Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Thoctar]

The Ministry of Finance will now post it's budget implementations.

All financing levels will remain the same except as noted.

The industrial subsidization programme recommended for our industries will be put into effect. Tax rates for the middle and upper classes will each be cut by 10%, and the spending on military supplies in both the army and navy will each be increased by 10%.

~Johann Wolff, Minister of Finance

 

[Andre Massena]

Amedee saunters in to the late night session of the chamber after missing the entire day due to his latest opium binge

So a business-friendly climate and no tax-cuts for the lower class, aye. Looks like the fat-cats of Belgium are back to the business they are best at: screwing the Belgian people.

Amedee takes his seat and opens a Lambic. He's not sure if this is against the rules because he never read all of them but he doesn't care.

 

[Scrapknight]

Amedee saunters in to the late night session of the chamber after missing the entire day due to his latest opium binge

So a business-friendly climate and no tax-cuts for the lower class, aye. Looks like the fat-cats of Belgium are back to the business they are best at: screwing the Belgian people.

Amedee takes his seat and opens a Lambic. He's not sure if this is against the rules because he never read all of them but he doesn't care.

((We actually did pass a law back in the 1840s prohibiting drunkenness in Parliament. Blame the conservatives, they hate fun . ))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Lannoy 1891-1892: The Tip of the Iceberg​

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In 1891, one Belgian political satirist would write that Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou, "won" the 1891 General Election in the same way one might win a stay of divorce from an estranged wife. It is fairly certain that the writer's comparison of the RU-GLP coalition to an unhappy marriage was intentional. The coalition got off to a rocky start with Lannoy announcing a set of policies only to be publicly contradicted, if not threatened, by GLP leader Andrei Popa Vanderhoof. Both party leaders had reputations as strong, disagreeable personalities and negotiations were rumored to be loud and involved a lot of shouting. Of course, Vanderhoof's relationship with Lannoy was no better than it had been with Loewen and Savarin in the previous government. The same satirist would later joke, "Belgian politics is a dance to which only four people have arrived... Vanderhoof is the belle of the ball solely because he is the only girl there, and the three men fight over him not because the GLP leader is attractive but because they all fear being left out in the cold."

Despite initial difficulties, the GLP and the RU ultimately were able to reach an agreement and formed a government under Alexandre de Lannoy. Lannoy was immediately faced with complications. Minister-President De Zoet of Batavia disappeared in the first weeks of Lannoy's administration and martial law was declared in Java in an effort to restore order. Lambin l'Escargo, the former leader of the Right Party - suspected to be mentally ill by his peers - suddenly announced that he was the true leader of the Regalist Union and publicly called for the Lannoy's execution for trying to usurp his title. Word also reached Brussels that a Swahili-Arab slaver, Tippu Tip, was amassing an army and support for an attack against Belgian Africa. In Wallonia, business leaders refused to construct electrical factories despite an ongoing campaign from the interior to convince them of the emergent industry's importance. The treasury also began running a severe deficit that forced Finance Minister Wolff to reverse his tax cuts in August.

1. The invention of the telephone in 1892 confirmed Lannoy's long-held belief that Belgium needed electronics-based industries​

Through the combined crises, Lannoy believed he had one significant success with the passage of the Netherlands-Belgium Associated State Pact. The Pact, which would have made the Dutch nation a client state of Belgium was only seriously opposed by the NDP. Lannoy was criticized in the leftist press for living in the Dark Ages. "Lannoy's attempt to secure a vassal oath from the sovereign of the Netherlands is nothing short of archaic," wrote the editorial column of the radical liberal paper The Citizen. "He and Pierre d'Arenberg both fail to understand the world has moved on from the time when the loyalties of whole nations could be controlled through feudalism." Nevertheless, the Pact passed the Belgian Parliament with a vast bipartisan majority.

It did not fare quite so well in the Dutch Parliament, who rejected it almost unanimously. The socialist government of the Netherlands also sent Lannoy a fairly scathing rebuke by way of the foreign office. The Prime Minister was furious but could do little against the Netherlands - he was still bound by the peace treaty of the Savarin administration and could hardly call a rejection of the pact causus belli. Nevertheless, relations between the two states cooled - if possible - even more than they had post-bellum.

