The Democritus Gazette (approved participants only)

[Heavenly China]

CHINA DAILY
March 8, 1921

Declaration of the Second Republic of China

China, the Jewel of the East, has been in turmoil these past decades. Starting with the struggle against the Foreign English attempting to assert their colonial dominance over the whole of China during the "Opium Wars". Britain, having failed to fully subjugate our nation, turned into mercantile subversion in order to put China to her knees. The ineffective Manchu dynasty started to show signs of weakness which eventually climaxed in the National Revolution in 1911 which deposed the Manchus and paved way for a democratic, strong and united Republic of China. The corrupt old upper class had it's strings ready to pull and subverted the course of the Revolution with the Presidency of Yuan Shikai (1911-1917), who attempted to crown himself Emperor of China.

The traitorous Yuan Shikai attempted to destroy the progress of the revolution by ordering the arrest of the Revolutionary Leaders such as Sun Yat-sen in 1917 which proved to be the final straw for the Military. Zhang Zuolin, the Military Governor of Manchuria; Chen Shufan, Military Governor of Anhui; Wu Peifu; Military Governor of Zhili; conspired together to form the secret triumvirate and plot to overthrow Yuan Shikai. They kicked off the coup in August of 1917 which resulted in the deaths of Yuan Shikai and the overthrow of the Shikai Government.

Great China then experienced a series of Internal Wars after Chen Shufan attempted to undermine the nature of the triumvirate by sabotaging Zuolin's and Peifu's directives. It culminated in the Fengitan-Anhui War of 1919 in which the Armies of the Fengtian Clique destroyed the Armies of the Anhui Clique at the battles of Fuyang and Nanjing. Zuolin then established the Reorganized Nationalist Government of the Republic of China in Peking with Peifu as President and Zuolin as Prime Minister. Wu Peifu then worked with the Provisional Yuan to establish the Nationalist Constitution of 1919 before his assassination by Imperialist agents in 1920.

Marshal Zuolin assumed the post of President and merged them with the Prime Minister. He then cracked down on subversive state elements in the Nationalist Terror of 1920 which caused the deaths of 10,000 Imperialists, Communists, and Anarchist figures. The Marshal now has the arduous task of uniting the rest of China, retaking Mongolia and Tibet, and regaining the Concessions from the Foreign Imperialist Powers.

I, Zhang Zuolin, President of the Republic, Protector of China, Marshal of the Republican Army, declare that no longer will China be on the backwater of the Society of Nations. I declare, that today be the start of a New China, free from chaos, free from fear, and free from poverty. I demand those Warlords who have not laid down their arms against the Republic, to do so now for the sake of National Unity, else suffer the wrath of the Reborn Republic. - Zhang Zuolin, March 4 1921.

[Arela]

World - Andea - Politics - Business - Opinion - Science - Health - Sports - Other

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Socialists forces organize and agitate

March 8, 2021

The Movement for Socialism (Spanish: Movimiento al Socialismo; MAS) held its founding ceremony yesterday, where its fifty members swore to cooperate in "liberating" the Andean working class. Consisting of an unlikely coalition of communists, anarchists, left social-democrats, and democratic socialists, some fear that the MAS may fall to infighting. The MAS, however, insists that it will rally all "left-wing and progressive causes" under a single banner.

The MAS has created the Andean Trade Union Federation, the first trade union in Andea. Despite that, the first attempt of the MAS to attract workers to its cause failed miserably - with party organizers being booed out of the town's plaza. After the failure, many are questioning whether the MAS will survive - or whether it'll simply evaporate like countless other failed attempts to build radical parties in Andea. The MAS, however, has rejected the possibility of disbanding.

Another question is regarding the legality of the MAS. While the MAS hasn't stated that it plans to overthrow the Andean government, elsewhere the socialists have been involved in toppling over democratically-elected governments. As of today, the Andean courts are to begin an investigation to find out if the MAS has any anti-democratic elements. Rumors have it that members of the MAS have considered going underground, but nothing is confirmed as of yet.

In Other News: Rumors of corruption as local officials abuse "devolution plan" | New bill to provide free lunch to all children in public schools | Andean Expeditionary Fleet returns home, two destroyers left to guard Tartus. | Increased Federal funding guaranteed to Hispaniola

[Lendenburgh]

March 1, 1921

der Deutsches Direktorat
President Adenauer has exercised his powers under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution to dissolve the parliament, and implement a council government under a new Directorate. Konrad Adenauer himself, as well as Foreign Minister Walther Rathenau, Reichswehr general Otto von Lossow, and conservative politicians Gregor Strasser and Max von Richter will head the Directorate as a unilateral executive body to rule the country. When asked why he believed suspending democracy was necessary, the President remarked:

Putting aside the actions of the Polish regime in Russia for the moment, let us consider the speech given to the Sejm last month accusing Germany of violating the terms of the Treaty of Versailles by economically supporting the Soviet Union against their attack; in this kind of inflammatory climate that hangs over Europe, such words could ignite a powder keg of retaliation against the German state. So, the first reason behind this executive action is to secure the interests of Germany in the short term on the Eastern border. Now, in terms of the seditious socialists who have begun to wield disproportionate influence in our government, their insistance for support of the Soviet Union in such extensive terms is also precipitating a threat to the very survival of the nation and our people. The primary goal of this directorate is to reverse the power given to Liebknecht and his Bolshevik revolutionaries, for they have proven themselves incapable of effective governance, going to far as to compromise the precarious position of Germany in the eyes of the world. There are no excuses for this kind of action, and there will be retaliation in kind.

