CSA 1917 News

[Guinness]

Late January, 1917

Wilson watched out the window of his study as Horatio, one of his negro house servants, went cheerfully about the task of clearing the snow from the walk with a garden spade. Wilson thought briefly about telling Horatio that there were better tools for the job, but thought better of it. Horatio was industrious, but not terribly bright, and the walk clearing effort seemed to be a good project on a snowy Thursday morning. It would keep him out of trouble.

"We sure picked a find time to come south for a vacation, didn't we!" Edwin Tomkins, Wilson's private secretary pointed out as he came through the door with a bundle of letters, dispatches and newspapers under his arm. He was a lithe man, like his boss, and young for such a position, but well educated, with a law degree from nearby Emory University. Unlike Wilson, he was fully dressed, an accomplishment since it was barely six-fifteen in the morning. "The front page of the Constitution says it's a record, four inches, with possibly as much as two more inches of snow today before it stops. I had to walk down to the shop on the corner to buy it even. No home delivery today, it seems."

"Atlanta has a singular capacity to allow cold weather to completely shut id down, doesn't it?" Wilson observed.

Wilson turned back to the bowl of outmeal on his desk for a moment, and gestured as if to say "get on with it."

"What first, sir? Diplomacy, politics, or the papers?"

"Diplomacy."

"Of course. Well, first we have this." Tomkins pulled out a sheet from a manilla envelope. "This came from Lamont, who's been mostly in China of late, as I understand it." He perused the coversheet of the short stack of papers again. "Apparently the Chinese, I should say the Republican Chinese, approached him with a deal for economic development in the ruined city of Shanghai, the terms of which were much too good to be ignored."

Wilson looked at the treaty which was attached. "Indeed. I can see now why he felt the need to move fast. Exactly the terms in the preliminary report we received two weeks ago. Oh, and I see my questions with regard to the Middle Kingdom are already accounted for too. Very good." Wilson took out a pen and scrawled a quick not on a sheet of stationary, before handing it back with the pile to Tomkins. "President Roosevelt will need to review it too, but make sure copies are distributed to the Senate so they can put this on the schedule as soon as they return from recess. I can't imagine it will be a major issue though."

"Next sir, we have a report from the peach conference in Japan. The RRC figures prominently here too." Wilson read over the report, dispatched from the Confederate Embassy. "We don't have anyone actually attending the conference?"

"No sir, as I understand it, since the Colombians organized it, it was felt best that we not attend in person, especially since we don't have a direct interest in the situation there."

"Except that we just signed a major economic treaty with the RRC. Get a message through to Envoy Lamont. He needs to get back to Japan as soon as possible. Getting information weeks late and second hand from this business does us no good." Wilson ordered.

Tomkins took down a note. "I fear, sir, that the peace conference might already be over, though as of last report the Dutch still weren't present, so I don't know how much could get done."

Wilson just nodded and went back to his oatmeal.

"Next Mesoamerica. The War Department has another report. I'll leave it for you to read in detail, but the summary is that things are going relatively well. Villa was joined by one full corps of Mesoamerican infantry without so much as a fight, then apparently easily defeated another. Here's a note from Mr. LeVille which was forwarded on from the Mesoamerican desk." Tomkins handed Wilson the note:

Villa's Army has advanced as far as Zacatecas. Along the way we were joined by one Corps of Mesoamerican infantry which was in good spirits. I imagine our financing was well spent there.

Outside Zacatecas, we came upon a second corps of infantry, encamped in a hastily constructed fortress outside the city. We came to understand they'd moved their camp there as a security precaution. Villa sent a note demanding surrender which was met with sporadic artillery fire from within.

He responded by ordering the infantry to dig in for a seige, and then promptly took two brigades of cavalry (and among others, your's trully) and rode first into the City, and then clear around the entire encampment. This movement was followed with an artillery barrage well into the night.

