The Sword of Damocles (Gameplay Thread) (Early 1930)

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Having put trust in proposed talks, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty doesn't wish to see the situation deteriorating with more nations getting involved by committing their troops. Though we respect the Prime Minister's desire for helping to bring hostilities to the end, we don't think this approachment would work out.

That being said, we request the French government to demonstrate its good will by arranging their citizens to leave the front area. Due to an unilateral ceasefire we've declared, it won't change the situation.

Last, but not least, we will not accept any foreign forces to enter enemy territories we've been currently holding.

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Also, the very idea of His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's Government entering any sort of covert agreement with the Papist regime in Rome regarding Greece is a nonsense.

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Having been deeply committed to maintain positive relations with both the United Kingdom and the Chinese Empire, the Sublime Porte is available as a mediating part if requested.

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The Sublime Porte is on it.

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Trading with the Saudi entity, which remain continuously hostile toward the Sublime Porte and our brothers in Hejaz, will be viewed as an unfriendly act.  

Giving any support to the Wahabi terrorists is likely to end with total trade embargo from the Ottoman Empire as well as closing all trade routes, land and sea.

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His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan is deeply saddened with the passing of great international statesman, former Chancellor Bernard von Bulow.

His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan welcomes the news of collapse of Cuban-based "government", set up by the two failed former Presidents. The Sultan believes America is on the road to be great again very soon (sorry...)

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Domestic:

- Current works on industrial and financial development are to be continued (remember about Islamic banking)

- Our increased trade with the East demands an expansion of the Ottoman commercial navy, particularly in the Persian Gulf region. Once hostilities in the Balkans are over, a Naval task force is to be permanently dispatched to the Gulf to protect our merchant vessels from the Wahhabi terrorists.

- Increased revenue should also be used in improving our schools, particularly in neglected non-Turkish areas (aside of a need to educate our people, we can't get rid off the tribal mentality from the older generations of Arabs, but we sure can do everything to raise young ones in the spirit of multinational Empire).

- Establish some commercial fleet in the Caspean sea.

- Question: aside of communication, what are areas of interest that need development in Mesopotamia? Agriculture? Industry?

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Military

- Having compared the state of our air force with those of fellow European powers, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's government is less than pleased. With the skies becoming the first line of defense, we need to expand and modernize our air force.

- The Ottoman Empire is largely land-based power, not a great naval power as the United Kingdom or Empire of Japan. Our Navy must be sufficient to protect our territorial waters, escort our commercial ships and be able to participate in allied operations. We don't need a Navy that can project power on it's own far away, like in the Falklands (relax, British, just an example).

That being said, while land and air forces takes priority, we need to maintain a navy capable of fulfilling goals set above. Take a closer look on submarine warfare again.

- In anticipation of reaching peace in the Balkans, the General Staff is instructed to set a plan of demobilization to pre-war level. However, since many ex-soldiers would like to continue in their present jobs, a plan is to be set to form an expeditionary corps to China to help our allies.

- If the peace with Bulgaria and Greece is reached, adjacent Ottoman territories must be developed for defensive purposes. Strictly defensive.

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The Straits are hereby reopened for eventual neutral humanitarian aid to Bulgaria.

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The Sublime Porte will be extraordinairly pleased to receive His Excellency, the President of the United States.

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The Ottoman Empire applauds the initiative undertook by the Empire of Japan. We have full confidence the government of Generalissimo Chaing Kai-Shek, which is the legitimate government of China, will be able to sort out domestic discords.

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The Ottoman Empire formally recognized the new Spanish government.

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Regarding the Salmas Earthquake:

1. A martial law is proclaimed in the affected area to prevent looting and protect the victims from anybody trying to take the advantage of their tragedy.

2. Medical, engineering and support units of the army are to be redirected to the area to aid the population and start repairing the damage. For this reason, additional medical, engineering and support units that were due to demobilize will remain in service for now on.

3. Responsible ministries are to take care of feeding and sheltering the victims, including temporary relocation whenever needed.

4. The Ottoman Empire would gratefully accept a technological and material aid from abroad if offered.

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Foreign Affairs:


1. We mourn the tragic death of General Chaing Kai-shek, who had been a proven friend of the Sublime Porte. That being said, our desire to maintain good relations with China is larger than any man or faction. (So, whoever gets the upper hand: we're ready to do the same business with you as with the previous regime. We just don't know what is happening now.).

2. All rumours alleging the Sublime Porte conspired with the Italian Emperor are nothing but vile slander, prepeared by the Roman Pope, blinded with his hatred toward Islam, so he could justify his coup establishing a hostile, theocratic regime.

Diplomatic relations with Italy, currently illegitimately ruled by the Roman Pope, are naturally suspended.

3. His Sacred and Imperial Majesty wishes to congratulate The Rt. Honourable Stanley Baldwin, MP, on his accession as the Prime Minister and hopes for the continuation of British-Ottoman cooperation to secure peace and stability in the region.


Military policy:

3. Work on improving military installations on our new border with Greece and Bulgaria for defensive purposes only. We want to be clear these lands will not become a launching pad for any sneak attack in future by either side.

3. As stated before, the Ottoman Empire needs to expand its air force. We shall use our increased revenue to buy aircrafts abroad, as well as to purchase air technology, so we can manufacture planes once we finish up setting our arms industry (OOC: something I've been talking about a while, so I appreciate an update).