All constitutional privileges have been suspended in the wake of the directorate's establishment, save for those required under international treaties such as Versailles and the Rhine Pact. The Reichswehr's reserves have been called up, and interviews with citizens in Bavaria and the center of the country have reported military movements on a scale not seen since the Great War. It is unclear what Adenauer's plans are for the nation, nor do we know at this time the position of Germany diplomatically with the Entente in the wake of Poland's accusations. Adenauer has, however, ensured that the directorate will be sending a delegate to the meeting of the League.

[Arvento]

More Political Parties Introduced

In the current era of globalization and reforms, the Italian Elections Committee lifted many restrictions on potential political parties thus, allowing more parties with different backgrounds and ideologies to run for office. One of those emerging parties is the Green Party of the Italian Kingdom, led by Khalid al-Ikrami, an ethnic Libyan politician who grew up and was educated in Tuscany. The newly-established party stands for nonviolence, isolationism, and progressive values. During the party conference, the leaders of the Green Party discussed the issue of increasing emigration of many Italians from southern Italy due to lack of jobs and many servcies becoming too expensive for the commoners and farmers.

[Lendenburgh]

Munich, Bavarian Soviet
March 12, 1921
Since the suspension of civil rights 12 days before, the people of Munich loyal to the government of the Soviet had been scrambling to prepare a defense for the city. Unfortunately, they had surrendered all of their arms directly to Reichswehr personnel under the orders of Karl Liebknecht himself. The doors to factories and shops had been boarded, and the streets were barricaded, but it was little use against the 1st Mechanized Division of the German Army.

Heavy tanks rolled into the Marienplatz around noon, crushing the improvised barriers set up, and blowing the doors off the Neues Rathaus. Marching straight over the crumbled stone of the building's crumbled facade, members of the Reichswehr occupied the building and promptly shot members of the city government still present.

Berlin, Capital District
The socialist politicians in the Reichstag were, of course, the easiest to round up. Simply escorted from the meeting chambers and paraded down the streets by military police, though civilians in the capital may have been some of the most radical socialists of the nation, they were powerless in a city totally surrounded by the most elite contingents of the Army since the Kapp Putsch. Isolated riots were easily contained to neighborhoods, with trucks used to barricade S-Bahn and rail lines. By the evening, the angriest of them had either been taken to jail or returned to their homes.

Near Welsteinholz, Rhur Soviet
Marching in lock-step towards the city of Dortmund, however, the scene was much different. The Reichswehr had not been successful in confiscating arms from these citizens- and as nearly, 300 infantrymen marched in lock-step down a wooded road towards the heart of the Soviet, gunfire erupted from the shrubs. Within minutes, revolutionaries had surrounded the entire regiment and forced them to surrender.

Upon this news reaching command in Bielefeld, an additional mechanized and infantry division were activated from reserves. The siege of the Rhur would begin: Operation Schweinemord.

Bomber aircraft were scrambled to destroy all bridges across the Rhine north of Koln, all shipments of food and other essential supplies were diverted from the region, and rail lines and highways were blockaded. Within days, a steady flow of civilians would begin, and upon swearing an oath of loyalty to the nation, they would be permitted to cross the siege line- the rest would starve.

March 19, 1921

Strasser appointed Reichsfuhrer of Industrie
Direktor Konrad Adenauer announced before the (newly purged) Reichstag today that Gregor Strasser, founding member of the Direktorat, would be appointed Reichsfuhrer of Industrie for the whole nation. In his inauguration speech, Strasser stressed the needs of German industry to reinvigorate a national revolution without the corrupt ideals of Bolshevism.

We National Socialists want the economic revolution involving the nationalization of the economy...We want in place of an exploitative capitalist economic system a real socialism, maintained not by a soulless Soviet-materialist outlook but by the believing, sacrificial, and unselfish old German community sentiment, community purpose, and economic feeling. We want the social revolution in order to bring about the national revolution.

Combined with the efforts of the Finanzministerium in stabilizing the economy, Adenauer ensured the country that a period of great economic prosperity stood ahead. As revolutionary elements are evacuated from the occupied industrial province of the Rhur, the economy of the German state will doubtlessly come to dominate Europe!

Code: Select all

Other news: Special trade arrangement concluded with China, Germany continues export of Fokker fighters to the Soviet Union

[Arvento]

Upcoming General Elections in 1921

Election time is drawing closer and closer and the Midterms are already completed; three candidates for the general elections have shown their interest in leading the nation as the next Prime Minister. There are three main political figures who have shown interest in running the nation. Among them are:

Giovanni Giolitti, the leader of the National Blocs which is a right-wing coalition of various political parties known for its anti-socialist stance and conservative attitudes.

Don Luigi Sturzo, the leader of the People's Party known for its Christian-oriented policies and greater political decentralization

Benito Mussolini, leader of Listone, which is a fascist far-right party known for its nationalistic tendencies.

The first debate is held in the Sapienza University of Rome, the oldest university, between multiple candidates. The two candiates continue to attack the incubent Giovanni Gioliotti for the poor management of the country during the great war which led to tough economic times for southern Italy, while the incubent responds by bringing up various territorial concessions the Italian Empire obtained under his leadership, particularly the Treaty of Trianon.

