WesWorld

Ok, I think we have a consensus here.
I'm happy as part of the Customs Union plan to apply for PETA membership for all UKN colonies as separate entities so both sides can access free trade.
No ex-exporting would be allowed.

30 July
Reports from Luxembourg generally favour the idea of an economic union, but some opposition has been put forwards regarding handing over central financial control to the Netherlands.

4 August
After clarifications sought by the Volksraad in Batavia and PETA officals, a spokesman for the United Economic Planning Committee revealed today that if the Plan is voted upon and enacted in full, that the East Indies, Kongo, Ubangi-Shari and Suriname will apply for membership of PETA to enable free trade with its members and more freely access the profitable markets of Europe.

5 August
Crown Prince William in an interview published in the newspaper De Telegraaf has spoken out in favour of Customs Union and the Bill of Rights. He was quoted as saying during the interview; “We must do what is fair and just for all citizens of the United Kingdoms. Ensure their rights as free men and women without exceptions and provide a stable basis for future growth and prosperity for future generations.”

9 August
At a Volksraad meeting today, it was agreed that the displaced Moro people could inhabit two villages which will be specially built for them on Beru and Ceram with schools and medical facilities. All those who have come to DEI islands and shores will be compelled to take DEI citizenship as full citizens with full and equal rights. Those who do not wish too, will be deported and a camp on Mandul will serve as their temporary home before their deportation. No decision has been made as to where they will be deported.

Quoted from "Hood"

No decision has been made as to where they will be deported.

France says "NOT IT!"

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Quoted from "Hood"

No decision has been made as to where they will be deported.

France says "NOT IT!"

Oh? I thought the French would help out the Dutch by arranging hotel accomodations on Île du Diable.

11 August
The small storeroom held the leading conspirators.
Kolonel Ndofa ran his eyes enviously over the map stretched out over the floor before him. “Very well, we don’t have much time. Luitenant Mboya, please outline our plan.”
“Yes Sir. On the issuing of the code phrase on national radio the plan will begin at 6am the following day. The Sixth Provincial Battalion will be in Bangui for pre-arranged exercises so they can capture the barracks at Bangui and neutralise the Royal Guard Dragoon Regiment there and take control of the city power, radio and administrative facilities. Our men inside the Tank Regiment will capture the Dutch officers and soldiers and deploy their tanks in support of the Sixth. A special unit will race to the Royal Palace and keep the Crown Prince under house arrest. The airfield will be captured too by our men inside the barracks there, our pilots will fly off from there to our secret strips near Boda.
We have control of the other Provincial Battalions in Ndele, Obo and Bangassou but not those at Kaga Bandoro or Bozoum. The Third at Bangassou will move to secure the border crossing at Mobaye. The first at Ndele will have to deal with the enemy at Kaga Bandoro and the cavalry at Bria. Once the Capital is secure we must strike at Bozoum to prevent the Dutch from moving Afrikaan reinforcements in from Cameroon. With the small air force either destroyed or in our hands we should have total freedom of the air for a while, we may have to strike the northern airfields in Kongo. We should complete control the south within two days and the north within a week if we can prevent Dutch forces. The Kongolese forces will never move against us, their brothers. Indeed, they may rise up in support.”
One of officers raised his hand, “Sir, when will this happen? How much longer do we have to wait?”
Kolonel Ndofa smiled, “we wait a week or so after the rainy seasons in the north and south have ended, about the middle of October.”
Eerste-Luitenant Mboya nodded, “Good. We have time to prepare our detailed plans and lay some more arms caches. We may even have time to arm our M'baka volunteers.”

19 August
In the Celebes Sea, ships of the 2nd Carrier Division, 3rd Cruiser Division, 5th Cruiser Division, 9th Destroyer Flotilla and the 14th Destroyer Flotilla are beginning a series of naval exercises lasting for six days. Merchant traffic is requested to avoid exercise areas which have been posted in notices to mariners.
The Admiraal of the Far East Fleet, Admiraal Maarten Winters, was quoted in the Batavia Times that these exercises had been planned for some time are not connected to the formation of the German Far East Squadron.

21 August
Largely unnoticed given the movements for fleet exercises, the ships of the 2nd Battle Division, 3rd Carrier Division and the 5th Destroyer Flotilla quietly slipped out of Soerabaja during the night and in the morning the cities residents hurrying to work noted the bay was emptier than usual. Where the ships had gone no-one could guess other than perhaps the Celebes Sea...

Speaking OOC,

The situation brewing in Ubangi-Shari is most interesting, and I look forward to its development.

28 August
Kolonel Reerink had carefully read the minute from the commander of the Sixth Independent Provincial Battalion suggesting a joint exercise with his Dragoons commencing on the twentieth of October. He smiled to himself that it was a good idea, “they need training to become any good,” he muttered to himself as he signed the approval form.

