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Netherlands-Belgium Associated State Pact: Aye
((MLP))
 
Netherlands-Belgium Associated State Pact: Aye
((RU))

Gentlemen,

I am quite amused to see that, while His Majesty, military commanders, me and my cabinet members work hard to protect our colonial possesions from potential colonial threats and working for the good of the nation (having, partially, to heal it from certain incompetent and amateur decisions of the Savarin premiership), the opposition does nothing but spite, utter sensless jibes, slanders respected men, tries to misrepresent our coalition by portraying it as beauffortist (while it is led by a person who was on the other side during 1864 events, for godness sake!) and demands absurd things like a republic or turning our parliamentarians into laborers. Clearly the security of the country or matters of its everyday governance does not interest the good gentlemen - as they did not interest them while they were in power and failed to submit any coherent plans for most of their agencies. I think that the nation deserves more than by being run by radical amateurs, does it not, friends?

De Lannoy laughs

I find the idea of the referendum as another attempt to spend the money of the taxpayers, while we are on the edge of war, just for the sake of the ego of the republicans, The nation has once again spoken, by giving a firm majority of votes to outrightly monarchist parties, proving its loyalty to our traditional institutions. The people want it - and our country will always remain a kingdom, whatever dogmatic socialist and republican firebrands like de Graaf and Coppens say. Currently we are too busy to participate in another costly farse.

While I will be awaiting the appropriate reports from Ministies of Labor and of Justice, the missives I received from Ministry-Presidency of Bening and Ministry of Colonial Affairs, demonstrate that the information provided by Monsieur de Witt may have been grossly overestimated. Some opinions have even been voiced that these claims may be even political motivated, aimed to lower the prestige of colonial enterpreneurs and the royal family, namely His Royal Highness Pierre, whose name Minister-President of Congo did not fail to mention. However all possibilities will be checked, we need to be sure everything is allright - and, if neccessary, normalise the situation. I also must say that I fully support the idea of tax incentives for colonial investors and support for colonial immigration voiced by respectable Minister of Finance Wolff and Minister of Colonies Klinkenberg.

At the same time I must say that the colonial bill currently regulating the administration of colonies would, if not amended, cause instability and their ineffective management.

a) Minister-Presidents of Free States are appointed as political officials by politial officials - yet their term exceeds twicce the term of this appointing authority or his party. All this looks like a powergrab from the incumbent ministers that tried to keep some positions under their control even if they lose the next celections.
b) Minister-Presidents are appointed for ten years terms, but no conditions for their replacement are set in the bill. It seems that they can only be impeached per court procedures, when they commit a criminal act, but, for example, gross mismanagement of their territories cannot lead to such consequences.
c) It is not clear to whom the Minister-Presidents report (the King? Prime Minister? Ministry of Colonial Affairs) and there is no centralising authority in Africa. It is clear that in this situation the Minister President would either rule his territory as an irresponsible despot or write leisurely to different Brussels authorities, which would make the decision-making process in the colonies slow and inefficient.
d) The powers of Minister-Presidents are very vague. It is said that they are responsible for enforcing Belgian laws within their free state, but we all know that question of applicability of all Belgian laws to the colonies is debatable.
e) It is said that minister-president implies no military command and colonial armed forces shall be managed by the Chief of the General Staff as he sees firt. In the absence of the state of war the armed forces may not be deployed on the territory of the Free State for law enforcement purposes without the permission of the Minister-President. However, who could overrule a traitorous or incompetent Minister-President in this situation? Who would be the higher arbitrating authority between the military command and civil administration?
f) It is said that Free States are divided into districts, but it is not said who does the dividing

And so on. It is quite clear that before dealing with other colonial matters it is important to amend or rewrite this bill, in order to create a stable and clear system of colonial governance. I hope that Minister Klinkenberg and respectable members of the parliament will assist me here.

- Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou-Brienne, Prime Minister of Belgium
 
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((Pluto, I was planning for Belgian governance in the Congo to follow the historical path to a certain extent, but I was hoping to avoid the whole severed hands thing...))
 
