Teloran News Agency

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from the Republic of Telora​

Naval appropriations bill debate takes new turn

The debate over the long-delayed naval appropriations bill in the Senate took a fresh turn this morning, as Senators from the Christian Union said they would vote with the Centre Party on approving the bill, provided any replacement for the Teloran Republican Navy's two coastal defence battleships are given what they call "Christian names". The two current vessels, RTS Odin and RTS Thor were named after old Norse gods at the insistence of former President Nyland, whose Socialist government also disestablished the Free Church of Telora.

Speaking to reporters outside the Senate House, Senator Caspar Fichte (CU) said that they were happy to help the bill proceed much sooner than currently timetabled, providing the Executive entered into a commitment to give any replacement vessels names "more befitting the Christian traditions of our land". There has not been any response to this call from either the Executive or the Ministry of the Navy. The CU's 3 Senators would not grant the Executive a majority in the Senate; together with the Centre Party Senators they would only have 31 out of the 80 votes in the chamber.

Neither the Socialist nor the National Party have indicated any intention to change their position on the bill for the time being, with the former more inclined to block any replacement vessels for the two battleships and re-allocate the funding to domestic priorities, and the latter calling for an expansion of the Navy at a time of great international turmoil in Europe. The Communist Party has yet to declare a formal position on the vote, but its two Senators are more than likely to vote with the Socialist Party on the bill, to avoid further internal party disputes.

Executive's industrial policy measures for automotive industry revealed

The Executive has continued its unveiling of industrial policy measures to help raise growth and increase exports with the announcement of the Automotive Industry Support Bill this morning. At a press conference with the Secretary for Commerce & Industry, President Strand announced that the bill would contain measures to bring the automotive industry into the lending remit of the state-owned National Investment & Commercial Corporation (NICC). It would also lift merger restrictions on the country's variety of automotive firms, and would create a fund to support merger negotiations between the largest companies.

The Executive has stopped short of calls for the state to nationalise the car industry and create a single major automotive company to compete on the European market. President Strand said that the National Party agreed to back the legislation in principle only if such a measure was avoided, while the Socialists could not agree to back nationalisation without further such measures in related sectors, such as steel. However, it is believed that the two largest Teloran car companies - Stellar Automotive and Opalian - are considering entering into merger negotiations, which would create a company with 40% of Teloran car production.

A statement from the third-largest Teloran car company, Alvis, said they would have to study the full bill before making a final comment - the only other mass-production car company, Sandvik, has said they have no intention of changing their model of business at this time, and they did not expect to need to take any money from any revised schemes from the government. Car company and supplier shares were broadly flat on the news, with investors telling reporters that they are waiting for the full bill and timetable to be published before making any significant changes in strategy.

Calls for nationalisation of computer industry rejected by University of Børad and Federal Electric

The Socialist Party's recent conference motion, which calls on the Campaign & Manifesto Committee to include a commitment to nationalise the country's small computer industry, has met with a stern response from the two largest players in the sector. The University of Børad, which built Telora's first stored-program machine - Junior - two years ago and is now investing in further such research, said it had no intention on surrendering control over the development of computers to an outside force. The University's Chancellor told his local newspaper that the research process "should remain here, as an academic endeavour with business an outside partner [...] to menace our independence to appease rowdy party members is an awful form of politics, built on envy."

Federal Electric, whose main investments are in electro-mechanical and mechanical machines, has also responded sharply to the motion, saying it did not think it appropriate for the federal government to "claw large component parts out of a company in the name of political dogma". The company is currently building the country's first private computer research and manufacturing facility, near Børad, and is keen to defend its growing interests in this new area of business. It is reportedly in negotiations with the University of Børad on producing a new electronic computer for sale to University mathematics departments and government ministries.

Socialist Party Campaign & Manifesto Committee members did not respond to requests for interview on this matter, instead responding only by saying that they were yet to consider whether to submit such a proposal to the pre-election conference next September.

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from the Republic of Telora​

"... And now the 16:30 news summary bulletin from Radio Telora"

• President Strand has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Regeneration to work with Teloran charities and the occupying powers in Solaren to help relief efforts for the population there.
• Negotiations over the Naval Appropriations Bill have continued today, with no significant signs of progress on the bill. Socialist Senators will vote in their caucus tonight on whether to change their negotiating position; commentators are not hopeful.
• The Mayor of Ystad has become embroiled in a row with city councillors over plans to scrap the grant the city pays to the railway companies to help maintain the main station; the Mayor wants the money for new road schemes.
• The Nidaros Port Authority and Castle Line have begun discussions with the state executive on a loan to help build a new dock for the port.
• Teloran motor enthusiasts are gearing up for Julyents Car Show; the largest car show in Telora, with all 4 major car firms expected to unveil new products

"... that was the news, and now for Gardening Today..."

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from the Republic of Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

Navy Abandons Request For New Coastal Defence Battleships

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RTS Odin at sea; the Navy wants longer-range vessels to replace her​

The Teloran Republican Navy has officially withdrawn its request for new coastal defence battleships to replace the RTS Odin and RTS Thor, and instead has asked that the Naval Appropriations Bill be amended to include funding for three longer range light-cruiser type vessels. The decision was reached by the Central Naval Command after days of fruitless negotiations between the largest parties in the Senate had not yet produced an agreement with how to proceed with the bill. It is expected that an amendment to bill allowing for such a funding change will be tabled by the Majority Leader on Monday, and initial reports show this sudden change of pace may have created a fresh consensus around the bill.

Admiral Staaff, Chair of the Central Naval Command, made the announcement this morning via the official daily government paper of record, along with a short announcement. In it, he said that the Navy had closely considered the possible designs for replacing the Odin and Thor, but had come to the conclusion that changing technologies and the sheer cost of replacing the vessels with equally effective designs for their time would conspire together to prevent an effective replacement from being procured at what he called a "reasonable cost for our nation as a whole." The Admiral then goes on to state that the recent experience of the war with Solaren had led the Central Naval Command to re-assess the Navy's focus on coastal waters.

