Diplomatic Dispatch to the Slavorussian Empire

[Malatose]

[quote]
To Whom It May Concern:

When the Trans-Caucasus Canal was constructed, it was built for the benefit of both the Greater Nordic Empire and Slavorussian Empire. Despite the fact that we built the canal with our own labor, we guaranteed free passage and security for all vessels going through the canal. However, this was short-lived when the great Turmoil occurred in the Empire and our nation nearly collapsed. Instead of reaching out a helping hand to their neighbor in need, the Slavorussian Empire instead chose to steal the canal and force outrageous tolls on our passing vessels. Even in our most desperate hour, as we used the canal to transport supplies to our Central Asian provinces, we were still charged these outrageous fees. Estimates from our Ministry of Finance put the charges for our passage at nearly 300 million Reichsmarks with the number growing everyday. We cannot allow this to continue anymore.

As of today, the Greater Nordic Empire refuses to pay any tolls for passage through the Trans-Caucasus Canal, and we declare the area a free travel zone. In order to support this, we will be sending a squadron of vessels through the canal to demostrate our newfound freedom. Today, we regain the respect stolen from us by the Slavorussian Empire. Today, we erase the shame we have suffered.

Michael Visari
Autarch of the Greater Nordic Empire of Dalmatia [/quote]

[Sargun II]

Yay for revisionist history! Not only is this a factually incorrect dispatch, but is a blatant powergrab against a less-powerful neighbour like the good old Nordic nations used to do. Congratulations!

[Justinian the Mighty]

Go right ahead the Greater Nordic Empire of Dalmatia, and all over nations bordering the Caspian sea are covered under our free passage agreement which the United Federation of the East asked us to promise to when we bought the canal. However we'll ask you to keep your warships guns pointed away from Slavorussian soil, and they will not be allowed to make port in the Slavorussian canal zone.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Justinian the Mighty

[Padraig Rua]

Prussia supports this move by our Allies in GNED.

[Centurius]

[quote name='Sargun' timestamp='1304288534' post='2703408']
Yay for revisionist history! Not only is this a factually incorrect dispatch, but is a blatant powergrab against a less-powerful neighbour like the good old Nordic nations used to do. Congratulations!
[/quote]

You mean like that powergrab Slavorussia made when the GNED was severely weakened?

[Triyun]

We fail to see how any nation can object to Nordland's move. Nordland's move will be following the agreement between the Slavorussian Empire and the United Federation of the East. If the Slavorussian Empire at anytime does not allow free passage, it would be considered a retroactive invasion of a UFE protectorate and hence an act of war.

[Sargun II]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1304289438' post='2703433']
You mean like that powergrab Slavorussia made when the GNED was severely weakened?
[/quote]

An eye for an eye, etc.

[Justinian the Mighty]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1304289438' post='2703433']
You mean like that powergrab Slavorussia made when the GNED was severely weakened?
[/quote]

You mean the fee we paid and the agreements we made with the UFE when GNED was in total anarchy? It has already been stated that GNED vessels have free passage through the Slavorussian half of the canal. As long as a ship change course north through the Don River to the Volga-Don canal there hasn’t been a toll charged. If there has then the GNED government needs to present us with an estimate of how much their ships have paid in the past 4 months.

[Centurius]

[quote name='Justinian the Mighty' timestamp='1304289868' post='2703442']
You mean the fee we paid and the agreements we made with the UFE when GNED was in total anarchy? It has already been stated that GNED vessels have free passage through the Slavorussian half of the canal. As long as a ship change course north through the Don River to the Volga-Don canal there hasn’t been a toll charged. If there has then the GNED government needs to present us with an estimate of how much their ships have paid in the past 4 months.
[/quote]

No the attempt to fully take over the canal and of course Archangelsk.

[Malatose]

The fact remains. The Slavorussian Empire is as greedy as it is sneaky. We dare those wolves in sheeps clothing to steal from us again.

[Zoot Zoot]

The UK urges restrain and dialogue between our friends in Slavorussia and our friends in the Greater Nordic Empire of Dalmatia.

Whilst it is not our place to say, but we believe that this may be solved very easily by both authorities and third parties through diplomacy and the creation of a new, final agreement over the canal.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Zoot Zoot

[TheShammySocialist]

"While not officially in our area of interest, the Union of the Southern Cross is rather taken aback by this recent diplomatic surge in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. As its recent doctrine suggests, the GNED has taken upon its shoulders the responsibility of proclaiming itself as a paternal figure in these regions. While we can call this doctrine one that may have good motives, this 'retaking' of the Trans-Caucasus Canal [i]does[/i] serve to stoke regional tensions on the heels of this doctrine, which notably did serve to insult Slavorussia.

While I am sure that the USC and the GNED have different ways of doing things, general world political thought does dictate that when someone undertakes a sphere of influence, they do so with a generally responsible manner. It is of note that the now-fallen Greater Timuridian Empire did secure an agreement with Slavorussia, that allowed for the passage of trade vessels through the canal for no tolls for all vessels. There is no real [i]need[/i] for strong-arm diplomacy with Slavorussia over the status of the canal. As the Nordic Empire does border countries who we do feel are critical in the [b]Southern Cross Indo-Pacific Balance of Power Policy[/b], and we hope that this apparent diplomatic offensive of sorts, takes a much more diplomatic and restrained manner in the foreseeable future."

[Justinian the Mighty]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1304289949' post='2703443']
No the attempt to fully take over the canal and of course Archangelsk.
[/quote]

Ah once again we return to the two products of Nordic imperialism in Russia, and how we only tried to reverse the effects of an unjust war. On both issues by the way we have been open to dialogue about with our southern neighbors and on one of which we've had a very positive outcome.

[quote name='Malatose' timestamp='1304290243' post='2703448']
The fact remains. The Slavorussian Empire is as greedy as it is sneaky. We dare those wolves in sheeps clothing to steal from us again.
[/quote]

From our point of view, as previously mentioned, you are the occupiers, not the other way around. We have been cordial and accommodating with you and all you offer in return are insults. Now do you have an estimate of how much money you claim your ships paid for access through the canal or not?

edit: spelling

Edited May 1, 2011 by Justinian the Mighty

[Malatose]

As stated in our dispatch, we have been robbed of 300 million Reichsmark. However, that does not include the millions stolen from our citizens, when your soldiers occupied the canal and replaced them with Slavorussian citizens.

[Justinian the Mighty]

My apologies I did not see that figure the first time I read the dispatch. However, we’ve owned the western entrance to the canal for less than 4 months and the flat toll we charge companies to travel through the canal is rather low, so a bill of 300 million reichsmarks means you’ve been transporting so many ships into the canal that there would have been a permanent traffic jam. Hoping to avoid litigation the companies that operate and fund the canal have agreed to pay the 300 million reichmarks through the Foreign Ministry. Please confirm when you have received the payment. Furthermore the companies have fired all their current toll operators.

We must stop there because the Slavorussian government and the private companies that helped buy the canal paid for the canal and all nearby assets. If those people didn’t receive their due then the issue is with the United Federation of the East. A total sum of over 3 billion rubles was paid to compensate for purchasing the canal.

If that is all we bid you good day.

[Malatose]

The Greater Nordic Reich accepts the refund of 300 million Reichsmarks. 50 million will be donated to the employees whos jobs were stolen from the Slavorussian occupation. 100 million will be donated to the Greater Nordic Navy to pay for the logistical cost of traveling through the Canal. The rest of the money will be donated to help fund the Navy's expansion program.