((We leave in an alternative reality. I do not think we can say all these cruelties happened unless TH says they did))
 
Associated State Pact: Aye

[MLP]


These allegations of torture and criminal exploitation are horrifying, so I must ask a psychologist to check the Minister-President of Congo's mental health. Anyone who could make up that kind of nonsense must have a sick mind. Perhaps the Minister-President himself is practising these crimes on a smaller scale, trying to hide the fact by diverting attention to commercial entrepeneurs? Either way, I am most concerned with his ability to continue governance.

- Sir Maximiliaan van Brabant, OPL, Minister of Commerce
 
Order of Battle and Administrative Changes, 1891

Issued to the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministries of War and the Colonies, the Admiralty and all senior and flag level officers of the Army and Navy.



Order of Battle

Army

Chief of General Staff: Field Marshal Van der Wyngaert

Chief of the Army: Colonel-General Thaddée

1st Army Corps (Colonel-General Thaddée)
- 1st "Fighters" Division
- 3rd "Brussels Guard" Division
2nd Army Corps (-)
- 2nd "Bulwark" Division
- 4th "Goes Forth" Division
3rd "Shadow Horse" Cavalry Corps (Field Marshal Van Stern)
- 5th Cavalry Division

Colonial Command: Lieutenant-General Van Buskirk

Army of Africa
- His Majesty's Benin Guard (Lieutenant-General Van Buskirk)
- His Majesty's Congo Guard
Army of Batavia
- His Majesty's Java Guard
His Majesty's Suez Garrison

Metropolitan Auxiliary Force
- 1st Auxiliaries
- 2nd Auxiliaries


Navy

Admiral of the Fleet: Field Marshal Van der Wyngaert

Arenberg Battleship Fleet (Field Marshal Van der Wyngaert)
- HMS Arenberg
- HMS Invincible (Captain Dieric)
Transport Fleet
- HMS Benin
- HMS Royal
- HMS Prince Regent




Administrative Changes

Divisions

All currently unassigned regiments are to be absorbed by the existing Army Corps. The 2nd Luxembourg Artillery shall join the 3rd Cavalry Corps, with the 1st Bruges Engineers joining the 1st Army Corps. All unassigned regiments in Africa shall merge with the Army of Africa. All unassigned regiments in Batavia shall merge with the Army of Batavia.

Personnel

Lieutenant-General Xavier Thadée, currently of His Majesty's Benin Guard and occupying the colonial command, is henceforth promoted to the position of Chief of the Army. As a result, he shall be recalled to the mainland and assigned to the 1st Army Corps. He shall also be promoted to the rank of Colonel-General.

Lieutenant-General Van Buskirk shall assume Colonel-General Thaddée's position as General-Superior of the Colonial Forces and take personal command of His Majesty's Benin Guard.

My predecessor, Field Marshal Van Stern, shall retain command of the 3rd Cavalry Corps. So as to avoid any confusion within the chain of command, he shall be assigned the rank and position of Lieutenant-General, with the intention that he be reappointed to the honorary rank of Field Marshal upon his retirement. Should he wish, General Van Stern may exercise use of the honorary position of Field Marshal Emeritus. This will not alter the chain of command.

Lieutenant John Dieric shall be promoted to the rank and position of Captain and granted command of HMS Invincible, our newest Arenberg Class ship.

I shall retain command of HMS Arenberg and the Arenberg Battleship Fleet. For now, I shall also retain the office of Admiral of the Fleet, with a view to installing a successor as soon as possible. With that in mind, I recommend that Captain Dieric enrols in the Advanced Officer Training Course at the Royal Naval Academy in Antwerp at his earliest convenience.

On a slightly different note, and as a show of the military's gratitude for his services, I recommend that General Van Stern be awarded the Distinguished Service Order. I feel it is the least we in the military can do to show our appreciation.



With regard to Tippu Tip

In light of the threat of malicious forces operating within the colonies, and the threat of an armed invasion or insurrection such forces accompany, I order the Army of Africa to remain vigilant and prepared to attack should Tippu Tip and his forces arrive in our territory. He must not be allowed to get away with his vile activities, and must thereforebe stopped via military intervention.

