Negotiations between Eluvatar and Annabe

[Eluvatar]

Presiding Steward Beregond ArFinn sat in his office examining figures on prices, trade, and all of those wonderful details. Examining the figures he noticed a lack of Oil, of Uranium, of Lumber,and perhaps of Wheat. Looking a the map, he smiled to see that the small southern neighboring nation of Annabe had all these commodities. He turned to his secretary standing to the left and said "Call a cabinet meeting tonight, subject-- Annabe."

That Night:

In the Oblong Office, the chief Stewards sat in meeting. Presiding Steward Beregond ArFinn began the discussion. "I believe it is necessary for us to open trade relations with Annabe. Elendili, do they have any outstanding treaties?"

Steward of State Ælar Elendili replied, "No, they have no treaties. We believe they may be amenable.."

Beregond interrupted, "Menelmacar, how many fleets do we have in the southeast?"

Steward of the Eluvataran Royal Navy, Mattir Menelmacar responded ponderously, "I believe the 5th, 8th, 9th, and 17th are there and deployable."

Beregond continued, "What about the Army, ArBenn?"

Steward of the Eluvataran Royal Army, Faragund ArBenn replied, "The First and Fifth Armies are available, should they be ordered south of mountains? What are you planning here ArFinn?"

Beregond ArFinn smiled, and said, "It is quite simple. The best way to get what you want in diplomacy is to speak softly and carry a big stick. Elendili here will go south to speak softly with Annabe, while the Army and Navy will be the stick. You are to move forces close, but not provocatively close, to Annabe. Just to show them how large and extensive Eluvataran might is. Just to say, wouldn't it be nice if this might was for, and not against us." He paused, "Elendili, I'd like your bureau to write up a draft free trade and mutual defense agreement, be ready to fly to Annabe by tomorrow."

"Of Course." replied Steward Elendili, rubbing his hands.


As the Fleets and Armies moved south, approaching Annabe, a request for a diplomatic meeting came from Eluvatar.

To the Government of Annabe,

Our two neighboring countries have much to gain from one another, I am sure. I'd love to have a meeting on trade and security issues in Williamsburg.

I, Steward of State Ælar Elendili do declare this official correspondence of the Royal Confederacy of Eluvatar by the authority vested in my by the Presiding Steward by the authority granted him in the Absence of the King, soon may he return.

[Annabe]

That night a page, Phillip Pearson, came to Annaban Prime Minister Dexter Kennedy with a telegram.

"Mr. Prime Minister - a telegram has arrived from Eluvatar" said Pearson
"Yes, well what is it?" replied Kennedy, a short and rather large man with a walrus moustache
"Its from a stewerd called Ælar Elendili" said the page
"Well hand me a copy"

The prime minister was handed a copy. He read it over and seemed pleased.

"Finally a formal request for some trade."

Before that telegram Annabe had existed as a small nation on the international scale, and it was now finally being recognized for its rich mineral wealth. The nation was not small within its own sense, however, for it had a population of 62 million and growing.

"I think that we ought to follow up Mr. Elendili's telegram with a response. But first send a telegram to the appropriate people getting them set up for a meeting in Williamsburg."

When all was said and done this was the telegram that was sent to steward Elendili:

Dear steward Elendili,
The prime minister would like to follow up your message with a meeting, like you requested. We agree that it would be in both our best interests if we had this trade going - as it would be a rather symbiotic relationship, if you will. We shall discuss specifics at this meeting, but as for your request for uranium, we can already say that we have already received a request for uranium trade with another country that we shall not name at this time, but that does not mean that it cannot happen.

As for a date for this meeting, the prime minister has said that tomorrow would be a fine date for it.

Best regards,
Phillip Pearson, page to the Prime Minister

[Eluvatar]

As the massive fleets moved offshore, a large jet plane flew out of Romenna, flying south. As it approached Williamsburg, it sent out a request for landing, indicating it had Steward of State Ælar Elendili on board...

[Annabe]

Prime Minister Kennedy alerted the plane to land at the government airfield, not the Williamsburg airport, so the Prime Minister could greet the Steward of State in person.

[Eluvatar]

The plane landed at the government airfield, with its aqua and purple wings shining in the bright sun. As the plane coasted to a halt and a ramp was rolled up to the exit, the Steward emerged, smiling at the Prime Minister before him. "Hello Prime Minister Kennedy, it's great to see you here. Isn't the weather wonderful?"

[Annabe]

The prime minister, a casual and informal man who disliked the stuffiness and hotness of the office, preferred to dress more lightly when the situation allowed, as he was now, and was wearing only bermuda shorts and a t-shirt.

"Yes it is" he relied "I love these southern summers. Now down to business. I have a meeting set up at the parliment house, so we should get over there while the day is still young." The two got into the government limousine and made their way to the meeting room at parliment.

"We'll be meeting with our defense minister Nate Armstrong, our environment minister Oliver Taylor, our foreign affiars minister Henry Pierce, our interior minister Byron Schmidt, and some people from the oil, uranium, forestry and agriculture industries."

[Eluvatar]

"That's wonderful."

At the meeting:

"Gentlemen, I have this proposal that I believe would be in the best interests of both our nations to sign."

A Free Trade and Mutual Defense Agreement between the Royal Confederacy of Eluvatar and The Confederacy of Annabe

Article I.

