Well I've caught up with this great AAR and it's coming along very well Humphrey. Although I'm surprised to see that after all this time it's still 1936. 
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Darks63, dont worry, that maniac will never get anywhere near №10.
Vincent Julien, We shall see.
cthulhu, well not completely out of the picture. Read and ye shall see.
Mettermrck, thanks.
Draco Rexus, its all a mystery.
Gjerg Kastrioti, its inevitable, but well, we shall have to struggle on somehow.
therev, well nothing is set in stone...
Allenby, King Emperors usually get their way... but she holds certain powers over him.
Lord British, a gentle canter at the most, with the odd excerpt of bloody violence and cold hearted assassins.
5th November 1936
Prime Minister’s Private Office London:
The centralised heating dispersed any moisture in the air in the office; drying out the eyes of the Prime Minister. Sat around in the chairs of the office with teas and coffees were the men of the British government. Baldwin had called them together unscheduled, the subject known only to him. Baldwin stood before the seated men, the emotion hidden behind the face of a amiable gentleman. ’The reason why I have called you all here, and not announced to the public and to parliament just for the moment is that I plan to retire after the new year.’ A range of emotions were running through the men in front of the Prime Minister. ’Since the crisis has been seen through with his Majesty, we can return to some form of normality now.’ Chamberlain was awaiting the words, almost like an anxious school boy. ’Although I have set no firm date to retire, it will be at some point after the new year. I trust that the legacy of the national government under my premiership will be remember for what it achieved, and what it prepared Britain for. There is no question that the skies of the future are not free from the clouds of trouble, but my successor should carry out their duty as Prime Minister of Great Britain in the full knowledge that what lies ahead is certainly going to be a challenge, for the frontier of the British Empire is no longer the white cliffs of Dover, but on the Rhine. We cannot ignore Europe, in the vain hope that it will merely disappear upon our wishes. Herr Hitler is an enigma, though I have the fullest confidence in the Foreign Office and the Foreign Secretary, whoever he may be when I leave.’
With a single fowl swoop, Eden seemed to be isolated now. It was promotion or oblivion, and now, as he hid the desperation behind a façade of interest; captivated by Baldwin’s speech. ’As is expected, Neville will be the new Prime Minister when I retire, and therefore the country will be in safe hands, that I can assure every single one of you. Now, perhaps we can move onto another matter, which has perhaps been brewing for some time now. Now Anthony, what does the Foreign Office recommend that we do?’
’I and Sir Robert are in disagreement over this issue. It is my belief that all because Mussolini is flirting with us, we should not break our international agreements and pledges all because he is offering to refuse an agreement, that for all we know, in two years time he go crawling back to Herr Hitler and signs anyway. What concrete guarantees our man in Rome says he has is uncertain, but after much deliberation, I must advise that we reject the proposals, and any informal agreements we make with the government of Italy. I cannot recommend that we urge to lift sanctions for a piece of paper guaranteeing a friendship between the British and Italian government. It is simply not worth the precipitated action that this almost unwise venture would dictate.’
The gathered men seemed almost uninterested, the preceding news from the Prime Minister diverting their attention to which slices of the ministerial cake they would receive. ’Sir Robert is very vocal that this would bring Mussolini into our camp, rather than into arms of Hitler. He believes that this would allow certain strategic arguments to prevail in that it would solve a number of military problems that have been plaguing the admiralty and the war office for some time. He [Sir Robert] believes that it is better to have Mussolini on friendly terms, rather than on hostile ones. However I cannot subscribe to this balancing of power on Europe that is going on. We must make a stand on principal!’
’Thank you Anthony for that. However it shall be put before the Overseas Policy Committee of the cabinet before any final decision is made. If Mussolini wishes to agree, then he will have to wait until all the options have been considered. There are arguments on both sides.’ Baldwin said, maintaining some degree of impartiality. ’That maybe so Prime Minister, but our man in Rome reports that Mussolini does not have the greatest of patience, however he is willing to give us some to think it over. However I recommend Prime Minister that we do not deal with this dictatorship. It cleary shows that Mussolini has reached a dead end with Herr Hitler and is grasping at straws.’