1891 saw continuing chaos in the Balkans, as Serbia defeated Bulgaria in a pan-nationalist war. The Serbs had unexpectedly emerged as the dominant state in the region and now appeared capable of overpowering their former Ottoman masters outright; Austria began to eye Russia-protected Serbia uncomfortably and observers began to warn that the area had become a powderkeg. In June, Austria began to make overtures towards the Belgian foreign office, seeking to secure an agreement with Belgium to ally against possible Russian encroachment - the foreign office rejected the idea out of hand. With the situation in Europe appearing increasingly unstable, Belgium continued its naval and army expansion, with the construction of new, more advanced ports throughout Belgium's colonial possessions continuing as planned.

2. Austria regarded rising Serb nationalism with extreme suspicion​

Though the administration had been expecting to battle Tippu Tip shortly, a new threat - to Lannoy more dangerous and insidious than any other - emerged in late 1891. A wave of communist rebellions which came to be known as the "Red Spring" wracked Europe. Numerous countries suffered far left revolts, including Spain - where the Frente Rojo succeeded in overthrowing the Carlist Monarchy and establishing the first marxist state in Europe. The shellshocked Ottoman Empire also suffered a communist uprising and rapidly lost much of their remaining African possessions and eastern Anatolia. In Brazil, socialist mutineers marched into Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian army struggled to retake the city. The Netherlands also suffered a medium-scale republican rebellion. Prosper-August I refused to heed Alexandre de Lannoy's calls to intervene against the uprising. It was instead successfully put down by the Dutch army with few complications. Belgium itself suffered no such rebellion - though most believed that republicans were becoming more discontent. Instead, Belgium directed its attention to Africa and Tippu Tip.

Wilhelm Batavus van Stern, for 25 years the Field Marshall of Belgium, had stepped down after the election in 1893. Admiral Jean-Camille Van der Wygnaert, the architect of the modern Belgian navy, was nominated to replace him. He, in turn, entrusted the Colonial Theater to General Lucien van Buskirk. Van Buskirk was a long-time military officer with an academy background and significant experience, but was generally regarded as unqualified to take command of the forces of an theater of war. However, with both General Van der Goltz and General Thaddée gone from the theater, few other candidates remained for the post. In his favor, he had developed a reputation as a gutsy commander during his military tenure.

He was called on to defend Belgian Africa from Tippu Tip. Tip, an Arab-Swahili slaver, had travelled west from the "lawless reaches of Africa" to raid villages in the Congo and Cameroon and secure slaves for his trade. A clever diplomat as well as a merchant, he was highly successful in inciting local muslim rulers against European rule. As the rubber boom continued unabated, Tip's raids trod on the toes of Belgium's powerful rubber magnates. Attempts at reform and privatization during the Savarin administration, as well as the expansion of rubber producing territories, had broken Pierre d'Arenberg's stranglehold on the African rubber trade. The Congo - while still technically under Belgian governance - had been broken up into a dozen large "concessions," which the governments leased to corporations. Within these concessions, the leasing corporation or individual had the exclusive right to buy all of certain goods, including rubber and ivory, produced within the region.

3. Portrayal of Arab slaver raids on Congo villages​

Despite the colonial ministry's increasing drive to bring Belgians to Africa, only a handful of Belgians lived in the Congo. A Colonial Ministry report estimated that in 1891, excluding those living in Africa due to official business (civil office or military posting), there were only 9 Belgian families living in all of Belgian Africa - all Flemish. Under a colonial immigration drive, this number increased to 41 families in 1892 - but worryingly, none were the same families as had existed in 1891, and all were Wallonian. The number of actual Belgians in Belgian Africa remained vanishingly few, and the government lacked the bureaucratic infrastructure to effectively govern the Congo, which largely fell to private corporations. Concession holders were granted the power to maintain the rule of law within their territories and enforce a quota on local populations. Tippu Tip's raids were taking away people from the valuable rubber plantations and interrupting business. When the army was called him to drive Tip away, he mustered his forces and planned a ferocious return.

