Dawn of a new century

The sun set on the 19th century with the beginning of the Columbian Civil War, the Second Boer War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Philippine-American war. A new era was upon the world, from the rural plains of India and China to the industrialized cities of Great Britain and America, the people of the world woke to a new era. Some such as Sigmund Freud pondered on the question that lay in everyone's mind. Would this be a era of peace, or continued war?


Boxer rebels standing for a photo, circa 1899.

Nations of the World, 1900.



The Kingdom of Afganistan
Player: Kho

The Austro-Hungarian Empire
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The Kingdom of Belgium
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The Republic of Brazil
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The Dominion of Canada
Player: The Nexerus

The Qing Empire
Player: Ampharos

The French Third Republic
Player: Byrdman

The German Empire
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The Kingdom of Greece
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The Kingdom of Italy
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The Empire of Japan
Player: Pasta Sentient

The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Player: bigscreech

The Ottoman Empire
Player: Flylittlecat

The Sublime State of Persia
Player: aladdin_sane

The Kingdom of Portugal
Player: Heyitsjiwon

The Kingdom of Romania
Player: Ab

The Russian Empire
Player: Dutchbag

The Kingdom of Serbia
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The Union of South Africa
Player: So Boerd

The Kingdom of Spain
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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The United States of America
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Amir Abdur Rahman Khan’s Islamic New Year’s speech, as recorded and as read out to people all over Afghanistan in the first Friday sermon of the new year

It has been twenty years since the Will of God was made manifest to us and our glorious nation was freed from the suffering of war and chaos. It has been twenty years since the people and tribes of Afghanistan raised me above them, with God’s Will, and pledged their allegiance to the one, Islamic Amir of Afghanistan.

When I first laid my eyes upon you all, and upon this nation, all those years ago, it was with great sadness that I looked, but also with great hope. For I saw a people who had been battered by the years, by wars and foreign attacks against us. I saw a people who had been let down by one ruler after another, crushed by one invader after another, and impoverished by one deteriorating year after another. But I witnessed a people who had not lost hope, I witnessed tigers who were strong in faith and intellect, prepared to lash out against all enemies. I looked towards you then, as I do now, and you looked towards me, seeing in me the salvation which all prayed for through all the dark years. You put your trust in me, pledged your allegiance to me, and I readily took this weighty burden upon my shoulders, for the sake of my nation and my people, for all of you who are my brethren and loved ones. I pray to the Almighty God that I have done right by you and that today you see an Afghanistan prepared to rise from the ashes and the ruins.

Where before we were nothing but separate, warring cities and tribes, today we are unified as one nation, one people, with one Amir, Khan and Chief – I did not impose myself upon you, but it was you who came to me, and I who willingly serve my people. These last twenty years have been difficult, they have been difficult for you as much as they have been for me. We have battled and endeavoured to create a stable nation, a more centralised nation with an all-reaching government, a nation worthy of all Afghans. Today I command in Kabul and those in Herat obey, I speak in Kandahar and those in Mazar-i-Sharif hear. It was not always so, and in this year, this centralised nation will take its final form, so that we can turn a new page in our nation’s history.

We will no longer be riddled with worries of instability and insurgencies, no, we have become more elevated. We will now work towards the progress of our nation and not simply keeping it intact, we will work towards the happiness and enrichment of our people, we will work towards building a Muslim nation like that of our predecessors, the Timurids and the Mughal, the Umayyads and the Abbasids and the Mamelukes; we will work towards creating the New Muslim State, the reincarnation of the divine Rashidun Caliphate, that our people may rise from the darkness of ignorance and into the light of knowledge and wisdom and enlightenment.