"The Navy has already engaged in the purchase of longer-range vessels; our new Molnet-class destroyers possess a far greater range than their predecessors, enabling us to defend our shipping and interests from well beyond our territorial waters. But there is something to be said for the ability to project power beyond even that distance - to show the Teloran flag in trouble spots around Europe. This is not driven by a desire to conquer, but a desire to protect; our growing trade and interests overseas demands that we be able, as any other state in Europe, to assure our citizens we can work to protect them wherever they go."

The reaction to the release has so far been limited, but Eagle & Ox shipyards already announced they would be prepared to work on a long-range cruiser design with the Naval Ordnance Board last year, and there have been rumours of tank testing of hull designs at those yards. Federated Shipyards, the other major Teloran shipyard, is not expected to re-enter the naval construction market for some time yet; their last warship was built in the 1920s, and since then the yard has shed various military divisions. Any such vessel would have to be built in Telora owing to legislation that binds all naval contracts to Teloran yards.

More on pages 2 & 3

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from the Republic of Telora​

Naval Appropriations Bill passes Senate with National Party support; President to sign later today

The Naval Appropriations Bill has finally passed out of the Senate, after National Party Senators first agreed to a new timetable motion, bringing forwards the bill vote to today, and then voted in favour of passage, after the Majority Leader introduced an amendment to delete funding for a replacement for the Navy's two coastal defence battleships and replace it with funding for three new light cruisers. Socialist Senators reacted with dismay to the amendment, and attempted to delay passage of the bill by speaking over time limits set by the Chair, but were overruled in a procedural vote before the new timetable motion was brought forwards. The House of Session has also approved the new Senate version of the bill, with Centre Party whips in the chamber brokering agreement to avoid a lengthy debate there.

The vote ends weeks of indecision and political wrangling over the bill, and also sidelines various proposals to advance the bill, such as the Christian Union's offer to support the legislation providing any replacement ships were given explicitly Christian names. The National Party's Senate caucus reached the decision to back the legislation in an overnight session, with their leader in the Senate, Ernst Posse, stating at the start of today's debate that "the change of heart by Central Naval Command is one we welcome and are prepared to back with our full weight as a caucus. Telora's interests have long extended beyond her shores, and the Navy's recognition that this must be backed up with proper equipment is one that should be applauded."

Socialist Party Senators all voted against the bill, despite support for new naval construction among many of their unionised voter base. Speaking during the debate, Senator Sydow (Socialist - Børad) said that the retention of funding for new naval construction, instead of for domestic services or industrial investment was a "tragic squandering of the precious financial resources of this nation. We must surely have come to value human life over war by this stage in our development; to answer the call of the hungry and the sick over the cries of the ravens." President Strand's office has said that he welcomes the approval of the bill, and will sign it into law tomorrow.

New hydroelectric dam opened in Estland as regeneration project picks up speed

The first of 4 hydroelectric dams begun as part of the Estland Development Agency's (EDA) scheme of works in the region has begun generating power today. The Hyven-1 Dam, on the Hyven River, will generate up to 185,000 kilowatts and holds back a reservoir 21 miles in length, containing millions of cubic metres of water. Opening the dam the Chair of the Estland Development Agency, Caroline Grovens, said that the on-time and on-budget completion of the dam was a testament to the work of the Agency and was a key part of boosting the economy of the region.

The EDA was established by Congress in 1940 as the centrepiece of a cross-party package of measures to improving living standards and raise economic output in Estland after years of low-level violence from the Estish Resistance Movement. The Agency channels money levied from the other states in the Republic into development projects in Estland, including the hydroelectric project. With only 60% of homes in Estland connected to the grid at the start of 1950, the Agency still has considerable work to do to bring the region up to the levels specified in its establishing act.

Mrs Grovens has recently put forwards a fresh round of investment proposals, including plans to tap the region's vast forests for timber, using new forestry methods to ensure a steady supply for the European market. The federal government has entered into discussions with the EDA and the Estish legislature on the proposals, which include granting the EDA the power to function as a commercial bank in the state, and will mean that the federal government will have to borrow up to 50 million Marks to help fund the new powers and projects of the EDA, on top of the existing levy.

Julyents Car Show opens; Sandvik offer disappoints commentators

Telora's largest car show has opened today in Julyents, with Stellar Automotive and Sandvik choosing to both unveil their new models on the first day. Stellar's offering is a new range of cheaper family saloons called the Europa, the second range from its leading Jupiter brand. The company has focused increasingly on the mass market in recent years, closing down the elite Liberty brand two years ago, and the new Europa range received warm praise from analysts at the show, who said that the car was likely to build well upon the success of its predecessor, the Ganymede. The Europa will use the existing Ganymede lines, which will be gradually retooled as one range comes to an end and the other starts up.

A less favourable welcome was faced by Sandvik, who unveiled a new sports car, the Hyperion-A. The company had previously focused on the mass-market as well, but at the launch of the new model, the chairman, Martin Sandvik, said that they were confident that the new Hyperion-A would be the gateway into fresh new markets for the company; a break that was vital, given the growing competition in the mass market from other domestic producers. However, commentators have criticised both the look and the mechanics of the car, with worries that it is significantly underpowered for the body size.

Telora's other two car producers - Alvis and Opalian - are taking different approaches to the show. Alvis will unveil a new range of trucks at the show tomorrow, but Opalian is not expected to unveil any new products; the first year in 12 that the company has failed to do so. This has added to speculation that it intends to merge with Stellar Automotive sometime over the next year, but the company was not forthcoming with any comment on this story, instead stating that the lack of new models was down to their "quiet confidence that our existing range more than meets customer expectations."

