere is elected Chief Minister of British Tanganyika.

- May 1, 1961: Tanganyika Declares Independence as the UN mandate ends.

- July, 1961: The Rural Resettlement Scheme or Villagization begins. In its nearly 8 year span, 75% of rural households are moved, and thousands are killed.

- January 5, 1962: Nyerere (unlike OTL), delivers the demands for a one-party state to the legislature rather than implementing the party's demands. The legislature shoots down the bill. Instead, a forced United Front is formed.

- January 22, 1962: The position of Prime Minister is abolished and Nyerere begins centralizing state power around himself.

- January 12, 1964: The Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the Sultan of Zanzibar, Mass killings and other atrocities occurred.

- January 19 - 25, 1964: Following the Zanzibar Revolution, elements of the Tanganyika Rifles, and far-left elements of the ruling TANU party mutiny against the government. British Marines are called in to put them down.

- April 26, 1964: Zanzibar and Tanganyika unite, forming the United Republic of Tanzania.

- January 1967: The first 5 year plan is deemed a failure, Mass nationalizations are halted, and collective farms are abolished; however, aggressive resettlement campaigns continue.

- February 1967: The Arusha Declaration lays out Nyerere’s plans for creating a socialist society.

- March 1967: The African Cultural Revolution (1967-1968): Anglican churches are attacked, western dress banned, and universities attacked. This has the opposite effect of eroding Nyerere’s support, and pushing students to Western values.

- March 2, 1968: Story providing evidence for trafficking, murder, and genocide leaks in Tanzania by the Daily Nationalist, implicating President Julius Nyerere, and Vice President Abeid Karume.

- March 4, 1968: Protests begin in Dar Es Salaam

- March 12, 1968: The United Women of Tanzania, and the National Trade Union Congress join the protests, quickly spreading them to major cities across Tanzania effectively paralyzing the government.

- March 20, 1968: So-called “Model Villages” in Tanzania join the protests, arresting members of the appointed village councils.

- April 4, 1968: After a month of sustained protests, President Nyerere declares a state of emergency.

- April 19, 1968: Nyerere flees the capital of Dar Es Salaam for his seaside villa. The MP’s of the National Assembly are forced to sit and wait in the center of the city, guarded by a disloyal Police Force, awaiting the military to crack down on protesters or his second in command Oscar Kambona to negotiate with protesters.

- April 27, 1968: Oscar Kambona arrives in Dar Es Salaam to a state of chaos, after negotiating with the Unions, Students, and Women's group the answer is clear, Nyerere must resign.

- May 2, 1968: Oscar Kambona delivers the “Great Speech” in which he acknowledges his culpability in allowing the crimes of Nyerere to go unpunished. He does reveal; however, he revealed the news in the first place. He also firmly announces Nyerere must be impeached and removed along with Vice President Karume.

In a vote of 141-47 President Julius Nyerere, and Vice President Abeid Karume are both impeached and removed from office.

Kambona, as the third highest ranking member of the cabinet (Minister of Home Affairs), is sworn in as Acting President of Tanzania.

- May 10, 1968: Abeid Karume is assassinated by an unknown assailant; however, it is widely suspected to be by the government. Shortly after, Julius Nyerere surrenders to the authorities, ceding his claim to still be the President, and being exiled to the United Kingdom.

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv

[list][list][sub]1°.𝙸𝙸𝙸.1968[/sub]

[sub]LIBRI, BANDIERE E RIVENDICAZIONI[/sub]

BOOKS, FLAGS, AND DEMANDS, II

[sub][list]THE BATTLE AT VALLE GIULIA[/list][/sub][/list]

[list][list][pre]Radical left- and right-wing students clash,

In a show of heightened political violence.[/pre][/list][/list]

ROMA, REGNO D’ITALIA

[sub][nation=flag]Arcanda[/nation][/sub][/list]

[list]| A detonation rang in the crisp air of March. Another followed. The dozen of meters that separated a group of student radicals and the police cordon guarding the Faculty of Architecture was no more, as the enraged youth lobbed stones and debris at the helmeted officers of the Celere units—infamous "mobile squads" deployed to contain rioters. Between 2,000 and 4,000 far-right students, under the leadership of neo-fascist radical Stefanno Della Chiaie and an umbrella of microscopic, yet highly influential and determined groups such as Della Chiaie's Avanguardia Nazionale, had decided to strike big on the first day of March. Their demonstration, starting on the Spanish Steps, had grown louder as they neared the Faculty of Architecture, and as if events had conspired against public order that day, far-left radicals would also join the fray to disrupt the far-right march as streets would turn into a large battlefield ranging from the Faculty of Architecture to the Faculty of Law. Faced with strong police presence on the outskirts of the Faculty, which they sought to re-occupy after several days of cat-and-mouse games in late February, the students would, for the first time, fight back. |

| Soon, smoke plumes rose above the neighborhood: The Celere units, chased by determined student groups, would leave behind their Jeeps and trucks that were soon no more but piles of burning carcasses. Throughout the afternoon, the situation escalated again, diffuse and chaotic; units on horseback dispatched as more mobile and efficient means to disperse the emboldened, and also mobile, groups of students. This was the moment chosen by various components on both sides to retreat inside the university buildings, left empty by the police, and regain their original positions. By the end of the day, the radical student groups had taken possession of their respective ideological and recruitment grounds: The Faculty of Law for the neo-fascists, the Faculty of Letters for the leftists; but as night fell, the far-right component would find itself besieged by groups of radical leftists attempting to dislodge them from the Law Faculty; several sorties would prove a bloody enterprise for both, until a final police detachment would prevent more damage, allowing the mostly unscathed escape of Della Chiaie's men. The same evening, all radios and newspapers in the country were covering this particularly violent event; pictures of inflamed cars, students wielding steel pipes and bloodied young men would be on all first pages with a single title: "The Battle at Valle Giulia". |

| While university radicalism is not new, and a string of highly-publicized faculty occupations have taken place in the past few years as students demand a modernization of their courses and wider changes to the antiquated university system of the Kingdom, the events of Valle Giulia have taken the police by surprise. At the highest echelon of power, SIFAR reports are now circulating concerning the fanaticism of fringe youth groups, not tied to the MSI or to the PCI, and the radicalizing influence they wield on an ever-larger, yet underfunded, cohort of Italian students. Unorganized, unrepresented in Parliament or in the news media, they have grown louder thanks to brand-new organizations and determined propagandizing; clashes have been reported in several other cities throughout the month, the largest in Genoa, Messina and Modena, always pitting Red against Brown, and both against the police—but so far, the Moro government has brushed away those disturbances, even as student leaders have vowed stronger actions if their demands are not met. |

[list][list][list][spoiler=[sub]Commonwealth of Liberty[/sub]

EVVIVA L'ITALIA!

—]

[nation]Adriatican Islands[/nation]

[nation]Al-Oman[/nation]

[nation]Amsterwald[/nation]

[nation]Arcanda[/nation]

[nation]Brazil Toucan[/nation]

[nation]Cascadla[/nation]

[nation]Cheezaslovakia[/nation]

[nation]Connomia[/nation]

[nation]East Germany DDR[/nation]

[nation]Great Britain GB[/nation]

[nation]Greater Kurdistane[/nation]

[nation]Israelli[/nation]

[nation]Kewtpuff[/nation]

[nation]Kotakuan II[/nation]

[nation]Ma-li[/nation]

[nation]Maziya[/nation]

[nation]Metropolitan Francais[/nation]

[nation]Neepal[/nation]

[nation]Nevbrejnovitz[/nation]

[nation]Newauroria[/nation]

[nation]New Provenance[/nation]

[nation]Nileia[/nation]

[nation]Nippon-Nihon[/nation]

[nation]OsivoII[/nation]

[nation]Paramountica[/nation]

[nation]Paseo[/nation]

[nation]Peking Zhongguo[/nation]

[nation]Pontianus[/nation]

[nation]Provenancia[/nation]

[nation]Ranponian[/nation]

[nation]Rutannia[/nation]

[nation]Saudi Arabiyah[/nation]

[nation]Socialist Democratic Republic Romania[/nation]

[nation]Spainard[/nation]

[nation]Sudesam[/nation]

[nation]Turkiye 1st[/nation]

[nation]Vancouver Straits[/nation]

[nation]Victoria Harbor[/nation]

[nation]Vietnam SV[/nation]

[nation]Virnall[/nation]

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][list]MAY 1968

[sub]Loc’s Successor[/sub][/list]

[pre] N E W P R I M E M I N I S T E R [/pre]

INDEPENDENCE PALACE — AFTERNOON

[sub]SAIGON, Vietnam Sv[/sub]

| The constitution gives the Prime Minister broad responsibilities — and potential power — in the day-to-day administration of the country on behalf of the PRESIDENT. In the constant negotiations of confrontation and compromise between the country’s two main men, VICE PRESIDENT NGUYEN CAO KY convinced PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN THIEU to appoint as Prime Minister a Saigon lawyer and KY’s mate with no political experience, NGUYEN VAN LOC. Since Tet, rumors had spread throughout the city that THIEU would replace LOC, who had turned out to be an inefficient administrator after the Communist offensive. THIEU fired the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Addressing the nation via television and radio, dressed in an open-necked uniform without insignia, THIEU appointed the 64-year-old schoolteacher TRAN VAN HUONG to be South Vietnam’s new prime minister. HUONG was twice Mayor of Saigon and Prime Minister, from 1964 to 1965. He ran in the ‘67 elections and finished fourth — but easily won the city of Saigon. |

| When he was campaigning, HUONG showed that he would be willing to dialogue with the Viet Cong’s National Liberation Front if he was sure that this would guarantee “peace and freedom” for the country. But that doesn’t endear him to KY and his followers, who are far more concerned than THIEU about the negotiations between the U.S. and North Vietnam. KY was in Nha Trang when THEIU appointed a new Prime Minister, a fact that led Saigon’s rumor mills to conclude that KY might decide to stage a coup d’état against THIEU. Far more important from the perspective of the U.S., which sincerely supports HUONG’s premiership, is that HUONG will likely replace the former government’s technicians with civilian politicians like himself. If he does this, the government will do well in terms of popularity. |

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Zingium

Post by Kasmanistan suppressed by Paramountica.

Kasmanistan

Helo

Cascadla

[list][pre]T H E S L O V E N E R E P U B L I C • S L O V E N S K A R E P U B L I K A[/pre][/list]

COVERT WEAPONS SALE TO EAST GERMANY SECURED; SLOVENIA AGAIN INGRATIATES ITSELF WITH THE WARSAW PACT

[list][sup]THE COMING OF A RED SUNRISE

MAY 1968[/sup][/list]

A Western observer might normally dismiss the state issuances of Titoist Yugoslavia (Ranponian) as plain-faced, cheaply devised propaganda, seeing clearly the devices of its government in insisting that democratic Slovenia is abominable whereas Yugoslavia, which has bathed in blood several times in living memory, is a beacon of peace. Even now that it had amputated itself from the Warsaw Pact, the Yugoslavian government indeed continued lambasting Slovenia for its existence outside of Tito’s grasp, labeling it a ‘tumor’ fueled by ‘ethnic supremacy’—even against the constitutionally enshrined minority representation pioneered by the presidency of Božidar Jakac and strides for linguistic preservation of minority languages made as recently as 1967. The diatribes of such figures as Yugoslavian Marshal Nikola Ljubičić were, generally, dismissed by the Slovenian public—but they increasingly found new geopolitical weight. Now that several NATO nations—France, Greece, Italy and the United States chiefly among them—had considerable financial interests in Yugoslavia following the country’s aggressive privatization of state firms in 1966, the Slovene government has been forced to reckon with that Western powers may be heeding Yugoslavian tirades for their investments’ sakes.

The surprising shift which has resulted from this “great alienation” is a new affinity between Slovenia and nations of the Eastern bloc, which have been alienated by Yugoslavia in turn. The Železno summit of May 1965 had set the stage for this shift; the Krk summit of July 1967 seemed to seal it, carving out a new understanding between Slovenia and Romania (Socialist Democratic Republic Romania), a hardline nation in the bloc. Slovenia’s most recent eastward step came in May 1968 with a state-facilitated weapons sale of 65,000 Zlatorog-manufactured battle-rifles and 750 marksman rifles to the German Democratic Republic (Hatzburg) for $2.4 million (1968), bound for a prospective modernization of the East German Grenztruppen. Officially, state involvement in the transaction was to be concealed, though it was covertly a key point of a highly publicized meeting of East German and Slovenian officials at the Soviet embassy in Ljubljana that April. President Jakac ensured that he informed and reassured West Germany (New Provenance) of the meeting—reiterating his belief in “reconciliation and understanding” between the two states for the “eventual reunification of the German people”. Publicly, the only result of the summit was a joint declaration of mutual understanding and friendship.

All of these developments pointed to a simple but grave diplomatic truth: Slovenia, by nature, must walk a fine line. On one side, it must appeal to the Western powers, so tightly tied to the history of the Republic; on the other, it must curry favor and protect its flanks from the East, which seem less swayed by the ideologically fickle West. The decision to proceed with the sale was indeed a calculated boon for the Republic’s relations with the Warsaw Pact, yet the realpolitik of the situation contained an element of risk in its very nature—if discovered and somehow linked to the Slovenian government, news of the sale may yet begin to alienate West Germany. For a nation that has spent so long on the fringes of the world stage, it was certainly a fresh challenge to navigate.

Arcanda, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

| LARGEST ECONOMIC GROWTH AMIDST POLITCAL TENSIONS GROWING |

[sub]20th of May, 1968[/sub]

| Two years into ANGELIQUE BANZA in power brings the largest economic growth seen in Zairean history, at a rate of around twenty percent since last year, marking a new economic moment for the country. The reforms and bills passed throughout 1967 have also went into effect, and despite all this Miss Banza is facing growing political tensions in the country.

The Tribal Leader Councils have formed the Tribes Protection Committee as the government is set on cracking down the tribal leaders and their powers. The Tribes Council, which is now an integral part of the Zairean political and constitutional system, is actively protesting against ANGELIQUE BANZA and her reforms. Their activity is supported by the Matriarch of Zaire.

Such a situation has not taken place before, with a clear divide between the MATRIARCH and the FIRST REPRESENTATIVE, creating growing questions about the future of the government that ANGELIQUE BANZA is head of. The tensions have found themselves in a new point, as ANGELIQUE BANZA has stated that she will propose a new change to the Zairean Constitution which aims at limiting the powers of the MATRIARCH to that of nothing more than a representative role.

But it is that very proposal that has rallied the Matriarch into action, showcasing that her political power in the country is as strong as it was before. Thousands of people have went out onto the streets of Zaire to protest against ANGELIQUE BANZA claiming that an attack on the Matriarch is an attack on the state of Zaire. However, the proposal has landed in the National Congress. The problem arises as in order to make any constitutional changes, ANGELIQUE BANZA would need the support of the ZAIRE DEMOCRATIC REFORM PARTY, the largest opposition group in the Congress which actively opposes ANGELIQUE BANZA deeming her as authoritarian.

Some political commentators suggest that Miss Banza might dissolve the Congress, which is in her constitutional right, and call upon a new election. With the hight of popularity that ANGELIQUE BANZA is having right now, it might seem a plausible option, but one institution stands in her way. The ASSEMBLY OF EXPERTS has to agree for the Congress to be dismissed, an institution in which half of experts are from designation of the First Representative and the other half from the Matriarch. The political system of Zaire doesn't allow authoritarian tendencies to form.

The question then remains, what will ANGELIQUE BANZA do, who despite her popularity ranking the highest of any First Representatives before her, finds her in a war with the political class that she belongs to, and whether there is a way for her to deal with the said class before the next upcoming elections in 1970. |

[spoiler="...I will not be intimidated by the tribes nor the Matriarch, the reforms I ought to pass are expected of me by the people..." - First Representative Angelique Banza]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

“Labours of Love”

[Frankfurt, Deutsche Demokratische Republik]

May-June 1968

When news of an impending political insurrection came across the desk of Erich Honecker, his first thought had been to see who could be swayed to his side to guarantee regime survival. He had looked at different public officials, political heavyweights and all kinds of figures. However, the answer had been staring him in the face all along.

Heinz Hoffman.

Armeegeneral Heinz Hoffman, Commander in Chief of the Nationale Volksarmee was the perfect candidate to become part of Honecker’s inner circle. For no pencil-pushing politician would be able to overpower the German Democratic Republic’s supreme military commander.

As May turned to June, he had ordered Hoffman to travel to Frankfurt. Awaiting him, were Honecker and Verner, who had procured a shipment of Slovenian guns to help totally revamp the East German Grenztruppen. Hoffman was sold straight away.

From the outside, this looked like an act of hostility against the West. Verner had been quick to point out that the West Germans would have watched the guns arrive via some unethical back-channel, not that he blamed them. However, Honecker had remained cordial in his communications with Bonn in the hope they’d get the message about what he was doing, though of course he couldn’t say it directly.

The conclusion of their business in Frankfurt led the two East German leaders to three conclusions. Hoffman, and thus the entire Nationale Volksarmee, were completely onside, the Slovenians could make good allies for the future and the army now had 65,000 shiny new Zlatorog battle rifles ready to use if necessary.

As the summer of 1968 rolled in, things were looking up and Honecker had lived to fight another day.

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, New Provenance, Maziya, Spain-, Vietnam Sv, Zingium

[list][list]May 1968

[sub]Housing Protest in Londonderry/Derry Sparks Civil Rights Outcry![/sub][/list]

LONDONDERRY/DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND, Great Britain Gb

| The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) was formed on 29 January 1967 and was predominantly made up of individuals outside the republican movement but campaigned on numerous issues such as Electoral representation, policing, employment and ultimately housing. The main innovation of NICRA was its dependence on, and work to, defend civil rights or rights that all Northern Ireland people have as British citizens under their present constitutional arrangement, as opposed to basing its demands on the nationalist objective of reunion in a republic that would include the entire island of Ireland. |

| Activists within Londonderry/Derry' planned May 5, 1968, as the date for their march and had been authorised by NICRA. However, the Minister for Home Affairs, William Craig, prohibited the march, and NICRA attempted to pull out. The city centre, the epicentre of Protestantism and off-limits to Catholic congregations, was on the march path. The DHAC threatened to go forward, pressuring NICRA to comply or risk appearing to have caved in. Non-sectarian civil rights concerns, such as an end to gerrymandering, discrimination in housing, and the opportunity to vote, epitomised the march. Therefore, it was hard to understand William Craig’s position to prohibit such a march. The Royal Ulster Constabulary brutally dispersed the gathering. The crowd was told to evacuate as the Royal Ulster Constabulary commenced an offensive, but as the demonstrators got wedged in between two RUC lines, pandemonium erupted. The police compelled protesters to cross the river and into the Bogside Catholic area. On BBC News, and ITV News, images of police brutality were broadcast worldwide, and much of Northern Ireland's population was horrified. |

| An interviewee who was present at the march recalled on television that “When the baton charge started by the police, we turned to flee, and I remember a wall of policemen across the road blocking our exit route - and a sinking feeling that this is serious trouble - then people started to run in fear." with another stating "A door opened, and a policeman came in. He was young. He looked vicious. I never saw a face with so much hatred in all my life. I thought that was it. He turned though and walked out". Amongst those injured in the carnage was West Belfast MP Gerry Fitt, who had travelled to take part in the march and consequently required an x-ray. There are now serious questions to answer from Stormont, William Craig and the Wilson Cabinet on how these events were allowed to unfold and the unproportionate response of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Al-Oman

Amsterwald

Arcanda

Brazil Toucan

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Sudesam

Turkiye 1St

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Arcanda, Amsterwald, Kotakuan Ii, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Slipway, Zingium, Belarus Sr

[sup]-- SOUTHERN RHODESIA --[/sup]

╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾

[sup]MAY 1968[/sup]

[sup]|-| Economic changes, trade, a new flag, and Afrikaner recognition. |-|[/sup]

[sup]To combat supply shortages, Rhodesia will enact a series of economic changes, and trade changes. The flag of Rhodesia has been changed and the Afrikaner language is being introduced.[/sup]

[sup]Economic Changes[/sup]

[sup]| In the wake of new conditions within Rhodesia due to stockpiles emptying along with the panic caused by it, Ian Smith's administration passed several emergency acts which were granted to him by the parliament, the acts passed include supply rationing, rediverting of funding, distribution of any equipment or items, and the ability to use the RSF to maintain order, and many more may be introduced should the situation continue to become worse. Changes do seem to be working, however.[/sup]

[sup]| The government has begun preparing to use funds to purchase food, meat, and vegetables specifically, from farmers domestically, using a system somewhat similar to state-managed corporatism to fuel the economy and circulate supplies. Additionally, the BSAC has begun preparations to utilise smaller companies and various market methods to get around sanctions, aiming to begin importing from foreign private businesses, specifically those in the Western World, consumer goods, and other vitally needed things.[/sup]

[sup]| The BSAC has contacted its offices in South Africa to begin trading goods from the market there into Rhodesia in a quick manner. They also used funds to pay smaller companies to import goods into South Africa and then into Rhodesia using BSAC and the physical border to avoid direct association with the Rhodesian government, which would prove problematic if significant links were found. The Zambezi, a large river that goes into Rhodesia, may also be used by traders to get goods into the nation avoiding direct ties to the Rhodesian government. BSAC, which has indirect ties to elements of the Rhodesian government, is being given a small funding increase via state business programs of three hundred and forty thousand ($340,000) to begin these operations.[/sup]

[sup]A new flag[/sup]

[sup]| Rhodesians have a rather unique culture, settled Europeans with ties to an island a continent away and taking influence from another settled group of people in a similar situation to the south. Whilst many Rhodesians considered themselves British before UDI, the sanctions and general lack of international recognition have led to a new identity being formed by the European inhabitants of Rhodesia. The flag change, introduced in early May, was overwhelmingly accepted by the European camp of parliament due to the flag's representation of Rhodesia's people and became a somewhat de facto flag in parliament for most of the month. On the 30th of May, the flag, a green and white tricolour with the COA of Rhodesia in the centre, was signed into law as being the official flag of Rhodesia by a vote in the European camp. Reactions are mixed within the nation, Africans have mostly remained silent with a minority opposing it and Europeans have expressed approval vastly. Recent events have made this flag change somewhat notable for the people, mostly Europeans, who are still dealing with the shocks of the attacks in Chinhoyi and Kariba. The old flag may still be used in documents and official papers for another two (2) years.[/sup]

[sup]Afrikaner Language Recognition[/sup]

[sup]| As previously mentioned, Rhodesians have taken influence from the Dutch-originating settlers in South Africa, and many Rhodesians consider their struggles to be somewhat similar and relatable to those of the Afrikaners. The result of this is a sympathetic and positive outlook towards Afrikaners from European Rhodesians and a positive look towards Europeans in Rhodesia from around twenty-five thousand (~25,000) Afrikaners inhabiting the nation, many of whom play important economic and political roles within the country. Considering this, serious debate was raised by many, including the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Rowan Cronjé, who himself is Afrikaner, on whether to recognise or adopt Afrikaner into some form of official language either nationally or locally in some areas. Afrikaners have their own institutions as are customs within Rhodesia, so the changes to daily life by making Afrikaner an official language are likely not large or significant, however, it may serve to improve relations and secure support from the Afrikaner community for Ian Smith's Rhodesia Front Party, which wouldn't mind the solidifying some votes. Efforts to make Afrikaner an official language have begun to move into lawmaker's hands.[/sup]

╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾

Rutannia, Arcanda, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Zingium, United People Of Common Sense

International Association Football Federation | Fédération internationale de football association

1968 AFC Asian Cup

LIVE - Pakistan

--------------------------

KNOCKOUT STAGES

With the group stages now over, the final 8 teams compete in the knockout round for a chance to make it to the final and claim the trophy for this tournament. We've already seen some shocks in this tournament so far, with the hosts being knocked out in the first round, and some of the tournament favourites failing to make it out of the group stages, this Asian Cup is shaping up to be one of the most tense and surprising in its history. In the quarter-finals, we see unlikely qualifiers North Vietnam take on India, Kurdistan face off against China PR, a clash of the titans between heavyweights Japan and Iran, and Korea take on Thailand, who knocked out favourites Australia to book their spot in this round.

