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Kingmaker -> RE: 1792 No frills PBEM (8/6/2009 8:42:58 PM)
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From, the Earl of Evenwood; 1st Minister & Foreign Secretary to his Majesty King George III.
To, the Heads of state on the Mainland of Europe: with particular reference to those of Austria, Russia & Sweden.
It is with considerable regret that I have to advise you that following earnest negotiations on our part with the Government of Poland, their intractable stance against equal opportunities for English Merchants to trade with their Polish counterparts has demanded a response from his Majesties Government, to wit, a Declaration of War has been issued against Poland.
I would advise all concerned that as of the present moment neither myself nor the Privy Council see any need for English Troops to be dispatched to that area of the Baltic, I am however sending two small fleets to initiate Blockades of the Polish ports of Riga & Kovno in the hope that a minor show of force at this time may lead the Government of Poland to reconsider its position and grant Englands Merchant equal access to Polish goods.
Whilst on the subject of open access for trade etc His Majesties Government has for some time now been in receipt, from various sources, of Intelligence from the Continent with regard to French intentions of, amongst other matters, excluding England from the Mediterranean region.
Further conclusive information was but recently received from the Master of the ‘Hull Jade’, formally trading in the Black Sea between the ports of Constantinople & Odessa, that gave overwhelming support to previously obtained Intelligence and which when added to reports of French & Spanish Fleets massed in a gesture of Intimidation in the Alborian Sea gave their Lords of the Admiralty sufficient concern to suggest that War with France was inevitable and the only recourse left open to this nation; however, that full & open Declarations of War are seen by the Court at Versailles as, and I quote, “unprovoked surprise attacks!” is viewed somewhat askance here, but given previous French verbiage and complete inability to understand even the most simple of requests perhaps should not be so surprising.
With regard to that point, repeated French claims that “No response was received” would seem to indicate a wilful disregard of accepted means of communications between Nations, His Majesty in his first communiqué to Louis Bourbon made the point very politely that affairs of State were to be addressed to myself as his duly appointed 1st Minister & Foreign Secretary, I yet again quote from his missive;
Sir, I fear I am unable to answer your questions with regard to English Foreign policy as that is the business of my Ministers. ... The newly appointed 1st Minister is the Earl of Evenwood and you should therefore address any such enquiries to him; ...
While it is readily accepted amongst the Kings Privy Councillors that Louis Bourbon may not have the intellectual acumen to understand plain English it is nevertheless felt that some effort should be made by the Court at Versailles to obtain the services of someone who can, and thus dispense with wasted Communiqués.
On another matter, the somewhat hysterical allegations emanating from France with regard to, Britain's barbarity, and suggesting a comparison with, the barbarians who sacked Rome—, was received at Court with a fair measure of incredulity, this from a Nation who’s self styled ‘Sun King’ ordered the “Rape of the Palatinate” just over a 100 years past is rather akin to ‘the Pot calling the Kettle Black’ and does seem to place French rhetoric in that most puerile of Hypocrisies “A vested interest posing as a moral principle”.
While I feel that it may well be a waste of time I will here make Englands position with regard to the Continent quite clear to the French Court.
France will not impede English rights of entry to the Mediterranean.
As France has no just cause she will immediately cease meddling in the affairs of the German Principalities, German internal affairs are not an area for French involvement.
France will be allowed to come to whatever arrangement for the division of Italy is deemed fitting by Austria & Spain as long as it does not impinge on English Trading interests in the Peninsular.
With Regard to Frances enquiry about any English interest in securing Picardy, Normandy, and Brittany suffice to say Picardy was never considered English Crown lands, Normandy & Brittany are.
I remain your obedient Servant.
Evenwood.
1st Minister & Foreign Secretary to King George III
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