Apparently, Villa's maneuvers of intimidation worked. The next morning, a white flag flew over the camp. The Mesoamericans had slain most of their officers, and replaced their command with a soldier's committee. Villa negotiated with the committee personally, and by dinner his army had grown again to three corps.

We march on, inexorably, toward Tenochtitlan.

Tomkins continued: "The War Department is sending someone to brief you on overall strategy tomorrow, but the plan hasn't changed. The 1st Division of the Marine Corps is already on it's way to Cancun, and two Infantry Corps and a cavalry Division has been mobilized in California, Arizona, and Texas. So far the Mesoamerican border troops are still trying to keep the border sealed, but refugees have begun to flow in earnest."

"And in Tenochtitlan?" Wilson asked.

"Crack troops, and loyal true-believers in the Socialist cause are still dug in there. It could be quite the fight."

"And the Colombians?" Wilson asked.

"So far, not much of a reaction. We've been able to keep a good eye on Cartagena and the Pacific entrance to the Darien canal. All departures from their usual routines so far seem to be in relation to their new possession in Africa."

Wilson nodded. This was about what he'd expected after his meeting with Torres in Peru, but he was still worried. There was always a chance that the Colombians could change their minds.

"Very well, what's next?"

"Now the papers are one today. This was couriered down from Richmond on the late train yesterday and just arrived here about half an hour ago. Needless to say, deliveries are difficult." Tomkins handed Wilson a yellowed sheet of newsprint.

"The Richmond Post? What does Mr. Hearst's paper have to say today..." Then Wilson's eyes fell on the headline:

France: Friend for Foe?

Richmond -- The Post has learned through confidential sources that the Confederacy officially asked France for help in resolving the ongoing unrest in Mesoamerica, but was rudely rebuffed. France it seems, had no time to help it's Confederate friends.

Furthermore, the Post has learned that France at nearly the same time provided Gran Colombia with warning that the Orange Republic might move to disrupt the Colombian takeover of the colony in Africa which Colombia recently purchased from the Dutch.

One government source, who asked that his name be withheld since he is not authorized to comment on behalf of the Government, asked: "Who's friends are the French? Ours, or the Colombians?"

Wilson put the paper down on the desk.

Tomkins picked the paper back up. "It continues like that. As you can imagine, the editorial page is rife with anti-French commentary as well. The Constitution and the other papers are already picking up the story as well. I think we can expect quite the affair back in Richmond."

Wilson looked out at the ceiling again. "I suppose we'll have to go through the theater of seeking out the leak. These quotes are verbatim from the report from the Embassy in Paris. I think we know where the leak is already though, no?" He looked back toward Tomkins.

"The President's office?" Tomkins asked. Wilson nodded in confirmation.

"Well, then, it's going to be an interesting couple of months."

[Guinness]

February 1 1917

The following is posted in ports all over the world, and printed as an advertisement in several notable newspapers:

Navigation Warning for Mariners

The Confederate States of America hereby warns Mariners sailing under all flags that effective immediately the following hazards to navigation do exist in Confederate waters:

- Samana Bay, Haiti and contiguous waters out to six nautical miles is closed to civilian shipping. Ships wishing to make port calls in Haiti should visit Port Au Prince instead.

- The waters within six nautical miles of Key West are closed to civilian shipping.

- The port of Corpus Christi, Texas is closed to civilian shipping.

- The port of Cancun is closed to civilian shipping.

- Confederate territorial waters in and around the Bahamas are severely restricted to civilian shipping. Ships wishing transit to Nassau or other Bahamian ports should assemble at Miami, Florida and be prepared to take aboard Confederate Navy pilots and inspection parties.

- The Gulf of California and the port of La Paz, California is closed to civilian shipping. Ships wishing transit to Guaymas, Sonora should assemble at the point six nautical miles due south of the most southerly point of California and be prepared to take aboard Confederate Navy pilots and inspection parties.

