L'Etat Pontificale

[Minhdao]

Ministero degli Esteri

This is undoudtedly a very wise move on both parts and Genoliari sees this as a possible parting of the clouds for the relations between both of this highly spiritual countries. We hope this proceeds smoothly.

On a slightly different matter, the government and the opposition of the federal government in Genoliari agree that it would be a pleasure to have il papa Stephanus IV pay us a visit and meet our own archbishop as well as President Andolini in Forcuore, if he so humbly accepts our invitation.

 

[Aquitania]

*Private Correspondence to His Holiness, Pope Stepanus IV*

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Your Holiness,

Though I am much aware of Your Holiness' need to address the Oltremare problem, I cannot say I am able to fully support your decision to officially refer to Oltremare as the Tiburan Empire. Historically, Oltremare has never been more than an eastern provence of the Tiburan Empire and was never a part of The Holy Tiburan Empire. In addition, when the Tiburan Emperors embraced Christianity, they in Oltremare never accepted the authority the Tiberan Emperors gave the One True Church. To now grant them such recognition is something that will be difficult to reconcile with so much Catholic blood being spilt by those in Oltremare.

Jean III, by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Aquitania, Grand Master of the Order of Templiers and Defender of the Faith.

 

[Papal States]

To HH the Grand Duke of Aquitania

Aware of the objections your Higness makes, we nevertheless decided to take this step. It is however our duty to face the changes in history.
It is in the interest of all refugees and remaining catholics, not to mention the Catholic States and the Papal States, that a relationship -at least in speaking terms- is established with the Empire.
We have to reach hands to those in the darkness, which is only possible if a relationship is created. If so, the blood of all those martyrs has not waisted for their salvation, but for the salvation of all in the east.
If possibilities may occur, we will need the support of the good catholics of Aquitania to spread the teachings of the true Mother our Church.

Accept, Your Higness, our most humble tokens off respect.

Card. von Sensenhorst
Secretary of the Holy Office

(written underneath the official letter)

We send our blessing to the Royal Family of our beloved Aquitania.
We ask for your prayers, to fulfill what was brought upon Us.
Que Dieu benisse l'Aquitanie et son peuple.

(Sign.) Stephanus IV

 

[Papal States]

News items in brief

- The ambassador of the Papal States to Belmont is called to Dominici, oficially 'to inform the pope about the recent policies in Paris'. The order reached the embassy in Belmont as soon as it was known the Ascalon ambassador was summoned to leave the country.

- A recent article has stated former De Graaf-regime politicians were in Vangala, and not the Papal States. Now the chief of police of Dominici has said there were no Batavian entries in the country during the time of the revolution, but there are some traces of the use of false Eiffellandian passports in those days. The police is still investigating.

- The Bank of the Holy See has announced it has sold the major part of its shares in Ascalon Oil. The Bank pointed out the nuclear energy program is still running, to provide the Papal States for more than 90% of nuclear power. Investors were not impressed, as it is rumoured the Bank has done nothing more than treading the shares for shares of an other oil company.

 

[Batavië]

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If our Papal States colleagues could forward us any relevant information regarding these 'traces of false Eiffellandian passports', we would be greatly appreciative.

 

[Papal States]

To: Ministerie van Buitenlandse zaken van de Republiek Batavië

Two weeks ago a car was stopped for a regular alcohol control test in a touristic resort on St.-Perpetua. The driver speeded away. The police was able to stop the driver and the car appeared to be stolen. It was soon clear the license plate was fake, and in the car was a Eiffellandian passport -as well fake- and some Batavian bank notes. The passport was 'issued' or made during the civil war in Batavië. We are now searching for the owner by looking at old cctv images.
It is noted as well that in a certain luxurious bar in the resort some customers regullarly speak Dutch and a press shop has a large public interested in Batavian newspapers.

That is what we've got for now. The papers have the story as far it concerns the stolen car and the fake passports.

The pope has heard of this incident and we are given special orders by the Secretary to go 'jusqu'à bout' in this case.

Jean Duvillage, head of police - international crime, Dominici

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

Also we are interested in these false Eiffellandian passports. Is it possible that our experts can examine the passports in question, so that we can learn from it and ameliorate the next version of our passports?
Furthermore, we would very much like to talk to the "holder" of these false passports, because we want to trace the passports to the source. Would you allow us to send some of our agents from the Staatsschutz to interrogate the "holder" of the false passport?

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Papal States]

Congregation for External Affairs

On all questions our Eiffellandian collegues are given carte blanche, if they may be accompanied by one of our agents.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

Of course your agents may accompany ours. We thank you for the opportunity.

 

[Papal States]

Corn harvest down 60%

Due to the unusual wet weather, the corn harvest is on its way to the worst level in decades. If the machineries are able to reach the fields, the farmers find the crops mostly rotten or even washed away on the hillsides.

This summer and automn was a real desaster. Grain harvest was no succes, potatoes were rotten as well; the fruit orchards are in the same bad condition, with exception for apple trees. The hay couldn't be dried properly before bringing it in.

