An exploratory talk between Eiffelland and Justiza

[Rheinbund]

Where Auraria and Carentania had fallen victim to a full-blown communism-based revolution, the Eiffellandian elites and workers had closed an agreement at the beginning of the century. That agreement had led to a stable country with a sensible mix of workers' rights and opportunities for companies. It was called the "Soziale Marktwirtschaft", the Social Market Economy.
As a result, the Eiffellandian industrials were familiar with workers' rights, and also agreed to them. They left the 19th century way of exploiting people behind a long time ago. But there was one limit that could not be crossed: No collectivisation of agricultural land or production means. They were prepared to invest in Justiza, but only if they remained the owners of the investments.

The delegation currently in the Komet heading to Justiza contained the state secretary for economic affairs, and several representants of Eiffelland's industries. They were there to broker a deal with the government of Justiza, or representants of important industries.

 

[Furlanìe]

After an indecently long discussion it was decided to send to the meeting the minister of economy Renzo Cracchi under the supervision of the president of the republic Zordano Benedetti to satisfy all the different political forces and disparate ideologies within the Senate.
the 'Justinian Nationalists' feared that industries of a such powerful country would get favors from the government that would go to the detriment of workers, while the 'democrats', leading the government, assured the opposite and rather hoping to forge good relations with the European nations and finally the 'Justinian Monarchists' were protesting more out of habit than for real reasons.


A column of security police of the Senate occupied the entrance to the small airport of Furzillo while two cars containing Cracchi and Benedetti and other cars intended to the foreign visitors reached the track where the eiffellandian Komet was landing.

 

[Rheinbund]

It was more or less an unwritten rule that at least one of the state secretaries at a ministry had to be of a different political party than the Minister. Because Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Stephan Röpke was a Christiandemocrat, State Secretary of Economic Affairs Florian Waldbach was a member of the other political party forming the coalition in Eiffelland, the Market Liberal FDV. It was this Florian Waldbach who led the Eiffellandian delegation.

Because of the proximity of Nichtstein (with a Tiburan speaking minority) and the Edessine Empire (with a large Tiburan speaking minority), one of the languages taught at Eiffelland's highest level of secondary education was Tiburan. As a result, everybody with an Abitur knew the basics of Tiburan. Not good enough to negotiate in Tiburan, but good enough for basic things like asking the way, ordering in a shop or restaurant, or greeting. So Florian Waldbach greeted President Benedetti and Minister Cracchi in Tiburan, and then he introduced the other members of the delegation:
"Loro presento Werner Rathenau della Rathenau Gruppe, ..."
"Piacere."
"... Armin Becker di Heppendorf, ..."
"Piacere."
"... Ernst Brunner dell' EKW, ..."
"Piacere."
"... e Lorenz Zimmermann di Boehrig Ingelheim."
"Piacere."

OOC: For your information: Tiburan is the IC-equivalent of Italian at this forum

 

[Furlanìe]

When hearing those words in uncertain Tiburian, language very similar to the justinian idiom, Cracchi and Benedetti glanced each other with surprise and amusement, then followed with attention the presentation of the eiffellandian committee.
President Benedetti was about to splutter a few words in German but at the very last moment he fell silent to avoid a possible bad impression and spoke in Italian-of-Justiza.
''Well, I'm Zordano Benedetti, president of the republic''-echoed in German a translator alongside the two men-
''And he is the minister of economy Renzo Cracchi, we are pleased to make your acquaintances; Now if you want to follow us, we will move to the conference room of the senate to discuss comfortably''


after a short trip they reached the destination; the conference room was located at the entrance of the -little- senate building, overlooking the main square of the city.
''We hope you can feel at ease despite our unpretentious conditions,before our independence this was the simple city hall of a forgotten and distant town, but no doubt we are proud and industrious people, all that now stands between our current situation and prosperity is only time, and I trust that your feasible contribution can significantly reduce this obstacle.'' Benedetti declared while the others were taking a seat in the room.
The minister intervened immediately after:
''we would like to know your current concerns and ideas, so if you like we would give the first word to you''

 

[Rheinbund]

"But Mr. President, the room is perfectly fine," Waldbach said. "We feel perfectly at ease here." He took a sip of his water, and then continued.

"We understood that Justiza is looking for ways to improve the economic situation. We are willing to help. We can deliver agricultural machines, telephone networks, trucks, cars, electronic devices etc. We can also build some factories in your country in order to reduce the number of unemployed people here. We have a question though. In our correspondence, you put quite a lot of emphasis on workers' rights. That is something we pay attention to as well. But your govenment paid so much attention to it, that we worry a bit regarding the ownershp of any factory we build in this country. We don't like the idea of building new factories here and then witnessing that the Government takes over all property rights without paying us anything."

 

[Furlanìe]

''oh you need not worry! -replied with surprise the minister- the activities that are controlled by the government were regularly bought, the Senate had rejected the possibility of subsidize them fearing to waste money or worse foster corruption: you know that giving tons of money to those who haven't an ambitious project won't bear fruit; and the nation had absolute need of feeding the welfare and creating an unitary media; now the government is only nominally the owner, these industries have been renovated and entrusted to competent people.''
''It should be added that the businesses taken by the government agreed with us, it was a decision discussed with the population, we had to create a new nation and everyone was aware of the needs of the moment'' -intervened Benedetti- ''certainly true!'' -Agreed Cracchi
''So we can guarantee that if you will open industries in our country those will remain yours and to lose them you will need to work hard! end up in bankruptcy and sell or declare war on us, things we do not see in the horizon, on the contrary I am confident that our relations will have a future of firm friendship.''

 

[Rheinbund]

"Thank you for your clarification. That is good to hear," Waldbach said. "Like I said, we can help you with developing your economy. The Eiffellandian company Magirus-Deutz can deliver you agricultural machines and trucks. Mr. Brunner from EKW can tell you more about a joint venture he wants to close with a company here in Justiza to produce mopeds, Mr. Rathenau can tell you more about a factory for electronic devices like washing machines, refrigerators and radios he intends to build in Justiza, Mr. Becker about a factory for laboratory and hospital equipment, and Mr. Zimmermann about a pharmaceutical factory he intends to build."

 

[Furlanìe]

marvellous -said the minister while Benedetti was smiling happily like a child

 

[Rheinbund]

"Then I'd say let's close the deal," Waldbach said with a smile.

 

[Furlanìe]

''alright then, I thank you all in behalf of my people'' Benedetti said while pointing with a hand to the Justinian flag placed next to him.