The Chancellery of Foreign Nations
Of the Most Serene Republic and Grand City of Delmonte
Of the Most Serene Republic and Grand City of Delmonte
"In Bellum Pax; Per Pax Prosperitatem."
I would like to make something completely clear about the Most Serene Republic's Enclave and Trade Network program. We do not accept "applications" from nations because "application" is a dirty word that implies you are trying to impress us or earn our favor. You are not some applicant standing in a line to us. No, when it comes to Enclaves we graciously accept invitations to share a home with you and do business with you. We seek to be your helpful friends and guests with you as our honorable hosts. A good guest does not imperiously demand applications. A good guest does not disrespect the furniture of his host or insult the host's hospitality. We aim to be a good guest to you. To that end, I humbly introduce you to the Delmontese Enclave Program. Let us know what we can do to be your friend. We are at your service.
Ludovico Di Canossa,
Chancellor of Foreign Nations
How Does it Work?
An island (preferably one that is uninhabited) is selected off the coast of the host nation that is suitable to an enclave. In addition to functioning as a normal embassy:
1: The land is leased in perpetuity to the Most Serene Republic. Citizens of Delmontese patrimony are free to move between it and Delmonte.
2: The host nation is given roughly 4% of all revenue harvested from the entrepot/enclave. Fees and taxes are minimized.
3: The majority of labor and 99% of goods/equipment are sourced locally, providing a boost to the local economy.
4: The host nation agrees to free trade between it and the entrepot.
5: The host nation's companies gain access to all markets in which Delmonte has an entrepot, even if they do not have trade agreements with that nation. They get to piggyback off of the trade agreement that the Most Serene Republic has with these nations, through the entrepot. See point #4.
6: Citizens of the host nation may become "Citizens of the Enclave" in their host nation. This grants them certain rights and privileges including the ability to join the Delmontese Diplomatic Corp under the Enclave Delegacy program (detailed further on).
Furthermore, although it is not codified, it is generally understood that nations with enclaves will "move to the front of the line" when dealing with the Most Serene Republic. Just as a mother is not supposed to have favorites, but does, nations are not supposed to have favorites... but do.
What About Customs?
Provided they don’t involve protectionism, we will happily enforce your nation’s tariffs for you on all traffic coming through the entrepot. Every nation has their specialty. This is ours. The Delmontese are merchants first and foremost. This is really all we do. We have an entire university dedicated to training customs officials for our trade network. You are in safe hands.
That being said, if you want to have your own customs officials check our work you are more than welcome to do so. The majority of nations we partner with generally have their customs folks stop double checking us after a few years or so when the quality of our work becomes apparent. But it’s entirely up to our hosts.
How Do I Invite an Enclave?
All you need do is ask! There is no form, no clumsy application to fill out. We understand that every case is different and that selecting an appropriate location for the enclave, meting out the exact terms of our lease, deciding on revenue sharing, etc. all take time and flexibility. Just reach out to us and we will work something out that helps us all prosper. We are businessmen, after all, and no two deals are the same. It might be a good idea to include with your letter recommendations for islands to locate the enclave on and any details you think might be important such as special requests. We will take care of all the annoying paperwork for you.
We think we’ll be able to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The Enclave Delegacy Program
Who better to represent Delmontese interests in your nation than your own citizens? Who have substantial holdings in the Delmontese trade network, obviously. Wouldn’t you trust our foreign service more if it contained your own citizenry in its ranks? If your people show promise they can even climb relatively high in the ranks of the Chancellery of Foreign Nations!
How do they become eligible? Well, there are a few benchmarks. First, they need to be a citizen of the enclave (which requires them to be a citizen of the host nation that enclave is hosted by). Second, they need to have roughly thirty million NSD in personal assets located in the Delmontese trade network. This includes their own enclave, ships involved in transport in the network, and property in other enclaves as well as Delmonte itself! It’s generally very easy to hit the property benchmark. That is to say… it’s very easy for the sort of people we want representing the enclaves and Delmonte. The right sort of people.
Reciprocity
Delmonte’s ambitions are mercantile and diplomatic. Not colonial. We do not want vast swathes of land, just a tiny island here and there that our sea-faring, wind-swept, tan-faced people can call home. To that end, any host nation will not only be allowed but strongly encouraged to establish their own enclave in Delmonte. We have even set aside a substantial part of our capital, the Grand City of Delmonte, for just such a purpose. However, we are happy to lease you an island off the coast or a slice just outside an inland city if you so wish. What we want is to be interconnected with you. Having a Delmontese enclave in the host nation and a host nation enclave in Delmonte just makes sense. Think how easily our respective businessmen will conduct their affairs with one another. Your companies can have a physical headquarters in Delmonte without being under Delmontese jurisdiction! Needless to say, the efficiency for any business involved in shipping is quite apparent.
Who is in the Network?
