Inviting the Bemused

[Batavië]

Jap de Graaf People's International Airport
Vlaanderen, Batavië

The Belmonti delegation would be tired after a fairly long flight to the west. When finally getting off their plane they were met with a modest greeting party that spoke French and they were ushered into black sedans with a Staatsveiligheid escort. Travelling at high speeds on the Autobahn, they soon entered down town Vlaanderen. The guests had little time to observe the bicyclists and pedestrians and the industrial looking block buildings. Soon they were within the Government District. The buildings there shouted authority into the streets, commanding awe sheerly by their size.

A respite was given to the eyes when the caravan entered a beautifully designed park. Surrounding both banks of the River Rood, it was a rare patch of grass and trees nestled into the Government District. Home to only one modestly sized building, the park was a project designed to give civil workers a place to have lunch, take a smoking break or a nice stroll. The modern, glass and steel building had but only one purpose, to serve as a meeting place for foreign dignitaries.

'Welkom in Batavië!' the Dutch greeting was given by non other than Kommissaris van Vliet. He shook hands with the Belmonti guests and guided them to leather sofas overlooking the park and city skyline through the large, floor to ceiling windows. Batavian coffee, very strong, and tea and biscuits were placed on the coffee tables. Van Vliet poured himself coffee, added one sugar cube and stirred in a generous helping of cream.

'Our capital city lies in the southwest of the country, home to Scania's, if not Europe's, best dairy cows. Please, enjoy.'

As the guests helped themselves to the refreshments, Van Vliet opened a leather portfolio and put on his reading glasses.

'I do not believe there is anything for me to say at first. You are representing the new Millerand administration. I trust that we should not expect any more rash decision making and flip flops. I would like to hear what you have to say, anyway.'

 

[Serenierre]

Government District
Vlaanderen, Batavië

The Foreign Minister of Belmont, Jean-Jacques Marcelieu, did not expect Batavie, a communist country, to look the way it did. Throughout his life, he had thought that communist nations were bleak, filled with cement block buildings and dark and dull skies. But Batavie wasn't like that. Or at least the parts they had shown the delegation, thought Marcelieu. The seventy five year old foreign minister, during the long flight to Batavie, had read up on the dossiers one last time.

Upon entering the room, where the meeting would take place, the Belmontien man first saw his slightly loud Batavien counterpart. Declining to take anything related to milk, citing health reasons, the Septuagenarian asked for a glass of water instead. Sitting on one of the sofas from where he could see the park, in front of the building. His aide brought him a glass of water and the foreign minister took a small sip.

Seeing his counterpart taking the sofa in front of him, the Belmontien foreign minister started to speak. "Mr. Van Vliet... Premier Millerand is very... uh... unconventional when it comes to dealing with communist nations, but with Batavie in particular. It is his opinion, that ruling out the possibility of working together with a nation such as yours just on the basis of something so trivial as an ideology is, is... uh, ridiculous." pausing for a second, the foreign minister looked straight into the eyes of his host and continued "Don't you agree?" He smiled as he spoke the last three words.
​

 

[Batavië]

Marcelieu was...an interesting old man, thought van Vliet as he sipped his own coffee, probably his third cup today and it wasn't even noon.

'Oh yes. I agree totally, Monsieur. We must simply agree to disagree. Batavië is a country of peace and it does not seek to oppose a healthy and free state. It is the fascist scum further to the east that we are wary of. I am sure that Paris is concerned with them as well.'

His tone though...it seemed intriguing. Was it connected to this morning's paper? The Comisariaat voor Buitenlandse Zaken had an entire department tasked with nothing else but to read and scrutinise every major newspaper known to exist on the planet. They then archived the copies indefinitely. Van Vliet had been given today's copy of the main Belmonti paper and had read through the front page article. Speculation among the Parisian bureaucrats was all about Batavië's gas and oil reserves. It would be a tidy profit, he thought, but the home military needed it first.

'We are very pleased with the change of sentiment in Paris, Monsieur. Surprised, even, that the nasty embargo of the IRB has finally been lifted. I suggest we discuss how that will commence, first. What kind of things will be traded, through which ports et cetera. Your government seems to know what we have to offer. Do tell me what Belmont has to give.'

 

[Serenierre]

Government District
Vlaanderen, Batavië

Marcelieu heard his, much younger, counterpart silently and while he spoke took small sips of water and smiled when he heard something to his liking. Marcelieu, originally, wasn't fond of the northern climate, it was far too cold and dry for his liking but, having been the Belmontien ambassador to the country in the early seventies, he had learned to live with it, even like it. In fact he, now, found Batavie the most agreeable, amongst all the Scanian nations, to his constitution but alas they had fallen to the callings of Marx. Shame, could have been a good place to retire, he thought glumly.

Marcelieu frowned at the mention of the Fascist states in the east. Back in Paris it was a contentious issue and the government tended to stay away from the thorny issue, at least in public. But now, with no cameras flashing and no reporters present, Marcelieu cleared his throat and began. "Mr. Van Vliet... Paris is... uh... um, cautious" he stressed "when dealing with the LFS... even in the Plantard days we were uncomfortable with them and it continues to this day."

Pretty soon the conversation turned on towards matters of a more economic nature. For this, he had been given a special dossier by the Finance Ministry. Speaking to his aide, who was sitting on a chair, behind him "Give dossier two." something which the aide did very quickly.Opening it in his lap and putting on his glasses, Marcelieu started speaking while still reading the dossier. "As you can see they have sent me prepared for this." he chuckled.