North Vietnam stunned India by taking a 1-0 win and booking their spot in the next round. The Vietnamese side, who's recent games have been plagued by domestic political troubles, book their spot in their first ever semi-final and their best ever performance in an international football tournament. India go home disappointed but bolstered by the hopes that their strong qualification and group stage will bode well for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The second semi-final saw China go through to meet North Vietnam after dispatching Kurdistan 2-1. The highly contested match saw Kurdistan take an early lead and hold on to that lead well into the second half, before China managed to equalise. The equaliser was then followed by a change in pace in the match and then eventually, a winning goal by the Chinese side. China go through in form but Kurdistan prove again they are a footballing nation to be reckoned with.

Japan prevailed in the match that many would have expected to be the final, defeating Iran 2-1. Both teams are at the very top of the rankings and at the top of their forms, with Japan taking their 2 goals very early in the game and forcing the Iranian side to fight back in the second half. As they advance, Japan proves itself capable of playing some particularly attractive football and they put themselves in a strong position for the next match.

In what could be described as poetic, Japan will face their long-term rivals Korea in the semi-finals, as Korea defeated Thailand 2-1 to advance to the next round. The Korean side looked stronger heading into the match but Thailand stunned the Korean side by scoring first and taking the advantage. Despite this, they were not able to hold onto their lead with Korea equalising soon after, and half-way through the second half, taking the lead. Korea will have a mountain to overcome against Japan in what could be one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament so far.

In the first semi-final, North Vietnam faced off against China. The two neighbouring nations had rarely played each-other in international football, but China were the favourites for this match with more experience and better performances. China managed to secure an early goal before setting in to hold off against the energetic Vietnamese, who managed to equalise the match before the end of the first half. However, the Chinese side took control in the second half, scoring twice and securing their spot in the final. Despite their loss, North Vietnam had set themselves up for a strong performance in the next qualification and captured the hearts of the crowds here.

The second semi-final saw the most tense game of the tournament so far. Both Korea and Japan had been on superb form in recent years, and both had been dominant in their respective groups in the lead-up to this tournament. The match began with the Japanese taking an early goal, but one that was met with an equaliser just moments later, negating the advantage. The match continued in a deadlock until just before the end of the first half, when the Korean side managed to secure a goal to give them the advantage. Into the second half, Korea looked to maintain their lead and secure their spot in the final, but Japan managed to find the equaliser to draw the match into extra time. Despite relentless onslaughts by the Japanese, it was Korea who found the winning goal, sending them through to another final.

Join us next time for our coverage of the 1968 AFC Asian Cup final between China and Korea!

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

[list][list][sub]P O L I S H‎ ‎ ‎ P E O P L E ' S ‎ ‎ R E P U B L IC‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ •‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ P O L S K A‎ ‎ ‎ R Z E C Z P O S P O L I T A‎ ‎ ‎ L U D O W A [/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Power Struggle Ensues![/sub]

[sub]June, 1968[/sub][/list]

[list]|[sub]Chairman Ochab resigns from Position[/sub]|[/list]

| [sub]In his comparatively shorter tenure as Chairman, spanning four years, Edward Ochab maintained stability within the [P.Z.P.R.], offering steadfast support to Party Secretary Władysław Gomułka—despite his initial objections to Gomułka's rise. Now, at the age of 62, Ochab reflects on a bygone era, recalling his days of resistance against Nazi occupation and his country's liberation. However, as the [P.Z.P.R.] faces increasing internal divisions, Ochab acknowledges the evolving challenges of this new era, realizing that his influence may be waning despite his earnest efforts. And now its his responsibility to pass on the torch to the next generation of Polish men to lead the country.[/sub] |

[list]Dear Esteemed Council Members,

It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of responsibility that I submit my resignation from the position of Chairman of the Council of State. After much contemplation, I believe it is time for a new chapter to unfold in the leadership of our esteemed organization.

Over the past four years, it has been an honor to serve in this capacity and contribute to the growth of the [P.Z.P.R.]. My support for Party Secretary Władysław Gomułka, despite initial reservations, was rooted in my commitment to the principles we hold dear. However, as we navigate through a period marked by internal divisions within our party, I am compelled to acknowledge the evolving dynamics that require fresh perspectives and renewed vigor.

At the age of 62, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey we have undertaken together. My memories of our hard work will forever remain etched in my heart. However, I recognize that the challenges we face today demand a leadership that can navigate this new era with unwavering resilience and adaptability.

I have full confidence in the collective wisdom and dedication of our council members to steer the [P.Z.P.R.] toward continued success. It has been an honor to serve alongside each of you, and I am grateful for the support and collaboration we have shared.

May the spirit of solidarity and the principles of our party guide us in the times ahead. I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and prosperity of our organization under new leadership.

With sincere regards,

Edward Ochab[/list]

| [sub]In the wake of former Chairman Edward Ochab's unexpected resignation, the entire nation, much like the [P.Z.P.R], was caught off guard by his departure from Polish politics. This event sent the Polish media into a frenzy, making it the latest and hottest topic across the country. As a glaring question emerged, the nation pondered: Who will succeed Ochab as Chairman? While the public and media extensively deliberated over Ochab's resignation and career—given his significant prominence among Polish minds—a power struggle, years in the making, unfolded between two opposing factions within the [P.Z.P.R]. On one side stood the Moscow-aligned traditionalists, colloquially known as the [Old Guard], while on the other side emerged the diverse coalition of independent thinkers, referred to as the [New Generation]. Only time will tell which faction played the better card.[/sub] |

[sub]¹ A Series: The Struggle For Power, With the retirement of a Lion, the fight for the throne begins.[/sub]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Abessinienreich

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

[list][list][sub]𝙸𝚅.1968[/sub][/list]

I L • R E G N O • D' I T A L I A

[list][sub]SULLA CRESTA DELL'ONDA[/sub]

ON THE CREST OF THE WAVE[/list]

[list][list][pre]Aldo Moro's cabinet,

Challenges, left and right,

And a Miracle coming to an end.

[/pre][/list][/list][/list]

[list]| ROMA, [sup][nation=short]Arcanda[/nation][/sup] — Aldo Moro presented a visibly aged face as he walked out of the Palazzo Montecitorio, gently waving at the journalists. Five years had passed since King Umberto had, for the first time since the tumultuous post-war years, inducted a government comprising the moderate left. Since then, an unholy alliance had lived, composed of the nominally centrist, formerly right-of-center Democrazia Cristiana led by its left-of-center faction, sharing power with the center-left Partito Socialista Italiano, aided by minor allies such as the PSDI and the Partito Liberale. A far cry from both De Gasperi's early-50s reconstruction-oriented cabinets, or the briefly laissez-faire of Luigi Einaudi, what has come to be called the centro-sinitra organico (Organic center-left) has dealt with a country often at odds with itself, but carried aloft by a powerful economic miracle. In contrast, the coalition had been ripe with the squabbles so specific to Italian politics for the last half-century—excluding the Fascist interlude—and Moro's survival at the helm of government is nothing short of a miracle on its own. With fresh elections scheduled in July, however, that is poised to changed. Within the DC, conservative factions have balked at rising expenditure caused by a flurry of social programs; the left-wing has become frightened by the progress made by the PCI, something evident after the reunification of the PSI and the PSDI as the Partito Socialista Unificato two years ago. The Moro cabinet's realizations had, indisputably, been plentiful, although not always deep-reaching: From a set of wide-ranging educational, technological and pension-related plans in 1964 to lesser-known reforms in 1965, 1966 and 1967. Those reforms have respectively granted more generous student allowances, extended pension and healthcare to independent traders and artisans, increased minimum wage and pensions across the board, and established higher technical and environmental criteria for the construction industry. Just a few months ago, the latest reform carried out within the National Institute for Social Security established a social pension, paid with state funds to the poorest pensioners of Italy eligible to the program. All strata of society, from workers to traders, students to farmers, had thus benefited from the mammoth expansion of social services, while the new Italian middle-class enjoyed the fruits of the economic boom. Such expanses were financed mainly by the increased capital flowing to the Italian state, partly thanks to E.N.I.'s cheap Libyan oil enabling Italian industries to prosper, and partly thanks to the expansion of Italian exports through the European Common Market. Meanwhile, the Kingdom's great industrialists—personified by FIAT's Giovanni Agnelli and E.N.I.'s Enrico Mattei—had continued, especially for the latter, to influence government decisions, giving birth to several technological-industrial-infrastructural plans, such as the one credited with Olivetti's newfound dynamism, and the scheduled Trans-Italian Pipeline. |

| However, it has not been Moro's economic direction, notwithstanding the mounting sums involved, that has proven his most polemical feat—but rather, inside his party, the cooperation with the left-wing. The DC's right-wing, although still in minority, has taken every chance to weaken Moro's grip on power. Both the influential Giulio Andreotti and the elder statesman Antonio Segni have spoken harshly of "opportunism" and "carelessness" within the Party during last year's September congress, remarks that are still talked about to this day. Behind the scenes, they have agitated for an end to the alliance after the coming elections. So far, however, and only thanks to one man, such outcome is unlikely. This man is none other than Moro's loyal lieutenant within the DC, holding the office of Secretary since 1964, Mariano Rumor—a master of detailed negotiations, entertaining strong links with the Catholic base of his party and its moderate middle-class, and acting as a bridge between their aspirations and Moro's Parliamentary dealings with the left. So far, Rumor has succeeded in this daunting task, and his crowning following the end of the 10th Party Congress has positioned him for Moro's eventual succession, and thus, the continuation of the equilibrium—should this equilibrium be sanctioned by Italian voters in a few months. |

| In the wider electorate, fears about the future are mounting—growth has slowed visibly since 1965, ending four years of an intense economic boom—GDP has averaged an impressive 6% of yearly growth between 1961 and '64, and only 3% between '65 and '67. Inflation has since creeped, and for the first time, slight unemployment has started to become a concern, so much that the DC and its allies are said to be drafting a plan with new benefits for the unemployed. In the opposition to the organic center-left stands a formidable PCI, a party that has continued to prosper despite the death of its champion, Il Migliore, nearly four years ago. Virtually all of his ideas, and notably his "way to Italian socialism" sans the Soviet Union, have been continued by his successor, Luigi Longo, to great success. With many of Northern Italy's factories reaching unprecedented levels of investment, productivity and revenue, workers' demands have grown, and Communist theology deems such time ripe for new claims. Now is the time, many think, to demand dues—not when economic growth will falter; those dues are numerous, from better pay to worker participation. And as such, Longo has embarked in a month-long tour of the Kingdom, to raving crowds, which will culminate in Rome for Italy's Labor Day. There is as much chance for the '68 election to deliver continuity as there is for it to deliver change, but all candidates are realizing that the country, long fractured by many questions, is most vulnerable when the economy recedes. |

[list][list][list][spoiler=[sub]Commonwealth of Liberty[/sub]

EVVIVA L'ITALIA!

—]

[nation]Adriatican Islands[/nation]

[nation]Al-Oman[/nation]

[nation]Amsterwald[/nation]

[nation]Arcanda[/nation]

[nation]Brazil Toucan[/nation]

[nation]Cascadla[/nation]

[nation]Cheezaslovakia[/nation]

[nation]Connomia[/nation]

[nation]East Germany DDR[/nation]

[nation]Great Britain GB[/nation]

[nation]Greater Kurdistane[/nation]

[nation]Israelli[/nation]

[nation]Kewtpuff[/nation]

[nation]Kotakuan II[/nation]

[nation]Ma-li[/nation]

[nation]Maziya[/nation]

[nation]Metropolitan Francais[/nation]

[nation]Neepal[/nation]

[nation]Nevbrejnovitz[/nation]

[nation]Newauroria[/nation]

[nation]New Provenance[/nation]

[nation]Nileia[/nation]

[nation]Nippon-Nihon[/nation]

[nation]OsivoII[/nation]

[nation]Paramountica[/nation]

[nation]Paseo[/nation]

[nation]Peking Zhongguo[/nation]

[nation]Pontianus[/nation]

[nation]Provenancia[/nation]

[nation]Ranponian[/nation]

[nation]Rutannia[/nation]

[nation]Saudi Arabiyah[/nation]

[nation]Socialist Democratic Republic Romania[/nation]

[nation]Spainard[/nation]

[nation]Sudesam[/nation]

[nation]Turkiye 1st[/nation]

[nation]Vancouver Straits[/nation]

[nation]Victoria Harbor[/nation]

[nation]Vietnam SV[/nation]

[nation]Virnall[/nation]

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

[list]June 1968

[sub]Take a Stand[/sub][/list]

[pre]D I E B U N D E S R E P U B L I K[/pre]

CARSTENS SPEAKS

[sub]FRANKFURT, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, New Provenance - EVENING[/sub]

| With a blue and red tie, his suit neatly pressed, KARL CARSTENS - the closest thing Germany has to an "elder statesman" after the passing of Konrad Adenauer - sat across from Greta Fischer, an interviewer and anchor for DEUTSCHE WELLE - the German television news broadcaster. Around them, various staffers and camera crews were rushing about, preparing for the live interview. Carstens smiled as he took a sip from his glass of water and conversed casually with Fischer. Then, a red light blinked nearby, and Carstens cleared his throats. The lights off-set dimmed, and the camera crew counted down, 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . |

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "Guten morgen. I'm Greta Fischer, for Deutsche Welle. Today we have an interview with an exclusive guest, CDU parliamentary leader and reported Erhard successor Karl Carstens. Welcome to DW, Herr Carstens."[/list]

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "Thank you for having me, Greta."[/list]

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "Well, we should get right to it. What do you make of the reports that Ludwig Erhard, the father of the economy, as they call him, has selected you and Rainer Barzel as his two apprentices?"[/list]

| CARSTENS smiled lightly, taking a moment before answering. |

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "Well, I'm in no position to make assumptions, but me and Herr Barzel have been engaged regularly with Herr Erhard and other members of the Christian Democrat leadership. We're working hard to regain a working government for the German people."[/list]

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "How does the CDU plan to make that comeback? New polling shows the government of Chancellor Brandt possibly bouncing back, especially with the economy on the uptick since investors have gotten used to the global climate."[/list]

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | [sub](chuckling)[/sub] "I think our plan is clear. We're going to make an honest case to voters, because that is what democracy is. Herr Brandt has led an SPD government since 1961 now, and we have barely seen any significant, monumental change. In the 1950s under CDU we saw that change, and I think voters recognize that we need that."[/list]

| The ANCHOR nods, scribbling notes onto a piece of paper. |

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "The CDU has promoted a return to the low-taxes, high-energy export economy of the 1950s that propelled the economy to great heights. People call that the Wirtschaftwunder, the economic miracle. But there are a growing part of the political class that argue that we need to move on from those sorts of economics. That the world is changing and globalizing. What do you say to those critics?"[/list]

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "I'm more comfortable with using what is tried and tested than trying something we have no proof will work. I understand the sentiment for some socialist principles in society, but the Federal Republic was built fundamentally as a free, capitalist society where businesses thrive and where Germans thrive. Our goal is to bring back that thriving economy by refocusing our efforts on expanding our export economy, signing trade deals to open new markets, and strengthening our economic and financial position on the world stage."[/list]

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "And how do you plan to do that? Some members of the SPD have critiqued your rhetoric, saying there's no solid policies behind it."[/list]

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "We do have solid policies behind them. Lower taxes for businesses, a more respectful and a more free business environment. Less restrictive regulations. Empowerment of family values in the economy and in the social issues. Building a good foreign policy portfolio with our Western allies to strengthen our economic standing in Europe and on the broader world stage."[/list]

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "Speaking of foreign policy, Herr Carstens, how do you stand on the public debates currently ongoing over the Brandt government's justification to conduct Ostpolitik, the rapproachment of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, or GDR. Do you think that the East is engaging in these negotiations in good faith?"[/list]

| CARSTENS takes a deep breath, glancing around for a moment before answering, slowly, deliberately and seriously. |

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "Ahh. I think foreign policy should be guided by what is best for the people of Germany and the people of Europe. I appreciate these talks, the idea of opening lines of communication with the Eastern government. But we cannot recognize the fact that Germany is possibly permanently divided, no. I cannot accept that. As a German, I want to live to see the reunification of our two republics under a common, free, liberty-loving banner and under democratic ideology. Recognizing the hard border between two separate groups of Germans may permanently prevent that."[/list]

[list]| [sub]GRETA FISCHER, DW ANCHOR[/sub] | "So you oppose the government's current stance on Ostpolitik?"[/list]

[list]| [sub]KARL CARSTENS, CDU DEPUTY LEADER[/sub] | "Yes, I oppose it. I support peace, but I do not support permanently dividing Germany into two. Our country and our people deserve better than that, and we should take a stand in the next election against plans to potentially leave the current division permanent. CDU is for unity, not for division."[/list]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Metropolitan Francais, Maziya, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

[list][list]SHOWA 43 | JUNE 1968[/list]

[list][list]林芳子

[pre]MS. YOSHIKO HAYASHI[/pre][/list][/list]

[pre] S A I B A N S H O ¹ [/pre]

[list][list][sub][pre] オー・スネイル 富士山に登ろう でも、ゆっくり、ゆっくり

O Snail; Climb Mount Fuji But slowly, slowly![/pre][/sub][/list][/list]

CHIYODA — MORNINGTIME

[sub]TOKYO, Nippon-Nihon[/sub]

| Shortly after the successful coup by feared lawyer KIOKO NAKAMURA and her allies, the firm fired lawyers loyal to MINORU FUKUDA but also hired new people, including new Executive Assistant YOSHIKO HAYASHI, 34, who worked as NAKAMURA’s secretary at the Public Prosecutor Office. The new managing partner will only give key positions to the people she trusts most and NAKAMURA knows that Ms. HAYASHI will never stab her in the back. Both have also been friends since high school. On her first day of work, when HAYASHI was at her desk analyzing some sheets of paper, one of the documents caught her attention, it was that the owner of the car manufacturer Daihatsu wanted to sell the company. HAYASHI got up from her chair, picked up the documents, and took them to her boss. |

[list]| YOSHIKO HAYASHI, [sub]Executive Assistant[/sub] | “I have bad news, which you won’t like.”[/list]

[list][list]悪い知らせがあります、あなたは気に入らないでしょう。[/list][/list]

[list]| KIYOKO NAKAMURA, [sub]Managing Partner[/sub] | “Let me guess . . . Minoru is furious and has decided he wants to take the firm back.”[/list]

[list][list]推測させてください...ミノルは激怒し、会社を取り戻したいと決心しました。[/list][/list]

[list]| YOSHIKO HAYASHI, [sub]Executive Assistant[/sub] | “No, Kiyoko, but I would like him to try, it would be fun to see him fail.”[/list]

[list][list]いや、清子、でも彼には挑戦してほしい、失敗するのを見るのは楽しいだろう。[/list][/list]

| HAYASHI gave a slight smile while talking to NAKAMURA. |

[list]| YOSHIKO HAYASHI, [sub]Executive Assistant[/sub] | “Jokes aside, the owner of Daihatsu wants to sell the company, and you know what will happen if that becomes reality.”[/list]

[list][list]冗談はさておき、ダイハツのオーナーは会社を売却したいと考えており、それが現実になったらどうなるかご存知でしょう。[/list][/list]

[list]| KIYOKO NAKAMURA, [sub]Managing Partner[/sub] | “The firm is going to lose a client . . . that’s terrible, I can’t let that happen.”[/list]

[list][list]その会社は顧客を失うことになる...それはひどいことだ、そんなことは許せない。[/list][/list]

[list]| YOSHIKO HAYASHI, [sub]Executive Assistant[/sub] | “And what will we do?”[/list]

[list][list]そして、私たちは何をしますか?[/list][/list]

[list]| KIYOKO NAKAMURA, [sub]Managing Partner[/sub] | “Postpone all my afternoon meetings and schedule a meeting with the Daihatsu owner.”[/list]

[list][list]午後の会議をすべて延期し、ダイハツのオーナーとの会議の予定を入れます。[/list][/list]

| HAYASHI left the office with the documents in hand, went to her desk, and postponed all the meetings on NAKAMURA’s schedule, then called Daihatsu and asked for an emergency meeting. Fortunately, Daihatsu agreed to meet with NAKAMURA. The meeting did not go well, as the company owner was angered by NAKAMURA’s opposition to the sale of Daihatsu. After the meeting, sitting at her desk, HAYASHI had an idea. She remembered that she had an investor friend who could invest enough money to save the firm’s oldest client. HAYASHI then went to the managing partner’s office and after telling her the idea she had, NAKAMURA picked up the phone to call Daihatsu. HAYASHI didn’t let the firm lose a client and, as a thank you, got a 5% salary increase. |

__

[sub]¹ A Series: SAIBANSHO At Japan’s largest law firm, 52-year-old lawyer Kyoko Nakamura and her allies stage a coup to overthrow the corrupt leadership.[/sub]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, 11Canada, Maziya, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

[list][pre]T H E S L O V E N E R E P U B L I C • S L O V E N S K A R E P U B L I K A[/pre][/list]

SLOVENE CARGO SHIP BOUND FOR NORDEN TORPEDOED; AT THE BRINK OF WAR, THE SLOVENE GOVERNMENT DEMANDS DECISIVE ACTION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

[list][sup]AT THE PRECIPICE

JUNE 1968[/sup][/list]

Even with the warship on the horizon, it could not have been anticipated. Yugoslavian warnings in international waters were scarcely taken seriously—the Yugoslavian torpedoing of a fishing trawler in 1952 had certainly faded from the public memory, and threats from the nation had cheapened considerably over the decades. This time, though—on the afternoon of 4 June 1968—it truly came to pass.

Idle chatter, lunch on a cloudy afternoon—it all came to a halt as the screech of torn metal and the concussion of the blast sent water columning upward with the force of a thousand waterfalls. The ship, the Zajec, was hit. The torpedo had shorn through the hull like a hot knife through butter, and the fuel tanks quickly caught fire. As the smoke billowed and the caustic flames began to slowly consume the ship, the crew quickly moved to launch the lifeboats. However, it was not to be. A second torpedo struck the ship’s keel and the entire stern of the vessel was fast plunged into the glittering waters of the Adriatic. Despite the colossal length of the cargo ship, it took mere minutes for it to be altogether swallowed by the abyss. Only two of the twenty crew survived, fortunate enough to have boarded and launched the only lifeboat spared annihilation. More than $2 million (1968) in machine-parts from Slovenian machinery firms Andric and Domel and $1 million (1968) in processed metal, all bound for Norden (Meerkien), sank into the depths. The Zajec had managed a distress call to the mainland after the first torpedo, identifying the perpetrating vessel as bearing the Yugoslavian naval jack and explaining that its warnings had been disregarded, though communications went quiet after the second impact. News spread like wildfire; fishing vessels and workboats swarmed the scene like hornets, followed by the Slovene Navy’s Furlan frigate—dispatched from Pul—not long after.

