Kalistan

[Doc]

Lord Samuel Trelawny III Discusses Imperial-Commonwealth Relations
"Her Imperial Majesty Greets Empress Katherine," said Lord Trelawny
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 8, 5593


Lord Samuel Trelawny III, Her Imperial Majesty's Ambassador to Luthori answers Questions in at Kaliburg International

Lord Samuel Trelawny III, Her Imperial Majesty's Ambassador to Luthori, is back in Kaliburg this week on a vacation from his duties in Ft. William.  He was greeted at the airport by several reporters who asked him several questions.  He commented on the accession of Empress Katherine I of Luthori, as well as commonwealth matters.  Below is the brief interview.

R(eporter):  Lord Trelawny, it has been a while since you've returned to Kalistan.  How are things going in Ft. William.

(Lord) S(amuel) T(relawny III):  Things in Luthori are as normal as can be expected, which pleases Her Imperial Majesty greatly.  We have really settled into our work and have even re-opened regular trade between our two countries.  Considering where we were a few short years ago, The Empress couldn't be more pleased.

R:  There have been rumors about an upcoming visit between the two Empresses.  Is there any substance to these?

ST:  I expressed Her Imperial Majesty's invitation to the previous Luthorian Empress, Audrey, that Her Imperial Majesty wished to invite her to visit Kaliburg.  And there was the start of the machinery to get something like that together.  Lots of moving parts, you know when you have one Empress going to visit another one, especially ones with as long a history as these two have had, not all of which has been positive, regrettably.  Unfortunately, those negotiations have been shelved for the time being, though I imagine that once the new Empress gets settled in, and the mood is correct, Her Imperial Majesty will likely want to restart those talks.  It might be a great time for a fresh start.

R:  Did you attend the Coronation?

ST:  Of course I did.  Her Imperial Majesty greets Empress Katherine and congratulates her on the event of her Coronation.  But yes, I attended the coronation as a representative of Her Imperial Majesty.  Think of how rude that would have been for me to be in the country, and not be on hand to welcome the new Empress.  I think not attending would send the wrong message, and so of course I, and the Consular General also attended, and we were accompanied by two delightful Luthorian ladies who I hope also had a good time.

R:  Lord Trelawny, how is your social calendar?

ST:  In Ft. William?  Non existent, I am afraid.  Though I will say this for the Luthorians.  I love the accent, and it is always a delight to speak with them, about anything.  So I do try to get out and about in Ft. William when I get the chance.  You'd be surprised:  they have a fairly decent music scene, and I wish they had a publication dedicated to music like we do in Kalistan.  It would help me learn about new bands in the country.

R:  Are you seeing anyone socially in Ft. William.

ST:  No one in particular, no.  I don't really have the time to put into a relationship.

R:  Returning to Kalistani-Commonwealth relations for a moment, Lord Trelawny...

ST:  Yes, please...

R:  It was recently reported in the Mordusian Papers that Lodamun has opted to not renew its basing options in Mordusia.  Would you care to make a comment?

ST:  Well, the subject was discussed in Ft. William.  They told me that they don't speak for Mordusia, or Likatonia for that matter, and that if there is some issue between the Empire and those two nations, we ought to dispatch an Ambassador to those nations and talk to them.

R:  Is there a problem between the Empire and Mordusia?

ST:  Nothing that I have been made aware of.  When Her Imperial Majesty went to Mordusia to try to help Lodamun out, on a personal level, the visit went a long way of improving Mordusia's image for Her Imperial Majesty.  They were polite, they were accommodating for the Royal Family, and etc.  Politically, however, the negotiations backfired from Kalistan's perspective, as it really just felt that Mordusia was punishing Lodamun for choosing Kaliburg over Ft. William.  Mordusia thought that Lodamun should be part of the Luthorian Empire, so, they punished them.  It's not really a surprise from Kalistan's perspective why Lodamun didn't opt to renew basing.  The seeds for the recent decision were planted when Mordusia made the choices they made, so Lodamun went elsewhere to get what they needed, and Kaliburg fully supported that decision.  That's not an issue between Kalistan and Mordusia:  that's more between Mordusia and itself.

R:  So will Her Imperial Majesty send an ambassador to Mordusia?

ST:  Not a separate one, no.

R:  How do you mean 'separate'?