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

National Party conference opens with calls for increased defence spending

The annual conference of the National Party has opened in Kontordag with a call from Senate Minority Leader Ernst Posse for the government to expand defence spending, funding fresh increases through what he called a "sustained campaign against government waste and failed programs." The Senator, whose motion was supported by an overwhelming majority of party delegates, in particular called for a substantially larger navy and air force, to spread Teloran influence over a wider area of northern Europe. An amendment calling for the navy to conduct a review into purchasing an aircraft carrier was narrowly defeated before the motion passed.

National Party delegates told reporters that they felt the ongoing build up among other major European powers meant that Telora had to invest a greater sum in her defence capabilities, in order to preserve her way of life. Others said that they felt that Telora had to have the capability to separate what one state legislator called "countries bickering over senseless ideological differences [...] they can't see that they're ruining themselves in their pursuit of ideological purity". Senior National Party figures are believed to be preparing to introduce significant and specific defence spending commitments as part of their manifesto for the 2013 elections, including new bases, units and warships.

The Minister for Defence, Sigbjørn Andersen, responded to the calls for fresh defence spending increases by saying "the President and I are very clear on this matter; Telora's security needs can be met with minimal increases in spending on the military. We are not in the business of antagonising the delicate situation in Europe further with belligerent rhetoric." Nevertheless, the new National Party policy will complicate negotiations over next year's defence appropriations bills.

Nidaros port expansion scheme approved by Governor of Allerød

The Governor of Allerød, Carl Gustav Staaff, has reached an agreement with the Nidaros Port Authority and Castle Line on expanding the Nidaros docks. After a week of talks on the issue, an agreement was reached this morning on both the size of the expansion and a new funding package for the expansion. The state of Allerød will issue a fresh bond issue to cover 50% of the costs of the expansion, whilst the Port Authority will secure a further 30% from bank lending and cash reserves; the remainder will be drawn from various shipping lines and Telor Rail, with Castle Line and Telor Rail each providing 5% of the cost.

The deal will see a whole new enclosed dock constructed south of the existing dock complex, able to take vessels up to 200 metres in length and 35,000 tonnes in weight over half a kilometre of quay length. It will be integrated into existing rail and road connections to the docks, Telora's largest, as well as coming with additional quayside space for new warehousing and distribution facilities. The dock will fill the gap between the Occidental Docks and the Nidaros Refinery No. 1, completing the initial vision of the dock complex laid out in 1900.

Engineer battalion to be sent to Solaren to help with reconstruction

The Executive has confirmed that as part of its aid package to Solaren, it is preparing to send an engineer battalion to help repair dock facilities and road connections to the countryside. The 2nd Engineer Battalion, attached to the Oceanic Regiment (3rd Brigade), will be detached to serve in this capacity. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have said that they are still waiting for Carentania to discuss Telora's sending of aid to Solaren with them; with an official stating that they "weren't concerned by the silence in particular; we want to be above board with all the occupying partners with regards to what we're sending and why."

The engineers will join 25,000 tonnes of grain and hundreds of thousands of items of clothing assembling in docks in Telora for embarkation onto a convoy of 14 vessels, including two destroyers, a hospital ship and one fleet oiler to help extend the range of the fleet. Efforts are still underway to gather fresh donations of clothes, blankets and tents for Solaren across Telora, with the Free Church of Telora adding its voice to the efforts to gather aid.

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"Good Evening. The following is an emergency announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

The outbreak of war has been confirmed in North-Eastern Europe. The Ministry hereby has issued warnings against travelling to the following states:

• Mezhist Union
• Miroslavl
• Rouran
• Karakhstan

These join the existing warning for Boliatur in force. Teloran vessels heading for the region are advised to change course immediately and head for a neutral port. Any Teloran citizens in these countries are advised to make their way towards neutral territory. The Federal Republic of Telora will work with regional partners to establish evacuation protocols for the region, with a preference for non-military methods of doing so. Teloran embassies in all affected countries will remain open throughout the conflict. The Federal Republic hereby extends a formal offer of its good offices to negotiate an end to the conflict, and will keep this offer in effect for the duration of the conflict.

There has not been a change in alert status. Reservists in the Teloran Armed Forces do not need to make additional preparations. Evacuation procedures and wartime measures have not been activated. The Executive does not expect these conditions to change.

"This message will be repeated in one hour, and will be posted at all exit ports in the Federal Republic. We now resume normal broadcasting..."

 

[Danmark]

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We are in a spirit of welcome to the Telorans as they demonstrate their characteristic deference to the stability of the globe by offering, in a magnanimous and graceful fashion, to act as intermediaries in the gathering tensions that are taking place in the High East as a multifarious plethora of nations ride towards the increasing eventuality of grand conflict not seen in such a manner for some time.

The Danish Imperium takes its responsibilities seriously which cannot be, in examination, be equally applied to all those that claim a defence against the scourges of destabilisation. In that essence, if even given to calamity, weakness, and misguidance, we can at least state that we play attention to our approach and honour it as it should be so. A thoroughly appropriate attitude, I believe. We place our shillings where our mouth is.

Nevertheless, I believe that the role of Telora acting in the role of peacekeeper is a worthwhile exercise and one we thoroughly endorse. No one in the the Danish homeland wants war as we are too a peaceful people to wish that and all that we do is to maintain stability an approach that should, and can, be read between the lines if possessed of education and world-wise qualities. The current situation of intransigence and latent threats to our homeland and the international order of Grand Stability incur a great ire amongst most Danes as the thoroughly disrespectful regime that is on the rearguard in Boliatur seeks to throw pepper into the eyes of the just and is now, belatedly, joined by the ever more belligerent regime in Volodymr, in an act of immense ill-guided idiocy, ever more so buttressed by entities that are, it appears, on the grand quest of seeking self-glorification and are, through great misfortune, strait-jacketed by the confines of their ideology.