In all these cases, significant impediments to navigation may be present, and ships within Confederate territorial waters in these areas without expressed authorization will be subject to measures including boarding and inspection and my be fired upon.

In addition, all other Confederate military ports (list attached) are subject to the following security measures:

- Civilian ships may not enter these ports at night or during times of inclement weather or visibility without explicit authorization from the Confederate Navy.

- Civilian ships wishing to enter these ports are subject to inspection and may be required to turn over their helm to a Confederate Navy pilot.

- Areas within these ports may be marked off limits. Please contact local port authorities, the Confederate Navy, or a local embassy or consulate for charts detailing any off-limits locations. Areas marked off limits will also be marked with buoys as needed.

The Confederate States of America thanks all mariners in advance for their cooperation.

[The Rock Doctor]

Colombian officials at the CSA embassy are dispatched to see what they can learn about the announcement...

[Guinness]

February...

The office of the Secretary of State, while not exactly pedestrian, had always been physically unimpressive compared to the official spaces of most other foreign ministers. Or at least, that's what Francois Garçon, the French Ambassador to the Confederate States of America thought while he sat before the Secretary's desk, while waiting for the Secretary's arrival.

It was then that the Secretary's door burst open, and Wilson, followed closely behind by his personal secretary Edwin Tomkins strode quickly in.

"Ambassador, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting. I hope you understand: I'm quite busy these days." Wilson extended his hand.

Garçon rose from the chair he'd been occupying, and accepted Wilson's hand. "Of course, Mr. Secretary. Or is it Mr. President-elect?" Garçon smiled warmly.

Wilson on the other hand went cold. "Secretary will do for now. Today I'm acting in the official capacity of my current position." He sat down behind his desk. Tomkins inconspicuously found a place on the couch along the back wall of the office and opened his notebook.

Garçon opened. "Mr. Secretary, I must first convey the dismay that I feel, and my nation feels, about the shameful, even hateful things that are being written about us in your press."

Wilson waved his hand dismissively. "Ambassador, I know that you have been in my country quite long enough to understand that the government has no control over what is written in the press."

"What about what is said on the floor of your Senate, by those of your own party? Beside characterizing my Premier, and even the entire French people as two-faced and duplicitous, they seem to believe the Confederacy has no need for French friendship and allegiance." Garçon looked over his shoulder briefly toward the door. "I guess they won't even be offering me coffee", he thought.

Wilson sighed quietly. The Richmond and Atlanta press both were particularly whipped up, publishing stories daily detailing the trouble and expense the French went to to hold on to Kolkuta. When that line of inquiry was extinguished, they moved on to more speculative pieces about French involvement in causing the recent Third Pacific War, specifically by receiving the Siamese idea for the Kra Canal, sharing the fact that they'd be approached by the Siamese with allies of the Dutch, then doing nothing to dissuade the Dutch from invading Siam.

"What was the headline in the Richmond Post yesterday? 'French scheming costs hundreds of thousands of lives in Southeast Asia'? You must admit, Ambassador, theses accusations are salacious. This controversy has grown legs, as we say in this country." Wilson looked simply resolved now, to the fact that this business would overshadow his coming inauguration.

"Lies and fabrications, Mr. Secretary. Completely untrue. How can we be held accountable for the loose lips of foreign diplomats at parties?"

Wilson just frowned. "Maybe if you spent more time on governing and diplomacy, and less time on entertaining..." he thought.

"At any rate," the Ambassador continued, "Paris has become quite aware, and quite alarmed by the notable anti-French sentiment here. We're quite concerned by this draft joint resolution being debated in Congress this week. What will your government do if Congress declares that the Confederacy should no longer participate in military coordination with the Nassau Pact, should no longer provide protection to Le Grande Canal, and should no longer allow Marine Nationale ships free access to Confederate ports and resources?"

"Mr. Ambassador, I need not remind you again, firstly, that there is only President of the Confederate States, and his office is a few blocks that way." Wilson pointed in the general direction of the Executive Mansion. "I also need no remind you that we are a representative democracy in this country, and Congress is instilled by our Constitution with the power to legislate, and probably more importantly to control the budget."

