Suiza

In the beginning.. There is stir; a subtle trembling throughout the hillsides of the Delewarian state where the few who once disapeared for a time to venture there have grown into multitudes who flock to catch wind of the preachings of a wise man. Within the cities, bustle begins to grow over rumors of the preacher in the hillside. Some say He is a blasphemer- others, a hoaxer and a drunkard. Yet, it is not long before none do not acknowledge his words. An article in the Continental Tribune said of the man: [center]A young man appeared a ways just west of Camden preaching with humble unction, allegedly a lost revelation in the Name of the God that he serves. One day I observed in the midst of a group of people a young man who was sitting atop the stump of a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told his name was Micaiah, the mysterious preacher of the hillside. This I could easily have suspected so great was the difference between him and those who were listening to him. His golden colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about 30 years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued my walk but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. Later, my secretary reported that never had she heard in all her days, even being raised into Christianity as she knew it, that compared to the teachings of Micaiah. She informed me that he was neither seditious nor rebellious, and so we allowed to him his full right under law to speak. He remained at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and to address the people.[/center] It is the mid evening. A warm breeze caresses the silent crowd as the wise man speaks, addressing them as brothers, lost sheep, and the wheat of the field.. [i]..."Brothers, it is to you whom the Christ called and to Him you came. Lost sheep of Israel, Chosen of the most high, God. This, He calls you by name."[/i] A man spoke up in protest, [i]"Chosen? Look around you, I mean we're Christian but we are not Jewish. Didn't God choose them?"[/i] Adam's radiant eyes looked upon the protester and seemed to isolate the man from the entire crowd when Adam responded, [i]"Are you not of your Father and they not of theirs?"[/i] The protestor had not recenlty opened his bible, but suddenly a verse from the book of John came to his mind revealing who the father of the pharisee was [i]"'Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.'"[/i] He remained silent as Adam continued, [i]"Brothers, one who is a Son to the Father needs no man to speak for him, yet you speak for others protesting 'Are they not of the Father?' But of you, God's servants it was said would be blind and His people would be hidden. Truly, truly it is not like God to forget a thing. It is you whom have forgotten who you are and I come not with a revelation, my friends, but a reminder. And it is this: You of the ancestral blood of Europa, who in time did come to the call of your shepard, you of the Nations whom the world knew as Christendom, Ye vanguard of the world. Neither Jew nor Gentile, you are the Children of Israel- the rightful of Juda; Sons of Adam."[/i] A beautiful young woman, fair in complexion, innocent shining eyes ablue stepped forward. Raising her hand to Micaiah [i]"You come with a new hope for my people. In my life I never knew one as you, and my mind had never heard what you speak of. But my heart knows it and I hail you Micaiah, my brother."[/i] Calmly, Micaiah stepped down from the tree stump and aproached her. Gently, bringing her arm back to her side, he offered her a sincere embrace. [i]"Young maiden, from where does your family hail?"[/i] [i]"They are from Germany"[/i] [i]-"I am Norwegian"[/i] chimmed in another [i]-"And I, of Celtic blood."[/i] and another [i]"My family hails from from Austria."[/i] Soon nearly the entire crowd was alive with talk of their ancestry. Micaiah turned to the them again, [i]"Today, the noble nations of Europe and blessing unto America- the race of Adam remember who you are; the Salt and the Light of the world, that all may be saved. Forth from Abraham indeed as was prophecied, forming many nations."[/i] Reports of this and other sermons soon made it to the cities and gradually out into the world. The ancestral peoples of Europe within Deleware began to question collectively their old notions of the state of their world, their church, and themselves. Eventually, a call for the greater unity of Europa and her ancestral people of Christendom was a powerful force throughout the Republic.

[font="Lucida sans unicode"][center]---Official Dispatch to the World--- The latest conflict brought on by Tianxia against an American state should be seen as nothing more than merceless colonial expansion & a strike against American sovereignity. The Continental Republic of America recognizes extreme Tianxian militarism of recent in the African, Asian, and American continents as nothing less than continual attempts to provocation of a new World War. God have mercy on Grand Vizier Wei Hai when the world responds. We offer safe-haven for the Procinctan government.[/center] Signed, Secretary of State, Dax Continental Republic of America[/font]