Quoted from "Hood"

28 August
Kolonel Reerink had carefully read the minute from the commander of the Sixth Independent Provincial Battalion suggesting a joint exercise with his Dragoons commencing on the twentieth of October. He smiled to himself that it was a good idea, “they need training to become any good,” he muttered to himself as he signed the approval form.

<Introduce ominous musical cue here> :D

3 September
Sergeant-Majoor Bambi looked over the little strip of soaked earth.
“It will dry when the rains stop,” said the young private with him.
Bambi waved his hand; “We need another twenty metres at least. I wouldn’t fly a loaded bird into here as it is. You need to flatten those damn humps too.”
“We can try, but it’s not easy and will we have time before the start?”
“It’s not negotiable if the Leader wants his air force intact.”

4 September
Economic Union plan has been discussed in Tweede Kamer. Discussion was less heated and slowly it seems a consensus is forming, but whether the other Kingdoms will accept this offer is a political stick of dynamite given the riots and strikes and chaos the last plan caused only a few months ago.

14 September
More pro-independence rallies have been held in Sumatra. In Medan, dock workers refused to unload ships and a at least 400 people marched through the main square. Padang, Jambi and Dumar all saw small groups of protestors gathering but these were soon dispersed by police. It is rumoured a large political rally in Bengkulu, that Soekarno has apparently again breached his exile area speaking to the crowds via loudspeaker from a hidden location. Rumours circulate that Sumatran Police and Watch Units have been issued with helmets and batons and even rifles. These rumours have been denied by the Chief of Police.

15 September
In Batavia, the Volksraad begins discussions on the economic plans.
The following trends have been observed so far. Representatives from across Java are generally in favour given their experiences with TIDE and RATS which has boosted living standards and trade. Sharing the economic benefits of TIDE and RATS, the Sumatrans and Papau don't want the Javans to control the oil revenue and are eager to accept whatever Java accepts to ensure they have a place in shaping policy. Representatives from Flores and Celebes are less supportive and many Sumatran politicians given the already heated environment are against the plan. The wealthier areas of Mollucca and Perakan, especially the Chinese politicans, are very much in favour.

16 September
In the newspapers in Ubangi-Shari, the front pages lead with the noted Priest Barthélemy Boganda, a frequent outspoken critic of indigenous rights, had joined the Ubangian Economic and Social Action Party with the intention of standing for election next year.

19 September
Two torpedo boats of the 8th MAS Flotilla intercepted three small wooden craft heading towards the Ambon area. The vessels were boarded but two of the boarding party on one craft were shot and killed. With assistance of a Putten Class craft, the boat was eventually boarded and all aboard arrested. It is believed all the passengers on the three barely seaworthy craft were Moro refugees.

22 September
Customs Union vote in the Tweede Kamer.
The votes were:
For: 94
Against: 55
The Customs Union Plan will therefore go to the Eerste Kamer (Upper Chamber) for further discussion.

24 September
A vote on Bill of Rights was held today in the Tweede Kamer.
The votes were:
For: 124
Against: 25
The Bill of Rights will therefore go to the Eerste Kamer (Upper Chamber) for further discussion and approval.

29 September
The orderly could not make it out; his shipment of rifles was six boxes short. He scratched his head with his pencil. He shrugged; the rest of the order must have been delayed. The roads had been in a bad way with all the rain.
Eleven miles away, Vaandrig Jean Bokassa and two soldiers in a worn out DAF lorry were negotiating a muddy track; “We are nearly there. It’s so well hidden you can’t even see it from the road. The Dutch will never find this cache.”

5 October
At a political rally in Bangui, the leader of the Ubangian Socialist Action Party, Julius Limbani, was booed off the stage. A group of thugs waded into his entourage and although he escaped, nine of his supporters were injured. Police broke up the assembly and activists from the Ubangian Economic and Social Action Party are suspected of causing the trouble.

9 October
Johann Derer, the Prime Minister of Ubangi-Shari met with George Hendrik, the leader of the Chamber of Commerce List to discuss the increasing amount of Ubangian Economic and Social Action Party propaganda being distributed in the main towns, especially since the elections are still eight months away.

17 October
Cornelius Drax sat beside the telex machine as the operator typed the report into the typewriter-type device. He knew the report was important and it was marked for the attention for Crown Prince William. He felt sure that all of the pieces of the puzzle were pointing towards trouble, political agitation, missing ammunition and rumours of dissatisfaction among indigenous troops. His report was a warning for the Dutch government and Head Office to send more resources to his office to combat the problem before it became an issue. He even felt as though a coup could be attempted during the elections, a fear the Ubangi-Shari Prime Minister Johann Derer had dismissed the evening before.