I am of the opinion that the current colonial forces will be sufficient to deal with any threat, especially taking into account our superior technology and discipline, but nonetheless order the Metropolitan Auxiliary Force to remain on standby. They shall serve as primary backup for the Army of Africa should Tippu Tip's forces prove more of a challenge to defeat than first expected, and should be ready to ship out to the colonies at short notice.


VDW
SINT-NIKLAAS​
 
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The refusal to hold a Referendum is an affront to the Belgian people that can only be explained by Conservative's fear of losing such a challenge and see their precious Monarchy dissolved by the overwhelming Republican majority of the Belgian people. The notion that the last elections were won by "Monarchist" parties is also laughable, as it want us to believe that those who voted for the "Moderate" party, a party that worked together with Republican parties just the year before, are all staunch supporters of the Monarchy and all opposed to any talks of Republic instead of, more realistically, having been betrayed by the sudden shift to the right of their party,

If the de Lannoy truly believe that the people is with him then he would have allowed the Referendum,this is an evident sign of weakness from government!


Netherlands-Belgium Associated State Pact: No, Imperialism at its finest!
[BSU]

- Carl Coppens, Independent Socialist Deputy
 
The refusal to hold a Referendum is an affront to the Belgian people that can only be explained by Conservative's fear of losing such a challenge and see their precious Monarchy dissolved by the overwhelming Republican majority of the Belgian people. The notion that the last elections were won by "Monarchist" parties is also laughable, as it want us to believe that those who voted for the "Moderate" party, a party that worked together with Republican parties just the year before, are all staunch supporters of the Monarchy and all opposed to any talks of Republic instead of, more realistically, having been betrayed by the sudden shift to the right of their party,

If the de Lannoy truly believe that the people is with him then he would have allowed the Referendum,this is an evident sign of weakness from government!


Netherlands-Belgium Associated State Pact: No
[BSU]

- Carl Coppens, Independent Socialist Deputy

De Lannoy smiles

It is just laughable, Monsieur Coppens. Moderate Liberal Party is an outrightly monarchist party, since Poisson Sr, years more than ever, even its left wing, and its supporters are liberal monarchists. More than that, you know what I would tell you? There are monarchists or borderline monarchists even among your own BSU voters, people who, in the past, elected moderates like de Vos, who applauded to the work of your party with Harfleurian Conservatives in a clearly monarchist coalition. This is why the leadership of your own party, until last years and its entente with NDP, has been very silent about republicanism. Your firebrand doctrines are not in any way so popular as you claim. There is no future for them in Belgium. People are with us, as these elections have proved.

- Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou, Prime Minister of Belgium
 
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((Edit: So let's assume this all went down before Thaddeé learned of the command changes. And on that note, thank you very much!))

Associated State Pact: Aye

[RU]



In his field headquarters, kept cool only by the constant attentions of a weary attendant wielding a fan, an exasperated Lieutenant-General Xavier-Pierre Florian Thaddeé read his correspondence with an expression like his only son had just confessed to wanting to elope with a donkey.

Rumour had it that Nero played the lyre while Rome burned, but at least he was doing something useful. Here they were on the verge of the greatest trial of the white man in Africa, the first serious challenge to Belgian authority, and instead of forming a united front, the men of state were squabbling like children. Even in far-flung Benin, reports had been received of this undignified display: insults being tossed across the chamber; the very government being impugned and degraded. Thaddeé didn't realise he'd be fighting a war on two fronts. The Army could save Africa from Tippu Tip, but who could rescue Brussels from its politicians?

There were serious ramifications. As a veteran of the theatre, Thaddeé knew that, whatever the high-flung rhetoric at home about 'civilising order' or 'humanitarian mission', there was one reason and one reason alone why a native would always look askance at a Belgian: awe. Belgian authority was based on perception. The colonial command could not hope to patrol an entire continent, let alone one as rugged and restless as Africa. Order was only maintained because the Belgian was as impenetrable and fearful to the African as vice-versa. Chip but a crack into this image, and the whole façade will shatter. And this Tippu Tip could do, even in defeat, if he only scored a couple of victories against Thaddeé's men. It hardly helped matters when Belgian national leaders were too busy taking pot-shots at each other to seem to care about the empire that Thaddeé and his predecessors had fought tool and nail to claim.