My people, I have never hidden anything from you, when I first made contact with the British, it was before all of you that I wrote the letter, and your approval that I sought, and I do not hide from you that weak grows my body which once was strong, which once rode into battle and brought down our foes. The Almighty God has written for each soul its prescribed date, and none can hide or run from it. A new epoch has begun for our rising nation, but perhaps the Almighty may see it fitting that a new generation oversee this new epoch. So, remember the words of God should my soul depart today, tomorrow or in a year, and remember the words of God whether I remain with you or ascend to the Almighty:
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren”
Keep these verses of the Almighty God always in your heart, and do not become divided! My people, I warn you of the calamities of division, for it is through the cracks that the devils creep, and through them that our defeat emerges, and through them that we fall into the abyss of darkness and destruction. Peace and eternal unity be upon you all, and the blessings and mercy of the Most High.

Abdur Rahman Khan, By the Will and Might of the Most High, the Iron Amir of the Emirate of Afghanistan, Light of the Nation and Religion, Khan of the Tribes

The United States of America
Excerpts From an Address to Congress

Gentlemen, it is a new century! This is the dawn of the 20th Century. Let it be a good one.

Today, I would like to affirm that I shall be seeking reelection to the office I now hold, and that I hope the American people see fit to place me in this office again.

We have long talked of the construction of a canal through Latin America, gentlemen. Many of us have liked the idea of one through the Isthmus of Panama, and yet in Colombia a civil war rages on. Should America not seek but to avoid this conflict? I certainly believe we should. That is why I would like to fully support the reconsidering of a canal through the country of Nicaragua. I know that such a project would be jointly organized, built, and owned with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, but I do believe that such a set up would be the best option in the long run, rather than having to wait out what could be a long civil war, as our own past has shown that they can rage far longer than we might think. Consider it, gentlemen. That is what I am asking, as I will soon be opening discussions with the United Kingdom.

Thank you for your time. May God Bless the United States of America.

--William McKinley
President of the United States of America

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Queen Victoria's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament
January 30th, 1900

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The peace which had recently been broken by the Boer Republics in the last few months have unhappily not been restored; but otherwise my relations with other nations of the world are friendly. We shall strive to ensure that this remains the case.

In resisting the invasion of my South African colonies by the Transvaal Republic and by the Orange Free State, my people have responded with devotion and enthusiasm to the appeal which I have made to them. The heroism of my soldiers in the field, and of my sailors and marines who were landed to co-operate with them, has not fallen short of the noblest traditions of our military history. I am deeply grieved that so many valuable lives should have fallen a sacrifice. But I have witnessed with pride and with the heartiest gratification the patriotic eagerness and spontaneous loyalty with which my subjects in all parts of my dominions have come forward to share in the common defence of their Imperial interests. I am confident that I shall not look to them in vain when I exhort them to sustain and renew their exertions until they have brought this struggle for the maintenance of the Empire and the assertion of its supremacy in South Africa to a victorious conclusion. We are not interested in the possibilities of withdrawal nor defeat; they do not exist.

The brilliant courage of the colonial forces engaged in South Africa have already earned high admiration. Patriotic offers of assistance have come from many other colonies with populations of various races. Furthermore, I have also received from the ruling chiefs of Native States in India numerous offers to place their troops and the resources of their States at my disposal for service in South Africa. These proofs of the loyalty of all the peoples of the British Empire to myself and of their devotion to the cause of my Empire have afforded me much gratification.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

The experience of the shocking invasions by the Boer Republics must necessarily afford lessons of the greatest importance to the military administrations of the country. You will not, I am convinced, shrink from the duties that are required of each and every one of us to place our defensive preparations on a level with the responsibilities which the possession of so great an Empire has laid upon us. Indeed, at a dawn of a new century where the future may be uncertain, the solicitude with which you have provided for the efficiency of our Royal Navy and of our coast defences will assuredly not be relaxed.

I commend your deliberations in this anxious time to the blessing and guidance of Almighty God.

