Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[NikoHoI3]

Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg, circa. 1881
​

Name: Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg
Date of Birth: April 12th, 1853
Place of Birth: Saint-Gilles, Belgium
Nationality: Walloon/German
Position(s): Founder and Owner of Belgian Africa Rubber Inc. (1880-1924); Member of the International Africa Association (1884-1886); Member of Parliament for Schaerbeek (1891-1909); Secretary of State for the Colonies (1891-1895)
Retirement: 13th of June, 1909
Date of Death: 17th of May, 1926 (73)
Political Affiliation: Independent (1880-1891); Conservative League/Regalist Union/Conservative Christian Union (1891-1926)
Spouse: Lady Marie-Elizabeth Klinkenberg, nee de Meeûs d'Argenteuil (Date of Birth: 21st of July, 1857) (Date of Marriage: May 16th, 1885)
Children: Catherine Marie Klinkenberg (18th of April, 1886); Fredrick Johann Klinkenberg (14th of August, 1887); Louise Charlotte Klinkenberg (8th of October, 1890); Eleanor Helena Klinkenberg (17th of February, 1894)
Biography: Valentin-Alexandre Klikenberg, son of a Walloon mother and German father, born in Saint-Gilles. His father aided in the urbanization of their town in the 1860's amassing sufficient wealth to send Valentin to school at Université libre de Bruxelles in 1871, graduating with a degree in Business five years later. As, Belgium colonized Africa even further, Valentin looked for an adventure so he traveled to Belgian Benin in 1877. He heard there were jobs for young, adventurous Belgians further south in Belgian Congo, where he worked as an administrator for a tropical wood company. In 1882, with the Belgian government’s creation of the "Free Economic Zones" in southern Belgian Congo, Valentin with money he had earned and extra from his now wealthy parents, he purchased a large plot of land in the coastal Loango region. He established his rubber business and gained a monopoly on rubber in the region. Klinkenberg soon became extremely wealthy with the rubber market booming. He continued to grow his rubber company inland and became the second-largest rubber producer in the Belgian Southern Colonies (first being the Prince-Regent himself). His new wealth and company status allowed him to join the International Africa Association in 1884. With the continuation of more "Free Economic Zones" in 1885, Valentin expanded his company once again further inland.

Politically, in his days in university Klinkenberg was an active supporter of both the Conservative League and Centrist Alliance (Moderate Liberal Party). Although, he has not actively engaged in politics for years, he looks to become more involved, giving his support to political parties whose ideologies would benefit him and his business. After, his marriage and appointment to the International Africa Association, Valentin has become a more fervent Monarchist. He later decided to join the Conservative League, and run for Parliament - being elected in the Schaerbeek constituency in the 1891 election.

Valentin's extravagant wedding to Lady Marie-Elizabeth de Meeûs d'Argenteuil, daughter of Count Jacques de Meeûs d'Argenteuil, in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, was the highlight of the spring season. All of Belgium's elite gathered to witness the marriage between a Count's daughter and a rich industrialist. Although, not all people approved or were pleased of the marriage, it was held regardless and was a great success.

(( I'm glad to be back. ))

 

[Gen. Marshall]

To say that the expression on General Van Stern was one of indecisiveness and concern would be an understatement. Never since graduating the Militärakademie had he felt so meaningless, trapped within political games which he, as a military man first and foremost, was neither willing nor fully able to play. He read one of the letters on his desk again. The Prime-Minister may not be allowed to bully the military around. Just a few weeks from the end of the election, the coalition was speaking of disbanding our regiment against our advisement. And then another. Congratulations Wilhelm, the Prime Minister has once again appointed you Chief of General Staff! Yes, he had voted for the coalition. Had he tightened the noose on "his" army by doing so? Another letter. If De Leeuw had it his way, the monarchy would be, dare I say it, toppled! Had he tightened the noose on his King by doing so? Wilhelm could only pray that he had not.

Marie, his beautiful wife, was a Socialist, and a former Red Legionnaire at that. She had told her husband about the necessity to stand up for the poor, and through sponsoring AJAx FC Leuven's welfare programs, the Count and Countess did exactly that. It would go too far to say that Wilhelm was a Socialist himself. But a "Moderate Socialist"? Perhaps.

