To the austrian emperor you reap what you sow maybenext tiem you wont be so quick to insult russian troops

To the Sultan the Czar will take your advice and will shore up his position before attempting intricate moves as he would not want to tempt the chance of the Rumania peasants being without adequate protection

To the Kaiser:

I recognize as well as anyone that you are in tight situation geographically: However, I do not believe you appreciate the true natures of neighbours in your foreign policy.

I do not judge you based on who you choose to deal with. Yet, at the same time Russia is beginning to equate dealing with France as dealing with an enemy of Russia and therefore warranting agreession from that party.
Britain of course, has said no such thing and we appreciate that. We do question however, what possible reason could Russia have for attempting to isolate such a mild-mannered fellow nation such as France?

To Great Britain:

Perhaps we have underestimated and misunderstood you. At this time you seem to be the most reasonable and level-headed in the North and we wish you well.

Perhaps the future may yet appear with French and Britain acting as friends rather than belligerants.
Especially if the channel remains open, we see no problem with working with the English Monarch.

To Von Staufenburg of the Austrians:

We would like to reluctantly decline your offer of a 'southern expedition', and we would be in violation of our general treaty of Mediterranean friendship we have worked to cultivate with our neighbours the Italians.

But to Italy:

However, we would urge Italy to support the nation of Austria in the upcoming time of tribulation that is sure to transpire in the east, with this ratcheting up of tensions between all three easternmost nations.

And to the Italian minister we ask whether a French fleet might be appreciated in the mediterranean zone to aid French interests farther east?
We would seek no territorial gains for ourselves, unless we are offered them, but would merely be working to help in the hammering out of compromise in that turbulent sea region.


The nation of France very greatly hopes the two countries of Italy and Austria remain friendly with one another, despite a history of conflict.
Shall today be the day we cast off the chains of history?

The Republic surely hopes so.

Thank you all
The glove of friendship is yet extended,
Théophile Delcassé
French Minister of Foreign Affairs

One correction: In our message to Italy we meant Italian interests, not French interests, though they may turn out to be one and the same.

to the president the Czar just meant to give a friendly warning to the kasier to look away from russia in terms of expansion i never meant to turn other coutries against france, far fromit france is always a good ally for the russians,but i do have to say about your advice to italy is a bit silly considering austria has alot to deal with which italy would be well advised to heap even more onto austras plate, i have no quarrel with the italiens or ever want to

Minister of France,

Her Majesty thanks you for your kind words, and hopes that our conversations will continue to be amiable. I again restate that we have no ill will towards anyone at this point, but we also realize that this puts us in a slightly vulnerable position.

We plan to honor all our agreements at this point. We plan to deliver the shipment to Norway.

Our allegiances lie with those who are honorable and honest to Britain and her allies. Her Majesty reads these dispatches with great care not only from our neighbors, but from those far away as she feels it is best to look to the future.

When we have reached the same balance of power as our allies, we look forward to discussing future plans.

King Emmanuel if Italy wishes to once again give confidence to the allies that the Italian people have gain in these few short months.

To the Sultan we affirm that our friendship has never been better and your assistance in allowing the the Greek landing will not be forgotten for many years.

To the French Minister as a token of our friendship we will allow the french fleet into the medditerian to help with the calming of the waters. However at the first sign of hostility there will be dire consequences.

To the Kaiser you are assured that the Italian minister will not proceed north, but he cannot be reach at this time by our messagers. Maybe as has been implied he is drunk under an wagon someplace.

To the Prime Minister of Austria: we thank-you for your concern and have dispatched an envoy to seek and find Sir Tittoni. However they have not been sucessful as of yet. As far as our Turkish friendship it is something which we think strongly about and believe it is in the best interest at this time to keep this frienship and improve it as possible.

to King Emmanuel why to you contiue to ignore the Czar and simle facts like it was him who first asked to to move to greece and that you presence in Austria should be contiuned if not expanded

The czar looks out of his palace window and in the distance sees a man running up the lane. 20 minutes later there is aknock on the Czar's office and and when the door in opened a courrier steps forward out of breathe panting and falls prostrate at the Czar's feet. In the courier's hand is a letter.

