View from Benacia/Issue 108: Secret Document Sparks Outrage at Republic of Antica

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/12/issue-108-secret-document-sparks.html at 12/09/05.

The editorial staff of the View has recently become of aware of developing events in the fora of the Republic of Antica that could dramatically change the relationship between Shireroth and the Republic.

As our readers are aware, Shireroth annexed the Republic's counterpart, the Dinarchy of Antica, last week by the Treaty of Aquilaria. Despite the undoubtable legality of this arrangement, made as it was between two sovereign powers, there were a number of protests that arose because of the annexation, some of the most vocal coming from the Republic, which has since its founding been considered close to Shireroth.

Elements in the Republic referred to the Treaty's gift of Kaikias province, so as not to deprive the Republic of all stake in the Dinarchy's territory, as "a bone to a dog to prevent him from digging up the garden", and "the biggest insult ever". (See the threads over the land issue here and here.) Eventually, however Shirerithian and Antican leaders gathered in a forum to discuss a suitable land settlement for the Republic that would also protect Shireroth's interests. It was assumed by all that the matter could be peaceably resolved, as is befitting of powers with such good relations.

But earlier today, it was announced that some among the leadership of the Republic may not have had such good intentions. Shirerithian citizen-admin Scott Alexander revealed in the Republican fora that Shirerithian intelligence had discovered the existence of a draft document, the "Declaration of Nafticon", and that "your Speaker, Steven, has been promoting this to various countries including Attera, Gotzborg, Stormark, and the Grand Commonwealth."

The text of the document reads thus:

Whereas we have observed with alarm the growth of Shirerithian power over the proceeding year; And whereas the Imperial Republic of Shireroth has annexed by treaty the government of the Dinarchy of Antica, which some recognize as no government at all, Let it be known that the undersigned nations proclaim the following:

1. That the aforementioned treaty, the Treaty of Aquilaria, is unacceptable to the parties of this declaration and furthermore to the micronational community at large. 2. We therefore request the repeal of the aforesaid treaty by the appropriate organs of state within Shireroth. 3. We furthermore let it known that the terms of the aforementioned treaty are held to be illegal by the respective signatories, and will not be respected if kept in place. 4. The signatories declare that as the sole surviving government of Antica, the Antican Republic be granted full rights to all Antican land on the MCS. 5. We furthermore declare that no future annexations by the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, or any successor state, shall be judged as lawful by the body of nations. 6. It is furthermore stated that the claim of the Grand Commonwealth to Lac Glacei is supported by the signatory nations. 7. In return for its support, the government of the Republic of Antica pledges to grant Attera the territory of New Brannum upon the return of Antican lands to the aforesaid government. 8. We, the signatory nations, pledge our support to the terms of this declaration through whatever means may become necessary. Aside from its denial specifically of the right of Shireroth and the Dinarchy to conclude treaties between each other, it highlights a very disturbing position on the sovereign right of micronations to conduct their own affairs, and an equally disturbing position on who is qualified to make such judgements about those rights.

Judging from the responses being heard in the Antican fora and from the Republic's main news source, the creation of the document was not public knowledge in that country. More disturbingly, if the Foreign Policy Act (recently tabled in light of the controversy), also a project initiated by Speaker Steven, had managed to pass the Antican legislature, it would have allowed the Declaration, as a foreign policy matter, to be signed without legislative approval.

BREAKING NEWS: Kaiseress Semisa has just announced the receipt of a statement from Graius, a representative of the government of Attera, concerning the Declaration of Nafticon:

"On behalf of the Solomonic Empire of Attera, the Mesinafaat Bet denounces the treaty of Nafticon and acknowledges that whilst it was proposed by the Solomonic Empire of Attera and discussed among other nations, it was decided ultimately to be counter-productive, and was abandoned. The copy that you received was a copy that had not been amended correctly and thus appeared more belligerent than we had ever wished. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused."

It remains unclear, as we go to press, how far the other nations mentioned were involved in the creation of the document, and how far they might have gone toward approving (or disapproving of) it. '