President Wilmington nodded his head, "Vizier Church, you have my support. Through all of this mess, we are finally begining to press on some headway." Taking the podium to address the whole forum, "I realise now that even Mutual Hemispherical Defense is just as exclusive an agreement as ATOPEN. Let each delegation speak on which ever agreement would involve them, but more importantly let us re-engage in conversation of common issues, as Vizier Church had stated." Pulling a paper from inside his coat as he headed back to his seat, he began scribbling out portions of the document and writing in more to it. Folding up the large paper he dropped by Seretary O'Malley, who would presumably catch the note. It was a draft for a pact, and the outside portion read, "This draft has shared with me by the Virginians, edited by myself for the general audience of the forum. Tell me what you think? .. Preamble By the ties amongst our sovereign states, we recognize a spirit of cooperation in the safeguarded protection as well as the endevour for prosperity of our American Hemisphere. We, sovereign American signatories of this Pact hereby pledge by the bonds of mutual defense and free trade. Article I - Sovereignty Signatories recognize the sovereignity of each State of this Pact as well as the Hemisphere from which we hail, that each signatory shall endevour to respect all others. This pact shall see the sovereignity of all signatories mantained and no action be taken by any party whatsoever that could potentially infringe apon the sovereignty of a signatory. Article II - Communication All signatories recognize the importance of strong and constant communication both during war and in peace and will remain in contact through any means necessary. A common Forum of signatories shall be established where all signatories are to share, debate, and comment on information relevant to the goals of this Pact, politically, military, and/or economicly. If any signatory receives information detailing a threat towards any other (direct aggression, threat of war, espionage, etc), they are obliged to inform the pact forum immediately. Article III - Defensive Wars Any direct attack on any signatory (including espionage, territorial incursion, and the like) is recognized as an attack on this entire Pact, and thus initiating the mobilization of all signatories' armed forces. All signatories are obliged to provide military and financial aid to the others if requested, but the Pact will not be made to support acts or wars of aggression. The respective parties are not obliged to offer assistance should either signatory alliance become involved in a conflict via other treaties with other alliances or blocs. Any signatory alliance may offer assistance in such an event but any assistance would be voluntary. Article IV - Free Trade All signatories hereby agree that free trade shall exist between us. This entails the immediate dismissal of any tariffs, quotas, or other trade restrictions that may exist prior to the signing of this document. This free trade shall be done for the betterment of all nations involved and by this, encourages local and regional trade agreements that particular States seek to expand apon or establish completely seperate of the Free Trade of this Pact. Article V - Cancellation If any signatory wishes to withdraw from these accords, they must provide the Pact with at least 48 hours notice, afterwhich time the signatory in subject may leave. Any violation of these accords is grounds for immediate termination of participation in this Pact, but discussion to resolve the problem is strongly encouraged and amendments may be brought before a Forum of all signatories. If they feel fine sharing tech to a common level, we can add that in, but if not it should be at each nation's discretion to provide aid to other signatories. Any suggestions and the like is appreciated. "

[quote name='Isaac MatthewII' timestamp='1326441031' post='2898686'] "Dont mock me, by your treaty I meant the treaty we are talking about do not be an idiot and start getting smug about one mistake my statements still stands" [/quote] [i] "Thank you deligates of Gallifrey and Kuklos. Now, let us wait and hear from the others."[/i]

[quote name='Isaac MatthewII' timestamp='1326440328' post='2898673'] "Right apologies on the miswording but that is not what I meant. We are interested in a constructive treaty of course but that treaty seems to be for the select few in the forum that have oil, in fact it is only for the select few that have oil. It is constructive for those few maybe but why would you come to the forum about it. It has nothing to do with us nations that don't have oil. So why not as ive said quite a few times we make the treaty just common trade. Nobody here is proposing a 'united front against colonial powers' except an economic front. Your treaty only proposes dividing nations with oil and those without and wastes the time of the delegates that took their time to come to a meeting that the person that proposed starting didn't even attend." [/quote] President Wilmington cut in, [i]"Here is the solution as I see it, in a very basic sense. Mr. Adjutor Erdstrom may go on with ATOPEN amongst those involved, everyone should not involve themselves with those discussions. I do not forsee Kuklos leaving to begin their own forum so let us (those of us not involved in ATOPEN) at least respect their conversation by keeping out. Due to the specific nature of ATOPEN, a more general agreement is needed for the rest of us, though of course this may overlap with nations of ATOPEN, that is perfectly fine. This agreement would see to it that the hemisphere is jointly secured by those who so wish to cooperate in such a task, and it will include a general trade agreement that will involve all participating American nations."[/i]

President Wilming would respond to O'Malley with another note reading, [i]"Are you saying you have a rough draft ready or that I should present one? Yes on general economic provision."[/i] Turning his attention to the Kuklos delegation, [i]"I cannot speak for the major petroleum-producing states to whom you address your treaty organization, Mr. Adjutor, but I believe it is a fine idea that they should at the very least consider. I also agree with Secretary O'Malley yet again when I say that I think that there should be a seperate area in which the nations that would be involved in ATOPEN could give there say without nations excluded from it do not interrupt & vice versa. So, Adjutor Erdstrom, if you could again tell us to whom ATOPEN is directed? Please give specifics, and this is aside from the general cooperation of American nations, for the moment I want to focus on the actual ATOPEN organization if you would please."[/i]

