La Conférence de Rio de Janeiro - IC 1870 REAL WORLD RP

[Of the Quendi]

Part of the 1870 Real World RP. If interested, apply therein.

The conference of Rio de Janeiro
1 - 5 January 1871

Agenda

1. The Future of Uruguay
2. The Future of Paraguay
3. The Negotiation of a Peace Treaty to end War between the Russian Empire and the Republic of Argentina
4. Fostering an Accord between the Participants about the Future of Latin and South America after the Monroe Doctrine

Participans
Russian Empire
United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland
United States of America
Brazilian Empire

Observers
The Third Republic of France
The Kingdom of Denmark

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The City of Rio de Janeiro
The State of Rio de Janeiro
The Empire of Brazil

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Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Russia

January 1st, 1871

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A new year had begun, a year that Gorchakov prayed would prove less hectic than the outrageous 1870. The world was in chaos, empires rose and fell and war had been waged in several European countries. Gorchakov had not thought that there would ever be a year in the history to man that could make 1848 look stable yet 1870 had done just that. The Russian Empire could not accept 1871 being a similarly chaotic year.

Therefore the Rio Conference. Though the global situation in 1870 was yet to close in time to be properly analyzed Gorchakov attributed at least part of the problem to the great many turns and changes in the foreign policies of the nations, conducted swiftly, unilaterally and without warning. The ailment of Alexander had admittedly been one of the greatest such turnarounds making Russia far from guileless yet that didn't change the fact that a new accord was needed in the international community. Trying to impose such an accord on Europe was however a daunting task even for a statesman as savvy as Gorchakov. Trying his luck with South America was an appropriate first step.

By hearing the positions of the regional powers, the United States and Brazil as well as the most pre-eminent of the colonial and naval powers, the United Kingdom, on the peace that was to be reached between Argentina and Russia Gorchakov hoped to restore some order to a backwater region of the world. There would be no unilaterally dictated peace imposed by Russia on Argentina without considering the positions of the relevant powers so hopefully there would be no powerful actors unwilling to accept an outcome of negotiations and eager to overthrow what peace Gorchakov could establish.

That was the plan at least. It now depended on the will of the delegations from the US, the UK and Brazil if the plan would fail or succeed. "Gentlemen." Gorchakov addressed the delegates once all where seated around the long table in the Russian embassy. "Thank you for coming, and happy new year." Gorchakov said with a smile. "As it will be most of you aware the recently averted military confrontation between the Russian Empire and the Republic of Argentina was sparked over the contentious issue of the former country of Uruguay. Acquired by the Russian Empire during His Imperial Majesty's recent illness Uruguay's future is the topic I propose we begin with. Before I present the plans of the Russian Empire regarding this territory I would like to ask my esteemed colleagues if there are any preliminary remarks on the conference, or topic of choice." Gorchakov began.

[Gibberan]

Rio de Janeiro, 1 January 1871

Secretary of State Hamilton Fish stood up. He was in a good mood, as it was New Year's Day, and he smiled as well. The president, who was currently embroiled in domestic affairs, had been unable to come to the conference, so he was here instead. He had already served as President Grant's SoS, and now he was serving as MacArthur's, so "a man experienced as you should be able to handle it", as MacArthur had put it.
This was a truly important affair, which would surely determine the future of the Americas, and, under no circumstances, was it not to go well. He was to make it go well. "Prince Alexander, I do have something on my mind, but it can wait, and we would like to start with the issue of Uruguay, for now.

Sorry I couldn't make it longer, I am very busy today and this may be the only oppurtunity I get to post.

[Timothia]

The Empire of Brazil
La Conference de Rio de Janeiro

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"The Empire of Brazil has no comments to make, and we concur with the respectable Mr. Fish that the first order of business ought to be the events and future of Uruguay." stated the Brazilian representative, the Viscount of São Vicente. His name was massively long, his own mother didn't know his full name anymore. He has been referred to simply as "The Viscount" or "Senor Viscount", and he was the head of the legislature of Brazil.

He was wearing full ceremonial garb, and his expensive white colonial military suit was clearly worth a fortune. The Viscount was very indulgent and spent far beyond what he should have, but he was, overall, quite effective at his position.

[Of the Quendi]

The City of Rio de Janeiro
The State of Rio de Janeiro
The Empire of Brazil

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Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire

January 1st, 1871

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As neither the American nor Brazilian representative had anything to interject before the commencement of the discussions about the future of Uruguay Prince Gorchakov was much enthused. Though the Russian Empire took the conference quite seriously Gorchakov couldn't deny that he hoped for the conference to serve as a rubber stamp convention for the very impromptu Russian plan for Latin America. "Very well gentlemen, lets begin then." The foreign minister replied.

Then he paused for a moment pondering how best to proceed. It was clear that the Russian Empire had no cause for the establishment of an expensive colony in Latin America with no desire to be part of the Russian Empire, clear to Gorchakov that was. But perhaps not to Mr. Fish and the Viscount of São Vicente. After all even Austria-Hungary had thrown caution and astuteness to the wind and engaged in colonial adventures, so why not Russia? If the two men thought so Gorchakov could perhaps feint interest in keeping Uruguay, something neither nation was like to be pleased about, in the hope of securing concessions for surrendering it.

But in the end Gorchakov did not wish to pursue such a course. Uruguay was ten thousand miles from Saint Petersburg, the feint was not like to be believed he concluded. "After much and careful deliberation His Imperial Majesty Alexander II the Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias has, in concert and understanding with the Imperial Government, concluded that the Russian Empire will not wish to make a colony of Uruguay, nor shall we permit Argentina to hold Uruguay in violation of its obligations towards the Russian Empire. In short His Majesty's government is contemplating the reestablishment of the Republic of Uruguay as an independent and sovereign state." Gorchakov declared.