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| Honor Restored; Baltic German-Russian reconciliation | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 7 2017, 05:36 PM (62 Views) | |
| Rhadamanthus | Dec 7 2017, 05:36 PM Post #1 |
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Legitimist
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"This is an outrage!" roared Jurgen von Wahl. The Baltic State's ambassador to the International Commonwealth of Nations was infamous in the diplomatic community for his fiery rhetoric. He was no more restrained in the debates of the War Council, where, by tradition, all the members of the council were considered equals, regardless of their military command or office of state. In the past, Wahl had won respect and allies through his staunch defense of Baltic German independence, and disdain for international treaties. But, he was increasingly finding himself isolated. "How can you all even consider this," he said, "it would destroy everything we have fought for! It would destroy our independence, our very State!" "It would create unity among our brethren," answered Gregor von Benckendorff, the genial Minister of Foreign Affairs, "It would allow the Baltic German knighthood to stand as one people again, alongside our ancient allies. We can embrace change." ***** This session of the War Council had been unusually contentious, thought it had begun under the most celebrated of circumstances. The Quaonian regime had broken down, and the Baltic Germans of Courland had immediately taken the opportunity to declare their independence. The War Council of the Baltic State quickly invited the Noble Corporation of Courland to nominate delegates to the War Council. A session was convened and the Curonian delegation was seated, alongside the Livonian and Oselian delegations, the ex officio military delegates, and rump Estonian delegation (the majority of Estland and the majority of Estonian Baltic Germans remained part of the Russian Empire). The War Council quickly passed resolutions joining Courland to the Baltic State, and celebrating the reunion of the Baltic Germans. But they soon found that the Courlanders had different ideas about global politics than the War Council's status quo. Heinrich von Bochman, one of the most prominent of the Baltic Germans from Courland, was quick to ask why the Baltic Germans were alienated from the Russian Empire. "After all," he asked, "hadn't the Russian Emperor, the last of the great viking princes, honored and patronized the Baltic Germans from time immemorial?" And, he continued, "hadn't the Russian Emperor rewarded the service of the Baltic Germans by making them the leading estate of his empire?" The solemn response of the noblemen was to lecture Bochman regarding the Treaty of Guranburg. Wahl had taken the lead in this matter. "Guranburg?" Bochman asked incredulously, "The Russians foreswore that treaty long ago. The Kasnyian Military Republic and Scythirus are gone. The Russian Empire still stands. Even our brethren in Estonia recognizes this. What do I care about Guranburg?" Benckendorff, who had long been interested in the question of relations with Russia, had used this as an opportunity to push his own goals. "I would suggest that some sort of accord with Russia would be in our interests. We cut our ties with Russia years ago, because the Russians betrayed Prince Yusupov. However, as Heinrich has reminded us, the conditions of shame have been negated. Surely, we must recognize that change." ***** That was the comment that triggered Wahl's outrage. "Change? Is our honor subject to change as well? Is Transcaucasia Russian territory once more? If not, than what has the German to do with the Russian?" "What indeed?" questioned Karl von Stamm, the powerful Minister of War. Stamm had been one of the original architects of the Baltic State's policy of absolute renunciation of the Treaty of Guranburg, in the years after the fall of the Dominion, when he and his fellows were younger men. Now, they were older, holding on to the visions of the past, and the hope of the future. Stamm, however, saw the world with cold eyes, and without sentimentality. "Our honor is not subject to change. It is unchanging, immortal. But, if Russia is no longer under dishonor, then what happened to the vows our ancestors swore to serve the emperor? If Russia is no longer dishonorable, then would not it shame us not to reconcile?" The cunning old baron had abandoned his ally Wahl in this pivotal debate. "Is it not a matter of unchanging honor that we reach hands of friendship out to Estland and Russia?" "Here, here" cried the nobles in support of the plan, Friedrich von Berg, Minister of the Interior, and Bochman. Cries of "traitor" and "iniquity" were the answers of the anti-Russian nobles. Finally, the debate was broken when the aged Minister-President, Alexander von Wrangel called for a vote. Before the vote was counted, he spoke his own opinion. "I will never regret these last few decades, in which I have presided over you in brotherhood. But, I think that the time has come for us to charge a new course." Amidst shouting and clamor, the Baltic German knighthood cast their votes. By a small margin, the War Council of the Baltic State voted to open discussion with Russia. Edited by Rhadamanthus, Dec 7 2017, 05:42 PM.
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| NRE | Dec 17 2017, 02:32 PM Post #2 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Saint Petersburg, Russia.... "This could be quite the opportunity we see before us your majesty, certainly something that does not come around but perhaps once in a lifetime" the robust and pompous Vladimir Kondakov stated with great sincerity. The Prime Minister had requested a meeting with the Emperor as soon as word had reached his office. The implications of what was the be discussed was enormous and the Prime Minister was of the full belief that it was an opportunity that could not be given up lightly. His Imperial Majesty, Ivan, seemed less enthusiastic than his Prime Minister but nevertheless intrigued by the invitation. "While there may indeed by a great deal of good that could come from this meeting I will not shy away from stating my obvious reservations" Ivan stated plainly. "The Baltic Germans have never been shy when it came to voicing their own opinions about my family. If they wish to negotiate then so be it but I hold no promise to these talks. After all, while we may have enjoyed unprecedented peace an neutrality towards one another for several years now the facts remains that many a stubborn fools still sit prominently on their war council." "While I can only imagine how your Imperial Majesty feels regarding certain subjects to which the Baltic Germans feel more liberated to speak of in public, let us look at this from another angle" the Prime Minister stated, his voice a bellowing bass even at a comforting, intimate level. "Negotiating a final peace with the Baltic Germans could instigate an error of unprecedented cooperation between ourselves and a people who your forefather's graciously welcomed into Russia's court. Even now branches of those same families that seem to cause your Imperial Majesty disdain in Riga work tirelessly here in Saint Petersburg to make Russia the great European Empire it has always meant to be. Think of it your majesty, unfiltered trade, exchange of ideas, perhaps even joint military exercises. Do we not owe it to the memory of the Great Emperor's who have come before you to find a way to united yet another bounded kinsmen to the Russian Empire as we have with the Fins?" Kondakov knew that as stubborn as Ivan could be, playing to his sense of honor and duty to his own heritage could ultimately win an argument. Ivan was an honorable man, bound by a sense of duty to do for the Empire what his father could not, what his father's father could not. To what extent he would go to achieve these things Kondakov had only tested in minor ways. Secretly the Prime Minister knew that this could perhaps be the biggest test of all given what the Baltic German's could ask for. Then again, the Prime Minister knew less of what they were offer as well as their message had been seemingly cryptic. Naturally, no one would know until negotiations were allowed to proceed. "Very well" Ivan stated plainly, "Extend an offer of invitation to the entire Baltic War Council to travel to Saint Petersburg as my guests, to dine here in the Winter Palace. I will discuss with them personally, these things with which they wish to bring to my ear." "I will send word to the Baltic Germans at once your majesty" the Prime Minister stated. |
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11:32 AM Jul 13