In the real history of the Victoria time period, there was in imperialist diplomacy with the rest of the world something very special called the "most favored nation" status. I would like to concentrate mostly on China for this country was the greatest victim of this diplomatic device.
If I recall correctly, when Britain won one of the Opium Wars, it insisted on this "most favored nation" status for itself in its dealing with China. What this meant was that if China in the future granted any additional rights or privileges to other imperialist powers, then these same would automatically be granted to Britain as well. It is what the French call the White Card or the US a "blank check". It was terrible for China because the other imperialists would insist on these same terms, and then whenever one of them would get a tiny advantage in future negotiations, then the whole rotten bunch would get the same advantages. For the Chinese, it was an uncontrollable avalanche of impotence and helplessness. Then they had to endure the "extraterritoriality" in which foreigners could commit crimes in China and not be subject to punishment by the Chinese.
anyway, is the Victoria diplomatic model going to be elaborate enough to have something so complex yet so vital to the real history as "most favored nation" status?
If I recall correctly, when Britain won one of the Opium Wars, it insisted on this "most favored nation" status for itself in its dealing with China. What this meant was that if China in the future granted any additional rights or privileges to other imperialist powers, then these same would automatically be granted to Britain as well. It is what the French call the White Card or the US a "blank check". It was terrible for China because the other imperialists would insist on these same terms, and then whenever one of them would get a tiny advantage in future negotiations, then the whole rotten bunch would get the same advantages. For the Chinese, it was an uncontrollable avalanche of impotence and helplessness. Then they had to endure the "extraterritoriality" in which foreigners could commit crimes in China and not be subject to punishment by the Chinese.
anyway, is the Victoria diplomatic model going to be elaborate enough to have something so complex yet so vital to the real history as "most favored nation" status?