The 18,000-ton cargo ship had been among the largest lately constructed by shipbuilder Mašera, and was a prized asset of ambitious young Slovenian shipping company Interlogis, which had obtained the ship in the early 1960s as part of an aggressive expansion of its capacity for freight transit. The panic which spread among the Slovenian government as word reached Ljubljana was thus dual—first, in that eighteen Slovenian lives had been lost in a direct provocation by Yugoslavia, and second, in that the move was not merely a provocation but an attack on Slovenian industry and the viability of Slovenian exports. The Jakac administration was in a furor. Proposals of retaliatory attacks, invasions, and calls to arms filled the hushed halls of the Predsedniška palača, and an emergency session of the Slovenian parliament convened hours after the sinking, bleeding into the late night. The following day, troop movements bolstered Slovenian positions on the Yugoslavian border, and President Božidar Jakac released his first official statement on the matter, confirming to a slew of journalists that a Yugoslavian warship had attacked and sunk a Slovenian freight vessel without provocation between Pul (formerly Pola) and Ancona. His statement was accompanied with a call to action to all nations—and, possibly, the last best chance to mend the growing gap between Slovenia and the Western world.

[list][sup]“. . . and to the nations of the world—ostracize this ‘Yugoslavia’. How, in the year 1968, can the world sit idly by as one nation wantonly attacks and destroys the lives and goods of another? These are not the tactics of a civilized nation but of a barbarian-clan of the Dark Ages—those who believe in a zero-sum game in which progress can only be had through the harm and suffering of others. Abandon what you have invested in that most shadowed place. See that it is deprived of its unearned place in the international community.”[/sup]

[list][sup]— BOŽIDAR JAKAC, speech to press from the Predsedniška palača, 5 June 1968[/sup][/list][/list]

In terms of domestic action, the Golden Horns thrust the hand of the state once more into the fiscal world, aiming to mitigate any losses. After a commitment was made by the Slovene Navy to protect any and all international shipping to and from Slovenia in the Adriatic, the Slovenian government dually announced new expansions to its Styrian Trade Corridor of rail and road through Alpenland, augmenting land-based export options as alternatives to shipping—it would be better for foreign partners to change their method of transit from Slovenia rather than forsake the nation altogether, if they were to now view the Adriatic Sea as unviable. Intent on keeping its contracts with Norden as robust as ever—and ensuring no losses would be faced by Andric and Domel—the Slovenian government additionally committed to replacing the lost goods, though it would need to delay planned subsidies to Triglav national park, intended to expand its capacity to safely handle tourists, until 1969.

The Slovene government had urged the world to rebuke the solipsistic policies of Yugoslavia for years, most strongly in 1951 after the Yugoslavian conquest of Albania. Now, Slovenian ambassadors and consuls in a dazzling array of foreign countries—ranging from the United States (Paramountica), France (Metropolitan Francais) and Great Britain (Great Britain Gb) to Italy (Arcanda), Greece (Adriatican Islands) and Alpenland (Cascadla) to even such traditionally Eastern nations as the United Arab Republic (Al-Jammahirya Al-Arabiyya) and Iraq (Lieobria)—and in all other nations they might reach, pressed and insisted that the world join together in politically and economically eschewing Yugoslavia. Their responses, no doubt, would be stark determiners of their relations with Slovenia. Even before the Soviet Union (Zeitenwende), the Slovene ambassador—backed by correspondence from President Jakac—pled the case of the Slovene Republic, urging some manner of retaliation against the “increasingly rogue state” of Yugoslavia.

[list][sup]“. . . In all the years of this Republic, this deed may well be the most heinous. I see only three paths forking ahead of us now—war, the international ostracization of Tito’s Yugoslavia, or, in the most nightmarish sense, the complete and total alienation of Slovenia by the greater world in a lust for money and the satisfaction of Yugoslavia.”[/sup]

[list][sup]— BORIS FURLAN, former President of Slovenia, now 73, 8 June 1968[/sup][/list][/list]

Rutannia, Arcanda, Lieobria, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, 11Canada, Maziya, Spain-, Ma-Li, Meerkien, Slipway, Mutawakkiliti, Zingium, Belarus Sr, Burnet Republic

[list][list][list][pre]RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE

FRENCH BUREAUCRACY

L’ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE FRANÇAISE[/pre][/list]

______

PALAIS DE BOURBON: THE FRENCH SOCIAL PARTY CONTINUES TO DOMINATE PARLIAMENT THANKS TO GAULLIST VOTERS

[sub]VTH REPUBLIC | PARIS, JUNE 1968[/sub][/list]

[sub]| HELM OF BUREAUCRATIE, ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE FRANÇAISE - | The suspense of the French electoral system is inherent, much like that of a well-written detective fiction novel. Rather than ending their campaigns after one round of voting, the French have a runoff election one week later between the candidates who received 5% or more of the total vote, which heightens the drama and increases the element of surprise. The 31.5 million French voters participated in the first round of voting last weekend, selecting 2,267 candidates from six main political parties. The last round, which will determine who will win France's 580 National Assembly seats, will begin this weekend for the surviving candidates.[/sub]

[sub]It makes sense that the campaigning was passionate and aggressive. In the final days, General Charles de Gaulle's party, which had focused its attacks on the Socialists, began to criticize the centrists as well as the Gaullists' former allies, the Independent Republicans of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, as they positioned themselves as a moderate third force between the two power blocs. Prime Minister Georges Pompidou cautioned in his parting remarks, "These are candidates of diversion, division, and treason." "They are between two chairs, arid I hope they fall on their derriere." Pompidou pushed the French Social Party's idea that France ought to become polarized or else it would halt any real progress on social and economic policies. He clarified while on a campaign through his mountainous native region of Cantal: "Dear friends, the decision is straightforward. A choice must be made between conservative democracy and socialist liberal policies." About 12,000 student volunteers, identifying as the "Youth for Progress," labored feverishly for De Gaulle in city after city, painting pro-Gaullist slogans on the pavement and squabbling with young Socialists over the finest spots to put up posters.[/sub]

[sub]The opposition made every effort to thwart the French Social Party's strategies. In his final television address, Federation of the Democratic Socialist Left leader François Mitterrand claimed, "Two months ago, you would have voted anti-Gaullist because of the events in Algeria, and two months from now you would vote anti-Gaullist again," The leader of the United Socialist Party, former prime minister Pierre Mendès-France, issued a dire warning in Grenoble, saying that "a continuation of Gaullism means inevitably the continuation of social agitation." In front of 600 people in the courtyard of a boys' school in Paris, where run-down restrooms were clearly visible, Centrist Leader Jacques Duhamel asked: "Wouldn't it be better to spend money on schools rather than on the already sustained force de frappe?" In a bizarre turn of events, the Socialists denounced the French Social Party for their unrestrained pursuit of an absolute majority in the National Assembly. [/sub]

[sub]In sharp contrast to the political drama that had been unfolding for weeks, France was fairly quiet on election night. As the votes began to come in, it was clear that the PSF (French Social Party) was still the preferred political entity of the French working class, business owners, and clergy. Even with the loss of Algeria under the PSF dominated government, French voters had come to see the loss as more of an actual gain for France, not just socially, but economically as well. And that financial gain could be utilized at home in Metropolitan France for social programs, industrial growth, and improvements to infrastructure. The total number of seats won by each party was: 328 seats to the French Social Party, 165 seats to the Socialist Party, 67 seats to the Independent Republicans, and 20 seats to the Democratic Socialist Left. This historic victory for the PSF give the Gaullist more than the majority they needed to secure the National Assembly and continue to dominate parliamentary procedures. |[/sub]

[list]______[/list]

[list][list][pre]VIVE LA RÉPUBLIQUE!

VIVE LA FRANCE!

VIVE L’EMPIRE![/pre][/list][/list]

[list][spoiler=[sub]𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘[/sub]]

Abessinienreich

Adriatican Islands

Al-Jammahirya Al-Arabiyya

Amsterwald

Andorra-

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Astarina

Brazil Toucan

Canovia

Cascadla

Connomia

Earstenia

Falastinyya

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Hollunde

Holy Vatican City States

Hong Kong Delta

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Le Equatoria

Lieobria

Lucki

Maziya

Medarc

Meerkien

Metropolitan Francais

Monaco-

Mutawakkiliti

Nasrid Algeria

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Ngiera

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Osivoiii

Paramountica

Paseo

Poland1St

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Republica De Cuba-

Rio De La Plata Basin

Rutannia

Salisbury-Southern Rhodesia

Saudi Arabiyah

Slipway

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spain-

Spartansk

Tallahan

The Confederate Prussian Empire

The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye

The United States Of Africa

Vancouver Straits

Veliki-Kolombia

Victoria Harbor

Victoria Harbor Ii

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

Zeitenwende

Zingium

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, The Confederation Of Northern Germany, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Federated Arab Emirates, Sixth French Metropolitan Republic, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Holy Vatican City States, Federated Turkey, Nasrid Algeria, New Provenance, Monaco-, Andorra-, Maziya, Spain-, Ma-Li, Meerkien, Slipway, Zingium, Belarus Sr, Burnet Republic

Gang of Banderaites arrested in Tomashovka

Tomashovka, June 15. During the operation to combat nationalist saboteurs, carried out by the BSSR police, a group of Banderaites operating in the Tomashovka area was discovered and liquidated. According to the police, bandits are involved in a number of terrorist acts committed on the territory of the republic recently.

According to the chief of police of the BSSR, Bandera’s supporters were detained as a result of successful intelligence work and cooperation with the population. He noted that the bandits tried to escape persecution, but were surrounded and captured. During the search, weapons, ammunition, explosives and anti-Soviet literature were confiscated from them.

Major General Sidorov said that Bandera's followers recognized their affiliation with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a banned nationalist organization that is fighting against Soviet power and the Polish population in western Ukraine. He also said that the bandits received financial and material support from the imperialist intelligence services.

Major General Sidorov emphasized that the BSSR police will not allow the spread of the nationalist infection on the territory of the republic and will resolutely combat any manifestations of hostile activity. He called on all honest and patriotic citizens of the BSSR to cooperate with the police and report any suspicious persons and facts.

Newspaper "Pravda Belorussii"

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium, United People Of Common Sense

[list][list][pre]K I N G D O M O F G R E E C E • Β Α Σ Ί Λ Ε Ι Ο Τ Η Σ Ε Λ Λ Ά Δ Α Σ[/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][list]SUPPORT FOR LJUBLJANA : GREECE SENDS FLEET TO SLOVENIA, CONDEMNS YUGOSLAVIAN ATTACK[/list][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]THE FUTURE OF THE ADRIATIC ALLIANCE, Adriatican Islands[/list]

[list][list] ATHENS, GREECE — JUNE, 1968[/sub][/list][/list]


 | Off the coast of Corfu, a small force of three (3) Greek destroyers, along with five (5) minesweepers sail for Slovenia ( Amsterwald ). Following the sinking of a Slovenian cargo ship by a Yugoslavian destroyer, the young Slovene Republic had demanded a response from the international community. As one of Slovenia's most stalwart allies, the Greek government in Athens answered the call. Mirroring the Slovenian naval detachment to Kypros in 1964 amidst the war for Enosis, the aforementioned Greek fleet was sent to Slovenia, being ordered by King Constantine II himself. Despite a hopeful future for Greco-Yugoslavian Hegemony over the Adriatic, Greece's loyalties inevitably fell to its true ally, Slovenia. The news of the detachment caused a debate in Greece, however, as Slovenia's left-wing government, along with it now warming up towards the Eastern Bloc gave Greeks weariness, as for some it was seen as helping a "communist ally". |

[list][list][pre]"Η απόσπασή μας στη Σλοβενία αποτελεί υπενθύμιση του ελληνο-σλοβενικού άξονα που υπογράφηκε απέναντι στον κομμουνισμό στην Αδριατική. Τώρα, αξιοποιούμε αυτή τη συμμαχία για να έρθουμε σε βοήθεια των συμμάχων μας στη Λιουμπλιάνα, μετά από αυτή την ειδεχθή επίθεση της Γιουγκοσλαβίας σε σλοβενικό εμπορικό πλοίο. Ωστόσο, πρέπει να πούμε ότι και οι δύο πλευρές πρέπει να καταλήξουν σε μια ειρηνική συμφωνία και πρέπει να αναγνωρίσουν ότι ο πόλεμος είναι η επιλογή που αποφεύγουμε. Πρέπει να συνεχίσουμε να υποστηρίζουμε τη θετική διπλωματία στην Αδριατική, πρέπει να διαφυλάξουμε την κυριαρχία και των δύο εθνών και να τερματίσουμε επιτέλους αυτές τις παρατεταμένες εχθροπραξίες στην Αδριατική."[/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][pre]”Our detachment to Slovenia serves as a reminder of the Greco-Slovenian Axis that was signed in the face of communism in the Adriatic. Now, we are utilising this alliance to come to the aid of our allies in Ljubljana, following this dastardly attack by Yugoslavia on a Slovenian merchant vessel. However, we must say that both sides must come to a peaceful agreement and must acknowledge that war is the option we are avoiding. We must continue to uphold positive diplomacy in the Adriatic, we must preserve the sovereignty of both nations and finally end these prolonged Adriatic hostilities.”[/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][list][pre]- King of Greece, CONSTANTINE II[/pre][/list][/list][/list]


 | Despite the country's obvious bias toward Slovenia, Greece was hopeful that a peaceful agreement could be made between Slovenia and Yugoslavia ( Ranponian ) to put an end to hostilities. Greece sent an official letter condemning the Yugoslavian attack, however, emphasized the importance of the future of Greece and Yugoslavia, particularly when it came to the economy. This was a pivotal moment in Hellenic diplomacy, as this could either make or break relations with both Slovenia and Yugoslavia, with a need to find a balance to support Jakac, yet maintain ties with Tito. As the Greek warships moored off the Slovenian coast, the government in Greece was careful of any future steps that they would take, as the country's position was indeed essential to the future of Balkan politics, and the future of the Greek people themselves. |

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

[/list][/list]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Zingium

The National Reconciliation Government

June 1968 - February 1969

| As Oscar Kambona entered his first full month in government, he has declared his time as Acting President, a National Reconciliation Government. Temporarily the TANU, ASP, and ANC have found themselves pressured to stay on in the new government, at least until the 1970 election.

With the new National Reconciliation Government, the Acting President has begun to rewrite the Constitution, and fix the flaws of the old Tanzanian system.

Constitutional Rewriting: Restoration of Multi-Party Democracy

| The most important issue that needed to be reestablished constitutionally would be the restoration of free multi-party democracy. The United Front would be completely abolished, and any forced and united governments would be declared constitutionally illegal, and able to be struck down by the Judiciary. This would mean, with the promise of elections in 1970, the ANC, and ASP would be free to escape domination by the TANU if they so desired.

Despite this the government would maintain the right to restrict the formation of political parties, or any other public organization if it violated the now constitutionally binding, Sedition laws, and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Law.

Constitutional Rewriting: Sedition Laws, Maintenance of Religious Harmony, Preventative Detention Laws

| The most important and intriguing factor of the Constitutional rewrite would be the inclusion of three separate acts. The Sedition Laws, the MRH Law, and Preventative Detention Laws.

While the freedom to speech, press, assembly, and petitioning the government would all be upheld. Despite these freedoms being protected, the right to restrict these if they broke the sedition laws was upheld, by causing ill-will, or supremacism/pride amongst genders, ethnic groups, races, or other social classes the government could restrict these freedoms.

Freedom of religion too, while upheld by the government would be tempered by the constitutionalizing of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Laws. Every religious group, sunni, shia, anglican, catholic, and representatives of the various indigenous religions would be integrated into the state apparatus by a Religious Council for Inter-Faith Dialogue. Religious groups would continue to be banned from preaching issues on politics, and or social issues. “Aggressive” proselytizing would also be constitutionally banned. Finally, failure to follow these laws would give the Ministry of Home Affairs the ability to remove church/temple rights, ban groups, and silence or jail specific religious officials for violating said laws.

The most controversial of the constitutional revisions would be instituting preventative detention laws. The Internal Security Act which granted powers of indefinite detention without trial or charge against those deemed enemies of the state. This can be given by the Minister of Home Affairs, acceptable breaches include treason, whistleblowing, or other severe charges.

Aftermath: Has Anything Changed?

| When it was announced that the so-called National Reconstruction Government had constitutionalized these four acts, the immediate reaction was a mixed one. For the middle class, the constitutionalizing of the anti-radical acts would promise a crackdown on extremist radicalism, especially the included clause of social classes. Peasants were largely happy as the crackdowns would at least in theory prevent the types of socialists who had pushed for their forceful collectivization. Pro-Democracy activists were far more mixed. While happy that their rights to form independent parties were now protected, many were afraid of the sedition laws, and how it could be applied to the media. Students were among the most outraged. Radicalism outlawed, indefinite detention empowered, and overall most feared one dictatorship had merely been replaced by another.

Nonetheless, with the population overall largely ambivalent or supportive, the government continued onwards reworking the government structure, and crafting a safer society, free of radicalism.

Paramountica, Rutannia, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Slipway

Post self-deleted by Hollunde.

[list][list][pre]GUINE 1968[/pre]

[sub][pre]JUNE 1968[/pre][/sub][/list]

[pre]L EㅤㅤG R A N D U C A T EㅤㅤE T E R N I À L E[/pre]

THE CROWN AND THE STATE

[sub]SCIÂTEU DE TEIÔNE, GUIGNES, GRAND DUCHY OF MEDARC - 19:30 [EVENING][/sub]

| Teiône Castle exemplified the formidable mediaeval Medarci architectural style, boasting six-century-old stone walls that carried the wisdom of ages, having observed the rise and fall of numerous empires over the years. Once belonging to the Knightly Order, this grand castle now served as the iconic residence of the Medarci Crown, and as its main. Within the chilly confines of the castle, the private chamber designated for meetings between the Duchess and state officials adorned the southern side, featuring the grandeur of furniture and the billowing silk drapes. Inside was DUCHESS GIANETTE, a young yet knowledgeable woman, calmly taking her seat on the silk armchair, anticipating the arrival of the Doge for a crucial meeting.

The heavy silence enveloping the chamber shattered when a royal servant declared the arrival of the Doge, PIERMARINO BERLGO. The colossal doors were opened to allow the gentleman in, and a young gentleman did arrive, his commanding presence adorned in an opulent black suit. As the Doge approached the room with a few steps, The Duchess rose from her seat, and the gentleman followed suit, genuflecting in the traditional manner to greet the sovereign of Medarc. |

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "Your majesty."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "Signeure Doge, welcome."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "I have been informed that you have request an urgent meeting with me."[/list]

| THE DUCHESS nodded solemnly. Later, both the Doge and the Duchess were seated. |

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "I have reviewed the most recent agenda of your administration, Signeure Doge. And I must say, I have found one particular plan to be . . . Concerning, at least from the perspective of a statesperson."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "I am ready to hear your concerns, sa magieste, however I fail to memorise any plan in our agenda to be controversial."[/list]

| THE DUCHESS paused briefly, later taking a sip of water, and continuing. |

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "One of your primary goals for your 1966-1970 term is... considering applying for membership for the European Community, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "Indeed. However, I fail to see how this can be regarded as controversial. This is just to expand our relations with the rest of the continent."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "You do realise that, by taking such actions, you will be shattering the hundred-year-old neutrality of the Ducal State. Am I correct, Signeure Doge?"[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "And what good has neutrality has done for us, madame? I fail to see anything wrong with our agenda."[/list]

| THE DUCHESS paused once more, this time in discomfort. |

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "Neutrality provided us a shelter and allowed us to survive as a state for many decades. Siding with a political bloc will put our relations with the opposing bloc in peril, I am afraid that will weaken our state and our foreign affairs."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "I believe being a friend of everyone is simply impossible, madame. In an increasingly polarising world, we must find our place, or else we are facing the danger of fading into the pages of history. Our agenda aims to strengthen our state, not weaken it."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "I think dismissing a century-old tradition for minor political gains can not be the right move. Making enemies left, right and centre is a dangerous game to play."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "Not if one is comfortable with making enemies, madame."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "Are you?"[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "Oh yes. In the words of Mackay, sa magieste - 'You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip. You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight.'. Making enemies is necessary for making friends, not all can be the Swiss, we must realise our place in the world before it is too late."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "I do not agree, Signeure Doge. Making enemies is a grave danger for a nation as small and dependent as ours. We are merely a nation of three hundred thousand, we cannot risk turning our backs on the eastern realms."[/list]

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "My responsibility for the time I have in office is to put sentimentality and whataboutism on one side - and look after this countries interests in the perspective of a cold balance sheet."[/list]

[list]| [sub]DUCHESS GIANETTE II, SOVEREIGN OF MEDARC[/sub] | "And by ignoring all the risks, you play a gamble. It is not a right move."[/list]

| BERLGO was visibly offended with the last words coming out of THE DUCHESS' lips. |

[list]| [sub]PIERMARINO BERLGO, DOGE OF THE STATE[/sub] | "If I didn't know any better, I would think of your words as a directive, madame. Let us not forget that out of two of us, I am the one who has been elected to the office. I think we are done here."[/list]

| BERLGO stood up from his seat, projecting a demeanour of calm yet tinged with challenge. Veiling his anger behind a mask of impassivity, he strolled towards the chamber gates, which were promptly opened by palace servants. The Doge exited the chamber and, subsequently, the castle, perturbed by the audacity exhibited by the Duchess in their recent conversation as he entered his vehicle. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-

[list][pre]T H E S L O V E N E R E P U B L I C • S L O V E N S K A R E P U B L I K A[/pre][/list]

UTTER TURMOIL IN LJUBLJANA AS SECOND FREIGHTER SUNKEN BY YUGOSLAVIA; SOME IN A BELEAGUERED POPULACE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MILITARY GOVERNMENT

[list][sup]THE DARKEST HOUR

JUNE 1968[/sup][/list]

Masses thronged in a furor before the Predsedniška palača. Clamoring voices columned up, colliding and interposing as rhetorical whirlwinds that seemed ominously prefigurative of a tempestuous future in the Balkans. All of Ljubljana awoke that day—or didn’t sleep at all.

A second ship had been struck, this time in the Ionian Sea. In a perverse kind of ‘target practice’, a Yugoslavian Kirov-class cruiser, serving with the Albanian Reserve Fleet, had unleashed its 100mm guns on a small contract freighter called the Bodza, blasting the ship into the depths and leaving only one of its eight crew alive—a sailor from Krk, 39-year-old captain Josip Volarić, who promptly died of his wounds when taken aboard the Yugoslavian cruiser. Left without any major targets—larger cargo ships now under the watchful eye of Slovenian and Greek patrols—the cruiser, called the Tirana, elected the lesser Bodza as its victim. Though the vessel had been carrying various processed metals to Crete (Adriatican Islands), it, in minutes, now rested at the bottom of the Adriatic only weeks after the Zajec. The whole of Slovenia was majestically wroth. The slaying of Volarić himself—a Croat (name Slovenized Volarič), though ethnically unprofessed, as with much of his crew—would prove to alienate further those remaining in the Republic who still considered themselves Croatian from the Yugoslavian state. The slaughter flushed more than a million Slovenes into the streets of cities and towns to demonstrate, debate, and enlist in the Armed Forces.