This man, this Josef de Leeuw, has made known his hatred for the Belgian Crown, a cornerstone of our society, and had it his way, the monarchy would be, dare I say it, toppled! Van Stern properly re-read the last letter. He sighed. For as long as the left-wing bloc was dominated by radicals like De Leeuw, both of them, even Harfleurian Conservativism was more appetizing than voting BSU. For as long as Socialism equalled anti-military, anti-General Van Stern policy, Wilhelm could do no more than donate part of his salary to the sportive youth. How could he possibly condemn his son's attitude towards the leftists, if half of the latter committed acts of politics based merely on what could seemingly be the cognitive capabilities of a sub-fifteener?

Wilhelm tried to clear his mind. He was the Chief of General Staff, a member of the Portician Society, and as long as the government kept their hands out of his meddling, he'd keep his hands out of theirs. Only... they hadn't. The military Governor-General had been relieved from his function. A civilian personal cannot be appointed to this position, said one of the letters, and General Van Stern was inclined to agree. Surely, a Governor-General (-General!) should be a decorated officer? The Governor-General had to make quick decisions in the event of war, or revolt. A bureaucrat couldn't do that. And to appoint a Governor-General-General alongside the Governor-General-Bureaucrat would be far too much hassle. He had only one solution at hand. A friend once wrote him a proposal regarding Benin, but it didn't seem important back then. It did now.


"It's amongst the Portician correspondence", the General explained to his chief of staff, Major Koenen. Koenen (Jr.), a bureaucratic mess, was there to replace his dearest and oldest friend, former Colonel Van Ginkel. The man had only recently passed away, so the funeral was to be held in only two days - adding to the general misery, as if Fate herself had conspired against Wilhelm.

Koenen had found the letter, and so Wilhelm began to draft a bill. Not about the anti-military sentiment, not about the Communist advance, not even about the NDP minstress. Politicians would deal with those problems. No, this bill was to finally fulfil a debt to an old friend.

Colonial Supervision Bill

I. Each separate colonial territory is divided into districts.
a) The colonial administration is supervised by a Governor-General of the colony;
b) District-level administration is supervised by a Grand Mayor.

II. As their title implies, the Governor-Generals are members of the Belgian military.
a) The Governor-Generals are appointed by the Belgian Head of State;
b) The Head of State may choose to do so in accordance with the Chief of General Staff.

III. The Grand Mayors are Belgian-born citizens aged 18 or older.
a) The Minister responsible for colonial policy appoints the Grand Mayors.

 

[NikoHoI3]

While in Brussels, Klinkenberg receives news of the new Colonial Supervision Bill proposed by the Chief of General Staff

A wonderful proposition. Before, His Majesty fired the incompetent colonial authorities in the Congo, my business could not have expanded as quickly as it could have and the officials were simply put, very foolish. This bill, I hope, will end the ridiculous foolishness of colonial administrators and bring about a more organized colonial administration.

Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg, Founder and Owner of Belgian Africa Rubber Inc.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Surely, a Governor-General (-General!) should be a decorated officer?

((Attorney-General, anyone? Surgeon-General? ))

Jean Galt, a Moderate deputy of no real repute, stands to speak.

I would suggest the proposed bill be altered so that the age limit is set at 30, or 25 at the youngest. Candidates will need experience that simply is not present in those mere weeks out of their minority.

 

[Harpsichord]

I must say, I find this bill surprising. I know of no place on earth where the term "Governor-General" strictly implies that the holder of the office is or must be a General of the Armed Forces. Was the incumbent Governor-General not himself appointed on the advice of a previous government?

 

[atomicsoda]

I object to this Bill mandating a Military General be Governor General.

((General in Attorney General or Surgean General, refers to a generalist in its use of the term General, although many US congressmembers are ignorant and are confused by this point as well)

 

[DensleyBlair]

((General in Attorney General or Surgean General, refers to a generalist in its use of the term General, although many US congressmembers are ignorant and are confused by this point as well)

((My point exactly. ))

Jean Galt speaks again:

I would also add that I feel clause IIb is somewhat vague. The use of the term "may" should probably be seen to – either committing to an executive decision on the part of one party, or a deliberative consensus.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

I have considered your objections, and altered the Bill accordingly. My reasoning for demanding a military Governor-General is that, given the long distance between the colonies and Belgium, the Governor-General has to be able to make quick military decisions. However, since the Governor-General is appointed with this in mind, there is no reason to keep it specified in the Bill.

It is also not the intent of this bill to focus on military rule over the colonies. Its intent is to properly divide the appointment of colonial administrators between the Head of State and the government.