Once or twice, he toyed with the idea of sending another telegram home, which probably would have looked like this:

22 SEP 1891​


FROM COLONIAL COMMAND BENIN HQ

STOP
STOP
STOP​


YOURS THADDEE
GEN SUP AFT​

But Thaddee realised that once you stuck your toe in politics, politics stuck on you, and he decided to leave Parliament to its own devices. They would rally round if things got worse, he reasoned, which was democracy's redeeming feature: you could always count on the people's representatives to do the right thing at the very last possible moment. He just had to hope that worse wasn't too worse.

He put the papers aside. Across the Niger river, Tippu Tip was marshalling his horde. Runaway slaves, caliphal conscripts, brigands and slavers and savages: all inferior to the Belgian servicemen on every level, but still holding the potential to wreak havoc. If he harnessed enough of them together, he could overrun the interior lands where Belgian control was patchy, spark an exodus of white immigrants and prompt revolts amongst the put-down Congolese. Decades of colonisation undone, perhaps irreversible. Belgium humiliated at home and abroad; the great powers swarming in to scoop up the scraps, probably under the pretext of 'policing' what Belgium cold not; the end of the African Empire. And Thaddee would probably lose his command, too.

So here he was, sweating in the jungle, preparing to mobilise. He wouldn't stand by and wait for Tippu Tip to appear over the horizon. He would strike first, and decisively. Smash Sokoto, smash the Sultan, smash the jumped-up slaver and his minions, save Belgian Africa. Or at least, that was the plan. But as Tippu Tip himself was about to learn, those who make plans seldom see their vindication.

So instead of a telegram, Thaddeé composed a letter, and instead of sending it to Parliament, he addressed it to the Palace...



His Royal Majesty, Prosper-August I, by the Grace of God and Will of the People, King of the Belgians;
The Right Honourable Viscount of Sint-Niklaas, Admiral Lord Jean-Camille van der Wyngaert, Chief of the Royal General Staff;
His Grace the Duke of Anjou-Brienne, Alexandre de Lannoy, Leader of the Government;


Sirs,

Let it be immediately said, as it may be inferred, that this communication is intended only for you perusal and no others, save for those necessary for the execution of its contents.

Following the accurate intelligence of His Royal Highness and the Belgian colonial community, I have begun preparations for countering the machinations of the Swahili slaver, who I believe is intent on attacking the Kingdom in the following year - if, indeed, not earlier. Therefore, it is imperative that we strike before he does.

I am, by temperament, a cautious man, hesitant to waste life where it is not merited. But it is my belief that the Free States could not endure a prolonged war, both economically and psychologically. So while I am inclined to Fabius, circumstances force me to be Hannibal. We must strike at the heart of darkness with full force, excepting only the auxiliaries necessary to maintain order in the territories once word of the revolt spreads.

I propose that we wait until after the turn of the year, once the desert winds have scorched up the marshes and facilitated our passing. There shall be a two-pronged assault, from east and west. Your Majesty's Benin Guard shall launch an expedition into the Sokot basin, then follow the Niger river to systematically purge the insurgents. Simultaneously, Your Majesty's Congo Guard shall mobilise to secure the Congo Free State from insurrection and then, having ensured order, penetrate into the Caliphate. ((Unsure if Sokoto has a coast still, but that would obviously be blockaded.)) Tippu Tip shall be crushed between our pincer movement with minimal disruption to the apparatus of our territories and their inhabitants.

I understand that such a proposal is as fraught with risk as any military campaign, particularly fighting on foreign ground against a duplicitous foe. As such, I accept full responsibility for this endeavour regardless of its outcome. But I do earnestly believe in its necessity for the safety of this Kingdom and its people.

