Iberian News 1914 - Onwards

[miketr]

The Republic of China respects Iberia's neutrality in said conflict and will not go beyond identity checks of it's shipping. However, the Republic of China would discourage arms trading with the Middle Kingdom over the course of the war. We hope the Iberian Government, acknowledges and understands by our concerns.

Iberian shipping that attempts to enter a port under a legal blockade and is carrying contraband is to being seized, this is understood.  Until such a legal blockade in place Iberian shipping is free to do as it wishes.  The Iberian government has declared its neutrality in this conflict and as part of that neutrality the Iberian government will not provide material support to either side in this conflict.

 

[miketr]

Palacio de la Moncloa
Madrid
August 15th, 1919


Prime Minister of Iberia, Diogo Freitas do Amaral
Foreign Minister, José Alencar Gomes da Silva

do Amaral, "What have we figured out about the latest world crises?"

Da Silva will shrug, "You aren't going to like it but the answer is not much.  We always figured the two would be at blows again well that time is here."

The Prime Minister drummed the table, "Lovely...  What does this mean for us and what do we tell his Majesty."

Da Silva thinks for a moment, "For now I don't think it means much to us.  This war won't be resolved quickly.  If we wanted to make some money would could sell to either or both sides."

Do Amaral starts to shake his head before the foreign minister even finishes, "The Emperor takes issues of neutrality seriously.  I am sure we could make huge amounts of money as both sides fleets are largely destroyer based and their armies aren't as up to date as ours.  The Republicans have a large and modern air force.  The key issue is do we really want the republic to win?"

Da Silva pauses, "Can they win and even if they do at what cost?"

Do Amaral gives his own shrug, "I don't know but we have no real reason to back either side.  The Republicans are generally less trust worthy and their past statements to drive out all Westerners from the Pacific doesn't bode well for us.  That mess over Burma didn't help matters.  The Middle Kingdoms fanaticism over the Swiss turned off a lot of the electorate."

Da Silva drums his figures, "So you are saying we just don't care.  I have gotten some low level messages from our allies about the Philippines but we aren't going to ring the alarm bells over this one."

Do Amaral shakes his head.

Da Silva nods, "OK so we just don't care as long as the war goes on without a clear winner we can watch from the sidelines.  If the Republic looks like its getting the upper hand?"

Do Amaral thinks for a moment, "Then we start to worry but even then we need to see what exactly is going on.   There is one other thing the Governor General of the Philippines forwarded an interesting message on getting some people to Mindanao.  Its largely empty and he thought that this conflict might present some possibilities. "

Da Silva, "Is THAT a good idea?"

Do Amaral shrugs again, "Put some people onto it and ask both sides what they are going to do about refugees.  We could afford to be selective and we already have a number of ethnic Chinese expatriates and immigrants in Manila and elsewhere on Luzon."

Da Silva, "Recall Burma and what the Republican Chinese did they tried to use them as a ready made excuse to mettle in Burma's affairs.  I can see all sorts of problems with this idea."   

Do Amaral smiles, "So setup a group to study it, get fiance and defense involved and run through the advantages and disadvantages.  I would like a report ASAP.  His Majesty will be asking about this I am sure."

Da Silva, "Very well."

[miketr]

Partido Nacional-Sindicalista, PNS HQ
Lisbon, Portugal
Spring 1920

O Líder, Sidónio Bernardino Cardoso da Silva Pais*
Capitán de Navío Antonio Calderón, late of the Gibraltar and now 'port admiral for Lisbon'
João do Canto e Castro, leader of the PNS in the Cortes Generales

* O Líder is Portuguese for 'The Leader"

"Welcome back to Iberia Admiral, you made many people proud when you hanged those pirate scum." João said to break the ice.


Capitán Calderón gave a polite nod of acknowledgement, "Captain, Admiral is just a curtsy promotion while as commander of the port."

   
Giving a sly smile João responds with, "Come now Captain, you are too modest.  You have been given the Iron Cross by Brandenburg, the Medalla Militar and knighted by the Emperor and a promotion for that business with the Pirates."


Sidónio gives a polite cough, "Yes I am sure the good Captain has heard this all before.  Perhaps it is time for business.  I understand you have a message for us Captain?"


Capitán Calderón was glade the PNS leader was getting to the heart of the mater, "Yes Excellency.  I have a verbal message from the Emperor.  He would like the Partido Nacional-Sindicalista to put forward this bill in the Cortes Generales."  The captain reached into his jacket and pulled out several sheets of paper and handed them over to the PNS leaders.

The two spent several minutes reading the draft law and then at last Sidónio, "The Emperor still doesn't like the Dutch I see.  They are clearly a pain but two things.  Why should I care and what is in it for the PNS?"

