View from Benacia/Issue 36: To Treat or Not To Treat...
This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2004/11/issue-36-to-treat-or-not-to-treat.html at 11/30/04.
...that, apparently, is the question. For the Landsraad, anyway.
The Duke of Kildare recently proposed two treaties in the Landsraad, one for each side of the Cyberian conflict. The treaty with the RCC is on the whole very simple:
"FIRST, that each recognize the other as a sovereign and independent country, possessed of all the rights entailed thereby
SECOND, that each recognize the other as the sole legitimate owner of all territory, both physical and imaginary, which they claim
THIRD, that both countries commit to resolve all mutual disputes peacefully, using a neutral third partied agreed to by both should this prove impossible by normal channels
FOURTH, that both countries shall remain open and accessible to tourists and other visitors from one another, barring national emergencies or other such security issues
FIFTH, that proper channels of communication shall be opened between them, so as to facilitate dialogue and future cooperation"
The treaty with the VCC is quite a bit longer:
"Article 1
The Virtual Commonwealth of Cyberia and the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, by mutual consent and without coercion, enter into this treaty.
Article 2 Each party recognises the sovereignty, virtual territory, and the legitimacy of the rulers and government of the other.
Article 3 Each party agrees to enter into peaceful relations with one another and refrain from any hostile action, either overt or covert.
Article 4 Each party agrees to share intelligence regarding hostile actions of a third party against either of the nations.
Article 5 Each party agrees to allow an embassy of the opposite to be opened on their website.
Article 6 Each party will support the other in gaining admission to micronational organisations.
Article 7 Each party shall post this treaty on their national websites.
Article 8 This treaty shall be the basis of diplomatic relations between the parties and may be amended with the consent of both parties.
Article 9 Any deliberate breach of this treaty shall render it invalid."
Although voting has already begun on these treaties, it also seems that certain non-nobles also have strong opinions about the treaties. In particular, MiniEx Scott Alexander, the Minister whose foreign-affairs juridiction these treaties fall into, has advised the Landsraad on how to vote with respect to the treaties. He noted,
"I wish that the Cyberia (ed. note - VCC) treaty had been postponed until we finished negotiations with them... but since it's been put up there now, I suggest you vote YEA. Cyberia is one of the ABC powers... and recognizing them would complete our recognition of the trio and allow us a lot more leeway if anyone were ever to get around to proposing us joining Raspur."
He added that although he also wished that the RCC treaty had been postponed,
"I suggest you vote NAY. Ciberia has yet to establish that it exists in any way beyond just being Jacobus, it has longstanding conflicts with various other countries that we do recognize, and is almost certainly violating Cyberia's intellectual property." At least one person in the Landsraad, however, is certain to defy these suggestions - Jacobus himself. Since the abdication and emigration of Radishar David from Lac Glacei, Jacobus is now Radishar (Baron) in his own right, and as such has four votes in the Landsraad. How his votes will affect the passing of these treaties is not clear.
Locke Returns Triumphantly! ...or not.
But, Philip Locke actually DID stop in today for a very brief while, much to the shock of everyone involved. In an even more shocking revelation, it was quickly realized that the Duke of Hyperborea had not managed to offend anybody (unless maybe they didn't like his cursing... but who cares, fuck 'em :P). However, it was mostly only to inform his fellow Shirerot-ians... ahem. I mean, Shirerithians... that
"1. I forfeit all titles and positions that I currently hold in Shireroth. However, I retain my citizenship, even though I haven't been filling out census surveys or whatever. Fuck 'em, I'm still here. But not really, but really I am.
2. Eoin is now officially the Duke of Hyperborea. If he's not still here, it's going back to Scott. If he's not here...uh...Jason? Figure it out.
3. I need to get into contact with Scott ASAP. Does he still use AIM (GSquid314)? If not, please supply me with an e-mail addy or summat.
4. I'll (prolly) be back again. Someday. Until then, long live progress and liberalism, yadda yadda yadda & so on and so forth."
One can only wonder what the future will hold when that day comes. *Stares into the sunset, as if trying to pierce the veil of time with his eyes*
Baron Von Scot Returns... er... Sickly! The long-absent Austi Scot appears to have put in an appearance today, being picked up by a local Australopithecus in the Kildari wastelands. Odd.
However, the former Baron of Hallucination, upon being taken to his old holdings, apparently was at death's door from his ordeal. Nooooooo, not another one!