The meeting was drawn to a close on that note. There had been much food for thought on both domestic and international issues, and the prospects of the organisation of the next cabinet were truly mind boggling. Although Eden was fervently against any deals with the government of Mussolini, their was support for such a compromise deal between the British and Italian governments.
Foreign Office State Room London:
With the election in the United States complete, the British government awaited the verdict with much anticipating. Eden had taken a keen interest in the US election, and from the British embassy in Washington, the results would be telexed to the Foreign Office. Eden awaited in the office, the news was due to be coming through soon. A prim secretary carefully tended the telex machine with an almost clinical finesse. The machine started warmed up, the mechanical levering pulling the paper through towards the inky print head. The prim secretary; Eden did not know her name fed the paper through as the message from Washington entered the Foreign Office. ’Election results; Landon ticket by slim majority. Reappraisal of future policy towards United States welcomed. End message.’ Eden paused for a moment. ’Get me the Prime Minister on the phone please.’ He said to secretary, as she gracefully plucked the phone from its holder. As she spoke, her voice wafted down the telephone line. Within a minute, Stanley Baldwin was speaking to the Foreign Secretary. ’Stanley, we have just had the results of the American presidential election. Alf Landon is the new President of the United States.’ Baldwin remained quite. ’Who?’ Was the short and brutally honest reply.
With that news, the Foreign Office would become the centre of attention. With the United States now firmly committed to cutting itself off from the rest of the world, and with Italy making positive gestures, and the world swaying from one event to another, Britain would soon find that the greatest problems would lie at home.
Vincent Julien, We shall see.
cthulhu, well not completely out of the picture. Read and ye shall see.
Mettermrck, thanks.
Draco Rexus, its all a mystery.
Gjerg Kastrioti, its inevitable, but well, we shall have to struggle on somehow.
therev, well nothing is set in stone...
Allenby, King Emperors usually get their way... but she holds certain powers over him.
Lord British, a gentle canter at the most, with the odd excerpt of bloody violence and cold hearted assassins.
5th November 1936
The centralised heating dispersed any moisture in the air in the office; drying out the eyes of the Prime Minister. Sat around in the chairs of the office with teas and coffees were the men of the British government. Baldwin had called them together unscheduled, the subject known only to him. Baldwin stood before the seated men, the emotion hidden behind the face of a amiable gentleman. ’The reason why I have called you all here, and not announced to the public and to parliament just for the moment is that I plan to retire after the new year.’ A range of emotions were running through the men in front of the Prime Minister. ’Since the crisis has been seen through with his Majesty, we can return to some form of normality now.’ Chamberlain was awaiting the words, almost like an anxious school boy. ’Although I have set no firm date to retire, it will be at some point after the new year. I trust that the legacy of the national government under my premiership will be remember for what it achieved, and what it prepared Britain for. There is no question that the skies of the future are not free from the clouds of trouble, but my successor should carry out their duty as Prime Minister of Great Britain in the full knowledge that what lies ahead is certainly going to be a challenge, for the frontier of the British Empire is no longer the white cliffs of Dover, but on the Rhine. We cannot ignore Europe, in the vain hope that it will merely disappear upon our wishes. Herr Hitler is an enigma, though I have the fullest confidence in the Foreign Office and the Foreign Secretary, whoever he may be when I leave.’
With a single fowl swoop, Eden seemed to be isolated now. It was promotion or oblivion, and now, as he hid the desperation behind a façade of interest; captivated by Baldwin’s speech. ’As is expected, Neville will be the new Prime Minister when I retire, and therefore the country will be in safe hands, that I can assure every single one of you. Now, perhaps we can move onto another matter, which has perhaps been brewing for some time now. Now Anthony, what does the Foreign Office recommend that we do?’
’I and Sir Robert are in disagreement over this issue. It is my belief that all because Mussolini is flirting with us, we should not break our international agreements and pledges all because he is offering to refuse an agreement, that for all we know, in two years time he go crawling back to Herr Hitler and signs anyway. What concrete guarantees our man in Rome says he has is uncertain, but after much deliberation, I must advise that we reject the proposals, and any informal agreements we make with the government of Italy. I cannot recommend that we urge to lift sanctions for a piece of paper guaranteeing a friendship between the British and Italian government. It is simply not worth the precipitated action that this almost unwise venture would dictate.’