João smiled, "Why doesn't he want his pet party to put this forward?  Could it be he wants some type of deniability if this blows up or he wants it to blow up in our face?"

Capitán Calderón said nothing, just waited and at last Sidónio spoke first, "What is the Emperor offering for our assistance in this matter?"

"Besides the gratitude of your Emperor he told me to inform you that if the PNS is the largest party next election that he will give you a chance to form a government and not seek a minority government or national unity government," Capitán Calderón said and then added, "Besides it should play to your base Don Sidónio.  Evil foreigners out to get Iberia and all that."


João made a 'tsk' noise with his tongue against the roof of his mouth, "Captain the emperor can duty better than that.  After all by tradition the largest party gets to form the government."

Capitán Calderón gave a unfriendly smile, "Yes but the law says the Emperor chooses the Prime Minister and they have to attempt to form a government.  Also the Emperor has told me he is prepared to simply rule by imperial decrea and just roll over the budget from one year to the next.  That would work for a year or two at least."

João's eyes narrowed, "Or less, those provisions of the constitution have never been tested."

Sidónio, "Yes this is a dangerous game to play Captain.  Let us assume I am willing I need something more tangible to give to me people than a vague promise to let me form a government.  Otherwise I won't be able to control the delegates."

A faint laugh escaped the Captains lips, "Please Don Sidónio we both know that your parties delegates will do whatever you tell them to do.  What are you looking for exactly as a sweetener?"

Sidónio nods, "Its always a pleasure to work with a military man.  None of the foolishness, direct and to the point.  Very well I want the statement public.  The Emperor phrase it however he wants but I require a clear statement that he will let whichever is the largest party after the next election the first attempt to form a government.  In exchange we will put forward the Emperors Anti Dutch Economic Bill."


Capitán Calderón stood and gave a deep bow to the two, "I will carry your words to the Emperor, Good day gentlemen."


Once the naval officer left the two PNS leaders looked at each other, "What brought this on you think João?"


"I am not sure Líder but a public statement could rally our support.  If we can get a good chunk of the vote in Spain..."


O Líder nodded, "Yes our time maybe here... Who cares about the Dutch, the emperor is right they are a threat."


The two PNS leaders raised glasses to one another, "On to Madrid!"

[miketr]

Madrid, Spain
Palacio del Congreso de los Diputados
Spring, 1920

João do Canto e Castro, leader of the PNS in the Cortes Generales stood to speak after the speaker of the house gave him the floor, "Long has the PNS warned the people of Iberia of the dire threats that foreigners and socialists..."

Delegates of the Partido dos Trabalhadores e dos Camponeses and Partido Socialista Obrero Iberia begin to boo and hiss.  While Partido Nacional-Sindicalista delegates stomp their feet on the floor in response to the socialists interrupting.  Also the Speaker of the House pounds a gavel and calls out, "Order!  There will be order in the house! Senor João has the floor!"  Eventually João is able to resume his speech, "As I said long has the PNS warned about the threats to Iberia, it is time for the Cortes Generales to act against some of these threats!  It is time for Iberia to move to secure itself from the dangerous influence of outsiders!  I propose a bill to protect restrict the influence that hostile nations have inside of Iberia..."
...
Hostile Nations Act
1)   Hostile Nations are defined as nations that Iberia does not have relations with; currently that is just the Kingdom of the Netherlands as New Zion is no more but if Iberia declares war on a nation, or a nation declares war on Iberia, relations would be severed and they too would become a 'hostile' nation.
2)   People holding citizenship of Hostile Nations are subject to immediate expulsion from Iberia.  Any that enter Iberia from this point forward to be considered spies and subject to arrest and prosecution, spying is a capital offense in Iberia.
3)   Property owned by Persons or Foreign controlled cooperation to be subjected to expropriation without any form of compensation.
4)    Iberia ports and waters to be closed to shipping of hostile nations; the bill makes no exception or mention of the Straits of Gibraltar.
5)   Any trade in peace time to a hostile nation is subject to a 100% tariff.
   
...
As debate over the bill raged in the Cortes Generales PNS delegates accused socialists delegates as being tools of foreign powers and being fronts communist traitors.  While the delegates of the two socialist parties called the PNS fascists and puppets of the rich and corporations.  With fights breaking out between the two groups the Speaker for the House at last called in the Guardia da Cortes Generales and broke up the two sides.  The Cortes Generales went out of session to allow tempers to cool, such disruptions occur about once or twice a month as both the PNS and the two Socialist Parties each play to their radical base.   

[Laertes]

What colour shirts do the PNS's militia wear?