Tippu Tip launched his attack in June of 1892. Van Buskirk followed the Army of Chief of Staff - General Thaddée's - plan to launch a two-pronged attack. One element of the Belgian African forces attacked Sokoto directly via the Delta, while the other hooked south to secure the Congo before looping north. This maneuver happened to perfectly counter Tippu Tip's plan, which saw him attack south from Sokoto via Niger Delta and west from the lawless territories of Muslim central Africa. Tippu Tip had amassed, from foreign supporters and local Sokot sultans, over a hundred thousand soldiers to attempt to seize Belgian Africa. The Congo and Benin Guards had some 81,000 soldiers, all foreign born. However, Tippu Tip's soldiers - largely Sokoto and Congolese proxy-soldiers - were poorly armed and equipped, largely carrying primitive flintlock rifles to match up against Belgian machine guns. The entire war - which would come to be called the Congo-Arab War - lasted a little over six months. Tippu Tip's forces launched a number of disorderly attacks that failed to prevent Lucien van Buskirk's advance into Sokoto, and similarly failed to hold the Congo. When all was said and done, the rebellion left the entire enemy force dead or dispersed at the cost of some 3,600 auxiliary soldiers' lives. The Sokot Puppet caliph was dislodged and Sokoto formally annexed into Belgium. Tip himself was never found.

4. Pictured, Hamad bin Muḥammad bin Jumah bin Rajab bin Muḥammad bin Sa‘īd al-Murghabī ("Tippu Tip")​

After the Congo-Arab War, Lannoy hoped that the rest of his term would be relatively peaceful. However, he was instead confronted with an increasingly inflamed Belgium. When confronted with the question of pensions by a constituent, Lannoy had chosen to dismiss the idea of further pension reform out-of-hand. The move had incensed the left. Just weeks later, Lannoy was forced to address a new scandal - a Brussels University was admitting women. The administration was asked to answer the difficult question of whether the Constitution guaranteed the right of equal access to education to women. Lannoy ducked the question, correctly claiming that the Constitution only made reference to a right to compulsory education, while university-level education was voluntarily. A number of institutions announced that they would begin admitting women on their own recognizance, incensing the right, who believed that Lannoy could have blocked such a travesty easily. A national tragedy - as a young girl died after falling into a disused coal mine shaft in Spa - further incensed the national attitude.

At the end of the year 1892, the General Directorate of National Security confidentially reported to the Prime Minister that the attitude of the Belgian population had grown downright revolutionary. They estimated that some two million militia members - including roughly one million republicans - were preparing to overthrow the Belgian government by force. Military police were compelled to effectively disband the 1st Luxembourg Artillery Regiment for fear of active sympathies with Luxembourg nationalist movements, and subversive infiltration of the military was evaluated to be "widespread." The GDNS concluded that the problem "could not be ignored," and warned that if nothing was done, Tippu Tip's rebellion would merely be the Tip of the Iceberg.

5. Current composition of the Belgian Parliament​

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Player Actions Needed:
We should vote on the [post=16934054]Colonial Supervision Bill, as revised[/post] and [post=16937827]Savarin's Colonial Proposal[/post]. Don't forget to put your party in your ballot!

The government should also suggest a political or social reform, or explicitly state that it does wish any reform at all. Possible reforms are:
Political: Upper House Two Per State, Upper House Based on Population, Proportional Representation, Non-Socialist Trade Unions

Social: Good Minimum Wage, 12 Hour Work Day, Limited Safety Regulations, Trinket Unemployment Subsidies, Low Pensions, Acceptable Health Care, Good school system

(Pictures will go up later. Note that random shifts in the Parliament have occurred - they will go up in a minute.)

Sample Ballots:

[post=16934054]Colonial Supervision Bill, as revised[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain
[post=16937827]Savarin's Colonial Proposal[/post]: Yes/No/Abstain

[GLP/BSU/RU/NDP] ((Again, don't forget this!))

This vote ends at 8 PM PST 2/23 (4 AM GMT 2/24 provided time doesn't rise up against me)

 

[Marschalk]

Gentlemen,

For a long time we have been explained about the peaceful nature of radicalism, yet now it has once againt proved its worth. In neighbouring Netherlands the Citizens Guard and Red Legions (in fact, brother organizations of the gangs that have for long time terrorise our own country) tried to bring down a consitutional socialist government, led by a Regent most supporting social course! In Spain the Red Guard has brought down the monarchy, replacing it with its own dictatorship.

I remember times, when, during first past Beauffort decades, such criminal organizations, supported by some leftist politicians, were running rampart, inteferring during elections, threatening and intimidating these they did not like. I remember times when certain deputies in these noble chambers tried to frighten their collegues with the wrath of these organizations. I remember them rising against the government during Wolff term and trying to bring it down violently. All of us know that such radical gangs, functioning underground, exist in Belgium as well, planning to subvert democracy and constitutionalism, overthrow legitimate order in Belgium, establishing their own dictatorship. We have to once and forever understand: agressive radicalism does not want democracy and gradual changes, as it claims, it wants violence and revolutions. They do not want reforms, betterment of living conditions - they just want their own power, the rule of the bayonet.