[Lendenburgh]

April 1, 1921

IG Farben Conglomerated - Einstein, Planck, and Hahn to head National Academy of Sciences

Reichsminister Strasser has declared that the major chemical companies of Germany, including der Meer, Bayer, and Agfa; shall be conglomerated into the largest chemical and pharmaceutical company in the world. The Interessengemeinschaft Farbenindustrie, or Dye Industry Syndicated Corporation, will be directly overseen by the new Ministry of Industry. Strasser has elaborated on his plans to begin converting reservists into state workers, and expand the state work programs that began in Silesia last year. This merger is anticipated to lead to over 20,000 new jobs in just the next few months, as factories continue to be converted from wartime production to civilian use.

Esteemed scientists Otto Bayer, Fritz Haber, and Carl Bosch have been selected as the chemical directors of the syndicate. Haber and Bosch received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1918 for their pioneering methods in the synthesis of explosives and fertilizer, and their work under the German government with these centralized resources should continue to be groundbreaking.

The Directorate also moved to establish a Ministry for the Sciences, and construct a brand new National Academy of Sciences in Berlin. This will allow the esteemed minds from throughout Germany to have a common forum for their research, directly sponsored by the government. The groundbreaking faculties from the University of Gottingen, under physicist Max von Laue, the University of Berlin under Albert Einstein, and the University of Munich under Werner Heisenberg will be combined into the physics department of the new Academy. All of these scientists have recently lead pioneering work into the, previously considered pseudo-scientific, field of quantum mechanics.

Mathemetician Max Planck, as well as Hungarian John von Neuman, will conduct the math department of the academy, with contributions from members of IG Farben to the chemistry department, headed by Otto Hahn. Hahn, a hero at the Battle of Ypres, has just begun the world's first research into radiochemistry- which could lead to revolutions in our understanding of radioactivity and the universe as a whole.

This mark a larger trend of the centralization of critical industries under the state, which Strasser has proposed is the only way for the German nation to provide for itself in such a hostile global climate.

Ministry of Labor and Food Production chartered
In this vein, the Directorate has chartered an additional ministry to be established to oversee the state production of food. With the disastrous policies implemented by the military in the Great War, and the vulnerability of Germany to the British blockade, it's clear that the estate and peasant farm organization is not serving the interests of the German people. With the availability of food imports, and the blockade of the Rhur preventing several thousand insurgents from leeching on the nation's resources, the Directorate has immediately suspended all food rations. Orders have been issued to continue to fatten and breed cattle and swine, while the Ministry oversees the acquisition of large tracts of land from private owners to be worked by the state.

It's estimated that nearly half a million army reservists will be recruited into the new works program, with a further million women and men becoming employed in the department. Aside from agricultural production, the ministry will also be responsible for the coordination of logistics and distribution throughout the country. The Directorate has conglomerated the many private and state railways of the country, confiscating any foreign investment, into the state run Deutsche Reichsbahn. The Railway alone is estimated to bring in revenues of over M. 500 million next year, and will propel the German economy to being the largest in Europe- overtaking Great Britain yet again- in just four years.

[Orostan]

LEFT WING COMMUNISM REMAINS AN INFANTILE DISORDER
April 1st, 1921

Polish "socialists" under Rosa Luksemburg, following the line of the German Paul Levi, have condemned Soviet power in favor of bending over for bourgeois parliamentarians in all cases. Paul Levi (in)famously criticized 'Leninism' for refusing to recognize parliaments in Germany less than a year after Lenin published his work on left wing communism criticizing Communists who rejected participation in bourgeois parliaments. Lenin was and is very much in favor of KPD participation in trade unions and bourgeois politics insofar as it advanced the communist cause and promoted the PSP's similar participation in Polish politics. It seems now that left wing communism has fundamentally changed with the start of the Polish-Soviet war to less of an aversion to constructive political participation and more of an aversion to holding any actual power.

Rosa Luksemburg has set out to organize another international against the third international because of the Bolshevik party's majority Russian leadership which she claims is evidence of "great russian chauvinism". This is the equivalent of claiming that the PSP is in reality a Polish nationalist organization because its leadership is mostly Poles in a country made up of mostly Poles. In the Bolshevik government groups oppressed by the tsarist government are over represented and it is more accurate to say that, with regards to representation, that the Bolshevik state is a Lithuanian or Ukrainian nationalist organization rather than a Russian group. Zinoviev and Kamenev, two outstanding members of the Bolshevik Politburo and leaders of the Soviet government are both even from a Jewish background similar to Rosa! Perhaps they should get on with the international communist Jewish conspiracy the whites accused them of in the civil war, then? It would certainly make the current war easier if there was an international conspiracy assisting us rather than opposing us at every turn!

To stop mocking the idiocy of the Luksemburgist Polish left and Levi's position for a moment, we must acknowledge that these tendencies represent an actual threat to international movements towards socialism and to Soviet power. Though Lenin has delegated many of his responsibilities in the government to men like Stalin and Radek he has not stopped writing aggressively against the bizarre offshoot of left wing communism that occupies a section of the communist movement abroad. It is easy to condemn Leninism in countries actually or ideologically at war with it. It is also a great benefit for the governments of those countries to create a synthetic communist movement that in all cases will serve their own interests and is a dead end for actual organizing.

