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

[CLARENCE 2015!]

USA MILITARY MANEUVERS PRE-VENEZUELA CONFLICT

Assumption of Responsibility for the Defense of Canada

In accordance with our treaty with our friends the British, I order Secretary Taft to oversee the following maneuvers to begin assuming responsiblity for our neighbor's defense...

All American soldiers and sailors are instructed to salute the Union Jack upon entering Canadian territory to show respect for our British and Canadian brethren

US ARMY

I have previously moved five 5000 man brigades north and I will now move these brigades into Canada to begin the process of relieving British garrisons. I hereby divide Canada into five defense districts:

District 1- Nova Scotia and New Brunswick- HQ: Halifax
I order a brigade to move into the district with Halifax as the headquarters

District 2- Quebec and St Lawrence River Valley- HQ: Quebec City
I order a brigade to split, with 2500 men moving to Quebec City,2500 to Montreal

District 3- Ontario and Great Lakes Region- HQ: Toronto
I order a brigade to move into Ontario with HQ at Toronto

District 4- Great Plains- HQ: Winnipeg
I order a brigade to move into the Great Plains region HQ at Winnipeg, securing rail transportation

District 5- Pacific Coast- HQ: Vancouver
I order a brigade to split with 3000 stationed in Vancouver and 2000 in Victoria

TO CLARIFY- these orders will be supervised by Secretary Taft- who is to coordinate with British commanders and policymakers as well as Canadian. We will move at their pace




US NAVY

Having previously ordered an expansion of the US Navy- I am now prepared to reorganize the Navy into the following units:

1- Atlantic Fleet- HQ: Norfolk
This fleet is the largest and is responsible for the defense of the American mainland and the Atlantic Ocean from North Pole to South Pole

2- Pacific Fleet- HQ: San Diego
This fleet is second largest and is responsible for the defense of the American mainland and the Pacific Ocean from North Pole to South Pole

3- Arctic Task Force- HQ: Halifax
This force will secure the Arctic north of Canada for trade

4- Mediterranean Task Force- HQ: Constantinople
This force will secure peace for the sea, for our European allies and for trade purposes

5- Asiatic Task Force- HQ: Manila
This small force will maintain a presence for American interests in Asia, in accordance with our Japanese friends

6- Rapid Response Task Force- HQ: Norfolk************For use in Venezuela
This task force falls under the command of the Atlantic Fleet and is a fast response crisis squadron to quickly intervene abroad if American interests are threatened


With the naval expansion I ordered (bringing the US Navy to the world's largest by the end of the decade) there will constantly be a production of ships and I order them allocated appropriately by the Secretary of the Navy according to need

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Canadian Integration

Per suggestion by our British allies- the US will pursue strong trade agreements with our Canadian brethren. I order Treasury Secretary Leslie Shaw to oversee a series of meetings focusing on Canada's vast natural resources to combine them with American manufacturing capabilities. I also invite the Prime Minister to meet with me to discuss a broad range of issues. Of course- at all of these meetings- I invite any British representative the Prime Minister designates

[CLARENCE 2015!]

To the Ottoman Empire-

The USA is prepared to help to the maximum of our ability with your domestic affairs... I have proposed a $500 million aid package to the US Congress to help you complete the construction of your railway

I am very pleased to invite you to send 20 officers per year to study at the Army and Navy War Colleges and 20 officer candidates to study at the academies each year- free of charge



To Germany-
Your nation has our condolences after the horrific assassination of the Kaiser



To France-
Congratulations on your re election

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Venezuela Conflict

I urge the UK, Germany and Italy to contribute forces- and I appreciate the Ottoman Empire's contribution- but as the USA will be volunteering the majority of the forces and are nearest to the theater,I ask that your troops place themselves under the command of the US Navy Secretary

I urge any forces you are sending to join the US Navy force at our staging area at Guantanamo Bay

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Venezuelan Conflict

I order the Rapid Response Task Force- along with nearby other forces of the Atlantic Fleet- to assemble at Guantanamo Bay and await forces from our allies. My intent is to blockade Venezuela until its leadership releases the merchant ships it has captured and has come to an agreement with the British, Germans,and Italians to pay the debts. I will wait until I have a better understanding of contributions from my friends before proceeding to impose the blockade

I also send this message to the government of Venezuela- release the ships and come to an agreement now regarding the debt and you will avoid the consequences which will otherwise come

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I would like to appoint Truman Newberry Secretary of the Navy
Mr. Newberry served in the Spanish-American War and has business experience in manufacturing and transportation- crucial components of the US Navy

[CLARENCE 2015!]

