Balance of Power (Gameplay Thread) - Epilogue and Game Over

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Austria-Hungary will join Chancellor Bulow's attack in Poland.  Russia must not be able to further strengthen its sphere of influence in Europe, and Chancellor Bülow and I are committed to preventing that.

OOC: Thanks for telling me your war plans.

Lol!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In order to resolve any issues between the Ottoman Empire and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Phanar and his followers, I will pull Lateran Treaties years before anybody has heard of such idea.  

An enclave within the Feren neighbourhood of Constantinopole, that includes the Patriarchal Palace, shall be declared a Phanar City State, an independent entity under the Patriarch's sovereignty.

A new state shall enjoy a full independence in domestic affairs, with defense being a responsibility of the Ottoman Empire. Also Phanar pledges never to side against the Ottoman Empire in any international matter.

This will become effective after a war is over.

(OOC: Like Lateran Treaty, this does not affect Greek Orthodoxes' status as valued, and sole, Ottoman subjects, just gives a piece of land to the Church leader, so he can excercise his spiritual functions undisturbed).

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Ottoman Empire will not accept a status quo peace, since it would effecively mean a Russian victory.

We find that propostrous to make such a deal after all sacrifice made by the allies and after all agressive and purely terrorist moves by Russia.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We are delighted with our British and German allies' splendid successes in Poland, Montenegro, Kamchatka, Dardanelles, Baltic and other fronts. With the Ottoman Empire coming closer and closer to achieve our initial strategic goals, we all can see Russia is on defensive!

x Abdul Hamid II

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Despite considerable differences of opinions, the Sultan is saddened with Mr. Bryan's murder and wishes to offer his condolences to the family.

This is obvious that his death was very convenient to mutual enemies of the United States and their allies and we cannot possibly rule out an outside provocation, aiming at destabilize President McKinley's (who has shows a great restrain and respect for the rule of law) government. President McKinley has, as always, our full trust.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

During the war with Entente, the Ottoman Empire proved that in face of overwhelming odds we were willing to cede substantial territories in order to achieve lasting peace. Allies demands toward Russia are in no way that severe (in fact, our demands are most moderate) and we believe St. Petersburg should do a reasonable thing by agreeing - in their own interest. Prolonger war would only means bigger losses and we do not wish to see that happening.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We reject any cease fire notion unless agreed upon by all fighting allies.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

When Japan was in need, we all choose to firmly stand with her, even when it was against our own interests. Therefore Japan making a separate agreement is not only disturbing, but also very inconsiderate toward us all.

We will never turn our backs on our friends.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Making separate agreements behind the back of one's allies (who joined the war because of their friendship toward Japan) is inconsiderate and ungentlemany. That is not how alliances works. This is not how friendship works.

I wish to remind that Russia is responsible for a number of atrocities, such as poisoning HM Kaiser Wilhelm III, Krupp Factory bombing, aiding terrorist militants worldwide, just to name a few examples here. Japan seems to ignore there is much more at stake there than territorial issues.

The Ottoman Empire will continue to conduct the war along with our friends even without Japan and we ask all nations to take note of Tokyo's unfriendly act toward us all.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Yes - you joined the war because of your friendship toward my nation. For that, I thank you. But as the nation who began the Allied effort, we then pressed for a peace conference - we achieved our war aims. You and others expressed a desire to continue fighting, but that fighting is for your own territorial aims, not avenging justice. We know well the atrocities Russia has been accused of, and that is an issue that can be settled in a peace conference - as it relates to us, it is an issue we have settled in a peace conference. Yet you continue your war - why, exactly?

As the Emperor of Japan, my loyalty to my people is paramount to all other loyalties. There was an opportunity for a just peace that achieved our war aims. The Russians are willing to give up lands and gold to end the war. I will not sacrifice more of my people's lives so that other nations can pursue their ill-fated quests of conquest.

We're not looking for conquest. Our moderate demands are about securing our nation against yet another Russian agression and my people would never accept us giving that up.

The Ottoman soldiers are fighting and dying for our security and those of our friends, including Japan. Therefore we have a right to be dissapointed, to put it very mildly.

And making a cease fire without even consulting other allies properly is an insult toward all who died for the alliance, which included Japan.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Our terms are well known to St. Petersburg and we stick by them. We also endorse Austrian, British and German terms.

Let is be known that despite Japanese turncoating, Allied determination remains unchanged.

For Russia the choice is clear: agreeing to our terms or collapse.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We're not looking for conquest. Our moderate demands are about securing our nation against yet another Russian aggression and my people would never accept us giving that up.

What of your allies? You and I both know that Allied demands have gone well beyond national security. How is German security guaranteed by taking over Estonia? How is your own security guaranteed by taking over vast swathes of Russia, including parts that have not been ruled by others in centuries?

We would like to remind Japan has made a very harsh term during the Rome Conference, which pretty much helped ending any hope for peace back then. Your current talk about our "excessive demands" and your desire for peace is a bare hypocrisy. First you brought us into the war and now accuse us of warmongering? After we bleed ourselves for you? Insulting beyond any scale.