More over - all of see that similar events, managed by similar forces, happen simulteniously in a number of different countries. It makes me think that they are managed from a certain international centre and have been planned for a long time. Soon, I hope, we will find out the details.

But, while I am Prime Minister, I will guard Belgium, guard the Constitution and guard democracy. Aggressive minorities will not infringe will of the majority of Belgian people. I call for a special meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers and Chief of the General Staff, to discuss the events in neighbouring Netherlands and in Spain, and then will ask for an audience of His Majesty.The worked out appropriate measures, aimed at pacification of the country, continueation of law, order and stability, will be announced as soon as possible. Only through unity will we prosper.

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

((Colonial Supervision Bill, as revised: Yes))
[RU

 

[Andre Massena]

Amedee Dupointe began his first term as deputy as an obscure figure, known only to socialists in Belgium. He quickly captured the ire of the right with his outlandish behavior and was often derided in the conservative press for his drug abuse. However, Amedee's histrionics began to capture the attention of Brussel's lower classes, who quickly flocked to the young and charismatic Dupointe who had not yet been tarnished by any previous political scandals or associations. The lower class felt their needs were being ignored by Belgium's elite, and they found a man who would speak for them, albeit in a very strange way. A small group of followers began to gather around Deputy Depointe and called themselves the Amedians. They would spend most of their nights roaming the streets of Belgium yelling incoherent political slogans and then would finish the night getting high on opium.

The Red Spring changed everything, however, and cast the previously unknown Dupointe into a position of national prominence. Thousands of people began to flock to the Amedians as the Red Spring caused turmoil over Europe. Amedee took months off at a time from parliament to lead his group around Brussels, causing mayhem as they agitated for various socialist and republican causes. The Amedians, fueled by boatloads of the recently popular cocaine drug, would march around the city in matching knickerbockers as they destroyed street signs, pelted the houses of various nobles, and burnt effigies of Lannoy, l'Escargo, Tippu Tip, and various other unpopular figures (the king was spared these indignities thanks to his popularity among the masses, even those who wanted to overthrow him). When the night wore down and the groups energy began to flag, the Amedians would wind down by invading the local opium dens, with the Bloody Sailor reserved for Dupointe and his most fervent disciples.

The Amedians could last be heard chanting NO SAFETY WITHOUT REGULATIONS and VOTE TRADE UNIONS, NOT THE REGALIST UNION

((So what happened with the Netherlands in game terms?))

 

[Marschalk]

During these days, the Prime Minister has swiftly written a number of letters

To the Right Honourable Viscount of Sint-Niklaas, Admiral Lord Jean-Camille van der Wyngaert, Chief of the Royal General Staff

Dear Jean,

I send you the copy of the report that the Director of General Directorate of State Security has sent me. You have witnessed what has happened both in Spain and Netherlands, and, I hope, do not want the similar events to take place in Belgium. Our duty is to guard the Constitution, the throne and democracy, whether it is a pleasant task or a difficult hardship. While the cabinet will do its best to work out civilian measures to deal with the threat, I believe that it may be advisable to bring some of troops deployed in the Colonial Africa to Belgium - and possibly station them in strategic puncts or create a united army ready to deal with the possible gang attacks. We might consider raising new divisions as well. It is also important to stay vigilant and continue the policy of clearing the army of servicemen whose loyalties to the country and the constitutional order are nonexistent. However I will be also waiting for your professional recommendations.

Please answer me as as soon as possible.

Sincerely yours
Alexandre

To Lord Minister Andrei Popa Vanderhoof, Minister of Flanders, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgian Cabinet

Dear Andrei

I attach the copy of the report that the Director of General Directorate of State Security has sent me. You know about the happenings in Spain and Netherlands. It is very possible that radical groups are planning to organize such scenario on our country as well. It is our duty to protect the constitutional order in the country. It may be ascertained that a vast majority of rebellious groups haven nothing in common with legitimate reformist movements, registered in the Ministry of Justice and striving to reach their aims,either political or social, per constitutional methods. These are violent Red Legion and Citizen Guard groups, managed from somewhere aboard, wishing to take the power by force. The cabinet must work out a clear set of measures to stop their ascendance.