"Okay" he said "As we speak, the embargo no longer exists... your companies and individuals are free to trade and do business in Belmont and I hope the same is true here for Belmontien nationals." he paused, skimmed through the dossier one last time and returned his gaze back at his counterpart. "First off, we would restart trade of agricultural produce... you know, wheat, corn, maize, potato, barley, et cetera. And since, it is hoped that, these meetings would secure for Belmont a secondary source of natural gas... I must tell you that we are producing a surplus in electricity and the Ministry of Energy is looking to export it to neighboring states... so that is something we could do.

Apart from trade, our electronic companies, our automobile manufacturers want to set up factories here... they want to sell their items here. We have banks wanting to opening branches here... Batavie is a market which, they say, has huge potential in the future. And if things work out... we might even start offering you equipment from our arms industry... at a reduced cost." Marcelieu said with a slight smile.

Another sip of water.

"Its my understanding that the Port of Marseilles will be used for our exports. And I assume that it will also be used to receive imports from Batavie... it is our largest port... we use it for everything." again smiling.​

OOC: I hope this is good enough, not too good when it comes to the economy.

 

[Batavië]

Van Vliet noted the very capitalist agenda of the Belmonti dossier, but made no sign of distaste. That was only to be expected from them.

'Yes, Batavië is a surplus exporter of grain and dairy products, as you know. Under the directives of the IRB we export to our allies first and then our friends. So long as our allies are sufficiently fed, I see no reason why shiploads of grain and milk cannot arrive in Marseilles.'

The gas was a topic that Van Vliet would have to be frank on. Having served in Batavië in the past, Marcelieu would be familiar with Batavian frankness.

'Natural gas and oil extraction is a growing and young industry in Batavië. Much like our agricultural policies, any surplus amounts go to our IRB allies. To be quite honest, Monsieur, the People's Republic will not be physically capable of meeting its own domestic demands and allied ones let alone exporting to other states. Of this I am sorry, but until production and refinement is stepped up and demands are met, there is nothing I can do about that. I would suggest approaching Skånsige about gas exports. They share an offshore field with us and they would be more likely and able to export their surplus supplies to Belmont.'

Van Vliet was not about to export a resource that could directly be used for a capitalist military. Despite the positive change in foreign policy, the cards would need to be played before Vlaanderen would take such a drastic measure. It was simply against the communist way to sell their resources to a capitalist country...at least officially.

'I assume we will exchange embassies. It will take a few weeks for the Supreme Leader to choose an ambassador.'

OOC: quite fine, actually.

 

[Serenierre]

Government District
Vlaanderen, Batavië

Marcelieu looked at his counterpart straight in the eyes as his host spoke. He nodded at the mention of export of grain and milk. But as the talk progressed towards the issue of natural gas and oil, the foreign minister intensified his gaze on Van Vliet. While MPs had been pushing to get some sort of deal with Batavie, Marcelieu, due to his expeirence in the communist nation, knew that they would not be willing to relent to a capitalistic nation, much less to a nation which had just ended a long and harsh economic embargo upon them.

Speaking with a warm and calm tone, the seventy five year old, veteran diplomat started speaking, "We understand... the Batavian gas and oil industry is a relatively new sector to your economy. We also understand your constraints... after all allies are allies. Paris, hopes that the oil and gas finds in Scania diversify international sources of fossil energy and we would like to help your nation... uh, in expanding the sector. There are people... and, uh, companies ready to come to aid Batavie in doing so... of course on your terms and according to your ideology. Your thoughts, Mr. Van Vliet?" Marcelieu added and reclined back into the sofa.​

OOC: You didn't answer my entire post. What is the position on buying Belmontien electricity, position on access to Belmontien arms industry, etc.

 

[Batavië]

Van Vliet thought of a way to politely decline an offer of assistance in the oil and gas field, but could not think of anyway to do so.

'For now, as far as I am told, that industry will remain owned and operated by the People, Monsieur.'

Exporting electricity to Batavië? There was no way for it to get here. It was simply too far away.

'If you could elaborate on how you intend to export electricity at such great distances and across oceans, we will be happy to listen. As for your Army Industry, we will be looking through catalogues, if we are allowed to purchase. The People's Military does intend to upgrade some systems, especially in the naval sector.'

 

[Serenierre]

Government District
Vlaanderen, Batavië

Marcelieu quietly heard his communist counterpart speak, taking small sips of water and scrutinizing each aspect of van Vliet's short monologue. He shifted in the seat once more and engaged van Vliet's gaze and started speaking in his usual warm, and smooth, tone "Mr. Van Vliet, as far as exporting electricity to Batavie is concerned, the plan is currently in its planning stages but... uh, I believe that the supply lines will run through Montelimar, into Skansige and on towards Batavie. But since this is still in the planning phases, I can't confirm anything... since further talks are needed. Paris wanted Vlaanderen to be in the know of the plan."

The talk slowly moved towards matters related to defense and arms manufacturing. This was sensitive ground, but Paris - the arms industry lobby in particular - was hoping these talks could lead to some development of trust between the two nations, which stood strong and solid as polar opposites. The seventy five year old face lost its smile and a serious look descended on the wrinkled face.

His head turned and he looked straight at the park, through the massive windows, and started to speak, now in a much less warm tone. "Mr. van Vliet" he paused for a second and kept his gaze focused on the expanse of the park. "Paris is deeply divided when it comes to dealing with Batavie - or any communist nation for that matter - and for them to accept anything related to arms export... these people must be shown that Batavie and Belmont have managed, at least, to destroy the mistrust and animosity of the past and are on the path of a constructive and mutually supportive bilateral relationship."

He looked straight at his counterpart, the warmth returned and continued "Were it up to us, the Government, we would come to some understanding and sell the equipment... but alas, the Parliament is heavily involved in approving foreign orders..." he left the last few words hanging. Now was the time for van Vliet to respond. He leaned back into the sofa and looked at van Vliet expectantly.
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OOC: Sorry for taking so long in posting.