State of the Union, July 1936
My fellow Americans, the world has changed much in six short months. German troops entered the Rhineland, which was specifically forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. A treaty, I must note, we did not sign. France and Great Britain have chosen to allow Chancellor Hitler to violate the treaty in this instance, perhaps hoping that is the end of his ambitions. I pray they are correct.
Italy has conquered the Kingdom of Ethiopia. Prime Minister Mussolini insists that Ethiopia shall continue to govern itself, but I fear their actual intentions are to install a puppet regime.
In January, I met with Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden from the United Kingdom. He has asked that we consider joining the Allies as a way to deter further German and Italian aggression. I informed him that I do not feel the American people would want me to sign an alliance with a foreign power, but that we do remember our friends from across the pond. I have asked Secretary Hull to register formal protests with the German and Italian governments.
I am still in the process of reorganizing our military. General MacArthur, General Westover, and Admiral Standley have all submitted detailed plans, as has Secretary Wagner. I would like to take this opportunity to invite all four honorable gentlemen to address you more formally regarding their plans and visions for our armed forces.
We have completed construction on two destroyer divisions and the USS
Quincy, which is a light cruiser. They have been deployed to Seattle. Four Carrier Air Wings, intended for the retrofitted USS
Saratoga and
Lexington are also completed and stationed in Seattle's air force base until the vessels are finished. Two Interceptor wings have also been completed and are awaiting deployment orders.
Our most pressing issue is the aggression of Germany and Italy. Shall we let this go unanswered? That is, in large part, up to you, Senators. Secretary Hull has advised me of five possible options in each case.
1. Do nothing.
2. Use our agents to tell the people of Germany and Italy what their leadership has done. Perhaps they will put pressure on their leaders. ((Use spies to raise threat.))
3. Institute a formal Embargo on all economic trade with these countries. We are not bound to the League of Nations and may act unilaterally if we wish.
4. Ask our agents to attempt a coup de' tat. In neither case are our agents ready to do so yet, but they may be soon.
5. Declare war on one or both countries. I would vehemently object to this course of action, as I do not think our armed forces are prepared to deal with an overseas conflict, but I am presenting the option nonetheless.
We might also align ourselves more closely to the Allied countries, which could deter further aggression.
Senators, I am deeply concerned. Yes, our own nation is still recovering from the effects of Depression. Yes, there are those who consider Germany and Italy to be right in their actions. Prime Minister Baldwin does not consider either Germany or Italy a threat to world peace. I am not so certain. Irregardless, it is you, Senators, who shall guide our country as the elected representatives of the American people.
Thank you, and good night.
((Note: For non-English speakers, irregardless isn't actually a word, but it is one that FDR threw around a lot. The actual word is regardless. Just a little historical color for you.
))
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Saithis, TankofMidgets, and Chimina, please feel free to share as much or as little about your plans (OOBs and build queues) as you like. Chimina, you need to tell me where to put your finished fighters; you left that out of your build plan
Senators, feel free to ask specific questions of any and all ministers.
We have three specific things to vote on.
1) Do we align ourselves with a faction yet? If so, which one? We'll do this like last time; everybody can vote
Allied, Axis, Comintern, or Isolationist for affiliation.
2) What do we do about Germany and Italy? The options above are merely suggestions; any Senators who wish to concoct a bill to specifically deal with this may do so. Or, we can do nothing. If we don't have a bill in place by say, Thursday, I'll assume we're to do nothing.
3) Ministers: do we want new ones? We've got fractured government right now, for example, but the America First party is supposed to get a slot and there's nobody available from that party.
If one of the Big Four (or perhaps Three) wants to step down, please let me know as soon as possible by PM. For NPC (non-player character) ministers, if a minimum of three Senators want to see somebody replaced, I'll tell you the alternatives. You'll then vote on a recommended replacement.
You're also free to work to get any other bills that could affect the game in some way passed; I would ask that nobody introduce them in the thread until you have the two Senators necessary for an official bill; you can PM each other to work that out
I don't want too much clutter. If you're not sure if a bill is appropriate, please let me know.
I'd like to have everything finished by
Friday, January 20 at 10 PM, -6 GMT (US CST). If bills are introduced, I'll adjust the deadline as appropriate.