The Zenith of Power: Gameplay Thread

[Kuumo]

On the Status of the Regions of Colombia

I give an official invitation to the federalist and regionalist leaders of Venezuela for a meeting with the government in the hopes of coming to an agreement on the status of the administration of their people. Our country has grown and prospered greatly since throwing off the Spanish yoke. We now have far more people than the founders of our revolution could have imagined. A limited degree of autonomy under our Republic may be within the best interests of both Venezuelans and New Granadans. Great progress has been made in recent times toward the establishment of a righteous state in this world of sin. With this meeting, I believe we will come one step closer to the ideal society envisaged by Archbishop Mosqueda y Arboleda.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

On the Global Football Summit

Colombia will send representatives to the summit in New Orleans as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation with the footballers of the other nations of the world.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Bogota
A Treaty between the Kingdom of Mexico, The Holy Republic of Colombia, and the Divine Republic of Brazil

The signatories hereby agree to the following:

1.) A non-aggression pact between the signatories;

2.) The signatories shall come to each other's defense against any unprovoked foreign invasion;

3.) 13% of the Panama Canal profits shall be awarded to the Kingdom of Mexico; 12% to the Holy Republic of Colombia; and 75% to the Divine Republic of Brazil;  

4.) All Catholic-Republican prisoners currently held in the Kingdom of Mexico shall be pardoned and released effective immediately;

5.) The signatories shall permit the Kingdom of Mexico to construct a Mexico City-Bogota-Sao Paolo railroad that may be used by citizens of all the signatories;

6.) The signatories agree to normalized trade and diplomatic relations.

x Archbishop-President Manuel Joaquim da Silveira

x King Luis de Bourbon-Orleans

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

Statement from the Office of Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

After much discussion with other members of the government, the regionalist representatives of Venezuela, and the delegates from Ecuador, I have concluded that our Holy Republic would benefit from a degree of devolution to recognize the geographic separation and cultural differences of the Venezuelan people with New Granada. I have also made great effort to hear the voices of the working men of Colombia, who wish not to be left behind by their leaders in Bogotá. As we are all equal in the eyes of God, we should strive for social equality in our earthly lives by embodying the Christian principles of respect and charity toward those in need. I thus present the Constitution of the Holy Republic of Colombia to address the concerns expressed to me at the convention.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

Summary of the key points of the Constitution of the Holy Republic of Colombia

I. The Holy Republic of Colombia is a Catholic state founded on the principles of Catholic Republicanism.

II. The Archbishop of Bogotá is the primary spiritual and political leader of the Holy Republic of Colombia in his role as Archbishop-President.
i. As the head of state and commander-in-chief, the Archbishop-President is responsible for the diplomatic policy and national defense of the country.
ii. The Archbishop-President is responsible for the appointment of the heads of the various departments of the federal bureaucracy. He may remove any department head for unsatisfactory performance.
iii. The Council of the Spiritual Protectors of the State shall be a group of members of the clergy appointed by the Archbishop-President with the role of advising him on matters of the Church.
iv. In the event of the death or resignation of the Archbishop-President, the most senior of his clerical advisors shall act in the role of Archbishop-President until the selection of a new Archbishop of Bogotá.

III. A Colombian National Assembly shall be established to represent the laymen of our State.
i. The Assembly shall consist of 75 members, each representing one district containing the community in which he resides.
ii. For equal representation within the Assembly, seventy-five districts spanning the territory of Colombia shall be drawn, each containing an equal population of citizens.
iii. Each member of the Assembly shall be elected by the people of his district. Each member shall be elected every four years, starting in March of 1874. Voting shall be open to any male citizen of at least 25 years of age.
iv. A national census shall be taken every 10 years starting in 1875 for the purpose of properly apportioning the Assembly districts. The districts shall be redrawn by a commission appointed by the Archbishop-President following each census.
v. The National Assembly shall be primarily responsible for taxation and expenditures affecting the entire Republic. The Assembly shall pass funding proposals by simple-majority vote. These proposals shall become law with the approval of the Archbishop-President. The Archbishop-President has the power to strike down or amend proposals passed by the Assembly.
vi. The Archbishop-President shall be responsible for calling the National Assembly into session and dismissing it as needed.

