The American Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Banks, rises to speak.
"With respect, Pharaoh, and I am aware I am just repeating what has already been said, but you are in no position to dictate what the Government of the United Kingdom does or does not do within its internationally recognized and lawfully administered territory. An economic impact is not a legitimate reason for an armed invasion of British territory, and the fact that you consider this to be so is concerning to say the least. Should the reforms proposed by by honorable friend from the Greater Nordic Union be accepted, then the American Republic would consider the use of the Suez Canal. However, we, and our allies and partners, are under no obligations to use a specific sea route. You do not hear about my government complaining when ships travel through the northwest passage, and we are not threatening an invasion of Imperial Mexico over their plans for a second canal. These actions, and those which we are planning to undertake in Palestine, are legitimate, reasonable, viable, and justified.
The question you raise about political reforms, If I may say so, is ridiculous. The fact that something has always been done does not make it fair or right. Otherwise, I would be representing six colonies of the United Kingdom, and my delegates from the United Kingdom would be representing territories of the Vikings. As time progresses, the standards of governance and social tolerance changes, and Egypt, whichever way you see it, does not conform to even basic standards of governance or respect for human rights. A major reform to the political structure, although I cannot speak for the other nations assembled here today, to make it more representative and democratic, will be the only circumstance under which the sanctions of my government will be lifted, or under which my government will consider not pushing ahead with the canal."