It is expected the Bank has to clear hugh amounts of money for food imports in the coming months. With the recent financial fails of investments in the Ascalon oil and the Montelimar building industry, the condition of the Bank is weakened once again. Tax incomes for the Bank will drop as well, with the Papal States inland leaning on a agricultural economy.

Especially on the two islands of the Papal States the situation is frightening, with a loss of crops up to 85% on St.-Perpetua. Farmers there are looking foreward to the quality of the sugar beets, an important crop on the island bringing life earnings to lots of seasonal workers in the sugar factories.

Other news- Ambassador of the Papal States to Belmont stays in Dominici for at least two more weeks.
- Use of electricity rising, nuclear power plants provinding the extra power.
- People visiting the graveyards on All Souls Day to pay respects to their beloved.

 

[Papal States]

Experts warn about fiBaghaies in St.-Philippe Sea

With the harvest of land crops significant down, the fishing in the St.-Philippe Sea -between the mainland and the two islands - has increased enormously. Price for fish has gone up, and not only fiBaghaman want to grap their part of it. Lots of farmers and workers nearby the coast go out on sea in their spare time. Now sea experts are worried about the fish population going down rapidly.

Prices for a lot of products went up already and a tendency amongst the population to start a winter storage at home is not helping to keep prices normal. There is shortage in the shops of flower, sugar, rice and dried beans. The Bank has announced it will buy abroad to keep the country provided of food.

 

[Rheinbund]

Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Fischfang
Trier, Eiffelland

Also we are concerned about this development. We understand that the people of the Papal States have to eat, but if too much fish is taken out of the seas now, there won't be any fish left in the future. Our biological institutes are trying to preserve the fishes in question, but that is not an easy task.

Max Modrow, Minister for Agriculture and Fischeries

 

[Papal States]

Food crisis worsens, affects financial position of the country

Panic reactions spread around the Papal States. Customers around the country take up their savings. The Bank has paid out lots of cash the last days. Today it is decided the weekly amount of cash to be withdrawn for a household (and not a single person) is restricted to 20.000 Francs. That equals the weekly salary of a middleclass employee.

Many invest in storable food products or keep their savings at home as the confidence in the Bank is lost more and more. The Bank has paid out last week 40 Billion Francs. It has received 5.7 Million new cash. That means a lot of the benefits from food sales do not end up on bank accounts.

As a consequence, prices for food have gone up again. A loaf of bread costs now 72 Francs, in May the price was 43 Francs. A kilo of coffee goes for 113 Francs, a Kilo of rice for 32 Francs and a kilo of sugar for 51 Francs.

Today twelve schools reported to suspend the school restaurants because it becomes to expensive to cook the meals at a fair price, three primary schools suspended the milk for the pupils and asked parents to send their children to school provided with their own milk. The cattle has suffered from the bad summer and farmers run out of stable food for their animals. Some have to slaughtered a part of their lifestock to conserve the meat for the coming winter.

The economic situation doesn't look good at all. Little companies (mostly grown out of a self employed) with one or two workers are dumping those in a reaction to cut expences. This rising unemployement is making the financial problems for the Bank even more worrying.

 

[Serenierre]

Foreign Office

Seeing the situation in the Papal States we would like to help and we invite a delegation to Paris to see in what way we can assist.

OOC: PM me the details of this, the reason for the situation etc.

 

[Danmark]

Foreign Office

In order to help alleviate the worst stresses being experienced by our neighbour, the Papal States, we are prepared to despatch emergency food and grain supplies over the border and also to make a substantial financial loan in order to provide some financial stability.

 

[Montelimar]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In an attempt to stabilize food prices, Montelimar is willing to increase grain and dairy quotas to the Papal States in addition to providing very low interest loans to help stabilize the financial issues.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We didn't foresee this happening. We are willing to send milk and fruit, and also to provide low interest loans.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

[Großlausitz]

Das Auswärtige Amt

As a leading member of the international community Franken will naturally offer shipments of food, beverages and also low-interest loans to be re-distributed to small and middle-sized business owners to help them steer clear in these difficult times.

 

[Aquitania]

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Though the Grand Duchy will provide needed assistance to the Papal States with both food shippments and with loans we regret that it will not be as great as we would have perferred as much of Aquitania's surplus resources have been diverted to the Otchi Territories. It is our hope that what we can send, in combination with aid from other sources, will still be enough to stablize the current conditions.

Henri Mercier, chevalier de l'Ordre du Templiers
Secrétaire d'Affaires Étrangères

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Archdiocese of Bordèu

When the news of the growing crisis was received in Aquitania, donations to aid the Papal States began to be collected in parishes across Aquitania, with even those in the Otchi territories donating what they could, and have overall actually exceeded expectations.

Cardinal Guillaume Chartier
Archbishop of Bordèu
Primate of Aquitania

 

[Radilo]

The National Reserve Bank is willing to purchase 80 billion Franks in bonds from the Bank of the Papal States, to help increase the solvency of the bank.

- Dr. Mico Urata
Chairman of the National Reserve Bank of the Radilan Third Republic
Released through the Foreign Ministry

OOC: I am making the assumption that 80 billion franks = 4 billion euros, if I'm wrong I'll adjust my numbers later.