Den Telegraaf 1907

[Borys]

Ballplatz, 1str November
The Habsburg Auslaender Minsiterium considers the provisions of Dutch Rules of Engagement as being against the Vienna Protocols, as the definition of "combat" upon range is a one sided declaration. And novel!
In this regard the Habsburgs are content with the time honoured "before the shooting starts" defintion.

Enrico Di Rubio

[The Rock Doctor]

Gran Colombia could complain about the strait closures, but it'd be pretty foolish to try and send merchant shipping through the area anyway.  GC will instead just watch the price of commodities like rubber skyrocket and count the profits of its domestic producers.

[Desertfox]

The Kalimati, sunda, Lombok straits are all mined and closed to comercial traffic.

Question, where is the Kalimati Str? Is it the Karimata Str? Or is it the Str on the other side of Bali from the Lombok Str?

[Korpen]

The Kalimati, sunda, Lombok straits are all mined and closed to comercial traffic.

Question, where is the Kalimati Str? Is it the Karimata Str? Or is it the Str on the other side of Bali from the Lombok Str?

For some reason, the is New island between Java and Fanji was named Kalimati (And Borneo is Borneo).
So it is the strait between Franji and the Island. The passage between Java and Kalimati is part of the Lombok strait.

[Desertfox]

Ah OK, Looks like the Iberians are in a bad bind then as the only remaining open strait is the Strait of Malacca. Looks like traffic between the Pacific and Indian Ocean is going to come to a stand still.

[Korpen]

Ballplatz, 1str November
The Habsburg Auslaender Minsiterium considers the provisions of Dutch Rules of Engagement as being against the Vienna Protocols, as the definition of "combat" upon range is a one sided declaration. And novel!
In this regard the Habsburgs are content with the time honoured "before the shooting starts" defintion.

Enrico Di Rubio

The first shot is not the start of an attack, it is the final phase, so from the perspective of the Netherlands if the enemy ship manoeuvres into attack position under false flags, its crew will be treated for what they are, pirates. This means that will not be POWs, but civilians, and treated as such. Primary this means that they will be put in front of a regency court (the same as the indigenous population, as the new Swiss are not Europeans they are not put in front of Netherlands courts) as pirates.

And this is not in violation of the Wien convention as they are not fighting under a recognised sign.

[Korpen]

As there seems to be a great heap of international misunderstanding about the Netherlands stance on neutral shipping, some clarifications are needed.
1: Neutral shipping of any country is free to conduct their business in Netherlands water as much as they like.
2: The restrictions placed on Iberian shipping was due to the fact that Iberian ports and bases was used as staging ground for Swiss forces. And with the Treaty of Madrid, Iberia could not be called Neutral (in the words usual meaning).
3: As is the custom in war, neutral ships found to be carrying cargo bound for New Switzerland will have that CARGO sized*. However, the ship itself cannot be sized and will be free to do whatever it wants.
In practice however, the warship making the seizure will charter the neutral merchantman, for at least the same sum it would be paid to carry the cargo to its final destination, so there should be no losses for the skipper and crew.
4: And Netherlands will not make or take any actions against any neutral countries trading with the Swiss, to trade with both parties is one of the  many privileges neutral countries enjoy.
5: While the Netherlands are aware that some inconvenience has resulted from the closures of the some of the Asian-Indian straits, this was necessary from the perspective of safety and security, both for the Netherlands, but also for the crew of ships transiting those straits, as the Netherlands have prevented several attempts by swiss forces to place mines in them. And it is expected that it will happen again. Therefore commercial traffic were limited to areas that the Netherland felt it was in the beast position to protect.
But if some state feel it makes things too tricky, please contact the local Netherlands embassy, the Netherlands will do its outmost to accommodate the needs of Neutral trade.


* Humanitarian goods excepted

[miketr]

2: The restrictions placed on Iberian shipping was due to the fact that Iberian ports and bases was used as staging ground for Swiss forces. And with the Treaty of Madrid, Iberia could not be called Neutral (in the words usual meaning).

The Netherlands Navy was offered the same treatment.  The only reason the Swiss have any advantage with respect to the use of Iberian ports is because of the choice the Dutch Government made. 

We attempted to come to an understanding with respect to contraband but we will not be treated as criminals and be forced to prove were every pound of coal or barrel of oil is going. 

Iberia will not be slandered with accusations of supporting the Swiss.  Iberia has done everything reasonable and more to try to end the war in the first place and since then be a good neighbor to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  We have said once already that we considered the issue closed.  Bring the issue up again with this 'clarification' especially in its current tone is an affront to the Empire of Iberia and its people.

4: And Netherlands will not make or take any actions against any neutral countries trading with the Swiss, to trade with both parties is one of the  many privileges neutral countries enjoy.

Except for Iberia...  The Netherlands government has made a fundamental error in not letting this matter rest and it will not be forgotten by Madrid.

Aside: The Ambassador of the Netherlands in Madrid is summoned by the Iberian Prime Minister and demands a formal apology be issued.   

[Desertfox]

New Switzerland denies ever having layed mines in said areas.

OOC Question, did you lay mines in Farinj territorial waters (Kalimtan Str)?

[Borys]

Discrete Austrian Note to Middle Kingdom, Netherlands, Iberia and Deutcheskiaserreich Brandenenburg.

The Imperial and Royal Government repeats its position that it considers Dutch regulations concerning Neutral Shiping in Dutch Waters in general, and Iberian shipping in particular, as unreasonable. If Iberia and the Netherlands go to war, the Habsburg Monarchy will remain neutral, continuing the war against the Swiss on the side of the DKB and MK.

[Borys]

Ballplatz, 1str November
The Habsburg Auslaender Minsiterium considers the provisions of Dutch Rules of Engagement as being against the Vienna Protocols, as the definition of "combat" upon range is a one sided declaration. And novel!
In this regard the Habsburgs are content with the time honoured "before the shooting starts" defintion.

Enrico Di Rubio

The first shot is not the start of an attack, it is the final phase, so from the perspective of the Netherlands if the enemy ship manoeuvres into attack position under false flags, its crew will be treated for what they are, pirates. This means that will not be POWs, but civilians, and treated as such. Primary this means that they will be put in front of a regency court (the same as the indigenous population, as the new Swiss are not Europeans they are not put in front of Netherlands courts) as pirates.

And this is not in violation of the Wien convention as they are not fighting under a recognised sign.

The "Dutch perspective" runs against the established custum.  The "Austrian perspective" is that the Dutch have inept ship captains.

[Korpen]

The "Dutch perspective" runs against the established custum.  The "Austrian perspective" is that the Dutch have inept ship captains.

Maybe, but then we are fighting an enemy who loves to try and sneak things past under false colours and routinely changing flags like there are no tomorrow.
So if they fight under false colours or false uniforms, or its something equal, expect no mercy.

[Korpen]

Discrete Austrian Note to Middle Kingdom, Netherlands, Iberia and Deutcheskiaserreich Brandenenburg.

The Imperial and Royal Government repeats its position that it considers Dutch regulations concerning Neutral Shiping in Dutch Waters in general, and Iberian shipping in particular, as unreasonable. If Iberia and the Netherlands go to war, the Habsburg Monarchy will remain neutral, continuing the war against the Swiss on the side of the DKB and MK.

What regualtion of neutral shipping, there is none?
That the Netherlands  not want neutral shipping running around in Netherlands minefields, for everybody's sake?

[Korpen]

Iberia will not be slandered with accusations of supporting the Swiss.  Iberia has done everything reasonable and more to try to end the war in the first place and since then be a good neighbor to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  We have said once already that we considered the issue closed.  Bring the issue up again with this 'clarification' especially in its current tone is an affront to the Empire of Iberia and its people.

It is not slander to point out that you are treaty obliged to give the swiss support, nor was it intended as slander. The Netherlands also consider the matter closed.
And if Iberia took offence with the clarification, the Netherlands hereby offer its formal apology, as that was not the intention nor purpose of the declaration.

[Korpen]

2nd November 1907

Today a agreement between the Empire of Russia and The Kingdom of the Netherlands was signed.
The agreement concerned a 8km2 large area at the east bank of the Pulai River, that the Russian empire now will lease for at least 30 years from the first of January 1908.