People of France,

We prepare to enter our thirtieth year of the Third Republic, the longest governmental peace our country has known since the Revolution. The Third Republic's might stretches across the globe with colonies in Africa, South America, and the Orient. Our mission to bring the French way of life marches forward with ever growing successes. While we are powerful abroad, we must be powerful at home. The ever looming threat of the Germanic hordes requires France to stand strong, and for that to happen we must have strong leadership. Power abroad can not last while Prime Minister's and their government's topple at the rate of twice a year. The Third Republic was formed from the bitter ashes of the Second French Empire. If we do not wish a Third Empire or a Fourth Republic, we must reorganize our government. We must have leaders chosen by the people, to be held accountable by the people and the Senate. This is why I am calling for a Constitutional Convention this summer. Representatives from all across France will gather here in Paris to give our government a written constitution that will let our people have a voice when they pick the men who will protect them and their families from the horrors of war. Vive la République and VIve la France!

-- President Émile Loubet

Austria-Hungary
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in a private letter to Aurel Popovici.
February 5th, 1900

It is my firm belief that the favoritism shown to the Magyars in our 1867 compromise is the root of our empire's problems now. Our nation consists of nearly a dozen ethnics groups, yet only the Germans and the Hungarians hold power. What of the Czechs and the Romanians? What of the Italians and the Serbs? Are we to be surprised when unrepresented minorities protest and consider the Compromise an insult? Is it truly ungraspapable that such an act of unfairness could lead a man - a Serb, a Romanian - to feel betrayed and uncared for? Should we be surprised when, out of anger and desperation, they rise up and commit violence for a moment of attention?

It is my full intent to address the concerns of all of our ethnic groups, not just the Germans and the Hungarians, and to make amends for my uncle's disastrous decision to sign the Compromise which has brought us so much grief. It pains me to hear of the persecution you have experienced as a result of Magyarization attempts against your people. Rest assured, that will not stand when I am Emperor; I intend to give our many ethnic groups greater autonomy. I often think of how quickly our people's many grievances would cease if they all had a fair say and their own semi-autonomous state - a confederacy under a strong central government that actually cares about their concerns, and is free of disproportionate levels of power and favoritism. The irredentism that plagues our country would disappear under such a system, and only then will we be truly united in diversity. No longer would we be divided by ethnic and nationalist tensions.

Your proposal for a 'United States of Greater Austria' is one I am in full support of; semi-autonomous states with their own language and people, equal in representation and importance. I encourage you to continue work on a more detailed draft, and to keep in touch. You have my support, and my gratitude. I will speak to my uncle, though I'm afraid our scheduled shouting-match will yield unsatisfactory results. I sometimes wonder if he lives to irritate me.

-- Your friend, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Having,
 by
 virtue
 of
 the
 glories
 of
 Our
 Ancestors,
 ascended
 the
 Throne
 of
 a
 lineal
 succession
 unbroken
 for
 ages
 eternal;
 desiring
 to
 promote
 the
 welfare
 of,
 and
 to
 give
 development 
to
 the
 benefit of my 
beloved
 subjects,
the 
very 
same
 that
 have
 been 
favored 
with 
the
 benevolent 
care 
and 
affectionate
 vigilance
 of 
Our
 Ancestors;
and
 hoping
 to
 maintain
 the
 prosperity
 of
 the
 State,
 in
 concert
 with
 my people
 and
 with
 their
 support,
 I, the Holy Emperor of Japan, descended from the Goddess Amaterasu hereby declare this new century one of growth for the glorious peoples of Japan.

It is the intent of the Empire of Japan to, through self-enlightenment, achieve greatness in modern world. And to do so, I, the Holy Emperor of Japan do declare the following Treaties to be Ratified and for the betterment of the Japanese People. We wish to magnanimously and graciously accept the benevolence of the British and German Empires.





The Glorious and Herald Emperor of Japan wishes to once more thank the Nations of Britain and Germany for their obvious commitment to the growth of the Japanese Empire as we make our way beyond our glorious strength and shall see our power become eternal.