IV. A regional government responsible for the local affairs of Venezuela shall be established in Caracas.
i. The regional government shall consist of two bodies: the Venezuelan Regional Assembly to represent the laymen of Venezuela, and the Sacred Council of Venezuela to represent the clergy of Venezuela.
ii. The Venezuelan Regional Assembly shall consist of 25 members, each representing one district containing the community in which he resides.
iii. Twenty-five districts spanning the territory of Venezuela shall be drawn, each containing an equal population of citizens.
iv. Each member of the Venezuelan Assembly shall be elected by the people of his district. Each member shall be elected every four years, starting in March of 1874. Voting shall be open to any male citizen of at least 25 years of age.
v. The Sacred Council of Venezuela shall consist of 25 members of the clergy chosen by the bishops of the dioceses within the borders of Venezuela.
vi. The regional Assembly and the Sacred Council are responsible for passing laws relating to the localized taxation and expenditures within Venezuela.
vii. The regional Assembly shall pass no law contradicting a law passed by the National Assembly and the Archbishop-President.
viii. The regional Assembly shall pass no law regarding national defense, international trade, interregional commerce, or the coinage of currency.

V. A regional government responsible for the local affairs of Ecuador shall be established in Quito, pending the approval of the delegates representing the Ecuadorian people.
i. Upon ratification of this Constitution by the delegates of Ecuador, the Catholic Republic of Ecuador shall be formally annexed by the Holy Republic of Colombia 60 days after ratification.
ii. A regional government for Ecuador shall be established, identical in structure to the regional government of Venezuela.
iii. Ecuador shall be given representation in the National Assembly in accordance with Article III.

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Porto (1872)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Portugal

I. The signatories hereby confirm their military, economic, and religious alliance, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Lisbon and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 10%.

IV. A non-aggression pact between the signatories.

V. A defensive alliance pact, binding each nation to militarily support the other in the face of any unprovoked foreign attacks.

VI. The shipment of rations and supplies from the Holy Republic of Colombia to the Kingdom of Portugal to support the Portuguese military's efforts in the Spanish Civil War.

VII. The dispatchment of naval advisors from the Kingdom of Portugal to the Holy Republic of Colombia to assist in the modernization of the Colombian navy.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

The Treaty of Busan (1872)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Empire of Joseon

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Hanseong and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 12%.

IV. A Colombian consulate will be opened in Busan, and a Korean consulate will be opened in Guayaquil.

V. The Holy Republic of Colombia will prohibit Colombian missionaries from entering any city administered by the Empire of Joseon.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Willemstad (1872)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the United Provinces of New Holland

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Willemstad and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 15%.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

Speech by Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez on the National Agenda

Plaza de Mosquera (OTL Plaza de Bolívar), Bogotá, January 1st, 1873

My loyal fellow countrymen and brothers of faith,

The forces of tyranny have finally fallen on our continent. No longer shall the honest and pious people of Peru suffer under the ungodly rule of the bloodthirsty idolater Henry Bourbon. God smiles down upon our nation and through His divine Providence has granted us great prosperity as the rest of the world burns in darkness. I welcome the people of Ecuador, the immigrants from old Europe, and the righteous citizens of Peru who have joined us in our mission of rooting out the earthly sins of mankind and living humbly alongside one another, united in common purpose, as our Father above intended.

But across the sea, there remain truly loyal followers of Christ who fight valiantly against the powerful forces of wrath and greed that seek to push them into submission. It is our divine duty to help our distant brothers and sisters when they need us most. To stand idly by as our righteous spiritual kin are slaughtered is to be complicit in the works of Lucifer. In light of the plight of our European kindred, I thus declare that Colombia shall serve as a refuge for those fleeing the imperialist terror and senseless violence that seeks to stamp them out. Our loyal brothers in Christ from Portugal to Poland, Italy to Ireland, shall be offered safe passage across the ocean to our shores, where we shall welcome them to our righteous and just society.

I also come to announce the commencement of some projects for the betterment of our Holy Republic. With the incorporation of Ecuador and Peru into our nation, it has become all the more necessary to improve upon the transportation infrastructure connecting the cities of Colombia. To this end, I announce the creation of a Department of Transportation that will be responsible for the building and financing of a railroad system connecting the cities of Caracas, Maracaibo, Medellín, Bogotá, Santiago de Cali, Quito, Guayaquil, and Lima. The building of this national railroad will necessitate a large quantity of steel. For the minimization of dependence on foreign steel, we must learn to manufacture this most important metal in our own country. To this end, state-funded steel mills will be constructed in Bogotá, Medellín, and Lima. Finally, for the most important investment in the future of Colombia, the educational opportunities for our children shall be massively expanded. Far too many of the impoverished areas of our cities and remote corners of the Andes and Amazon lack conveniently located primary schools. The Church shall be responsible for the construction of schools in these places, where the children will be taught literacy, arithmetic, and the history of the Republic and of the Church. For the purpose of the higher education of our young men, I announce the chartering of a National University in Bogotá. This institute shall be free of charge and open to any Colombian citizen upon the passing of an entrance exam testing academic readiness. The available programs will include medicine, science, law, liberal arts, and religion. The faculty positions will be open to any practicing Catholic learned in that subject by the standards of his country.

