[Forum Game] - World in Revolution: 1920 Mk. II

[ThePirateMan]

The first, most important step to building a prosperous and united country is communications. One must be able to travel from country to village, to town and city, in safety and without trouble. Not only people, but also goods must be able to travel quickly, and that means railways. In the new Iran there shall be no hardship visiting the market, friends and relatives, travelling to study or to sell and buy whatever you are able. Improved circulation of goods will lead to prosperity for all, as factories and artisans are fuelled and supplied with increasing efficiency, producing products for all of us to enjoy, and essential goods can reach all those that need it, be they in Tehran, Kerman or anywhere else in Iran.

Naturally, for all this to be possible, we require control and security. With this project we will soon see an end to the banditry that has plagued our country. No longer shall Iranians, especially those rural, have to fear for their safety in their own homes and communities or when travelling. The proven army of Iran will deliver justice and peace.

Reza Pahlavi

 

[Bonecracker(NL)]

The great European nations all had a national anthem, and as a nation looking westwards for it's future, the Turkish Republic had to acquire one as well. The lyrics to its anthem, the March of Independence, were penned in 1920 by Mehmet Akif Ersoy. Because there was prize money, Ersoy initially refused to enter the race but was convinced to do it later. When his winning contest entry was stirringly recited to the Turkish parliament, not one deputy voted against it. All that remained was to find music to set the anthem to. This could only be done four years later, after the end of the Turkish war of Independence. The winner of this contest was Ali Rıfat Çağatay and subsequently The new anthem was adopted. With all parties satisfied, the next step would be the adoption of a Coat of Arms for the republic.

---

End of the Ottoman Caliphate​

Always careful, until the military victory was won, to imply in public the orthodoxy of his religious views, Kemal had over the past years been speaking more freely and critically on the subject of religion. He still professed himself a believer, but a rational believer, for whom Islam was a 'natural religion', in harmony with reason, science, knowledge and logic. He was strongly opposed to fanaticism, which he called 'a poisonous dagger which is directed at the heart of my people.' He took to task those who pretended that a modern outlook was against Islam; The Friday sermons should no longer be the old Qur'anic texts repeated for the last thousand years, but they should be in harmony with the truths of science and knowledge. And more importantly, they were to be delivered in Turkish, not the 'dead language' that was classical Arabic.

The final move, the abolition of the Caliphate, was to be a more severe move. Kemal was not against taking unpopular decisions for what he saw as what was better, but even he feared the consequences of abolishing the Caliphate. This did not mean he would let it rest. For centures the Turks had 'always walked from the East in the direction of the West'. They would continue to do so, but the 'moral treasure' of the Caliphate had to go. Was it not a rallying force for the forces of religious reaction? He had to disband the Caliphate, and he was determined to do so, but he needed a pretext. And that pretext was given to him, as had happened before in his career, by an ill-judged foreign intervention.

After the Caliphate had lost its temporal power, the Aga Khan and Syed Ameer Ali, another distinguished Muslim leader, wrote a letter to Ismet Pasha, pointing out that the seperation of Sultanate and Caliphate had increased its significance to the Muslims in general and begged the Turkish Government to place it 'on a basis which would command the confidence and esteem of the Muslim natives, and thus impart to the Turkish state unique strength and dignity'. This letter was published by three Istanbul newspapers before it reached the Prime Minister. It led to the summoning of a secret session of Parliament, where it caused a tumult of indignation. In Kemal's adroit hands its contention was that the Caliphate was a link to the past and Islam alone was sufficient to ensure its immediate end.

Thus the stage was set to 'cut out this tumour of the Middle Ages'. The news of the abolition of the Caliphate was foreshadowed, as that of the foundation of the Republic had been, by a foreign periodical, this time the Revue des Deux Mondes. Here in an interview given some months before, Kemal, playing on two meanings of the word, declared that inherently Caliphate meant no more than administration or government. With the existence of another administration and government it became, he implied, redundant. The Caliphate had never enjoyed universal jurisdiction over the Muslim world, as the Papacy had over the Catholic world. The office was an Arab institution adopted by a former Turkish Sultan, whom millions of Muslims had never acknowledged as their spiritual leader. The new Turkey was by no means irreligious, but needed a religion stripped of artificiality, which implied nothing contrary to reason or hostile to progress. The Turkish press was carefully briefed on similar lines.

Kemal chose the fourth anniversary of the Grand National Assembly as an appropriate occasion on which to introduce his proposal. He did so with the words: 'It has now become a plainly evident truth that it is necessary to liberate and elevant the Islamic religion...from its position of being a tool of politics, in the way that had been traditional for centuries.' He then put forward three points: The Republic must be protected from every attack; the principle of unity in instruction and education must be applied to it; and 'in order to secure the revival (sic) of the Islamic faith' religion must cease to be a political instrument. According to routine which had now become common practice, these points were discussed at the party meeting where the necessary laws had been drafted. Thus, as Falih Rifki expressed it, were 'the bridges attaching Turkey to the Middle Ages to be blown up'.

The resulting scenes in the Assembly itself were so fiery as to recall to him etchings of the French Revolution. At one moment, during a brief suspension of the debate, orators were climbing on chairs and tables in the lobbies, and shouting themselves hoarse for the expulsion of the Ottoman family; at another, turbaned hojas were running in and out of the Gazi's room, declaring themselves ready to abolish the sacred Book itself rather than listen to the terrible pleas being made in the Chamber for the abolition of that religious instruction on which their power depended. But in this relatively sober new body the debate was easily enough managed by Kemal, Ismet, and the Minister of Justice.

The Caliph was deposed and his office abolished; members of his dynasty were forever forbidden to live in Turkey, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was disbanded, the historic office of the Sheikh of Islam ceased to exist, the revenues of the Pious Foundations were confiscated, and all religious schools were transferred to the secular arm. By a further decree a month later the religious courts of the Sheriat, which still administered the laws relating to such matters of family and personal status as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, were closed, and a Civil Code based on that of the Swiss planned to prevail over all.

On the night of the Assembly's decision the Caliph, Abdülmecid, was aweoken in Dolmabahçe palace by the Chief of Police and a party of officials, who instructed him to leave Turkey at five o'clock in the morning. He was overcome with emotion, but soon recovered his dignity so far as to request that he be allowed to pack some personal possessions, and that provision be made for the women of his seraglio. With indecent haste -since the Government was taking no chances with public opinion- he was hurried off by car to Çatalca, where he took a train to Switzerland. Here he was held up at the frontier on the grounds that polygamists were not allowed into the country. But after a delay he was provisionally admitted, pending a later enquiry into his marital situation.

The former Caliph, Abdülmecid II​

In Istanbul the superstitious noted that this last head of the Ottoman family had left Turkey on a Tuesday, the same day of the week as his ancestors had chosen to enter Constantinople. On the following Friday the prayer at the Aya Sofia contained for the first time no mention of the Caliph. It read: "Oh God, grant Thy protecting aid to our Republican Government and the Muslim nation. Make eternal the glory of the Muslims and raise the flag of Islam, which rests upon the flag of the Republic of Turkey, above all other flags and make them live by the spiritual Prophet!"

In a few hours time Kemal had swept away an epoch of history. He had done so through an unsurpassed faculty for imposing his ideas upon others, whether they be Parliament, the party, or the press, and an uncanny sense of the psychological moment at which to impose them. He was proved right in anticipating that the abolution of the Caliphate would causer little disturbance, whether at home or abroad. With the abolition of the Sultanate, the Caliphate had become little more than a vestigial survival. In the Muslim world, its abolition had created an initial dismay, especially in India where the Turkish Revolution had been seen as a fight by an Islamic state for its freedom, with Kemal as the 'Sword of Islam'. But this soon subsided as the truth became clear. The Caliphate, deprived of its temporal, hence political power, no longer had any reality. A prominent Turkish journalist might well enquire, 'What is that which has been abolished?'

For a century past Turkish secular reformers had been waging a slow battle against religious conservatism. Kemal, abruptly accelerating it and bringing it to its logical end, became the first ruler to openly assault and to vanquish the entrenched forces of an Orthodox Islamic state. But though he might, by a single act of his Grand National Assembly, abolish the political power of the Islamic religion, he could not neutralise its spiritual and social influences, and indeed he did not pretend to interfere with the freedom of religious conscience. To the Turkish people of 1923, Islam is more than a religion. It is a system of belief. God still ruled over the minds and the souls and directed the lives of the bulk of the Turkish peoples, and would continue to do so. The Caliphate itself might be forgotten. The replacement of religious by secular schools, with a scientific and positivist curriculum, was to have profound effects on the intellectual development of the Turk of the future. But this in turn was to have its counterpart in the survival of an 'underground' Muslim force, widespread in its influence, which was to erupt to the surface as Kemal walked his nation down the path of reform and modernisation.

 

[Stormbringer]

Annex IV: Constitution of China

After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 the Nanjing Provisional Government under Sun Yat-sen drafts the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China. This documents, which provides merely an outline and some governing principles, has been the governing document of the country since that point. Suspended temporarily by Yuan Shikai and much maligned it has, nevertheless, been accepted by everyone in China as legitimate. The warlords in the south in their rebellion against Duan Qirui nevertheless claim to be protecting the Constitution. Because of the fighting, political upheaval, and disorder, it takes until 1924 for a permanent Constitution to be drafted.

It is drafted by the National Assembly elected in 1921 with the participation of all Chinese provinces. Additionally many Chinese intellectuals participate in the discussion that takes place between 1921 and 1924 in the capital. Although Sun Yat-sen remains opposed to this democratic process and his failing health confines him to San Francisco, men such as Liang Qichao, Tang Shaoyi, and Lou Tseng-Tsiang contribute to the drafting of the Constitution, among many others.

Here we quote an assessment of the document by Harold Scott Quigley in the American Political Science Review from 1924:

The new Constitution contains thirteen chapters and one hundred and forty one articles. The chapters deal with the form of government, sovereignty, territory, citizenship and individual rights, federal and provincial powers, National Assembly, Presidency, Cabinet, courts, legislation, finance, local governments, and amendments and interpretation. The document largely conforms to the standards and conventions of modern western Constitutions and is heavily influenced by the governing documents of the United States and France.

The nature of the government is republican, with sovereignty vested in the people, who are possessed of the usual rights codified in law. The structure of the government is federal, the National Assembly is bicameral, and the Cabinet is jointly responsible to the lower house (House of Representatives) and the President. The President is elected by the upper house (Senate). He holds office for five years and may be re-elected to a second term. The same provisions apply to the Vice-President whose functions are to assist the President and to take office if needed. The Ministers in charge of the various Ministries form the Cabinet. The House of Representatives is given authority to approve a budget put forward by the Cabinet. Several sections deal with audits of the government. A chapter on the judiciary provides or Senate confirmation of Presidential appointments to top courts and a number of safeguards for judicial independence.

The formulation of the federal system of government is the most significant undertaking of the Constitution. Given the prevailing situation in China and the presence of numerous provincial assemblies the Constitution outlines broad provincial autonomy, though it denies the legitimacy of any separatist attempts. Powers of the federal government are enumerated and powers not mentioned are reserved to the provinces. The federal powers are over national defense, citizenship, currency and banking, customs, tariffs, and national taxes, post, telegraph and national communications, public lands, monopolies, national commerce, and civil and military service. The federal government and the provinces share power over agriculture, fisheries, industry, and commerce, inter-provincial roads and waterways, reclamation of lands, public sanitation, pensions and unemployment, and police. Notably most of the criminal, civil, and commercial law is left up to the provinces. Education, family law, public works, conservation, local taxes, etc. are all left up to the provinces.

The Constitution authorizes provinces to maintain provincial troops, though these are subject to the authority of the federal military structures. The language reads as if intending to create reserve forces that can be called upon by the military as necessary. The reality is, of course, that such provisions will serve as cover for existing warlord armies. In this regard, then, the Constitution does not require the dissolution of warlord troops, though at least in principle it requires their subjugation to federal authority.

Provinces may pass laws regarding their own organization and the execution of powers assigned to them. All provinces are to have a unicameral assembly and a local collective executive of five to nine persons. The senior of these is the Governor of the province. The exact nature of the relationship between provincial executive and assembly is left up to the provinces.