These fine nations currently call themselves home to a Delmontese Enclave:
1: The Black Plains (Isola Delvino)
2: The Empire of the Batorys (Isola Bonossa)
3: The Timocratic Republic of Patrick OConner (Isola Canossina)
4: The Order of Takhisis (Isola Beloria) This enclave has actually flourished as a center of the arts in Takhisis! It's a very cosmopolitan place with the population being something about 20% Delmontese, 20% Takhisian, and 60% melting pot of other folks. This has led to art that is equal parts beautiful and garish. Impressionism as a school of art is entirely rejected by the artistic community after prominent Delmontese and Takhisian artists formed a panel and decided that it "Wasn't really art. I mean, anyone can do that."
5: Haja-Mishu (Costa di Cose Lucide) Porcelain exported through this enclave is as good as gold in Delmonte and much of the rest of the trade network. As an added bonus, the fact that it's so easily broken means demand will almost never be filled.
6: Kingdom of Derita (Isola Giuseppina) This enlave originated as a hotbed for piracy in the 1500's. The relationship between Derita and Delmonte was founded upon the mutual agreement that pirates can and should be slaughtered like the dogs they are. They've been friends ever since and still sometimes kill pirates together. Every year they have a festival where Deritans and Delmontese have contests involving throwing rocks at pirates that have been captured. Unfortunately they just don't make pirates like they used to. These scrawny little pirates die from, like, the first eight rocks usually!
There are children's variants of the game played during the festival, such as Rocks in Socks. Or, for the bachelorettes, you can go watch a game of Jocks with Rocks in Socks. Fun for the whole family.
7: The Islands of Versilia (Isola Tarantina) This enclave is heavily involved with financial services as well as exports/imports.
8: Marimaia (Isola Taormina) This enclave is rather old and was involved with an Investiture Controversy to the point that it became home to a Pope. Occasionally, even more than one Pope!
9: McNernia (Sundelina) This enclave is quite peculiar in that nobody is quite sure when it was founded, though it was certainly after the 1800's. There just aren't a lot of records talking about it. How odd.
10: Castille De Italia (Azzia Pecina) This is the Most Serene Republic's oldest enclave owing to the fact that it was once a vassal of the host nation.
11: Erythrean Thebes (Cazu Mare) This enclave is best known for the Festival of Helen it holds each year, where 1000 ships from Delmonte and Erythrean Thebes are sort of... tied together to make one giant floating festival. Apparently the food at this festival is a blend of Theban and Delmontese cuisine and it's amazing.
12: Ralkovian Grand Island (Isola Miscatone) This enclave was built off the coast of a nation that was here previously before the territory was annexed by Ralkovia. While Ralkovia has chosen to honor the enclave's sovereignty, they are not a part of the entrepot network. Many residents of the enclave worry that their bellicose neighbors will one day blow them off the face of the Earth. Due to being cut off from its host nation, this enclave has become economically stagnant.
13: Ariwana (Ariwanetta; Kembangan Island) This enclave is very unique in that, due to a deal with the Ariwanan government, the head of the enclave is actually entitled to a seat in Parliament. This has led to the Enclave administration working incredibly closely with the host government to the point that the enclave is colloquially referred to as "The Fifth Ministry" of Ariwana.
14: New Udonia (Cazu Niccita) The convention with which the Delmontese enclave in this nation was founded was dubbed "The Party of the Year" in numerous Udonian, Delmontese, and international publications. This enclave is quite prosperous and enjoys outlandish success owing to the host nation's robust manufacturing and raw resource sectors. The Delmontese here have also founded numerous fishing companies that have gained popularity throughout the trade network.
15: Morrdh (Damiatina) This enclave was won as payment by a Delmontese noble who fought for the Morrdhish king against rebellious subjects. While it is one of the Republic's oldest enclaves, it is not the most profitable, but it does a brisk trade in wool and other raw goods.
16: Port Ember (Isola Marthinus) This is not the largest enclave, but it is the most profitable. Establishing an enclave with Port Ember was just common sense given how heavily that nation is involved in trade. Much like their host nation, this enclave imports and exports everything in a given day. Per the request of Port Ember a large portion of the enclave is set aside as a wildlife reserve for a rare species of migratory bird which is capable of basic speech. The residents of this enclave have begun to identify with the bird as their symbol and vigilantly protect it. Given that the bird is capable of basic mimicry, it can often be heard repeating business transactions that it overheard, leading some enterprising financial analysts to go to the wildlife reserve for stock tips.
17: Reedian (Isola Di Moscas) This is a relatively standard enclave importing and exporting standard fare. However, the locals have developed an acute taste for Delmontese wine to the point that Reedian is now the second largest market for Delmontese wine outside of Delmonte itself.
18: Holy Marsh (Cazu Di Donas). This is the most technologically advanced enclave, being that it is heavily involved with the manufacture, design, and export of military grade weaponry for which the host nation is very well known.
19: Estalusia (Isola Virina) This enclave does a brisk business and is one of the larger enclaves in the Republic's network, boasting nearly one million inhabitants. Its claim to fame was that it was once occupied by forces hostile to Estalusia that considered the Delmontese enclave a loyal supporter of their host nation. This proved to be clairvoyant as the Delmontese and Estalusians led a successful joint resistance and eventual liberation against the occupiers.
20: Reino De Brazil (Cazu Delsocce) This enclave primarily deals with the export of airplane parts and the import of materials for their manufacture. This is given the host nation's heavy involvement in the airplane industry. Following the incident with the enclave in Vespertia (Vespinetta), hot air balloons were outlawed in Cazu Delsocce.
21: Vespertia (Vespinetta). Vespinetta conducts a great deal of thoroughfare between Vespertia and other nations in the Network. Its ambassador is well known for suffering at the hands of Ludovico Di Canossa (the Chancellor of Foreign Affairs) in a practical joke whereby Ludovico requested a hot air balloon as the ambassador's official mode of transportation. Multiple post cards can be purchased in the enclave that feature original as well as photoshopped images of the Ambassador frantically waving his hands for help, stranded in a hot air balloon that (obviously) he cannot control.
The hot air balloon is still his official mode of transportation. The ambassador can often be seen walking to his destinations.
22: Bisim (Isla Golga). Isla Golga was named after King Golg who graciously granted the enclave residence. It sports multiple hotels, casinos, and nightclubs and aside from trade serves as a tourist hot-spot for Bisim. There is also a charming, historic lighthouse from long before the enclave was present that, at the request of King Golg, is preserved and kept open to visitors from both Delmonte and Bisim who wish to experience Bisim's past.
23: Pan-Asiatic States (Paigino Norde). Paigino Norde is a bustling entrepot that primarily deals in traffic between the different Pan-Asiatic States within that same union, though about 30% of its traffic comes from the rest of the Delmontese Trade Network. Roughly 70% of residents of the enclave are Delmontese.
24: The Marhaenist Republic of Nusantara Indonesian Peoples (Arduzzi) Arduzzi makes up the third enclave in what is commonly referred to as "The Three Tigers". This includes Arduzzi, Paigino Norde, and Costa di Cose Lucide. They are the three Asian-influenced enclaves and are responsible for the export of all sorts of fine earthenware and affordable manufactured goods. Arduzzi is also a tourist hit with the Delmontese and many other nationalities in the trade network, renowned for its pink glass beaches and accommodating locals.
25: The Empire of Brightlake (Isola Cesaria) - Isola Cesaria is located on the island of Itu Aba. While it does engage in the trade and arbitrage that is standard of Delmontese entrepots, it is also home to an incredibly robust fishing industry. The high volume fishing has also given rise to the production of high quality fertilizer which is much sought after in the rest of the Delmontese trade network.
26: The United States of Ibica (Spiota) - Spiota is founded on the Ibican island of Key Tamar and connected to the mainland by a series of bridges and islands. Its thriving trade is driven by the import/export economy of its host nation. Its layout is modeled off of that of the Grand City itself and incorporates experimental architecture that is not common in other Delmontese holdings.
27: Saltbridge (Cignalia) - Cignalia is founded on Sunclay Island, 12km off the coast of Oldwich. It is notable for its export of Saltbridge weaponry as well as the red clay native to the island which is heavily incorporated into the enclave's architecture.
28: Diarcesia (Dionysia) - Dionysia is founded on Bacus Island located 64.9 miles North-East of Arcesius. In accordance with the lease granted by Monarch Method in 1455, the first Magistrate of Dionysia was a member of House Arkess. Out of respect, The Most Serene Republic has continued to honor this tradition by granting a member of House Arkess Delmontese citizenship and appointing them Magistrate of Dionysia to this day. There is no shortage of candidates as, over the years, cadet branches of House Arkess have understandably intermarried and built a life for themselves within the enclave. Delmontese vintners quickly noted that the soil on Bacus Island was ideal for the growth of grape varietals for the production of Merlot wine. Ancient Delmontese Merlot varietals have been imported and grafted onto the roots of local grape vines provided by Diarcesian growers. In addition to its status as an entrepot, Dionysia enjoys a thriving wine industry as a result and is the only place outside of Delmonte proper that boasts Delmontese vines tended by Delmontese vintners. Delmontese and Diarcesian wineries cooperate regularly. In 1955, to celebrate 500 years of friendship, Doge Andro Di Donnarotti granted "As Favored" status to Diarcesian wine, allowing it to be considered the same as Delmontese wine as regarded all importation, customs, and traditional rules. Diarcesian wine, therefore, is the only wine produced by non-Delmontese that is eligible for entry into the annual Delmontese Wine Festival.