Wilmington would drop a reply note simply reading, [i]"I have another idea." [/i] Addressing the forum, [i]"Why don't we establish what is simple, and what most if not all of us here seek short of a petroleom treaty organizations, war, and no headway at all. Let us commit to an American Hemispherical Defense Pact. Strictly formalizing the common obligation to protect this hemisphere from further incursion. Our individual stances on foreign colonialism already here can remain our own, and this would not bind us to employ force to quell inter-American conflicts, and of course trade and other treaties can be worked out individually or later on, but let us at the very least establish this, AHDP, if you will."[/i]

[quote name='PresidentDavid' timestamp='1326415750' post='2898394'] "Out of all due respect to everyone here, these proceedings need to go on a little more organized or nothing is going to get done. I am honored I was allowed to come here to New York, however if this is how things are going to be run I think it is about time I make my way back to Texas." With that Matt Damon waited for a reason not to leave while those at his hotel began packing their things to go back to The Republic. [/quote] [i]"Mr. Secretay, if I may ask. What is it you wish to accomplish here at the forums? I think its time we replenish the spirit of cooperation we walked into the American Forums with. Now, I am certainly willing to endorse the ATOPEN as proposed by the Kuklosian delegation. This treaty organization will solidify certain bonds amongst American powers- bonds that have yet to be forged in such a way and I think that is certainly a step forward. So, Mr. Adjutor, as for those of us who represent nations who are not included in this treaty, such as myself, what is the benefit to the rest of us, if any, should the ATOPEN be formed?"[/i]

[i] "The CRA demands Lousiana ceasefire with Athens. We ask that Americans come together at least on the issue of this conflict, to call for peace. We will not have war as the backdrop to talks for solidarity." [/i]

OOC: Tanis, I completely skipped over your speech IC: President Wilmington would offer an enthusiastic applause for speech given by the Californian Secretary of State. [i]"I haven't much more to say after this: I agree entirely with California."[/i]

[i] "Let us work together. I understand Kuklos, Pravus, & others do not necessarily share our foreign policy, and very few of this forum have decided to take war as a means to theirs, but I think the majority of the views expressed here can be addressed and action can be taken by all of us to make this a very productive forum. First, to Kuklos, is there a basic outline for such a treaty organization as you have been describing? Perhaps if we could draft a basic agreement, we could make headway as to establishing closer American economic unity. As for the issues of the foreign incursion into America, those who have decided to stand opposed to this issue, let us do so in unison. From this point forward, any acts of aggression should not come from America but from her enemies as they have been since foreign militaries entered our hemisphere. Despite this, the Continental Republic does not condone the assault apon Athens, an action that affects far more lives than those of the parties directly involved. Those of us who are commited to a stance- a defensive stance against overseas imperialism into our house, let us do so. Those who, being bound by alliance, foreign interest, self interest, self preservation or otherwise, continue as you wish. I should like to remind everyone that it was appeasement as a policy to the expansion of Germany that preluded WW2. Will we give in to foreign expansion here in America for the sake of peace? It is a false peace, if any peace at all."[/i]

President Wilmington, befuddled at the turn of events had remained silent as one after another, the speakers voicing their views. Immediatly following the speech by the Imperium's delegate, the President stood & offered an applause caring not whether the entire forum joined in or he was completely alone. Where he stood he addressed the Forum, [i]"Open dialogue & solidarity amongst states."[/i] turning to one side of the room, [i]"Trade, defense, & diplomacy between American nations."[/i] and to the other side, [i]"No foreign occupation anwhere in our hemisphere."[/i] Wilmington lifted his head up, staring directly at the ceiling searching through his frustration for his next few words, [i]"If you stand with these basic clauses, stand now. If you do not, I ask that you please remain seated."[/i]