This shall be a century of Growth. One Hundred years from now, the Empire of Japan shall stand tall. One milllenia from now, the Empire of Japan shall be a towering mountain. We will stand for eternity.

-Emperor Meiji

Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

"Several times I have personally reached out to our Brethren still in the Cape, and several times I have been rejected. One common theme goes through these rejections.

In spite of our extraordinary victories, they tell us, gentlemen, that we are weak; unable to defeat so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be more able? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and with a British guard quartered in every house? Shall we strengthen through surrender? Shall we derive the means of effectual resistance through kneeling at the feet of Victoria, hoping she shall bestow upon us our independence of the goodness of her heart?

We are weak only if we fail to make proper use of those means which God has given us. The hundreds of thousands of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such terrain as ours, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. The battle, gentlemen, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides,
we have no election; If we were weak enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. The chains of our captivity are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Natal! The war is begun--and let it come!

Do not believe, brethren, that the present power of the British is fixed and immutable like that of a god, seated upon a throne on Olympus, capable of casting a lightning bolt and ending us at a moment's notice, and by whose sufferance alone we have heretofore had our independence. They are hated, and feared and envied even by those who now seem devoted to them. One must assume that even their allies are subject to the same passions as any other men. At present, however, all these feelings are repressed and have no outlet. However, when half a million British troops have been brutishly chasing our nimble commandos across the veld for years to no avail, will the Irish stay quiet? When their spirit is broken, will the Sepoy continue to tolerate their rule? When their coffers are empty, will the Germans not act?

Twenty years ago, before we were blessed with the mines, a thousand British dead were all it took for us to convince them subjugating us was not worth the exertion. Might God convince them similarly, as I swear to Him I will sign no surrender. If these hands still move, if I can still raise my arms, I will hold a rifle."

~Louis Botha, a speech sent by letter to the Volksraad.

Empire of the Great Qing

January 31, 1900

Edict of the Qing Imperial Government

The Qing Imperial Government shall move to crush the Boxer Rebellion posthaste and restore order to the Empire. The Beiyang Army under the command of Yuan Shikai shall lead this effort, and by the end of the year, the Empire of the Militia United in Righteousness will have been purged from the Empire!

The Empire shall continue on the path of military modernization, and once the Uprising has been quelled, begin the processes of administration reform and economic modernization, including the development of new industries and institutions that will bolster the Empire’s economy and push it forward into the Modern Era!

To spearhead the modernization of the military, the Qing Imperial Government shall assign Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang Army. With the assistance of Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang Army, the Qing Imperial Government hopes to have a modern military force by the end of the decade, one rivaling those of the Japanese and Russian Empires.

Under the guidance of the Empress, the Qing Imperial Government shall lead the Empire to prosperity!

Loubet Arrives
President's State Visit to England Starts Today
--Le Figaro Headline and Strapline

French President Calls on Queen and Prince of Wales, Will Address House of Commons
-- The Times of London Headline

Members of the British Parliament,

I thank you all for your warm words and the even warmer reception I have received in your country. For a Frenchman such as myself to be welcomed with open arms is a testament that the relations between our two nations have come a long way since the days of the Hundred Years' War. For centuries English and French men have fought each other in fields as close as Hastings and Agincourt and in lands as distant as Calcutta and West Africa. Enough blood to fill the oceans has been spilled by both sides. As we move forward, our once heated rivalry has cooled to a relationship of mutual respect. We must let this relationship grow and flourish, a mighty union that will combine the powers of Old Europe together as one, united in the cause of peace and liberty.

I say Old Europe because both the United Kingdom and French Republic represent the very best of Old Europe. Old Europe must stand united against the New Europe, the growing monster in the East who would grab land both East and West to satisfy its insatiable hunger for territory and influence. The United Kingdom and French Republic must stand arm in arm against New Europe. We must work together to check their aggression with our might. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Those words are the Third Republic's motto and those are the words that must define the relationship between our two nations if we hope to keep Europe safe from those that would conquer her. Thank you.