- Wilhelm van Stern

Colonial Supervision Bill, revised

I. Each separate colonial territory is divided into districts.
a) The colonial administration is supervised by a Governor-General of the colony;
b) District-level administration is supervised by a Grand Mayor.

II. The Governor-Generals are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Governor-Generals are appointed by the Belgian Head of State;
b) The Head of State can, if he so wishes, choose to do so in accordance with the Chief of General Staff.

III. The Grand Mayors are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Minister responsible for colonial policy appoints the Grand Mayors.

 

[viola]

This new bill is nothing more than a shameless power grab from the military! Once again ambitious officers and generals are trying to limit the power of the civilian government in their favor, thus threatening the very foundations of our Democratic institutions! I don't have to remind this parliament how many times the army has proven to be unreliable, and even treacherous, when too much power was handed to them.

The army should always be kept under the control of the civilian government and shouldn't be allowed, under any circumstances, to rule over Belgian territories; therefore I will strongly oppose this dangerous and undemocratic bill.

- Carl Coppens, Independent Socialist Deputy

 

[Gen. Marshall]

This new bill is nothing more than a shameless power grab from the military! Once again ambitious officers and generals are trying to limit the power of the civilian government in their favor, thus threatening the very foundations of our Democratic institutions! I don't have to remind this parliament how many times the army has proven to be unreliable, and even treacherous, when too much power was handed to them.

The army should always be kept under the control of the civilian government and shouldn't be allowed, under any circumstances, to rule over Belgian territories; therefore I will strongly oppose this dangerous and undemocratic bill.

- Carl Coppens, Independent Socialist Deputy

Mr. Coppens, please tell me, how many times has the army proven to be unreliable, and even treacherous, since my appointment as Chief of General Staff over eighteen years ago? In fact, the last army coup dates back to 1861 - and it was initiated by the only Social-Liberal general at the time.

Every single Army officer has sworn to defend the Constitution, as per my suggestion. Additionally, those in the Portician Society, including all our ranking Generals, have sworn to remain politically neutral. I fail to see how this makes the sword and shield of Belgium a threat to its own existence.

- General W.B. van Stern

 

[atomicsoda]

I seek to amend the bill as follows: (Changes in Bold)

Colonial Supervision Bill, revised

I. Each separate colonial territory is divided into districts.
a) The colonial administration is supervised by a Governor-General of the colony;
b) District-level administration is supervised by a Grand Mayor.

II. The Governor-Generals are Belgian male citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Governor-Generals are appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by the Head of State;
b) DELETED
III. The Grand Mayors are Belgian male citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Governor-General of a colony appoints the Grand Mayors in such colony.

The democratically elected civilian government should have a say in appointing Governor-Generals. I think it is easier to then have the Governor General choose who he thinks would be best for Grand Mayors. Obviously you forgot to limit the position to males as a female Governor General is a preposterous idea.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

I seek to amend the bill as follows: (Changes in Bold)

I must oppose this amendment. Allowing the Prime Minister to appoint the Governor-General, with approval or not, is the status-quo. This status-quo has proven to be undesirable, as it makes the position of Governor-General a partisan one, while it should be one of merit. Much like the Chief of General Staff position.
Furthermore, while utmost trust should be placed in the Governor-General, allowing him to appoint the entire bureaucracy of the colonies would stimulate corruption and false independence from the Belgian mainland. We should avoid such a situation in whatever way we can - and combining this with a compromise in appointment between the Head of State and government would solve two problems at once.

 

[atomicsoda]

I must oppose this amendment. Allowing the Prime Minister to appoint the Governor-General, with approval or not, is the status-quo. This status-quo has proven to be undesirable, as it makes the position of Governor-General a partisan one, while it should be one of merit. Much like the Chief of General Staff position.
Furthermore, while utmost trust should be placed in the Governor-General, allowing him to appoint the entire bureaucracy of the colonies would stimulate corruption and false independence from the Belgian mainland. We should avoid such a situation in whatever way we can - and combining this with a compromise in appointment between the Head of State and government would solve two problems at once.

I will oppose any proposal where the Head of State chooses the Governor General. This is a recipe for cronyism and undemocratic rule. The current Head of State has many buisness interests in the colonies and this power would make it his personal fiefdom to the exclusion of others. We have elections and choose our Prime Minister through elections. I dont consider partisanship to be bad. I consider unelcted heireditary rulers such as the Monarchy to be bad. I trust that all members of the BSU and NDP oppose giving more power to the Monarch.