President Wilmington listened patiently to the various arguments & finally decided to give his word on the issue. The energetic, though aging man made his way to the center podium where he began to address the Forum. This speech would begin in a different manner than his others and, revealing a small folded paper from his palm, he began reading, "'The Eyes of the Americas are divided.'-The Tianxian Horde. 'And our eyes are on you. Do not underestimate our strength as you surely overestimate your own.' -Admiral Regine Avenier, The Commune of France. 'They are welcomed to get a demonstration of exactly how well the Hellenic Forces can project their power globally' -The Athenian Federation.'" Placing the paper down, he gazed apon the American delegations. [i]"Following the collapse of empires such as the HAE, the downsizing of Pravus Ingruo, and the dismantlement of others, something fundamental has changed here in America. More evident by the day, American people from all corners of the hemisphere demand their voice to be heard. It is out of the shadow of tyranny that many American states rise today, so why then would we enact no agreement to safeguard this rebirth when foreign tyranny appears at our door? Why would we not move to ensure that many more states enjoy the right to declare their sovereign existance to the world- status that in many parts of the hemisphere was once impossible for them? Sovereign. The sovereignity of America used to be respected across the globe & protected here at home. Expansion into the American Hemisphere is an idea whose time should never have come, but has been allowed to happen regardless of what justifications, as weak as they are, are forced down our throat by powers overseas. Here exist interests with a hand in the American basket, but whose feet stand firmely in foreign soil. Do not be confused. A good neighbor will bridge the gaps between your homes. An invader will make his home where yours sits. Let me be even more frank; the true friends of America lay off her shores. They do not set boots on this continent. Our friends do not launch their iron into our seas. They do not raise their wings amid our skies..They do not 'project their power', if I may again quote Athens, over the course of America."[/i] Wilmington paused for a moment & cleared his throat, [i]"I am Ron Wilmington, President of the Continental Republic of America." [/i]Placing his hands firmly apon the podium, Wilmington glared into the audience, [i]"We are opposed by a monolithic, international clique whose grandiose scheme to export their 'glory' to the world flourished by a weak America. Our vulnurability paved their path into infringement on our continent, but it is our compliance that enshrines it. There is not much more this imperial element lives for, more than war. We will not give them the pleasure, because the eyes of America are no longer divided. The strength of America cannot be overestimated. Imperial power cannot be projected over our path which we alone will determine from here on out."[/i] Relaxing a bit he went on, [i]"So here we are, at long last. It is my opinion that war can undoubtedly be averted while at the same time, America can shake off the foreign occupation of her hemisphere. By participating in dialogue amongt eachother, by establishing fruitful agreements- around American petroleum for example.."[/i] Looking to the Kuklosian delegates, [i]"..We raise America towards solidarity and it is in solidarity that we could unanimously oppose the select international parties. United, America is suddenly eye level with the world imperial rulers even atop their high horse & quickly casting her shadow over all the majesty, all the grandure that they have built of themselves. United, America will always be. American." [/i]

Secretary of State, Richard Dax arived on location via Swedish government transport. The ride was uneventful save for a review of briefings & the occassional, though minimal, sight-seeing Secretary Dax was able to enjoy. Word spread through the Presidents Cabinet that Sweden had given an open invitation to world nations & the Republic wanted to show face and dismiss any doubts that it was interested in friendship with Europe. Flanked by two men of the Continental Guard, Secretary Dax parted from his ceremonial escorts upon entrance into the lavish estate. They where not enthused at the sight of the Athenian presence. The secretary melted in with all those in attendance, scanning the small crowd for a glimpse of Swedish officials, with whom he hoped to have an audience.

[quote name='Sigurd Odinnson' timestamp='1326151982' post='2896524'] "It is, I am sure, in our best interest to keep control over the petroleum market firmly dominated by the oil-rich nations in the Americas," Erdstrom thought it might be best to keep prospective relations between Tianxia and Kuklos out of the conversation, "if some of us stand together in this, we may inspire others to act likewise and form a community from a simple trade treaty. It is the stance of the Pontiff and several of the other Magisteria, however, that any agreement which would impede individual American nations from pursuing independent foreign policies would be detrimental, rather than helpful, to the Americas." OOC: That's not Clausewitz, it's either Milton Friedman or another of the new economists during the 20th century. Clausewitz said "War is merely an extension of politics." OOC: FINALLY! I've been waiting for the Texans to show up. IC: Looking past President Wilmington, Erdstrom noticed the Texan delegation entering the room, and directed Wilmington's attention in their direction "speaking of our economic interests, it looks like another potential treating party just entered the room. I will be very interested to see how they feel about the importance of economic conversations here." Erdstrom hoped to encourage President Wilmington to join him in intercepting the Texans. [/quote] OOC: Woops iC: [i]"Is it acceptable to the Pontiff that powers, whose interests are based overseas, hold- even colonize lands of America?"[/i] Wilmington continued as he and Erdstrom converged on the Texan delegate. [i]"America is experiencing something that seems to have been long waiting to see. I see it as- Hello, I am Ron Wilmington from the C.R.A. I am happy to make your acquaintance Mr. Secretary Damon."[/i] Shaking hands with the Texan Secretary of State, Wilmington continue to Erstrom, [i]"I see it as our duty to safeguard America & her interests, even.. no, especially if that means giving foreign occupants the boot."[/i] For whatever reason, the word 'boot' brought his attention back to the Texan & awaited his thoughts on the issues.