4th August 1940
Goat Island, Niagra Falls, UAPR
The Island was technically on the American side of the border, but both sides had accepted it as neutral ground. What was about to take place in the tents and the huts that had hastily been built was nothing less than groundbreaking. The Union of American People's Republics and the Allied powers, here represented by the British Empire and the Dominion of Canada, where about to re-open diplomatic relations beyond occasional talks. Or at least these where the orders that the Foreign Secretary had brought from London. On the Island one could see the flags of the UAPR, the United Kingdom, or rather the British Empire, and the new Canadian Ensign with the golden Maple Leaf flutter in the moderate wind, whilst in the hasty wooden buildings below them the Diplomats sat and talked. The Empire was represented by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden who had rushed over on the last flying boat from the UK, the Dominion of Canada was represented by William Lyon Mackenzie King, who was there in his dual Secretaries of State for External Affairs and Prime Minister of Canada. At the other end of the ornate wooden table sat Samuel Bartholomew Darcy, People's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, representing the interests of the UAPR. Discussion was heated. The main point the UAPR raised over and over again was the status of the United States Government in Exile, but as stubbornly as the Darcy brought the matter up, as stubborn was the British and Canadian refusal to even acknowledge the issue. King and Churchill had talked about this during the preparations of this conference, and had decided not to give the exiles up. The UAPR needed this treaty more than the Allies, considering how they were still rebuilding their country with a ever more aggressive and vocal Japan in the Pacific. The latter also meant that there were British interests at stake, but the British were, thanks to the ANZACs and the Indian Army in a much better position in regards to Japan and their Chinese lakeys. Then again, the UAPR diplomats were communists, and Eden knew that communists, and while general agreements had been reached, this was the one point where there were still things that needed to be resolved. The PM had been clear. The USGE was not to be given up under any circumstances. Not only would this go against the principles the Empire was fighting for in Europe, but the PM also had been fond of the United States, not only due to his American ancestry.
“Mister Eden,” Darcy opened the next round, “this 'Government' is made up of traitors to the American People, we must insist that they and all their properties!” Eden looked at King and simply replied how he had always replied during the last three days. “Mr. Secretary, we cannot and will not expatriate any who request asylum within the Dominion of Canada, as long as they do not break any laws Canada will not act against them.” For a second Darcy seemed like he was about to say something, but it seemed as if he had all but given up on this, at least that was what Eden was thinking. He was about to be proven wrong. This was understandable though. The Foreign Office had little experience in dealing with the Communists wherever they might be located. The French had been the ones that had represented Entente, or rather Allied interests versus the Soviet Union in the inter-war period while Whitehall, and by extent the entire country, had concentrated on other matters. “Mr. Eden, we cannot accept that. Comrade Browder insists on them being handed over to the UAPR.” He said no more, but the threat hang in the air. Eden looked at King and signalled him to answer that. While the British Empire was not really threatened by the UAPR, the threat for Canada was real. Even if the American People's Army consisted of militias for the most part, enough of them would still sweep aside the Royal Canadian Army before any reinforcements could arrive from Europe. Also, if he as the representative of the Mother Country answered here, the UAPR might actually start to believe the rhetoric that was coming out of their Secretariat for Public Education and see Canada as a mere puppet of London, put in place to placate the natives and Colonists. He had an opportunity here, one to establish Canada as a respected and worthy partner that would be seen as a sovereign nation that it was by the UAPR. This would force the UAPR to take Canadian interests into consideration when formulating policy vis-a-vis the Allies, which would in turn make his own work so much easier, as it would also allow the Canadians to make more direct deals and contacts with the Americans. King just raised his eyebrows to communicate he had understood and said to Darcy: “As my trusted colleague from London has already said, the American Exiles did not break any laws. They did not publicly agitate against Canada, they did not threaten the constitution and institutions of Canada and nor did they break any other laws, so if you don't want us to break them ourselves, I suggest we leave this behind and move on to other matters.”