A Teloran offer must ensure that certain prerequisites are on the table from the outset. Namely, we shall not invade the republic of Miroslavl if certain preconditions are agreed - namely a retraction of the course to buttress the forces of post-delegationism in Boliatur. The Miroslav regime, whilst being a bug bear in Dano-Miroslavan relations, is not one that we especially seek conflict with, possessed of a pragmatic approach. But if Volodymr persists in the support of Mrysini, it shall expect a state of war.

This is a difficult task for Telora to reconcile belligerent entities but one we are in open ears to listen to. We look forward to the plans of reconciliatory and lasting peace.

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HR. HENRIK JOACHIM WESTERVELD

FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE GREAT DANISH IMPERIUM

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

The Danish conditions are not a compromise for the sake of peace nor a calm approach - they can only be considered the most blatantly imperialist of threats: "stop defending democracy in Boliatur, or else" the Danish autocrat and his willing pawns shout into the face of the free world. Truly peaceful intentions look different. If Danmark would harbor any goodwill towards the citizens of Europe, it would immediately end its genocidal campaign against the people of Boliatur and end its blockade, it would cease its attempt to create conditions under which the Khan and his military coup could attempt to overthrow the democratic government of Boliatur and murder elected officials representing the will of the people of Boliatur - and it would only then state its worries and consider demands it desires met by the people of Boliatur and it would base these demands on the needs posed by the ideals of peace and freedom.

All this Danmark does not, because peace is not what it desires. Danmark wishes to play hegemon and reaps the just reward of contempt by the whole free world.

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

President Strand lays out foreign policy in response to National Party

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President Strand addressing the Council on Teloran Neutrality last night​

President Carl Gustav Strand laid out fresh foreign policy objectives in response to a series of motions passed by the recent National Party conference in Kontordag. Speaking at the annual dinner hosted by the influential Council on Teloran Neutrality last night, the President stressed that preserving Telora's neutrality was essential in the defence of her political, social and economic traditions and that the National Party's calls for more defence spending and a more assertive foreign policy in the region imperilled Telora's security, rather than improving it. He also called on the nations of Europe to stand back from what growing numbers of analysts are describing as an arms race, and instead devote their energies to improving the lives of their own citizens.

In particular, President Strand took aim at the National Party's call for Telora to develop strategic bombers and consider buying an aircraft carrier, stating that "there is quite simply no need for a nation devoted to neutrality, however well defended that neutrality may be, to seek to acquire such weapons." He said that the federal finances, which are increasingly under pressure from various economic and social commitments, could not be expected to stretch to cover a rapid expansion in military capacity. Rather, he spoke in favour of looking at ways of the military saving money from its own budget, and using that to invest in newer equipment.

The President, who must stand down next year ahead of the 2013 elections, also laid out the vision of Europe he believes Telora must adhere to. Telora, he said, "must be always prepared to offer aid to those who are suffering, and must always offer her good offices to those on a course for war. Telora cannot be a force for war; she must always be on the side of conciliation, peace and careful international governance. We do not have the manpower, or the money, to wage great wars and we must not indulge the fantasies of some by pretending we can do so. We must not take ideology as a barrier to be overcome; as with religion, language or race, it is something to be considered and understood, not something rejected out of hand."

The Senate Minority Leader, Ernst Posse, responded to the speech in a short statement released afterwards, saying that the President is "wilfully misrepresenting the National Party's position on these matters [...] we believe that the more violent Europe that is developing around us requires us to divert funds into building up Telora's defences, so we can protect that same neutrality the President claims to think is important." With the President's own Centre Party conference due to begin later this week, this foreign policy debate is likely to become much more intense.

More on pages 2, 3 & 5

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 20:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The recent increase in the price of oil by major producers has caused the Central Bank of Telora to raise interest rates by 0.25% and warn of further increases to come, as the impact feeds through into price increases for motorists, energy users and chemical uses. Speaking after the decision, the Governor warned that oil price increases were a far greater threat to growth than war in the Far East for Telora.
• The increase has triggered an emergency debate in Congress, with Socialist and Christian Union politicians proposing a system of petrol and electricity subsidies to alleviate the worst of the increase. Centre and National Party leaders have said they will vote against such measures, but have agreed a policy response is necessary.
• President Strand has summoned the Danish Ambassador to discuss the recent outbreak of war in the East. In a meeting at the Executive Mansion in Telor City, the President is said to have stressed the importance of resolving the conflict through peaceful means. The Miroslavl and Mezhist ambassadors will be summoned later this week for similar discussions.
• The National Party has closed its conference with a final day motion on spending cuts passing by a mere 4 votes on the floor. The motion binds the leadership to seek to cut at least 5% from the federal budget after the 1953 elections, regardless of whether it wins the Presidency or not. Commentators have said this may well pose serious difficulties for passing the first budget of the next Presidency.
• Teloran car maker Sandvik has denied that the reception of its new sports car is indicative of a deeper set of problems facing the company. Since its launch at the Julyents Motor Show, the Hyperion-A has garnered terrible press coverage and weak reviews. The company has said that it can readily overcome the problems with the car, and continue to grow and develop.

"That was the news, and now for a concert from the Constellation Hall in Telor City..."

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

Sandvik to file for bankruptcy Monday​

Telora's fourth-largest car manufacturer, Sandvik AB, is to file for bankruptcy on Monday after a week of tumbling share prices and difficult economic news has battered the economy. The company informed the court this morning that it would be filing on Monday and then held a press conference in its Julyents headquarters to lay out the reasons for filing. The chairman, Martin Sandvik, said that the company had taken the decision as "financial conditions no longer allow us to continue as a profitable company [...] we have to seek bankruptcy if there is any hope for any part of the company to survive in some form." He apologised to the company's 5,000 strong workforce for the filing and said he would work with the federal and state authorities to try and find them new jobs.