[Arvento]

Italian General Election Concludes

The 1921 Italian General Election has concluded with Giovanni Giolitti's National Blocs achieving victory with 60.1% of the vote and over 5 million votes cast. It was the first elections in Italian History where some of the residents in the Libyan Domain were allowed to vote. At the first seating of the Italian Parliament at the Palazzo Montecitorio, Giovanni Giolitti received a unanimous vote to be the Prime Minister. In accordance with the vote, Emperor Victor Arvento appointed Giolitti as Prime Minister. At the ceremony, Giolitti was seen kneeling on one knee before the Emperor and accepting his role, and effectively his 2nd term as the Prime Minister of the Italian Empire.

But not everyone is happy about the elections' results. Benito Mussolini from Listone announced that he will petition the Royal Constitutional Court of Italy to investigate the election results for possible fraud. Currently, Mussolini is trying to establish a base of his supporters from around the country to come up with a possible course of action.

[Old Metropolitan France]

Conflict in Germany escalates

With the fragile stability which had formed in Germany collapsing into a fresh wave of political violence in 1921, and reports of Treaty of Versailles violations being registered, Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch has ordered that occupation forces in the Saarland, Rhineland and Ruhr Valley conduct an immediate search for illegal armament. It is understood that France is demanding League of Nations observers verify Polish reports of German heavy bombers by assessing the entire inventory of the Luftstreitkräfte and civilian aviation centers, alongside League inspection of the Demilitarized Zone on the German borders with the Low Countries and France. Should the Polish reports be deemed authentic, it is understood that France will seek immediate destruction of the illegal aircraft, and if armament is discovered by French military personnel those responsible will be detained. The 40,000 French troops and officers within the Rhineland have been ordered to quell any armed resistance to efforts that uphold the peace treaties and subsequent bilateral arrangements, however will not interfere with industry, food production and civilian transport beyond checkpoints and registration efforts. General Mangin has been tasked with heading the operational delivery of this task.

At the same time that these orders were being given, France announced that refugees seeking to flee Germany may apply for a limited resettlement program, and entered into urgent talks with the so-called Direktorat in an attempt to restore civil liberties in the country. The results of these negotiations were concluded in Strasbourg this morning.

The Treaty of Strasbourg

Germany and France today signed the Treaty of Strasbourg, building upon previous bilateral arrangements enshrined over the last two years at Versailles, Cologne and Saarbrucken, to create a new framework for economic development and a pathway towards peace in Western Europe. The most significant development achieved in Strasbourg is the creation of the European Trade Community (ETC), and of the newly administered Ruhr-Rhine-Saar Economic Area. Together, these initiatives grant France a stake in the development of Ruhr-Rhine-Saar resource and industrial policies in perpetuity, while also instituting a ban on the use of these regions for military armament production. Germany also pledged to cease and desist all materiel exports to the Bolsheviks, and return to democracy. Potential for future Franco-German reconciliation was also registered in the form of a security guarantee of Germany's status quo ante bellum borders, and collaboration in disbanding any armed groups that persist beyond March 1st, 1922.

Rif War escalates

Marshal Pétain this week renewed the French offensive in the Rif, which had been delayed following news of war in Iran and Poland. Over the last 18 months more than 150,000 troops have arrived in North Africa, traveling from across the European metropole and colonial empire. As the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the Foreign Legion begin conducting fluid raids against Riffian strongholds, Franco-Senegalese forces lead a surge effort to break through the main static positions held by Rif forces in the regions closest to Spanish settlements. Bréguet-14 bombers fly in at threatening angles of approach, seeking to demoralize the separatists, while Renault FTs advance along the main tracks alongside infantry patrols. Combined with a renewed Spanish offensive, it is expected that the Rif will be successfully pacified before the end of 1921 short of a military disaster on the scale of Marash.

Containing the Reds in Europe & Asia

Whilst Paris expressed surprise and concern at the breakout of hostilities in Eastern Europe earlier in the year, the French Government has now stepped forward with military assistance to Poland to ensure that Leninist terror does not penetrated deeper into Europe. It is understood that approximately 4,000 machine-guns, 80 mortars, 10,000 rifles, and 1,500 75mm field guns are to be delivered to Poland, alongside a separate shipment of 30 Renault FTs and 15 Nieuport 17 C.1 aircraft. Ammunition for the armament will also be furnished on an ongoing basis, and the French Military Mission to Poland has been expanded. With Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch busy overseeing the Rhineland occupation, and Marshal Pétain spearheading the Rif campaign, General Weygand and General Henrys will jointly lead a renewed military mission to Poland. The French Foreign Ministry has explained that while France did not support the Polish invasion of Russian territory, the idea of self-determination for the Ukraine and Belorussia is a noble cause that all liberal democracies should endorse. Furthermore, the Bolshevik regime's actions in Transcaucasia and Iran clearly demonstrate their desire to export the leftist revolution internationally, posing an existential threat to European Civilization.

Meanwhile, 20,000 troops relocated to British Iraq following the end of the war in Anatolia have been ordered to Persia. In an unexpected move, General Nivelle - formerly disgraced for the failed offensive of the Great War - has been recalled, and given command of the French deployment. Upon their arrival, these French forces will aid the British in repulsing socialist incursions. In an interesting step, France has withdrawn all diplomatic recognition of the current domestic governing body in Iran, and invited representatives from the AFN to a forward operating command post north of Tehran.