19 October
In a packed session of the Volksraad in Batavia, the representatives have begun the first session to discuss the Bill of Rights. There were a few protestors outside, mainly independence groups who fear its approval will destroy their anti-colonial case.

28 October
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hubertus Johannes van Mook, called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet today to discuss the refugee problem. Reports from the embassy in Manila indicated that since the arrest of the Sultan of Sulu clan warfare had broken out between the hardline Suluk and the more moderate Yakan groups of the Moro in the Philippines. It was clear the Philippine government hoped to use this opportunity to advance its program of assimilation and conversion. The Suluk were either resisting and ending up being arrested or shot or were taking to the sea to reach Borneo or Sabah. Reports indicated the joint efforts of the Philippine, British and Dutch navies were making several successful interceptions. Attempts to resettle them in the new townships on Mandu would be impractical and would spread the indoctrination of fear. They would have to be deported. But where? The British would not want them in North Borneo and the Philippines were trying to drive them out and they would simply attempt another voyage. van Mook felt aggrieved that the Filipino government was playing its own power games and causing problems for its neighbours. After discussions it was decided that they would be returned to their point of origin, the Philippines.

6 November
As the discussions on the Bill of Rights continue in Batavia, the East Indies press turns nervously to events in Der Hague as the Eerste Kamer holds its vote on Bill of Rights. As the Netherland’s Upper House, the Eerste Kamer has 75 members and has the right of review and to accept or reject legislative bills.
The votes were:
For: 59
Against: 16
Therefore the Leader of the House has tabled a motion that the Bill of Rights should be enacted by the Government as a legislative act. Prime Minister Herman Loeder in a packed press conference following the vote confirmed that his government would now enact the Act and he hoped that it would become law as soon as those overseas provinces with autonomous votes had approved the legislation in their own assemblies.

11 November
A large report published by economists and academics from the University of Utrecht has caused a minor stir in financial circles today. The report concludes that there are few favourable reasons for a joint currency and several effects on PETA membership have been outlined, especially the hostility of several members and their colonies to the idea of admitting all UKN nations. It warns a joint currency would be hard to control and that inflation and interest rates may be unfavourable for some members causing serious effects for their economies.

18 November
The Belgian Technocrat Party ‘s pamphlet on the proposed Economic Plan has offered a counter-proposal to adopt the Franc over the Guilder as a common currency for Belgium. Although a fringe argument, it is one that has some currency in Walloon nationalist circles.

24 November
The German East Asia Squadron on their regional goodwill visit have departed Batavia. The heavy cruisers Graf Spee and Admiral Scheer under the leadership of Vice Admiral Langsdorff the vessels have been welcome visitors since for over a week. The Naval Staff have visited both ships and the German officers were shown round the local destroyers (especially the newer Z-90 Class) and the anti-aircraft cruiser Polder, which was visiting the port. Langsdorff and his staff were also flown to Soerabaja where they were guests aboard the new carrier Brederode. Between 19-22 November the two cruisers participated in joint exercises with the 1th Destroyer Flotilla.
Naval analysts have indicated that the Dutch, more so than the British, are especially keen to cooperate with the German East Asia Squadron as the local conditions seem to remain finely balanced and the future uncertain.

3 December
More pro-independence rallies have been held in Palembang and Bengkulu in Sumatra, though with fewer supporters and less vocal noise than previously. A hoped for “appearance” of Soekarno at a small political rally did not materialise. He has been moved by the Police to a new compound on Bangka Island.

6 December
The Volksraad today voted on the Bill of Rights.
The votes were:
For: 72
Against: 22
Abstain/ Spoiled: 6
The Speaker hurriedly left and with a fast police escort delivered the results to the Office of the Governor-General. The Governor-General, Hubertus Johannes van Mook, signed the Bill into effect at his desk this afternoon at around 4pm. The Bill will become a legal document at one minute past midnight tomorrow morning.

7 December
The Bill of Rights is now in force in the Dutch East Indies. This document establishes common rights for all peoples and faiths. It includes the right to education and use of native languages. All education will be bilingual and all Dutch native speakers will have to learn a Confederated tongue. All bureaucrats will have to demonstrate proficiency in the language of the area posted. In real terms this means little in practical terms, at least in the East Indies as these practices have long been practical policy, but for the first time they are encoded in law. Governor-General Hubertus Johannes van Mook announced today that a complete copy will remain on display in the entrance chamber of the Volksraad.

20 December
King Alexander of Orange has urged local Knogolese politicians to approve both the Economic Plan and the Bill of Rights immediately, especially in view of the current civil war in Ubangi-Shari.

29 December
In a vote today of local politicians in the Kongo, the Bill of Rights was approved and signed into law by the King (in both Kongo and Ubangi-Shari). The Customs Plan was partially backed, but the politicians want more time to discuss common currency further and explore its potential economic impacts.