Sandvik had been weighed down by the aftermath of the Great War, which both weakened export markets and disrupted the supply of raw materials and components from across Europe. The company's share had also taken a dive this week on the Telor City Exchange, along nearly all other shares traded, as news of the oil price hike by Europe's largest suppliers hit confidence on the exchange floor. Other major industrial companies have announced cutbacks during the week; Taurus Steel have halved all overtime at their 4 mills, whilst Federal Electric have suspended planning for an expansion to their electronics factory in Adense. The President has already condemned the decision to raise oil prices, saying that it has "jeopardised the economic recovery from war across Europe."

The news of Sandvik's filing for bankruptcy has led to Congressional leaders announcing they will work together to fast track the President's proposed industrial policy bill for the sector. The bill, which includes funding to help car companies merge and shed excess capacity, as well as opening up the sector to lending from the National Industrial & Commercial Corporation (NICC) - the federally-owned and run state investment bank. NICC may well be asked to provide financing to help the other Telora car companies, and suppliers, weather the fall out from Sandvik's collapse. However some individual deputies, mostly on the National Party benches, have said they do not want to risk over-extending the federal government with a massive rescue of the automotive sector.

With a war developing in North-Eastern Europe, experts are warning that Telora's economy will continue to face difficult export conditions over the coming months. Some are now calling on the government to speed up programmes such as the EDA's hydroelectric schemes and rail electrification to reduce the demand for imported oil; others have called on the Executive to consider imposing trade tariffs to grant the economy some breathing space.

More on pages 2, 3 & 5

 

[Danmark]

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In response to the invocations of the Teloran government, we can give high assurance at a range of levels that the sovereignty of Telora, its legitimate activities, and state and economic interests shall in no way be violated by the government of the Kingdom.

In contrary to the cacophonious rancour directed at my country I must point out, in order to preserve fact and bring some semblance of reality to the furore generated by the unholy alliance of communo-postdelegationists that bark most loudly, cleverly designed to disguise their own immense attempt to mould the world into their own imperialistic design, though they would deny this epithet, and an elaborate grandstanding of smoke, mirrors and daggers lest the magnifying glass of truth be directed towards their own shenanigans, that my kingdom has a history of refusing to embark on the path towards war as a tradition until called for at the extreme, and this has not changed at all in the overwhelming aspect.

Upon careful and minute analysis, the government took the immense step of invasion of North Raigestan, not a step we took at all lightly, but one that in the extreme was essential in order to fight the fight of civilisation against anti-civilisation. The Kingdom took the significant step of the invasion of an apparently, and I say 'apparently' in the sense of what it propagated to the outside world, neutral nation. But this is a neutrality that can be called into question. Indeed, given the heavy hammer of Soviet domination and fear upon the folk, the poor and crushed folk of Miroslavl and the North Raigestan, and the ultimate direction determined from Volodymr this is, and always was, a perverse definition of neutrality. But it is one that the communist nations, post-delegationists and those unfortunately hoodwinked by this block, would variously like the world to believe or have been tricked into its mindset. We do not mean this to be taken in the perverse and knee-jerk understanding, but rather one of the recognition of the reality.

A truth and doctrine that runs through us like a golden thread, the Danish kingdom has a history of refusing warfare for warfare's sake. Even a cursory glance at Danish history is enough to demonstrate that. But the unfortunate circumstances that have enveloped us in the grossly belligerent intent of Mysrini to commit regicide and instability in almost the twenty nations that enshrine monarchy as a governmental edifice, took this to a new level. We could not let this direct attack upon our life be unchallenged, as especially this most particularly horrid blend of post-delegationism sought to sow discord within not only my nation but the monarchies and moderate nations of the world. As has been previously pointed out, the Mrysinist junta incurred the wrath of the most civilised of nations, and the guarantors of the peace, as shown by the Vesper Grand Conference. If only that, we call upon the reality of the situation the civilised world comprising Great Engellex, Cantignia, the moderates of the High East like Karakhstan, Potenza, Frescania, Media, and Belmont - all struck in unison against the threat of terror from Mrysini, something that the communo-delegationists seem intent on unleashing. Once again, this is not only a case of 'ourselves alone' - we sing from the very same hymn sheet of the aforementioned.

However, the intervention of the slow-but-deliberate Marshall Dorgon of Jurchen and, now, the communo-postdelegationist block that seeks self-glory, joined by the quizzical Sylvanians, brings the impasse to a point of almost semi-boil. This coiterie of friends of convenience, when we all know that the two ideological systems are opposed to each other, engage on a policy of destruction of civilisation, though they act under a grand pretence otherwise. The actions of the kingdom are wholly commensurate with self-defence but with an added element - that we are in a position to deliver a strike against the propagators of instability against the Grand World Order. This is something its opponents seek to conveniently overlook in their quest.

At least I can say and do believe that whereas like-minded moderate democratic and monarchical nations either from insecurity, unassuredness, or misguidance in following the line of the opposing block, that we can at the very least deliver what we believe and aim towards the defence of those less able or unwilling to defend themselves. Like the poppy in the field of corn, we stand proud in this endeavour very much at the front line.

But even in this late hour, we remain rigid to the precepts of peace. This conflict is most unnecessary if only those states that seek to reignite the deviant strain of post-delegationist thought within the Boliaturan state, rolled back from it at this critical juncture. Whether they will or not is in their hands, but conflict can be well and truly avoided if this occurrence was brought to bear. If not, it is with immense sighs that we must plough the course.