[Arvento]

Newly-elected Prime Minister visits Sicily

PM Giovanni Giolitti arrived to Sicily to learn about the newest developments in the agricultural sector of Italy. Giolitti’s travel plans in Sicily focused on major cities - he arrived in Palermo and intends to visit other cities and villages in Sicily. During the press conference while he was visiting one of the farms, the Prime Minister commented on the situation with the Soviet Union saying:

"The National Blocs party has always stood against socialism since its conception and Italy is very concerned with the developments between Poland and the Soviet Union. The leftist influence has to be kept in check and we cannot let Europe and other countries fall under the Soviet yoke. It is our way of life which is at stake. First, it was Transcaucasia, then it was Iran. If we do not do something about it, it is going to be all of Europe. The Italian Kingdom is working together with the Entente to come up with various solutions to the newly-emerging global issues."

DAY 1: Protests on the Streets

This morning, protests erupted in the northern city of Firenze (Florence). Approximately 1,000 protesters stormed the government headquarters and briefly took government workers hostage. Italian Royal Guard retook the building in the early evening, only to be quickly forced out again by protesters. Two prominent opposition groups, the fascist demonstrators and Blackshirts militias, assembled in Florence under the leadership of Benito Mussolini just 169.82 mi away from the capital of Rome. In Rome itself, a crowd of about 500 protesters began to gather in Rome's northern suburb in an industrial area, with several speakers making speeches about the events in Florence. Riot Guards armed with batons, shields, and police dogs moved towards the crowd in a rectangular-shaped formation. The police rounded up the protesters and pushed them towards the buses. A large group of protesters then tore through police ranks and ran across the street, grabbed rocks, and attacked police, resulting in a massive fight, during which some policemen lost their helmets and batons

[Ikh Tal]

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April 26, 1921 - Price ₮2

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Birth of Khan's Daughter Disrupts Altan Day Ceremonies

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Just moments after the Khan finished his speech to the nation, his wife entered labour and was rushed to the Central Hospital. He and his wife would not be seen again until around 7:00 PM when they exited the hospital with their newborn daughter, Altandöl, and travelled to the Palace. This gives the nation even more reason to rejoice on Altan Day, the anniversary of the Altan Uprising - considered the birth of the nation - and the national day of Ikh Tal.
The ceremonies, which were mostly held in the capital but did include some smaller events in other cities around the country, included a multitude of cultural and technological displays, as well as plenty of speeches from the leading figures of the nation. One of the most notable events of the day was the military parade held in the capital, which was composed of 30,000 newly trained soldiers on their way to help fight the Poles; the 3. Infantry Division "Zerleg Tenüüchlegchid", 4. Infantry Division "Chuluun Daichid", and 2. Cavalry Division "Taivan Bus Salkhi".
The day was not all festivities, however. At noon the Minister of Infrastructure, in place of the Khan who was with his wife in the Central Hospital, announced the first Central Development Plan (CDP), a guideline for future development of the nation. Programs in the CDP included the Immigration & Integration Plan, which creates an Immigration Department responsible for the integration of the expected 100,000 Chinese immigrants - an approximated 10,000 of which have already arrived - into Ikh Tal society and industry, as well as the Lake Khövsgöl Industrial Area Development Plan, which outlines the further development of the areas around Lake Khövsgöl into a major industrial center, as well as the expansion of current mining operations in the mineral-rich hills around the lake.
Apparent in the rhetoric of government officials was a more concrete commitment to socialist ideals, specifically equality of the sexes and racial equality. Many praised the new female soldiers of the Zevsegt-Ord, including Ankhbayar, Minister of Defence, who stated the following in a speech at 2:00 PM: "The 7,000 women serving in the Zevsegt-Ord, many of whom I have met firsthand, are some of the bravest and most capable people in the world. They have chosen to fight, and possibly die, for their country and socialism. This alone proves beyond a doubt that, despite what some western 'liberal' democracies would like us to believe, women are in every way equal to men, and deserve the same opportunities and respect that we already enjoy." The women are mostly serving in support roles, except in a few select Cavalry Squadrons. Still, this is a concrete step towards equality of the sexes, demonstrating that the regimes oratory relating to the emancipation of women is not just empty words.
The Khan ended the day's proceeding with a final speech. He emphasized much of what was said by other government officials during the day, including words on immigration, equality, and Ikh Tal's dedication to socialism and support for their Soviet comrades against the imperialist Poles. He ended the speech with a call to socialists across Asia and the world to rise against their oppressors and join Ikh Tal in creating a new world. He specifically mentioned the socialists of Xinjiang, Manchuria and the Chinese Warlord States, indicating possible future support for movements in those regions. Whatever the reason for his oratory, it is clear that the Khan and Ikh Tal as a whole, bolstered by current and future successes, are preparing to expand their influence into the surrounding region.

[Arvento]

March on Rome

After the initial protest by Blackshirt militias led by Mussolini, it seems that the conflict has reached its peak. Mussolini declared in front of 60,000 militants at a Fascist rally in Naples: "Our program is simple: we want to rule Italy." Prime Minister Giolitti was not aware of the protests near the capital and was enjoying his business visit to Sicily but after he was informed of what was happening in Rome, he need to declare a state of emergency in the city. To counter the threat posed by the bands of fascist troops now gathering outside Rome, Giolitti ordered a state of siege for Rome. Due to the Prime Minister's absence, he was not able to do much. The Blackshirt militias quickly overran the facilities of strategic importance in the city and entered the King's residence in the Quirnal Palace. Few hours later, having taken the city of Rome and placed the royal family under the house arrest, Mussolini declared the Provisionary State of Rome having northern Italy under his effective control.