However some of the people joining rebels are the embittered members of the legitimate movements wishing for social programs. While both of you and me agree that we should be cautious here, after the tide of the reforms that had to be passed by Harfleur, and both of us are against antibusiness reforms, I want to inform you that, theoretically, by passing certain changes, we might have pacified certain revolting groups - and weakened the mob significantly.

Here is the list of legitimate movements wishing for reforms that was currently submitted to me by the Ministry of Justice - and that may be of interest.


Campaign for Unemployment Subsidies - 156.81k
Campaign for Safe Working Conditions - 98.26k
Common School Movement - 92.34k
Maximum Workhours Movement - 7.36k
Universal Healthcare Movement - 5.52k
Campaign for Old Age Security - 64

Lowering of taxes is also can be a decent variant. It also important for Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Interior to study the daily needs of common Belgian and find, whether they are met en masse.

Waiting for your opinion.

Your sincerely,
Alexandre de Lannoy

Copies of the letters were confidentially distributed by Lannoy among cabinet members, asking for their opinions

 

[Syriana]

To His Grace, Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou-Brienne, Leader of the Government; and the Right Honourable Admiral Lord Jean-Camille van der Wyngaert, Viscount of Sint-Niklaas, Admiral of the Fleet and Chief of the Royal General Staff,​

Sirs,

As it is easy to lose sight of the periphery in these turbulent times for the metropole, I decided to separate this dispatch regarding the successful conclusion of the Congo Campaign from our other discussions.

I, amongst others, was deeply concerned by Tippu Tip and his repercussions for Belgian Africa. Fortuitously, the national disaster we anticipated has never come to fruition, for the heroic actions of His Majesty's Army have routed the rebels most decisively and even absorbed their nest into the Empire. Their leaders are dead or fled, their hosts disbanded, and their objectives thankfully unfulfilled. They have no more resources with which to provoke mischief in the Free States. Sokoto is at last ours, removing that final thorn in the hide of our imperial enterprise. You will forgive me, Sirs, if I confess that I am highly pleased by this outcome on all counts.

On that note, I intend to mint a campaign medal to be awarded to Lieutenant-General van Buskirk and all the men of His Majesty's Benin Guard. Their stalwart display, piercing the interior of obscurest Africa to scour out a cunning foe and his acolytes, is an example of martial heroism of the highest order. They shall be duly honoured for their services rendered to the Kingdom.

There remains work to be done, however. Sokoto is not presently covered by any colonial ordinances. Moreover, while Tippu Tip is presumed dead and the Caliphate has been dissolved, their confederates may remain at large in the Sokot basin, ready to act as figureheads for a further revolt against our authority. Therefore, I propose that Sokoto be subject to military occupation for the interim, under Lieutenant-General van Buskirk. He can steadily expel all lingering influences of subversion from the territory so as to render it habitable for colonisation and constitutional government.

At risk of appearing presumptuous or egotistical, I would ask, Sirs, if you might also endorse me to His Majesty in recognition of the services I rendered to the campaign, namely the Telamon Plan which was so successful in predicting and countering the slavers' advances? I have served in Africa for most of my career, and it is my simple desire that I have some memory of that dutiful service to regard when my own memory is long gone. I expect nothing except that which you are willing to recommend.​

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

Colonel-General Xavier-Pierre Florian Thaddée,
Chief of Staff of the Royal Army​

 

[Otto of england]

Report of the Ministry of Justice​

Due to the rise of militant behaviour in the realm of Belgium the Ministry of Justice find that the most efficient, safest and peaceful way to set the people at ease would be the passing of several reforms. These reforms therefore would have to be ones that the people want the most or other wise they will not be effective. So to ensure the prolonged peace in mainland Belgium the Minsitry suggests the following refroms be passed in order from least to greatest.

Unemployment subsides

Improved workplace safety condition

Improved school system

Additional the ministry suggest that we redeploy significant military force into Flanders as there is evidence of great nationalistic agitation there and it is a distinct possibility that a secessionary revolt may take plc wait in the next 5 years or so.