On the federal level the executive is significantly more powerful than the legislature. The President is elected by the Senate and has the power to appoint a Cabinet. The Cabinet has to be confirmed by the House of Representatives, though if the House rejects three different proposed Cabinets the President has the power to dissolve the House and schedule new elections. The House may express a vote of no confidence in the sitting Cabinet, though this does not necessitate the Cabinet’s resignation. Only if the vote is repeated within three months is the President obliged to dismiss the Cabinet, though again he has the choice of dismissing the House instead and scheduling new elections.

Within the National Assembly the House of Representatives holds more power than the Senate, though their roles differ significantly. The Senate is made up of two representatives per province, one being the provincial Governor and the other a representative of the provincial assembly. Although legislature may originate in either house, or with the President or Cabinet, the House of Representatives always considers it first. The Senate may amend legislation passed by the House requiring the two houses to negotiate, but in the end it is the House of Representatives that adopts the final version. On budgetary matters the role of the Senate is limited to an advisory one. The Senate does confirm Presidential appointments to various positions, including judicial ones. It is also empowered to resolve disputes between different provinces. By these provisions the Senate is a quasi-judicial body and is largely relieved of day-to-day political responsibilities.

As an instrument of government the new Constitution is far superior to the provisional Constitution. As a system of government for China it savors too much of the West, which is not strange given the recent history of China. Across the sea the Japanese hold up their “constitution” as proof of liberal ideals, though that document in fact does nothing to restrain their government. China’s draftsmen, in contrast, have set up an ideal to work towards, anticipating, no doubt, that for many years the new Constitution will be only an ideal. In time the ideal will be strengthened, in spite of the abuse it will have to endure.

HSQ, University of Minnesota.

 

[Dadarian]

The First Dail and the Question​

The First Dail was Ireland's first truly independent and united government, dutifully elected by the Irish populace in 1918. The First Dail was born out of the failure of the English to allow proper Home Rule in Ireland, with the Home Rule Act of 1914 being postponed indefinitely due to the Great War with Germany, and the falling strength of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) to the rising and radical Sinn Fein. The Sinn Fein had gained notoriety during the Easter Rising, it's reorganisation of leadership following the English executions and it's opposition to conscription in Ireland. These factors led to a sweep of the elections by Sinn Fein in 1918, capturing 70% of the seats, relegating the IPP and the absent Labour Party. As to their platform, the 73 Sinn Fein MPs declared they would not take their seats in Westminster. Instead they declared a domestic popular assembly in Dublin, the Dáil Éireann, or Irish Assembly. This would be the main organ of Irish Government, and the home of the First Dail.

The First Dáil in 1918​

First meeting at the Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, entirely in the Irish language. The first matter that was attended to was the election of a chairman, which went to Cathal Brugha, a revolutionary that had been serving Ireland since 1914. They then adopted a series of articles which included: the Dail Constitution, a Declaration of Independence, a message to all nations labelled "Message to the Free Nations of the World" asking all nations to recognise Ireland as a free state from English rule, and finally the Democratic Programme, which declared the economic and social principles of the new Irish state. The meeting established the groundwork for the young state, declared the Irish Republic, and even elected a prime minister, that being Cathal Brugha. The membership of the Dáil was drawn from the Irish MPs elected to sit at the Westminster parliament, 105 in total, of which 27 (one of whom represented two constituencies) were listed as being present (i láthair) for the first meeting. Of the remainder 34 (two of whom represented two constituencies) were described as being "imprisoned by the foreign enemy" (fé ghlas ag Gallaibh) and three (one of whom represented two constituencies) as being "deported by the foreign enemy" (ar díbirt ag Gallaibh). Five Sinn Féin members were described as being 'as láthair' (absent). The remaining 32 members who were invited but not present were six members of the Irish Parliamentary Party and 26 Unionists

Cathal Brugha, soldier and both first Chairman and first Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland​

The War of Irish Independence began on the same day as the first meeting of the First Dail, with the Soloheadbeg ambush which, while not planned, was claimed by Michael Collins on behalf of the Irish State. Declaring the (then freelance) Irish Volunteers as the Army of the Irish Republic, the IRA was created and the war which would last 5 years commenced. The beginning successes of Collins' and his flying columns resulted in the creation and distribution of the Dail Courts, the judicial organ of the Irish government, across almost all of Ireland. Over the course of the war it was decided that for the stability of the revolution and their own safety that the Dail was to last until the end of the war and it was to meet few and far between.

Eamon de Valera, first President of the Dail Eireann​

The first signs of political infighting within the movement occurred in 1922, when radical "expansionists" under Collins who desired the Irish Republic began quietly making movements against the more moderate "domestics" under de Valera who sought simply peace and independence, and were willing to work with the British to establish it. What came as a surprise is when de Valera, in late 1922, declared himself the President of the Irish Republic while speaking to a fundraising crowd in Boston. This directly challenged Collins, whom was the President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and thus was de facto President of Ireland. Collins however was too busy running the government behind the scenes to concentrate on a political coup by a supposed ally across the pond. The unspoken agreement to stay unified continued at the will of Collins, however his faction continued to fight through 1923.

The end of the war came with the ill fated Collins' Pocket campaign, which was a failed Hail Mary to continue the war effort for Ireland (and some think solify Collins' radical support in the Dail). The result of which was the capture of Collins, the retreat of Brugha and the capitulation of de Valera and his moderates to British pressure, letting go of 9 counties instead of the previously agreed to 6. This left the government in an interesting point. No longer bound together by a common enemy and with the increasing factionalisation within the Sein Finn, it was agreed that the First Dail would come to an end and the Republic would hold it's first domestic election. In the last agreement of the First Dail, it was stated that the 39 seats within the 9 counties held by the British would be left empty in honour of their enslaved brethren. On the 21st of January, 1924, 5 years to the day after the Soloheadbeg Ambush that started the Irish War for Independence, de Valera declared the First Dail dissolved and general elections to start. The speed of the election, though on a ceremonial date, was said by many within the radical faction to be pushed by de Valera in order to have Collins (whom was still illegally held by the British Government) sidelined and his power shrunk due to his absence.

 

[Ranger900]

TREATY OF THE LITTLE ENTENTE

​

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes recognizes the need for such a treaty to maintain the peace formed in the wake of the Great War and only regrets being unable to sign this treaty earlier. As such we add our signature to the Treaty of the Little Entente.

[X] Momčilo Ninčić Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

 

[Groogy]

The School of Royal Service​

The Borneo Company Limited pushed to centralize trade and create hubs where the natives meet each other's tribes and the European officials of the Astana and the company, The Scotsmen at the Trade company showed their long experience and skill with handling the people of Sarawak showing great progress in motivating them to actually participate. Trust to the white man was starting to return to the Malayan and Dayak mind thanks to the recent progress, His Highness Vyner Brooke decided to yet again push the idea to his chieftains to have their young-lings be taught in the capital Kuching at the School of Royal Service.

The "Royal Service" was a term coined by Vyner's brother Bertram in order to differentiate the students of the school from the already in place civil service men all over the country. The name's point was also to show that these student served the crown and the crown first in order to assist their king in improving the life of his subjects and enacting his laws and the royal decree's. The British civil servicemen had shown to not have this in mind but rather focused on profitability and did not shy away from any means upon achieving improved results. In the eyes of the Brooke's this was highly undesirable and something their family had been fighting to keep away from Sarawak and thus the natural step for them were to have the native people eventually take over with the ideals to serve the crown and Kingdom.

Front of the School of Royal Service​

The School was primarily made up by westerners who had lived most of their life in the Orient and who had some kind of experience within civil service or were just plainly teachers in English and similar basic subjects. The material taught to the young minds were planned to make them prepared to work with westerners and to give them a basis of knowledge to work with for their coming profession. However what His Highness looked the most forward to was the proximity the school had to the Astana. The presence of the Rajah would be quite common on the school and Vyner and Bertram had hopes that this would make the future governors of the provinces having closer relationship to the Rajah. These students as well would also take part in the ceremony of swearing allegiance to the Rajah as the Chieftains did however at the start of school every trimester instead of only yearly.

The core topics to be taught was to be the following:

• Manglish from Singapore, the Creole English of Malaysian people
• Simple applied mathematics
• Political science
• History
• Law
• Ethics
• Simple economics such as budgeting and statistics
• Human management

But besides these topics, the students would also be taught on how to handle modern firearms.

Hopefully these halls of the School will start to shape the future of Sarawak for the better of its people.

 

[Ranger900]

On the current state of the Kingdom​

Citizens of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Well to many it may appear that the government has done little in the past years, but worry not. In the past years we have done much to balance the budget of our country and through such repair the damaged caused by the Austro-Hungarians in their years of tyranny. In the coming years we will continue to work to improve the budget of the country, and to use that money to repair the rest of the damage caused by our former tyrants. We will grow our countries industry, improve the infrastructure, and solve the agricultural land division problems that remain.

On foreign affairs and the Soviet Union​

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, seeing the consolidation of the Soviet State recognizes the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics and hopes that in the future good relations can be maintained between the Soviet Republics and the Balkans.

 

[KeldoniaSkylar]

The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics
An Interview with a Babushka ​

How is you current situation?
The last few years have been hard with the famine and everyone stealing from us poor farmers. Each stating they will improve our lives, while taking our food. Finally, this last year the Soviets made good on their promise and gave my village a tractor, which has helped us grow much more food than we ever could before. So the currently things are getting better and the soviets are fixing the damage that was done during the civil war.

What is the most important thing that has happened the previous year?
The Soviets were able to repair the railway from the town to Smolensk, so I was finally able to see some of my grandchildren after not seeing them since before the Great War. It is a great tragedy that so much damage was done to our country and itself due to the internecine strife.

What do you desire to see most this year?
I think that more could be done to fix the excesses of the tsar’s time and better the lives of the worker in the process. The improvement the administration will help the peasants by taking less from us.

 

[Mathrim]

Deutsches Reich
German Reich

Deutschlandlied

On the Rhineland


The atrocities that happened in the Rhineland are unacceptable, and the morality of the French army is shaming all of Europe. How can Europeans claim moral superiority to rule over their colonies and commit such hainous crimes? Innocent women and children were slaughtered by the French and the German Reich is truly angry at its own powerlessness. This cannot go on. The French will have to leave the Rhineland, along with their British and Belgian allies who let this happen. The traitors to the Fatherland will face justice.

Should the withdrawal of the Rhineland happen fully this year, and compensation be paid to the families of the guiltless victims, then the Reich will pledge to respect Austrian integrity as a state. Our brothers in Austria are to keep their country intact, and the Reich shan't endanger it.

Adolf Köster, Reichsaußenminister
Dem Deutschen Volke​

 

[Harpsichord]

It is indeed regrettable that the German Reich has not seen fit to express it's adherence to the Treaty of Versailles sooner. Allied troops shall be withdrawn from the Rhineland post-haste; we trust that from here on both the German and Austrian governments shall do their utmost to respect the treaties that they have signed - only then can they be treated with respect on the international stage.

 

[Stormbringer]

OOC: I cannot send orders because the mini on what is happening in China has not been posted yet. I have to go teach and so my orders will be late, coming probably at some point in the afternoon if the mini is posted.

 

[Frymonmon]

Unexpected Victories​

In 1920, the monolithic dominance of the Anfu Club was challenged by the warlords who opposed Duan Qirui’s heavy-handed methods. Troops were levied, and various pledges to oppose him were made, but he ended up betrayed by the President he thought he could control, Xu Xisheng and by his Japanese masters. In order to avoid a war that was could easily cement his rule over the country, the Zhili and Fengtian cliques and the various members of the anti-Anhui coalition had been forced to make concessions. The remnants of the Anhui clique kept a powerful position, and stubbornly refused to be sidelined by the triumphant Zhili. A war was avoided once as the Anhui troops of the coastline were sent to the interior, consolidating their hold on the North.

This was a situation few appreciated, on all three sides. The Manchurian warlord had been eyeing Mongolia for a while, the Anhui themselves were eager to fight the Zhili to regain their dominance and were only kept peaceful by the threat of Xu Shuzheng’s army. The rising star of the Zhili clique, Feng Yuxiang, was the most prominent opponent of the status quo. He saw the North-West as a personal domain, and supported Cao Kun’s bid for the presidency to gain the backing of the elderly leader of the Zhili. In 1923 already, the Zhili leaders had cast their lot with the aggressive faction of the clique, and Wu Peifu who wanted to keep the status quo was getting increasingly sidelined.

