Molotov

After hearing the most recent comments from the Italian Prime minister, In which he had the audacity to make demands of "withheld" aid from Germany, for not supporting Italy's illegal wars in Spain, the German government has decided to remove the Kingdom of Italy from the Triple alliance.

Over the past few years, Italy has proven itself incapable of conducting rational foreign policy, and has treated its would be allies, Germany & Austria, poorly.
First came veiled threats towards Germany. Speaking of an expanding Latin monetary Union, which "most of Europe was joining" Italy sought to manipulate Germany into joining by threatining economic isolation for the industrial power if it did not enter into the LMU. The German government, scoffed at this. And simply contacted other European powers that had "signed", finding that they had in fact not signed.

Following that deception, Italy then persuaded Austria-Hungary to give up territory near Istria, in a one sided deal. Then continued to offer ill advice to Austria regarding arctic expeditions which resulted in humiliation for the Austrian Government.

Finally, Italy launched an illegal, unprovoked war on Spain, seeking to usurp its monarch, of which neither of Italy's 'allies' had absolutely no knowledge of.


Now the Italian government demands aid, as support, for an illegal war which all the great powers, including Germany and Austria condemned? Not to mention, the triple alliance, being of a defensive nature, did not obligate aid from Germany, or Austria.

The next time an Italian diplomat enters onto the floor of the Reichstag, he will be laughed out for such amateur displays of foreign policy by his government.

Italy will receive no such imagined 'withheld aid' from Germany. Nor will it receive the military, or diplomatic protection from Germany against foreign powers.

-Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, Chancellor of Germany.

((Just gotta chime in though - Tardis stuck his nose into the Arctic and Antarctic on his own. Out of character comments made by me in IRC can hardly be used fairly in an IC rebuke. Also just incidentally, I'm pretty sure the Treaty doesn't make provision for expelling signatories - it's still a binding document. You'd probably have to both declare it void together, and sign your own thing. Or just not renew it. Or ignore it. Whatever works.))

Huojin wrote:((Just gotta chime in though - Tardis stuck his nose into the Arctic and Antarctic on his own. Out of character comments made by me in IRC can hardly be used fairly in an IC rebuke. Also just incidentally, I'm pretty sure the Treaty doesn't make provision for expelling signatories - it's still a binding document. You'd probably have to both declare it void together, and sign your own thing. Or just not renew it. Or ignore it. Whatever works.))

((Italy clearly wants out, regardless, so a void is welcome. If he refuses, I'll ignore the pact as has been done by the Italian government sense the games start. Either way Germany is warranted in displaying distrust, and opposition to the Italians at this point.))

scorpion wrote:

Huojin wrote:((Just gotta chime in though - Tardis stuck his nose into the Arctic and Antarctic on his own. Out of character comments made by me in IRC can hardly be used fairly in an IC rebuke. Also just incidentally, I'm pretty sure the Treaty doesn't make provision for expelling signatories - it's still a binding document. You'd probably have to both declare it void together, and sign your own thing. Or just not renew it. Or ignore it. Whatever works.))

((Italy clearly wants out, regardless, so a void is welcome. If he refuses, I'll ignore the pact as has been done by the Italian government sense the games start. Either way Germany is warranted in displaying distrust, and opposition to the Italians at this point.))

((I'll work something properly for you later, but Italy is demanding to be made whole based on previous terms discussed, not seeking to terminate the treaty. Germany is of course free to act as it will.))

The Italian government already recognizes that the German representative does not fully understand the Triple Alliance, and would request they not make a display of it by attempting to "remove" Italy. If Germany is awkwardly attempting to declare it's intent to not uphold it's end of the alliance, then that is in full agreement with our claims.

Germany's dealings with the since relieved prior Italian representative were a matter of discussion that was opened by the German ambassador, in a dialogue begun on Germany's initiative. A short version of that discussion follows;

Germany: "Putting the events in Spain in the past. Germany would like to offer Italy economic aid, should it be willing to re-affirm its loyalty to the triple alliance, and from now on be transperent(sic) in its foreign ambitions, so that Germany and Austria can be better prepared to support such ambitions, rather than be blindsided and put in the worlds spotlight."

Italy: "If Germany is interested in the continuation of the Triple Alliance, Italy intends to honor it unconditionally henceforth and we can consider this matter settled. If Germany instead wishes to negotiate conditions whereupon it will adhere to said alliance in the future, Italy merely requires the clear and concise statement of such in no uncertain terms."

It took several months to coax such a statement, this statement, from Germany, and as already stated we are uncertain that Germany understands that it cannot simply expel Italy while blaming them for every poor bit of business they've engaged in. If the German feels his demands have not been met, if they have changed, or if he simply feels he no longer can honor his proposal, I'd ask him again to clearly and concisely state such, in no uncertain terms, here or in private as most functional alliances operate.

The Reichstag is not likely to receive an Italian diplomat in the near future, but Italy will dutifully continue to receive the German's missives with pensive apprehension of more nonsense of this sort.

The aid my government had offered was an olive branch, put forth to secure peace in Europe, by way of transparent ambitions amongst allies. This was mainly when Europe was concerned in such ambitions.

The former government, which your representative understandably had no part in, deliberately put peace in Europe at Risk without so much as mentioning a thing to members of our alliance. This alone could have dragged Germany & Austria into a war with France down the road, as a Spain subservient to Italy would be a huge threat to the French. However, in the present, this trend seems to be continuing with Italian operations in Greece, and Crete. The Italian ambassador made no mention of intentions to send forces to Greece, or Crete to his 'allies', nor to Europe on the world stage when the Crisis in Crete first began. To us, this seems like opportunism, taken advantage of by the Italian government after the campaign in Spain failed. If Italy's intent is to hold captured territory in Greece, then it again has put other members of the pact at risk without mention, thus again jeopardizing peace in Europe between the great powers. Such seems the case because Italy neglects to announce its intentions anywhere, and remain opaque in its actions.

Regardless of Italy's views on the matter, and the conditions of transparency which our offered aid depended on, Germany will not be supporting Italy. Italy's aims are too far divorced from those of Germany, & Austria-Hungary. Therefore if the pact between our countries is not voided, Germany will not adhere to the terms of it. And when it comes time to renew the pact, it will not be renewed by the German Empire.

Perhaps if Germany would simply be more forthcoming with the capricious demands they insist on placing upon this alliance, rather than waiting until a war breaks out so very near Italian borders and so very far from German interests to handily excuse their long silence on the issue, perhaps then the German representative would be speaking to something of substance.

The German representative is free to make any further excuse or demand he deems necessary to justify his dereliction. Italy does not see any cause to retract the previous statements, cannot bear to tease out whatever game the German thinks he's playing at by 'expelling' Alliance members, and remains hopeful for clearer and less absurd discussion.