- Christian van de Velde, Count of Ypres, Minister of Justice

((Unemployment subside reform and move military forces to flanden))

 

[Somberg]

Minister van de Velde calls for unemployment subsidies yet does not care to provide a written amendment for it, or any of the other reforms he has called for. I have taken the liberty to draft an unemployment subsidies amendment and urge the government to support it as the fulfillment of Minister van de Velde's call for such reform.

Right to Subsidies Amendment

Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights

Article 18*

All unemployed Belgians have the right to subsidies from the government, the provision of which shall be determined by legislation passed by Parliament.

*The current Article 18 will become Article 19.

~ Christiaan Loewen, Deputy for Antwerp and Leader of the BSU

 

[Marschalk]

Gentlemen,

Today we must congratulate our army upon its defeat over the forces of Sultan Tippu, over the forces of barbarism. We all know that this man wanted to conquer Belgian colonial possesions, to infringe our national interests - but it is not only that. Tip Tippu, together with his ally and our false friend, the Sokot Caliph, wanted to stop our great mission of civilizing and educating the local populace, to bringing them the great values of enlightment, to better their living conditions. They once again wanted to turn Sokotan population into obedient slaves, serving their whims, to subvert the great values of Law anf Order for their personal good. However they were defeated and rejected - not only by us, but by the populace itself.

Me and Monsieur Savarin have different opinions regarding colonial governance and we have different opinions regarding the monarchy - but I believe that both of us would find it great that Beninese and Congan soldiers were fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with our Belgian compatriots, fighting for one King and one country. It once again show that our colonialism was never about mere gain of riches, but about the mission to civilize.

Our army for decades have guarded law, democracy and order in our country, have defended us from external and internal enemies. From the Dutch, Americans, Russians, from radical and separatist insurgents. Our servicemen have given their lifes – so that we could preserve ours, so that we could live in a comfortable and strong country. And we must be forever grateful to them. The Russian Emperor Alexander III has said that his country «has no allies but the army and the navy». Belgium, thanks the Allmighty, has such – and yet our army and the navy are among one of the best of them. Today I want us to commend our friend, allies and protectors, the heroes of Sokoto.

I ask His Majesty the King to grant Lieutenant General Lucien van Buskirk the rank of the Commander of the Royal Order of the Lion with Swords. I know that His Majesty has decided to refrain from granting peerages for now, but I have remembered about the practice that appeared during the first Sokotan expedition. A number of acclaimed generals were granted with titles «Victor of Benin» that they have born for life. I ask my sovereign to grant Lieutenant General van Buskirk the rank of the «Victor of Sokoto» that he might proudly bear for the time of his life.

At the same time I must say that the Telamon plan, authored by Colonel General Xavier-Pierre Florian Thaddée, the Chief of the Royal Army, has played an instrumental role in the victory. And nothing could have been possible without the leadership of the Chief of the General Staff, Admiral van der Wyngaert, who architected and superintended the expedition. Therefore I would ask His Majesty to make the Viscount of St Nickolaas and General Thaddée the Knights of the Royal Order of the Lion, commending both their strategic talents and years spent by the latter serving in the colonial administration.

I also would ask the Chief of the Army to provide both me and Chief of the General Staff with the lists of servicemen, from a general to private, nominated for medals and other awards. God knows, we owe much to all these brave men

Regarding the administration of Sokoto, I would await the opinion of the Ministry of Colonies. Currently it clearly stays under military administration. In the future it should become either a part of the current Ministry-Presidency of Benin or a separate entity, which should be set by a parliamentary bill.

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

 

[Somberg]

After private discussions with Prime Minister de Lannoy, I present the following amended version of my unemployment subsidies amendment.

Right to Subsidies Amendment​

Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights

Article 18*

All unemployed Belgians who have proven to be actively seeking work and who have no other means of living have the right to subsidies from the government, the provision of which shall be determined by legislation passed by Parliament.

*The current Article 18 will become Article 19.

~ Christiaan Loewen, Deputy for Antwerp and Leader of the BSU

 

[DensleyBlair]

His Grace Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou-Brienne
Prime Minister of Belgium
C/O Palace of Nations
Brussels​

Dear Alexandre,


Naturally, I have considered these most serious concerns with my staff and I feel it indeed wise that we ferry as many troops as possible back to the metropole. I shall be liaising with the Ministries of Justice and the Interior to decide where best to station troops so that they may most effectively combat any violence. Should you fee it necessary to vet our ranks for rebel sympathisers and potential dissenters, I shall see to it that an appropriate commission is formed, though you must understand that I do not wish to see our military crippled by suspicion. If we are to instigate such authoritarian measures, we must be sure of our footing and or motives.