In early 1924, the Zhili armies thus marched on Shaanxi, arguing that Lu Yongxiang - the Anhui leader of Shaanxi - had ties with organized crime leaders in Shanghai. That was true as he was close to the Green Gang, but the same applied to most leaders and this was nothing but an excuse for Feng Yuxiang to seize Shaanxi. The first skirmishes were initiated in Gansu by the Mas and soon the famous Muslims horsemen were reaching Baoji. The army Duan Qirui had trained was a fearsome force, but it was far from Shaanxi, and the campaign was a model of efficiency, for China. Feng had prepared his attack, and the strongholds of Shaanxi were seized before an organized defense force could be prepared. Xi’an was reached less than days after Feng officially denounced Lu Yongxiang’s alleged corruption. His troops tried to fall back northwards after the fall of the city, but they were blocked by the Ma who had taken position North of the Lu river. In a few days, Shaanxi had been seized by the Zhili-Ma alliance, and the Zhili warlords rejoiced at their prowesses, claiming Wu Peifu’s fears were unfounded.

Zhili soldiers headed towards Xi’an​

​

Wu Peifu was facing a difficult decision in Beijing. The Fengtian politicians were telling him they couldn’t let this slide, and Zhang Zuolin modern army was about to come to Beijing, to bring Cao Kun and Feng Yuxiang to justice, effectively to curb down the power of the Zhili. Zuolin was willing to cut a deal with the Anhui, giving them appearances of power while his networks of influence would extend all the way to Central China. Wu Peifu’s indecision thus came to an end. The Fengtian offices all over Heibei were raided by policemen loyal to the ZHili clique, and among others were the headquarters of Juliangcheng overcome by the police. Decisive details concerning the Fengtian organization were found and among them was a report of a meeting between Zhang Zuolin and senior officers of the Kwantung Army. The Japanese were offering him weapons and assistance against the Zhili in exchange for a greater control over the Manchurian railways. Japan had helped with the transition of power in 1920 but the Zhili had always been more liberal than the other factions and Peifu knew that Japan was now opposing him. The Fengtian could count Knowing it would take at least three weeks for the Fengtian to prepare for war, Wu Peifu took his army to the North at once.

In Mongolia, Xu Shuzheng decided that he would first have to face Cao Kun before he could march on Beijing. The army that had been trained to fight in Europe during the Great War was thus sent in direction of Shaanxi, that Xu assumed to be under attack. The reports he received later were parcellar and he didn’t fully realize he would face the Zhili alone. The troops of Inner Mongolia had been ordered to prepare for the strike on the capital, Shuzheng had intended to beat Cao Kun and feng and then would hurry and reach attack Beijing with his local allies. The plan was viable, for he believed Lu Yongxiang would be the anvil and his own army the hammer. He first encountered troops of Lu Hongtao, a complete Ma division. They were quickly routed by the firepower of the Anhui, but kept harassing his shaky supply train. Xu was facing a tough decision, and finally resolved to stick to his original plan, as a retreat could prove dangerous.

The battle itself took place near Yan’an. The Anhui suffered their first setback near Yanchuan, as the 14th Division under Feng’s direct command had established solid positions there. The first assault was a failure, and the eastern flanks remained rather static for the next days, separated by the Yellow river. Shuzheng tried to turn around the Anhui troops, unaware of their total numbers, and stretched his lines to reach Wuqi. That’s when the Zhili reserves came in action and launched a strike against Ansai, prepared by a large artillery barrage. The Anhui center faltered, and even if the move against Wuqi was a success, the Ansai-Yanchuan link was broken. The entire eastern flank of the Mongolian army was cornered, and soon reduced. Xu tried to escape but was captured by his own troops and sent to the Zhili as part of the surrender negotiations. Xu Shuzheng never reached the Zhili command center as Feng Yuxiang sent one of his underlings, Zhang Zhijiang, to assassinate him before he could reach Cao Kun’s headquarters. The surrender of the western flank was followed by massive desertions, and the Anhui army melted away.

Wu Peifu’s daring strike against Jehol was successful at first, and Zhang Zuolin was forced to rush his own military preparations to face his opponent between Chaoyang and Fuxin. The army of Mukden would meet that of Harbin near Fuxin in order to fully beat Wu’s smaller army. The gain of time enabled Wu to bring in reinforcements from the coastal regions under Zhili control - Anhui leaders in the region were unprepared to attack Beijing and news from Xu’s defeat had made them unwilling to commit to an offensive - in order to counter the massive superiority of the Fengtian army. Nevertheless, Wu Peifu was in a difficult position. He intended to lead a fighting retreat to the capital, where he could count on the arrival of Cao Kun’s troops. The Tiger of Mukden had no intention of letting him get away and the Zhili were facing annihilation a few days after the retreat began. Yet the southern wing of the Fengtian army was led by Guo Songling who was getting increasingly disappointed by Zuolin’s actions. He had grown closer to Feng over the years, and defected to the Zhili side in the middle of the fighting, with his division and the 16th that had been trained by Feng Guozhang. This gave a way out to the Zhili forces, and greatly disrupted the Manchurian organisation.

Outfitted by Japan, the Fengtian army was powerful but weakened by troubles between commanders​

​

With reinforcements coming from Shaanxi nearby, and with the initial strategy of an easy two-front war inapplicable, Zuolin came to terms with the Zhili. He would retreat to Manchuria, and would let the Zhili utterly dominate national politics. This, after the promulgation of the new Constitution, meant that the presidency was likely to be given to Cao Kun. He could count on the support of Feng Yuxiang, now truly in power in the North-West, and his aura was improved by the resounding victory he had won against the Mongolian army. Wu Peifu on the other hand was unlikely to be able to exert as much authority as before, given that the peaceful stance he had stood for had led to a difficult war.

In Mongolia itself, the natives rose up against the Han garrisons and garrisons in small towns were beaten by coalitions of exiled White Russians, nationalists and tribes, backed by religious authorities. Urga remained under firm Chinese occupation, but control on the countryside was quickly reducing. Mongolia wasn’t a key trouble for the Chinese government, as it had to deal with the political aftermath of the war and more importantly would have to find a way to keep ties with Japan, as a hostile Japan could give support to the various opponents of the Beiyang establishment.

 

[KeldoniaSkylar]

The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics
An Interview with a Worker ​

How is you current situation?
The last few years have been hard with the famine and the rations in cities. However, thanks to Soviets we have much greater say in what we do and get more for a work as opposed to the rich. But now that the famine has ended we are eating much better. Furthermore, the soviets have done a lot to fix the damage caused by the civil war allowing more goods to be delivered to the city and making travel easier.

What is the most important thing that has happened the previous year?
I got a new job working at a tractor factory, where I earn more than I ever did during the tsarist days. But most importantly working there gives me a sense of solidarity with our comrades in the countryside, and serves as constant reminder of our unity. I truly think that the work done there does much to repair the damage caused by the civil war and the strife.

What do you desire to see most this year?
I think that more could be done to fix the excesses of the tsar’s time and better the lives of the worker in the process. The improvement the administration will help the worker by improving the situation in the cities and maybe further increase our rations.

 

[alexander23]

​

We must affront the political realities of our world, if we are to advance and maintain peace between the nations. In a short period of time Many new nations have surged upon our world and is time we acknowledge their existence and commercial possibilities between our lands. For such the republic of Turkey, successor state of the Ottoman empire is hereby recognized by The republic of Argentina and commercial relations once more open between our nations.

A second reality we must affront is the creation of the Syrian republic, the state of Irak and the Arab nations all of which are formally recognized as independent nations of a new and brave middle east, which reminds me of the past long gone, when our beloved nation achieved independence. The mistakes done after it must be used as a learning tool by this new nation to avoid them and be proud and strong and avoid a bloody path.

last but not least of importance, for the contrary the most important of the mentions today. We must confront what is in front of us, for closing of eyes and ignoring it is foolish and dangerous. The Russian Empire is no more and will not come back. The Bolsheviks of Russia are here to stay and so its their system. They may be all that we wish our fair republic and people never become but thy are humans never the less. In the spirit of post war cooperation and peace, for the spirit of commerce and Business, I hereby declare we cannot unseen what has been seen and for such the La Republica of Argentina hereby recognize the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R) as a independant nation and successor state of the Russian Empire to its current borders. Let trade between our nations be once more resume for the good of both of our people.

Presidente Norberto Piñero

 

[Stormbringer]

Chapter IX: Elections of 1924

The National Assembly, elected in 1921 after the KMT flight to Hainan, is the most representative body that China has ever had. During the period between 1921 and 1924 it drafts a permanent Constitution for China to replace the provisional one. The military power of Wu Peifu provides security for this assembly to do its work and the result is a thoughtful, modern, and liberal document that is to serve as China’s new Constitution. Unfortunately it begins to be abused almost immediately upon its adoption.

Shortly before the adoption of the Constitution Feng Yuxiang and Cao Kun provoke a military conflict between the Zhili and the Anhui and Fengtian cliques. Though the cliques are based more on personal relationships than on ideology there are still differences between them. The Zhili are considered the more liberal group, sympathetic to American and English interests, and hostile to Japan. The Anhui clique is more conservative, militarist, and supportive of Japanese interests. The Fengtian are another conservative group, with a base in Manchuria, though their relationship with Japan is more complicated. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese back the Anhui and Fengtian cliques in the 1924 conflict.

Despite overwhelming odds the Zhili clique emerges victorious. The victory is in part due to bungled strategy on the part of the Anhui leader Xu Shuzheng and the startling unpreparedness of the Fengtian army, previously thought to be the best in China. Modern strategists credit Wu Peifu’s maneuvers and his fighting retreat towards Beijing with buying enough time for the Zhili side to consolidate forces. Despite this, Wu Peifu’s authority and prestige suffer and Feng Yuxiang and Cao Kun emerge as the stronger leaders within the Zhili group.

Zhili dominance and the Progressive Party majority in the National Assembly ensure that the Constitution that is adopted in 1924 combines the ideas of federalism with a strong Presidency (see Annex IV for details). One of the main changes is in the composition of the Senate - it is now made up of governors and provincial representatives rather than being elected. This Senate, representative of the provinces, elects the President and the Vice President. Following the collapse of the Anhui clique the Zhili control 17 of China’s 30 provinces, giving them a majority in the Senate.

It was expected that Li Yuanhong would finish his term as President that began in 1921. Cao Kun’s ascendance makes this impossible. His supporters argue that since the provisional Constitution is being replaced the President elected under it must step down and be replaced by a newly-elected one. There really is only one candidate for the position - Cao himself.

The elections for the House of Representatives are much more interesting. The new Constitution expands the voting franchise, but only slightly. All men who are literate and who either own property or receive wages are eligible to vote. It is estimated that approximately 5% of China’s population is eligible under these conditions. The new Constitution fixes the number of seats in the House at 550 and these are distributed among provinces and cities based on population.

The largest political party is the Progressive Party, formed in 1913 out of supporters of President Yuan Shikai. It is an agglomeration of Qing-era reformers, militarists, and former constitutional monarchists. Beyond support for a Constitutional regime the party's platform is nationalism with strong central government, liberty through the rule of law, and peaceful foreign policy. During its rivalry with the Nationalists the Progressive Party portrays them as supporters of mob rule. The party splinters over China’s entry into the Great War, but coalesces again for the 1918 elections. One of the party’s founders, Tang Hualong, is killed in 1918, and the other founder, Liang Qichao, retires from politics after 1921, providing only cursory advice on the drafting of the Constitution. It is now led by politicians close to powerful warlords and is representative of the status quo.

The Anfu club, previous the second largest political group, is dissolved abruptly after the destruction of the Anhui clique. The Communications clique, a political interest group of politicians, bureaucrats, technocrats, businessmen, engineers, and labor unionists, finds it difficult to navigate Chinese politics without the support of any warlord faction. By the time of the 1924 elections it is two newcomers that challenge the power of the Progressive Party.