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HR. HENRIK JOACHIM WESTERVELD

FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE GREAT DANISH IMPERIUM

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Ministry of Commerce has said it is close to a final agreement with the former shareholders and workers at the collapsed car firm Sandvik on redundancy payments and retraining schemes. The announcement is seen as final confirmation that the firm's 3 factories will not be taken over by another Teloran car company and will instead close.
• Ministry of Defence officials have begun drafting a report outlining a series of options for naval expansion, the Office of the President has announced. The options, believed to range from a comprehensive expansion of the fleet including capital ships down to a simple alteration of ship rotation schedules, will be published early in November.
• TelorRail has reported a rise in rail freight as oil price increases have begun to hit road freight businesses. The company has said it still expects the national net total of freight to fall, but that it will capture a larger share of the falling traffic, enabling it to ride out the worst of the economic storm.
• Foreign Ministry officials have said they will not be going ahead with a third aid convoy to Solaren, as growing tensions in the region make it "much more difficult to ensure that our ships are properly defended." There has yet to be a final decision on whether to begin to withdraw Teloran soldiers and workers already deployed in Solaren.
• TelBank, Telora's largest bank, has said it has received an approach from a number of industrialists and financiers to help put together a funding package to offer to the Jurzan government to help it expand its arms sector.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 17:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• President Almquist has unveiled his new Agricultural Support Bill today. The Bill, a key component of his election last year, will create a state-run bank for farmers, offering them free accounts to store financial surpluses and extending cheap credit to help them invest in mechanisation. It also introduces a levy on agricultural futures, which will help fund an expansion of crop insurance and import substitution duties, as well as securing a 50% increase in funding for the country's 4 agricultural colleges. It is expected that the National Party will also back the bill, ensuring a smooth passage through Congress.
• TelBank has announced plans to sell off its insurance business, after lengthy speculation among investors. TelSurance is the country's largest insurance firm, but it has faced increasingly stiff competition in recent years, as several new businesses entered the market and the company's own exposure to the collapse of the car-making firm Sandvik damaged its balance sheet. The sale will still likely raise a substantial sum of money for TelBank, and speculation is rife that it will make a bid for one of the many small merchant banks operating in Telora, to help it expand its presence in the commercial lending market.
• The staff at the University of Børad's commercial computer division are to be balloted on a strike against proposals to nationalise the business. The University has long been a major player in the country's development of computers and has manufactured and sold them to a number of organisations, including federal government departments. The Association of Electro-Mechanical Engineers and Technicians (AEMET), the union responsible for the ballot, has said that nationalisation will "destroy the existing worker-led culture" at the division and weaken Telora's nascent computer industry.
• Six men have been killed, and eight others injured in an accident at a construction site at the port of Nidaros. The men were killed when an excavator toppled over into the half-completed dock and landed on a group of workers. The Port Authority has ordered an immediate suspension of work until the cause of the accident has been discovered. The Bishop of Nidaros has announced there will be a collection of money for the families of the victims.
• The Estland Development Agency (EDA) has begun the second phase of the electrification of homes and businesses in Estland. Currently, only 65% of homes, and 85% of businesses, have access to mains electricity. This phase aims to increase those figures to 80% and 100% respectively. President Almquist secured additional funds in his budget earlier this year to speed up the electrification process, after a near-unanimous vote in favour of the measure in Congress.

That was the news, and now, time for the weather...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

National Party Deputies threaten to resign over Agricultural Bill​

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A senior National Party Deputy has announced he will resign the party whip in order to vote against the Agricultural Support Bill, unveiled yesterday by President Almquist, unless the party grants a free vote on the Bill. Deputy Niels Clausen (Julyents East), who is the chair of the House of Session's Health Committee, announced his decision to reporters earlier today, together with three other Deputies from his party. In his statement to reporters in the Congressional Central Lobby, Deputy Clausen said that the Bill represented "a clear attempt to clear the way for the nationalisation of a major part, if not all, of the agricultural base of this country" and said that to vote for the bill represented a "clear betrayal of the principles which underpin the party I have belonged to these past 20 years."

Whilst the announcement will not deprive the bill of a majority in the House of Session, where it still commands a majority of 26 Deputies between the Socialist and National caucuses, speculation has already arisen that other National Deputies will refuse to back to bill without amendment, infuriating both the President and the National Party leadership. Observers note that President Almquists' election last year was due in large party to his successful capture of a large share of rural votes away from their traditional National Party allegiance with his promise of large-scale investment in the countryside, spearheaded by many of the provisions in this bill. Whilst the leadership's expressed reasons for supporting the bill are purely pragmatic, many of these observers note that by doing so they may well be able to fracture this voter coalition and so increase the chances of success for their candidate in the next presidential poll.

However, Deputy Clausen's announcement is further evidence of a growing discord within the ranks of the party over the self-proclaimed "pragmatic" leadership style of recent years. During the run-up to the presidential election last year, National Party activists agreed to commit to a policy of cuts in spending in many domestic ministries over the objection of the leadership, and came close to embracing a significant increase in defence spending and re-instating recently repealed laws on book and theatre censorship. These splits helped undermine the campaign of former Senate Minority leader Ernst Prosse, and seemed to have abated in the aftermath of his heavy defeat by President Almquist in the second round of the election.

Whilst the Bill will still command a majority of 26 without the votes of the 4 Deputies who announced their intention to rebel today, there are reports circulating widely that other National Party Deputies may consider rebelling as well over the Bill. One commentator noted that "If a less important figure than Clausen had made the announcement, it would have fallen by the wayside. Given his powerful presence in the chamber and the party at large, I cannot imagine there won't be at least a half-dozen others who will follow in his footsteps and rebel." Another 14 Deputies would need to announce their intention to vote against the Bill before it would be defeated.

The Office of President said tonight that it hoped the National Party "would deliver on its promises to the President, and the Teloran people, to ensure that our agricultural sector is properly reformed" but would not comment further. Neither Senator Prosse, nor the National Party leader in the House of Session, Dr. Arne Janson, had made any public announcement before this story went to press.

