I will be supporting Tyrrhenian's Sea's move to the Ionian.

Well, looks like France isn't building this turn. Free shot at Brest then England. Interesting build in StPetes though.
I would like to propose that sweden is German territory and would be happy if someone supported me in.

While the Pontiff deeply appreciates the offers of both the Sultan and the Dual Monarch to support a fleet presence in the Ionian, he has been placed in a quandary by the structure of the different offers. It seems to him that if he moved one fleet over the other, he would be seen as offering support to one nation over the other. While he appreciates the courtesy offered by both leaders, he does not wish to offer grave insult to one by accepting the offer of the other.

While making the decision regarding fleet dispositions, a courier delivered a message from our embassy in Paris, with rumors of protest in the streets. Concerned about the possibility of Civil Disorder, the Pontiff has made a decision to direct his fleets to the west, to protect the people of Gaul if needed.

Germany's claim on Sweden is interesting. I suppose that is something that England and Germany will need to work out amongst themselves. Which of them will sacrifice a build for the sake of the other? As for Russia's interesting build in St. Pete's, it should not be a surprise considering the present situation. It is clearly not offensive, rather it is defensive.

As the pontiff feared, the great nation of France has collapsed into Civil Disorder. The Italian nation calls upon the nation of Germany to proclaim it's intentions related to the army in Burgundy. Do you seek to quell the riots in Paris? We feel we have brought sufficient peacekeepers to help the suffering in Marseilles, and would hate to end up in conflict with you when there are so many cities in need of assistance....

(If someone wants to join in, PW and link are at the top of the thread. It's a rather sucky position to be in, however ;)

I would join, but unfortunately I personally see one of the players on a day to day basis and I fear that would in theory ruin the spirit of the variant.

(Also, I'm already a France under siege in the other global press game :P)

I offer Germany a formal alliance against Russia, which he seems well poised to accept next Spring.

I will be moving on Paris Italy. However, I'm concerned that you will be getting the majority of the spoils of France next spring for little apparent effort. If you could detail for me a more advanced plan of Italian long term interests then Germany will consider its position on an Italian presence in the West.

As for the alliance against Russia. What would I have to gain? You don't seem poised to make much in the way of gains, even with my help. Would you be willing to disband finland Russia?

Thank you for the support England it was much appreciated. How would you like to further our collective interests?

Against Russia I offer Warsaw and Moscow at the very least, as well as the end of a threat to yourself

I'd like to hear from some more nations. But you can probably count on my support.

Chancellor, we are sorry we could not openly declare our intended support for your Swedish excursion in advance. We're sure you'll understand why such secrecy was necessary. We also share your initial concerns about a large Italian presence in the West. We are planning to send peacekeepers into the Brest region shortly. We suppose the events that unfold will determine the King's next course of action.

Understood your majesty. Secrecy is essential.

We intend to station peacekeepers in Marseilles and Spain, but have no desire to concern either Germany or England related to our forces.

We are more than willing to concede that England would be the best nation to aid the struggling poor of Portugal, if Germany and England are willing to accept that Gascony and North Africa should remain demilitarized.

We assume that England will wish to station a fleet in the Mid Atlantic Ocean to guard their own security interests. The Pontiff has no objection to this, but will need to place a fleet of our own on the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar to guard our own interests.

Russia humbly asks of Turkey for his Black Sea Fleet to support Rumania. As for the Russia threat that the Austrian speaks of, there is none except to Austria itself. Russia hopes that England and Germany reconsider their position against Russia, as Russia remains neutral towards those nations.

Dear Czar, Rumania shall not fall. Let us reinforce all of our positions around the Balkans and work to find ways against this bedwetting Austrian Duke.

I don't think you quite understand Italy. Such an arrangement is all to your benefit and none to ours. Like the treaty of Verseilles it only gives temporary peace but is actually the cause of future hostilities. We wouldn't want that.

With respect to the German Chancellor, if he has a suggestion that will meet his security needs, the Pontiff is more than willing to listen.

A shipment of diapers is en route to Austria as we speak dear Sultan.

While the Pontiff is well aware that Germany and England are separate nations, with a separate foreign policy, he is curious what the feelings of the English are towards his proposed security arrangements. He has no intention to generate tension between such staunch allies, but he questions whether Germany's objections are in the English national interest.

The Pontiff does not wish to be confrontational, but he must gently point out it is not possible to take Portugal without the consent of the nation governing Spain, and while the German Chancellor seems to feel that Italy is 'getting the spoils with little effort', I must question how much effort the Germans are truly putting into their seizure of Paris.

Italy feels the offered arraignment gives security to all involved parties, as no combination of forces will be sufficient to make territorial gains without the violation of the proclaimed DMZs. He is willing to add Burgundy to the list of DMZ territories, making land movement completely impossible for Italy in the West, but assumed Germany would balk at this.

If the German and English monarchs would prefer more concrete promises not to violate the territory claimed by England and Germany, Italy is willing to do so - provided reciprocal arraignments are agreed to as well, of course.

The King indeed believes that it is in the best interest of the Portuguese people that the protection of the Crown be extended to them. As for the Spanish and the Martians ;-), The King believes that their more immediate neighbors are best suited to working out an amicable arrangement at this time.

Germany is hardly worried about an Italian land offensive through France.

Then perhaps Germany can lay out it's concerns in plain language instead of vauge, alarmist statements.

As it appears that communications may not be restored with Germany prior to the deadline of troop movements, Italy will proceed with the moves it has already put in place.

While the Pontiff realizes that Germany can prevent the relief of the port of Marseilles this year, Italy vows to land relief supplies by the Spring of 1903. He also notes that a move into Gascony will be seen as a fairly obvious move to position for an attack, and will in that case assume that Germany has no intention to make a good faith effort to reach an accommodation.

I assure Italy that I will be moving to Paris. However, the western Italian presense can't be considered a long term solution. Germany would be happy to accomodate them elsewhere.

If the German chancellor is requesting territorial concessions, he is perhaps becoming a bit greedy. Germany has seven centers and is about to launch an incursion into Russia; Italy has six.

The Pontiff again calls upon Germany to offer concrete proposal instead of fear mongering. The Pontiff if forced to wonder if Germany has serious concerns, or is simply laying the groundwork for further expansion at Italy's expense.

The only loser in any standoff will be the suffering poor of Portugal, as the fleet units in Spain will hardly be in a position to support an English landing if forced to support the defense of Marsailles.

Italian intelligence has delivered an analysis of the current situation that is disturbing in it's implications. If correct, it would appear that Germany is deliberately attempting to force a confrontation that ties down a large number of Italian and English units in a useless position of confrontation, as well as denying the English the Supply Center at Portugal.

The Pontiff would like to point out that he has sufficient forces to completely close to Western Med to traffic. While this would only require two German unit to maintain the confrontation line, it would require no less than three English fleets to ensure security in this case.

He notes that while he is being placed into this box through no fault of his own, the English are as well, and he sends an invitation of the English Foreign Minister to visit Rome, to determine if there is perhaps not a way to guarantee both Italian and English security in a way that does not call for either nation to uselessly tie down large portions of our forces, and permits relief for the suffering population of Portugal.

Such a stalemate benefits neither the Italian nor English people. It does, however, benefit other nations, especially those that intend to grow at the expense of their neighbors

I certainly wouldn't want to stem English expansion. In fact, your assertion seems like a veiled threat to hold the English down. Perhaps you should work that out with England. But Germany is prepared to hold Italy to his commitments in supporting England into Portugal.

Italy made that 'commitment' contingent upon the recognition of certain demilitarized areas; does Germany agree to those?