For the purpose of supporting the brothers and countrymen of Colombia, the government has assumed ownership of all land and assets formerly held by Henry Bourbon and his self-proclaimed noblemen in Peru. This wealth shall be returned to the people through funding for the aforementioned projects and more. The numerous mines across Peru will also come under state ownership, where they shall provide additional funds through the resources extracted.

May God bless the people of the Holy Republic of Colombia.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Homestead Act of 1873

The farmable government land in Peru will be opened for settlement.

1. Any head of household or person of at least 21 years of age who has not taken up arms against the Holy Republic of Colombia shall be eligible to apply for a land grant for 160 cuerdas (Spanish acres) for a small fee.

2. After a period of five years, the applicant may apply for a deed for the land. If it has been suitably developed, the land shall become the property of the applicant.

3. No less than 80 percent of the farmable state-owned land in Peru and no less than 50 percent of the farmable state-owned land in New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador will be opened to settlement under this act.

The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1873

The immigration and naturalization laws of the Holy Republic of Colombia are thus standardized.

1. To ensure reasonable numbers of immigrants suitable for Colombia, the following annual quotas are established:

Spain: 40,000
Portugal: 12,000
Naples: 18,000
Padania: 1,200
Venice: 1,200
France: 8,000
British Union: 6,000
Habsburg Empire: 8,000
Prussia: 2,000
Saxony: 50
Switzerland: 2,000
Netherlands: 100
Scandinavia: 1,000
Poland: 8,000
Russia: 100
Ottoman Empire: 150
Brazil: 1,500
Patagonia: 300
Mexico: 5,000
Louisiana: 2,100
Quebec: 1,600
New Holland: 1,500
Korea: 100
Haiti: 100

2. Migrants from majority-Catholic nations in a state of civil war or under invasion by a foreign power who leave their country due to persecution or violence shall be classified as refugees. Refugees are counted separately from the quotas established for economic migrants.

3. Any immigrant who finds employment within Colombia for a period of five years and passes a written exam testing basic Spanish literacy and civic knowledge on the State and the Church shall be naturalized as a citizen of the Holy Republic of Colombia.

4. Any person born within the borders of Colombia, with the exception of children born of foreign diplomats, shall be a citizen of the Holy Republic of Colombia.

5. Foreign-born residents will be eligible for land grants under the Homestead Act of 1873.

Official Statement on the Status of Peru and its People

The area of Peru under Colombian occupation will be formally incorporated into the Holy Republic of Colombia on March 16th, 1873. The residents of Peru deemed to be loyal to the Holy Republic will be naturalized as citizens and will be given equal treatment under the law to the current citizens of Colombia. The citizens residing within Peru will be eligible to vote for the National Assembly in the 1874 elections, with Assembly districts apportioned in accordance with the number of citizens living in Peru. The Sacred Council of Peru and the Peruvian Regional Assembly will be respectively selected and elected in 1878, after Peru is formally admitted as a fourth region of Colombia.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

Official Statement on the North American War

It is not in the best interest of Colombia to take a side in the great war to the north. Only if one of those powers were to violate or severely threaten the sovereignty of Haiti would Colombia become involved, as the Haitian people have the right to self-determination and independence from their powerful neighbors. I pray that the belligerents cease their fighting and come to terms soon for the mutual benefit of peace in the Western Hemisphere.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Guayaquil (1873)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Mexico

I. The signatories hereby reaffirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship as expressed in the Treaty of Bogotá (1871), and hereby commit to the following:

II. The tariffs for trade between the two nations will be lowered by 15% for the duration of Mexican involvement in the North American War.

III. The Holy Republic of Colombia will provide monthly shipments of food for the government of the Kingdom of Mexico to distribute among its people for the duration of Mexican involvement in the North American War.

IV. The Kingdom of Mexico shall reimburse the Holy Republic of Colombia for the shipments two years after the end of Mexican involvement in the North American War.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Southampton (1873)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in London and Bogotá.

III. The British tariffs on Colombian wheat, sugar, and cotton shall be lowered by 33%.

IV. The Colombian tariffs on British steel shall be lowered by 25%.

V. The tariffs for trade of all other commodities between the two nations shall be lowered by 10%.

VI. The tariff rates in Article V of this treaty will remain in effect for six years, after which they will expire and be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories. The tariff rates in Articles III and IV will remain in effect for two years, after which they will be raised to levels in line with the commodities in Article V. If the British Union is still engaged in war with the Kingdom of Quebec or the Kingdom of Louisiana after two years, the tariff rates in Articles III and IV will be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories.

