December 22

Word out of Cartagena is that Colombian officials are attempting to locate a venue in Asia for a pending peace conference.  Observers in Rangoon and Edo have noted fairly frenetic activity at the consulate and embassy there, respectively.

OOC:  Hey Walter...

Nooooooo!!! My enemies are killing each other at a rapid rate and you want to stop the war??? At least give it another year...

Now to star bribing certain Japanese and Burmese official...

QuoteOOC:  Hey Walter...

*Wakes up* What...? Who...? Where...? Why...? When...? :)

QuoteNooooooo!!! My enemies are killing each other at a rapid rate and you want to stop the war??? At least give it another year...

Can't do that. We need to keep some alive for you to kill. Otherwise you will suffer incredibly high casualties in your future conquests as your troops will die of boredom... :D
... on the other hand, I think that the Middle Kingdom would be extremely pleased with that if that were to happen. ;D

31 December 1916:  Albertville, Kongo

For anybody expecting pomp and drama, the Armada's arrival off Albertville was surely a disappointment.  The Montaña flotilla had been organized with intention of not upsetting the apple cart - specifically, the limits on Orange and Italian naval power in the Rift Sea negotiated after the dust-up of a couple years ago.  The flagship was a nineteen year-old depot ship, and the remainder of the squadron - two sloops, two minesweepers, a survey ship, and a tug, plus a freighter with three patrol boats lashed to its deck - would have been outgunned by a modern cruiser.  It was a force intended to police the coast, show the flag, and otherwise not cause trouble.

The arrival of the liners was more impressive.  Dropping anchor about three hours after the Armada, the Espiritu de Neuvo Granada and the Spirit of the Island Commonwealth were larger than most Dutch frigates, and their enormous white bulk prompted one foreigner to joke that a pair of icebergs had drifted in.

31 December 1916:  Banana, Kongo

The arrival of the Armada off Banana was a different affair.  The Zaire Flotilla, centred on the monitor Sucre, had a much stronger coastal defence component to it, including torpedo-boats and submarines.  There were also more auxiliaries involved - eight troopships, two Iberian liners, and a Peruvian tender. 

Although nobody in Banana knew it, the Colombians also had pickets sixty miles to the south of Banana, outside Orange territorial limits, and a rather large covering force idling fifty nautical miles to the west of Banana.  Certain third parties had advised that Orange had been considering a preemptive invasion of the Dutch Kongo; while it hadn't happened yet, it was unclear what Orange intentions were as the hand-over loomed.  Should the worst come to pass, the covering force would intervene to protect the Zaire Flotilla, while other units elsewhere in the Atlantic would implement their own orders.

31 December 1916:  Cartagena

In the Presidential Palace, Rey Alizandro was less interested in the New Year's approach than in receiving word of a successful hand-over - though he knew that wouldn't happen until early in the morning local time and he might not get word for hours or even days after that.  If all went well, he'd be well on his way to creating a lasting legacy - a large, economically viable Colombian colony that would cement the Republic's place as a first-rate power.

27 December 1916

Hand-delivered by Colombian officials in embassies and consulates world-wide:

QuoteThe Republic of Gran Colombia proposes a conference to discuss a possible negotiated peace to the current war between the Netherlands and allies and Siam and allies. 

The Empire of Japan, a regional neutral power, has graciously offered to provide Takashima Palace, on the island of Honshu as the venue for this conference. 

A starting date of January 10, 1917 is proposed, in order to allow for transportation of participants.  To avoid incidents, vessels carrying participants for this conference are advised to fly the signal flag for "K" above their national ensign, and to be well lit.  The Republic of Gran Colombia expects that belligerents will respect the peaceful intentions of ships flying this signal, and that its use will not be abused.

Gran Colombia will be represented at the conference by Sr. Victor Alejandro de Gruda y Balboa, on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Eduard Torres and President Rey Alizandro

(signed)

Rey Alizandro,
President

QuoteDue to logistical restraints, Romania will be unable to attend unless a transport by another nation is made availible. However, we will make every effort to attend.

I'm assuming European states would have to rely on local ambassadors, governors, and so forth.  Romania must have some diplomatic representation in the region it could use...

Deadly silence from France concerning the message

When a journalist during the new years speech of premier Galpoux askes about that, the answer was bonedry, even well lubrificated by champagne,

La France ne s'inquiète pas.
The third Pacific war is again a Dutch megalomanical plan for domination that is backfiring. It will peter out, but not after hurting l'economy du monde. I hope you will write that when the budget cuts for the social security are made public.

The outraged shouting following that proclamation isn't stilled untill the plateau's with Hors d'œuvre are brougt into the meeting hall.

The CSA will not be attending*, but wishes the Colombians the best of luck in their endeavor.

*Mainly because I'll have to play the part of Siam...

True. Modified. Romania will be sending the ambassador to Japan to the Conference. When does it occur (RLT)?

In the Interest of Fairness to our Friends in the DKB Rohan will send a representative to this Conferance. (come on did anyone think The Paladins would miss a chance to interfear in world Polotics)

I'll start a thread in a day or two - kinda need to hear from some of the more involved participants.

The Republic will be sending a representative with all due haste.

No 'official' NS representatives will be there, but you can be sure someone from NS will go...

Quoteyou can be sure someone from NS will go...

He'll be kindly requested to leave all weapons and explosives at home. :D