4. Naval policy the same as stated before.

5. Form five voluntary divisions out of demobilized veterans who wishes to stay in uniforms.

6. Due to uncertain world situation and the need for dealing with the Salmas earthquake, the demobilization shall take a slower and more limited pace.


Economic and Social affairs:

1. Continue with a agricultural and industrial development of Mesopotamia.

2. Continue with improving our public education.

3. Improve transport in Southern Mesopotamia.

4. With the Persian Gulf being our main oil export route, the responsible ministries are to prepare proposals of building new pipelines and where we should direct these.

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Not a public document:

His Sacred and Imperial the Sultan is the highest representative of the Ottoman State and the guardian of historical sovereignty under which the House of Osman brought together people of various origin and religion into one indivisible empire. Furthermore, as Caliph of Islam, the Sultan has the supreme religious authority residing with him.

Given these facts, it is only logical His Sacred and Imperial Majesty takes a more prominent role in representing His realm abroad and domestically.

The Sultan is like a British monarch. The sovereignty resides solely with him and he's a historical guarantor of legitimacy and continuity. The fact he decided to devolve many of his day-to-day governmental duties to his loyal ministers cannot diminish that and only shows the Sultan's faith in his people.

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His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, along with his ministers, is deeply disturbed by the events that took place in Italy. It is clear the Roman Pope used false pretenses, slandering the Sublime Porte, to justify his coup against the legitimate sovereign. We conclude the Roman Pope cannot be considered a legitimate ruler.

The deposed Emperor's son, on the other hand, while being vested into the right to crown via his ancestry, lacks ways to establish his authority.

Therefore, as far as the Sublime Porte is concerned, there is no legitimate government representing Italy. We therefore consider Italy as a country in anarchy.


His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, along with his ministers, believes it is a sovereign right of the Cossack State to either open or close it's territory for any kind of commerce. It is their exclusive right they don't have to answer for before any other government.


His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, along with his ministers, is deeply displeased with the Romanian decision to carry on with the war. During the peace talks in Paris, we have insisted on preserving Romanian territorial integrity in the treaty and no such provisions were included.

In light of this unreasonable attitude, the Ottoman Empire must renounce its pact with Romania.

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The Sublime Porte applauds the British government's commitment for humanitarian causes worldwide and gratefully accepts the aid offered to us in the wake of the earthquake. We trust under Prime Minister Baldwin the British-Ottoman relations will continue to flourish.

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Italy placing its military on high alert in the Mediterranean is a worrying development. We trust it's move will not be used as an excuse to escalate tensions with other countries.

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The Ottoman Empire suspends its membership in the Treaty of Izmir, pending general reevaluation of policy.

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His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan is happy the peace had once again came upon his people and his realms. The basic goals of securing our European borders had been achieved. Unfortunately when thousands of brave Ottoman soldiers fought and died for the homeland, we believed we've been meet with insufficient support from our allies, which needlesly prolonged the conflict.

After much deliberations, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, along with his ministers, had decided, with heavy heart, to exit the European alliances and proclaim the policy of armed neutrality. Our involvement in Europe shall, from now on, be limited to maintaining commercial interests and cooperating with Greece, Bulgaria and Albania to secure the peace we've just agreed on.

Main interests of the Sublime Porte in the realm of external relations shall be focused on expanding ties with Asian and American countries, most notably the United States, Japan, Siberia and the Cossack State, while continuing to work with the United Kingdom to maintain stability in the Middle East.


On behalf of His Sacred and Imperial Majesty:

Emmanuel Carasso Efendi
The Grand Vizier

x Enver Pasha
Minister of War and Foreign Affairs

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The Ottoman Empire is extremely grateful to Japan and Germany for their generous aid in the time of natural disaster. His Sacred and Imperial Majesty is very hopeful seeing the increased level of humanitarian cooperation between the nations.


The Ottoman Empire is dissapointed with the attitude displayed by Romania. During Paris Peace Talks we were persistent on Romania not suffering any territorial loses. Unfortunately, the Romanian government had decides to ignore this and continue with the dangerous path. His Sacred and Imperial Majesty and his ministers are absolutely committed to honor a honourable peace with Greece and Bulgaria. (Everybody's sick and tired with Romania, with us being probably the most. First, there was a Crimean affair, then by their reckless behavior Romania allowed what was a border crisis to escalate into a full scale war. Bucharest should know it's their last chance for preserving status quo antanellum.)

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A state-owned company, the Ottoman-Siberian Association, is to be created in order to foster and conduct our trade relations with Siberia.

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The British and Ottoman Empires had long enjoyed productive relations, overcoming a difficult start of this century, being mutually committed to maintain stability in the region. We’re looking forward to establish a working agreement regarding oil export and access to the Gulf.

(OOC: I believe I have a small piece of coast, that is Al-Faw peninsula, but I understand it might be insufficient)


In response to recurring incidents at the border and common banditry, the Ottoman and Hejazi forced commenced an operation against Wahhabi terrorists, led by a notorious rogue Ibn Saud.


His Sacred and Imperial Majesty congratulates his brother, Tsar Alexei and Admiral Kolchak on their successfull reunification of Russia. The time had come for both of our countries to live in peace and cooperation, leaving the past behind.

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His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan is gravely concerned with the plight of the American people, and its effect on the whole world. The Sultan hopes major powers will be able to work together to avert possible global economic crisis.

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The Ottoman Empire has a mutual defense pact with the Cossack government of General Krasnov and we are fully committed to honor our commitments.