- Laertes
(Loves early twentieth century political processes)

[maddox]

Hmm, what socialist do I have handy in the French government?

[miketr]

What colour shirts do the PNS's militia wear?

- Laertes
(Loves early twentieth century political processes)

Partido Nacional-Sindicalista, PNS: The Blue Army of Iberia is currently the second strongest political party and has achieved what is hoped to be a major political coup as the UDCyL has agreed to merge with the PNS.  To the left the party is a collection of rich strongmen that hire goons to break up political activity by the workers and farmers.  The PNS will continue to focus on nationalist rallies and since the Balkan War the PNS has added Muslims to Communists as natural enemies of Iberia.  The PNS has coasted to victory in the provincial elections of Portugal in 1907 and 1910.  That the PNS has a habit of using their status as auxiliary police in Portugal to round up communists and anyone else that gets in their way no doubt has played a roll. With the addition of the UDCyL the PNS hopes to achieve victory across Iberia.

PNS wear dark blue, hence the title of Blue Army.  They also have an arm band with coat of arms of the old Kingdom of Portugal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uni%C3%A3o_Nacional.png

The PNS is an ultra-nationalist right wing party pushing a fairly classic Fascism line.

Michael

[miketr]

Hmm, what socialist do I have handy in the French government?

If you looking for some names...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:French_socialists

Michael

[miketr]

Madrid, Iberia
Spring 1920

With the votes at last counted the Cortes Generales has passed the Hostile Nations Act, the Senate is expected to pass the bill without debate and the Emperor to sign the bill into law this week.  The bill is expected to have the biggest effect in South East Asia as the Philippines and the Netherlands East Indies are very near to each other.   The bill is expected to be put into effect as soon as signed into law, with any Netherlands Citizens to be ordered to leave the country at once and any personal property worth more than a 10,000 pesetas to be seized and any Dutch own companies to be seized.  A number of companies have already been sold to other interests to avoid forfeiture.

In other news a special naval appropriations bill has been passed and four batteries of 350mm guns are to be placed along the Straits of Gibraltar and the Armada is looking to acquire additional submarines and station them in the Old Russian base at Gibraltar.  Gibraltar since the Russians terminated the lease early has reverted to Iberian control and is an Iberian naval base.

[miketr]

A strange sight to behold in Istanbul the Iberian Cruisers Rio de Janeiro and Madrid sitting at anchor in the Golden Horn.  The crews of the pair of crews are given a cool reception by Ottoman Officials especially as full dress uniform and colors were ordered; standard orders for the first day in a foreign capital. In hindsight this might have been the most diplomatic decision as the pair of Iberian ships flew their battle streamers;  "PYLOS-1912" "CRETE-1912".

The pair of Iberian Cruisers arrived on January 6th after being diverted from regular patrols.  It is believed that the pair of cruisers after refueling will enter the Black Sea with next stop in the Crimea.

[miketr]

Manila, January 11th, 1920

The port is very busy, a number of torpedo boats are in dry dock begin refit.  The big Armored Cruiser Don Juan and her escorts has returned from a show the flag mission in the China Sea.  Orders are to rest the crews, resupply and be ready to return to sea again in four more weeks.  The old Armored Cruisers Pizarro and Balboa have already replaced her on station.  While the Henrique and Cristóbal continue preparations to head north in two weeks to replace the new pair on station.

The old five Battleships sit silently in the harbor at anchor.  All is normal and there is some talk of having them take a turn on station in the China Sea but for now they remain in port, waiting.

Almost un-noticed the Depot and Repair ship Hephaestus leaves port with the protected cruisers Apra and Colonia riding herd on the support ship.  They have all been ordered East to Guam.  Even more slowly FDD-1, (Floating Dry Dock 1)  is pulled out of port by four civilian oceanic tugs.  She too heads east for Guam and with the large Gun Boat Yap to follow the ship to her destination.       


Cartagena January 16th, 1920

The port is busy as a number of ships are readied for sea.  The big Armored Cruisers Magallanes and Da Gama of CruRon1, the 5th and 10th divisions also.  The sleek shapes of several Torpedo Boats Destroyers have crews and yard workers busy as bees all over their long but tiny shapes.

A number of eyes look from the two Battleships, the Pride of the Iberian Armada, Portugal and Brasil.  Those two ships sit silently at anchor and their crews watch as half of the Mediterranean Fleet gets ready, gets ready to leave them behind.  Not another race to the Pacific but instead to South America to Rio and then to wait.

[miketr]

January 18th, Gibraltar



An ESC Squadron of all things made port at Gibraltar, the destroyers refueled for several hours and then headed east in the Mediterranean.  An Iberian cruiser followed them for a day and then returned its normal patrols.