It would be difficult to say whether the chaos was more profound inside or outside of the palača. Within, a weary Slovenian government lamented the lackluster response from the world. The surprisingly committed responses of such nations as China (Osivoii), Greece and Romania (Socialist Democratic Republic Romania) were not matched by many supposed allies of Slovenia, including NATO members France (Metropolitan Francais), Italy (Arcanda) and Turkey (The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye), whose neutral responses despite the one-sided nature of the violence severely discredited Slovene relations with the countries. A Soviet Union (Zeitenwende) once increasingly warm to Slovenia had made a similar statement, and, increasingly, it seemed the Republic faced horror at sea without end. With the wider world standing still, there was no way out. Ljubljana faced its darkest hour, and the Slovenian Armed Forces continued to bolster border garrisons, running flight drills and live-fire exercises as nearly 100,000 soldiers amassed in Celeia and the Littoral. With the pressure building and a lack of decisive public action on the part of President Božidar Jakac, much public attention—and, indeed, that of Jakac himself—turned to Article 47 of the Slovenian Constitution.

None had ever seriously expected such an Article to come into use, and it was still far from being enacted. Written under the auspices of legal scholar Leonid Pitamic in the 1940s, it introduced the ability for the President—with the unanimous agreement of the Prime Minister and Chief Justice as well as a majority vote of the National Council—to establish an emergency military council to provisionally govern the Republic if it could be “clearly demonstrated that the normal functioning of the state was impeded by extraordinary circumstances, posing an imminent threat to national security or the well-being of its citizens.” That impediment has not, and likely will not, be demonstrated for some time, and thus Article 47 remained a distant contingency—still, it did not stop many concerned members of the public from calling for a Ljubljana Emergency Administration to take control of the Republic, given that war seemed increasingly inevitable. In the minds of the Slovenian cabinet, the actions of Yugoslavia appeared tailored to goad Slovenia into an outright conflict to give it a casus belli of defensive war. If war was to be Yugoslavia’s end goal, then, dark days were clearly ahead, and drastic action was necessitated. Slovenian President Jakac, on the advice of the Foreign Ministry, sent a letter to Athens requesting a commitment to the protection of Slovenian sovereignty and declaring its intent to effect Article 47 if the situation spiraled into a total maelstrom. The letter was signed by all members of the cabinet.

With the shadows cast thus, popularly recited in these times were the pleading words of the Slovene poet Odon Peterka—

[list][sup]“Kje ste knezi slovenski?

Kje si rešitelj Matjaž?

Kje ste mogočni Celjani?

Vsa govorica je laž?”[/sup]

[sup]“Where are you, princes of Slovenia?

Where are you, savior Matjaž?

Where are you, mighty people of Celje?

Must legends be lies?”[/sup]

[sup]— ODON PETERKA, Slovene nationalist poet, Klic iz “ozvobojene” domovine[/sup][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Adriatican Islands, Maziya, The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye, Hatzburg, Spain-, Ma-Li, Slipway, Victoria Harbor Ii, Mutawakkiliti, Burnet Republic

Macias’ First Year in Office

Dec 1967 - Dec 1968

~At independence Equatorial Guinea had a relatively high GDP per capita; however, most of this money was extremely unevenly distributed. Spanish planters had dominated the economy owning large plantations, and treating their workers little better than slaves. When Cameroon invaded in 1967-1968, the Spaniard planters had largely fled the country leaving behind large, and now ownerless plantations.

There were numerous plans proposed to President Macias from each side of the radical elements of his strange party, and Marxist-Heidlerist ideology. On one side, the more “Marxist” elements of the United National Workers Party wanted a centralized collectivization of agriculture, owned and directed by the state itself. Meanwhile, the more “Heidlerist” members of Nguema’s inner circle wanted the creation of a new upper-caste with agricultural planter cartels, formed and led by loyal party members.

While the two sides bickered, they nonetheless knew who would be in charge in making the final decision. Macias would eventually decide to lean into the “Heidlerist” faction, and create a new economic upper caste of party aligned planters. As plantations found new owners very quickly the issues with the new idea would become evident. This new upper caste often had little experience in economic management, as the most apt owners were often skipped for the most loyal. Many other party members, either sycophants, or just as insane as Macias himself, would inflict a high degree of brutality, and cruelty to their new workforce. The government openly turned a blind eye, or in some cases encouraged the use of brutality to increase production.

Meanwhile, President Macias would begin to centralize power increasingly around himself. Central to this plan would be the construction of a new capital named: Djibloho – Ciudad de la Paz. The city would be planned for the center of Equatorial Guinea, deep in the jungles of the nation. The construction would begin in late 1968, and take a decade. Party members were encouraged to move if it was feasible. This meant as a sign of loyalty many of the party members were compelled to move to this new “City of Peace.” Workers were conscripted from the surrounding villages to help build this new city, and many would die during its construction due to malaria, incredibly poor working conditions, and an upwards of 14 hour shifts.

Media, was entirely centralized under the state's grip. Subversive media (anything not owned by the party), was cracked down harshly upon, and in some cases entirely banned. Political opposition continued to limp on meekly; however many began to move outside of the country to Gabon as they saw the writing was on the wall for free speech in Equatorial Guinea. They would be proven correct as A Great Purge would soon begin, in early 1969.

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Victoria Harbor Ii

17 , JUNE , 1968

Declaration Of The Malaysian Emergency

| The Communist Party of Malaya a leftist organisation, that once held significant political power on the Malayan peninsula but have since been banned from politics after their attempt to overthrow the British and form a independent but communist Malaya. Ever since that event which has since been labelled into the annals of history as the Malayan Emergency due to the fact the British officially called it an emergency rather then a civil war. Which was to avoid tension in the Malayan colony. Ever since the Malayan Emergency, the Malayan Communist Party have since gone into a self-imposed exile in Thailand. |

| That was the case until a recent incident at the Malaysian-Thailand border. When the Malayan Communist Party ambushed the security forces located at Kroh–Betong road between Pengkalan Hulu town and the Malaysia-Thailand border. That ambush resulted in the death of 17 personnel in the security forces located in that region. |

| Of the surviving members of the security forces from the ambush. In their report they claimed that:

[List][I]" The communist are larger in number then what was ever previously reported during the Malayan Emergency. Their ranks are filled with not just Chinese and Indians but an increase in Malays. Their force was not only better trained then expected, but it appears the chain of command of that ambush force was more streamlined and effective. We've been aware of a communist presence at the Malaysian-Thailand border but never expected them to attack in such short notice especially after their defeat in the Malayan Emergency. "[/I] |[/list]

| When the news hit government, debates sprung up on how to handle the situation. As if the reports are to be believed. The communist have just become a bigger threat then they were during the Malayan Emergency. They need to effectively and efficiently conduct themselves to solve this matter presented to them and quick. If the Alliance government can handle this issue and end it before the 1969 General Election it'll be a great piece of propaganda they could utilise. However if they fail to handle the situation before the general election, their political opponents could use it against them and snuff them out of office. |

| The incident at the Malaysian-Thailand border was publicised in Malaysian newspapers all over the country with it becoming the headline for many newspapers in Malaysia. Along with that came the government announcement as they claim it to be the [B]Malaysian Emergency. As to avoid mass panic if they categorised it anything else other then an emergency. However the populace were in doubt if the government can handle the now declared "Malaysian Emergency". As the government has yet to resolve the communist insurgency in Sarawak, how could they handle another communist insurgency on an entirely different part of the country. |

______________________________________________

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Greater Adriatican State

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

Sudesam

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, 11Canada, Hatzburg, Spain-, Victoria Harbor Ii

Post by Cardcollector2 suppressed by Metropolitan Francais.

Cardcollector2

Hello does anyone have any cards that they do not want if so may I have them pls

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Council of Ministers of the Iraqi Republic

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: APPOINTMENT OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

Baghdad, Iraq – The Council of Ministers, in the service of the people of Iraq, and at the behest of the National Revolutionary Council, is pleased to announce appointment of Comrade Saddam Hussein, a distinguished member of the National Assembly, to the post of Minister of the Directorate for State Security. This appointment is accompanied by his inclusion as a member of the Council of Ministers, serving under the leadership of Al-Za'im Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim.

Comrade Saddam Hussein has demonstrated unwavering dedication to people of Iraq and the values of the National Progressive Front. His commitment to the progress and prosperity of our great nation aligns seamlessly with the values that guide the Council of Ministers in its pursuit of an independent and socially just Iraq.

The Council of Ministers expresses confidence that under the leadership of Al-Za'im and with the contributions of Comrade Saddam Hussein, our nation will continue to advance on the path of progress, unity, and strength.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Comrade Saddam Hussein on his new role and wish him success in the important responsibilities entrusted to him.

May Allah bless Iraq and guide us on the path to a brighter future.

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Al-Jammahirya Al-Arabiyya

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

The Kemalist Republic Of Turkiye

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-

Post by The Colts suppressed by Paramountica.

The Colts

hello every one hope your doing well

Lieobria, Cascadla

[ Arrest of Corruption ]

[ Lisbon, Portugal: 1968 ]

| Months following the decree of the new king of Portugal, members of the Portuguese Parliament would begin to slowly be arrested. Members who had been found embezzling funds from the government, or the military itself. Most of these members didn’t even know the arrests were going to happen, as it was months since the king's decree and they still attended meetings of the parliament. Nevertheless, this did not change the fact that many of them found themselves now locked away in prisons across the country. The main prison for most of these inmates was Lisbon Prison, considering the proximity to their homes. Despite the protests of many of these former parliament members, most of them were thrown into the prison holding cells to await what they were told they’d be getting charged with. One member in particular was Angelo Carvalho, a member of the socialist party in Portugal. The man already knew what he was being placed in this holding cell for, as the man had taken money from the ‘Pantera-1A’ project. A multimillion escudo project, aimed towards the creation of a more modern main battle tank for the Portuguese military. Because of his actions and those of others, the project itself was now pushed back years from all the funding they lined their own pockets with. Angelo sat there before a slot in his hold cell door was opened, a slip of paper was passed through it and then the slot was shut once more. The man would sigh as he stood up and grabbed the paper, he almost dropped it on the spot when he saw the charges being filed against him. ‘Embezzlement’, ‘Stealing of royal funding’, ‘endangerment of the nation’, and the last one carried the heaviest weight of them all given the recent government change, ‘Treason against the crown and nation of Portugal’. Dropping the paper, the man rushed to the door and pounded on it to try and get the guards attention. Him doing so fell on deaf ears, as he was not the only one in this holding cell area that had received their charges. From holding cell to holding cell, more and more men received their charges. One man went even as far to bludgeon himself against the steel door after reading them, knowing that his family would be absolutely ruined. This man would remain unnamed, as bludgeoning his head against the door had resulted in him killing himself.

The prison all of these men were held in was considered a maximum security prison, given it was to be the future home of people committing government level crimes. Such as the crimes they themselves were being charged with, crimes against the nation and against the crown itself. Because while there were indeed judges for criminal courts and civilian courts, ultimate judgment for men such as these came down to that of the king and other judges of the crown itself. While the system itself had a draconian edge to it, it was not a kangaroo court by any means. Should the king find a subject guilty, but the other judges disagree with the kings sentencing, they can vote to have the charges or sentence lessened. Unfortunately for these men, their records and secret accounts have been found. Which was why it had taken months for a conclusion to occur in regards to this matter, and such evidence pointed to all of them being guilty as charged. Nearly 100 members of the Portuguese Parliament having been arrested for charges of corruption, embezzlement and lastly, treason against the crown and nation of Portugal. Which in itself was the heaviest charge, one that carried a death sentence with it regardless of circumstances.

Waiting for their sentences, the men themselves did not know that the king was already on his way to making sure they did not see the end of the month. Because the king has been awake the last few hours, directly handwriting his findings of each arrested member. All of which based upon the evidence found, and his decision on what should be done about them. The reason for writing the letters by hand, in order to be given to the other judges, was so that no mistake could be made over the phone. After writing one last letter, he set it to the sound and lightly sprinkled sand over it to help with the ink drying faster. Sitting at his desk, he placed his hands together and looking at a copy of paper that laid before him. The paper itself was what needed his signature the most, once the decision by the other judges had been given to him he needed to sign the ultimate death warrant of nearly a hundred of his own countrymen. However, these were countrymen that not only endangered his nation and his people, but lined their own pockets while doing. Picking up the paper and reading over it, he found that it was to be a public death by hanging. This of course would likely be the last time in the nation's history such a thing occurred, as the department of justice was starting to replace gallows with electric chairs and other more ‘modern’ means. The king himself had written up the death warrant and made a copy of it for record keeping, as he believed that a public hanging would symbolize to the people that these were the men who had taken their money and above all else, their time, away from them. Pacing the paper back down, a smile creased Frederico’s face as he poured himself a glass of cognac and waited for the affirmations of the other judges to arrive. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, New Provenance, Tallahan, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Victoria Harbor Ii

[list][pre]1968

NEW YORK[/pre][/list]

[sub]NEW YORK EMERGES AS THE CENTRE OF COUNTERCULUTRE IN AMERICA[/sub]

[list][list] [sub]| New York state, and in specific New York city, has always been a cultural leader in the United States. A result of its cosmopolitan melting pot nature of various ethnicities from Italians to African-Americans, a unique culture to the state has always seen it in the forefront of cultural movements in the country. Birthing the likes of the Harlem Renaissance to Jazz, as well as being a place where many cultural figures have emerged in the realms of literature and cinema. New York has always been the beating heart of American culture and has always dictated its pace. [/sub]

[sub]| As of late however, it has been the emerging leader of something far more chaotic. While the civil rights movement had always focused southward, where Jim Crow laws and civil rights for minorities had always been at its worst, the movement has never really escaped New York. Indeed, the state has the largest African-American urban population in the United States, it is home to a mixture of many Americans of varying views. It's young population has been radicalized by the recent wave of anti-establishment movements, and in this context it makes more and more sense why New York has found itself as the center of the various movements being established. It's position as a cultural center, its cosmopolitan demographics, its recent economic crisis, and the image it maintains have all made it into a perfect microcosm of the United States itself. It is perhaps ironic that New York, a city frequently accused of being the establishment, has itself also been paradoxically the home of many of the government's harshest critics. [/sub]

[sub]| Many events have cemented this status as New York looks more and more like the capital of the anti-establishment. For example the start of the year saw the growth of the Black Panther chapter in New York, the Harlem chapter being one of the very first established outside of the Bay Area. With Harlem as its base, the Black Panthers have taken the lead in providing free health centres, breakfast programs, youth clubs, and organization of dozens of public activism against the New York government and police department. Branch offices have expanded to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Mt. Vernon. Corona-East Elmhurt, and the Staten Island. [/sub]

[sub]| However the biggest and most shocking event was the Columbia sit-in, in which student protests took over several campus buildings over disagreements with the university board over issues ranging from the Vietnam war to other right movements. To add to the fire, the studednts had taken the acting dean hostage, occupied the president's office, and completely halted the activities of the university. The sit-in had prompted national attention, with many from Abbie Hoffman to Noam Chomsky showing up to offer their support to the sit in. However despite a grueling resistant effort, the sit-in was dispersed, over 700 students were arrested. Nonetheless, for the students many of their goals were achieved, ensuring that their morale remained high.[/sub]

[sub]| Other events saw the emergence of Andy Warhol, a gay experimental artist who has become a leader of the pop art movement, as a leader in the art movement in the state despite his shooting in June of this year. Martin Luther King's wife, Coretta Scott, travelled to New York where she delivered an anti-war speech in the middle of Central Park to thousands of attendees gathered to hear her speak. And the emergence of almost a New Wave of cinema, of which many of its origins lay within the city.[/sub]

[sub]| This all of course has bled over to politics, where current mayor John Lindsay has been running on a platform of liberal ideals and anti-war sentiment. A charismatic, young, and dynamic mayor, despite Lindsay's less than positive record as mayor so far, he seems to maintain a level of popularity amongst New Yorkers who are subscribed to his liberal ideals. This however has created a divide, with many working-class New Yorkers, especially from Italian-American communities, have found themselves opposed to these 'hippie' movements and have argued that more focus should go towards worker rights and revitalizing New York's failing economy, as well as restoring law and order to a place notorious with organized crime. Indeed, New York seems to be heading towards interesting times, with divides, chaos, and perhaps hope looming around the corner.[/sub]

Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, New Provenance, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Victoria Harbor Ii

[list][list][pre]K I N G D O M O F G R E E C E • Β Α Σ Ί Λ Ε Ι Ο Τ Η Σ Ε Λ Λ Ά Δ Α Σ[/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][list]THE KING IN SLOVENIA : DEFENCE DEALS SECURED, GRECO-SLOVENIAN BOND RATIFIED[/list][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]A DECISIVE DECISION, Amsterwald[/list]

[list][list] LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA — JULY, 1968[/sub][/list][/list]


 | The tarmac of the Matija Majar Airport in Ljubljana, Slovenia ( Amsterwald ), was buzzing with journalists, government officials, and Slovenian citizens, as they awaited the arrival of a certain Olympic Airways flight. By noon, the plane, escorted by two (2) FA-1 Canucks of the Royal Hellenic Air Force, landed on the tarmac. As the air stairs were lined up, and the exit door of the plane was opened, the cameras began to flash, and the cheers resounded. The twenty-eight (28) year-old King of the Hellenes, Constantine II, accompanied by his wife, Queen Anne-Marie, walked down the air stairs and onto the tarmac. The King had a smile on his face as he met with representatives of the Slovenian government, along with greeting civilians and signing autographs. The king, along with his nearly twenty (20) man envoy were on a three-day visit to Slovenia, in a decisive decision to respond to a desperate plea for help, sent by the Slovenian government in the face of Yugoslavian ( Ranponian ) aggression in the Adriatic. Constantine's father, the late King Pavlos, had been on a similar visit to Slovenia in 1953, with a similar mission, and for some, it was the revival of a truly extraordinary relationship between the two countries. |


 | As the King and his envoy were driven to the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana, they were cheered on by thousands of Slovenians chanting — Konstantin! Konstantin! Konstantin!, and greeted by Greek banners being flown from the buildings and homes of the city. As the convoy reached the presidential palace, they were greeted by Slovenian President Bozhidar Jakac, along with Slovenian Army Chief of the Armed Forces, Albert Jakopič. It was a friendly reception, one that set aside ideological differences and went straight to the issue at hand — Yugoslavia. Greece had pledged its support for Article 47 of the Slovenian Constitution. The Greek government would recognise any future Slovenian military government, along with pledging varying levels of support, depending on the situation of any future incident or conflict that the Slovene Republic would face. Additionally, the Greek government pledged its support for Slovenia in any peace talks and/or negotiations. Several defence deals were also signed, including the loaning of two (2) Greek Hydra-class destroyers to Slovenia, the donation of thirty-five (35) GMT-54 tanks, and future exercises and patrols by both the Greek and Slovenian Armed Forces, to further bolster military cooperation. The "Greco-Slovenian Axis" as some may put it, is only a fraction of NATO's might and serves as a testament to the unity of the alliance. |


 | At the last leg of his state visit, the King attended an honourary wreath-laying ceremony on the Isle of Domicijan, an artificial island created to serve as a memorial to the Slovene Uprising. It was safe to say that the Greco-Slovenian Axis was now fully active and in full swing once more and that the bond that the people of Athens and Ljubljana shared was truly special. As the Greek envoy was escorted back to Matija Majar Airport, the King waved a solemn goodbye to the Slovenian people, and in return, the people of Slovenia continued to chant his name, waving Greek flags while doing so. The King arrived back in Athens soon after, and so began a period of increased preparedness and unity in Greece, as they prepared to lay the groundwork for Greece's own national defence. |

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

[/list][/list]

Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, 11Canada, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-, Newauroria, Victoria Harbor Ii, United People Of Common Sense

June 8 1968 - Whitehorse, Yukon territory

[sub]Newauroria — Morning[/sub]

v

|

Completion of Great Northern Railway's Second Phase: Linking Vancouver to Whitehorse

|

June 8 1968 - Whitehorse, Yukon territory

|

After three years of dedicated construction efforts, the Great Northern Railway has successfully completed its second phase, connecting Vancouver to Whitehorse. This monumental achievement represents a significant milestone in the expansion of the railway network, fostering economic prospects and regional connectivity. Commencing from Vancouver, the railway project has undergone meticulous planning and execution over the past three years. The completion of this second phase marks the successful realization of the vision to extend the railway all the way to Whitehorse.

|

Analysts anticipate a substantial boost to the local economy with the full opening of the railway to the public. The enhanced connectivity is expected to facilitate the efficient transportation of goods and passengers, catalysing economic activities along the route. This development is poised to create employment opportunities, attract investments, and stimulate growth in the regions served by the Great Northern Railway.

|

On June 8 1968, the Great Northern Railway marked the official completion of its second phase, symbolizing a momentous achievement in the history of railway development. This date signifies the opening of a new chapter in regional connectivity and economic growth. Whitehorse, now connected to the extensive railway network, is positioned to experience a transformative impact on its economic landscape. The accessibility provided by the railway will not only streamline trade and commerce but also open avenues for tourism, contributing to the overall prosperity of the community

|

In conclusion, the successful completion of the Great Northern Railway's second phase heralds a promising era for Vancouver, Whitehorse, and the regions in between. The positive economic forecasts underscore the potential of this railway network to drive progress and prosperity in the connected communities.

|

[spoiler=[sub]Economy[/sub]

Exploration and Drilling

—]

Ababemba

Abessinienreich

Adriatican Islands

Alzarikstan

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Bayern Kahla

Bescania

Brazil Toucan

Canovia

Cascadla

Central Arstotzka

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hashemite Kingdoms

Hatzburg

Honghai

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

La Granadinas

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Moroavia

Nevbrejnovitz

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Nonador

Nosautempopulus

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Reyzen

Rutannia

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Sri-Lanka

Sudesam

Teymour

The Black Star-

The Sun States

Turkiye 1St

Ubertica

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Maziya, Hatzburg, Spain-

Post by Ohjenland suppressed by Paramountica.

