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Invitation to the Republic


Hereno

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A message was sent to the highest authority of France;

Greetings,

You have been cordially invited by General Supreme Umar Abdullah bin Zaid to discuss the future of northern Africa with him in Cairo. Should you accept, your safety will be guaranteed by decree of the Egyptian Imperial Senate, upheld by the Secret Service of the Egyptian Supreme General. Lodging and meals will, of course, be provided free of cost to whatever specifications you require.

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Confidential

 

President Albert Lebrun would receive the message, before forwarding it to Prime Minister Doumerge, who handed it to Minister of Foreign Affairs Laval, given there was only so much in the competences of the head of state. Laval would then proceed to inform the Egyptians, that a steamer would deliver Jules Carde as emissary of the République to Cairo.

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Mr. Carde was receieved warmly by the Supreme General, who got right down to business.

"We have noticed your interest in northern Africa and in addition your willingness to pursue French interests at the expense of other would-be colonizers. Because of your strategic position in the Mediterranean, maintaining good relations between our states and thus ensuring Egyptian trade to the Americas remains unhindered is a top priority of ours. I don't think I need to explain to a person such as yourself what interests the French could fulfill by maintaining strategic relations with the only power with its base of power in North Africa, and also one that surrounds entirely the Suez canal. It seems appropriate that we should, then, work together, to ensure that northern Africa is not divided by a half-dozen would-be Emperors looking to stake out their claim. Should the Republic continue to work in tandem with the local population of the region, we would be more than willing to discuss, in the future, even stronger relations between our states. After all, the Italian aggression in the region is a problem that concerns us both, and one that could much more easily be remedied cooperatively..."

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"France has no issue cooperating with Egypt. Our interests are mainly in reestablishing the French position in the Western Mediterranean and Northwest Africa. To this degree, France sees no need to establish any historically new colonies, such as any of Egypt's territories would constitute. To a degree, an understanding with Egypt would however still be benefitial, as you already pointed out your position in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Levante and at the Suez. Secure travel through these regions is of great importance to our maritime commerce. Italian aggression against Tunisia and in the Red Sea has threatened both the security of our interests in the western Mediterranean and the security in the Red Sea, which we lost control over since the loss over Djibouti. Their proclamation to not be bound to existing conventions and their claim to an Empire in the Mediterranean is more than worrying too. But say, what kind of cooperation do you envision?"

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"France has no issue cooperating with Egypt. Our interests are mainly in reestablishing the French position in the Western Mediterranean and Northwest Africa. To this degree, France sees no need to establish any historically new colonies, such as any of Egypt's territories would constitute. To a degree, an understanding with Egypt would however still be benefitial, as you already pointed out your position in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Levante and at the Suez. Secure travel through these regions is of great importance to our maritime commerce. Italian aggression against Tunisia and in the Red Sea has threatened both the security of our interests in the western Mediterranean and the security in the Red Sea, which we lost control over since the loss over Djibouti. Their proclamation to not be bound to existing conventions and their claim to an Empire in the Mediterranean is more than worrying too. But say, what kind of cooperation do you envision?"


"Well, I see Italian nationalism as a threat to Mediterranean security; and sooner or later, it is almost inevitable that Europeans will come to blows using Africa as their battleground. Still, this is something I wish to prevent if at all possible. It is therefore my hope that if confronted by threat from Italy, that France will exercise caution and genuinely seek diplomatic reconciliation before recognizing a state of war and sending the region into turmoil. While we share a non-aggression pact with the Italians that has done much to safeguard our own security, we ask of your government to think of our national interests when acting in Africa.

In return for your partnership, we would be willing to tacitly support French operations in Africa through allowing military access to certain waterways under our control, as long as proper procedures and notifications were given. This would facilitate a continuation of French trade with Asia in the face of war, and would increase French ability to project strength through the Red Sea towards Asia. This could, depending on the interests of the Republic, additionally facilitate a retaking of Djibouti; something we would be perfectly comfortable with if we saw the French as partners in the region who were unduly dishonored by the unpredictable Italians." Edited by Hereno
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