The first is the Young China Party. Founded by Chinese students in Paris in 1923 it has quickly come to national prominence. The party advocates the elimination of warlordism and the establishment of a strong central government. It promotes nationalism focused on the abolition of special privileges and extraterritoriality which foreign powers obtained from the Qing. In China it has established a foothold in Shanghai and other major cities, especially in Manchuria where it enjoys the protection of the local warlord Zhang Zuolin, as well as in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. The rank and file of the party are largely students and intellectuals. Due to its European origins the party has ties to French and Italian fascism, though it is usually considered a conservative parliamentary democratic party.

The second political newcomer is the China Public Interest Party. Established in the south by warlords Chen Jiongming and Tang Jiyao after the collapse of KMT power there it advocates federalism and multiparty democracy. It has ties to many overseas Chinese who support a platform that is more liberal by western standards than those of other political parties in China. The party has quickly gained prominence due to the involvement of Chen and Tang in the drafting of the Constitution and their federalist ideas that have appeal even outside of the south to men like Yan Xishan who runs his province of Shanxi in a largely autonomous manner.

There remains the question of the KMT itself. In 1912 it was the leading party in China, but its revolt against the Beijing government has ended in its destruction and flight from the country. Some former members, such as Lin Sen and China’s Vice President Cen Chunxuan, remain active in China’s politics, but other leaders have escaped either to the United States or to the Soviet Union. Li Yuanhong has extended an invitation to KMT members to participate both in the drafting of the new Constitution and in the 1924 elections, but Sun Yat-sen’s sickness confines him to San Francisco. Huang Fu is known to have met with Hu Hanmin and Chiang Kai-shek in the Soviet Union, discussing their role in the future of China. Meanwhile Wang Jingwei is the closest thing China has to a socialist leader, but he remains in Moscow, obstinately refusing to participate in the political process. If KMT leaders chose to reconcile and participate in the election they may provide a legitimate socialist alternative, but with every passing year out of power and out of China the KMT grows less and less relevant.

There are other leftists in China, though their numbers are small. The Communist Party of China is not permitted to participate in the elections due to China’s ongoing disputes with the Soviet Union. Assorted left-wing nationalists and non-doctrinaire communists may stand for election, either as independents or in small political parties. The May Fourth movement has lost much of its momentum from 1920, but the issues it raised remain central in China. Although right-wing parties such as the Young China Party have co-opted the student nationalist sentiment in some places, left-wing nationalism and communism have appeal in China’s cities.

The outcome of the election is almost certain to give the Progressive Party a majority in the 550-seat House of Representatives, but the showing of the Young China Party and the China Public Interest Party will determine how much support for more aggressive reforms there is in China, and the participation or non-participation of the Nationalists will likely determine the fate of the left-wing in China’s politics.

 

[Stormbringer]

Annex V: Provinces of China

With so much importance attached to China’s provinces under the new Constitution there are inevitably discussions regarding changing province borders and composition. In the end only minor adjustments are made. Below is a map of the provinces of China post-1924 and a brief description of them.

The three northeast provinces are Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. Though the border of the three are adjusted they continue to cover essentially all of Manchuria. All three are dominated by Fengtian commanders, including the Fengtian leader Zhang Zuolin who is governor of Liaoning.

The province of Rehe separates the northeast provinces from the rest of China and it is enlarged slightly to provide a more adequate buffer. It is run by Song Zheyuan, a member of the Feng Yuxiang clique.

One of the largest changes is the elimination of the province of Chahar. The proximity of Zhangjiakou to Beijing is judged to make it unacceptable as a seat of power of another governor and so the city is absorbed into Hebei province. The northern part of Chahar now forms the province of Xilingol that covers the southeastern part of inner Mongolia. The other two inner Mongolian provinces are untouched. Xilingol is run by a general loyal to Feng Yuxiang and the other two provinces by the Ma clique that is allied to Feng.

Mongolia proper is now under the control of the second most senior commander of the Feng clique which is Sun Yue. It is his job to reorganize the remnants of the Great War army in Mongolia and to provide stability to the large province.

The province of Zhili is renamed Hebei and expanded at the expense of Chahar as mentioned earlier. The most important man in the province is, of course, Cao Kun, but the governor is Wang Chengbin. Just south in Shandong Zheng Shiqi is the sole remaining Anhui clique warlord due in part to his neutrality in the last war and in part to his dislike of Zhang Zuolin. In Shanxi Yan Xishan, previously close to the Anhui, is now in the uncomfortable position of being surrounded by Zhili warlords.

Henan, previously Feng Yuxiang’s base, has passed to Zhang Fulai, an ally of Cao Kun, now that Feng has moved to Beijing. In Shaanxi the defeated Anhui warlord Lu Yongxiang is replaced by Liu Zhenhua who is loyal to Feng. Feng Yuxiang himself is governor of Gansu, though due to his presence in Beijing the power is held by Liu Yufen who is acting governor for Feng.

Jiangsu, the province containing both Nanjing and Shanghai, is now run by Sun Chuanfang who has consolidated Zhili power in the south. He is an ally of Wu Peifu rather than Cao Kun, but is loyal to Beijing. Zhejiang, Sun’s old province, is run by Jiang Zungui, a local military commander and an ally of Sun. Sun Chuanfang’a allies also hold Anhui (Deng Ruzhuo), Fujian (Zhou Yinren), and Jiangxi (Fang Benren).

Wu Peifu, out of power in the north, has consolidated his troops in Hubei, near his ally Sun Chuanfang and Zhao Hengti who rules Hunan. In the far south Chen Jiongming continues to rule Guangdong and Li Zongren continues to rule Guangxi. Neither takes sides in the northern conflict, but both acknowledge the Zhili hegemony. Finally Yunnan is held by Tang Jiyao who has national ambitions and his relative Tang Jiyu runs Guizhou. Sichuan remains divided though Liu Xiang is the governor recognized by Beijing.

In the west Qinghai is ruled by Ma Qi who is an ally of the other Ma warlords and thus Feng Yuxiang, though his province is remote enough that he never involves himself in national politics. The situation is similar in Xinjiang where Yang Zengxin rules over the province autonomously while recognizing the Beijing government. Xikang, the eastern part of Tibet, is ruled as a province of China by Lu Xingqi, while Tibet itself is ruled by the Dalai Lama and is not considered a province of China.

 

[unmerged(473486)]

Brazilians!

This year, we shall again, make further attempts to bring Brazil forwards. My predecessor has made great strides in improving Brazilian education for all people and as of today many more schools are being built and more people are going to school. Why should I ever meet a man who can not write his name? If you think about it, I should never! This is why the nation has been focusing on education in the past few years, and why education shall be the beginnings of Brazil becoming stronger in general. So, serve Brazil by becoming a teacher! Help your fellow countrymen who do not have the same skills that you do and in the process, help Brazil as a whole!

Aside from education, agriculture is still a pillar of this nation, and so the government is constantly working for the betterment of the farmers of Brazil. Modern equipment and techniques are all needed to build a solid base that this nation can lean on during all times. Our partners in the U.S and other countries will be key in increasing the volume of trade that goes between our nations and together, we shall mutually aid each other and prosper! So, Brazilians, do not worry, for the government is actively trying to build a solid economic base for the nation that we all can enjoy.

In conclusion, this Brazil will always continue to advance, and if all Brazilians did their best and gave their best, we can and will become one of the greatest nations on this Earth. This has been your president, Arthur Bernardes.

 

[Frymonmon]

Events of the World: 1924​

Europe

With the announcement that the United Kingdom would be releasing Michael Collins, several riots broke out in Northern Ireland over the idea of releasing the leading nationalist figure, with many unionists feeling that his continued existence was a detriment towards the Unionist cause, and that he should be sentenced to death for his actions in destabilising Ireland as a whole. Clashes between IRA-backed protesters and unionist protesters culminate in the explosion of a bomb in Belfast, at a train station, which killed several hundred commuters, and derailed a passenger train. While the United Kingdom had pursued its goal of a large Northern Ireland, there was still a massive number of Catholics within their border, that did not wish to remain a part of the United Kingdom.

To the South, elections were underway in Ireland, the first Republican elections since the collapse of British rule. It was no surprise that Sinn Féin was the largest party in the nation, given its role in securing independence from the United Kingdom as a whole. Lead by Eamon de Valera he was certain to promote his own faction within the party as the one that would seek to lift up the Irish language once again, and enshrine the special position that Roman Catholicism held in the government. When joined by Kevin O’Higgins, and President W.T. Cosgrave this was generally seen as the right-wing faction of the party. To their left lay the radicals, the newly released Michael Collins took their lead, and was supportive of a covert war in Northern Ireland to ensure that British rule was destroyed there as well as it was in Southern Ireland. Most of all, he supported efforts to show Ireland was a country on the world stage, and that it needed a growing and stable economy to prosper. While other parties did exist, such as the Farmer’s Party, the Labour Party of Ireland, and the Business and Professional Group, mostly ex-Unionists who looked towards their future in Ireland, not in the United Kingdom.

With the elections producing an astounding Sinn Féin victory that no one doubted, the questions lay in what faction was dominate over the other. Collin’s radicals held the overall majority of Sinn Féin seats, and sought to create a government that was focused on agitation in Northern Ireland, and sought no cooperation whatsoever with the British. Eamon de Valera, along with President Cosgrave, announced their split from the party, and many delegates followed shortly after. It was clear that the victory of the Radicals showed that many Irishmen held in contempt the treaty that was signed with the United Kingdom, ceding vast swaths of land to them, while the moderates felt there was little they could do about it. De Valera announced the creation of Todhchaí na hÉireann (Ireland’s Future), which would stand in opposition to Collin’s radicals, who held a near monopoly over power in Sinn Féin. Despite calls from various militia groups against one another to fight for their vision of Ireland, it was determined that it should be through peace, not more war, that brought all Irishmen together.

In Paris, the government passes several reforms aimed various aspects of the overall structure of the French government's overall taxation policies. While there was a large amount of talk of closing loopholes and ensuring that the regulations were simple, several entrenched interests ensured that, to some degree, loopholes were preserved. With a strong enforcement arm formed, the Application de la loi Fiscale, it was clear that the changes would be strictly followed. While it was unclear what the immediate effects of the law change were, many were predicting a higher revenue brought in, but some were concerned that the expenses in enforcing this law would outweigh the benefits.

Along with tax reforms, the French government announced the nationalisation of the railway system, taking control of the various networks across the country, to great opposition, to form the French National Railway Company, or SNCF, where the government controlled 51% of the company, and the rest handed out to the formerly private networks. With this new ownership, the government announced a large-scale investment as a whole the construction of new branch lines, connections, and strategic railway systems, geared towards future preparations in both civilian and military rail traffic.

While calls were made by the government to begin the development of new weaponry for the army, a large focus placed on keeping order in the Rhineland, along with the forthcoming withdrawal from the territory, halted a large amount of projects, given the relatively small budget afforded to the military establishment, and general anti-war feeling inside the country.

In one of the most bizarre directives that stemmed from Madrid in perhaps hundreds of years, a national contest was formed, which would award ample money and supplies to the man who could produce an efficient farming machine, whatever that meant, in what the government claimed was an attempt to mechanise mining. Wild contraptions were constructed, some of which dug trenches and could mine iron at the same time, producing things the government did not even believe possible. Regardless, a man was given a grant for a machine that could pan for gold in irrigation streams and till the soil, though it was highly dubious any Spanish farmer would ever find gold in his irrigation canals.

With appeals going to out to German, French, and Belgian officers to come to Spain to train their army, few actually take up the call. Those that do come are from the Netherlands, and while willing to help the Spanish, it was uncertain if these officers would be able to boost the overall morale of the army. New training commenced and it was understood that the Spanish Army would be able to perform better in the future.