ST:  I mean, I am it.  I am the Ambassador from the Anantonese Empire to the Luthorian Empire, not simply to the Luthorian State in Artania.  However they want to see their relationship to one another, what matters to me is that Kaliburg views the relationship between Ft. William and Randworth the same way it sees Kaliburg's relationship with Sulari, as a constituent part of the same country.  Just because one part of that country is on the other side of the planet from the Capitol doesn't make it any less intrinsic.  Mordusia has spent years representing itself as almost more Luthorian than Luthori.  This is the image it promoted for itself internationally, so why would Her Imperial Majesty send an separate ambassador to Randworth to speak to the Queen there when it can send one to Ft. William speak to the Sovereign of the Empire, who incidentally happens to be the same person?

R:  So could Mordusia call you then to discuss specifically Mordusian-Kalistani affairs?

ST:  Well, they can call the Consular General there, who could call me.  Or, the Government in Randworth could simply communicate their concerns to their Queen who could, magically, communicate those concerns telepathically to the Empress in Ft. William, who could communicate them directly to me at the Embassy.  There are a millions ways to get in touch.

R:  Would Kaliburg accept an Ambassador from Mordusia?

ST:  That's a bit more murky, I suspect.  If I was a betting man, I would bet no, because it would necessitate that that would involve the Anantonese Empire changing its view on the complete independence of Mordusia from Luthori.

R:  But doesn't Lodamun and Gaduridos have their own Ambassadors that go to other nations?

ST:  Sure they do.  Are you looking for a civics lesson, Sir?

R:  Doesn't that suggest that nations can be Constituent Nations with their own diplomatic representatives and still be integral parts of the Empire?

ST:  The relationship between Kaliburg and, say, Kensington, is determined by the Articles of the Empire.  So far Her Imperial Majesty has not seen evidence that, at least in regard to Mordusia and Luthori, they are different countries with any variations in their foreign policy, and in fact, it seems that Mordusia takes its direction from Luthori on all matters.  Likatonia, as of late, has been doing something different, though...

R:  In what way?

ST:  Well, I just find it hard to believe that they freely remain in the Commonwealth, and claim to be fiercely loyal to Ft. William, and then openly embrace the fascists in other parts of the world.  They have actually passed their own laws that force their prisoners to work, just like fascists elsewhere, where it is known that prisonoers are worked to death and widely believed that the bodies of dead workers are being disposed of industrially.  This policy position of endorsement of fascism seems to be in opposition to Luthori's stated position on fascism, is a dark stain on Likatonia that ends any chance for even normal relations with Clovisport, and its toleration in Ft. William also, I think negatively affects the relationship between Kaliburg and Ft. William.  Yet the Luthorian Commonwealth just continues to tolerate this policy orientation from Clovisport, without any negative words or consequences at all for the choices.  How does that NOT have Luthori's implicit blessing?  We have raised this issue multiple times with the Luthorian Government, and each time they say "Well, what can we do?"  I explained to them Her Imperial Majesty's position on the matter multiple times, and each time, they prefer to do nothing about a member of their commonwealth openly embracing, and running propaganda for the fascists.  What can they do indeed.  Could you imagine Lodamun coming out in support of fascists?  Or Gaduridos?  That is an inconceivable position within the Anantonese Empire.

R:  So no Ambassador to Mordusia?

ST:  Her Imperial Majesty has made it clear that at this moment, a separate Ambassador from Ananto to Mordusia is not warranted at this point--The Consular General will serve to manage the administrative aspects of Kalistani-Mordusian relations for the present.  The question is not off the table completely:  If for example, the Luthorian Government insisted and made Mordusia's case as a completely and totally 100% sovereign and independent nation in a way that convinced Her Imperial Majesty, that might change matters, but for now, with Luthorian arch-Nationalists in charge in Randworth and the Head of State being the actual same physical person in fact with two different titles, it is more difficult to justify.

R:  How long will you be in Kaliburg, Lord Trelawny?

ST:  I plan to spend about a week here and another at home in Sulari.  I have some personal business to attend to regarding my late father's estate, and need to make reports at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but then I am planning to return to Ft. William.  This is just a personal visit, really.

R:  Thank you Lord Trelawny,

ST:  Thank you.  Have a great rest of your October.

@TheRepublic