I await your approval or disapproval and shall not move an inch until either is received.​


Please deign to accept, Sirs, my humble and undistinguished considerations,

Xavier-Pierre Florian Thaddeé FPS POM
Lieutenant-General of His Majesty's Army
General-Superior of the African Theatre
Commander of His Majesty's Benin Guard​
 
De Lannoy smiles

It is just laughable, Monsieur Coppens. Moderate Liberal Party is an outrightly monarchist party, since Poisson Sr, years more than ever, even its left wing, and its supporters are liberal monarchists. More than that, you know what I would tell you? There are monarchists or borderline monarchists even among your own BSU voters, people who, in the past, elected moderates like de Vos, who applauded to the work of your party with Harfleurian Conservatives in a clearly monarchist coalition. This is why the leadership of your own party, until last years and its entente with NDP, has been very silent about republicanism. Your firebrand doctrines are not in any way so popular as you claim. There is no future for them in Belgium. People are with us, as these elections have proved.

- Alexandrde de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou, Prime Minister of Belgium
And yet you fear to let a Referendum happen, even through it could end the demands for a Republic once and for all.
I sense only fear in your veto, if you truly believe to have such popular backing then let the people be the arbiter!

- Carl Coppens, Independent Socialist Deputy
 
Gentlemen,

I want you to thank Admiral van der Wyngaert for his latest report on the state of our military. I have also received proposals from our colonial command recommending to apply certain methods of warfare. Both documents are passed to the Ministry of War and the Royal Palace. I would ask for a joint meeting with the King, Minister of War and Chief of the General Staff, so we could work out a final and unified opinion on details of our our way of action.

On unrelated matter (or, I must say, related matter) – so that this chambers would have something to do, save for strifing, while we are dealing with matters of national security, I want to present my amended version of the Colonial Governance bill, which I worked during my term in opposition.

De Lannoy chuckles, but his eyes are worried and tired

I hope that it had eradicated the loopholes and dangerous parts that existed in the previous version and will set a clear, centralized and transparent system of government. I have always tried to solve the ever debatable question of the application of Belgian laws in the colonies. I must ponder that it is only a first step and we would need, in the future, to work out other documents, regarding, say, our communications with the populace, but this may lay the foundation.
It is currently a draft, so I again ask all of you to discuss it in a nonpartisan way, offer adjustments, changements, maybe pointing at loopholes or errors. Thank you. Now I am off to a meeting with military commanders.

- Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou – Brienne, Prime Minister of Belgium