Wilson paused before continuing. "I too read the papers of your country, and the dismissive unattributed quotes from your government in Le Monde and the other papers aren't helping either. Things like 'who needs the Confederates anyway?' and 'Our concern is only for Europe. As long as the Normans respect us, we have no worries in North America, even if the petulant Southerners no longer cooperate with us.' I believe those were the direct quotes?" Wilson looked toward Tomkins who nodded.

Wilson continued: "Mr. Ambassador, I believe the crux of the issue for most in Congress is the idea that France knew that Colombia might end up in a costly quagmire in the Congo, and warned the Colombians about that. This seems, on its face, disloyal to most common Americans."

Garçon began to protest, but Wilson cut him off. "Don't bother Ambassador, I'm no diplomatic neophyte. I'm a realist as I believe you are, and I understand why France might not have wanted to see Orange take the Congo, but as a realist I also understand that every action has its consequences, and I'm afraid the consequences today are clear. The resolution you refer to is most likely to pass. The only question is whether the Republicans will help push it through now, or find a way to delay it long enough that they can continue to make hay out of the whole affair through the hearing on my nominees. If your Government really wants anything done on this situation, you tell Paris this: the best way to repair this situation now is to take responsibility for the shamful behavior of your Premier, stop the self-aggrandizing leaks, and show the Confederate electorate that your worthy of being friends with."

[Guinness]

March...

The tradition of the sitting President receiving the incoming President-elect for breakfast on the morning of the Inauguration is one that goes back to the very beginning of the Confederacy. Roosevelt greeted Wilson at the formal front entrance of the Executive Mansion, and the two took a few minutes to shake hands for the photographers while exchanging pleasant small talk. The morning was bright and crisp, while the day was expected to be warm and sunny. It was a good day for an outdoor ceremony.

The small talk continued in the Mansion's "small" dining room, which normally seated twelve (as opposed the "large" dining room that could seat up to thirty-six). Wilson professed to having high hopes for his home town Atlanta Crackers* baseball squad this season. Roosevelt told Wilson of his plans to hunt mountain lion in New Mexico in the coming week.

It was over the main course of pancakes that the conversation turned more toward business.

"Woodrow, or rather I should say Mr. President-elect, this meeting can feel awkward for the man coming into office. Believe me, it was awkward for me and my predecessor. So let me try to break the ice with an honest admission: There is no man in this nation I'd sooner see serve as our President than yourself. Well, other than me of course!"

Roosevelt broke into his characteristically wide grin, and was rewarded by a cackling laugh from Wilson.

"We really should try to maintain decorum, I imagine!. This is true though. No one else is as well qualified as you are. I'd hoped you'd indulge me to give you a few pieces of advice." Roosevelt leaned forward in his chair and put is right elbow up on the table.

"I think you and I both realize that Nassau was an impossible dream. People just aren't ready for it yet. The Southern Cross hangs together because the people of those countries have much in common: language, religion, and in some cases familial relationships among their leaders. You are possibly the foremost authority in the Confederacy on the national character of the French. I ask you: how much do we have in common with them?"

Wilson recognized the question as a rhetorical one, and simply nodded to encourage Roosevelt to continue.

"For that matter, we have little in common with the Italians either, and the Normans, or mirror image in so many ways; the situation with them is even more complicated. So, I think at first the people of our country were willing to go along with us on Nassau, at least for a while, but soon enough the mistrust built up, and the questions began being asked: what exactly is in this for us? So now that news of apparent French duplicity has surfaced, and the extent of our willingness to go to war over the Italian African possessions, well, that just adds fuel to the fire."

Wilson chose not to bring up the question of just how such detailed accounts of the inner workings of Confederate decision making over the last three years were finding their way into the press.

