Witton Gazette - Published by Freedom

[Medolai]

The Witton Gazette

International Edition - "Published by Freedom" - 24 November, 2010​

United Confederacy renounces isolationism

After intense debate, the Confederate Council voted six to zero to lift the self-imposed autarky and officially-sealed borders of the last half-century. Councillor Charles Taskill of Roberts Republic abstained from the vote. President Hiram Daniels hailed the vote as a sign of progress for the Seven Republics: "No longer will the United Confederacy of the Seven Republics ignore the world beyond our borders. We have persisted in this delusion of self-sufficiency for far too long."

Under the new policies, the Council has established the Directorate of Trade and the Directorate of Foreign Affairs, the first new Confederacy-level directorates in thirty years. Trade within the UCSR remains the province of the individual republics.​

Directorate of Defense plans reorganization, expansion, modernization

Following the Confederate Council's decision to break the isolationism of the Seven Republics, UCSR Director of Defense Blair Campbell issued a statement bemoaning the condition of the Confederate Armed Forces. When he goes before the Council next week, Campbell is expected to petition for an expansion of the reserve service requirement for all Confederate nationals, authorization to increase the size of the regular component at least two-fold from its current manning of 100,000, and significant increases in funding for rearmament to meet the needs of the CAF. Eumeswil and Strathcona Republics have already pledged to increase their financial contributions to the Military Fund.​

+ Temperatures rise across the Confederacy as summer begins.
+ Black-marketeers and smugglers riot in Roberts as Council lifts isolationism.
+ Wheat collective razed in Morant.

 

[Confederal Republics]

Ministry of External Affairs
Commonwealth of Cornavia

The Commonwealth of Cornavia wishes to be the first in the European community of nations to welcome the United Confederacy of the Seven Republics back into the European community of nations and the international scene, and to propose the signing-in of formal diplomatic relations.

Regards,
Mr. William Fenner,
Minister of External Affairs

 

[Touzen]

Imperial Ministry of War and Foreign Affairs

The Empire of Greater Oikawa, aware of its obligations on the international stage and strictly adhering to its policy of friendship towards those that reciprocate it, seeks to establish formal diplomatic ties with the United Confederacy of the Seven Republics.

Yours sincerely,
Yoshikawa Katsu
Imperial Minister of War and Foreign Affairs

 

[Keida]

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The reopening of the Seven Republics to the world at large is a tremendous new opportunity for development of both the United Confederacy herself and a potential shot in the arm to the world economy.

Assuming that the individual republics make the objectively correct choice of establishing a free-trade agenda with business-friendly policies and an attitude toward liberal economics, I foresee a bright future for the country on all fronts.

Indeed, a parade of Wing Sing-based multinationals are already greedily eying the world of opportunity in the United Confederacy. It is in everyone's interest to see mutual partnerships prosper. 致富光榮.​

Jan de Kaizer
Professor of Macroeconomics
Alexander Rooseboom School of Economics
University of Wing Sing

 

[Khemia]

"Our office is of course pleased to hear the news of the opening of a society once closed off to the world. I would like to personally express a great interest in opening bilateral relations with this United Confederacy in Himyar, opening up a relationship that can be mutually beneficial to the stability of both of our nations."

Statement issued by Mai Thap, Sinese Secretary of Foreign Affairs

 

[Medolai]

Confederate Directorate of Foreign Affairs​

The United Confederacy offers its most sincere thanks on behalf of the Seven Republics and looks forward to warm and engaging diplomatic relations with the rest of Europe. Our diplomats eagerly anticipate learning about the other nations of Europe and acting as ambassadors of our own unique culture.

In freedom,
Dr. Director of Foreign Affairs (Acting) Gideon Evans
Citizen of the Lovat Republic

 

[Medolai]

The Witton Gazette

International Edition - "Published by Freedom" - 27 November, 2010​

Arson of Morant wheat collective under investigation

The Morant Republic Police are currently looking into the apparent arson of the Unity Springs wheat collective that occurred Tuesday night. The destruction of all buildings at the collective, from silos to dormitory to machine shop, raising suspicions that foul play was involved. The MRP believes the arson to be the work of terrorist groups associated with the Seven Republics Agriculture Cartel, the association of independent landowners who have consistently opposed the existence of the collectives. With the likely financial insolvency of the Unity Springs collective, only five collective farms will remain in the Confederacy, four of which are in Morant.​

Campbell craves carrier

Witton Gazette sources indicate that Director of Defense Blair Campbell intends to request authorization and funding from the Confederate Council to procure, amongst other things, an aircraft carrier for the nascent Confederate Navy. The Navy had been limited to coastal defense and interdiction of smugglers for the duration of the Isolation. The acquisition of a carrier would mark a significant shift in the foreign and military policy of the Seven Republics, suggesting that Hiram Daniels will seek to expand the Confederacy's influence into Europe. Should a republic such as Campagna veto the request, it is possible that other republics such as Strathcona, Witton, and Eumeswil may coordinate with private concerns to finance the project. As time progresses, the Gazette will continue to provide updates about the latest information surrounding the Directorate of Defense's planned expansions.​

+ UCSR welcomed to European relations, recognized by Coronavia, Oikawa, others.
+ Record number of recruits for Confederate Navy in Roberts as unemployed smugglers desperately seek jobs.
+ Foreign languages program introduced at Miriam River University.