The newly-elected Prime Minsiter Giolitti declared Mussolini's move to be unconstitutional and declared that the nation's capital was temporarily moved to Palermo until the issue is solved and the perpetrators are punished and kicked out of Rome.

[Ikh Tal]

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May 11, 1921 - Price ₮2

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Major General Batu Tömörbaatar Promoted to Lieutenant General

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After a series of successful offensives in Ukraine over the past month, Major General Batu Tömörbaatar has been assigned as Lieutenant General to a new unit - the Ikh Tal Expeditionary Corps. The Corps is composed of four units, the 1. Cavalry Division "Aldart Khuvi Tavilan", 2. Cavalry Division "Taivan Bus Salkhi", 3. Infantry Division "Zerleg Tenüüchlegchid", and 4. Infantry Division "Chuluun Daichid"; a total of 40,000 troops. The leadership of the 1. Cavalry Division "Aldart Khuvi Tavilan" will be taken up by Chaghatai Nomintsetseg, former Brigadier General of the 1. Female Cavalry Brigade.
Tömörbaatar has become somewhat of a celebrity among the troops, boasting a deadly calm demeanour and sharp wits. He is proficient in Russian, allowing him to coordinate with the Soviet military command, and was learning English before he was deployed. Like most Mongolians, he grew up on the horse; he and his steed are inseparable. This has contributed to his innovative use of cavalry on the battlefield, emphasizing infiltration tactics. He uses cavalry to penetrate and wreak havoc behind enemy lines, disrupting supply lines and harassing camps while infantry attempts to keep the front lines busy, before returning to a rallying point in friendly territory.
It is expected that with the formation of the Expeditionary Corps, Mongol forces will be able to more efficiently conduct offensive operations. It will also streamline logistics, allowing for the supply chain to reach one central command before being distributed to the troops. The production chains of the new Khyars-I Rifles and Argali-I Machine Guns and their respective ammunition, finally efficient enough to keep up with front line consumption, will be able to reach the troops in an adequate time; they will no longer have to worry about supply use, knowing that there will be more weapons and ammunition ready for them back at camp.
Mongolian participation in the war is not only to assist the USSR. The Expeditionary Forces are acquiring experience, and the command structure is learning new skills and tactics to be used in future conflicts. The ramp-up of industrial weapons production will be easily translated into consumer industrial capacity after the war is done, no matter the outcome. It is also proving to the world that Ikh Tal is not just a small Asian nation, but a force to be reckoned with.

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Socialist Sentiment Rising In Xinjiang

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Although socialism has always been prevalent in Xinjiang, a major development has occurred recently in the formation of the Revolutionary Front of Xinjiang (RFX), a coalition of multiple communist, socialist and anarchist groups throughout the state. They held their first demonstration in Ürümqi, the capital of the state, two days ago. Military interference was minimal; the Governor of Xinjiang, Yang Zengxin, has always been lenient towards communists and Uyghurs, who make up a large portion of the RFX.
It is not surprising that such sentiments would be rising in the area; thousands of Red Army soldiers and Soviet citizens took refuge in the state during the Russian Civil War, and many chose to stay there. It is also apparent that the ideologies of Xinjiang's neighbours have begun to seep into the state, with citizens seeing the progress and prosperity across the borders. Although Zengxin is a monarchist, it is obvious that he puts stability over ideology. Of course, there are some in Xinjiang, especially in the higher administration and military command, who look on Zengxin's lenience as appeasement, and wish for a more decisive and violent solution to the "Communist Problem." However the situation develops, we will be watching with interest.

[Heavenly China]

CHINA DAILY
June 12, 1921

The Battle for the South

New Model Army in action, Shanghai, June 11th 1921

The Republic of China Armed Forces was a once weak and inefficient army only able to hold regions and its units following the whims of local Generals. Now under the Military Reforms of President-Marshal Zuolin, China can prepare to get back on its feet. The Reforms included the revisions of the Chinese Military Doctrine to be more in line with German/Prussian Military Doctrine, the reequipment and retraining of divisions utilizing German equipment and trainers, the modernization of the Republic of China Air Corps, and the advancement of further Military ties with the German Government. For Three Months, the Armed Forces have established eight reequipped divisions numbering 120,000 men called the New Model Army.

The next step on the President-Marshal's agenda was the reconquest of Nanjing, Shanghai, and the Province of Zheijiang. The offensive sought a spearhead encirclement of Nanjing by the forces of the 8th Army (76,100) led by Feng Yu-Hsiang who strikes south along the road to Qiuzhou and head east towards Ningbo. The center shall be attacked by the 21st Army of Manchuria (51,000) led by Zhang Jinghui, who will strike Nanjing itself, attempting to encircle it from its southern vicinity. The New Model Army, led by the President-Marshal himself, will be tested in the offensive as it will strike south towards Suzhou and block off Nanjing and Shanghai from supplies and reinforcement.

On June 3rd, the signal was given to Army and Frontline commanders, and the offensive was launched. The Southern attack met with moderate resistance, and as of June 12th, The 8th is currently attempting to seize the city of Jinhua. The Northern attack went exceptionally well, with the NMA completing the encirclement and attacking Shanghai by June 12th. Shanghai is terrorized by the constant barrages, airstrikes, and never-ceasing gunfire with reports of house to house fighting. The center completed the encirclement by June 6th and is currently attempting to assault the city with 40% being under Chinese occupation by the 12th.