-- President Loubet addressing the House of Commons

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, THE EMPEROR AND AUTOCRAT OF ALL THE RUSSIAS

To all those who read this message, or hear it read: Salutations!

The year 1900 brings a new era, an era in which We shall see to it that Russia asserts it place in the world through both strengthening itself internally and externally. We shall use the autocracy that He has invested in Us as a force of good. We shall make sure that the life of the common man is not one of misery, not one of suffering, not one where death is a blessing of redemption. We shall make sure that our country possesses an Army and Fleet like any self-respecting power. We shall work towards the establishment of a modern economy, drawing inspiration from Britain, France, and Germany, the big powers of Europe. The working and living conditions of the common man is something that We shall look after from now on.

On the international field, We are extremely perturbed by events in China. We are sure that the Qing court intends to put these barbarious boxers down, and we are sure that they shall succeed in their righteousness. However, seeing as the civilised countries of the world must stand together, the Russian Empire proposes creating an international army to strike these brigands down. We are willing to commit fourteen thousand of our soldiers and marines to this army, as restoring order in China will not be an easy task. However we do not expect to shoulder the white man's burden alone. We call upon Germany, France, Britain, the United States, and all other civilised countries to come to our aid in helping the Qing court to remain guiding China and prevent it from falling into anarchy.

-Nicholas II, The Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

---

The House of Commons
Select excerpts from the debate on British intervention against the Boxers
February 6th, 1900

"... I consider that the rising of the Chinese was a patriotic rising. Their territory had been seized in the most aggressive manner by foreign Powers, and it was only natural that patriotic Chinamen should make an effort to expel the foreigners. My sympathies in this matter lie with the Boxers - [Cries of booing] - and that in light of their brutal treatment of the European or the Christian, it shows that we must tread carefully..."
-- Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs

"...From all I gathered, having listened to a great many British traveller and Chinese civilian alike, I can confidently say that it is a fact that the grand majority of the Chinese people throughout that country have no sympathy whatsoever with the present rising! No ordinary Chinese would wish to associate themselves with what is seen as brutal and bloodthirsty mob. I believe that the hope of staying the rising and preserving the territorial integrity of the Qing lies in the co-operation of the Chinese Empire and this Concert of Germany, the United States, France, Russia, and any other power that would join in this international task-force. With proper conduct, I can promise the Chinese that they may rely on no attempt being made by the United Kingdom nor the other powers to seize territory in that great heart of China, and that the powers will co-operate with the Imperial Court on the friendliest of terms.

I must say that one's heart goes out to all of the Europeans and Christian Chinese alike. Being hunted by the ruthless Boxer Militia, I can only imagine the fear in which they live in. Indeed, my greatest worry is that while we debate the question of joint intervention, there may be none of them left alive..."
-- Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies and Member of Parliament for Birmingham West

"...The Chinese people look upon the Boxer movement as nothing but mere rabble, who are set on to viciously attack innocents. There are some here who hold the opinion that we ought to leave China severely alone. I daresay that this should not the view of Her Majesty's Government. I say that we must decide to grant assistance to the Chinese, but that much like the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain has suggested, we must co-operate fully with that Chinese Government. To leave the Chinese alone during this struggle would be a heinous crime..."
--Viscount Cranborne, Member of Parliament for Rochester

---

Parliamentary vote secured by landslide, Britain offers assistance to China in suppressing Boxers

- The Times of London Headline, February 21st 1900.

Regno d'Italia (Kingdom of Italy)
"Marcia Reale d'Ordinanza"

I believe that Italy should begin foreign relations with the world. This is in the hope that Italy will grow and in doing so spread its influence across the globe in the hope of connecting other great nations to the Kingdom of Italy, even if they be far from the Italian home land.
With this in mind I wish to share with the world the following treaty.



May good fortune bless Japan.
God Bless The Italian Kingdom.