Colonial Supervision Bill, revised

I.Current Belgian сolonial possessions shall be divided into two territories, the Viceroyalty of Belgian Africa and the Free State of Batavia.
II. The supreme supervisory authorities over Belgian colonies is the Ministry of Colonies or other governmental agencies to which the Prime Minister had delegated the appropriate powers. The Ministry of Colonies:
a)Directs the overall economic development of Belgian overseas territories, sets directives for their executive officals.
b)Works out executive codes, rules and regulations regarding colonial issues.
c)Creates and divides the colonies into administrative units within the structure set in the following law.
d) Proposes to the Belgian parliament the status changes of the colonial possesions.
f) Sets the status and governance in all newly acquired colonies of Belgium until such are set by the parliamentary bill.
III. For sake of control over the activities of the local authorities by the central government the Royal Supervisory Council is set in each colonial possession. Its size, term of service and consistence are set by the Prime Minister basing on the size and needs of the colony in question. However 25% of Royal Supervisors must be elected by a simple majority by the Belgian parliament, 25% of Royal Supervisors are appointed by the Monarch, 20% of Royal Supervisors are appointed by the Prime Minister and must represent all existing governmental ministries, 15% Royal Supervisors are appointed by the Constitutional Court and 15% Royal Supervisors are appointed by the Royal Belgian Civil Service. They have the right to:
a) inspect all actions of colonial governmental mechanism and inform the central authority about all possible violation of Belgian laws and infringement of Belgian interests.
b) Deem, by a qualified two thirds majority of votes, illegitimate and postpone up to six monthes the execution of any decisions and acts that they consider not corresponding with applicable Belgian laws.
c) Suspend, by a simple majority of votes, any governmental official up to Minister-President, from executing his office for a term up to six monthes for any acts that they consider not corresponding with applicable Belgian laws.
The Royal Supervisory Council or any of his members may be dismissed by the Monarch or Prime Ministe upon approval of a simple majority of the lower house of Belgian parliament, for nonpolitical reasons, if necessary, confirmed by the Constitutional Court. A Royal Supervisor must be a Belgian citizen aged 25 or older.
IV Chief executive of Belgian Africa is the Viceroy of Belgian Africa
a) Viceroy of Belgian Africa is appointed by the Monarch upon a ratification of a simple majority of the lower house of Belgian parliament. The Viceroys are Belgian citizens aged 35 or older and having no less than 15 years of active governmental,military or public service
i)If the candidature of the Viceroy of Belgian Africa is refused to be ratified by the parliament for three consequent, the apolitical nature of this decision is to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Belgium
ii) The Viceroy of Belgian Africa is appointed from a list of candidates, set in the following way: three candidates are proposed to the King by the General Staff, three candidates are proposed to the King by the Prime Minister and three candidates are proposed to the King by the Belgian Royal Civil Service
b) Viceroy of Belgian Africa should serve at the pleasure of the Monarch. He can be replaced: 1)by the Monarch, 2)by a simple majority of votes in the lower house of Belgian Parliament upon proposal of a Prime Minister or Minister of Colonial Affairs for a nonpolitical reason, if necessary, confirmed by the Constitutional Court 3) by courts of justice per impeachement procedures set in the Constitution
c) The Viceroy of Belgian Aftica is the direct representative of the Monarch executing superintendence and control of the whole military and civilian administration of Belgian Aftica and has to reach legitimate targets set by the Monarch, the Prime Minister and/or Minister for Colonies.
V. The Viceroyalty of Belgian Africa is to be divided into Free State of Benin and the Free State of the Congo.
a) The executive of each Free State is a Minister-President are appointed by the Prime Minister/ or, if he chooses to delegate the powers, the Minister of Colonies upon approval of the Monarch. The Minister-Presidents are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
b) The Minister-President of Benin and of the Congo shall serve for five years term and may be reappointed for an unlimited number of terms. The Minister-President may be removed at any time by the 1) Prime Minister or Minister of Colonies 2) the Viceroy of Belgian Africa, for nonexecution of his orders, mismanagement of their areas and other legitimate and valid reasons. In case of removal by the Viceroy of Belgian Africa the Minister-President may appeal to the Monarch, and the Monarch may overrule the decision.
c) The Minister-President is responsible for the enforcing Belgian law within the Free State they govern, namely:
i) Executing the legitimate orders of the Viceroy of Belgian Africa, the Prime Minister and Minister of Colonies
ii) Heading the local administration, police and justice system
iii) Coordinating the activities of the representatives of Belgian central institutions (ministries or executives agencies) existing in the area
d) The office of Minister-President implies no military command, and colonial armed forces shall be managed by the Chief of the General Staff upon agreement with the Viceroy of Belgian Africa.
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, Viceroy of Belgian Africa or the Monarch;
f) The Free States shall be divided into districts for administrative purposes. The creation and division of districts is the responsibility of the Ministry of Colonies
g) Each district shall be governed by a Grand Mayor, appointed by the Viceroy of Belgian Africa. They serve their term, execute duties and are removed in the way set for Minister Presidents in the clauses b-d of Article V of this bill. The Grand Mayors are Belgian citizens aged 25 or older.
VI. The Batavian Free State is run in accordance with the Article IV of this bill, but the duties connected with dismissal of Minister-President, issuance of legitimate orders to the Minister President, permission to use the military forces for policing that are in Belgian Africa executed by the Viceroy, here revert to the Monarch.
VII. The precedence of colonial legislation
a.Specific bills regulating colonials affairs may be passed by Belgian parliament.
b.General bills passed by Belgian parliament are implemented in the colonies if and to the extent they correspond with the specific condition existing in the area. They are implemented by special adoption executive decrees issued by the Viceroy upon the approval of a simple majority of Royal Supervisory Council of the colony and the Ministry of Colonies. That does not apply to the general bills protecting the rights and freedoms of Belgian populace of the colonies which are automatically implemented.
c. Specific rules, executive order and regulations of the Ministry of Colonies. Must not contradict the colonial bills of the parliament and adoption decrees of the Viceroy and be approved by Royal Supervisory Council of each colony.
d. Ordinary executive orders of the Viceroy and Minister Presidents must not contradict all of the above mentioned acts.
 