Ohjenland

[B]{17th of June 1968, Finland, Helsinki}

[I][sub]|The people of Finland, under pressure of a possible civil war, have swiftly couped the government, and appointed a new leader, Olavi Järvenpää, for the lead of Finland. Olavi has renamed Finland into Ohjenmaa (eng. Ohjenland), reassembling his name, and has decided to transform the nation into a constitutional monarchy. Olavi targets to improve the healthcare system, and the education system, and to rise the economy, yet to keep it a little more controlled than before.|[/sub]

[sub]|Olavi Järvenpää gives a speech to the whole of Ohjenland:[/sub] [sub]

"Meidän, näinä aikoina, jolloin maailma on jakautunut kahtia, pitää varoa uhkia, ja pitää yrittää tyydyttää molempia osapuolia, niin, että itsenäisyytemme on taattu. Meidän pitää parannella järjestelmäämme ja keskittää lisää talouden nostoon, sekä hyvinvointiin. Kun talous voi hyvin, maa voi hyvin, kun hyvinvointi voi hyvin, kansa voi hyvin."|

[Spoiler=Translations]"Us, at these times, when the world has split, need to watch out for the danger, and to plead the both sides, so, that our independence is secured. We need to improve our system, and concentrate more for the economy and for the healthcare. When the economy is well, the nation is well, when the healtcare is well, the people feel well."[/spoiler][/sub]

Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, New Provenance, Hatzburg

JULY , 1968

A Crack In The Alliance Coalition Party

| A meeting was held between members of the Alliance Coalition Party, a coalition that consist of the three largest ethnic-nationalist parties: the United Malay National Organisation [I](UMNO)[/I], Malaysian Chinese Association [I](MCA)[/I] and the Malaysian Indian Congress [I](MIC)[/I]. This meeting was called on by president of the MCA, Tan Siew Sin. Asides from Tan Siew Sin, there were also a few other high profile members of the three respective parties that make up the coalition: there are Tunku Abdul Rahman, the president of UMNO and current prime minister of Malaysia. Then there is Hussein Onn of UMNO, Abdul Razak Hussein, the deputy prime minister of Malaysia and a member of UMNO. Coming from the MIC are V. T. Sambanthan the current president of the party and ex minister of labour. Alongside him is V. Manickavasagam, someone who is expected to succeed V. T. Sambanthan as president of the MIC. From the MCA itself, aside from Tan Siew Sin, is Lee San Choon the current parliamentary secretary of labour. |

| The meeting was called because Tan Siew Sin wished to discuss on the communist threat up the north of Malaysia and the ongoing communist insurgency in Sarawak. It would be a discussion on how to solve this issue and stop it from ever happening again. Tan Siew Sin would tell to the people in the meeting:

[List][I]" The communist party of Malaya, the once dominant party among the Chinese community. Has been a threat to the national security of Malaysia since the nation's inception as Malaya. We need to solve this matter as if to prevent anything similar from happening again, I propose we double down on the equality of the people and treat everyone as equals under the banner of Malaysians. The Malays, Chinese and Indians cannot be divided as it would only provide ammunition for the communist to increase their ranks. "[/I] |[/list]

| The sounds of debating filled the room before Abdul Razak Hussein of UMNO, would step up to tell what is the general consensus of the UMNO party on Tan Siew Sin solution:

[List][I]" If we try your solution. What'll make it work, as far as we see the ethnic Chinese already has enough economical benefits compared to the other ethnic groups, especially since the past ministers of finances have been ethnic Chinese. Are you perhaps trying to use the [URL=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=54670450]Malaysian Emergency[/URL] as a tool to further increase the general wealth of the Chinese people in Malaysia, under the term of improving equality? "[/I][/list]

Tan Siew Sin would provide his rebuttal of Abdul Razak Hussein comment:

[List][I]" When I say equality. I do mean equality! I'm well aware of the difference in wealth among the three different ethnic groups and what kind of jobs the three ethnic groups tend to fill out. When I say equality I want to take economic reforms to try and bridge the gap between the ethnic groups to prevent further alienation of specific groups which eventually lead to this insurgencies. In my current post I can only make economical reforms, I need the other ministers to take the leap of faith under my idea of improving equality to present reforms to assist in improving equality. "[/I] |[/list]

| Tunku Abdul Rahman who has remained silent but observing the chaos that is unfolding as Tan Siew Sin, Abdul Razak Hussein and Hussein Onn argue over the solution and if Tan Siew Sin motives are as genuine as he claims them to be. Tunku Abdul Rahman begins to ponder:

[List][I]" The Malaysian Chinese Association currently take up 27 of the 89 seats that the coalition holds in parliament. It's quite obvious they have a some sway in the legislative body at the moment. If we loose the Malayan Chinese Association, the coalition would loose a lot of votes and as a result seats in government. Meanwhile the Malaysian Indian Congress only gained 3 out of the 89 seats that the coalition holds in parliament, they are the current weak link of the coalition so factoring them in, loosing the MCA becomes an even larger threat to our hold over the politics of Malaysia. To keep the coalition alive I need to prevent the MCA from leaving the coalition. "[/I] |[/list]

| When the meeting was over Tan Siew Sin would use the newspaper companies under the MCA, called The China Press, The Nanyang Siang Pau and The Sin Chew Daily. To voice his thoughts on the Malaysian Emergency and voiced his disliking of what appeared to be ignorance from UMNO when he presented his solution to the matter. To further voice out his thoughts to groups larger then just the Chinese community, Tan Siew Sin would fund the creation of a newspaper called The Star which would write stories not in Chinese like the previous newspaper companies preceding it, but in English. A language that everyone in Malaysia could read and understand. |

______________________________________________

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Greater Adriatican State

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Neepal

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

Sudesam

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-

[list][list][sub]S O C I A L I S T‎ ‎ ‎ R E P U B L IC‎ ‎ ‎ O F‎ ‎ ‎ R O M A N I A‎ ‎ ‎ •‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ R E P U B L I C A‎ ‎ ‎ S O C I A L I S T Ă‎ ‎ ‎ R O M  N I A [/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list]Discipline and Accountability[/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Iulie 1968, Comitetul Central al Partidului Comunist Român, București, Republica Socialistă România[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]July 1968, Central Committee of The Communist Party of Romania, Bucharest, Socialist Republic of Romania[/sub][/list][/list]

| In the wake of escalating tensions between the Socialist Republic of Romania and Yugoslavia, stemming from Yugoslav aggression against Slovenia, the Romanian People's Army, under the command of Minister of Defense, Army General Comrade Ioan Ioniță, took unapproved actions. In the absence of His Excellency Comrade Constantin Rotaru, General Secretary of The Communist Party of Romania, President of The Presidium of The Great National Assembly, President of the State Council, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Supreme Commander of The People's Army, beloved and esteemed son of all Romanian people, the Genius of the Carpathians, the revered Conducător of the nation, the military leadership initiated aggressive maneuvers, including the nationalization of the Iron Gates Dam and increased military presence along the Yugoslav border.

| While the Balkans and Europe were preparing and expecting war, in the halls of the Cotroceni Palace, His Excellency urgently returned to his official duties after hearing the news.

In the presidential room of the Palace, the Genius of the Carpathians summoned the "masterminds" of the whole ordeal:

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

What in god`s name is going on here?!

I go on a brief vacation, and I return to find chaos, insubordination, and a complete disregard for party discipline.

Do you all think the People's Army or Romania is a playground for your whims?![/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]General Valter Roman -

Your Excellency, we were just…[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

Spare me your feeble excuses, comrade!

You dare to initiate aggressive maneuvers against Yugoslavia without my explicit orders? Do you realize the gravity of your actions?![/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]General Serghei Vasilescu -

Comrade Rotaru, we believed…[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

Your beliefs mean nothing if they jeopardize the stability of the Republic!

This is not the behavior of disciplined officers; this is the behavior of reckless individuals who think they can play with the fate of nations without any supervision!

The Iron Gates Dam? The Danube-Black Sea Canal? What in God's name were you thinking? You risked the entire stability of the region, and for what? A reckless show of force?[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Army General Comrade Ioan Ioniță, Minister of Defence -

Comrade General Secretary... we were only trying to protect our interests.[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

Protect our interests? This is not the way to protect anything! You've put us on the brink of a conflict that could unravel everything we've worked so hard to build over the past what... 15-16 years?!

Ioniță, as the Minister of Defense, you are responsible for the actions of your generals. Explain to me why I shouldn't throw each and every one of you out of the ranks and the Communist Party?![/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Army General Comrade Ioan Ioniță, Minister of Defence -

Comrade Supreme Commander, we acted with the best intentions, thinking we were protecting the interests of the Socialist Republic... the way your genius intended

[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

Best intentions? Intentions don't matter if they lead to chaos and potential conflict! You will all face the consequences of your actions, mark my word! The stability of our nation is non-negotiable..!

On top of that, i heard you all faked my confirmation! Do you all have the slightest idea what that means?!

[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Army General Comrade Ioan Ioniță, Minister of Defence -

N.. No sir..

[/sub][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]Constantin Rotaru, Conducător of all Romanian people -

That means Treason Ioniță! Treason!

From now on, all of you can say your goodbyes from your privileged positions in the Army and the Communist Party!

I will not tolerate something like this!

And here i was thinking you, Ioniță, was smart and loyal... Bodnăraș and Sălăjan may have been imbeciles and Muscovite slaves, but at least they did not act without my orders!

Ioniță, Roman, Stănculescu and you, the rest... expect legal consequences, this will not be tolerated!

Now get out! OUT!

[/sub][/list][/list]

| With the sacking of important and experienced generals such as Ioniță, Roman, Vasilescu and Stănculescu, His Excellency, the Genius of the Carpathians, beloved and esteemed Conducător of all Romanian people, Comrade Constantin Rotaru is expected to appoint a new Minister of Defense as well as new Army Generals in his position as Supreme Commander in Chief of the Romanian People`s Army.

The Romanian government is also expected to issue a statement regarding Yugoslavia, potentially even negotiations, but one thing is certain, the Socialist Republic of Romania firmly condemns Yugoslavia`s actions against the Slovene Republic.

What happens next? Only time will tell...

[sub]E scris pe Tricolor unire! Pe roșu steag liberator! Prin lupte sub a lor umbrire, spre Comunism urcăm în zbor![/sub]

[sub]Trăiască Partidul Comunist Român în frunte cu al său secretar general, tovarășul Constantin Rotaru![/sub]

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-

[list]July 1968

[sub]The Friend to the South[/sub][/list]

[pre]D I E B U N D E S R E P U B L I K[/pre]

THE YUGO-SLOVENE CRISIS

[sub]BONN, THE FEDERAL CAPITAL, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, New Provenance - AFTERNOON[/sub]

| The developing crisis between YUGOSLAVIA and SLOVENIA was brought to the attention of the federal government in Bonn almost immediately. While the Bundesrepublik Deutschland is not geographically close to the Adriatic Sea, where the tensions have risen the most between Ljubljana and Belgrade, Bonn had in recent years developed a positive relationship with the Slovenes, who were members of the European Economic Community (the membership of whom the Germans fought for when the EEC was first formed, and Italy was objecting). A pipeline involving both Italy and Slovenia was a major project of the government of Chancellor Brandt, and its opening recently had spurred on German sentiment that the situation in southern Europe was finally rectifying itself. |

| As the crisis developed, nations on both sides of the aisle offered their positions on the issue - increasingly in favor of the Slovenes, who had successfully made their case on the international scene - the Germans quietly issued a memorandum of support to the Slovene government. At the time, Chancellor Brandt had been involved in protracted negotiations over the complicated question of the Ostpolitik foreign policy, but after the development of the situation to a level where tensions between Yugoslavia and Romania and Bulgaria, both Warsaw Pact satellite states of the Soviet Union, Brandt finally spoke publicly on the issue. |

[list]| [sub]WILLY BRANDT, German Chancellor[/sub] | "We stand firmly with our partners in Ljubljana against this unnecessarily tense situation caused by Yugoslav refusal to admit to their own mistakes. While both sides played a role in escalating the situation, we believe firmly that the Slovenes stand in the right. Germany stands at the ready to mediate the crisis, but we remain firmly on the side of peace, not war. Of a fair agreement, not one that threatens Slovene independence."[/list]

| In response to the situation, the BUNDESWEHR confirmed publicly that they would be conducting naval exercises in the North Sea with various contingents of the German Navy in order to bolster the nation's naval security capabilities. Various members of the government from the SPD have criticized the government's "overly antagonistic" position on the issue, calling for "peace and restraint". The public opinion on the issue, however, is firmly in favor of the government's stance - and Slovenia's argument. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, Hatzburg, Spain-

“A Communist in West Berlin”

[West Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany]

July 1968

When Werner Eggerath arrived to the office on Kaiser Frederich Straube, he expected it to be a historic moment and a moment that all of Europe would take note of. However, the moment had been justly overshadowed.

From the unknowing and slightly naive East German perspective, it felt as if Yugoslavia and Slovenia could go to war at any moment, mere months into East Germany’s first moments of significant contact with the Western World. If war did break out, the German Democratic Republic would be in an untenable position, they had dealt with NATO over diplomacy and even arms in recent months, but yet had to keep their hands firmly in the Warsaw Pact camp to avoid some kind of political catastrophe and any kind of hardline action could rock the boat amongst members. In light of this, the SED had declared the official party line was “peace for all parties.”

Eggerath was in a unique position. As the first East German representative in West Berlin, he would have to keep a close eye on how the West Germans navigated the situation as it unfolded across Europe, but also ensure that the East German stance was reiterated.

He was aware that ongoing international affairs would have to take priority and that inner-German relations would perhaps not make as much progress as first expected in the immediate future, but he felt that it was important for the East Germans to strive on to avoid being dragged into the conflict themselves.

In a meeting before his departure, Paul Verner had made it clear how the leadership felt. They had no room for manoeuvre when tensions were high, and it was only when things in Europe were calm and cordial could the East German plan to negotiate and use diplomacy to stimulate a stagnating economy be implemented.

“Sail a steady ship.” had been Verner’s parting words, and Eggerath had every intention of following them.

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, New Provenance, Spain-, Destruction And Co

★ UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC ★

[list][list][list][pre]

"Fear is, I believe, a most effective tool in destroying the soul of an individual - and the soul of a people."

ANWAR EL-SADAT

[/pre][/list][/list][/list]

_________________

[list][sub]ALLIANCE OF CIRCUMSTANCE:[/sub]

[sub][sup] JUL 1968 - UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC[/sub][/sup]

[list]

Sadat's strong consolidation of influence across the past few months have put him in place as a serious contender for succession, albeit a low-profile one amongst other candidates such as members of the Vanguard Organization (the Arab Socialist Union's inner circle). However, to guarantee his position, Sadat was in need of a strong foundation of support, one that could help him ensure his position and defend him from any moves against his position. In this, he found the historically underrepresented Libyan politicians. Composed almost exclusively of military cadres, Libya's political scene has nonetheless displayed also an affinity to technocracy, which is what Sadat had been in need of.

One particular man, The United Arab Republic's Premier Mu'mmar Gaddafi, has almost emerged as Sadat's strongest ally. Gaddafi had risen through the ranks of the youth wing of the Arab Socialist Union, becoming a cornerstone in strengthening its position, and purging it from the influence of 'undesirable' ideologies such as Marxism. Emerging as a key youth figure, his appointment as Prime Minister came as one of the measures designed to appease youth protesters who demanded change in the wake of the Naksa.

While Sadat has shown more hints of being a reformist, Gaddafi has become a paragon of continuing the Nasserite path, albeit modernized to current needs. While this would in theory have put men at odds, it has formed the basis for an alliance that has been advantageous against other more radical influences such as the leftist wing which seeks more hardline Socialism.

Outside of this alliance, Sadat has also been making other moves to ensure his influence in a post-Nasser world. Courting businessmen and influential intelligentsia for his cause, something no doubt motivated by the radical agenda of many of the ASU's left-wing.

Besides the East Asian model, perhaps one surprising influence on the recent inclination of Sadat has been Tanzania, with it paving the way of a transition from a socialist system to a more modernist economy, with a greater focus on technocratic efficiency over ideological desires. The 30 March Program has within it the basis of a transition, something that hasn't been lost on many observers, and something that has aroused the interests of many of Sadat's now new business allies.

[/list]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Arcanda, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Hatzburg, Spain-

[list][list]SHOWA 43 | JULY 1968[/list]

[list][list]トヨタイスラエル

[pre]TOYOTA ISRAEL[/pre][/list][/list]

[pre] E X P A N D I N G T H E B U S I N E S S [/pre]

[list][list][sub][pre] オー・スネイル 富士山に登ろう でも、ゆっくり、ゆっくり

O Snail; Climb Mount Fuji But slowly, slowly![/pre][/sub][/list][/list]

JERUSALEM, Israelli — MORNINGTIME

| After successful negotiations with African countries in ‘65, Toyota has now decided that it is time to shift the company’s focus to the Middle East, and the country that will now receive its attention is Japan’s strategic ally, Israel. The company did not spare a penny on the trip to Jerusalem, its best men flew first class and drank the most expensive wines on the flight. At the best hotel in the city, the five Japanese men held a press conference with local journalists to clarify all doubts. It was a calm press conference, although there were some journalists nervous about not having their questions answered. A day later, dressed in elegant and well-made suits, the five businessmen got into the car and went to meet the Israeli authorities. The meeting would take place at Israel’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. |

[list]| SEIICHI ŌNO, [sub]Japanese Businessman[/sub] | “We will make Israel our main partner in the Middle East.”[/list]

[list][list]我々はイスラエルを中東における主要パートナーとする。[/list][/list]

| The negotiations took place in a private room in the presence of some journalists, during the meeting a Japanese journalist questioned whether Toyota intended to leave Sudan, due to the breakdown in relations between Israel and Sudan, but SEIICHI ŌNO completely denied it. At home, some angry pro-Israel Japanese university students decided to hold up signs and protest against Sudan and demanded that the Japanese government also cut ties with Sudan, but Prime Minister EISAKU SATO and the Japanese Foreign Minister decided to ignore the protesters because they knew that Japan had a lot of money invested in Sudan. The protests in front of a train station close to the Sudanese embassy did not last long, ending as soon as the police arrived. In Jerusalem, negotiations went well, the new Toyota factory will begin construction in January next year. Israel is now officially on the list of nations that benefit from Toyota, the company also has plans to negotiate with other Middle Eastern nations to expand further. |

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-

Post by Climas suppressed by Paramountica.

Climas

I have my own goverment

Post by Espelland suppressed by Paramountica.

Espelland

ESPELLAND ABRE AS FRONTEIRAS PARA TODOS OS EMIGRANTES DIZ ASSIM O SOBERANO DAS TERRAS MÍSTICAS "ESPELLAND PRECISA DE MAIS PESSOAS ENTÃO SE FOR NECESSÁRIO ABRIREMOS FRONTEIRAS MAS ACHO QUE ISSO VAI FAZER TEMPO DIFÍCIL POIS SÓ QUEM CONHECE ESPELLAND VAI ENTENDER"

OU SEJA TODOS OS IMIGRANTES PASSARAM POR UMA RÍGIDA VERIFICAÇÃO DE IDENTIDADE

[list][list]SHOWA 43 | JULY 1968[/list]

[list][list]日本の穏やかな雰囲気

[pre]THE JAPANESE PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE[/pre][/list][/list]

[pre] B E T T I N G B I G [/pre]

[list][list][sub][pre] オー・スネイル 富士山に登ろう でも、ゆっくり、ゆっくり

O Snail; Climb Mount Fuji But slowly, slowly![/pre][/sub][/list][/list]

NAGATACHO — MORNINGTIME

[sub]TOKYO, Nippon-Nihon[/sub]

| Since Japan’s upper house elections, when he gave his election speech atop an aqua and yellow bus, Conservative Prime Minister EISAKU SATO has staked his political career on supporting the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. It wasn’t a small gamble. In January, police had to use fire hoses to control more than 800 student anti-war activists who were trying to stop the crew of the USS Enterprise from visiting Sasebo. In April, some Japanese ladies protested the opening of a hospital for American soldiers, and later an atmosphere of fear hung over Japan when reports emerged that Sasebo’s waters showed evidence of elevated radiation while the American nuclear submarine Swordfish was in port. But his gamble paid off: the Liberal Democrats maintained their majority in the House of Councillors for another three years. Due to the Liberal Democrats’s slim 13-seat margin, a loss of five or six seats would likely have cost SATO the party leadership and prime ministership. But as the loss of seats was only two, he took more firm control of his party. The LDP’s main opponents, the Socialists, lost at least eight seats. At their expense, the following parties made gains: the Communist Party, the independents, and the Soka Gakkai-backed Komeito Party. |

[list]| EISAKU SATO, [sub]The Prime Minister[/sub] | “I have never worked as hard as I did during these elections.”[/list]

[list][list]今回の選挙でこれほど一生懸命働いたことはありません[/list][/list]

| Many Japanese show that they are not in favor of U.S. policy in Asia. Student protests against U.S. war vessels, on the one hand, reveal that the younger generation wants to build a new national identity, based on pacifism and self-sufficiency. Many leaders are also concerned about Asia’s biggest industrial power’s dependence on U.S. defense equipment. Most of them hope that there will be changes in ‘70 when the mutual-protection pact is revised. Almost half of the population is still undecided about whether the pact should be continued; the tendency for now, however, is to postpone reflection on an unpleasant choice. SATO was helped immensely by Japan’s atmosphere of tranquility and contentment. The country has never been in a better situation. Its economy, which grows at a growth rate of 13.6%, provides full employment. Japan became the fourth largest industrial power, behind only the U.S., Russia, and West Germany. |

| Japanese citizens have upgraded their status symbols from a Sony TV to a new Toyota car, and many are saving so they can move out of overcrowded apartments in big cities and live in their own homes. A survey showed that 63% of people over 20 were “satisfied with current living conditions,” compared with 53% the previous year. Japan’s voters show admiration for Ho Chi Minh’s resistance to the American attack, but they can also understand why the U.S. cannot return Okinawa, with its B-52 landing bases — and the Japanese have decided not to make an issue of it. Relations with Peking, on the other hand, declined as Japanese journalists and businesspeople were arrested in the country; trade with China has suffered a 20% drop in the last two years. |

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Israelli, Cascadla, Lucaswrld, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-

[list][list]JULY 1968

[sub]Mekhozot & Population[/sub][/list]

[pre] M A P W O R K ¹[/pre]

JERUSALEM, Israelli — משרד הפנים[/list]

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1953920

[list][sub]Map of Urban Populus and Mekhozot of Israel, districts of governance. Published by the Ministry of Interior, Haim-Moshe Shapira's census office. Updated and lore accurate to 1968, Golan now acquired in the Six Day war instead of 1957.[/sub]

____________

[sub]¹ MAPWORK, cartography designed by Para in the Commonwealth of Liberty (COL)[/sub]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Tallahan, Spain-, Poland1St

[list][spoiler=​🇵​​🇱​​🇦​​🇾​ ​🇲​​🇪​ ​🇫​​🇴​​🇷​ ​🇦​​🇲​​🇧​​🇮​​🇪​​🇳​​🇨​​🇪​⦂ ​​🇨​​🇴​​🇱​​🇩​ ​🇮​​🇷​​🇴​​🇳]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFD9dqZUpE8[/spoiler][/list]

[list][pre]♚ 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 ♚[/pre][sup][pre] 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟹 - 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟺 | 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚄𝙶𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙽 𝙵𝙴𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽[/pre][/sup][/list]