I wish you the best of luck,

Jean​

---

Colonel-General X. P. F. Thaddée
Chief of the Army
C/O Royal Army HQ
Brussels​

General Thaddée,


In light of the recent successes we have experienced in Africa, I find your requests and suppositions indeed carry much merit. Your service is invaluable, and proves conclusively that all faith I trusted in you in appointing you was founded. I therefore petition that you be awarded the Distinguished Service Order.


With the highest regard,

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Jean-Camille Van der Wyngaert, POR CMG NC FPS FBCAS
Viscount of Sint-Niklaas
Chief of His Majesty's General Staff
Admiral of the Fleet of His Majesty's Royal Navy​

 

[NikoHoI3]

Colonial Supervision Bill, as revised: Aye
Savarin's Colonial Bill: Nay
[RU]

I, cannot praise enough the valour, and will of the Belgian forces, who fought against the Arab barbarians. You have protected the lives of countless Belgians and businesses throughout Belgian Africa. As well as, stopped the uncivilized from re-claiming Africa for themselves. God Bless Belgium!

The call for unemployment subsidies is simply mad. If the people want reform, then I believe education is the most important issue that must be dealt with. Giving citizens unemployment subsidies will be promoting gluttony, one of the seven cardinal sins. We, instead must aggressively push to employ all Belgian men in various industries, instead of allowing them to receive money from the government for doing nothing.

Lastly, although immigration to Africa is not at the levels the Ministry of the Colonies wishes it to have reached, we will not give up. Further benefits will be given to those who chose to immigrate and create a more civilized Africa. The Ministry of the Colonies will push to reach aggressive goals on immigration to the colonies.

Valentin-Alexandre Klinkenberg,
Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Member of Parliament for Schaerbeek

 

[G.K.]

Colonial supervision bill, as revised: NO
Savarin's colonial bill: AYE
[NDP]

The idea of unemployment subsidies is ridiculous. Contrary to the popular opinion of socialists and some conservatives, money do not grow on trees, and giving taxpayers money to those who are not working for it is morally unjustifiable and threatens to corrupt the morale of Belgian working class. No liberal could ever support this nonsense, and I hope our friends from MLP realize that.

 

[Ab Ovo]

De Katholieke Onderzoeker
Presenteren het Bisdom van Gent en alle Katholieken van België​

In reference to the remarks that several politicians -notably the Minister of Colonies- have made concerning the proposal of unemployment subsidies by the government; including comments implying that the reforms promoted sin and were "morally unjustifiable" the Rt. Rvd. Bishop De Brabandere stated that "the idea of government support for the weak, poor, and needy is one entirely within the Catholic spirit of charity." While His Lordship urged discretion in granting the subsidies, citing the need to continue to encourage a Christian work ethic, the indication of support for the government's initiatives was clear...

((Two words: Rerum. Novarum.))

 

[Otto of england]

Nearly 300,000 people living in Belgium are demanding some form of unemployment subsides and while these subsides are not something I support. Yet even though I am not in support of them nominally in this case I think they are truely needed as the people are nearly revolutionary in Flandern and a break up of our country with Flanders suceededing over the government not giving the people what they wanted it absurd. To prevent this I hope that those who see the existance of Belgium as primary will allow it to pass.

 

[Marschalk]

Gentlemen

After reading the reports and suggestions of the Ministry of Justice, I have decided to propose to the Belgian parliament a set of measures that would improve the living conditions of Belgian people and create among them a sense of security and unity.

One of the core questions now is education. Education is everything in the society of today, it helps us to develop out potential, it decides our fates. We see a great yearn for education in our people, as recent events have proved. But currently true education is mostly a privilege for which one must pay a sum of money. We must think of that – how many people could have become talented musicians, able clerks, successful businessmen, if they were able to pay for appropriate training!

Our Holy Church educates children without asking for payment, looking only at merit and willingness to learn – and it does not have rubber, vast territorial possesions or other riches, as the state does!