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Associated State Pact: Aye
[RU]

__________________________________________________________

The latest legislative piece put forward by Prime Minister de Lannoy, has the support of me, and the entirety of the Ministry of the Colonies. This bill will clean up the administrative mess left behind by the Savarin government in the Colonies. This government has taken considerable action on properly administrating Africa, making it the crown jewel of Belgium.

The Ministry thanks the Minister-President of Benin for sharing his own reports on the plantation situation in the Free State of Benin. I, agree with the Honorable Sir van Brabant, that the Minister-President of the Congo must have a severe mental sickness to concoct such terrifying stories. Thus making Mon. DeWitt incapable of successfully preforming his duty in running the Free State of the Congo, and the Ministry would like to put forward a motion for his timely removal.

Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg,
Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Member of Parliament for Schaerbeek
 
A plantation outside Jogjakarta,
Free State of Batavia

"Damned Lannoy."

Minister-President Jacob de Zoet of Batavia shuffled through the parliamentary minutes, listening to the clop of the horses along the dirt road. The "Het Wilhelmus" plantation was one of the largest Dutch-owned plantations on the island and it was his job to make sure the owner was fully loyal to the new government. Similar visits to other plantations had produced hostility, but nothing that the Army of Batavia wouldn't be able to handle. Angrily flinging the papers out the door of the carriage before closing it again he was nearly thrown forwards by the sudden stop of the carriage. The driver called back that he had arrived.

Slowly he descended the short steps of the carriage, but was taken aback by the small circle of Dutchmen pointing guns at him. This was indeed the plantation but was not the visit he had expected.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?!?"

One of them, the owner, smirked at the evident fear in Jacob's voice and jerked a thumb towards the swaying fields in the distance. Jacob stared back dumbly until he consented to speak.

"See those fields? That's where you're going, spleetoog."

Comprehension dawned and Jacob staggered backwards but they all rushed forwards to seize him at once; beating him to the ground and stripping him of his jacket, vest and so on. Darkness fell and he woke in the fields what seemed like ages later. Others laboured around him and pointedly didn't look in his direction, many of them as Asian as he was. De Zoet couldn't even see the manor that he knew was in the distance but he could see the many Dutch overseers, whip in hand. He sighed and set to work.


TO THE DUC STOP DE ZOET VANISHED STOP IS PRESUMED DEAD STOP GOD SAVE HIM STOP
 
From the private correspondence of the Prime Minister with His Majesty the King of Belgium

Your Royal Majesty,

If the Minister-President has decided that he does not need martial law procedures to defend the internal security in his region from the insurgents and agents of Tip Tippu, taking the responsibility for it, and Your Majesty agrees, so be it. I, as ever, adhere to the decision of my sovereign. However in connection with the recent event, the probably abduction of your Minister President there, Monsieur de Zoet, extraordinary measures such as martial law may be advisable. There are information of slaving gangs not ready to accept the rule of law, turning their plantations into private fiefs - and ever opposing legitimate agents of government. I would take swift measures to appoint a valid replacement to Monsieur de Zoet and resurrect law and order in the area. I have already send special orders to local policing authorities and Deputy Minister President.

I must inform Your Majesty that we have devised a set of military measures aimed to deal with the slaver insurgency in the most effective way. The report of the Chief of the General Staff has been submitted to you. It must also inform Your Majesty, knowing your interest in labor questions, that the government has been working out a program that would assist the underdeveloped Flemish industy, encourage new modery enterprises to be opened, prevent possible unemployment problems.

However, among all these turmoils, we need to deal with business-as-usual.