From Navy Secretary Truman Newberry
To- Commanding Officer of the Ottoman Navy

With the US Navy's Mediterranean Task Force based in Constantinople, we are pleased to provide basic defense for your waters while you work to rebuild your navy and nation

[CLARENCE 2015!]

OOC
I hadn't realized the straits were demilitarized- so the HQ for my task force is in IZMIR, not Constantinople

My apologies

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The Treaty of Hamburg:

1. Anarchism is hereby condemmed and illegalized. Every fellow convicted of Anarchism shall be forwarded to the courts of his home country.

2. Every nation signing this treaty shall create a special police force to combat Anarchism. If this is not possible, for whatever reason, nations can turn to the German Empire, who will stay by with aid and training facilities.

3. Every nation that calls itsself civilized is invited to sign this treaty.

Signed
President William McKinley

I am pleased to provide a unit from my Bureau of Investigation- which has had success combating anarchism in the USA

[CLARENCE 2015!]

We thank our Ottoman allies for joining us

We also thank our allies the British and our friends the Germans and Italians for being supportive of our efforts

I hereby order a total naval blockade of Venezuela- concentrated on its largest port city, Puerto Cabello. Any ship attempting to circumvent the blockade will be sunk. This will continue until the government releases the merchant ships it has captured and agrees to negotiations for settling its debt

[CLARENCE 2015!]

OOC- when does this turn end?

[CLARENCE 2015!]

1902 Midterms

I send Vice President John Hay to meet with the Republican Congressional leaders to get their input on a domestic agenda- I ask that they be ready to work with me to enact it. While we have been focused on foreign policy, it is time that we begin focusing on our Republican agenda here at home

To the American people- in the past two years,we have undergone national tragedy with the assassination of Vice President Roosevelt. We have pursued alliances and established leadership of our hemisphere. We are building a navy which will secure our homeland from foreign attack for perpetuity. Give my party a majority in our next Congress and you will see what we can do when we concentrate our efforts here at home... We have achieved peace, it is now time to continue the prosperity that our peace has earned us. Our alliances have given us ample opportunity for trade and our navy will secure those channels. Vote Republican in 1902

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The USA renounces any goals to gain territory in Venezuela... we dispute the findings of the spies and believe they are provocateurs installed by a foreign government- possibly Venezuela itself. We will use our superior naval power to maintain the blockade to force Castro to the negotiating table

[CLARENCE 2015!]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

xHis Imperial Majesty The Emperor of Japan

X-Prime Minister Salisbury

Signed
President William McKinley

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The suspense is killing me!!!

[CLARENCE 2015!]

To the UK- We mourn the death of a dear friend, Lord Salisbury.... congratulations to the new Prime Minister Balfour



Republican Party Politics

I gather several leaders of the Republican Party for a meeting at the Executive Mansion. I call John Hay, Mark Hanna, Truman Newberry, and Robert La Follette- the Governor of Wisconsin who is a leading voice of the Progressives. I explain that we need to maintain an open dialogue and that we need to approach issues as multiple voices within a party, not as separate parties or even factions within a party. By sticking together- we maintain the majority of American’s ideologies under our big tent and we will win elections for a generation.

I explain that one of the benefits of our aggressive foreign policy is economic prosperity…by expanding trade and resources, we expand the American economy. As I have demonstrated- I do not seek colonies on the other side of the world…I have cooperated with our allies such as Japan to ensure lands outside our domain are out of our responsibility. I have indeed worked to master our domain which has added to our national prestige and prosperity.

I pledge that I will give the Progressives the first voice on domestic policy if they pledge not to attempt to reverse any aspects of our foreign policy. To show my seriousness- I offer to nominate La Follette as Secretary of the Treasury and my chief lieutenant for domestic policy.

On the issue of a third term- I am privately announcing to this group that I will not seek a third consecutive term in the tradition of George Washington, which I will announce to the country next turn. I plan to run for a third term if the national climate is right in 1908 however. For 1904- I propose and will support Vice President Hay as a unifying candidate for our party, with Governor La Follette as the Vice Presidential nominee. I also propose that La Follette be the VP nominee in 1908 with my support for the Presidential nomination in 1912 when he will still be a very young man. I propose we agree to these guidelines to ensure a diversity of ideas at the top of the ticket and harmony in our party




Military Orders re: Russo-Japanese War

I order ALL UNITS of the US military to be on high alert and ready to mobilize. I order two battle groups from the Pacific Fleet in San Diego- each consisting of a battleship, destroyer, two cruisers, three frigates, and support ships- to join the Asiatic Task Force in Manila immediately. I order Secretary Taft and Secretary Newberry to begin planning to defend American interests in the area and for other contingency plans