"So, Mr. President-elect, my advice to you is this: if public opinion and therefore Congressional opinion is against being involved in such a large endeavor with the French, so be it. Call the French, Normans and Italians together again. Dissolve Nassau, and replace it with something new. Something looser. Something to which other nations might be invited. I read with interest your treatise on the future of foreign relations, and this idea of a world court, or whatever you called it, whereby grievances might be worked out."

Wilson interposed. "The term I used was 'Assembly', but today I realize that's not quite the right word. Others have floated 'League' or 'Cadre'. I rather like 'Community'."

It was Roosevelt's turn to nod. "These are good ideas. The recent string of accusations, recriminations, and misunderstandings in Asia have shown that sovereign nations don't speak to each other enough. There must be a way to assure that all the world's reasonably minded states can come together and at least try to discuss these issues first, before invading one another.

"So my advice to you is this: Call first the Nassau nations together and dissolve that Treaty. Replace it with a treaty of non-aggression with France, begin a process to resolve our nagging issues with the Normans, especially the issue of ports and access on the Mississippi and the Chesapeake, and figure out just how far you might be willing to go in defense of the Italians. Once all that is settled, propose your idea for a 'Community of Nations' to the fair minded nations of the world. Confederate leadership in that regard will in and of itself, I think, help cement our security while also providing us with the opportunity to lead everyone toward a better world."

Roosevelt sat back, and looked more than a little pleased with himself. Then he added: "Even that isn't my real advice though. The real advice is this, which I've learned myself the hard way: you have only a certain amount of time in this office. Make the most of it. Put forward and support what you think is important. Trust me, there is no way to avoid leaving it with regrets about missed opportunities."

[Guinness]

3 Days after the Inauguration

The march seas on the Gulf of Texas were placid, the sun hot. On the quarterdeck of the Confederate Cruiser Nashville, a weathered Senior Chief Petty Officer and a young Second Lieutenant engage in idle chit chat:

"Chief, I think if we were going to hear from the Colombians, it would have happened by now."

"Sir, maybe they hit the battlefleet to the south, and we just haven't been informed yet." The Chief gestured toward the sea to the south, past the lumbering requisitioned liners and merchants Nashville was escorting.

"How far is the core of the battlefleet supposed to be from here? 40 miles? A little more?" The Lieutenant asked. "Do you think we'd hear if those big guns were fired off?"

The Chief just shrugged.

The two men leaned on the railing and watched the sea for a few minutes. Up and down the deck of Nashville, men and officers were doing similarly. The ship wasn't running at general quarters, but the crew was all milling about near it's battle stations anyway. For most that mean finding a convenient place to lean or sit and shoot the breeze.

"Well, I sure hope the 2nd Infantry Division has things as quiet as we have." The Lieutenant again gestured toward Nashville's charges, this time specifically to the troops lining the transports railings.

The Chief just nodded in agreement.

[Guinness]

April 2, 1917

Everyone in the Cabinet Room of the Executive Mansion stood as President Wilson entered, promptly on time. He took a moment to look around the room, before having a seat, and making a motion toward the middle of the table as if to mean "proceed".

An impossibly young looking Major in the Confederate Army moved toward a large map of the area around South Florida, the Yucatan, and Western Cuba and wasted no time beginning the briefing.

"Mr. President, we'll begin with the situation in the Yucatan. As you know, the 1st Marine Division was landed there some weeks ago, followed by the 2nd Infantry Division. The perimeter around Cancun has been expanded to the planned 'green line' without incident or significant opposition. The DRM border forces in the area retired in the face of opposition. The landing of the 1st Infantry Division in Cancun is now nearly complete, and most of the I Corps level commands and artillery are ashore as well. The next step will be to push out to the 'red line', as planned."

The map:



"In the west the VI and XX infantry corps have pushed across the border and established the planned exclusion zone approximately 50 miles into the DRM. The 2nd Cavalry Division has pushed further ahead and seized key towns and road junctions in Durango and Sinaloa. Again opposition has been light. There was isolated action against DRM border troops, but they mostly broke and ran when faced with concerted artillery barrages. We are both in the Yucatan and in the west on or ahead of schedule."