ALL FOR A UNITED AND PROSPEROUS CHINA

Other News:

- The Republic of China Military Academy is established by the President-Marshal in Beijing, It's first head will be German General von Falkenhausen.

- The President-Marshal is to meet with the Warlords of the Ma and the Sichuan on the city of Qingdao on June 18th.

- Qinghai is reported to be taken by Ma Qi and unites the Ma after a short civil conflict.

[Nowa Polonie]

Pilgrims in Pagan Lands - The French Military Mission, and the formation of the 1st. Régiment d'infanterie spécial 'de la mort'



Officered jointly by French and Polish officers, and made up entirely of troops fluent in both French and Polish, the 1st. 'Special Infantry Regiment of Death' has been organized as both a new regiment of elite light infantry, taking inspiration from similar foreign units, and a pool of men and material to push forward the development of the military sciences. Most notable among the French officers attached to the unit is Charles de Gaulle, who has been fully accommodated within the Polish command structure.

Overseas aide has been something forthcoming for both sides of the ongoing conflict between the two new great states of Eastern Europe; Poland and the Soviet Union, who are now locked in that most intimate of relationships that countries can share, that of war. It has been the understanding of the Polish High Command that any hopes of victory by their young republic would rest entirely on the training, tenaciousness and ferocity of their troops, that they must be prepared in body and mind to seek opportunity in danger, courage under fire, and to show a complete indifference and disregard for the mortal perils of battle. In the Great War, and many wars since, many countries have established within their armies specialist units of men, and women, such as these - the Women's Death Battalions of Tsarist Russia, the Arditi of Italy. Soldiers who will dare to die in order to do what is necessary for victory, and who will have the means, training and expertise to do it.

As a nation that has a great many of her children overseas, Polish organizers have sought specialists from across the world to help train such a unit; a dozen Boers, hired from South Africa, to familiarize and train troops in the Kommando style of fighting, lectures and demonstrations on the use of parachutes by French and British aviationists, and training in the use and operation of motorized vehicles within a military setting. Despite the unit's small size, being comprised of only 1,600 men, organised into two battalions, no expense has been spared in its constitution, and having begun training at the beginning of June, they will be ready for deployment sometime in August, after nearly eighteen weeks of training.



In a demonstration not far from Modlin Fortress, French aviator Emil Berry demonstrates the use of parachutes as a life-preserver for aviators, and as a potential means for the safe deployment from the air of men and war material, for gathered witnesses from the Polish Army and Airforce.

[Nowa Polonie]

President Pilsudski Returns from the Front, June 2nd - 10th



Confident in the temporary delegation of overall command of Poland's armed forces to the acting-commander of her Eastern forces, General Haller, Marshal Pilsudski has returned from Lwiw to make a brief visit to Krakow and Warsaw, where he will address pressing non-military matters of state, and continue to function in his role as Poland's civilian leader.

With Poland's forces in the East engaged in fighting, Marshal Pilsudski has until now taken a further step back from his role as Poland's President and political leader, instead of allowing the Sejm to function and legislate as it always has, and to instead redouble his focus and efforts into military affairs throughout the prosecution of the war. However, taking a brief respite from his function as military leader, but allowing himself no time for rest, the Marshal has left Lwiw, and returned to Warsaw as President. There, meeting with the Sejm in person for the first time since the commencement of hostilities with the Soviets, President Pilsudski would over the next three days help to introduce several packets of legislation, including the creation of several military pension funds to provide financial support for the families of soldiers killed or made unable to work, the creation of a new commission responsible for the welfare of children in areas affected by the war, and a 'Committee of Truth and Reconciliation', which is intended to function as a forum for the resolution of many of the traditional grievances held by the nations present within Poland's ethnic coalition.

In a move that created scenes on the floor of Poland's senate, President Pilsudski invoked his presidential powers to block entirely a proposed amendment by Roman Dmowski's 'National Democratic' camp which would have excluded 'non-Baptized' (i.e Jewish) participation in proposed cross-community talks. While the amendment itself was unlikely to pass had it come to a vote, being met even before President Pilsudski's veto with loud heckles from members representing the PSP, the National Democrat's were quick to accuse the President of executive overreach. In a move that chastened Dmowski's party, the member Yitzhak Gruenbaum, representative of the Bloc for National Minorities, introduced a motion for the Sejm to ratify the President's veto, which passed with 302 votes to 78, with 24 abstentations. While a great personal victory for the President, the spectacle has enflamed ugly tendencies, and across the country, the Polish police increasingly find themselves placed in a position of protecting the property of Poland's Jewish minority from its anti-semites, who have used an atmosphere of conflict and nationalism to incite increasingly radical acts of hatred - even in Poland, where once Kasimir the Great invited the Jews to settle and prosper, the ancient traditions of Europe still hold their sway, and war brings with it a quiet and silent suffering for the children of Israel.

After concluding business in the capital by 8th, Pilsudski took the next two days to participate in several 'leisurely' activities - namely attending a charity event organised by his wife, Aleksandra, and a theatre performance of Henryk Sienkiewicz ''The Deluge''. After only a day's convalescence, President Pilsudksi, with slight pomp, made a public appearance to once again board the Krakow-Lwiw train, and to return to his military duties at the front.