- King Umberto I, il Buono, of The Italian Kingdom

The rebellion in China is a cause for concern of the people of France, especially those living abroad in French Indochina and the Shanghai French Concession. With a mindful eye towards France's Oriental interest, we accept Russia's offer to form an international fighting force that will assist the Qing Empire in putting down the rebellion. I implore the rest of the powers with Asian interest to follow suit. It is our duty to protect our people with our own arms. They need comfort that the homeland never forgets a Frenchman in need.

--Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau
French Prime Minister

The United States of America

To the Russian Tsar, let it be known that the United States has heard your call for creating an international army to protect foreign interests within the Qing Empire! While I am hesitant to commit American boys to a fully integrated force, I shall commit to send 5000 American troops and the naval assets they require to Peking and the surrounding area. They shall cooperate with any Western nation who also sends troops to the area, but there primary focus shall be to rescue foreign nationals of Western nations from the rebellion that has embroiled the region. Let it be known that any foreign national rescued shall be transported to the Philippines, where they can stay until they receive transport home from their own nation or that of a nation who shall provide them transport to their home.

To the French Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the United States of America would like to extend our thanks that you have also seen fit to support the foreign nationals who have been caught in the fire of this rebellion in China. The United States of America would also like to echo Russia's call upon Germany to provide assistance as well as call upon the Kingdom of Portugal to come to service, seeing as both of these nations have their own interests within the region.

--William McKinley
President of the United States of America

The Kingdom of Portugal

This new century ushers forth new opportunities and prosperity. However, with every opportunity comes challenges that must be met first. The Kingdom of Portugal has been suffering from weak economic conditions for several years. Therefore, I pledge to my people, a series of new economic stimulus plan that will revitalize our economy and bring food to the table for all. The plan will take several years to enact fully, but I swear to my people that in due time, Portugal will rise in prosperity.

Yet, as a nation, we can not afford to be close-minded and merely look at ourselves. We must look at the world and the issues and opportunities that it presents as well. In terms of the Boxer Rebellion, I have already ordered for a task force of a thousand men and several ships to depart to Macau and ensure the safety of Portugal's interests in the region. However, the Kingdom of Portugal will not take direct measures to combat the Boxers unless the Crown is asked upon by the Chinese government itself, or in the event of an emergency.

Finally, in regards to the conflict occurring in South Africa, the Kingdom of Portugal has decided to close the border between Portuguese East Africa and the lands of the South African Republic for concern of the conflict spilling over into Portuguese territory and as a sign of friendship to our British allies.

May God watch over our endeavors an bless us with fortune and prosperity.

-Carlos I, King of Portugal and the Algarves

Empire of the Great Qing

A Proclamation from Yuan Shikai, Commander of the Beiyang Army

On behalf of the Imperial Qing Government, I graciously accept assistance from the Great Powers in the suppression of the Boxer Uprising. I request that the Alliance Forces converge on Peking and coordinate the suppression of the Boxer Uprising. I must also request that the Allied Fleets coordinate with the Beiyang Fleet and then converge on the Huang He River where the Boxer Uprising threatens to expand southward.

It is the wishes of her Majesty and the Imperial Qing Government that the Beiyang Army spearhead this assault, and I ask that the Great Powers respect this decision, providing arms and munitions to the Beiyang Army as well as tactical analysis and support.

It is my hope that alongside the Great Powers, the Beiyang Army can suppress the Boxer Uprising by the end of this year and put itself on the path to modernization. Again, I ask the Great Powers for support in this endeavors and work alongside the Beiyang Army in its efforts to restore and maintain stability within China.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Prince Albert Edward's speech during a state visit to Portugal

Rei e amigos, pessoas de Portugal!

It is a delight to be here in your wonderful country.

I have set foot in Lisbon with the aim of not only meeting the wonderful Portuguese people, whose hospitality can not be overstated, but also with the aim of building bridges. Together we have much to celebrate: the ancient ties between our people and our shared values that make us so much more than mere partners; the ancient ties that make us firm friends and equal partners.