"Refugees?" The President asked. "Initially a number were turned away in the west. Now that our forces are established, we've proceeded with setting up camps, which are being supervised by the Green Cross, again as planned."

"The Colombians?" The President asked.

A Commander in the Confederate Navy stood up: "We've kept up our patrols off Cancun and Cuba, but the Colombians have not reacted, other than sending out the the occasional small combatant to keep an eye on us. Patrols off Cartegena and the Darien Canal continue to confirm that Colombian major forces are either staying in port, or away in Africa. This is consistent with all our intelligence that Colombia is content at least for now to wait and see what happens."

"And Villa?" The President asked.

This time is was the turn of the Assistant Undersecretary of State for Mesoamerica. "The lastest is that Villa now has roughly 150,000 men marching with his army. Our men on the ground report that men are still coming out to join the army, often carrying personal arms, sometimes armed only with farm implements. These volunteers are being organized into small units as quickly as their skill and loyalty can be established. The word on local support is also good. The Army is moving slowly because they seem content to stop outside every town or village, and make a show of 'liberating' it. Villa is quite the showman it seems.

Now the Major's turn again: "The last report, which is approximately 48 hours old is that Villa has reached the outskirts of Tenochtitlan. Even with 150,000, he doesn't have sufficient manpower to encircle the city, but he is digging in in a broad arc to the northwest. This position offers him some cover on his flanks thanks to high ground there. The same high ground also provides him an advantageous artillery position.

"The Mesoamericans have taken positions inside the City. They still have a full Corps there, which is composed of their best troops. They are well trained and motivated. It would appear their strategy is to fight an urban defense. We believe they intend to force Villa either to waste manpower on a full frontal assault on the city, or to fight a protracted siege. Either way, the city will be a very tough nut to crack, we expect."

"Villa has proven himself to be a bold and unconventional battlefield commander though, has he not?" The President asked. Nods from the Army contingent, which to man decided not to note that some the boldness and organization of Villa's army should also be attributed to Confederate advisers riding with him.

"Do we consider sending direct support to Villa should he fail to take the city in a timely fashion?" The President asked.

This time the Chief of Staff of the Army spoke up. "Sir, such a decision is, of course, yours, but in the past we've all agreed that it would be better if the Mesoamericans settled things themselves, without putting Confederate troops in Tenochtitlan."

Everyone around the table nodded in the affirmative.

"Nonetheless, I'd like to see contingency plans should a siege of Tenochtitlan failed. Mr. Secretary..." Wilson turned toward William Jennings Bryan, the new Secretary of State, "I think it prudent that we reach out to the Mark now. If some sort of diplomatic remedy is needed to reestablish a functioning government in Mesoamerica, we'll need at least their assent. I'd rather not end up in a disagreement with the Rohirim here."

It was Bryan's turn to nod, before turning to an aid and whispering an instruction.

"Very well, if there is nothing more?" Wilson scanned the table one last time. "Thank  you very much, gentlemen."

[Guinness]

A few days later in April...

The Richmond Times

President Vetos Navy Bill
Firanjians Decision to Back out of Deal to Buy Old Confederate Ships Contributes to Decision


Richmond -- The President surprised most experts today by vetoing the 1917 Navy Bill. The Executive Mansion had no comment other than this statement: "The President believes that new financial realities require a new Navy Bill be drafted, so he is sending it back to Congress to be reworked."

Around the capital there was much confusion, as there has been since last year when the 1917 Navy Bill began to be drafted. The bill itself has undergone at least three major revisions before finally passing both the House and the Senate. Congressional Republicans were highly critical of the Presidents actions.

