The Gathering Storm - Gameplay Thread (Late 1939)

[Donerail]

France is gravely alarmed by the developing humanitarian catastrophe, both in the south and in Barcelona itself. We will take all appropriate measures to avert this disaster.

[Donerail]

Statement on Spain
The French government, desiring friendly relations with the world and especially with our neighbors, is prepared to establish diplomatic relations with the government of Generalissimo Franco, exchange ambassadors, and recognize his government as the legitimate government of Spain.

As a symbol of our good will in this matter, all weapons and war materials, including vehicles and vessels, that have been collected, impounded, or otherwise seized by the government of France and are found to belong to the Spanish state shall be appropriately returned. So too shall gold, currency, banknotes, securities, bonds, and other financial instruments save as required for reimbursement, such as is found to belong to the Spanish state.

M. Negrín will be permitted to anchor in Algiers and, like other refugees, will be offered asylum there, subject to the surrender and return of arms as discussed in greater detail above.

Statement on the Papacy
I wish to offer my congratulations to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, and join with people around the world in offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins his leadership of the Catholic Church. As the first pope from the Americas, and the first in several centuries to be a native speaker of the French language, his election is historic.