[sup]After the end of the Bunyoro Rebellion on November 21st, 1963, the federal government was in crisis as the military had blatantly ignored the orders of the prime minister. Desperate to reign in the situation, Prime Minister Ignatius Musaazi would order Major General Augustine Karugaba to be arrested for treason. The arrest of Augustine sparked a heated debate within parliament. Members of the Ugandan National Party (UNP) argued that the arrest was unjust and accused Prime Minister Musaazi of overstepping his authority. President Kintu, despite lacking executive powers, publicly criticized Musaazi's decision and defended Augustine's actions as necessary for national security. The controversy surrounding the arrest further deepened the crisis within the federal government as the UNP-UNC coalition was beginning to crack. As for the situation in Bunyoro, the Federal Army would remain, and so would martial law, which would remain in effect with state-mandated curfews and limitations on movement. Prime Minister Musaazi, while originally opposed to the whole federal intervention in Bunyoro, did not want to risk a potential standoff with armed forces, thus strategically choosing to maintain the presence of the Federal Army. Within the ranks of the Uganda National Congress (UNC), many were outraged at Prime Minister Musaazi's weak reaction to the blatant disregard for federal authority by the army. Party Secretary General Abubaker Kakyama Mayanja began convening with other UNC party members on a potential spit as many members were becoming disgruntled at what they viewed as collaboration with UNP, leading to subversion of federal authority. Later, in February of 1964, Major General Augustine was court-martialed for insubordination and conspiracy against the federal government; such charges carried with them the risk of life in prison. The case was in particular a big issue in Buganda, as many viewed Augustine as a Bugandan hero for stopping the return of Buyaga and Bugangaizi to Bunyoro. Kabaka Muteesa himself would openly show solidarity with Augustine, stating that the whole court case was nothing more than the persecution of a hero defending Ugandan national unity. Things would reach fever pitch with wide-spread protests in Kampala. The people demanded justice for Major General Augustine and called for the charges against him to be dropped immediately. Within the parliament, the UNP-UNC coalition was crumbling as neither side found a clear consensus on the ongoing federal crisis. The relationship between Prime Minister Musaazi and President Kintu was particularly souring, as both began butting heads over the matter.[/sup]

[sup]On March 5th, the Ugandan military tribunal court found Augustine guilty of all charges and sentenced him to life in prison. The public reaction in Buganda was explosive, with the month of March seeing six riots over the sentence. President Kintu, in protest, would resign from office, and the UNP-UNC coalition finally collapsed. The collapse would leave the UNC with a minority government without a majority in the legislature, as they now only had 20 seats in parliament. The Ugandan Democratic Party (UDP) now holding a majority in parliament with 30 seats took the opportunity to push for new elections, hoping to capitalize on the situation. Muteesa's UNP itself barely held 25 seats and was now facing the very real threat of Benedicto Kiwanuka assuming the prime ministership if snap elections were declared. On the other end of politics, with the UNC and prime minister Musaazi, they were facing a total party collapse as Abu Mayanja and other discontent UNC members split, forming their own party (the Ugandan Progressive Party, or UPP) on the 1st of April. Faced with such a political catastrophe, Musaazi would resign from the Prime Ministership on April 20th, declaring an immediate caretaker government under Apollo Kironde, who would oversee the elections to determine the new government. Snap elections would be declared on the 5th of June by Kironde. Kinwanuka would emerge as a strong candidate in the snap elections, promising to restore rule of law and order to the country. Despite facing opposition from Muteesa's UNP and Mayanja's UPP, Kiwanuka's strong leadership and promises of nationwide reforms resonated with many voters beyond his typical support base of Bugandan Catholics. As election day approached, tensions rose and political rallies became increasingly intense, setting the stage for a highly contested election. Unwilling to leave such an election to chance, Muteesa would meet with various senior military officers to plot a coup d'etat to stop Kiwanuka from taking power. The plot was put into action on the 4th of May, a day before the election. Lieutenant Colonel J. Musa of the 1st Bugandan Rifles Division would move soldiers of the Kampala Company to take over various government installations. Musa himself would lead the arrest of Kiwanuka and various other UDP party members at his residence in Namirembe district. At 2:00 PM, Radio Kampala officially declared temporary martial law and a suspension of the elections. Kironde himself would be arrested and put under house arrest.[/sup]

[sup]With the government overthrown and the elections suspended, the Federal Army established a transitional government with Michael Kintu as Prime Minister. The first move was to suspend the federal constitution and declare King Muteesa II President of Uganda on the 10th of May, 1963. Under the new transitional government, Muteesa wielded significant authority and had the ability to make decisions without any checks or balances. With his newfound executive powers, Muteesa II began implementing sweeping changes and reforms to reshape the country's future. The first of these executive orders was the release of Major General Agustine from prison, the suspension of all political parties, and the abolishment of the Federal Parliament in exchange for the Bugandan Parliament, the Great Lukiiko. Unlike other African leaders who achieved power in military coups, Muteesa did not use a heavy hand when dealing with his opponents. Instead, he sought to consolidate his power through political maneuvering and strategic alliances, which allowed him to maintain a certain level of public support and legitimacy. His strongest allies came from the aristocratic clans of the Mengo establishment, the military, the Kingdom of Toro, the Busoga refugees, and politicians who chose to align themselves with the new regime. Benedicto Kiwanuka himself would oppose any collaboration with Muteesa and requested to enter into self-exile. Muteesa would grant the request, and Kiwanuka entered self-exile in Britain on the 20th of May.[/sup]

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, New Provenance, Spain-, Poland1St

Masherov personally inspected the farms of the collective farms of the BSSR

On July 25, 1968, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus, Petr Mironovich Masherov, visited several collective farms of the BSSR to personally familiarize himself with their economic situation and problems. Masherov, who was known for his demanding and fair character, was not satisfied with what he saw.

During his visit, Masherov visited the "Krasny Oktyabr" collective farm in the Brest region, "Kommunar" in the Gomel region, "Zarya" in the Minsk region, and "Leninsky Put" in the Vitebsk region. Everywhere, he found serious shortcomings in labor organization, land use, machine maintenance, crop storage, and plan compliance. Masherov repeatedly criticized the leaders of the collective farms for their negligence, irresponsibility, and low qualifications. He also listened to complaints and wishes of the collective farmers who faced difficulties in receiving wages, food, clothing, and other goods.

Masherov emphasized that collective farms are the basis of agriculture in the BSSR and should provide the population with quality and affordable food products. He stated that the party and government of the BSSR had made a decision to allocate additional funds for the development of the collective farm sector. He also promised that measures would be taken to improve the material and cultural standard of living of collective farmers, improve their education and training, strengthen their discipline and initiative.

Masherov called on all collective farmers of the BSSR to work with maximum effort and enthusiasm to achieve high results in agriculture and contribute to the development of the socialist economy. He also expressed confidence that the collective farms of the BSSR would be able to increase grain production to 9-10 million tons and yield to 35 c/ha, as it was set as a goal in the early 1960s. He assured that the party and government of the BSSR would always support and assist the collective farms in their labor activities.

Newspaper "Sovetskaya Belarus"

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Lucaswrld, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-, Le Equatoria

[list][list][spoiler=​𝓟𝓪𝓹𝓪 𝓜𝓸𝓫𝓾𝓽𝓾]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u_7TGiMS-8[/spoiler][/list][/list]

[list][pre]✰✰✰ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 ✰✰✰[/pre][sup][pre] 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟶 - 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟾 | 𝚁𝙴𝙿𝚄𝙱𝙻𝙸𝚀𝚄𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝙼𝙾𝙲𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝚀𝚄𝙴 𝙳𝚄 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙶𝙾[/pre][/sup][/list]

[sup]Once upon a time -in the heart of Africa, there was a leopard king. Feline and cunning, who blended seduction and refined cruelty to the point where, having cast his spell and held his people hostage, he ended up being deified. March 5th, 1955, was a day that would forever change the fate of Africa when a young Joseph-Désiré was released from prison after serving a sentence for four long years. It all began when his mentor, his dear friend, Patrice Lumumba, was put to the sword by the Zairian regime of Banza for his opposition to the division of Congo. During the long struggle for Congolese unity, Lumumba made a great many enemies within the political establishment for opposition against Banza. Many forces within and outside the Congo viewed him with great suspicion; thus, it was at the hands of the witch, the harlot, Banza, that Lumumba died in 1952. Banza would not even grant Lumumba a dignified death, but rather have him arrested and deported in the middle of the night to the southern province of Katanga, where his executioners would murder him on a pig farm. Those who remained were arrested, deported, or entered into self-exile in the North. Mobutu himself wouldn't be so lucky to evade Banza's hand, as he was arrested and held in the Léopoldville Penitentiary. While those of weaker mind and spirit would break down in such conditions, Mobutu was not deterred. Rather than spend his time in self-pity and sorrow, Mobutu spent his time reading, studying, and planning. All of which would prepare him when, on March 5th, he would be released from the Léopoldville Penitentiary as Banza sought to rid her regime of Lumumbaists. Not one for getting her pretty hands dirty, Banza simply opted to deport what remained of the Lumumbaists to the Northern Congo, which was now under French rule. Reunited once again with family and political comrades, Mobutu would quickly begin a long march to power by joining the Congolese National Movement (CNM) on July 20th, 1955, the successor party to his mentor Lumumba.[/sup]

[sup]Full of energy and unbridled ambition, Mobutu quickly rose through the ranks of the CNM. Having experience in the Force Publique and journalism during colonial times, Mobutu becomes minister of information within the party. His charisma and strategic thinking made him a valuable asset to the party, and he soon earned himself a position as personal aide to party leader Cyrille Adoula. Following the revision of the French constitution that established the Fifth Republic in 1958, French Equatorial Africa (AEF) dissolved into its constituent parts, each of which became an autonomous colony within the French Community. During these reforms, Northern Congo became known as the State of Congo in 1958 and published its first constitution in 1959 after the Stanleyville Convention. When the time for independence came for Congo in 1960, Mobutu would make his mark during independence talks in Paris, where the US embassy held a reception for the Congolese delegation. Embassy staff were each assigned a list of delegation members to meet with and discuss their impressions afterward. The ambassador noted, "One name kept coming up. But it wasn't on anyone's list because he wasn't an official delegation member; he was Adoula's secretary. But everyone agreed that this was an extremely intelligent man, very young, perhaps immature, but a man with great potential."[/sup]

[sup]After general elections, Congo would achieve full independence from France on August 15th, 1960. The country was officially named the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Cyrille Adoula as Prime Minister and Antoine Gizenga as President. Despite the initial jubilee, the following years would not be kind to the young nation. The CNM, upon taking control, initiated a series of agitations against Zaire as the CNM's policy of 'One Congo' resulted in immediate tensions. Within the DRC itself, the political landscape was reaching a boiling point as factionalism within the CNM led to power struggles and various sectors of the army sporatically mutinied, causing widespread violence in the country. Prime Minister Adoula would enter a political feud with the leftist faction of President Gizenga, who advocated for a more aggressive approach to Congolese unification. Mobutu, having been made chief military assistant to Adoula after independence, began to exercise his influence by convincing Adoula to dismiss Gizenga from the presidency. Acting on Mobutu's advice, Adoula would have Gizenga removed from his post and exiled to Sudan. At the same time, Mobutu was in communication with French and American diplomats, feeding them information about whatever happenings were going on in the government. This communication allowed Mobutu to gain support from foreign powers and further solidify his position within the government. With the support of the Congolese Army and foreign powers, Mobutu puts his plans into action and swiftly executes a military coup, overthrowing Adoula from power on the 15th of September, 1961. Now at the helm, Mobutu quickly consolidates his powerbase by purging the army and the CNM of potential rivals. Despite his initial success, he was soon met with resistance as Gizenga, with the support of the Eastern Bloc, the UAR, and Sudan, launched a rebellion against Mobutu from the Oriental Province. This bloody four-year conflict became known as the Congo Crisis as Mobutu and Gizenga's Simba rebels waged a protracted war against each other for control of the Congo. Gizenga was initially able to overun the government and capture Stanleyville, establishing the People's Republic of the Congo in July 1962. Facing total collapse, Mobutu would appeal to his allies in the west for support. America and France, fearing a communist takeover of the Congo, backed Mobutu with vast military and financial support. France would send its mercenaries to aid the Congolese Army in the fight. Even Zaire would aid Mobutu, as Gizenga posed a massive threat to Banza's regime. By the end of 1965, Stanleyville had been liberated, along with most of the east. With few Simba strongholds remaining, Gizenga and his colleagues would flee once more, taking up residence in Sudan before setting up a permanent HQ in Cairo, UAR.[/sup]

[sup]Once again in power, Mobutu declared himself president for five years, saying that he needed that time to undo the damage that the politicians had done in the country's first five years of independence. However, within two years, he had set up the National Evolutionary Party, or, in French, the Parti Évolutionnaire National (P.E.N.) as the country's only legal party. Setting up the foundation for his future regime of [list][pre]peace…prosperity…progress…[/pre][/list][/sup]

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Hatzburg, Spain-, Salisbury-Southern Rhodesia

[list][list]AUGUST 1968

[sub]The Silent Majority[/sub][/list]

[pre] ' 6 8 E L E C T I O N ¹[/pre]

[list][pre]. . . Living in close-knit ethnic neighborhoods in northern cities or west of the Appalachians, the vast silent majority was situated south of the Potomac. The country's advertising firms, promoting soft beverages and cars, portrayed them as unwavering, the genuine article, enjoying activities like fishing and hunting, watching the NFL or NASCAR, or playing summer softball. On Sundays, they dressed for the occasion and attended church, where they lowered their heads, clasped hands, and said grace before supper. They donated their time to the Jaycees, Rotary Clubs, and the Boy Scouts. They paid respect to Old Glory. They applauded John Wayne and laughed with Bob Hope. Their sons enlisted in the Vietnam War as volunteers. It is no coincidence that NORMAN ROCKWELL painted the portrait of RICHARD NIXON that is on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington . . .[/pre][/list]

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, Paramountica — LATE EVENING

[sub]REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION[/sub]

| There was a brief period at the Republican convention when there were rumblings that Governor REAGAN was moving; the South was being targeted; and Vice President NIXON would be stopped. JOHN MITCHELL, the campaign manager, feared a "southern rebellion" was "on the brink of becoming serious." Reportedly the idea of whomst would be NIXON's running mate resulting in either New York Mayor JOHN LINDSAY or liberal Senator MARK HATFIELD of Oregon, would result in a southern roar. Relief came soon however by relaxing fears by confirming neither the New York nor Oregon liberal would be confirmed and — Recalling who had traveled the nation in support of him during the 1964 campaign, Senator GOLDWATER of Arizona endorsed NIXON. The uprising was put down. When the conservatives nominated a candidate in 1964 who fully matched our requirements and had only won six states, REAGAN withdrew from the race and looked forward to a different day. Governor NELSON ROCKEFELLER of New York slunk home, realizing that his third presidential campaign had ended just like the others. NIXON's selection of Maryland’s SPIRO AGNEW, a border state governor and beautiful mediocrity, as his running mate gave the South its goal. Since the Roman emperor Caligula designated his horse a consul, Nixon now designated Agnew . . . NIXON wrote an acceptance speech in solitude on the Atlantic coast at Montauk, New York, and he displayed both strategy and elegance in it. He was speaking to his "forgotten" Americans once more. He would refer to them as the "silent center," "the great Silent Majority," and, eventually, the "New American Majority" throughout the years — They were warriors in a conservative revolution that started during the ROBERT TAFT and EISENHOWER years as opposition to the New Deal, and erupted with GOLDWATER in 1964. In an age when self-made men were not honored for the agony of their creation, these individuals had achieved success on their own. They were the people on whom NIXON depended in 1946 and the people at whom he directed his 1952 Checkers address, which secured him a spot alongside EISENHOWER and thus was not pushed from the VP slot due to the scandals brewing even in 1952. |

[pre]NIXON won the nomination on the first ballot with 692 votes to 277 votes for ROCKEFELLER, 182 votes for REAGAN and the rest scattered.[/pre]

| After winning most of the primaries, NIXON has proven he’s back. As he takes the stage, the former Vice President waved to the convention crowds, as the vast crowd goes berserk. He absorbs the support, He looks down at someone in the audience. Pointing, smiles, & waves. Then he steps forward, thrusts his arms in the air — the twin-V salute. The cheers rattle the convention hall as PAT NIXON and their daughters join him, followed by Vice Presidential candidate SPIRO AGNEW and his family. NIXON puts his arm around PAT, She waves, The crowd of delegates are standing, holding up NIXON banner signs and support items, NIXON turns to PAT: |

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “Now tell me you didn't want this, Buddy!”[/list]

| PAT smiles back at him, caught up in it, then she kisses him on the cheek. NIXON addresses the Republican Delegations from across the nation now, as the cheering dies down in order to hear. Among the delegations, most are in suits, some wear red suits to show their support for Nixon. In the back, the major news networks: CBS, NBC, and ABC all broadcast the speech across America. |

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “. . . When the strongest nation in the world can be tied down for 4 years in a war in Vietnam, with no end in sight . . . When the richest nation in the world can’t manage its own economy . . . When the nation with the greatest tradition of the rule of law is plagued by unprecedented lawlessness . . . When a nation who has been known for a century for equality of opportunity is torn by unprecedented racial violence . . . When the President of the United States cannot travel abroad or to any major city at home without fear of a hostile demonstration . . . Then, it is time for new leadership for the United States of America! ”[/list]

[list][pre]Total APPLAUSE from the convention delegations. An American flag flying upside down — Boy Scouts saluting — American students, pledge of allegiance — A family having a picnic.[/pre][/list]

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “As we look at America, we see cities enveloped in smoke and flame . . . millions of Americans cry out in anguish, Did we come all this way for this? Did American boys die in Normandy, and Korea, and in Valley Forge for this? I Pledge to you that the current wave of violence will not be the wave of the future! . . . Now let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth, to find the truth, to speak the truth! And to live the truth!”[/list]

[list][pre]Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Student Activists — George Wallace — Protestors at the Democratic Convention in Chicago.[/pre][/list]

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “A new voice is being heard across America today, it is not the voice of the protestors or the shouters, it is the quiet voice of a majority of Americans who have been forgotten . . . The non-shouters; the non-demonstrators, they are the good people! They work hard, and they save, and they pay their taxes!”[/list]

[list][pre]The Convention Delegates — The Police — Angry Civilian Bystanders to Protests — Suburbia.[/pre][/list]

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “Who are they? Let me tell you who they are! — They are in this audience by the thousands. They are the White Americans, and Black Americans, and Latino Americans and Asian Americans — They’re the Great Silent Majority! — And they have become angry — finally; angry not with hate but angry, my friends, because they love America and they don't like what's happened to America, these last four years! . . . Let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States — Only Americans can do that!”[/list]

[list][pre]More Anti-War Protesters — Outstanding Citizens — NASA Men Working Towards the Moon — Steelworkers — The Colorado River — Washington D.C. — Forces in Vietnam.[/pre][/list]

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “I say to you tonight — I say to you tonight, We must have a new feeling of responsibility, of self-discipline. America needs leaders to match the greatness of her people! We must look to renewed state and local government . . . We must have a complete reform of a big, massive, Federal Government! . . . Those of us in public service know we can have full prosperity in peacetime . . . Yes! We can cut the defense budget. We can reduce our conventional forces in Europe! We can restore the national environment! We can improve healthcare and make it more available to more people! . . . And yes — we can have a complete reform of this government! We can have — a New American Revolution!” \(->-)/[/list]

| And this finally brings the entire convention hall down, into stronger applause and cheering as Red, White, and Blue balloons drop from the ceiling. |

[list]| RICHARD NIXON, [sub]Republican POTUS Nominee[/sub] | “My fellow Americans, the long dark night for America is about to end. The time has come for us to leave the valley of despair and climb the mountain so that we may see the glory of the dawn — a new day for America, and a new dawn for peace and freedom in the world!”[/list]

| NIXON ends his speech with his V-sign salute, as he waves to the delegations, smiling, clearly on the top, overlooking his Silent Majority . . . |

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1032833

____________

[sub]¹ '68 ELECTION, Covering the 1968 Presidential and Congressional elections that took place in the United States, of that same year and their surrounding events.[/sub]

Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Lucaswrld, Great Britain Gb, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

[sup]-- SOUTHERN RHODESIA --[/sup]

╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾

[sup]AUGUST 1968[/sup]

[sup]|-| IAN SMITH ANNOUNCES RHODESIAN RECOVERY PLAN, REPORTS ON ILLEGAL TRADE RELEASED |-|[/sup]

[sup]Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith has announced the "Rhodesian Recovery Plan", and illegal trade is becoming a primary source of income for many businesses.[/sup]

[sup]Ian Smith and Autarky[/sup]

[sup]| Recent events have certainly shaken Ian Smith and his cabinet justifiably. Aside from the consequences to the nation, his leadership, and the leadership of his cabinet, are in question among many important politicians and figures, and with the citizens of the nation. To the Europeans, it would appear that appeasement of the majority has simply reached an untenable point, as most European-run newspapers seem to suggest, whilst to many Africans it's something that was to be expected in a nation of such nature. These opinions not only give a serious voice to those who oppose European rule but have angered the minority, who hold much of the power within the nation. Ian Smith will need to prove his administration worthy in the coming months, especially in the face of organized opposition in the Centre Party, and with the support of his party has aimed to achieve this by moving Rhodesia towards Autarky (of sorts), also named by his cabinet as methods of self-sufficiency.[/sup]

[sup]| On the 20th of July, Ian Smith held a meeting with his cabinet. During it, he discussed the need to begin economic flow domestically that would be less problematic and based on the foreign markets, increase trade with Portugal and South Africa whilst their authority and willingness to cooperate last and produce goods domestically on a larger scale. To move this effort forward, the "Rhodesian Recovery Plan" has been put into action, a plan to increase economic flow naturally and internally, increase trade with friendly nations, and encourage private businesses to pursue the production of various consumer goods.[/sup]

[sup]| The plan has 5 main points: [/sup]

[sup]1) Place taxes at moderate amounts whilst encouraging the expansion and opening of businesses, this will be done by expanding taxes for large and extremely large corporations/businesses and introducing tax cuts for middle and small businesses to allow further room for expansion.[/sup]

[sup]2) The granting of funds to agricultural, industrial, and commercial businesses to assist in lowering prices or adopting more affordable methods for citizens, and to buy from domestic farmers as opposed to outside trade. It is hoped this will further incentivize agricultural businesses and independent farms to increase production.[/sup]

[sup]3) The selling of certain lands at lower prices to encourage business expansion, usually only if construction and production are backed by the BSAC as they have a relatively large hand in both nationally.[/sup]

[sup]4) The growing of domestic stock in companies to help economic flow and the funding of projects by private (and sometimes government-owned) corporations.[/sup]

[sup]5) The growing of material trade with business-friendly states such as South Africa using private and smaller companies specifically. Also following this is the using of smaller companies (again, specifically) to (sometimes illegally) conduct trade with the corporations of foreign nations indirectly by using non-documented purchases, smugglers, and various other methods.[/sup]

[sup]| The plan includes various public investments and government-stimulated economic flows which will be limited based on areas, conditions, and the need for such to occur in the areas.[/sup]

[sup]The Report on Illegal Trade[/sup]

[sup]| The issues that arose after the cutting of most trade and exchange between Rhodesia and other countries were rather quiet immediately after UDI as, even though the Rhodesian government did still prepare, the inherited stockpile of goods, material, and equipment from Rhodesia's time within the British empire served the nation rather well for a long time and created a generally low need for radical change. Recent events and unpredicted changes in the political situation internally have led these needs to appear again. Whilst efforts are being made to produce domestic equipment and materials are being imported via foreign companies, many have turned to illegal importing and exporting. A report released by the Rhodesian government supports this, with a huge uptake in such practices in the past year alone by businesses and individuals generating millions, possibly billions should a lot more be considered. It is worth noting, however, that as long as goods imported are taxed, they are considered legal in the nation.[/sup]

[sup]| It is no doubt that the risk of establishing crime networks and allowing clandestine practices does pose a threat to the security of not just people but the nation itself, especially if these methods are used by armed opposition to the government, but the economic benefits and surplus from these will likely mean that they will continue, and may even be encouraged for certain endorsed corporations, such as the BSAC.[/sup]

╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾╾

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

[list][list]AUGUST 1968

[sub]Labourite v Tory Swings[/sub][/list]

[pre] 1 0 D O W N I N G S T R E E T ¹[/pre]

WHITEHALL, LONDON, Great Britain Gb — SUMMER[/list]

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1986524

[list][sub]A shift for Labourite, but can they avoid a snap general election?[/sub]

____________

[sub]¹ A Series: 10 DOWNING STREET, concerning the government affairs of the PRIME MINISTER's office, workings with the House of Commons, and the whole of the Whitehall system — a road that is recognized as the centre of Her Majesty's Government in Britain; the road is lined with government buildings housing and its Whitehall mandarins.[/sub]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Lucaswrld, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

International Association Football Federation | Fédération internationale de football association

1968 AFC Asian Cup

LIVE - Pakistan

--------------------------

THE FINAL: CHINA PR v KOREA

All eyes turn to Islamabad, at the Jinnah Sports Stadium where we have a capacity crowd for the final of the 1968 AFC Asian Cup. Two teams contested this highly anticipated match, but only one could leave with the title of the Champions of Asia. Old rivalries were reignited for this match, as the People's Republic of China faced off against Korea, two teams who had been enjoying a great run of form in the tournament, and definitely among the strongest teams in Asia. Korea went into the match as the clear favourites, being the highest ranked team in Asia and enjoying the strongest performances in qualification and the group stages. Korea also sent shockwaves by defeating their long-time rivals Japan in the semi-finals, in a thrilling 3-2 victory. China, despite only recently entering a run of good form, are a large and well-funded side. Having narrowly missed out on qualification for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, they enjoyed a strong run in qualification and in the tournament, finding little opposition as they made it to the final.