In a shock move, the French government announced the withdrawal of French soldiers from the Rhineland, and the dissolution of the Rhineland Mandate as a whole. Both Belgian and British forces quickly followed in the retreat from Germany, as the sole remaining French presence in Germany itself was in the Saarland and the Memel Territory. At the jubilation of thousands in Germany, it seemed that the "Versailles Diktat" was slowly being destroyed, little by little. To follow up on this victory, the Berlin government announced that Austria was it's own country, seeming to reject their call for annexation. For many, this was seen as a mere formality. The Austrian government signed a broad-based agreement with Berlin, which signified that Austria was a land inside the German realm, billed to the outside world as the cultural German realm, while at the same time introducing the Reichsmark to Austria, the Austrian Army becoming subordinate to Berlin, and a new clause that established any law passed by the Berlin Reichstag would automatically apply to Austria unless the Austrian parliament voted to reject it. Border controls were also stopped, allowing the movement of both Germans and Austrians between the two countries, tariffs between trade abolished, and several fundamental rights enshrined in the German Constitution were passed as amendments to the Austrian one. Determined to keep this facade of nationhood, the Austrians announced their resumption of duties at the League of Nations as well as affirming treaties it was currently party to. Propaganda was spread throughout Germany and Austria, declaring the French and the Italians the enemies of German liberty, that it was the tyrannical rule of these governments that crushed German self-determination.

Several large German industrial groups begin investments into research projects and production improvements, pooling together large amounts of money to benefit not only themselves, but the overall German economy, as the increased productivity and decreased costs meant other companies needed to compensate, spurring on them to reinvest into their workforce and production lines.

Major improvements were made on a section of railway from Berlin Nordbahnhof to Bernau bei Berlin station were announced and undertaken during the year, bring electrification to the rails and allowing for more rapid transit within the city itself. It was suggested that this should become a further template for construction and improvements in the future, but many in the city wished to see its impacts before any further money was invested into the project.

With the proliferation of Paramilitary groups in Germany, there also came several youth scouting organisations that were tied with these paramilitaries. The Reichstag announced that these were a danger to the Republic, and that they would all come under the control of the government. In Munich, the newly-released Adolf Hitler stood against this new motion, giving a speech to his followers, joined by those who were at least somewhat sympathetic of his cause, saying that in doing so, the fundamental rights of Germans were being trampled upon. A massive march of the Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung took place in Munich at the urging of Hitler, where they were protected by members of the Sturmabteilung against assaults by the Reichswehr and the Bavarian state police, who sought to try and stop the march by this "illegal" group. These protests were mirrored in Prussia by the Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten, where they protected a march by their own youth group. While a large number of marches were held throughout the country, the majority of these organisation were pulled under control by the Reichstag, which continued to assert that the government-backed youth group was the only legal one inside the nation, making it mandatory for those aged 10 to 18. With a large focus on military activities for ages 14 to 18, it worried many in Paris and London, as it looked increasingly like this was the formation of a trained reservist force.

In Austria, which while internationally was seen as an independent state, while somewhat acknowledging this status, still persisted on being seen as a state inside Germany. The ruling German Union Party announced its own splintering into the German People’s Party and the German Democratic Party, with the more radical elements separating into the Social Democratic Party and the German National People’s Party. The anti-Union Christian Democrats announced the formation of the Austrian National Party, seeking full independence from Germany, and having full control over their own affairs. A government, which followed the same lines as any other state government within Germany, was formed by the SPD, DVP, and DDP. One of their most pressing tasks was to announce a tax on all investments that were coming into the “country” by any foreign nation, explicitly outlining Germany as a non-foreign nation, in a move to ward off attempts by many Italians to invest into the country. With such harsh regulations and penalties applied to them, many Italians gave up trying to invest in the country, and instead sought other contracts in Yugoslavia.

With an abysmal creation of an air component to the Swedish military now firmly behind them, the government announces the formation of the Swedish Air Force, independent of both the Army and the Navy, and orders for the construction of a new series of fighting aircraft to form the backbone of this new military establishment. Ample funds were lavished on the new central offices in Stockholm, in a bid to show that it was Sweden where any pilot could travel to, and be part of a prestigious organisation. Unfortunately, much of the embarrassment sustained in their failed search for a German criminal showed that the country was not so much focused on getting the best, and this idea that the Swedish Air Force sought after criminals was widely held throughout the world.

Despite these complications with the military, the more mundane tasks of everyday life yielded successes during the year. The Inland Line was deemed completed, and exploration of mineral resources was increased, possible because of the usefulness of the new line. Large areas along the track for lumber extraction were also allocated, showing the constant dedication the government had towards creating a firm economic base for the economy to flourish from.

With new elections approaching, and a mood settling in the country against the current coalition, the Liberals split with Lindeman's government over issues regarding alcohol and the desire to stay away from someone that is generally unpopular, or perceived to be so. Further legislation that the government was hoping to tackle, such as an expansion of the navy, was unable to be completed as election season hit the country. As such, with a divide between the Liberals firmly in place, the Social Democrats were able to capitalise on this, and were able to secure a slim, but certain, majority of 116 seats, with the Farmer’s League securing in the low twenties. The Liberals lost the majority of their seats, while the Electoral League had only lost three. Hjalmar Branting was invited to create a government, which was supported by the Farmer’s League, which he accepted, becoming Sweden’s new Prime Minister.

Through sheer intimidation, and the help of the new Acerbo System, the 1924 elections saw the National Fascist Party win a sheer overwhelming victory, gaining over two thirds of the Italian Parliament, with some of their own allies gaining a moderate share of the remaining seats, with scattered Democrats and Liberals getting the rest. Due to the concentrated tactics of the Fascists, not a single openly left-wing politician was elected in the 1924 election, giving the Fascists, and Mussolini, complete control over the Italian government.

A popular electoral poster for the Fascists.​

In a sign of support for their new leader, Italians turned out in droves to support Mussolini, who was seen as the person that Italy needed at this time, deeming him to be, in many cases, the salvation of Italy, the man who would lead them all to higher glory once again. In return for their support, the government offers grants and bribes towards those that support him, while severely prosecuting those that stood out against him. The national frenzy whipped up around Mussolini, “Il Duce”, was immense, for one could hardly travel any city street in the country without seeing a banner with his face or the symbol of the Fascists on it.

With control over the country now secure, the Fascist government begins a reorganisation and stabilisation of the situation in the military. The Blackshirts, which had previously been widely used by the fascists to crush dissent, were well-armed and well equipped, but now with control over Italy certain, large numbers of Blackshirt leaders were given lucrative position within the Italian Army, as large-scale investments were made into creating military academies, new armouries, research facilities, and recruitment centres, in a drive to bolster the total fighting force of the country.

Through urging by the government, along with several cash injections, Skoda Works announces the purchase of Laurin & Klement, forming an industrial conglomeration unmatched by many in Central Europe, and eager to compete on a massive scale. This was obviously seen as a counter move to future German industrial growth, and the stability of Czechoslovakia was seen as one of the prime motives for investment by outside sources, over its neighbour’s relative instability and what some would say, fairly aggressive international policies. The move seemed to work very well, as banks began to flow with cash as investments from abroad and at home poured into the economy. Loans were given out easily, and interest rates were low. The country was even seen as a reliable location for international banking, with many Germans and Austrians opting to open accounts in Czechoslovakia and hold them in Gold or Czechoslovakian koruna, as opposed to the perceived instability of the German currencies.

Bedřich Šupčík, who had competed and won a Gold Medal in the Summer Olympics, was seen around the country in a campaign that sought to increase birth rates, showing him as a model of the family life, and using his high-profile nature to ensure that people saw the government’s message. With larger families being born across the country, it seemed as if the campaign was successful.

Industrialisation stalls during the year, as the lack of funds by the government in Budapest is revealed due to other, rather clandestine projects. While there is a small protest by some wealthy mill and factory owners, there is only a minor effect to the economy over the loss of this capital flow.

After several years of waiting, the Little Entente finally comes into existence with the signatures of both Yugoslavia and Romania, signalling that they were finally ready to begin an international partnership of mutual defense, seeking to provide a modum of stability in what many saw as an Eastern Europe that had none.

The Minorities Act was passed by the Romanian Parliament, allowing for the usage of Hungarian in region where Hungarians made up thirty per cent or more of the total population. A specific portion of the state’s budget was also mandated to be spent on the minorities communities each year, with the first focus being on the construction of factories to help Hungarians get jobs similar to the ones that Romanians enjoyed. Unfortunately, a lot of these factory jobs were given to Romanians, given the fact the government did little more than provide money to private investors to create factories. Riots continued across these minority areas, and a shock news story hit the pages, showing proof that funds, and even weapons, were traveling across the Hungarian border into minority areas in Romania. Upon this discovery, hundreds of farmers and workers of Hungarian descent declared an open rebellion, setting fire to factories, killing hundreds of Romanian civilians, and engaging with the Romanian military. A garrison was overrun and the munitions captured, where every soldier who refused to denounce their loyalty to Romania was murdered. Two more attempts by the Army, culminating in a large fight on Christmas morning, to subdue the rebellion was inadequate, as the government’s poorly equipped and highly demoralised soldiers were decisively defeated by the Hungarians.

In Warsaw, where a formidable armaments factory had been inherited by the newly independent Polish state during the collapse of the Russian Empire, work was placed towards the construction of a new series of field artillery, designed to replace the existing models, and in many cases, bring it to the field for the first time. The first few units, given successful test models, were located in the east, ready to face any potential new invasion from the Soviets, as tests proved to be very fruitful.

Despite it’s position as a relatively prosperous port, Gdynia was given even further attention by the government since the reality of losing Danzig was setting in. New docks, large cranes, and a new fortress were all constructed, securing the city from any potential attacks. A drydock was also ordered, to ensure Poland’s ability to construct ships without needed to import them from other countries. Construction began on a new class of ship, unknown to outsiders, but speculated to be a fast destroyer, but the details were highly secretive.

While hardly a shock to those that knew and understood the condition of the revolutionary leader, Vladimir Lenin drew his last breaths during the first weeks of 1924. Almost immediately, control of the country began to be contested, with Joseph Stalin moving to suppress documents written by Lenin over who should rise to lead the country. Stalin’s first move was to officially put his name behind the idea of “Socialism in One Country,” which sought to create a Socialist society in a single country. Moving against Stalin was Leon Trotsky, who continued to subscribe to Lenin’s idea of exporting the Revolution until a worldwide socialist society existed. While the people were mourning the loss of their revolutionary leader, the fight inside the Communist party was taking place behind the scenes.

People gathering in Moscow to pay respects to Lenin.​

While running on a very fight budget, the First All-Union Census of the Soviet Union was conducted by the government, in an attempt to calculate the population of the country, and to understand where improvements were needed and how to better coordinate government resources. Due to the nature of the cash-strapped government, the census was restricted only to cities, and only vague estimates of the countryside were given. There was, however, a breakthrough in understanding the various nationalities and minorities within the Soviet Union, declared to be around one hundred and ninety, when further funds were found to expand the search for nationalities.

An aggressive usage of prisoners to construct railroads and improve the conditions of countryside roads continued across the Soviet Union, as directives of the Communist Party began to show an increasingly brutal tone in dealing with prisoners. Many were declared “Enemies of the State” and no longer deserved a fair treatment, and in many cases, were worked to death in their new jobs. Despite this the work that they were set out to do was completed, and it showed for the first time a flow of people back into the cities from the countrysides, a side effect of the Civil War.

The increased efforts to ensure the construction of factories, this time with paid labour, also proved to be beneficial to the Soviets. With secure contracts in Germany, machinery was imported while grain was continued to be exported, a sign that saw many aid organisation halt their exports and charity to the country, deeming it able to sustain their own population. Unfortunately, this was not the case for many, as starvation still existed in many areas of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Many were forced on to collective farms due to their falling production rates, but many more simply perished, and their land collectivised by the state, and handed out to Russian migrants who sought to form collective farms that benefited from government sponsorship.

With an idea to try and improve the overall functioning of the Soviet Army, large amounts of money was put into restructuring many of the logistics, and the formation of a committee that sought to ensure the Soviet Union would be able to supply their soldiers when fighting on the front, a chronic problem that plagued them constantly when fighting Poland, sustaining massive casualties for little gain. It was uncertain what these improvements to the Red Army would bring, the first ever attempted during a time of peace, and if they would hold up when the Army was once again engaged in combat.

Middle East, the Mediterranean, & Central Asia

The Bulgarian government, now seeking to improve it’s own coordination and control over the country, begins a process of expanding governmental control in often ignored provinces and hiring more civil servants to enforce the taxation as a whole. Rates were also lowered across the board, meaning even less revenue would be brought in, with the hope a more efficient taxation structure would allow for greater revenues.