VII. The Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be purchased by the Holy Republic of Colombia for £1,000,000.

VIII. The British citizens residing in the Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be financially compensated and free to move to other locations under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas.

IX. The Holy Republic of Colombia pledges to remain neutral for the duration of the North American War.

X. The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas formally recognizes Colombian sovereignty over Ecuador and Peru.

XI. The Holy Republic of Colombia formally recognizes British sovereignty over Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and the British claims in Africa.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of St. Petersburg (1874)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Russian Republic

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Moscow and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 12%.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

(Source: u/S-I-B-E-R-I-A-N on r/vexillology)


Official Proclamation from the Office of the Archbishop-President

I hereby name Rafael Núñez of the United Colombia Party (OOC: moderate Catholic Republicans) as the first Prime Minister of the Holy Republic of Colombia. He will lead a coalition government with Juan Montalvo of the Socialist Workers' Party of Colombia. Manuel Murillo Toro of the Colombian Liberal Party will be the Leader of the Loyal Opposition with Mariano Ospina Rodriguez's Colombian Conservative Party joining the Liberals in the minority.

I also name the following new heads of the governmental departments of Colombia:
Secretary of State: José María Rojas Garrido
Secretary of War: Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual
Secretary of Justice: Manuel Teodoro del Valle, Archbishop of Lima
Secretary of the Treasury: Gabriel García Moreno
Secretary of Labor: Valerio Antonio Jimenez, Bishop of Medellín

The legislative priorities for the next year will be:
1. Successful mobilization of the wartime economy
2. Reforms to current labor laws, including a ban on child labor outside the home and restrictions on the number of working hours mandated by employers
3. Construction of new housing in overcrowded areas of cities
4. Continued construction of the trans-Colombian railroad system
5. Nationalization of the domestic railroad industry
6. Research on the development of hydroelectric dams

May God bless the Holy Republic of Colombia.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

(Source: u/S-I-B-E-R-I-A-N on r/vexillology)

Official Statement from the Office of the Archbishop-President

I congratulate our Spanish, Brazilian, and Portuguese comrades for their great valor and loyalty to the cause of Christian justice and equality in Spain. I have the utmost confidence that Ramón Nouvilas will prove a much more capable leader of Spain than Ferdinand VII. The Holy Republic of Colombia looks forward to establishing an embassy in the Spanish capital when the situation in neighboring France stabilizes.

-Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

(Source: u/S-I-B-E-R-I-A-N on r/vexillology)

Official Proclamation from the State Department

The Holy Republic of Colombia recognizes Queen Regent Charlotte von Hohenzollern as the rightful regent of the Kingdom of France until King Louis XX comes of age. Formal diplomatic relations with France will be established upon the defeat of the pretender Prince Xavier in the War of the Regency.

-José María Rojas Garrido, Secretary of State

[Kuumo]

(Source: u/S-I-B-E-R-I-A-N on r/vexillology)

Official Proclamation from the State Department

The Holy Republic of Colombia recognizes the sovereignty of the Dutch Republic and will establish formal diplomatic relations with the Dutch capital after the cessation of hostilities in western Europe.

-José María Rojas Garrido, Secretary of State

(Source: u/S-I-B-E-R-I-A-N on r/vexillology)

Official Proclamation from the State Department

The Holy Republic of Colombia recognizes the independence of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, Kingdom of Greece, Kingdom of Illyria, and Kingdom of Serbia and recognizes Russian hegemony over Constantinople and the Bosporus Strait.

-José María Rojas Garrido, Secretary of State

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Tehran (1876)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Sublime State of Iran

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Tehran and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 8%.

IV. The Holy Republic of Colombia recognizes Iranian claims in Anatolia and the Levant.

V. The Sublime State of Iran recognizes the independence of the Holy Union of the Philippines and Colombian claims in the Pacific.

VI. The Holy Republic of Colombia will loan 5 million Colombian pesos to the Sublime State of Iran with 5% annual percentage rate to be paid off in 7 years.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[Kuumo]

Scando-Colombian Commercial Agreement of 1876

The Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Holy Republic of Colombia  agree to the following terms:
I . To reduce tariffs between their nations by 15%, with Scandinavian exporters providing manufactured goods and Colombian exporters providing raw materials and foodstuffs.
II . The Holy Republic of Colombia agrees to provide a substantial loan to the Kingdom of Scandinavia at a favorable interest rate to be paid off in 10 years.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez