WesWorld

Whether Captain Loc's death was due to Chinese bungling or to outright murder, the German Government expresses its condolences on his loss, and its concern with the most recent Chinese provocation.

The Philippine Government points to this as further proof of Chinese perfidy and duplicity. The popular press in Manila seizes upon the report to vilify the Chinese for their own ends.

I'd say the chances are unlikely, or even if they had independence they would probably have to rely on French military power to keep up an adequate defence against China.

Maybe more home-powers would suffice to keep them happy, at least to stall things another 5-10 years when the world situation might be different and the local situation especially so. I'd say the old Satsuma ideals are long dead and buried, even its founders never lived up to those expectations.

Body of Pilot Returned to Indochina - Gia Dinh Bao, Thursday, October 11, 1945
Chinese military officials surrendered the body of Indochinese officer Nguyen Loc, who was brutally murdered while in Chinese military custody. Despite assertions from Paris that Capitaine Loc's death was the result of an incompetent Chinese interrogation attempt, many critical questions remain to be answered before Hanoi so lightly dismisses this latest act of Chinese perfidy.

Destroyer L'Implacable Completed - La Provence, Monday, October 15, 1945
DCNS turned over the new fleet destroyer L'Implacable to the Marine Nationnale today in a ceremony held at the shipyards in La Rochelle. The destroyer, twelfth of the Forbin class, will undertake six months of trials and maneuvers in the Atlantic and Mediterranean before joining Force RI in Dakar next year.

Dassault Receives Contract for Jet Fighters - Paris-Soir, Tuesday, October 16, 1945
The Dassault firm received an official purchase order for an unspecified quantity of its proposed "Ouragan" jet fighters, scheduled to begin delivery sometime next year. [1]

CNIT Construction Finishes in La Défense - Wednesday, October 17, 1945
The Centre des nouvelles industries et technologies, a new convention center in the La Défense district of Paris, formally completed today. The structure will serve as one of the centerpieces of the La Défense district, currently undergoing a major construction boom.

Funeral Draws 170,000 Mourners - L'Union, Friday, October 19, 1945
The funeral of Capitaine Nguyen Loc was held today in the pilot's hometown of Hanoi. Six hundred individuals, including Capitiane Loc's family, military comrades, and select government officials were present at the funeral itself, although a hundred and seventy thousand gathered in the main streets of Hanoi to render respects as the caisson passed. Spectators described the city's mood as "sullen and angry", but the city's gendarmes patrolled in great force to prevent any outbreaks of violence.

Despite assertions by some pro-independence parties, leading Indochinese politician Doan Trung Khanh, a pro-independence member of the Autonomous Region Council (soon to reform into the Indochinese Parliament), publicly stated his belief that the incident with China as well as Capitaine Loc's death, has not particularly affected his party's chances in the Plebiscite, scheduled to begin on Sunday. Representative Khanh commented upon the fiercely nationalistic tone of the mourners in the street as indicative of the mood of the people.

Indochina Goes to Polls - Agence Havas, Sunday, October 21, 1945
Stations opened at 10:00 AM in Indochina as the autonomous region heads to the polls to voice the people's will on the issue of independence. According to election officials, approximately nineteen million voters are expected to take part in the elections, representing seventy percent of the Indochinese population.

Polls Open For Second Day, Hanoi Says - Le Figaro, Monday, October 22, 1945
Late Sunday night, with massive crowds still waiting to vote at the time the polls were scheduled to close, government officials in Hanoi decreed that the polls would stay open a second day in order to accomodate the lines. Election officials speculated that the votes may take up to one week to fully tally, and no results would be announced until the commission was satisfied that it could declare a definitive result. [2]



Notes:
- Note [1]: As discussed elsewhere, this is the reduced-performance version of the historical Ouragan, which will show up a bit later as the Ouragan II. The performance of the aircraft mentioned here is designed to be on par with the Vampire and P-80 jet fighters historically flying in late 1945.
- Note [2]: I now know the result, cause I flipped a coin.

Paris Comments on Ubangi-Shari Mutiny - La Croix, Monday, October 22, 1945
At a breakfast hosted for press members, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ducharme spoke at some length this morning regarding the developing situation in Ubangi-Shari, where a number of natively-recruited security battalions have apparently mutinied and declared an independent state. According to Ducharme "the situation is still unclear", but "represents a large-scale disturbance against the legitimate civil authority". Ducharme noted that the conflict appears to be inspired less on the principle of native self-determination and instead attributable to a "cult of personality" loyal to a senior Ubangi-Shari officer, the new self-declared "president". The French Republic expressed its support for local and Dutch authorities in suppressing the mutinies.

A number of press commentators have expressed concern regarding the security of French holdings in Africa, but Minister Ducharme stated that the government views this threat as 'low', particularly following the steps the French government took for increased security after the Rif-Atlas Revolt in Maroc eight years ago.

Minister Ducharme also spoke about the reported marginalization of Maronite Christians in Syria, attempts to improve relations with Brazil and the rest of South America, and the German economic infiltration of Central European states.

Armoured Museum at Saumer Expands - Le Figaro, Wednesday, October 24, 1945
The Armoured Cavalry Branch's museum at Saumer, noteworthy as one of the world's preminent collections of tanks and other armoured vehicles, announced today that they had secured an agreement to purchase and restore a number of historic South African and Argentine armoured vehicles. These vehicles will serve as a centerpiece of a display covering armoured warfare during the South American War ten years ago. Saumer's representatives indicated the new display area would likely open during the Carrousel next July.

Vote Counting Nearly Complete, Results Soon - Gia Dinh Bao, Friday October 26, 1945
The Indochina Plebiscite Commission announced that tallying of the votes would likely be finished this evening, with a certified result to be announced within the next few days. According to plebiscite officials, some delays occurred due to communication issues with remote and rural voting districts, particularly in the Laotian and Cambodian districts. According to rumors, pro-independence voters made a very strong showing in Cambodia.

Indochina Remains in French Union, Cambodia Declares Independence - Agence Havas, Saturday, October 27, 1945
According to results released early this morning by the Indochina Plebiscite Commission, the three Viet regions (Tonkin, Cochinchina, and Annam) as well as Laos have voted to form the Special Overseas Collectivity of Indochina, while Cambodia voted to break away from the French Union and declare their own independent state. [1]

Pro-independence groups, particularly Viet communists in Tonkin, were discouraged by the weak showing their cause made in the polls, and many blamed tensions with neighboring China for increasing anxiety in the weeks immediately preceding the Plebiscite. A number blamed Governor-General Truong Van Bao, the chief of the pro-independence Viet Tan party, for not campaigning strongly enough on his party's behalf. Conversely, pro-independence parties in Laos noted that the vote in their region was extremely close (with barely two hundred thousand popular votes difference), and indicated that they would seek independence via special referendum in the next few years.

Meanwhile, Cambodia voted strongly in favor of independence. According to plans worked out prior to the Plebiscite, Cambodia will become a monarchy, achieving their final independence sometime within the next year. The intervening months shall be spent preparing for elections to seat a government, as well as setting up the necessary organs of an independent state. [2] Until that time, Cambodia shall remain as a special protectorate of the French Union.

* * * * *

Notes:
- Note [1]: I flipped a coin and it said Indochina was going to remain in the French Union. I decided to minorly deviate from the coin-flip by setting Cambodia aside. The votes tally as follows:
------- Tonkin: 19 vs 13 (Union / Independence)
------- Cochinchina: 17 vs 15 (Union / Independence)
------- Annam: 9 vs 7 (Union / Independence)
------- Cambodia: 6 vs 8 (Union / Independence)
------- Laos: 3 vs 3 (Union / Independence)
- Note [2]: I'll be preparing a post discussing Cambodia's status in game terms. For reference, I basically intend to deal with this like I deal with Syria: effectively an NPC under the control of the French player.

In a brief statement the German Government congratulates Indochina for participating in the democratic process, and also congratulates France on its adherence to the Indochina Protocol.

In a brief statement the British Government congratulates Cambodia on their decision reached democratically and France on its adherence to the Indochina Protocol.
Quietly in Whitehall some Labour Ministers might see this as the opportunity to speed up greater political freedoms in the Empire while others worry about what democratic forces might be unleashed in the region.

The Dutch government makes a brief statement of congratulations on such a fair and democratic process while side-stepping independence issues.

Developments Regarding Independent Cambodia
All this is basically OOC. Feel free to comment.

Cambodia is achieving independence effective February 1st, 1946, although the French administration will remain in operation for a slightly longer period as it hands over duties to elected Cambodian officials. Cambodia will have a king (Norodom Suramarit) that serves as head of state, while a prime minister will assume duties as the head of government. Electing a parliament and having the king select a prime minister is going to be one of the primary projects of the new government.

Cambodia will essentially play as an NPC under my control for the rest of the game. They will petition to join the League of Nations and shall assume a non-aligned stance in regards to alliances and power blocs. For the foreseeable future, their main economic partners will be Indochina / France, Thailand, Britain (via Malaysia/Singapore), and probably India and Japan. Once independent, Cambodia will request to open embassies in the following nations: Switzerland, United States, India, China, Indochina, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, and Japan. The embassy in Switzerland shall support Cambodia's League of Nations delegate, as well as on-demand visits to all other European nations - as such, the Cambodian ambassador in residence in Geneva will present his credentials to any European head-of-state who cares to receive them.

Although it has a population of approximately 3.4 million, Cambodia's limited wealth probably will restrain it from creating any sort of sizeable and well-equipped military. At the present time, I'm proposing that they create two light infantry brigades, one motorized/mechanised infantry column of "reinforced battalion" size, and a company of parachute infantry. For the air force, they will be equipped primarily with French aircraft, focusing on counter-insurgency, air defense, and then air-ground cooperation (recon / transport / liaison) roles, in that particular order. Initial size will probably be small (under fifty aircraft).

As for naval forces... there's a single Class 0 Drydock located in Cambodia, and not much else. I had a look at making Cambodia a single-factory power (that was originally my intention), but... well, the coastline of Cambodia isn't actually that long, and even one factory is going to very quickly result in a navy that's stupidly larger than what is necessary or realistic. Therefore, I'm going to run Cambodia as a half-factory power for 1946 - with a total of 2,000 tons available to create a tidy and modern littoral and riverine patrol force - and then pay out of the French budget for anything they need after that period. No, I do not want donations, nor do I want offers to sell them old retired stuff.

The current naval plan for Cambodia appears as follows:
---- Four 160t "sea trucks", named Kampot, Ratanakiri, Ta Khmao, and Serei Saophoan, shall be built in the local drydock at a rate of one per quarter. These vessels are wooden hulled and shall serve as unarmed (or meagerly armed) coastal transports and tenders.
---- Four 160t torpedo boats of the La Combattante II class shall be ordered from France, with two boats ordered in Q3/46, and two more in Q4/46. These boats shall be named Battambang, Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, and Kampong Speu. Delivery shall likely occur sometime in 1947. These boats shall be used for coastal patrol and coastal defense.
---- Sixteen fast riverine patrol craft, of ten tons each, will be delivered from Q1 onward at a rate of four per quarter.
---- 560 tons remain unspoken-for at present. Among the ideas I have in mind are a set of very small coastal or harbour minesweepers, a port tug, or a small group of MTB-sized coastal gunboats.