Our current educational system is outdated. It was created in 1881, and sets only the the first and most basic level of it as free and compulsory. We have seen children of ten years old receiving this formal education, barely learning to read and write - but not gaining any fundamental knowledge. It is time to make a step forward and establish a good school system, that would help our our future generation to become able workers, good citizens and patriots, as a part of democratic and Christian civilization

I propose the following amendments to the educationary bills of 1881. They would make the basic two tiers of education compulsory and free of charge and create a much more affordable higher school. If there are proposals and suggestions from my colleagues, I would, of course, glad listen to them

- Alexandre de Lannoy, Duke of Anjou-Brienne, Prime Minister of Belgium
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Education Bill of 1892

1. The public education system shall be operated on three levels.

II. The first level shall be required to be attended by all Belgian citizens and provide the basics of education for those aged 5-10.

IIa. Students shall be taught the basics of mathematics, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as well as the basics of geometry.

IIb. Students shall be taught the basics of the languages of both French and Dutch, including basic grammar and vocabulary as well as writing.

IIc. Students shall be taught basic history, specifically Belgian history, so that they may learn about their country.

III. The second level shall be required to be attended by all Belgian citizens and provide the further education for those aged 11-14.

IIIa. Students shall be taught the basics of algebra, as well as more advanced geometric concepts.

IIIb. Students shall be taught more advanced grammatical concepts pertaining to the Belgian languages as well as the development of better writing skills.

IIIc. Students shall be taught European history going back to the Ancient Romans to present day.

IV. The third level shall consist of specialized education for those aged 15-19, with students being put into schooling that suits the path they wish to take in life such as politics, the arts, industry, the military, theology, etc.

IVa. Third level schools are required to continue the teaching of more advanced mathematics and lingual concepts in addition to the specialized education they provide.

V. Schools from all three levels shall be allowed to teach additional subjects of their choosing in addition to those required by this act.

VI. The public education system shall coexist and cooperate with the established private and Catholic institutions of learning.

VII. The public education system shall not take preference of students based on religion and will not persecute students based on their religion.
VII. The teaching of religious subjects in the school would depend from the will of the parents of the pupils of each school, decided by voting.

VIII. The public education system shall be administered by the Ministry of Education.

Public Education Funding Bill of 1892


I. The funds allocated to the State Education System are to be formed through coordination between the Ministries of Education and Finance.

Ia. The Ministry of Education is to prepare a budget request, based upon the common upkeep costs and
any additional funds required for betterment, expansion, etc. of the Education system.

Ib. This Request is then sent to the Ministry of Finance to ensure requests are workable within the means of the National Budget.

Ic. As per common Budget Procedures, the Budget is finalized with approval by the Prime Minister.

II. In Regards to the Three Tiers of Education.

IIa. The First Tier and Second Tier of the Education System derives all funding directly from the national budget. These Tiers is of no cost to the students/family of students.

IIb. The Third Tier is funded by the national budget, but also requires a tuition. Tuition of the Third Tier should not exceed a cost that is deemed generally workable for a middleclass family. This cost is to be set by an Elected Regional School Board. Each Tuition is to be set by the academy of each field in question. (Schools of the Military, Science, Philosophical
Thought, Industry, etc.) and depend from the class of the school set by the Ministry of Education.

III. Scholarship Programs are to be implemented to aid the Financially Troubled and/or Academically ExcellingStudents in aiding their paying for 3rd Tier Tuition.

IIIa. Scholarship Programs may be founded through Public or Private Means.

IIIb. The finite definitions of Financially Troubled or Academic Excellence are to be determined by the
Proprietors of the Scholarship Program.

IIIc. The pioneer these programs, the Higher Education Scholarship for Promising and Meritorious Youth (HESPMY) is to be Formed.

IIIc1. The HESPMY is offered to any and all students within the top 10-15% of National
Students to fund their advanced education.

IIIc1a. Determination of the Percentage of Students being offered HESPMY
Scholarships is made during Education Budget Proposals.

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[Andre Massena]

Colonial Supervision Bill, as revised: Abstain

Savarin's Colonial Proposal: Abstain

I must abstain from voting from these measures due to my absences from parliament and lack of time to read both bills. You see, gentlemen, some us are actually leading the people of Belgium.

Amedee puts on his revolutionary knickerbockers and storms out of the chamber.

 

[Belgiumruler]

I must abstain from voting from these measures due to my absences from parliament and lack of time to read both bills. You see, gentlemen, some us are actually leading the people of Belgium.

Well spoken Amadee! Josef de Leeuw follows Amadee, he was seen waving Red Legion banners in the streets of Brussels.