 

[Medolai]

The Witton Gazette

International Edition - "Published by Freedom" - 30 November, 2010​

Confederate Council: UCSR will not join Council of Nations

The Confederate Council voted unanimously today to pass a resolution affirming the independence of the Seven Republics and their intent to not join the Council of Nations, the pan-European deliberative legislative body. Speaking on behalf of the Confederate Council, Charles Taskill of Roberts Republic said that "Though the Seven Republics are willing to engage in dialogue with the other polities of Europe on bilateral and multilateral basises, we will not abrogate our collective sovereignty for the fig leaf of European inclusion. This confederacy will deal with Europe on its own terms, or not at all." Though its maritime geography and relative seclusion from the other Republics during the Isolation gave significant economic advantage and a more cosmopolitan character to Roberts, with an estimate 40% of its workforce engaged in work related to smuggling and the black market, the island Republic has taken the forefront in Confederacy-wide skepticism regarding the Seven Republics' place in the concert of nations.​

Council passes one-year conscription

President Hiram Daniels and Director of Defense Blair Campbell succeeded in getting the first of their major military reforms through the Confederate Council today, increasing the mandatory service requirement for all citizens of age to one year of active duty followed by a twenty-five year reserve status. The previous statute maintained a three-month active duty requirement for initial training with a 5-3/4 year reserve. Members of those yeargroups (including the 1992 class, which fulfilled its initial obligation this year) that have already completed their active component will not be required to provide any additional peacetime active service. The 1987 through 1992 classes will see their reserve obligations extended, and the 1986 and prior classes will be placed back on reserve status. Until equipment and infrastructure can be acquired and regular service cadre expanded however, it is unlikely that the pre-1987 classes will be recalled for purposes other than annual accountability muster.​

+ Military Observation and Studies team dispatched to observe Cornavian military exercises.
+ Debate at Miriam River: Is confederation tenable?
+ OP-ED: United Confederacy must find alternate sources of energy.

 

[Batavië]

'The UCSR's decision not to join the Council of Nations is an overblown piece of media hype. That body hasn't done a meaningful thing in decades, especially not in the last few years when places like Batavia openly requested help, which they could not provide. The body is long dead.'

Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet at a press conference in Southport-on-Sea while observing Northern Council office construction

 

[Barbossa]

Ministry of External Affairs
Republic of Barbossa

On behalf of Generalísimo Alejandro Fulgencio Goya and the Republic of Barbossa, I wish to welcome our friends across the straits, the United Confederacy of the Seven Republics, back to the Brotherhood of Nations and propose a normalization of diplomatic relations between our governments.

Sr. Rodrigo Díaz
El ministro de Asuntos Externos

 

[Keida]

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The Confederate Council has certainly made the correct decision in avoiding the decaying corpse of bureaucracy, pomp and circumstance that is the Council of Nations. An insatiable, voracious money pit that serves no purpose other than to employ diplomats and coddle communists, the Council of Nations has spent six decades trying to justify its existence to the world. It has failed miserably. A tremendous swath of the world, both in territory and populations, has been denied representation in the body, and yet another has resoundingly rejected it.

The United Confederacy has thus proven herself to be shrewd and conservative, displaying the kind of restraint and pragmatism that will endear her to the likes of Wing Sing and the other nations of the world who value results over appearances.

It brings to mind the old Singlish saying: 白貓黑貓捉到老鼠就係好貓。 We don't care if it's a black cat or a white cat; a good cat will catch mice.

I think we can all agree that the Council of Nations isn't a good cat.​

Horace KUO Kwok-kee
Professor of Diplomatic Science
School of International Studies
University of Wing Sing

 

[Confederal Republics]

Ministry of External Affairs
Commonwealth of Cornavia

Itself a relatively recent entrant to the Council of Nations, the Commonwealth is understanding of the decisions made by our friends in the Seven Republics. While Cornavia has taken a cautiously positive stance towards the Council of Nations, we are also understanding of those who view the organ more negatively and look nevertheless forward to building bilateral relations with the Seven Republics government.

Regards,
Mr. William Fenner,
Minister of External Affairs