And since Japan cannot even acknowledge that making a deal beyond her allies' back was inexcusable by diplomatic standards, we cannot regard Tokyo as a sincere friend anymore.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sea of Japan incident is now resolved. Why do you continue your war?

Does Japan believe that Britain, America, Germany, Austria and Turkey are her servants? When you say "fight" we fight and when you say "stop" we must obey?

Again, we stood with Japan when she needed us and now when we need Japan, she's turning her back on us.

We are not your servants. We were your allies and you has showed that we cannot trust you to honor even most basic diplomatic rules, such as notyfying us before making a separate agreement.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Regretfully, we have no choice but to suspend all diplomatic, economic and military relations with the Empire of Japan, effective immediatelly.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful


We, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid II,

Padishah,
Sovereign of the House of Osman,
Sultan of Sultans,
Khan of Khans,
Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe,
Custodian of the Holy Sanctuaries,
Emperor of Rome,
Emperor of The Three Cities of Constantinople, Adrianople and Bursa,
etc. etc.,

do hereby proclaim:


Azeri Brothers!


You have been delivered from long and brutal Russian misrule, and reunited with your long lost Muslim brothers!

No longer subjects of any foreign power, you are once again citizens equal under the God Almighty.


x Abdul Hamid II


Once the transfer is fully completed, the Azeri people shall be entitled to be represented by ten Senators, as stipulated for leading nations of the Empire.


x Abdul Hamid II


(OOC: no offense, Russia, but I need to say hello to my new subjects )

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The strong and valiant Slavic people will beat back the Teutonic barbarians from our lands.

To remove association with Germanic naming systems, I hereby order St. Petersburg to be renamed to Petrograd.
 
X Tsar Nicholas II

LOOOOOOOL

Well, the city was indeed known as Petrograd OTL.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

To: Pope Albert I
From: Kingdom of Italy

The Kingdom of Italy is extremely offended by the current papal remarks, and we call for Pope Albert's immediate resignation. A true man of God would never openly call one of his Catholic brothers "lost from the church".

OOC: Have I missed something cool?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Ottoman Empire is not interested in recovering our lost territories in the Balkans. The past is past and no other country has to fear anything from us.

However, Bulgaria poses a clear and present danger to us, especially our ancient and mighty capital. With Bulgaria being a base for foreign aggression twice in recent history, we simply cannot tolerate this state of affairs. Restoring our borders before the Second Great Turkish War is not only a strategic necessity, but simply a historical justice.

So far we have committed only minor troops, hoping that Sofia will realize the inevitable. Now, as we have no other fronts to attend to, we declare that unless the old borders are restored and Bulgaria agrees to enter an exclusive alliance with us, we will unleash the full might and fury of the Ottoman Empire upon them.   

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We consider this a matter exclusively between Constantinopole and Sofia. Bulgaria is not a Russian ally nor a member of the Orthodox League.

We have no interest in threathing the Orthodox League in any manner and we ask Russia, that just made a peace with us, to respect our right to settle our issues with neighbour that poses a constant threat.

We would like to remind most kindly we gave up any demands that would affect the Orthodox League in order to make lasting peace with Petrograd. Therefore, we ask Russians not to get involved in this limited issue.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We extend an olive branch one more time, by proposing modified terms. This is our last offer.


1. The Tsardom of Bulgaria cedes a part of its southern territory to the Ottoman Empire, as shown on the map.



2. The Tsardom of Bulgaria enters an exclusive military and diplomatic alliance with the Ottoman Empire.

3. The Ottoman Empire pledges to fully respect Bulgaria's domestic independence and to provide an economic and military aid, when requesed.

4. The Ottoman Empire renounces any future territorial claims in the Balkans and pledges to conduct no agressive moves toward the Orthodox League.

5. The Orthodox League and the Russian Empire pledges not to interfere in Ottoman-Bulgarian relations.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Ottoman Empire is indeed disturbed with the unrests in Palestine, as we do not wish to see the Middle East destabilized.

If our British friends are interested, we are prepeared to offer our service in negotiating with tribal leaders, given we have centuries-long experience of dealing with them.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

(This was being prepeared for some time, but, with the Russian War over for us, I might as well announce now)

In recognition of our enduring and mutually beneficial alliance with the United States of America, the Sultan had decided to bestow the  knightly Order of the Medjidie to His Excellency President William McKinley (first class), and to His Excellency Secretary John Hay and Commander of the Mediterranean Naval Task Force (second class).


First class

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

OOC: The Quadruple Alliance seems more and more like a legal fiction at this point, given Italy kept neutrality during the whole conflict, and Japan's separate peace pissed off Germans too.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Ottoman Empire is proud to be the second (and first non involved) country to recognize the sovereignty and independence of the Turkmenistan nation.

We shall send a delegation to establish formal diplomatic relations between our Muslim brothers in Central Asia and us, and we are looking forward to forging a close ties with them.

x Abdul Hamid II

(OOC: Good move, Spamage)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

OOC: What's so quiet today?