The gathered men seemed almost uninterested, the preceding news from the Prime Minister diverting their attention to which slices of the ministerial cake they would receive. ’Sir Robert is very vocal that this would bring Mussolini into our camp, rather than into arms of Hitler. He believes that this would allow certain strategic arguments to prevail in that it would solve a number of military problems that have been plaguing the admiralty and the war office for some time. He [Sir Robert] believes that it is better to have Mussolini on friendly terms, rather than on hostile ones. However I cannot subscribe to this balancing of power on Europe that is going on. We must make a stand on principal!’
’Thank you Anthony for that. However it shall be put before the Overseas Policy Committee of the cabinet before any final decision is made. If Mussolini wishes to agree, then he will have to wait until all the options have been considered. There are arguments on both sides.’ Baldwin said, maintaining some degree of impartiality. ’That maybe so Prime Minister, but our man in Rome reports that Mussolini does not have the greatest of patience, however he is willing to give us some to think it over. However I recommend Prime Minister that we do not deal with this dictatorship. It cleary shows that Mussolini has reached a dead end with Herr Hitler and is grasping at straws.’
The meeting was drawn to a close on that note. There had been much food for thought on both domestic and international issues, and the prospects of the organisation of the next cabinet were truly mind boggling. Although Eden was fervently against any deals with the government of Mussolini, their was support for such a compromise deal between the British and Italian governments.
With the election in the United States complete, the British government awaited the verdict with much anticipating. Eden had taken a keen interest in the US election, and from the British embassy in Washington, the results would be telexed to the Foreign Office. Eden awaited in the office, the news was due to be coming through soon. A prim secretary carefully tended the telex machine with an almost clinical finesse. The machine started warmed up, the mechanical levering pulling the paper through towards the inky print head. The prim secretary; Eden did not know her name fed the paper through as the message from Washington entered the Foreign Office. ’Election results; Landon ticket by slim majority. Reappraisal of future policy towards United States welcomed. End message.’ Eden paused for a moment. ’Get me the Prime Minister on the phone please.’ He said to secretary, as she gracefully plucked the phone from its holder. As she spoke, her voice wafted down the telephone line. Within a minute, Stanley Baldwin was speaking to the Foreign Secretary. ’Stanley, we have just had the results of the American presidential election. Alf Landon is the new President of the United States.’ Baldwin remained quite. ’Who?’ Was the short and brutally honest reply.
With that news, the Foreign Office would become the centre of attention. With the United States now firmly committed to cutting itself off from the rest of the world, and with Italy making positive gestures, and the world swaying from one event to another, Britain would soon find that the greatest problems would lie at home.
Noooooooo! What a terrible day for the world. First Chamberlain, and then Landon!
Keep 'em updates coming, Humphrey.
Keep 'em updates coming, Humphrey.
Sir Humphrey said:
Is he sitting there without shoes, sporting a pair of gleaming white Michael Jackson socks, or is he just wearing really really big spats?
Chamberlain and Landon?
It's great to know that the free world is in the hands of naive and short-sighted fools.
It's great to know that the free world is in the hands of naive and short-sighted fools.
With dark and ominous clouds gathering over Europe and the rest of the world (as they always do around this time ), it just makes me tremble in dark fear for the West to have Chamberlain and Landon in charge.
The question remains, will the world survive? We can only hope, pray, and read on!
Nice job, again, Humps!
), it just makes me tremble in dark fear for the West to have Chamberlain and Landon in charge. The question remains, will the world survive? We can only hope, pray, and read on!
Nice job, again, Humps!
what exactly transpired....if i'm not allowed to know..then send me on my merry way...
Darks63 said:
He didn't exactly fight a moderator, in my eyes it was more of the case of a moderator getting off his high horse because he couldn't stand being overshadowed.
Sir Humph, for whats its worth (and I hope you get to read this soon!) don't let this little contre tont get you down - you have too much wit and creativity to let this be a stumbling block. I find your SGoB and to a lesser extert CS and your modern day - Australia AAR riveting - please don't stop with your AArs because of certain people's small mindedness
CSL_GG said:
Guys, guys. Please don't speculate too much. Our good friend sir Humphrey is just on a three day vacation and will be back in action before you all have noticed he is gone.