The Czar opens the letter:

Dear Czar the Italian people have no wish to ignore or anger the Russain people. We look with great respect upon all your accomplishments. Please forgive any over sight on our part and may our countries remain at peace for some time to come. King Emmanuel.

As the Czar folds the paper he hears a slight gasp as the couriier dies at his feet . . . . . . .

To: All those interested in the disposition of France's navy.

In accordance with our communication with both England and Italy, we will conduct naval practices this turn in wild Mid Atlantic Ocean this season using both our fleet in the Port of Brest and the fleet anhcored off of Lisbon.

Then, with the coming of Autumn, our Atlantic expeditionary fleet will make its way to the calmer waters of the Western Mediterranean. There we will fraternize with Italian merchant sailors and spend our winter facilitating trade between Spain and Sardinia.

With the coming of Spring the fleet will move into the Tyrhennian Sea bringing many gifts of food, art, and knowledge to the cities of Italy's west coast (provided we recieve approval of the Italian Government of course) and await instruction as to how best we can aid our Italian brethren.

Meanwhile, back in France our fleet in Brest will remain stationed in port but it will remain ready for action at any moment if France is threatened.

This all assumes of course that cordial relations with Great Britain continue, which we very much hope will be the case.

Finally, we hope that the Italians succeed in finding Sir Tittoni before his dispearrance helps spark an international incident.

Also, for when we does turn up, French scientists have perfecting been excellent morning-after medicines that we would suggest the minister try out.

The glove of friendship is yet extended,
Théophile Delcassé
French Minister of Foreign Affairs

I wonder if there is room or if it is welcome, to have foreign correspondents from the New York Times or in my case The San Francisco Chronicle
making comments on the European Scene for the American audiences that could learn from the sad story in Europe's conflicts/?
The correspondent would comment on the display as scene from afar, the possibilities, the missed opportunities, the mysteries of the European conflict and might even suggest what each of the powers might consider for their future. All this in the typical American Red White and Yellow journalism of the era?

I certainly have no objection; feel free to stir the pot some more ;)

there is a difference between stirring the pot and giving people ideas though.

DECLARATION OF WAR

Februari 12, 1902


To our cousin Czar Trim III the Wicked,


Your whining about 'insulted' troops have annoyed us for too long. This throng of peasants does not even understand what an insult is, perhaps the Czar does. The Austrian Empire can not tolerate agression against her citizens, under such a weak cover. We, however, step into the light. For the peace of our peoples, we fight. For justice and mercy, we fight. For the glory of the Austrian Empire, we fight!

Andrei Victoric,
Ministry of War

Be welcome, Edi :)

Dear King Victor Emanuel,

know that the Austrian Empire will respect the hold of Greece by Italian forces. We will only make defensive manoeuvres to protect our rightful territory. We've got no aggressive intentions whatsoever - the Austrian Empire harbors many people, Slavs, Hungars and Germans, and has been able to keep peace for ages. As for Tittoni, he has last been seen in a Switz hot bath, attended by our representative Heidi.

Greetings,

Georg von Staufenberg

message from the Czar- bring it on :p, dear Sultan and King Emanuel i invite you to a party in the middle of Austria where we will liberate the citzens from their oppresive leader

trim, you raise a good point, but I don't think it's something we really need to worry about. We all know the capabilities of our units, so there shouldn't be any real shockers there -and even if there were, the person on the wrong end of a maneuver has time to see the post and react as well.

This variant, more than the base game, is pretty much all about convincing others to help you. I don't think the peanut gallery is going to have a significant impact on that.

To the Sultan,

I invite you to secure the Black Sea and join our march to Moscow, so that we may enjoy a fine cigar in the Palace of the Czar. His blasphemous yelling must be put to an end! It is not an easy fight, but we stride for a just cause.