The Greek population obtained from Turkey was set up by the Greek government in Macedonia and Thrace, cementing their control in these regions, but also as a method to try and ensure economic growth and activity existed by investment into the local economies and the insertion of new people to grow the economy as a whole. While there were no massive economic booms taking place as a result of this, the economy did begin to grow comfortably in many regions.

In Turkey, the end of the Caliphate was accepted by a sizeable majority of Turks. They hadn’t desired it, and religion still meant a lot to them as it had been defining their identity for ages. Yet Mustafa Kemal was so respected that they wouldn’t oppose his decision, even if many regretted he did. Parliamentary opposition, growing among the ranks of the People’s Party, was high, but the main issue laid with the Kurds. The bulk of the Kurdish population had been loyal to the Empire and then to Turkey as any non-Arab Muslim of the Empire was considered a Turk. The Kurdish nationalists had had a hard time gathering in a region where religious nationalism remained dominant. But suddenly the republicans had destroyed the unifying factor of the state. The Hashemite Caliphate proclaimed in Mecca was largely ignored by most Muslims.

When Sheik Said, who had long supported the Ottoman administration, rose up it was to decry the end of the Caliphate. Himself and the rest of the Kurds who had long stood with the Empire against Russians, Armenians and Arabs, had been loyal to the supreme Islamic ruler, not to a state. He admired Kemal for his bravery but the Kurdish landed elite had no respect for the modernist Republicans. They opposed the role Kemal wanted to give to religion, they also opposed the centralisation of the Turkish state and the denial of their identity as Kurds. For years the Kurds had been left to themselves, often opposing the Turkish nationalists, and at once they were expected to obey Ankara, to bear with Turkification and with the end of the Caliphate. Large numbers of Kurdish soldiers rose up, and for nearly 6 months they fought against local tribes and the national army. Said wanted all Muslims to rise up, but soon his movement took a clear Kurdish character and the old Caliph was offered the crown of Kurdistan. No receiving the backing they expected from France, the rest of the country fully opposed to their revolt, they ended up put down by the Turkish regular forces. Nevertheless, the Kurdish national awakening had begun.

In Western Anatolia and Rumelia, production rose incredibly all across the board. The Armenians and Greeks had been key to the economy of the Ottoman state but once they were gone - through various means - they were replaced by Turks from the interior. Farms were rebuilt, shops reopened and foreign investment drastically increased. The Turkish Business Bank assisted this boom, as the public enterprise gave loans to rebuild and enhance the country’s economic fabric. Kemal himself gave a large share of his money to the bank, making him look like he had singlehandedly saved the country from economic troubles. Once more, his popularity soared.

More than the Republic, it was Mustafa Kemal who was loved by the Turks.​

The Saudi threat wasn’t ignored by the Hashemites, and with the prospect of aid coming from France, the Syrians decided to create a real national army. Yet, with the chaotic situation in Palestine, and faced with a direct menace that required immediate response, expanding the military to turn it into a real modern force proved impossible. Instead, French troops came from Lebanon, and with Syrian assistance and intelligence from local Druze tribes, they easily retook Amman, the Ikhwan fleeing back to the desert.

Actions were undertaken to protect Palestine from the Saudis, with outposts created and troops garrisoned in Amman, but the expected strike against Hejaz never took place and by the end of the year, the French returned to Lebanon. Syria had been saved, but the Saudis remained as powerful as ever.

In Persia, still lacking a monarch, a grand railway construction plan was laid down. The continuity of an old imperial Russian plan, a line would link the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. The American Ulan company was first contacted to undertake the enormous task, but at the end of the day, the works began under the authority of the Danish company Kampsax. The company subcontracted to various Persian and European firms, and the first railway tracks were laid down by the end of the year. All along the projected line, the army and the police cooperated to expropriate non cooperating farmers and mainly to root out banditry, always an issue in Persia.

Africa

During the year, the Spanish announce a halt of all military activities in Spanish Morocco, instead consolidating control in both Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the few other towns and villages they held under their control. For the rebels, they continued to assert their Independence, gaining recognition by Albania, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Latvia. While hardly a massive coalition that could force the end of Spanish control in the region, it did show that inaction was consolidating the de facto independence of the breakaway country.

In Ethiopia, unexpected events took. Ethiopia remained largely ignored by most nations, and few recognized its right to be a real country. Yet, coming from what the West saw as a possible future colony, the groundwork for a modern health system was laid down. Various local neguses were encouraged to establish hospitals, hospices and various health centres. The state itself took a large role to establish the system and if the quality of health Abyssinians subjects were entitled to receive remained low, it was extended to most sectors of the society - at least in urban centres. Unrecognized or not, a true state was created in Ethiopia, and the modernizing drive didn’t seem to stop.

North & South America

With a depressed economic situation in the United Kingdom, which showed little signs of improving, a large campaign was set forth by the Canadians to ensure that the British public knew where they could find a job, and stay within the protection of the Empire as a whole. Immigration boomed to Canada from the British Isles, as even frightened Irish unionists flocked from Northern Ireland to Ontario and the western provinces. With the security of a growing and dynamic economy, many Britons were happy to call Canada their new home, and were very easily incorporated into society with Citizenship, almost handed out upon their entry into the nation. The balance of immigrants from the British Isles, however, far outweighed that of immigrants from France and Germany, with the majority actually coming from southern and eastern Europe.

In fulfilling one of President Harding’s old campaign promises, President Coolidge announces the withdrawal of American forces from several Latin American nations, leaving many of them to their own designs and showing that the United States was committed to their establishment of Democratic governments and financial stability.

The Immigration Act of 1924, or the Johnson-Reed Act, was a widely-supported change to the immigration laws in the United States, striking down the number of immigrants that could be admitted annually to two and a half per cent of the total number of immigrants who were living in the country in 1890. A major impetus behind this was to try and ensure that Southern and Eastern European immigration was restricted, along with Jews. The measures also severely hampered efforts, in most cases outright prohibiting, the immigration of Arabs, East Asians, and Indians to the United States.

President Coolidge signing the Immigration Act of 1924.​

Wargames take place in the United States, centred in the Pacific, undergoing a large series of exercises of a fleet centred around the new Carriers. The surprising implications of this, however, did not go unknown in Japan, as operations were carried out in detailing a war against an unnamed Pacific power, in simulating a defense of a landing force in Hawaii, as well as a large naval engagement in the Pacific as a whole. With the British drawing down their Navy, and the Japanese only constructing more ships, it was very obvious to whom this message was geared towards, notwithstanding the fact that the carriers of the United States were now based entirely in the Pacific.

Across all levels of government, the President and Republican-controlled Congress make it a point that jobs which required Presidential or Congressional appointment were filled mostly by those who favoured little regulation, and the expansion of the American economy as a whole, not wanting to hamper the interests of big business and private enterprise. The President, in defending this, said that the United States was focused on it’s own enterprises, that the expansion of the economy benefited everyone in the abundant wealth that the nation possessed.

With the 1924 Election now upon the country, President Coolidge showed his intention to win for himself a full term as President of the United States, to try and get an endorsement for his own policies, not simply carrying out those that had been favoured by his predecessor. With the surprising attention gained by Robert La Follette, who was running on a Progressive ticket, few felt that Democrat John Davis had much of a chance to garner support outside the South. When the results came in, Davis did not win a single state outside of the former Confederacy, while La Follette was able to capture Wisconsin. President Coolidge won every other state by large margins, garnering nearly sixteen million votes, compared to Davis’ eight million and La Follette’s five million. The American people had made their opinions clear, that the Republicans had produced a stable and roaring economy, and saw no reason to change direction now.

With a close eye by American observers and the American-backed military establishment, elections are held in the Dominican Republic, now free from American military occupation, where interim President Horacio Vasquez was seeking to legitimise his Presidency to make it official, and challenged by Francisco Peynado. Vasquez and his Progressive National Alliance were swept into office, gaining triumphant majorities in the Congress and Constitutional Assembly, and giving Vasquez nearly seventy per cent of the vote for President. His first operation was to establish the Dominican Treasury Board, which sought to create a balanced budget, with help from the United States Treasury Department, that fulfilled the international obligations placed on the Dominican Republic.

A highly criticised move in continuing to invest massive amounts of money into education was felt in Brazil, as a backlash by many planters was felt as the government continued to try and interfere in the educations of children and around the nation. Despite them staying silent for many years, this constant notion that the government would invest above and beyond yearly budgets for education notions was regarded as extreme, and it seemed unlikely that any law that pertained to further investment into education could be passed without a significant amount of pushback.

In a confused move after the legislative debacle in dealing with education, two plans were simultaneously passed that promised lavish investment on farms, both that produced coffee and those that did not. Those who owned Coffee plantations complained that the subsidies given to other farmers would undercut their own profitability, and showing the government favoured another crop over their own, while the recipients of those aforementioned subsidies slammed the government for bowing to pressure from the Coffee barons over educational matters, and spoke out against the sheer massive government support for their policies and their dominance of both the economy and the country as a whole.

Norberto Pinera announced his support for the National Industrial University Act of 1924, which sought to bring about the formation of a dedicated university for Industrial, Engineering and Mechanical Careers. It would be the first of it’s kind in Latin America, and would be constructed in Buenos Aires, with provisions in place to show that, if needed, it could expand to other parts of the country. Calls were placed to various intellectuals around the world to teach at this university, some of which were accepted, offering a very reputable faculty that would be engaged in expanding the overall knowledge of the country in these fields.

While the establishment of this new University was highly lauded, much of the remainder of government work during the year was seen as large failures. An attempt to secure the passage of an act to expand electricity to the cities and suburbs of major cities failed to even pass the legislature, a surprising turnaround when it was expected it would be the President who would be the major barrier to its implementation. Infighting within the administration itself also created problems, as a debate over aggressive government support for budding industries through low interest loans and involvement, or if the government’s main purpose was to promote an atmosphere of growth and expansion. Tax reductions, as it were, seemed impossible to pass through the legislature, leaving a sharply divided government, something that the UCR was clear to pick up on, using it to showcase inaction by the government, and their inability to get things passed, watching as Argentina squandered under their internal bickering.

Asia

The Zhili had been dominating the process of shaping the Constitution, and they had been the ones who supported letting various political groups have a say in drafting it. It thus didn’t come as a surprize that a very democratic Constitution was drafted, a Constitution that on paper could address the issues that led to the 1911 and 1919 revolutionary movements. The only withstanding issue was land, as land reform had been the main demand of the peasants for decades, and property remained enshrined as it stood. Nevertheless, it was setting the bases for a modern administration and distribution of power, and could be interpreted in various ways and had it been promulgated in another country, it could have been the legal framework of an advanced democratic country. But China didn’t change overnight when it was voted, and the power of warlords didn’t change, cronyism remained the norm. The clear distribution of power was a great step forwards, as the framework for a real administration was there. It gave warlords the legal opportunity to make their regions more prone to receive foreign investment, and in 1924 it was the most noteworthy. In Guangdong, foreign investment greatly increased by the end of the year, a sign that the relative stability of the economic environment was noted outside China.

The Beiyang government was there to stay, and shortly before the elections leading members such as Hu Hanmin returned to China, announcing they would work with the legal provisions of the new Constitution and reform the KMT in China proper. Sun stubbornly refusing to recognize the Chinese government, Hu Hanmin reorganized the party under the Chinese Revolutionary Party name, using the name of the party after it had been banned by Yuan Shikai. The KMT in exile was a mere shell of itself, and only the left-wing remained near a Sun whose health kept worsening.

The elections themselves were an expected victory for the Progressives. And with 373 delegates, it is indeed the landslide the Progressives had expected. Even in Manchuria the gentry and the administration overwhelmingly voted for the Party and the Zhili can rest assured that their dominance won’t be challenged by the traditional elites. The KMT kept a large support base but Sun’s absence and its submission to the Beiyang government alienated it from some of the nationalist elements and it only gained 36 seats. The Young China Party instead received those votes and among the literate population of the cities, there is a growing demand for sweeping reforms and for a truly nationalist approach of politics. A year after its founding, it already gained 47 seats. The China Interest Party, supported by large business of the South, by the Shanxi, Ma and Xinjiang cliques, and generally by the elites wary of the centralizing ways of Beijing, gained 73 seats. It wasn’t opposed to the progressives, instead it represented the interests of the Cantonese South, and of the various federalists of the country. 21 independents were elected, among them a sizeable amount of socialists but also unaffiliated local leaders who weren’t that close to the Progressive ideas. Cao Kun was quickly elected President, the incumbent administration largely being reconducted. Tang Jiyao became Vice-President and with him was the end of the last real opposition to the Beiyang government. The movement led by Cai E had reconciled with the heirs of Yuan Shikai.