The Empire of Bharat congratulates the Cambodian people on their collective decision to pursue a path of independence. Bharat looks forward to establishing full diplomatic relations and friendship with the new Cambodian state at its convenience. Should Bharat be able to assist in any way with the transitional process, Cambodia has but to ask.

The Empire of Bharat congratulates the Viet people on the exercise of their right to self-determination. Bharat acknowledges and respects the Vietnamese decision to constitute itself as a collectivity within the French state. Bharat invites the Vietnamese people to explore and pursue closer relations as they may find appropriate.

The Empire of Bharat congratulates the French Union on the completion of the Indochinese plebiscite. Bharat appreciates the French commitment to the principles of the Indochina Protocol and expresses its hope that other colonial powers will afford their own colonies a similar path to self-determination in the near future.

Cambodia to Form Parliament - Agence Havas, Monday, November 5, 1945
The Kingdom of Cambodia, scheduled to achieve independence in February of next year, will have elections on December 30th to elect the representatives for their first parliament. According to the plan, roughly half of the positions in the Chamber of Representatives, will be of two years duration, while the other half will be four years in duration; once the initial term is up, all terms will thereafter be four years long. The new Cambodian parliament will be seated for the first time on Independence Day, February 1st, and will vote to approve the proposed Cambodian constitution.

Government Admits Assistance to Dutch in Central Africa - Le Matin, Tuesday, November 6, 1945
In a press conference today at Palais d'Elysee, Foreign Minister Ducharme confirmed that the French government is providing assistance to Dutch forces trying to put down the uprising in Ubangi-Shari. Ducharme revealed that fifty-six Normandie transports of GAT II/67, based in Saint-Christol, have been engaged in transporting Dutch troops and supplies to central Africa, by means of airfields at Algiers and Niamey. According to the minister's brief, the assistance with airlift is provided to help restore a semblance of civil order to the troubled region, and the French government would evaluate in three months whether or not to extend the loan of aircraft. "French military personnel," Ducharme stated, "should not be actively engaged against coup combatants, but have nevertheless been authorized to defend themselves in the zone of operations using appropriate force." Assistance of other types, including an offer to train a cadre of Dutch parachute troops, has also been made available.

Ducharme additionally conversed at some length on security measures within French Africa, noting that despite many worries, the Ubangi-Shari Mutiny had not sparked any general anti-colonial uprising. The military did note a slight upswing in banditry activity in the Inner Niger Delta, where troops from the French Foreign Legion, operating as Groupement Scipion, are engaged with Islamicist river pirates.

Solemn Armistice Day Ceremonies - Sunday, November 11, 1945
Despite a cold front that brought freezing rain, sleet, and light snow across northern France, President Theisman and other senior French officials attended various Armistice Day ceremonies across the nation.

Ninth Issue of Voisin et Hennequin Released - L'Union, Tuesday, November 13, 1945
The ninth and final issue of popular comic Voisin et Hennequin, following two French ace aviators during a native revolt in the fictional colony of Côte Rocheuse, arrived in stores today. In this issue, the two pilots manage to rescue Voisin's girlfriend Joséphine, held as a prisoner at the mercenary airbase. While escaping, the two pilots run afoul of the chief mercenary fighter pilot, Colonel Abraham Dirksen, and their own treacherous senior officer, Capitaine Demange. In a final dogfight, Voisin shoots down Demange, while Hennequin rams Dirksen's plane to prevent him from shooting down his friend. Both Hennequin and Dirksen bail out in the desert and meet under the shade of a large rock, where they agree on a truce and share their last bit of water to survive the day before they are rescued by the Foreign Legion's camel troops.

This ninth issue ends the comic's Côte Rocheuse arc. The comic's creators have announced that an omnibus edition with all nine episodes will be published next year, and a new story arc will start reaching shelves soon afterward.

Destroyer Tartu Launched by DCNS La Rochelle - Monday, November 19, 1945
In La Rochelle, the DCNS shipyard launched the sixteenth Forbin-class destroyer, christened Tartu.