I want also to notify my sovereign that I have decided to appoint three new Senators, whose talents and experience would certainly benefit out upperchamber. The first among them is General Jacques Dieric, the retired Chief of Army - and one of the most loyal, renowned and valiant our soldiers. I believe that his talents, proved on the field of battle, would not be unneeded in this new service as well. Your Majesty has already rewarded this hero, so I would not dare to make any further suggestions.

The second of the appointees is Honorable Edmunde Burke Sr, who served as Minister of Commerce for twenty years, in four consequent cabinets. This respected statesman and economist has played a large role in the resurrection of our economy after 1864-1866 years, and deserves a commendation, I believe. Therefore I ask Your Majesty to confer upon him a Knighthood of the Royal Order of the Lion.

The third Senator is none other that Pierre of Arenberg, Prince of Belgium. Your Majesty yourself knows the burden your uncle has carried during sixteen years of your infancy, acting as our head of state – and all Belgium knows his spectacular role in our colonial development and participation in Dutch peace negotiation. Since Your Majesty has decided to grant the highest honor of Order of Prosper Louis more rarely, justly thinking that its frequent grants lower its value, I ask you to grant to the ex-Prince Regent the Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of the Lion.

Your sincere servant
Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou
 
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Now what's all this? I am gone for a day, and Secretary de Lannoy thinks he is God, and proposes this unfulfilling proposal. Well, I say, as a counter (or follow-up, what have you) I propose to annex the Netherlands, but I might as well vote yes to the proposal up now as an interim, or foreword to my far superior one. Also, didn't we execute de Lannoy? Why is he still around? Furthermore, the Netherlands must be destroyed.

Associated State Pact: Yes
(([RU]))

- Lambin l'Escargot, Vicar of Christ
 
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Name: Duke Richard Couman D'Ursel
Date of Birth: August 21, 1861
Place of Birth: Brussels, Belgium
Nationality: Flemish
Position: Prince/Duke of D'Ursel, Mayor of Ghent
Bio: Richard began his life as a brother too Marie Charles Joseph, 6th Duke d'Ursel, knowing full well that he would probably never ascend too dukedom he was happy living his life as a count. He studied politics and warfare at early ages, even fulfilling his dream as a duelist even though it was a dying art in the face of the modern world.

He did not care for traveling much out of Belgium however, he has only visited the Netherlands on a family trip, being a Count of Ursel and part of one of the oldest houses in Belgium however was trying at time. Richard began too know that he must continue his line, as his brother had no children of his own twelve years older then him, at the age of twenty-four he began courting a lady Elisabeth-Alberta falling madly inlove with her, it was only later that he learned her father was none other then the prestigious Alenandre De Lannoy, after hearing of such things he set out too prove himself too his soon-to-be father-in-law. He achieved the Mayoralty of Ghent easily enough(and served a few years in the armed forces), and set out too announce his engagement. This was all in circumference however too his brother's heart problems, where he suddenly died and left Richard too the heir of the estate. He has now served as the Duke for five years, growing accustomed too nobility.


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His Majesty the King of Belgium, Prosper-August I


(Excerpt from correspondence with the Prime Minister)

"Prime Minister,

I have reviewed the list of Senatorial appointments that you have sent me and I confirm them, should the persons in question agree to take them. With respect to the honors list, I will consent to name Edmund Burke Knight of the Royal Order of the Lion (KL).

About my uncle - I feel that honors mean little to him personally, as he is already a Prince, and he genuinely wished a position of responsibility in the African colonies rather than an honor. However, if he will accept the title, I will name him Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of the Lion (GCL).

Finally, I regard the disappearance of the Minister-President of Batavia as an emergency. I previously received a report from the Colonial Ministry indicating that the white Dutch population of the island might be fomenting unrest against the Belgium rule, and that criminal elements were proving difficult to reign in throughout much of the area. These considerations might be linked to the Minister-President's disappearance and, if so, order must be immediately restored. I therefore declare martial law in Batavia. I will order the Java Guards to immediately investigate the disappearance of the Minister-President and take any action necessary to maintain the rule of law in the Free State. It falls to you, Prime Minister, to appoint the Minister-President's replacement."


((Edited because I confused the Dierics, apparently))
 
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