In Mongolia, the unrest - or the rebellion, depending on the authority considering it - was easily quelled by the arrival of reinforcements sent by Feng Yuxiang. Sinicization of the region continued, and it seemed unlikely Mongolia would break the Chinese yoke anytime soon. Sun Yue replaced Xu Shuzheng as the local strongman, but the local policies did not change.

The apple to the Rajah’s eye, the school he established for natives, was given more support in 1924. Vyner Brooke wanted second sons of chiefs to receive modern education at Kuching, and once more tried to convince their fathers to send them to him. Unlike the previous attempt, this was a success, but the courses themselves weren’t always adapted to children who knew little of what the teachers considered basic knowledge. The first algebra lessons were difficult, with the foreign teachers unable to communicate with their students. The fact that the children were taught Manglish and not proper English also caused some issues, as the teachers couldn’t understand what the children told them. After a few difficult months, the school appeared to find a way to functionate and in a few years, the first students would graduate. Whether this would have a real impact on the way things went in Sarawak was unknown, and wouldn’t be for years.

Reconstruction continued in Tokyo, and what appeared to be a modern city was slowly coming to life. The catastrophe was used as a mean to renovate the city, and modern sewers, paved roads and light rail, effectively addressing what had been the problems of pre-earthquake Tokyo. Count Goto Shinpei, who oversaw the reconstruction efforts, was also the leader of the Japanese scouting movement and largely encouraged the youth movement as it was helping the reconstruction. The scouts were seen as a part of the national renewal and the movement grew, its members working to rebuild the city. A new urban organization was decided upon and Tokyo, once rebuilt, would be one of a kind city in Japan, truly modern and befitting the new Yamato man.

Count Goto, leader of the Japanese scouts and the rebuilder of Tokyo​

The permanent employment scheme, that had been devised after the social troubles of 1919-1920, was rescinded. It was a burden on the Japanese economy, and instead a more flexible work environment was needed for Japan to remain competitive. Instead, zaibatsus offered lifelong employment to skilled engineers and other university graduates, to foster an enterprise culture, loyalty and productivity. This meant that the legal obligation of hiring people for life was removed, but the motivation of the valuable workers wasn’t affected.

The zaibatsus considered offering their employees health insurances, but it wasn’t adopted for there was no real demand from the workers themselves. With already motivated employees, the large Japanese conglomerates saw no need for such a profit-draining operation.

The Seiyukai lost a sizeable amount of seats in 1924, possibly a consequence of the earthquake and of the growing anti-parliamentarian feeling of the population. With 153 seats, it remained the largest party, but was forced to enter a coalition with Inukai’s Kaikushin - 35 seats - and its usual opponent, the Kenseikai - 97 seats. They joined forces in order to get more influence on the genro and on policy-making, with a hidden motive, that to keep Japan as the democracy it was and rein in the anti-democratic tendencies of the army and the elite.

Long after its electoral victory, Labor was remained unable to form a government, as the Communists stayed true to their ‘everything or nothing’ strategy and the right refused to envision a Grand Coalition. Two years after the elections, new ones were called. The result was a defeat for Labour, as a sizeable part of its electorate believed it was unable to bring the awaited changes and decided to support the Communists instead. Labor ended up with 21 seats, the Communists taking 14 seats. The Nationalist Party, reunited under Stanley Bruce’s leadership, gained 27 seats, and its partner, the Country Party, gained 12 seats. A single independent was elected. Bruce led a coalition but the industrial regions remained hotbeds of left-wing unrest.

Why support Labor when one could vote Communist?​

The lack of developed roads was considered a huge strain on the Australian economy as it remained lacking in terms of use of lorries and other modern transport vehicles. Efforts began to connect the main cities of the East Coast and soon cars and trucks became a more common sight in Australia. Cars remained in use by the wealthy only, but trucks were purchased by large amount of firms, boosting Australian prosperity.

In order to make sure that the economic difficulties of the Empire didn’t spread to New Zealand, the Massey administration subsided the creation of various industries on South Island. One clear effect it had was reducing trade ties between Britain and New Zealand, further weakening London, but it also helped the New Zealanders escape the crisis. The subsidies given to the pharmaceutical sector notably led to the creation of a group that quickly began operating in Australia, New Zealand and the East Indies.

This move didn’t appear to be directed against the United Kingdom but rather to avoid suffering the same fate. If anything, New Zealand was distrustful of America. A banking committee was formed to overlook financial and banking operations in New Zealand, and was a vocal voice to criticize the financial supremacy of the United States. Legislation was drafted to limit risky loans and ensure stable growth for the country. Nevertheless, in an environment where easy loans were accessible to all, it had a limited impact on the financial sector.

Other Notable World Events

• The British submarine L-24 sinks in the English Channel; 43 are lost.
• The 1924 Winter Olympics open in Chamonix, in the French Alps.
• Petrograd, the former Saint Petersburg, is renamed Leningrad after the country's revolutionary leader.
• Calvin Coolidge becomes the first President of the United States to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House.
• The Castle Gate Mine disaster kills 172 coal miners in Utah, United States.
• J. Edgar Hoover is appointed head of the Bureau of Investigation.
• Mercedes-Benz is formed by the merging companies owned by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz.
• U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act into law, granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States.
• George Mallory and Andrew Irvine are last seen "going strong for the top" of Mount Everest by teammate Noel Odell on June 8th. The two mountaineers are never seen alive again.
• Fascists kidnap and kill Italian socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti in Rome.
• The Soviet sports newspaper Sovetskiy Sport is founded.
• Georgia rises against rule by the Soviet Union in an abortive rebellion in which several thousands die.
• Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming is elected as the first woman governor in the United States.
• Albania becomes a republic.
• Astronomer Edwin Hubble announces that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula, is actually another galaxy, and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe.
  

 

[Frymonmon]

Countries of the World: 1925

​

Argentina
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 11.163 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 42,366 m.
Trade: $ 5,203 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 38% Services, 14% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 72.43 m.
Total Income: $ 4,849 m. 15.16% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,777 m.
National Treasury: $ -25,238 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Average, 1.52% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.60% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Poor, 1.48% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Poor, 0.29% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.82% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.16% of GDP, Navy: 1.69% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Average, 1918 Technology
10 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 889,528
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1920 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 2 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 9 Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Norberto Piñero
Played by: alexander23

Australia
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy
Population: 5.892 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 27,695 m.
Trade: $ 4,162 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 43% Services, 13% Industry, 44% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 52.55 m.
Total Income: $ 4,013 m. 18.02% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,960 m.
National Treasury: $ -27,835 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Good, 1.40% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Good, 1.37% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.37% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Good, 0.56% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.69% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.98% of GDP, Navy: 1.84% of GDP, Air Force: 0.53% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 607,949
Navy: (2/5) Good, 1920 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 1 Battlecruisers, 5 Cruisers, 7 Destroyers, 6 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: Stanley Bruce
Played by: 99KingHigh

Brazil
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 30.324 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 29,360 m.
Trade: $ 3,359 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 47% Services, 6% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -281.82 m.
Total Income: $ 3,590 m. 18.61% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,872 m.
National Treasury: $ -20,957 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Poor, 1.79% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 1.89% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Average, 2.15% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.34% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 1.06% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.24% of GDP, Navy: 1.47% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,583,469
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 2 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 2 Cruisers, 10 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Arthur Bernardes
Played by: matth34

Bulgaria
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 5.454 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 5,888 m.
Trade: $ 444 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 41% Services, 7% Industry, 52% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -35.94 m.
Total Income: $ 711 m. 19.86% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 747 m.
National Treasury: $ -2,778 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Failing, 1.40% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 1.45% of GDP [Administration Reform 1]
Education: (4/5) Poor, 0.94% of GDP, Semi-Private [Education Reform 1]
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.27% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.92% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.34% of GDP, Navy: 2.22% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
1 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 482,116
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 1 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Tsar: Boris III
Played by: MastahCheef117

Canada
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy, Dominion of the United Kingdom
Population: 9.826 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 44,985 m.
Trade: $ 4,766 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 61% Services, 8% Industry, 31% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 722.09 m.
Total Income: $ 4,342 m. 11.72% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,619 m.
National Treasury: $ -12,067 m. AA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 1.76% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.80% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.51% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Average, 0.34% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.94% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.60% of GDP, Navy: 0.57% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1917 Technology
3 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 978,927
Navy: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 2 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 4 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: R. B. Bennett
Played by: Sneakyflaps

China
Overview: Many Governments
Population: 480.286 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 270,614 m.
Trade: $ 33,595 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 8% Services, 3% Industry, 89% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 6,432.66 m.
Total Income: $ 21,669 m. 13.17% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 15,236 m.
National Treasury: $ -55,841 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Poor, 0.88% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.85% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.34% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.16% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.54% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.12% of GDP, Navy: 0.13% of GDP, Air Force: 0.02% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.25% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology
90 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 58,611,084
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1915 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 9 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1910 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Leaders: A lot
Played by: Stormbringer

Czechoslovakia
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 13.916 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 30,920 m.
Trade: $ 3,423 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 52% Services, 19% Industry, 29% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 286.18 m.
Total Income: $ 3,412 m. 11.91% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,126 m.
National Treasury: $ -12,809 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 1.90% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Excellent, 2.23% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Average, 1.08% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Average, 0.38% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 1.06% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.97% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.55% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1919 Technology
11 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,137,597
Navy: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (2/5) Average, 1918 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Tomáš Masaryk
Played by: nachopontmercy

Ethiopia
Overview: Absolute Monarchy, Regency under Ras Tafari
Population: 8.147 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 6,322 m.
Trade: $ 0,696 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 16% Services, 1% Industry, 83% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 25.74 m.
Total Income: $ 361 m. 9.39% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 335 m.
National Treasury: $ -2,957 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Poor, 0.18% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.17% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Failing, 0.03% of GDP, Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.03% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.49% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.36% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Failing, 1908 Technology
2 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,215,778
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1905 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1900 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Empress: Zewditu I
Played by: Duke of Britain

France
Overview: Parliamentary Republic
Population: 40.586 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 146,656 m.
Trade: $ 22,053 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 49% Services, 17% Industry, 34% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -6,279.99 m.
Total Income: $ 23,639 m. 17.28% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 29,919 m.
National Treasury: $ -267,691 m. AAA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 2.40% of GDP [+2 in 1 year, +2 in 3 years.]
Administration: (1/5) Excellent, 2.76% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Good, 3.10% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Average, 1.97% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 1.36% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.27% of GDP, Navy: 1.28% of GDP, Air Force: 0.67% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 2.40% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology
62 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 1 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,095,876
Navy: (1/5) Good, 1919 Technology
1 Aircraft Carriers, 6 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 26 Cruisers, 42 Destroyers, 16 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Good, 1918 Technology
50 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 1 Bomber Wings
President: Raymond Poincaré
Played by: Harpsichord

Germany
Overview: Parliamentary Republic
Population: 64.538 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 232,173 m.
Trade: $ 19,701 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 48% Services, 14% Industry, 38% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -0,009.81 m.
Total Income: $ 30,495 m. 16.85% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 30,505 m.
National Treasury: $ -225,899 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 2.30% of GDP
Administration: (4/5) Average, 2.36% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 2.42% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Poor, 1.28% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 1.23% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.24% of GDP, Navy: 0.37% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Good, 1918 Technology
10 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 3,825,136
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 6 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 12 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Friedrich Ebert
Played by: Mathrim

Greece
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 6.543 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 11,889 m.
Trade: $ 1227 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 34% Services, 7% Industry, 59% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -108.41 m.
Total Income: $ 1,537 m. 18.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,645 m.
National Treasury: $ -6,963 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 0.99% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.05% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 0.58% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.37% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.61% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.18% of GDP, Navy: 3.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.83% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.58% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1915 Technology
7 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 156,839
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 5 Cruisers, 9 Destroyers, 2 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Poor, 1913 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Constantine I
Played by: videonfan