Balochistan Rocked by Earthquake - Paris-Soir, Thursday, November 29, 1945
A major earthquake rocked Balochistan yesterday and reportedly caused major damage in Mumbai and other regions of Bharat. The French government extended its condolences to the Indian poeple and indicated emergency supplies would be sent by air and sea to assist the recovery. The French frigate Sans Reproche and submarine tender Jules Verne were dispatched to the northeast Arabian Sea to help provide medical assistance as well as search and rescue.

Ramjet Test Goes Awry? - Science et Vie, Monday, December 3, 1945
According to aviation observers, the loss of a radio-controlled bomber belonging to the French Air Force may not have been the accident it first seemed. The aircraft, a retired Bloch MB.174 medium bomber, crashed on November 16th after the aircraft was struck by an unmanned Lioré et Olivier LeO-621 ramjet testbed. However, aviation observers believe the event was not an accident. The bomber lost in the event was designated by the Armee de l'Aire as a 'radio-controlled target aircraft' and was unmanned, being flown remotely by a mothership. The LeO-621 ramjet, on the other hand, is a variant of an earlier unmanned drone. This small drone is launched from the ground using a quartet of strap-on rockets, which boost the drone up to speed in order to start the main ramjet engine, which then propels the drone to a maximum altitude of six thousand meters. According to certain confidential sources, the LeO-621 is speculated to be the first French prototype of a guided aircraft interception missile, similar to those rumoured to be in service or development elsewhere in the world.

Indochina Expands Air, Ground Forces - Le Spectateur Militaire Weekly, Monday, December 10, 1945
The Indochinese Parliament voted 67-8 to approve and fund the Fourth Year Militarization Defense Proposal. This programme comprehensively addresses both the continuing evolution of the Indochinese armed forces, as well as the preparations for Cambodian independence.

Among the most immediately noted changes heralded by the bill's passage is the renaming of the Territorial Security Forces, the main ground forces branch, to become the Army of the Autonomous Republic of Indochina (ARI). As part of the transition from the Territorial Security Forces to the ARI, Indochina shall assume control of the third and final of the French Army's Colonial Infantry Divisions. A series of expansions, proposed and implemented in stages over the last two years, were similarly affirmed, setting the peacetime manpower of the ARI at 105,000 men.

Similarly, the Indochinese Air Defense Group will be substantially strengthened by the passage of the bill, effectively doubling in manpower over the coming year. The GDAI's anti-aircraft troops will be substantially increased from four battalions to nine, while the number of interceptor squadrons shall rise from four squadrons to two Groupes de Chasse. However, overall command of air forces in the Indochina region will still rest in the hands of the Armee de l'Aire, which still deploys over five times as many aircraft in the zone as the GDAI. This is due to the continuing weakness in recruiting, training, and retaining educated and skilled pilots from within Indochina itself.

Saint Louis Launches in La Rochelle - Friday, December 21, 1945
The new heavy cruiser Saint Louis was launched today in La Rochelle. This new cruiser, armed with nine 20cm main guns, should complete sometime in 1946.

Parliament Elections in Cambodia - Gia Dinh Bao, Sunday, December 30, 1945
Cambodians voted on candidates to fill the sixty seats in the planned parliament, expected to sit for the first time on February 1st of 1946. The election proceded without a hitch in most major cities, but suffered at least two major setbacks. In a number of rural sectors, sufficient ballots were not distributed to the polling centres. In at least three regions, a large number of voters were turned away from the polls since they only had identification papers from the Autonomous State of Indochina, rather than the newly-released identification papers with 'Kingdom of Cambodia' stamps. Election officials had previously declared the older Autonomous Indochina ID would be sufficient for voter identification, but it seems this decision was not communicated to all polling stations. The election officials indicated they may throw out the results in those three regions and hold another election in two weeks in order to rectify the situation.