More on pages 2 & 10

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The leaderships of the National and Socialist parties have held a summit at the Executive Mansion to try and shore up support for the Agricultural Support Bill in the House of Session. So far, 10 National Party Deputies have said they will vote against the bill, and a similar number are believed to be wavering. Neither party would comment on the outcome of the talks, which finished just over an hour ago.
• Union representatives of staff at the University of Børad's commercial computer division have said that they will advise members to vote for a strike against proposals to nationalise the business. In letters circulated with ballot papers, which were sent to members today, the AEMET union said nationalisation "threatened to undermine the workplace culture" of the business. The advice is not binding on union members.
• Taurus Steel has announced a drop in profits over the year. Telora's largest steel producer said that cost of refitting its largest plant at Julyents had escalated over the year, as a result of "unforeseen difficulties" in the demolition of older parts of the plant. However, the company said that trading conditions as a whole remained "fair" and it expected to continue to see steady growth in domestic and export markets in the year ahead.
• Agricultural futures prices have risen for the third day in a row, as tensions in Caria and the announcement of a slowdown in deforestation in Aurea fed investor worries about the future growth of exports from those countries. Market analysts say that the rises are likely to tail off soon as trading thins closer to Christmas, but warned that a threat to a major agricultural exporter could lead to more dramatic increases.
• The Mayor of Ystad has begun a campaign to reduce littering in the city. Under the slogan "Bag it, and bin it, and together we'll win it", Mayor Anya Kastiov has announced that volunteers will be recruited to help sweep litter from the streets, and city officials will be granted new powers to fine people for dropping litter.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

President withdraws Agricultural Support Bill as coalition collapses in disarray​

President Hjalmar Almquist has withdrawn his Agricultural Support Bill after the National Party leadership announced they could no longer support his proposals and withdrew from the agreement to pass the bill. The announcement came after a day of fevered activity in federal politics, following the President's offer of talks on the bill to a number of opposition parties yesterday. Whilst the Christian Union had ruled itself out of supporting the bill almost immediately, there had been hope in the Executive that either the Centre Party or the Estland Party could be persuaded to join the coalition of parties in support of the bill and so ensure its passage through the House of Session. A growing rebellion in the National Party, which was triggered last Tuesday by the chair of the House of Session Health committee, Niels Clausen, had threatened to derail the bill.

However, in quick succession today both the Centre Party and the Estland Party announced they would not back the bill. The Centre Party said that such a bill was "inimical to the fundamental interests of the people of Telora [...] it represents a clear first step towards the collectivisation of agriculture in this country." Centre Party leaders, in a letter sent to all major Teloran newspapers, argued that most of the Socialist Deputies who had given press comments in support of the bill had either openly stated, or heavily implied, that this bill was designed to open the door to such a policy. They stated they were prepared to work together with the President on a similar scheme, but that he would need to include "clear restraints" on the powers of any new agencies. Deputies of the Estland Party are understood to have voted unanimously against the bill this lunchtime, with the party unconvinced that the bill represented what they called a "significant or indeed meaningful" investment in Estland. None of the three independents in the House of Session are believed to be willing to vote for the bill, though it is understood they have all been heavily lobbied by senior members of the Socialist caucus.

Following the vote of the Estland Party, National Party leaders caved in to the mounting rebellion within their party, and announced they would no longer support the bill, stating that it was now time to "return to the negotiating table and draft a new bill that better reflects and serves the needs of our rural communities." The Deputy Leader of the party in the House of Session, Edvard Hedin, has resigned from his position. Deputy Hedin was widely viewed as the architect of the alliance between the Socialists and the National Party on the bill, and it is understood that his resignation was demanded by the rebels from the leadership. An election to fill the vacant post will be held later this week, with many commentators expecting Niels Clausen to enter the race. Talking to reporters shortly before this paper went to press, Deputy Clausen said that it was "time to rebuild and re-affirm our values in this party - of freedom, family and faith."

In a short statement announcing the withdrawal of the bill, President Almquist said he was "deeply disappointed" the the bill had been "undermined by persistent attacks from those who believe ideology must come before the needs of struggling families." There was no further announcement from the Executive on either personnel changes or policy shifts in the aftermath of this defeat. However, most political commentators have said that the failure of such a key bill so soon after its unveiling will leave the President short of options for the next Congressional session, which will begin on January 12th next year.

More on pages 2, 3 & 6

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Regeneration, Olof Horn, has resigned after the failure of the President's Agricultural Support Bill on Monday. His resignation had been widely expected after the failure of the bill, and his replacement will face the task of drawing up alternative legislation acceptable to other parties in Congress. President Almquist thanked Mr Horn for his service in a short statement released to the press today, but gave no indication of his likely choice to succeed him.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials have said they are "developing a reply" to the recent announcement by Camden that it will be claiming a large area of Antarctica in order to enforce its anti-whaling laws. Telora's whaling industry has lobbied heavily for the government to reply firmly to the decision, as they are concerned that it will close off some of their most profitable fishing grounds.
• Castle Line have confirmed an order for 4 new liners for their scheduled service to Bourgogne and Coeurleon. The vessels, to be built by Federated Shipyards, will be 185 metres long, and capable of carrying just over 900 passengers at a top speed of 20 knots. They will replace the existing vessels, the Nordheim-class, on the route, beginning in 1957.
• The coroner reporting on the deaths of 6 men at the construction of the new docks at Nidaros has said that he believes it was a "tragic accident arising from individual circumstances". After completing the initial round of interviews, the coroner has said that the general safety culture at the site "appears to have been strong [...] I do not believe I will find evidence of serious misconduct."
• TelorRail has announced its request for funding in the next financial year. The state-owned railway company has requested a further increase of 5 million Teloran Marks to help fund the electrification of the Central Telora Mainline, after initial investigations revealed the need for substantial reconstruction of a number of bridges and stations on the line, especially around Telor City.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Natal]