To Russia and Japan-
The USA has signed different alliances with both of your nations. The treaty with Russia is a defensive alliance and the treaty with Japan is more broad. Russia was the nation to declare war on Japan,not vice versa....this fact is indisputable and will be considered as the USA considers its policy. In the meantime, I urge both nations to exercise restraint and stand down. The USA honors its treaties,and it is only a matter of which treaty applies in this case. I urge those in St. Petersburg to take note of this



Cuba Policy

I propose a 99-year lease of Guantanamo Bay in exchange for a removal of US troops from anywhere else on the island



Venezuela

Maintain the blockade. I order the a 5,000 man brigade to be moved with all due haste to our staging area in Guantanamo Bay in the event further force is needed. I urge President Castro to come to the table immediately to resolve this issue and move forward peacefully. In the meantime- I order the planting of mines to commence beginning in Puerto Cabello and extending to other port cities on the coast if the Venezuelan govt does not negotiate



Ottoman Empire

We will provide any assistance to our friends and allies- we are grateful to have them with us

[CLARENCE 2015!]

To Russia-

Your reckless admirals drew first blood and your response was to declare war on Japan. Regardless of the expansion of their navy- they did not start this. Your men did and your government in St. Petersburg chose to escalate it by declaring war.
I am not declaring war at this time....I urge you to consult with your ministers while the option of peace still remains

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I order the formation of a Special Battle Group within the Pacific Fleet consisting of five battleships, five destroyers, ten cruisers, fifteen frigates, and support ships including mine planters to deploy from San Diego sailing towards Japanese waters

I order two brigades of the US Army to be ready for immediate deployment to the Far East

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The USA has seen the Russians (in the war thread) propose a deescalation to pursue negotiations.... we urge the Japanese to use this window of opportunity to end this conflict on their terms

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The USA endorses talks in Rome and will send an envoy if such talks occur

The USA condemns the Russian propaganda accusing the Japanese of starting the war

Had Russia been the first attacked- the USA would have been obligated by our treaty to defend her and we would have honored our obligations. However, the behavior of the Tsar and his government are of grave concern to us. I hereby render the Russo-American Defensive Alliance VOID

If the Russians wish to negotiate a new treaty- they must come to the table to negotiate for peace immediately and must demilitarize the Russian Far East as a sign of good faith that they will not attack our Japanese allies again

I am not yet declaring war but the US military is ready to fight and win

[CLARENCE 2015!]

The USA commends both Russia and Japan for this step towards a peaceful resolution

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I would like to also commend our Ottoman allies.... the Sultan has led the reconstruction of his nation and has been a force for peace and the rule of law across the world. We hope other nations will take note of the Ottoman Empire's role in calming tensions

[CLARENCE 2015!]

State Visit

I am proud to announce that Vice President John Hay will lead a delegation to a state visit in Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire is a true friend of the USA and we are blessed to count them as an ally. With the advancement under the Sultan- it is an ideal time for a delegation from the USA to visit in order to see for themselves the strides the Ottoman people have made and to represent the American people's commitment to everlasting friendship between our nations

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Naval Orders

I order Secretary Newberry to arrange the following:

1- As the Japanese government has invited us to station military forces in its territory, consult with them to ensure this offer still stands

2- I order the Asiatic Task Force to be placed under the auspices of the Pacific Fleet with a Vice Admiral in command reporting to the Admiral in command of the fleet.

3- I order the Special Battle Group already en route from the Pacific Fleet to join the Asiatic Task Force

4- I order the Asiatic Task Force to move its headquarters from Manila to Yokosuka, Japan

5- I order a 500-man battalion of Marines to be stationed in Yokosuka as a rapid response strike force to defend American interests in the Far East

[CLARENCE 2015!]

To the Kingdom of Denmark-

For decades- you have spent a large amount of effort and money to defend and administer the islands of Greenland and Iceland. As Greenland is a large island in North America, it is a burden to you due to its size and its distance from Copenhagen. We would like to begin talks with you to gauge your interest in the USA purchasing Greenland from you for $20 million

I propose the following treaty...

Greenland Treaty of 1903

1- The island of Greenland will be sold to the United States for $20 million
2- The USA will be responsible for the defense and administration of Greenland
3- Greenland will join the USA as a territory
4- The people of Greenland may elect a delegate to the United States Congress who may serve and vote on committees
5- Danish will remain an official language of Greenland