The excitement kicked off early when China secured a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute with a well-executed goal. The early goal caught the Korean side off-guard, with many expecting that the more experienced players would be the ones to take the early advantage in this match. Dominating the first half, China showcased their prowess, but the tables turned in the 41st minute when Korea managed to equalize, putting the score at 1-1. From here, the gloves came off, with both sides jostling for possession. The tension escalated just before the halftime whistle when Korea's captain received a red card for a brutal tackle, leaving China's star player injured and altering the dynamics of the game. The stunning turn of events would set the scene for what would be a tense second half.

The second half unfolded as an intense, tightly contested affair, with both teams displaying heightened aggression and energy. In the 72nd minute, Korea seized the lead with a goal, putting them ahead 2-1. The goal came to the relief of the Korean fans, who let out a triumphant roar as the ball struck the back of the net. China, determined to mount a comeback, succeeded in equalizing once more in the 86th minute, making it 2-2 at the end of regular time. The Chinese equaliser nearly prompted a pitch invasion, with fans having to be held back by the security in the stadium. The prospect of penalties loomed as both sides entered extra time, but despite their efforts, neither team managed to find the back of the net.

As the match headed to penalties, the tension reached its peak. China took the first shot but missed, and the same fate befell them in the second round. Korea, meanwhile, converted one out of their first two penalties. The shootout remained deadlocked at 2-2 after four penalties each. After six penalties, the score stood at 4-4. In a dramatic turn, China faltered in their seventh attempt, and Korea capitalized on the opportunity to secure a 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout. Korea emerged as the Champions of Asia, solidifying their standing as one of the top teams in the AFC. Both teams, despite the grueling battle, will now look ahead with determination as they prepare for the upcoming qualification rounds for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

“The Honecker Effect”

[East Berlin, Deutsche Demokratische Republik]

August 1968

In Erich Honecker’s first phase as East Germany’s undisputed leader, the quality of life had increased, factories were more productive and there was a renewed sense of optimism. SED members praised him for his brilliance and Paul Verner lauded his efforts as a triumph of socialism. In reality, Honecker had done very little.

It was the stagnant, conservative and timid leadership of Walter Ulbricht that had left East Germany lagging behind, and all Honecker had done was free industrialists of some of the shackles that the ailing leader had thrust upon them in his final few years.

Of course, this was still a centrally planned economy and the state had fundamental interests in all aspects of it, but Honecker had allowed expansion and innovation, within the confines of Socialism, that Ulbricht simply refused to endorse.

However, no political opportunity could ever be missed in the German Democratic Republic. As such, Honecker’s personality cult was booming and he was being hailed as a champion of Communist thought and living proof that East Germany could soon be on its way to becoming a beacon of the leftist world.

Party murmurings in the spring had suggested that some amongst the party had felt he had gone too far with his Western negotiations, but ultimately his success domestically had silenced any doubters. The SED was now the Honecker Party, The GDR was the Honecker state and Honecker himself was sitting pretty as the summer of 1968 rolled around.

For some East Germans, this was the best they had ever had it. Of course, if you were a Westerner or even one of the GDR’s more privileged counterparts, this was not the wonder that it was made out to be, but for a struggling people, life felt good. As the propaganda stated, Erich Honecker had made life better. Who was to disagree when the mood was so positive?

The Honecker Effect was in full swing.

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Rutannia, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

[list]1968년 08월 5일

[sub]A Finer Point of Diplomacy[/sub][/list]

[list][sub]The Yugo-Slovene Problem[/sub][/list]

[sub]The Blue House, Seoul, Korea[/sub]

| While Korea had chosen to stand back from the world stage following the Korean War, and focus on internal matters in order to prove itself an economically developed nation, it wasn’t ignorant to ongoing world issues. The recently ramped up Korean presence in Vietnam showed that Korea was now looking back to the world. Across the continent in Europe tensions between the Slovene Republic and the People’s Confederacy of Yugoslavia are once again on the rise following an escalation of the territorial disputes between the two nations that have been ongoing since the end of the Second World War. Korea has yet to officially take a position on that matter, despite being a close trading partner of Yugoslavia, Korea’s attempts to warm up relations with Europe would be thrown into question should it side with the Yugoslavians. |[list]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “While we cannot currently justify making a full statement on the matter, I feel like we must make our intentions clear in regards to rising tensions.”[/sub]

[sub]Choi Kyu-hah, Foreign: “The only issue would be coming across too neutral, that would risk upsetting our friends in Yugoslavia, who have thus far proven to be a very loyal trading partner. While the US position is hazy at best, anything to pro-Yugoslavian would possibly jeopardise that relationship, as well as any possible future relations with Western-aligned Europe.”[/sub]

[sub]Chun Doo-hwan, Defence: “Our position could be made clearly at the United Nations, resolution 15 is up for vote. Abstaining would send a message, but voting against could be justified.”[/sub][/list]

| The other senior members of the cabinet who had been gathered at the Blue House would look to Chun, who had a curious look upon his face, one that could be considered gloating. The men would then turn back to the Prime Minister awaiting a response. |[list]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “What would the justification be? It’s a clear resolution that follows the UN charter.”[/sub]

[sub]Chun Doo-hwan, Defence: “Well, we could state that it is a matter for the two states to settle rather than one that requires international attention, which I believe it is. Until the tensions risk collateral damage to the shipping lanes, it is not a matter for the UN.”[/sub][/list]

| Park would ponder for a moment, looking around the room, he’d look back to his notes neatly stacked on the desk, his brows furrowed, before nodding slowly. |[list]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “Call up Kim Yong-shik. That reasoning is the official line, we stick to it, no ifs, no buts.”[/sub][/list]

| The men would nod in agreement, gathering up their notes as informal chatter began to fill the meeting room. Park would approach Foreign Minister Choi quietly, placing a hand on his back, a small grin forming on his face. |[list]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “Perhaps you could arrange a little visit to Yugoslavia? Might be a good chance to get a stable ally in Europe, although at some cost, it's not like we want a war after all.”[/sub]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “I can give the Palace a call, perhaps this calls for more neutral diplomacy?”[/sub]

[sub]Prime Minister Park: “Hm. Third Prince Hee-seung has been before, it would be the most appropriate to send him. He does appear to be the favoured son after all. Saves that Confucianist sod of a First Prince getting involved too.”[/sub][/list]

| The Foreign Minister would merely nod in agreement, as he continued gathering up his notes, Park giving a hearty laugh his he bowed his head the other men as he began to head off towards his office. Using the Royals as a diplomatic tool was not unusual for many monarchies across the globe, but thrusting the currently favoured Prince into the heart of European tensions may yet prove to be a massive gamble. |

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountica, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

To Vietnam!

On June 28th, 1968, 20,000 members of the Turkish Republican Armed Forces (TURAF) marched across the streets of İstanbul in a public display attended by thousands. Troops in combat gear marched with their rifles, freshly polished and ready while Turks of all ages, backgrounds and genders waved at them while simultaneously waving Turkish flags. The men, all part of the 5th Corps of the Turkish Republican Army (TRA) would be embarking on a nearly 15,000 mile journey to the Republic of Vietnam to support the Vietnamese struggle against Communism. While the men wouldn’t be going simultaneously to the Indochinese front, the show of tens of thousands of soldiers marching while Turks cheered them on was the sort of image President Bülent Ecevit wanted to cultivate.

In the midst of the military parade, President Ecevit made a grand speech before the gathered crowds calling the soldiers embarking to Vietnam “honorable, fierce warriors fighting back against the tide of Communism”. He compared the struggle in Vietnam with that of Korea, where Turkish soldiers as part of the so-called Turkish Brigade fought valiantly against DPRK and Chinese soldiers in defense of the Republic of Korea, a nation with cultural and historic ties to the Turkish Republic. Now, Ecevit wished to evoke the same feelings of national fervor and will to fight that his predecessor, İsmet Inönü had evoked back in the day. It wasn’t just about fighting Communism, but also about a common struggle with a common people.

Behind the scenes, Ecevit had been warned that sending the 5th Corps to Vietnam would take a year or more, with Turkiye not having sufficient transport capacity to move so many troops at the same time. Any greater movement of troops would have to be done at the brigade level, and even those trips would take weeks with the closure of the Suez Canal. There was also another matter. The 5th Corps was a significant component of the overall order of battle of the armed forces and if war were to break out with the Soviet Union or even Greece, then the response could be diminished.

Despite the warnings from the General Staff, Ecevit received support from Prime Minister Alparslan Turkeş who saw the initiative as part of a larger Turkish presence abroad. Not only would it show commitment to the U.S (which would, in turn, allow Turkiye to gain its own rewards in return from Washington) but also demonstrate the Republic’s ability to project power abroad. Or so Turkes wanted it to appear. In truth, it would merely raise Turkiye’s foreign policy profile by a little while angering some Eastern Bloc nations supporting the North Vietnamese in an era when détente with the East seems increasingly likely. Regardless, Turkish involvement in Vietnam would also give the TRA much needed combat experience which would undoubtedly be passed down to future recruits who would be fighting in the Middle East in wars and operations imagined by ultranationalists such as Turkes.

For now, a mere brigade’s worth of troops, including infantry, artillery and engineers set off from the Port of Istanbul en route to Southeast Asia for another round of Turkish military adventurism. Whether success or utter failure awaited them in the jungles of Vietnam, the men on those transports were eager to fight. Some were motivated by their hatred of Communism, others by the chance to serve their country, and a few, like Captain Esmeray Erkin of the 117th Engineer Company of the 5th Corps were motivated by a desire to rise in the ranks to serve a “Greater Purpose”.

Paramountica, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria

[list][list][pre]R E P U B L I C O F I N D I A • B H Ā R A T G A N A R Ā J Y A [/pre][/list][/list]

[list][list][list]THE NAXALBARI UPRISING : AGRARIAN RADICALISM EXPLODES INTO SHIFTING COMMUNIST INSURGENCY [/list][/list][/list]

[list][list][sub]THE RED SUNRISE, Bhaarat Lok[/list]

[list][list]NAXALBARI, INDIA — 1967—1968[/sub][/list][/list]


 | The victories over the border clashes at Nathu La and Cho La over the Chinese PLA in 1967, the environment that the defeat of the Maoist Armies brought created a catalyst for renewed communist vigour amongst the peasant and agrarian class of Indian society, resulting in rampant instability in Indian farms and plantations. Mounting tensions between poor farmers and wealthy landlords resulted in the rise of the Communist Party of India's ( CPI's ) influence over the region, with peasant committees and unions being formed, further destabilising West Bengal's local economies. These tensions finally reached their breaking point on the 3rd of March 1967 at the Naxalbari Block of the Darjeeling District, when farmers took over 300 maunds of paddy, along with seizing large swathes of land from landlords. A violent response was carried out by the West Bengal Police and the landlords, resulting in the deaths of eleven (11) farmers, including one (1) baby. |


 | Following this uprising, known as the "Naxalbari Uprising" created serious challenges for the CPI, as the farmers were supported by Communist China ( Osivoii ), however, the CPI did not support the violence, with CPI influence in West Bengal limited to ideological impact, rather than support via an armed struggle. The uprising lasted until July 1967, however that was not the last of the communist dilemmas. The uprising ushered in a new era for the armed struggle — the "Naxalite — Maoist Insurgency", which now plagues the Indian Police in West Bengal. The Indira Government in New Delhi has been criticised for a lack of involvement in the matter, with some calling Prime Minister Indira Gandhi incompetent for a lack of a proper and organised response to the uprising. The red sunrise over India is now in full swing, and with insurgent attacks now getting stronger, Indians wait for decisive action to quell the Naxalite insurgents, and bring back India under the heel of the government in New Delhi. |

[list][list][spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Bhaarat Lok

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

[/list][/list]

Paramountica, Paseo, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Abessinienreich, New Provenance, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Le Equatoria

[list][list][pre]| V E R E N I G DㅤㅤK O N I N R I J KㅤㅤB E N E L U X

| "ㅤE E N D R A C H TㅤㅤM A A K TㅤㅤM A C H Tㅤ"[/pre]

[list][list][pre]Om te voorkomen dat een ziekte zich verspreidt, moet je soms

je pols doorsnijden, en het vuile bloed eruit laten lopen...[/pre][/list]

[pre]// 11 AUGUSTUS 1968, ZONDAG

HET RIJKSHUIS, DEN HAAG, HOLLAND //[/pre][/list]

O M N I AㅤㅤB E N EㅤㅤE R U N T :ㅤㅤO N EㅤㅤM U S TㅤㅤL E TㅤㅤG O

[list]ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ[sub]Amidst the enchanting Hagenaar seafront, the Rikshuijs stood like a stoic sentinel, its limestone façade commanding attention behind the regal Noordeinde Palace. Rising proudly to three stories, the exterior of this architectural marvel bore witness to the artistry of reliefs depicting cherubs, archangels, and on the first floor, the ethereal beauty of Aphrodite herself. Nestled between the German Embassy on its left and the Royal Museum of Traditional Arts on its right, the Rikshuijs exuded an air of opulence. Behind its grand, beige-coloured walls lay a private chamber, a sanctuary adorned with the Renaissance masterpieces of Van Eyck. Blue velvet-clad furniture with silver accents spoke of luxury, and billowing tulle curtains diffused the soft light that graced the table at the room's centre. Seated across one another, two men sat in an uneasy stillness, their surroundings steeped in an ominous quietude. The air hung heavy, pregnant with the unspoken weight of impending events. The two gentlemen were seated in quietude, when suddenly, the solemnity was shattered by the entrance of a towering young man. Clad in a formidable grey suit, he carried with him a substantial folder of documents, with a laid-back expression.[/sub]

[sub]“Good afternoon, folks,” he panted, a hint of desperation in his voice. “I hope my tardiness hasn't cast a shadow over our meeting. My trusty bike had some problems with its front wheel, forcing me to come here on foot. But I have arrived, nonetheless.”[/sub]

[sub]Van Veerenjans reassured, “It's no problem. However, Wolsheijner, you still haven't unveiled the purpose behind this clandestine assembly. Why have you summoned only the two of us? Shouldn't the ministers of interior and public security be present as well?”[/sub]

[sub]Wolsheijner's gaze intensified, locking onto the Prime Minister with an air of gravity. “I have summoned you here, Mr. Prime Minister, and Monsieur Duchemin, for a matter of utmost importance. This discussion demands your exclusive attention, and the presence of Minister Fiedeldeij or Minister Van Doren is not required. In truth, this is less a discourse and more of a revelation of the latest decrees handed down by the Privy Council. The subject at hand is the Walloon Crisis.”[/sub]

[sub]Duchemin's cynical groan echoed through the room, cutting through the gravity like a sharp blade. “Oh, I knew it!” he scoffed with a bitter edge. “What is it this time? More restrictions on the French language, perhaps? Maybe cutting off financial aid? Or, in your weariness, have you finally decided to put an end to the oppression with guns instead?”[/sub]

[sub]Wolsheijner's voice, though stern, carried a note of reprimand as he addressed Duchemin. “Monsieur Duchemin, please, your unparliamentary attitude is not appreciated.” He held a momentary pause before pressing on. “As I mentioned, the subject at hand is the Walloon Crisis. The Privy Council convened in May to deliberate The Hague's strategies for quelling the uprisings, and we have settled upon an unexpected yet crucial panacea for the situation at hand.”[/sub]

[sub]Wolsheijner's gaze met Van Veerenjans, acknowledging the scepticism that lingered in the room. “That being?” questioned Van Veerenjans, raising one questioning eyebrow.[/sub]

[sub]“We will offer the Walloons a referendum for independence,” declared Wolsheijner, dropping the bombshell with a force that reverberated through the room. The announcement hung in the air, shocking both gentlemen seated across the table. “We have already meticulously planned every detail for a smooth election process, and all we need now is the authorisation of the government.” The revelation left the room enveloped in a charged atmosphere, the implications of such a significant decision echoing through the minds of those present.[/sub]

[sub]Duchemin and Van Veerenjans, both taken aback by the sudden revelation, exchanged a pair of stunned looks. “An independence referendum?” inquired Duchemin, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events. “What's the catch, Wolsheijner? There has to be a catch.” Suspicion tinged his words, as though he couldn't quite fathom such a significant decision without a hidden agenda lurking beneath the surface.[/sub]

[sub]“And beyond that, how do you expect me to authorise such an outlandish plan?” questioned Van Veerenjans, his voice tinged with a mix of incredulity and suspicion. “Why would The Hague entertain the idea of granting the Walloons a chance at statehood? What leads you to believe that? What possible benefit could there be for Benelux in allowing a region to secede?”[/sub]

[sub]“Because Wallonia is a dead weight for Benelux.” Wolsheijner said. “Wallonia brings nothing but debt and instability. We have witnessed what happened to the Britons when they attempted to keep the Irish submissive. It simply does not work for a fierce movement.” he concluded, later opening the folder he brought with him. Taking a few papers out of the folder, he later presented them to the prime minister.[/sub]

[sub]“As evident from the reports, Wallonia contributes a mere 13% to the federal budget while consuming a staggering 24%, effectively doubling their share. Furthermore, the region is grappling with a colossal debt problem, standing at ten billion guilders—nearly three times the size of the regional gross domestic product. Do you not perceive the gravity of the situation?” Wolsheijner elucidated, presenting the stark figures to Van Veerenjans, who scrutinised the documents before him. “Add to that the ongoing unrest and disobedience we constantly grapple with in keeping Wallonia within our borders. Mr. Prime Minister, let's face it—it's time to consider calling off the Benelux Union.”[/sub]

[sub]“And after independence, do you swear to leave Walloon internal affairs independent?” inquired Duchemin, a cautious look in his eyes. Wolsheijner nodded in agreement. “As the Benelux is dissolved, two sovereign states will emerge—the Netherlands and the state of Wallonia. Wallonia will enjoy full sovereignty. However, it is crucial to emphasise that this condition only applies if the referendum proves successful.”[/sub]

[sub]“Which will most definitely happen,” acknowledged Van Veerenjans. “I must admit, Wallonia holds little value for the rest of the country. But how can we be sure that other states won't seek sovereignty next? Luxembourg? Frisia? Flanders? How can one be certain they will remain with the Netherlands?” His words carried a hint of hesitancy, a genuine concern about the potential domino effect that could follow such a ground-breaking decision.[/sub]

[sub]“On page 34, you will find the results and summaries of popularity polls conducted over the last five years. Luxembourgers support staying with The Hague by 93.4%, Frisians by 90.6%, and the Flemish by 87.1%. The only region with an approval rate below 50% is Wallonia, sitting at a mere 19.6%. It paints a stark picture of the current situation. I propose that we take decisive action now,” Wolsheijner concluded, laying out the statistical evidence to support his case. The room, now laden with the weight of data and the implications of the proposal, awaited the response of those who held the fate of the union in their hands.[/sub]

[sub]Duchemin and Van Veerenjans meticulously examined the provided data. Wolsheijner's statements were indeed backed by compelling evidence, sourced from irrefutable outlets. As the two gentlemen delved into the papers, fact-checking various pieces of information and poring over the infographics, a shared realisation began to dawn on them. Despite their stark political differences and divergent beliefs, Duchemin and Van Veerenjans found themselves in alignment on this issue. The undeniable truth revealed in the data pointed to a singular conclusion—the Walloon Crisis could only find resolution through the secession of Wallonia and the dissolution of the union. The weight of this realisation settled in the room, marking a pivotal moment.[/sub]

[sub]“I see your point, Wolsheijner,” nodded Van Veerenjans solemnly, later returning the papers to the gentleman seated across the wooden table. “I must say, I am genuinely impressed with your research. You truly put in the effort for your position, and I appreciate that in a statesman. Every one of your claims has been substantiated by these pages, making it untenable for me to reject your proposal. I will authorise the referendum.”[/sub]

[sub]Reaching for his folder once again, Wolsheijner retrieved another paper—this one featuring the detailed referendum proposal. Van Veerenjans extended his hand, taking the paper and carefully perusing the components of the offer. He nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes moving down the page.[/sub]

[list][sub]“FIRSTLY, the Federal Government of Benelux, seated in The Hague, therefore authorises the legality of the planned Wallonian Referendum for Independence.

SECONDLY, the referendum, which will be held no sooner than September 1968 and no later than May 1970 will offer the Walloons the question: “Would you like to stay within the Benelux Union as a devolved region under the constituent country of Belgium, enjoy increased autonomy and status of a constituent country while remaining in Benelux, or achieve statehood and independence, therefore splitting from Benelux”

THIRDLY, the Federal Government of Benelux, seated in The Hague, will not and can not refuse to accept the result of the democratic referendum, unless it has clear and indisputable evidence of election fraud or meddling, which it will have to present in front of the International Court of Justice as a case.

FOURTHLY, the Regional Chiefdom of Wallonia, seated in Namur, will dissolve if the referendum is successful, and the Federal Government of Benelux, seated in The Hague, will allow the formation of the State of Wallonia as a sovereign entity.