The Royal Confederacy of Eluvatar and dependencies and the Confederacy of Annabe and dependencies are defined to be the parties to this agreement.

Article II.

The parties agree to allow trade between them in any items not illegal in either, with no tarriffs duties or other restrictions.

Article III.

The parties agree to treat an attack on one as an attack on all, and pledge their assistance in such a case.

Article IV.

The parties may not enter into any other agreement without notifying the other party.

Article V.

Either party must give 2 weeks notice before withdrawing from this agreement.

"What are your opinions?"

[Annabe]

The foreign affairs minister Henry Pierce sat back looking pensive for a few moments before saying:

"Mr. Elendili, your nation is much, much larger than ours, so I feel like people in the industries may find it more economical to trade with people from your country rather than our own, as your currency is more valueable. I think that it would be good for our economy, but I feel that if suddenly our economy was suddenly switched from almost completely closed to having a huge trade route opened up with your country, that would be a potentially devestating situation for the local economy, with such a dramatic change in the economy. I think that if our country phased in trade with your country over a period of time rather than introduce it all at once it would allow domestic business to adjust, rather than self-destruct, but I do think that after that phasing in finished that your proposal is a good one."

The environment minister Oliver Taylor added "I think also that if we had this market thrown at us all at once that would be an incentive for industry to go ahead and ruin the land"

Just then the chairman of Conch Oil, Mary Paul said "I think your ideas are far left nutjobbery, if I might say so without offense intended. I also think that you have an anti-business angle that is skewing this debate. We are already have excess capacity in the oil industry, and have been waiting for something like this to happen for decades now."

The prime minister then said "Mr. Elendili? What are your thoughts?"

[Eluvatar]

"Well a phasing in period for some forms of trade may be added, but what my government is adamant on is that we have access to your Oil, Lumber, and Uranium markets at the first opportunity. I understand the fears of ecological damage with growth, and would love to send some literature on the way the early Eluvataran forestry industry worked, before the deregulation of the 80s." said Elendili "Looking at the actual economics involved, it seems to me that what would immediately happen, due to the greater worth of the Romennan Dukat and the large demand for certain Annabean goods in Eluvatar, is that the production of those goods would become vastly more profitable in Annabe. I think that would bring great benefits to your economy, as well as ours."

"In any case, are you certain of your desire for a phase-in period? Any specifics?" he gestured toward Article II questioningly.

[Annabe]

Pierce responded with "In response to your earlier statement, we're not saying that it will be bad for the economy, but that it will destroy our traditional economy, but if it was phased in then people would have time to get used to it, so our economy wouldn't have to go through an awkward shift."

"I think that Henry's comments are true. I say that we have a 5 year phasing period, where every month a set maximum trade limit will be raised, until at the end of 5 years the trade limit will be lifted." said the Prime Minister.

The industry representatives agreed with the Prime Ministers notion, the exception being Ms. Paul, who remained staunchly opposed to the Annabean concensus.

"I say that we vote on it" she said.

"Now hold on and lets hear the opinion from the Eluvatarian side" said the Interior minister Byron Schmidt.

[Eluvatar]

"Well the delayed option is like this:"

A Free Trade and Mutual Defense Agreement between the Royal Confederacy of Eluvatar and The Confederacy of Annabe

Article I.

The Royal Confederacy of Eluvatar and dependencies and the Confederacy of Annabe and dependencies are defined to be the parties to this agreement.

Article II.

1. The parties agree to move to a state where they allow trade between them in any items not illegal in either, with no tariffs duties or other restrictions over the course of the next 5 years /* OOC: 5 OOC weeks */.
2. All items legal in both parties immediately become legal to trade between the parties, with tariffs no higher than 40%.
3. No tariff higher than 10% may be imposed on Oil or Oil products.
4. After or during each year the tariffs on all goods must decrease in percentage by 10.

Article III.

The parties agree to treat an attack on one as an attack on all, and pledge their assistance in such a case.

Article IV.

The parties may not enter into any other agreement without notifying the other party.

Article V.

Either party must give 2 weeks notice before withdrawing from this agreement.

"This is version is yet acceptable to my government, and I believe it is entirely up to you which agreement to chose."

[Annabe]

After passing the revised proposal around to read, the prime minister said "Well I think that we can take a vote on that"

After the Annabean vote was done the votes were counted and the proposal passed 8-1.

"Well I'll bring this to Parliament to have a final vote on, but I think it looks good. I'll inform your people on whether it passed or not. Is there anything else you'd like to say, Mr. Elendili?"

[Eluvatar]

"Well I'll stay here a while as it gets reported to the Halls of the Stewards. They have to approve it as well. Are there any sights I should see while here?"

<insert sight-seeing here >


In the Hall of the Non, the proposal passed 194 to 62, in the Hall of the Dunedain 23 to 3, 1 abstaining (all three nays came from Ilium province Dunedains, led by Peté Tar-Ilium).

[Annabe]

"You could always check out the Sakooey River in Lower Fort James Territory. I would recommend staying in Linus, or possibly Dennison... beautiful country down there!"


In the Annabean paliament the motion was passed 128-77, immediatley enacting [sp?] the motion.

[Bustos]

OOC:  Treaty Forum?