Darcy fumed. He had clear instructions from Washington to get the Canadians and British to hand over the Exiles, every last one of them, but it seemed that the British had coached their lapdogs on what to say. He also had instructions that this was not to be reached at all costs. If the Canadians refused, then he was to haggle as long as he deemed save without endangering the Treaty. Browder was more than anxious to get the treaty signed, and so, with a heavy heart and a silent angry vow to reach his goal some time in the future, he moved on to the second point. “And what about their legal status as diplomats? The United States of America no longer exist, surely there is no need to maintain relations with a Government that does not have a country to represent?” King smiled thinly. The red on the other side of the table had made a fatal mistake. “True enough, but then again, the war between the UAPR and the USA has been and always will be an internal American matter, and if someone asks for political asylum, we do not ask if their country even exists, just like you do.” Darcy went white when he realized what had happened. King was of course talking about the so-called Government of the People's Republic of Quebec, a committee of the local Communist Party that formed a Government back in 1937, only to be chased out of Quebec not by the Canadian authorities but rather by the 'oppressed masses' that happened to be staunchly catholic and anti-communist. They had fled to the UAPR and had been recognized as the legal Government of Quebec, and still claimed to be as much. Today they were more of a public embarrassment for the American Politburo, who could not let go of them for political reasons and still needed to come to terms with Canada and the British Empire at the same time. As a result of this Washington liked to pretend they did not exist when dealing with their neighbours to the north, but here these very neighbours had brought them up again and had simply outmanoeuvred him. 'Damn those Imperialists' he thought. Just because the UAPR was a young nation, the old reactionary powers dared to push her around like the playthings that were the subjects in their colonies. Still, there would be a time to show them that the UAPR was a great nation, but not today. After two more hours of back and forth, he suggested a break and to continue the talks in the evening. The Allied representatives, after consulting wrist and pocket watches agreed and so the diplomats filed out of the room into the open and fresh air of the island. The barracks where the actual talks were held were arrayed around a small square that had been covered with some sort of fine gravel. In the dead centre of the complex, three flagpoles stood, with the flags of the UAPR, the British Empire and the new Red Ensign of Canada hoisted.
Eden and King stepped out side by side. King glanced upwards to the new flag that still seemed strange to him. Turning around to Eden, who was busy lighting a cigarette, he said: “Do you think it is wise to refuse?” “Professionally? No. In the long term our dealings with the UAPR would probably be easier, and that would mean less stuff to do for the both of us. Personally?” He paused and inhaled the tobacco smoke. “Personally, I say we keep the Yanks under our.. or I shall I say your umbrella for as long as possible, and be it only to get one up on these blasted reds.” King laughed. “Besides, the CSIS would want my head if I were to deprive them of their best source of Agents and information, and to be honest, I quite like Mr. Garner.” Eden looked into the distance before swirling around. “By the way, have you noticed how Darcy also inadvertently solved one of our other problems?” “You mean how he publicly admitted that the US no longer exist, that the UAPR is not just a re-branding of the old show and that they can now no longer complain about us recognizing the USGE? Indeed, I did notice.” More than the actual location of the Exiled President and his entourage the Canadian and British recognition of the same had been a major point of content between the UAPR and the Allies. With this slipup the UAPR had informally given the British and Canadians a free hand in how to deal with the Exiles. Eden nodded towards King and went to the boat that would take him to the Canadian shore to cable the news and current terms to London. The Americans had made communications available, but Eden didn't have to be MI6 to know that these lines were monitored. An hour later the reply from London was in. It was all but one word: “Sign. Churchill.” Eden Grinned and calmly walked back towards the Jetty where the RCN patrol boat was waiting to take him back to the Island. Once there, he strode back towards the hut where Darcy and King where already waiting for him. Pleasantries and diplomatic talk where exchanged before, much to Darcy's surprise, Eden announced that the British Empire was willing to sign the treaty as it stood now, given that 'any and all' agreements reached since the conference had begun where abided by by all signatory nations.
Three hours later the Ministers and assorted worker-bee diplomats were assembled on the square. An APA band was just playing the last bars of the ACP party song that also doubled as the American Anthem. Eden chuckled when the American band was obviously struggling with “God save the King”, but strangely enough, they did not have any troubles with the Candian Anthem. Beside him King was singing with all fervour that could be expected.
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine
The Maple Leaf forever!
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's Em'rald Isle!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our King and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