IT IS HEREBY DECREED BY

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The Commonwealth of Camden - Te Hapori o Camden
​

5 December 1954
REGARDS from the CAMDENITE FOLK AND GOVERNMENT

The Camdenite folk and government are considering themselves good friends of the Federal Republic of Telora and hope that the good relations we have will not be strained by a potential argument regarding the whaling laws and the Antarctic claim. We hope that the Camdenite people and the Teloran folk can continue to be friends, and that we are still better than just to argue like the High Kingdom of Ivernia and the Republic of Belmont over a school or two of fish. We thus ask the Teloran people and government, our distant cousins from the northern hemisphere not to destroy our relationship over this. We are ready to come and talk about it and thus the first state visit of the Minister of External Affairs, Ryan Burns, can take place in Telor City.

The Anti-Whaling laws are a very important component of the environmentalist laws in the Commonwealth of Camden and thus we will never repeal it and we will try to provide an example for all the nations of the world in support for pro-environment laws. We understand that this may provide problems for the Teloran whaling industry, but we believe that by defending the environment this way, we can exploit the planet's resources for a longer period, than just to reap as much riches as possible as quickly as possible and to leave behind nothing than bare, desolate land.

We thus ask the people of Telora and its government to think and try to understand that in the long run, the protection of the environment may be more important than the shock of reduced profits from wailing. We want to also remind them that the main target of those laws is the Blue Whale, a mammal that is endangered, especially because of such kind of excessive whaling. This whale can be found in all the world's oceans and seas. We are just trying to create a safe zone, in which they can't be hunted, and the national waters of Camden and of the Andrew Collins Land are actually a tiny fraction of the whole space in which this whale lives. We hope that for such a small region, our relations won't be destroyed, especially when the world offers such other great possibilities.

SIGNED AND SEALED​

With Loyalty to God and Folk
The Honorable Ryan Burns
Minister of Foreign Affairs​

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

Editorial: How The Mighty Have Fallen​

On July 2nd last year, it seemed that Hjalmar Almquist could do most anything he pleased. Having won the largest share of the vote ever for a Socialist candidate in the second round of a Presidential election - 64% - and helped lift the Socialists to their best performance in Congressional elections in over 20 years. He had beaten a man considered by virtually all commentators to be sure bet for the Presidency, Ernst Posse, and had built a mighty new coalition of interest groups to support his rise. Today, all that seems like a distant memory, and much of this has to do with the fracturing of that coalition. After a quietly successful first year in office; expanding and restructuring the National Industrial & Commercial Corporation into the new NIC Bank, expanding financial guarantees to speed up the construction of new docks at Nidaros and the electrification of mainlines and unveiling a budget that includes a record sum for the refurbishment and upgrading of everything from Post Office branches to hospitals; his agenda has ground to a halt. The failure of the Agricultural Support Bill will likely cost him the key rural votes that did so much to get him into office and keep Ernst Posse out.

In this, he is as much a victim of his own actions as those of any other. His failure to moderate clauses in the bill after the rebellion started in National Party ranks, his lack of engagement with other parties earlier in the process and finally his ham-fisted attempts to expand the coalition backing the bill in Congress all conspired together to ensure that the bill was never even to reach the floor of the House of Session. This failure has cost him one of his most loyal Ministers, the goodwill of the other parties in Congress and a significant share of the rural voters he tempted to vote for him with promises of major agricultural reforms, but no collectivisation. Now, on top of this fiasco, he has to deal with a rising tide of anger among Telora's whaling and fishing communities about the government's response to Camden's decision to close off the Antarctic whaling grounds; and he has dealt with it poorly.

The Teloran whaling industry has been declining for years; there are now half as many ships engaged in it as there were 15 years ago. As the consumption of whale meat has steadily dropped, captains have retired and not been replaced and old ships taken out of the fleet and scrapped. The loss of the Antarctic whaling grounds might have been an opportunity to help this industry wind up with a little more grace and order; to create a scheme to find new employment for crews and to support the communities for whom whaling is a key part of their economy. Instead, the government has chosen to reply to the Camdenite proposal with delay and confusion, with officials first meeting, then refusing to meet, industry representatives and Ministers refusing to give any insight into what kind of solution they might be preparing for this crisis. There has been no sign of an official response to the Camdenite communique of a few days ago.

Into this vacuum has emerged, then, a new political crisis. Not only are the whalers angry - some have been calling for the Navy to escort the next seasonal whaling convoy to the southern seas - but they have found new, powerful allies in this. In particular, the Dock Workers Union (DWU) has declared its full support for the whalers. Whaling ships are a relatively small percentage of the trade coming through Telora's ports, but in an industry where most workers struggle to make ends meet, every last ship counts, and the DWU does not want to see the lives of their members imperilled. Of course, the DWU has been one of the longest-standing and most vociferous backers of the Socialist Party since its formation in 1900. The DWU has said that the President needs to be "firm and clear" in his response to the Camdenite move, as "Telora must always oppose imperialism, no matter what cloak it is placed in by the imperialists." The coalition behind the whalers is likely to expand further; shipyard workers, fishing communities and the Ests, for whom whale meat is a delicacy, are all showing signs of wanting to support the whalers against Camden - and the President.

The President must therefore find a way to resolve a difficult crisis, where domestic and international politics intersect, in the face of a coalition already weakened by the failure of a key piece of legislation and now being wrenched apart by the unhappiness of key members. His own failure to be clear in response to Camden, indeed his failure to give much of a response worth the name, is another symptom of a Presidency increasingly driven by fear and an unwillingness to listen. President Almquist needs to emerge from his bunker and spend some more time listening. It is what served him so well on the campaign trail; it may well be enough to help salvage his Presidency now.