FIFTHLY AND LASTLY, the division of land will be done in accordance to the Wolsheijner-Jetten Plan, therefore resulting in Wallonia ceding parts of Liège Province to The Hague to form the clearly outlined 'Luik Corridor', which will connect The Netherlands with Luxembourg as a land bridge. Wallonia will keep its other territorial possessions.”[/sub][/list]

[sub]Van Veerenjans, having absorbed the details of the proposal, reached for his pen without hesitation. With a firm stroke, he signed the paper, marking his approval. The document then made its way to Renaud Duchemin, who conducted a quick but thorough inspection before adding his signature. With both signatures secured, Wolsheijner nodded in satisfaction, reclaiming the piece of paper.[/sub]

[sub]“I thank you both for your diplomatic approach,” Wolsheijner expressed, his tone carrying a sense of gratitude. Rising from his seat, he continued, “Mr. Van Veerenjans, I will ensure that a copy of this paper reaches your office as quickly as possible. And Monsieur Duchemin, I hope to see you soon.”[/sub]

[sub]“I will talk with Monsieur Rouzet within the next few weeks.” assured Duchemin, “...and I thank you for raising such an important topic. Without your mediation, I don’t think this conflict would reach a solution this easily.”[/sub]

[sub]The young gentleman approached the door, departing the chamber with slow steps, leaving two gentlemen in contemplation. The destiny of Benelux had been decided in a matter of hours, shaped by the discussions among three men. In the upcoming weeks to months, the existence of Benelux would cease to be, and perhaps, as some believed, it was for the better. In the realm of political affairs, realpolitik would always reign supreme over personal feelings, steering the course of nations and alliances.[/sub]

_______________________________________________

[/list][spoiler=[sub]Dit is een fictief stukje creatief werk voor[/sub]

de GEMENEBEST VAN FRIJHEID [ CoL ]

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler][/list][/list]

Paramountica, Paseo, Lieobria, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok

[list][pre]AUGUST of 1968[/pre][/list]

[pre]THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

Союз Советских Социалистических Республик[/pre]

[pre]GENERAL SECRETARY ALEXEI KOSYGIN CALLS FOR A "NATIONWIDE SHIFT" AS THE ALLURE OF REFORM PULLS THE EAST IN[/pre]

[pre]ГЕНЕРАЛЬНЫЙ СЕКРЕТАРЬ АЛЕКСЕЙ КОСЫГИН ПРИЗЫВАЕТ К ОБЩЕНАЦИОНАЛЬНЫМ ПЕРЕМЕНАМ, ПОКА ПРИЯТИЕ РЕФОРМ ТЯНЕТ ВОСТОК[/pre]

| [sub]Speaking before a rare, publicly televised meeting of the Council of Ministers, the State Economic Commission, the State Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Union-Republican Ministers, Communist Party General Secretary Alexei Kosygin made a minimal, off-hand remark that was largely shrugged off and/or ignored by those present in the room. "There is now a clear need," Kosygin said, "For our great nation to advance to the next stage of the socialistic development of a workers' paradise through the institutionalization of reforms, the removal of broken systems, and the implementation of new programs to empower the Soviet worker". The statement only made the reverberations it was expected to make when the statement was published in Pravda, the state newspaper, and was circulated in Western media outlets. Until this moment, the Kremlin had spearheaded reforms to the economy and to the state, and it did so privately rather than publicly. Ministries and departments did not address questions about reform and instead underwent the vital work in the shadows. Now, here was, arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world, and the most powerful man on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain, calling publicly for nationwide shifts in policy in order to 'perfect' the socialist system.[/sub] |

| [sub]The statement came days after a precursor incident where the Soviet Foreign Minister, Anastas Mikoyan, remarked that the Soviet Union was 'fully committed to seeking detente in the same way our comrades in the [GDR] are doing with their western neighbor'. Mikoyan's statement was expected, but still surprising nonetheless, as prior to this the Kremlin had expressed lukewarm positive response at best to Honecker's effort to build ties with the Federal Republic of Germany. The slow but steady shift in first rhetoric then policy within the Soviet government was indicative of the scale of the reforms planned and dreamt of by the Kremlin. Behind closed doors, with close circles, Kosygin discussed a vision for a Soviet Union that was economically prosperous and sufficiently politically free to allow for growth while guaranteeing the general stability and unity of the Union. Obviously, such large-scale reforms would not take place for some time, and would take many years to be gradually but surely implemented, but the goal was set and it was set firm, especially as the reformist wing of the CPSU continues to run strong against their moderate and conservative hardliner counterparts.[/sub] |

| [sub]The allure of reforms had already been pulling in countries like the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union itself. The possible positive effects of such reforms, especially economically, were already emerging. Pilot programs across the country in factories that slowly re-introduced concepts like efficiency to the system of work saw rising productivity and a more productive workforce in those programs. The success of these initial pilot programs encouraged the Soviets to enact further plans to push for wider-scale implementation by 1972-1973, when the initial five years of 'testing' were going to be suspended for review by the State Economic Commission and by Gosplan, the state planning agency.[/sub] |

| [sub]On top of these reforms, Foreign Minister Mikoyan was also at the head of efforts to frame detente with the West, Europe in particular, as a potential pathway to turn the USSR into a large export powerhouse. The United States was a major export nation, yet the USSR held similar levels of industrialization. The only difference was that Washington had a significantly larger base of customers and clients. Detente, Mikoyan argued, would help present the USSR as a nation worth investing in and standing by. The Soviets had been spending the greater part of the Sixties working to keep the Warsaw Pact together after the Yugoslavian withdrawal that thrust Kosygin into the prime leadership position, while the West thrived and flourished, and the Americans inched closer to a Space Race victory.[/sub] |

| [sub]Despite all this, however, the Soviets were cautious around the so-called allure of reforms. Kosygin himself understood that change would need to happen, if it all, at a slow and measured pace, adjusting for reactions and unintended consequences. The sudden liberalization of the arts and the media under the brief Soviet Thaw during Khrushchev's period of leadership had led to what appeared to be an oversaturation of Soviet society with free opinion. There would be a slow, steady and measured approach, it was mandated. But the reforms would come nonetheless.[/sub] |

____

[spoiler=[sub]Written for the RMB Screen of the[/sub]

COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERTY

—]

Adriatican Islands

Amsterwald

Anglo Channel

Arcanda

Cascadla

Cheezaslovakia

Connomia

East Germany Ddr

Great Britain Gb

Greater Kurdistane

Hatzburg

Israelli

Kewtpuff

Klingenthalerburg

Kotakuan Ii

Ma-Li

Maziya

Metropolitan Francais

Mutawakkiliti

Nevbrejnovitz

Newauroria

New Provenance

Nileia

Nippon-Nihon

Osivoii

Paramountica

Paseo

Peking Zhongguo

Pontianus

Provenancia

Ranponian

Rio De La Plata Argentina

Rutannia

Saudi Arabiyah

Socialist Democratic Republic Romania

Spainard

Spain-

The Confederate Prussian Empire

Vancouver Straits

Victoria Harbor

Vietnam Sv

Virnall

[/spoiler]

Paramountia, Paramountica, Paseo, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Bhaarat Lok, Le Equatoria, Belarus Sr

[list][pre]T H E S L O V E N E R E P U B L I C • S L O V E N S K A R E P U B L I K A[/pre][/list]

JAKAC STOKES HOPE WITH SPEECH ON ‘THE BEAUTIFUL REPUBLIC’, TOUTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PROGRESS, ZEDINJENJE

[list][sup]THE SETTLING WATERS

AUGUST 1968[/sup][/list]

The torpedoing of the Zajec and gunning of the Bodza had, in the summer of 1968, brought Sloveno-Yugoslavian relations to a new nadir. In a further blow, Tito’s government then espoused the ‘Vrhovec memorandum’ in a conclusive affirmation of Yugoslavian policy: hostility to Slovenia in all territorial waters, formal claims on several parts of Celeia and the Littoral and a disavowment of Slovenia’s territorial concessions from fascist Italy in Istria. To the Yugoslavian constituencies of Macedonia and Slavonia, who officially opposed the memorandum, the Slovene Foreign Ministry extended thanks for their “standing against hostility”, but the sentiments between Slovenia and its would-be overlord were nevertheless at their lowest. Yugoslavian state issuances had additionally engendered some minor restlessness among Croats in Reka (formerly Rikeja), though no true strife emerged—most Croats who retained the ethnic label even after the rise of Slovenia had generally chosen to emigrate or contented themselves within the Republic, alienated by the violence of the early Titoist movement or the constant border violence on the Yugoslavs’ part.

It was, altogether, a lackluster situation. Years of prioritizing industrial investments, infrastructure development and social welfare above military buildup had left a decidedly positive mark on the nation, but a poor outlook defensively; the Slovene military was in no state to compete with the sprawling, costly Yugoslav one. The Slovene Armed Forces were generally well-equipped but comparatively dwarven. Slovenia’s roughly 140,000 active-duty soldiers were shadowed by the nearly million-strong Yugoslavian Army, which was further backed by close to two million more men in reserve. The one hundred and twenty Čebela Č7 fighters of the Slovene Air Fleet could scarcely fight off the more than 1,000 fighters of the Yugoslavian Air Force—altogether, it was a demonstration of the gravest consequences of Slovenia’s industrialization drive. The military was a pale fragment of what it could be. Even if the Aesthetic League of Carniola—the politico-artistic league at the head of the Republic since the snap-back against conservatism in the early 1960s—wished to grow Slovenian military might, convincing the public to support increased military funding was a high hurdle in a politically literate populace with a tradition of entrepreneurship and industry. They may very well be able to manage it in the aftermath of the sinkings—but as the waters were now settling, why would they? No further action had been taken by Yugoslavian actors against Slovenian vessels in the months after the first two sinkings, and it seemed that foreign uncertainty or condemnation on the matter, topped by an injunction by the United Nations, had stayed the knives of Belgrade.

With the situation at a tenuous peace, President Božidar Jakac resolved that the main objective of the Slovenian government was to maintain global faith in Slovenia as an economic and political partner. With full-scale expansions of the Styrian Trade Corridor underway to augment the Republic’s capacity for rail transit even if the event that sea trade slowed, Slovenia was to still stand as an exporter of fine goods and a bastion of peaceable values against a nation that just slaughtered dozens of innocents in its pursuit of territorial gain. To this end, Jakac planned a national address on the day of the Feast of the Assumption—a touching tribute to the day in the eyes of most Slovenian Catholics and a secular replacement of it in the eyes of others—to showcase Slovenia as a land of promise, humanitarianism and innovation, uncorrupted and unfaltering in the face of Yugoslavian aggression. The speech featured was the product of a long-running revision process in the League, led by Education Minister and language scholar Jernej Primc to ensure that its subject matter and words were all perfect. Its opening words—spoken by a pensive, gray-bearded, Jakac looking into the lens of a television camera—were quickly to become iconic, circulating as a newspaper headline and later regarded as the title of the speech.

[list][sup]“O, mirna Slovenija . . .”[/sup]

[sup]“Oh, peaceful Slovenia . . .”[/sup]

[sup]— BOŽIDAR JAKAC, President of the Slovene Republic, 15 August 1968[/sup][/list][/list]

In truth, this iconic phrase was one among many—the carefully prepared speech was a veritable gold mine of poetic language as Jakac illuminated the genuine attempts of the Slovenian government to build a ‘republic for Slovenes’ yet with ‘great mind and love for those not of our heritage’. He recounted the enshrining of minority representatives on the National Council, the efforts made to right the wrongs of the Kopinič trials and other features of his party’s rule. He then solemnly contrasted them with the cenenost (“cheapness”) of human life to neighboring Yugoslavia, where twenty-seven Yugoslavian civilians were slain at the border in the weeks following the ship-sinkings. “Ours,” he began his conclusion, “is the beautiful republic.” The sunrise over the Triglav, the coursing flow of the Sava, the austere walls of Gradec, and the sea breeze of Trst painted a portrait of a nation enwrapped in majesty, deserving of “the much greater thing”, peace. The speech proved an immediate hit with both cohorts of the population that were traditionally opposed to Jakac as well as his his co-partisans; as a piece of political art, it was immaculate in its form and intent, both unifying and galvanizing a population that had suffered a loss of such morale in previous months.

Tensions with Yugoslavia, however, remained high in the wake of the ship-sinkings, which proved a constant reminder to Slovenia that Tito’s pursuit of another offshoot of Yugoslavia was not yet over. By a personal visit to the graves of the slain men, following an order that their families be compensated and the sinkings proven in every sense to be a Yugoslavian atrocity—a “great injustice”, as Jakac continually declared—Jakac sought further to win the affection of Slovenes, a move described in the Slovene press by certain commentators as a “noble show of humanity” and another by others as of “desperate pandering” and “useless emotional appeals”. Regardless, it brought the nation together in the wake of renewed Yugoslavian aggression, and as the months passed, it was with a revived sense of unity that Slovenia would continue to face the world. Barring any significant diplomatic or military development on the Yugoslavian front, there would be no further speeches from Jakac or immediate concerted efforts on Slovenia’s part to dwell on the killings—though the lesson of the sinkings of Zajec and Bodza would not go unlearned, and a more defensive future for Slovenia very well may bloom from the seeds that still hung in the air at the end of the summer.

The term zedinjenje (“unification”), which had been prominently used in the speech, made rapidly increasing appearances in the months after the speech as the Slovenian government sought to get the public’s head around the idea of a larger, more united people with the preservation of Slovene nationhood at the core. Seeing the momentum caused by the speech, the Aesthetic League had begun to prioritize its somewhat nominal and ongoing efforts to build a base of leftist nationalism among the Slovenes, and it officially declared the creation of the World Slovene Congress (Svetovni slovenski kongres, SSK) with the collaboration of a panel of Slovene cultural activists and public figures on 31 August 1968, the 379th anniversary of the death of early Slovenian minister Jurij Dalmatin. Inviting community leaders from members of the Slovene diaspora across the world, its explicit purpose was the promotion, survival and unity of Slovenian culture, enabling Slovenes to live as Slovenes even beyond the borders of the Republic. The zedinjenje for which the League appeared to be gearing behind the scenes was to be an all-encompassing affair, a union of a people beyond one Republic and the growth of an unquenchable Slovene fire.

Paramountica, Paseo, Lieobria, Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Le Equatoria

[list][list]AUGUST 1964

[sub]Hello Lyndon![/sub][/list]

[pre] ' 6 4 E L E C T I O N ¹[/pre]

[list][pre]. . . The election year was proving to display the widest canyon of difference between the Republican and Democratic tickets on the future route of America’s politik, than it ever had in the Republic’s existence . . .[/pre][/list]

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, Paramountica — AFTERNOON

[list]DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION[/list]

| The HEAT and HUMIDITY of Atlantic City in the summer were intense, and glad that the week finally wound down, KATHERINE GRAHAM, Owner of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭, boarded the company learjet with CHARLIE PARADISE, her secretary, LUVIE PEARSON and LALLY, along with a few Post reporters & photographers also coming onboard for the trip back to the American capital . . . despite the great jubilation of the Democratic Party’s Convention, of the streamers and big bands striking up Ed Ames’ “Hello, Lyndon!” . . . the pressing issues pressed by the demonstrating Mississippi Freedom Party and the Kennedy legacy also placed a solemn concern over those attending . . . On board, GRAHAM fanned herself with a copy of a local New Jersey magazine, gazing out of the window. Inside the cabin, all of them were nearly melting in the extreme heat . . . Arriving an hour beyond the intended take off time, their learjet was halted on the tarmac . . . Air Force One, a Boeing 707 with its iconic UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and Blue/White exterior had pulled up to one of the gates, all traffic was grounded on the airfield as the helicopters with LYNDON B. JOHNSON, The President and his Vice-Presidential candidate, HUBERT HUMPHREY are to arrive. Then — LALLY, Katherine’s daughter startled. |

[list]| LALLY, [sub]Graham’s Daughter[/sub] | “Oh, Ma, let’s go see the helicopters land!”[/list]

| GRAHAM turned to her, rolling her eyes with annoyance yet unable to withstand the 100 degree heat inside the plane cabin. |

[list]| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Yes, let’s do that.”[/list]

| With a laugh, partly to finally exit that overheated aircraft, GRAHAM & LUVIE followed GRAHAM’s daughter, quickly— as they had to run over to the fence across the tarmac. They could see The PRESIDENT, towering at 6’5, in a dark gray suit & thin dark blue tie, exiting the Marine one helicopter with the First Lady, LADY BIRD JOHNSON, smiling as well, in a yellow suit-skirt. Together, Mother & Daughter made their way to the end of the line, between two parked automobiles and the fence. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Howdy! . . . How are you? . . . Good to see y’all! . . . I’m very glad, thank you very much!”[/list]

| On the rally PA horn speakers: |

[list]

"Hello, Lyndon! Well, hello Lyndon!

It's just great to have there where you belong!

You're looking swell, Lyndon! We can tell, Lyndon!

You're still glowing, you're still growing, your still — Going Strong!

We hear the band playin', and the folks sayin;

That the People know you got so much more, so! . . ." [/list]

| The PRESIDENT grinned with a smile, as he continued to shake hands, along the large and long crowd of civilians all gathered to see their President. The PRESIDENT even went as far as to reach over some heads, to shake the hands of those towards the second to fourth row of gathered people . . . The two Grahams, waited, surprisingly, The PRESIDENT continued down the entire row of civilians . . . Without even pondering it, The PRESIDENT shook KATHERINE’s and LALLY’s hands, without even really looking towards their way. GRAHAM, wearing a bandanna to cover her sweaty head, a sleeveless cotton-blue dress, and moccasins, it was no wonder he didn’t recognize her. |

[list]| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “. . . Hi, Lyndon.”[/list]

| She hadn’t called him anything but “Mr. President” since President Kennedy’s assassination, November 22nd . . . The PRESIDENT stopped, looked surprised and puzzled, recognizing her. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Hello, Kay, what are you doing here?”

| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Waiting for you to leave.”[/list]

| The presence of Air Force One had grounded all air traffic. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Do you want a ride?”[/list]

| GRAHAM became so flabbergasted at the offer, laughing at it, at The PRESIDENT, in a kind way. |

[list]| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Oh-! Oh, Sure, of course, Mr. President! I-I’d be honored! May Lally and Luvie come as well?”[/list]

| The President turned to LALLY and LUVIE, smiled, and then turned back to GRAHAM. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Sure, but you realize we’re going to Texas?”

| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “. . . Texas! . . . I can’t go to Texas!”[/list]

| GRAHAM exclaimed, surprised, as The PRESIDENT laughed, she assumed absen-mindedly that they were heading to Washington . . . STEVE was expecting GRAHAM in Washington, she had houseguests already waiting at her home, GLEEN WELBY; obviously she pondered, she had to get home . . . that’s when LUVIE kicked her hard in the shins, urging her on, kindly. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Come on! Have you got a bag?”

| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Yes, but don’t bother with it. I don’t want to keep you waiting, and I’d love to come.”[/list]

| Before she could turn around, two Secret Service AGENTS arrived, asked where the bags could be located. |

[list]| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Lift that woman over the fence, Rufus!”[/list]

| Happily for GRAHAM, RUFUS WAYNE YOUNGBLOOD, The PRESIDENT’s chief Secret Service agent, instead directed them to a gate close by and ushered them through it. LUVIE heard the whole exchange, happy for GRAHAM . . . on the other side of the fence, GRAHAM whisked past LALLY. |

[list]| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “I’m off to Texas!”[/list]

| Nobody started as ill-prepared for a ‘State-visit’ than GRAHAM, as The President took her arm, and together they boarded the airstairs of the Boeing 707, Air Force One jetliner, before the door closed, a reporter quickly asked her name, and then they were off. |

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, Paramountica — AFTERNOON

[sub]ONBOARD AIR FORCE ONE[/sub]

| Onboard, the HUMPHREYs — HUBERT had just been nominated for the Vice-Presidency — and the TOM CONNALLYs and the Humprehy’s son, DOUGLASS, was onboard; along with the JOHNSONS. At the Press Pool area, every Texas politician of importance was onboard. Extending to those of business & industry. From the White House Staff, GEORGE REEDY, JACK VALENTIE and BILL MOYERS, sat in the lounge of the aircraft, clearly exhausted from the campaign . . . GRAHAM proceeded to settle down next to one of the Governor’s staff, and had just begun to talk Texan politics when LADY BIRD walked to her. |

[list]| LADY BIRD JOHNSON, [sub]The First Lady[/sub] | “Kay, there’s a man back there who wants to see you.”[/list]

| GRAHAM proceeded to follow LADY BIRD, towards the back of the plane, where LBJ was seated, drinking a glass of bourbon. GRAHAM sat directly in front of the President. |

[list]| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Mr. President, I just want to say my greatest congratulations towards your nomination. I understand the party credentials fight was quite something!”

| LYNDON B. JOHNSON,[sub] The President[/sub] | “Thank you, Kay. I’m glad I made the choice of Hubert too, I have never touched so many bases on any issue, had to make a near 200 calls! Would you like anything?”

| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Some water would be nice.”

| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “Also another thing, and pardon if I declare this out to you, Kay . . . Will you tell me how I ended up with a two-bedroom un-air-conditioned house 15 minutes from the center of town with no food?”

| KATHERINE GRAHAM, [sub]Washington Post Owner[/sub] | “Oh my, I had no idea! We stayed at the Hilton!”

| LYNDON B. JOHNSON, [sub]The President[/sub] | “After I changed my shirt once, a new suit twice, I just gave up. The heat was terrible! It was right on the street with people outside the window, you couldn’t even see outside. Then, when I wanted to go out, Security had locked the doors. . . . Bird, how did that happen?!”[/list]

| He yelled, playfully, to LADY BIRD, who was off somewhere else onboard. The two of them, LBJ & GRAHAM continued to discuss politics, and various people in the media, such as the Washington Post's BEN BRADLEE. A personal friend of the late JOHN F. KENNEDY, and one of GRAHAM’s most important reporters. They continued to discuss, as Air Force One lifted off, en route to Texas, where GRAHAM would spend the weekend with the JOHNSONS at the Presidential Ranch, the Western White House. |

[list][list][list][list][sub]The Washington Post has maintained a tradition of not endorsing a Presidential Candidate, nevertheless, President Johnson was a friend of Katherine Graham and hoped to win the endorsement of the Post . . . After the Ranch visit, Katherine Graham maintained the policy, only broken once by her late husband, Phil Graham, in 1952 to endorse GEN. Eisenhower. The President was rather heartbroken, and puzzled how he could win over moderate and even right-winged Republican newspapers, but not the endorsement of the liberal Washington Post.[/sub][/list][/list][/list][/list]

____________

[sub]¹ '64 ELECTION, Goldwater v Johnson; Covering the 1964 Presidential and Congressional elections that took place in the United States, of that same year and their surrounding events.[/sub]

Paseo, Lieobria, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-, Democratic Republic Of Colombia, Le Equatoria

Official Announcement - August, 15 1968

EMBASSY OF THE IRAQI REPUBLIC IN SAIGON

Iraqi Republic and Republic of Vietnam Forge Petroleum Agreement

In a move to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Republic of Vietnam and bolster material support for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), the Iraqi Republic and the Iraq Petroleum Company, proudly announces a historic agreement to sell and export discounted crude petroleum for use by the Republic of Vietnam.

This partnership, deeply rooted in mutually shared principles of national sovereignty and self-determination, signifies a deepening relationship between the Republic of Vietnam and the Iraqi Republic. It is the hope of the Iraqi Government and people that this support will serve to strengthen resolve of the Vietnamese people, government, and members of the ARVN in the face of their ongoing struggle.

This agreement marks a major turning point in the relationship shared by the Republic of Vietnam and Iraq, and is sure to mark the beginning of a stronger and more collaborative future for both our nations and peoples.

[Signed]

His Excellency, Azmi al-Pashia

Ambassador of the Iraqi Republic to the Republic of Vietnam

Paramountica, Amsterwald, Cascadla, Nippon-Nihon, Metropolitan Francais, Adriatican Islands, Hatzburg, Spain-

Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.