A. Vitoric
Ministry of War

Her Majesty wishes to extend moral support to the Czar of Russia who at this point has proven a friend to Her Majesty. She is most troubled at the outbreak of war to your south and west. The Austrian leader seems to a bit zealous in his haste to war. Should the conflict spread to other nations, Her Majesty hopes that a balance of power can be maintained through diplomacy and negotiations.

Sir Abernathy of Hull

I feel no need to react to the Declaratrion of war, for Russia (I believe, i dont want to go back 80 posts) has already done the same. Here in the west we seem to find each other in a strange situation, as none of us desire the other attacked, it would seem we are logically advocating for a triple alliance. In which case, the terms of the treaty before the Kaiser might include the British as well. A new clause may need to be inserted one which states the following:
"Should one of the three nations of this agreement violate it in any manner through aggression once committed it shall be the duty of the two nations (the one whom aggression was acted upon and the other naiton) to declare war upon the aggressor out of stipulation of this treaty and protection of their shared interests. Any agreement reached involving the aggressor nation must be ratified by both of the nations still loyal to this treaty."

Of course, this is only mentioned because of the professed peace we western nations have expressed. We welcome discussion and disagreement so that we germans may understand how to go about in our dealings.

To EdiBirsan,
Though you may mean well, I believe the intention of forum messaging in this game was so that messages could not be losed. You however may post, because there is no way to stop you, but if you must the Kaiser asks that you keep it to a minimum and do not interfere with the correspondance of these nations, for The Americans have no sway in europe. As you have so stated that Europe must stay out of North American affairs in your Monroe doctrine, we ask that the Americans stay out of Europes affairs.

To all other posts directed at us, we shall get to them in due time. We also ask France how he has come "Under seige" as stated in the other public press thread.

To anyone whose opinion it is that the Austrian government is too swift, I ask you to look at the Russian movements and the justification their spokesman has given. It is rather clear that this Russian agression was planned from the beginning. Russia has never considered honoring the territorial integrity of the Austrian Empire. There has been no agression from my side and even before I did declare war, Russia was already planning an invasion. I ask you who is guilty here! I ask you if you want to life in the same Europe as this warmongerer! The Austrian Empire stands for peace, and is ready to defend it. To this guy it doesn't matter who he attacks, Germany or Turkey or Italy... he knows no mercy and will slaughter anyone on his path to ultimate domination and oppression of Europe.

Martin Heidelberg
Austrian minister of Information

hahaha im attacking you for one reason and one reason only stop trying to drag other countries against me when they know full well that i am no threat to them i have been peaceful to every other country, i didnt fight england when he wants to take norway i didnt attack germany when i had a chance at denmark, you refused me entry to galica which i did only want to use to secure rumania and now your paying the price of being to defensive

interesting

how so kaiser

I agree, Kaiser. I agree: interesting.

I hate to be too judgemental, but I find the rationale for Russia's invasion of Austria to be rather uncompelling.
The Russian troops were 'insulted' because Austria denied them entry to Austrian lands? And now Austria is 'paying the price of being too defensive?'

Don't make us laugh. The reasons for the Russian invasion of Austria had little to do with being 'insulted'. This declaration of war by Austria actually seems somewhat redundant.

We appreciate Russian hunger for expansion, but we will not welcome the extermination of the valiant Austrians should that become a possibility. Russian power, unchecked, could potentially overwhelm even us western powers.

I hope that rational thought and appreciation for the general geopolitical environment guides the actions of Russia's three other neighbours, Italy in particular.

France is, in a word, somewhat concerned about recent developments in the east and watch carefully how this war plays out.

To Maica, or the Kaiser, or whomever:

We were merely making a flippant observation about the isolationist rhetoric surrounding our nation that we have only recently escaped. No one any longer considers France under seige.

Théophile Delcassé
French Minister of Foreign Affairs

other than austria i have no hunger for expansion, i am not warlike unless provoked as my actions in the north areas show, italy would profit more from siding with me and the sultan who was also insulted by austria then siding with austria