 

[Scrapknight]

I am glad to see this bill receiving revisions, and stand by the opinion that the Governor-General of the Colonies need not be a military officer. I have my own revision, which I shall present to the chamber momentarily.

Minister de Leeuw's legislation, while well-intentioned, is ultimately misguided. Reforms such as permitting labor organization, improved health care and a limit to the maximum number of hours able to be worked per day will serve the worker better than such price controls, which would ultimately make food harder, not easier, to acquire for the average worker by driving down production. While Monsieur DeWitt's questions about its constitutionality are valid, I believe that this is ultimately a matter for the courts to decide. I do not believe this is a constitutional amendment and thus I neither can nor will block a vote on it, but I advise the chamber that, if said bill is presented to me, I will ask the Senate to veto it.

My proposed revision to Minister Giroux's mostly excellent version of the Organization Bill is as follows:

Colonial Supervision Bill, revised

I. Belgian Africa shall be divided into two territories, the Free State of Benin and the Free State of the Congo.
a) The executive of each Free State is a Minister-President appointed by the Prime Minister;
b) The Minister-President of Benin and of the Congo shall serve ten-year terms, with no limit on the number of terms they may serve;
c) The Minister-President is responsible for the enforcing Belgian law within the Free State they govern;
d) The office of Minister-President implies no military command, and colonial armed forces shall be managed by the Chief of the General Staff as he sees fit;
e) In the absence of a state of war, the Armed Forces on the territory of a Free State may not be deployed for law enforcement purposes without the consent of the Minister-President;
f) The Free States shall be divided into districts for administrative purposes;
g) Each District shall be governed by a Grand Mayor .

II. The Minister-Presidents are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Minister-Presidents are appointed by the Prime Minister;

III. The Grand Mayors are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
a) The Minister-President of a Free State appoints the Grand Mayors in said Free State.

- Pierre Savarin, Prime Minister of Belgium

((Note that the Free States will not be released as dominions in-game should this pass; should more autonomy be devolved to them, they might be.))

 

[NikoHoI3]

Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg at a dinner party held at his Brussels mansion

"A republican Prime Minister hording all the power to himself. They continue to attempt to diminish the King's power, but He will continue to rule over Belgium, whether they are pleased or not. The Chief of General Staff put forward an agreeable proposition to deal with the failures of the administration in the colonies, allowing His Majesty to use His judgement to decide the head administrators of Belgian Africa. But, this Mon. Savarin needed all the power to himself, and would veto such a proposal! A prime example of how power corrupts a man's mind. His Majesty should do something about this nonsense, before this republican socialist government attempts to remove Him! Shocking, really.

Also, this trade union business... I hope it will not be implemented in the colonies. Lord Have Mercy on you gentlemen that have to deal with this here."

 

[G.K.]

Ladies and gentlemen of this chamber,

Let me present you an amendment that should have been proposed decades ago. This government promised the people to reform Senate in a way that benefits Belgium and Belgians rather than a single man sitting on the throne, and we are ready to fulfill our promises:

Elected Senate Amendment​

The following articles of the Constitution are to be amended:

Chapter 6 – Parliamentary Selection

Senatorial Elections

Article 6
The Senate shall be elected by the People of Belgium.

Article 7
Elections for the Senate shall occur eight years after the most recent one.

Article 8
Elections shall be held under the principles of first past the post system.

Article 9
Forty senators shall be elected in Wallonia, forty in Flanders, and ten in the City of Brussels.

Article 10
Constituencies within the same region shall encompass roughly the same population as each other. Constituencies shall be reapportioned in a manner prescribed by law every ten years after a census has been taken.

Article 11
The first senatorial elections shall be held within 120 days after this amendment comes in force. The appointed Senate as of 1886 shall be dissolved after the elections are over.

Chapter 8 - The Senate

Article 2
The Senate consists of 90 members.

Article 4
Stricken, Art. 5 becomes Art. 4

Chapter 9 - The Legislative Process

Article 5
Should the Chamber of Deputies reject the revision from the Senate then it may present the original to the Monarch if the majority of all deputies of the Chamber is in favour.

Article 6
Legislation that has been passed by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate shall be sent to the Monarch for final approval. However, the Monarch can not veto legislation that has the support of two-thirds of the Parliament or constitutional amendments.