Since 1373 we have stood by one another's shoulders as faithful allies: together we successfully won an overwhelming victory against the invading Castillians during the Battle of Aljubarrota; together we guaranteed and protected Portugal's sacred independence in the Seven Years War; and together we battled against the seemingly invincible forces of Joseph Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, where we brought upon them a crushing defeat in the Peninsular War.

Within our alliance's many annals, however, regretfully lies times of lapses and isolation - times in which our nations where not as closely bound as they should have rightfully been. We have both experienced more than a fair share of turbulence between one another. It is indeed a painful legacy, and I have this to say: to all the people of Portugal who have suffered humiliation as a consequence of our troubled times, I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.

We realise that we have made some wrong choices, but what defines an alliance not only the friendly spirits in which we treat one another, but also the spirit of forbearance and most importantly of all, that of conciliation. I believe that although misgivings have arose, ours has still been a truly remarkable alliance; one whose bonds may be stretched but never broken. In my humble opinion, I believe it is only right to ensure that these bonds may never be strained again. It is our duty to ensure that they are only nourished from this day onwards.

Having engaged in close discussions with your esteemed King, and reflecting deeply upon the thoughts of the ordinary Portuguese civilian, I have helped to craft a treaty in which the United Kingdom, having recognised its trespasses, vows to reimburse your nation for these misdeeds. It is an agreement that shall not only allow for the mistakes of the past to be compensated for, but shall allow for the friendship and affection between the United Kingdom and Portugal to grow anew into an unbreakable bond, as deserving of such ancient allies.

Thank you, and may the Almighty God be with you all.

---

The Treaty of Lisbon

Whereas the ties between our nations have been lacking in recent years, and whereas the both His Majesty the King of Portugal and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom are desirous of revitalising the ancient ties that bound the the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Portugal together, it has hereby been agreed as follows:

Article I - The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Portugal shall reaffirm each and every one of the articles within the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373, as signed between His Majesty King Edward III and King Ferdinand and Queen Eleanor of Portugal, in that between our nations shall exist true, faithful, constant, mutual and perpetual friendships, unions, alliances, and needs of sincere affection, and as true and faithful friends we shall henceforth, reciprocally, be friends to friends and enemies to enemies, and shall assist, maintain, and uphold each other mutually, by sea and by land, against all men that may live and die.

Article II - Being fully satisfied with the alliance between the the Contracting Parties, and wishing to see Portugal as a strong ally of the British Empire, the Government of the United Kingdom shall embark upon creating stronger ties between the Royal Navy and the Marinha Portuguesa. The blueprints regarding the designs of Eclipse-Class Cruisers shall be divulged towards our ally in Portugal, and the Board of Admiralty and the Estado-Maior da Armada shall fully co-operate in hosting future military exercises.

Article III - Inspired by her sincere friendship with Portugal, Her Majesty's Government shall reimburse the Kingdom of Portugal for the loss in regards to the lands transferred to the British Central Africa Protectorate from the Portuguese East Africa in 1890 A.D. Therefore, the United Kingdom shall engage to pay to the Portuguese Government the sum of £10,000,000 per annum for a period of ten years.

Article IV - Should the Kingdom of Portugal find itself in the position of declaring bankruptcy, Her Majesty's Government declares itself willing to enter into negotiations with their Portuguese counterpart over the provision of a loan for their ally in order to rebalance the Portuguese economy.

Article V - With the purpose of strengthening mutual understanding, exchanging experiences and becoming more familiar with the public and cultural life of of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Portugal alike, both governments shall develop an active programme of cultural exchanges, and shall encourage and welcome direct links and visits between artists and performers.

[X] - Sir Hugh Guion MacDonell, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to the King of Portugal and the Algarves
[X] - His Royal Highness the Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Earl of Dublin
[X] - His Most Faithful Majesty Carlos I, King of Portugal and the Algarves