Hungary
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 8.363 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 16,994 m.
Trade: $ 1,680 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 43% Services, 6% Industry, 51% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 138.19 m.
Total Income: $ 2,040 m. 17.61% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,901 m.
National Treasury: $ -11,529 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Average, 1.71% of GDP
Administration: (4/5) Poor, 1.67% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.61% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.30% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.93% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.57% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1919 Technology
2 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 423,101
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Mátyás III
Played by: Ab Ovo

Ireland
Overview: Republic
Population: 2.811 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 8,276 m.
Trade: $ 698 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 42% Services, 5% Industry, 53% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 228.75 m.
Total Income: $ 1,160 m. 19.85% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 931 m.
National Treasury: $ -124 m. BBB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.62% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 0.89% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.58% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.90% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 5.47% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1922 Technology
6 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 287,052
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1917 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: William T. Cosgrave
Played by: Dadarian

Italy
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 39.360 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 113,438 m.
Trade: $ 12,055 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 52% Services, 11% Industry, 37% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 431.18 m.
Total Income: $ 13,382 m. 16.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 12,951 m.
National Treasury: $ -102,596 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 1.85% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.71% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 1.26% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.61% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.93% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.60% of GDP, Navy: 1.09% of GDP, Air Force: 0.17% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.16% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Excellent, 1921 Technology
39 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,067,874
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 18 Cruisers, 42 Destroyers, 7 Submarines [+2 Aircraft Carriers in 2 years.]
Air Force: (3/5) Average, 1918 Technology
2 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Victor Emmanuel III
Played by: Noco19

Japan
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 59.606 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 112,459 m.
Trade: $ 12,478 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 53% Services, 15% Industry, 32% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -4,859.75 m.
Total Income: $ 14,686 m. 15.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 19,546 m.
National Treasury: $ -168,365 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 2.40% of GDP [+5 Infrastructure in 1 year.]
Administration: (3/5) Good, 2.64% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.51% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Average, 0.96% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 1.23% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.22% of GDP, Navy: 3.35% of GDP, Air Force: 0.17% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.53% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1919
32 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 5,267,117
Navy: (1/5) Excellent, 1923 Technology
3 Aircraft Carriers, 10 Battleships, 5 Battlecruisers, 34 Cruisers, 153 Destroyers, 47 Submarines [+41 Submarines, +28 Destroyers, +37 Cruisers + 5 Battlecruisers, +3 Battleships in 3 Years, +1 Aircraft Carrier in 5 Years]
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology
5 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Emperor Taishō
Played by: etranger01

New Zealand
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy, Dominion of the United Kingdom
Population: 1.364 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 7,838 m.
Trade: $ 532 m.
Economy: Newly Industrial, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 42% Services, 10% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 67.15 m.
Total Income: $ 1,047 m. 16.13% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 0,980 m.
National Treasury: $ -6,396 m. AA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 1.60% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Good, 1.72% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Average, 1.28% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Average, 0.94% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 0.88% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 4.50% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Average, 1922 Technology
4 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 118,863
Navy: (2/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: William 'Farmer Bill' Massey
Played by: Julius Maximus

Persia
Overview: Military Dictatorship
Population: 12.865 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 12,489 m.
Trade: $ 1,449 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 45% Services, 3% Industry, 52% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -235.75 m.
Total Income: $ 847 m. 9.51% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1083 m.
National Treasury: $ -10,129 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Poor, 0.79% of GDP Transiranian 1
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.77% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Failing, 0.29% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.50% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.49% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Poor, 1919 Technology
5 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,163,495
Navy: (1/5) Poor, 1910 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1905 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Regent: Reza Pahlavi
Played by: Pirate

Poland
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 27.927 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 59,546 m.
Trade: $ 5,452 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 57% Services, 11% Industry, 32% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -0,474.92 m.
Total Income: $ 7,292 m. 15.71% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 7,767 m.
National Treasury: $ -39,101 m. BBB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Poor, 1.57% of GDP
Administration: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Average, 1.39% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Poor, 0.60% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.91% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 4.02% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.87% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1920 Technology
56 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,182,488
Navy: (3/5) Average, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Roman Dmowski
Played by: Shynka

Romania
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 13.170 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 12,089 m.
Trade: $ 1,412 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 39% Services, 5% Industry, 56% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -610.41 m.
Total Income: $ 1,397 m. 15.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 2,008 m.
National Treasury: $ -14,499 m. BBB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 1.66% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.70% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Average, 1.94% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Average, 1.29% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 0.86% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 5.33% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.29% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Average, 1917 Technology
14 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 980,518
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1917 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines [+6 Destroyers in 1 year. +2 Cruisers in 2 years.]
Air Force: (1/5) Poor, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Ferdinand I
Played by: Maxwell500

Sarawak
Overview: Monarchy, Protectorate of the United Kingdom
Population: 0.368 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 363 m.
Trade: $ 27 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 1% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -4.69 m.
Total Income: $ 24 m. 11.81% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 29 m.
National Treasury: $ -277 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Failing, 0.74% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Failing, 0.72% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.45% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.75% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Failing, 1903 Technology
0 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 36,367
Navy: (1/5) Failing, 1902 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1900 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Rajah: Charles Vyner Brooke
Played by: Groogy

Soviet Union
Overview: Communist
Population: 148.810 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 102,275 m.
Trade: $ 4,041 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Planned Economy
Economic Sectors: 38% Services, 6% Industry, 56% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 3,517.31 m.
Total Income: $ 41,029 m. 61.06% Average Tax Rate [New Economic Policy]
Total Expenses: $ 37,512 m.
National Treasury: $ 0,126, $ -33,793 m. in Tsarist Debt, Cannot Borrow
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Poor, 6.99% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 6.48% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 7.34% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Failing, 6.70% of GDP, Mostly Public
Miscellaneous: 3.60% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 4.39% of GDP, Navy: 0.73% of GDP, Air Force: 0.19% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.26% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1919 Technology
148 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,836,423
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 4 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 3 Cruisers, 25 Destroyers, 14 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Poor, 1918 Technology
3 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Chairman: Joseph Stalin
Played by: KeldoniaSkylar

Spain
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 22.391 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 57,408 m.
Trade: $ 5,928 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 53% Services, 6% Industry, 41% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 1010.55 m.
Total Income: $ 5,670 m. 13.52% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,659 m.
National Treasury: $ -28,253 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 1.17% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Average, 1.27% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Average, 0.99% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.43% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.65% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.40% of GDP, Navy: 1.10% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1917 Technology
18 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,753,007
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 4 Submarines
Air Force: (3/5) Failing, 1915 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Alfonso XIII
Played by: Belgiumruler

Sweden
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 6.027 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 22,174 m.
Trade: $ 2,707 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 8% Industry, 41% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -390.97 m.
Total Income: $ 3,454 m. 18.26% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,845 m.
National Treasury: $ -18,530 m. BBB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP [Inland Line 1]
Administration: (3/5) Good, 1.87% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Poor, 1.57% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Average, 1.29% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 0.86% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.26% of GDP, Navy: 4.22% of GDP, Air Force: 0.89% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.16% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology
12 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 362,698
Navy: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 17 Cruisers, 28 Destroyers, 14 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1919 Technology
2 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Gustaf V
Played by: Haresus

Syria
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 2.535 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 3,344 m.
Trade: $ 321 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 2% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -18.09 m.
Total Income: $ 161 m. 7.93% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 179 m.
National Treasury: $ -297 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Failing, 0.48% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.51% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Failing, 0.09% of GDP, Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Failing, 0.09% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.30% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.22% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.09% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Poor, 1913 Technology
1 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 224,933
Navy: (2/5) Failing, 1908 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1910 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Faisal I
Played by: XVG

Turkey
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 12.946 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 11,372 m.
Trade: $ 1,158 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 49% Services, 4% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -914.55 m.
Total Income: $ 733 m. 9.81% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,648 m.
National Treasury: $ -11,286 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Poor, 1.19% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 1.26% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Failing, 0.46% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.45% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.76% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.69% of GDP, Navy: 0.68% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 1.49% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1919 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,264,736
Navy: (2/5) Poor, 1912 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 2 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Poor, 1915 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Mustafa Kemal
Played by: Dutchbag

United Kingdom
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 44.928 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 189,906 m.
Trade: $ 29,515 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Recession, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 61% Services, 13% Industry, 26% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -4,957.67 m.
Total Income: $ 26,458 m. 15.16% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 31,416 m.
National Treasury: $ -339,010 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Excellent, 2.04% of GDP [Cape to Cairo Railway 1]
Administration: (1/5) Excellent, 1.94% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Good, 2.10% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Good, 0.71% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 1.02% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.91% of GDP, Navy: 3.27% of GDP, Air Force: 0.41% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.12% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1919 Technology
34 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 2 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 3,934,228
Navy: (1/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology
3 Aircraft Carriers, 20 Battleships, 11 Battlecruisers, 54 Cruisers, 183 Destroyers, 152 Submarines
Air Force: (2/5) Good, 1919 Technology
36 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 1 Bomber Wings
King: George V
Played by: Spitfire5783

United States
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 116.409 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 753,853 m.
Trade: $ 117,910 m.
Economy: Newly Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 57% Services, 19% Industry, 24% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -2,543.81 m.
Total Income: $ 52,481 m. 7.27% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 55,025 m.
National Treasury: $ -361,714 m. AAA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Excellent, 1.53% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Excellent, 1.56% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Good, 1.17% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Excellent, 0.92% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 0.66% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.11% of GDP, Navy: 0.55% of GDP, Air Force: 0.11% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Good, 1920 Technology
13 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 1 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 10,620,962
Navy: (1/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology [Technology 2]
3 Aircraft Carriers, 21 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 32 Cruisers, 154 Destroyers, 54 Submarines [+14 Destroyers, +3 Submarines in 1 year. +3 Cruisers in 2 years.]
Air Force: (2/5) Good, 1922 Technology
35 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 2 Bomber Wings
President: Calvin Coolidge
Played by: jacobl-Lundgren

Yugoslavia
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 23.037 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 15,753 m.
Trade: $ 1,639 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 46% Services, 4% Industry, 50% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 22.30 m.
Total Income: $ 1,572 m. 13.22% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,550 m.
National Treasury: $ -7,714 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 0.99% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.10% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Poor, 0.79% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.37% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.60% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 4.03% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.85% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology
16 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,098,930
Navy: (1/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Failing, 1917 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Peter I
Played by: Ekon

Colonial Holdings

Spoiler

French Africa
Population: 36.973 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 24,159 m.
French Levant
Population: 0.453 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 0,583 m.
French Indochina
Population: 24.489 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 18,906 m.
French Caribbean
Population: 1.284 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,256 m.
Italian Africa
Population: 1.210 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,232 m.
Japanese Korea
Population: 16.241 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 18,981 m.
British India & Asia
Population: 329.176 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 211,817 m.
British Africa
Population: 7.691 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 8,424 m.
American Philippines
Population: 11.025 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 14,653 m.

 

[Harpsichord]

It is clear that the Republic of Austria has taken it upon itself to trangress the Treaty of Saint-German, specifically Article 88, which states "The independence of Austria is inalienable otherwise than with the consent of the Council of the League of Nations. Consequently Austria undertakes in the absence of the consent of the said Council to abstain from any act which might directly or indirectly or by any means whatever compromise her independence, particularly, and until her admission to membership of the League of Nations, by participation in the affairs of another Power." We find that the following clearly breach this article: The declaration that Austria is a land within the German realm, the Austrian use of the German Reichsmark, the subordination of the Austrian military to Berlin, and the subordination of Austrian law to German. The French government wishes that the Austrian republic immediately withdraw from its current course, and abide by the treaties that it has promised to adhere to - given their recent affirmation of such treaties, we trust that our Austrian counterparts shall have no difficulty in complying with our request.

Further, we are gravely disappointed that the German government, which had promised to respect Austrian sovereignty, as been complicit in these recent developments.

We request that the Council of the League of Nations treats this matter with complete sincerity.