Later in the day, however, it was announced that the Empire of Firanj has pulled out of a comprehensive arms sale agreement. Executive Mansion sources who asked not to be named attributed the bills cancelation to the loss of revenue from the Firanj sale. Said one: "The books just don't balance without that money coming in from Firanj." Another executive branch source put it more bluntly: "The entire 1917 plan was predicated on using cash coming from the sale of ships marked for disposal to Firanj. When they pulled out of the deal at the last minute, there was simply nothing else that could be done."

The Times has come to understand that notification of the cancellation of the sale came via diplomatic courier on the very same day that the first payment for the ships was due.

Lawrence Ignon, Professor of Diplomacy and Economics at the University of Virginia speculated: "I think the President is understandably displeased with the Firanjians, and more than anything else is using this veto to send a message to them. I expect the Navy Department will send down a new draft program with great haste."

[TexanCowboy]

November 17th, 1917

The Haiti Times

Black Codes Repealed

Port-au-Prince-In a shocking move, in a state constitutional amendment change, Haiti has had its Black Codes repealed. Political experts claim this was mainly because of the French influence on the voters, as over 1/2 of the eligible voters were French.

In Richmond, the mood was that of dread and shock. Senator Wiltcons, of Kentucky, summed up the general feelings of those in the capital: "On one hand, this could encourage black rebellion. On the other, this gives us an area to send all of the trouble-makers that are pushing for black rights here."

The Supreme Court issued a statement saying that African-Americans would not be allowed to vote in federal elections, that they were limited to voting in local elections. Many Confederate landowners, from the mainland, have been reported to have been selling their homes and fields. The majority of those from French descent are reported to be staying. "Why not," one was reported to have said. "Finally, a place in the CSA where people can be treated as equals."

[TexanCowboy]

January 2nd, 1918

The Daily Bahamaian

Black Codes Repealed

Following the lead of Haiti, the Bahamas also declared the Black Codes invalid. No reaction has been heard from the mainland as of yet, but the response appears to be muted compared to the reaction to Haiti.

[TexanCowboy]

Wilson paced his office, nervously, upset at the news of what had been given to him. "Are you serious? Will the next pair of battleships really cost this much?"

Admiral Leary looked at him. "Yes, they will. And the sad thing about it is that nothing we can do will stop it. We can build a 12 gunned 13.5'' ship on the Tennesse hull with the same tonnage, but it would be a desisivly second rate ship. Of course, since the next battleship will not be laid down until at least 1920, without major scrapping of ships, our battleship design department has been messing around with a 9 gunned ship with 16.5'' guns, but it requires 5,000 tons more."

Wilson turned and looked out the window, "What can we do? I don't think we can keep up this rate of building much more. When cruisers are 16,000 tons, you know there is a problem. Why, when Roosevelt was the First Sea Lord, battleships were 13,000 tons. We need to stop this mass building for 10-15 years, and concentrate on improving our economy, before it crashes and burns."

"Sir, the building of one of the Teennesse class provides jobs for 7,000 people..."

"And? The Wheelers provide employment for 5,000, in half the cost to us. And now, thinking about it, do we really want us to face revolt because of the militaries manipulation of all our resources? We already have enough of a mess over the Haiti thing."

"So what do you want us to do?"

"I think I know. Call a meeting with all of the world's nations. Persuade them to stop building battleships for a time."

OOC: Washington strikes....

[The Rock Doctor]

Washington strikes?  Or strikes out?

[TexanCowboy]

Treaty of Washington, or of Cleito...

EDIT: Hahahahaha, got the pun. The Nationals are pretty bad. 40-120... ouch  ;D ;D

[Tanthalas]

Washington strikes....

Representatives of The Mark send their regrets but no personel will be available to atend this Conferance.

OOC: I doubt seriously that any major power will be willing to Comit to a Washington style treaty

[TexanCowboy]

Just a time filler.... I'm supposing ya'll will think differently after 1923-25... already, ship sizes are stalling out lower than historical because of a lack of BP. Just a small increase would be nice.