Article 9
A proposal requires two-thirds majority in the Chamber of Deputies if it would change the Constitution. The Prime Minister has in this situation the right to veto, in addition to the usual veto held by the Senate. These two vetos cannot be overruled in accordance with earlier rules within this chapter.

But there are more feudal relics hidden in our Constitution. One of them, occupying one of the top spots, needs to be changed now:

Secularism Amendment​

The following articles of the Constitution are to be amended:

Chapter 1 - The Foundations of the State

Article 2
Belgium is a secular state. All religions are to be considered equal.

I wish to hear your opinions and criticisms as this is indeed a major reform, before submitting those to vote.

((The IG reform would probably be 2 per state))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Player Actions Needed:
Vote on the government's proposed reforms: the [post=16803981]Right to Union Amendment[/post] and the [post=16803981]Right to Limited Work Hours Amendment[/post]. I cannot permit GK's proposed reform go to a vote because, as always, the MoJ has the right to propose reforms.

Also vote on the [post=16802069]Maximum Prices of Important Life Needs Act[/post], [post=16803346]Agricultural Investment Act[/post], [post=16803515]Proper Education Proposal[/post], [post=16803975]Brussels Research Institute Act[/post], [post=16805973]Colonial Supervision Bill, as first revised[/post], [post=16806093]Giroux's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill[/post], [post=16806422]Savarin's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill[/post], the [post=16807106]Secularism Amendment[/post], and the [post=16784473]Government Legislative Amendment[/post].

Note that several amendments were proposed to the Colonial Supervision Bill. It's very difficult to vote concurrently on a bill and several conflicting amendments (known problem in political science, I believe), so we will treat each amendment as a competing bill instead. While this doesn't make the situation much clearer, it does make it quicker to deal with. Provided that any pass, the one that the receives the widest margin of victory will become law. A golden vote will break a tie.

Also note that the two reforms and Secularism and Government Legislative amendment are constitutional amendments, and require a 2/3 majority, while Giroux's and Savarin's amendments are merely amendments to a bill, and will be treated under the rules I have outlined above. Note that the Secularism Amendment, if passed, will fix all governments' religious policy as Secularism or Atheism until repealed. The Prime Minister has not approved many of these amendments and is perfectly at liberty to veto some or all of them as he sees fit.

Sample Ballot:

[post=16803981]Right to Union Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16803981]Right to Limited Work Hours Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16807106]Secularism Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16784473]Government Legislative Amendment[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain

[post=16802069]Maximum Prices of Important Life Needs Act[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16803346]Agricultural Investment Act[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16803515]Proper Education Proposal[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16803975]Brussels Research Institute Act[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16805973]Colonial Supervision Bill, as first revised[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16806093]Giroux's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16806422]Savarin's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain

This vote will close at 8 PM PST on 1/30 (4 AM GMT 1/31, provided my stomach stops giving me trouble)

 

[Somberg]

Right to Union Amendment: Aye
Right to Limited Work Hours Amendment: Aye
Secularism Amendment: Aye
Government Legislative Amendment: Aye

Maximum Prices of Important Life Needs Act: Nay
Agricultural Investment Act: Abstain
Proper Education Proposal: Nay
Brussels Research Institute Act: Aye
Colonial Supervision Bill, as first revised: Abstain
Giroux's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: Aye
Savarin's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: Aye

~ Christiaan Loewen, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Leader of the BSU

 

[Otto of england]

Right to Union Amendment: Absolutely Not
Right to Limited Work Hours Amendment:Yes
Secularism Amendment: Nope.
Government Legislative Amendment: No

Maximum Prices of Important Life Needs Act: No
Agricultural Investment Act: Yes
Proper Education Proposal: Yes
Brussels Research Institute Act: Yes
Colonial Supervision Bill, as first revised: No
Giroux's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: No
Savarin's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: No

- Christian van de Velde, Count of Ypres

 

[Thoctar]

Right to Union Amendment: Aye
Right to Limited Work Hours Amendment: Aye
Secularism Amendment: Abstain
Government Legislative Amendment: Aye

Maximum Prices of Important Life Needs Act: Nay
Agricultural Investment Act: Aye
Proper Education Proposal: Abstain
Brussels Research Institute Act: Aye
Colonial Supervision Bill, as first revised: Abstain
Giroux's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: Aye
Savarin's amendment to the Colonial Supervision Bill: Aye