Organised in support of one of the many charitable organisations operating to support mothers and children throughout the war, President Pilsudski and his wife Aleskandra attended, alongside their daughters, Wanda and Jadwiga. The President made a personal donation of 20,000 Zloty, or approximately 8,000 francs.

[Arvento]

Italian Civil War

With Mussolini having declared the Provisionary State of Rome after illegally usurping power of the country, Giovanni Giolitti issued a public declaration that an insurrection exists and that the new capital is Palermo, Sicily. Prime Minister Giolitti calls for 60,000 militiamen to stop the growing separatist movement. The Royalist forces are crossing the Apennine Mountains in order to prapre for the siege of Rome and take back the capital. Minor skirmishes are happening near Aprilia and Anzio between the Provisionary and Royalist forces.

Giovanni Giolitti thanked the French Republic for their willingness to help in the conflict and said that it will only strengthen the Italo-French relations.
Because the Provisionary Government seized many of the Italian vessels, the Royalist forces are setting up various coastal defenses, especially around Palermo.

Meanwhile, the Italian Kingdom's government in Palermo declared martial law and total military mobilisation.

[Arela]

avance

Power to the People!

Haya de la Torre waves to onlookers

As the imperialist world order breaks down, Andea's capitalist class has been getting evermore unnerved. Lately, the courts have accused the Movement of Socialism of being anti-democratic and anti-patriotic. The MAS has rejected participation in this illegal tribunal, having been denied legal representation or a fair trial.

Haya de la Torre committed himself to lead by example when he left for Cochabamba to mobilize the city's workers. As he gathered a crowd, Torre passionately spoke against the corrupt political elite. "Herrera said that he would help the common man. All he did was help his corrupt friends!" Torre exclaimed. "Herrera defunded our infrastructure, our children's education, and our healthcare. Even the tiny scraps given to us were meant to enrich his cronies! Herrera says food for the poor, but instead of buying from local farmers, he buys from giant plantations owned by the elites!"

Paramilitary police attempted to suppress Torre's speech but were warded off by angry crowds. As the police were repelled, the crowds chanted "Power to the people!" The success in Cochabamba inspired similar protests elsewhere in Bolivia, with many applying to join the MAS. The people's voice shall be heard.

[Lusophone]

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General Gomes da Costa’s death prompts passage of ‘Pure Food and Diet Act’

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LISBOA — The Pure Food and Diet Act has cleared the legislative hurdle after a favorable vote in the National Assembly, now set to be ceremonially signed into law by newly elected President Timoteo Renaldo.

The passage of the statute arose with strong support in the wake of General Manuel Gomes da Costa’s untimely death. Health officials charged with investigating the cause of General Gomes da Costa’s death concluded that he ultimately succumbed to severe food poisoning from consuming infected meat; The General suffered heart failure and doctors were unable to save him, the director of Hospital de São José told journalists.

General Manuel da Costa was one of 826 people taken to Lisboa hospitals after the first cases of food poisoning were reported in Grande Lisboa. Four compatriots remain in worrying conditions while 321 show signs of recovery.

Lisboa media reported that meat had been on special offer at half its normal price in local markets, resulting in a higher than normal number of purchases. Officials found that the meat sold had become infected because it had not been refrigerated in what were heatwave temperatures, bacteria riddling meat and poultry. Three people, including the restaurant owner, have been detained by the Lisboa Police of Information.

For the first time, the Pure Food and Diet Act will regulate food and medicine in Portuguese commerce and forbids the manufacture, sale or transportation of poisonous medicines and infected foods. The statute makes it illegal to adulterate or misbrand meat and meat products being sold as food, ensuring that livestock are slaughtered and processed under strictly regulated sanitary conditions.

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Mourning the Father of the Republic

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The Nation continues to observe its two week period of national mourning following the death of General Manuel Gomes da Costa. It officially began on 25 Junho, the day of the first President’s funeral.

The National Assembly approved a recommendation by the government for a period of national mourning in remembrance of the hero who victoriously ushered in the Second Republic following the ‪1919 coup d'état,‬ christened by grateful Portuguese as "Father of the Republic.”

The national flag continues to be flown at half-mast throughout the Nation and overseas territories, in government buildings, armed forces establishments and at Portuguese posts overseas.

Public services continue as normal and compatriots are still able to access information and services as necessary, guidance issued by the government states.

President Timoteo Renaldo, who ascended to the figurehead role upon election by the National Assembly, has stated that he will deliver his debut speech to the Nation after the period of national mourning.

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Draft Gomes da Costa letter reveal General’s sympathies for Mussolini

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In the midst of a nation reeling from the loss of a hero, extremist dissidents sought the moment as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the Nation.

A disgruntled Belem Palace employee who had access to the late General Gomes da Costa’s private quarters published to the press a letter that the late President had intended to send to Italian leader Benito Mussolini — had he not unfortunately passed.

The draft letter reads

21 Junho 1921

Your Excellency,

It has been three years since the birth of my Nation’s Second Republic. Even now I still cannot forget the moment I marched down Lisboa as the people watched with great hope Portugal’s return to destined greatness.

As you will find, just as my compatriots and I did, the path to greatness does not come easy. It will require a sustained fight with disciplined persistence.

I wholeheartedly support your hopes for all that you seek to achieve and to make them come to great fruition.

As an act of initiating friendship, I will have already instructed my closest and most trusted colleagues and the relevant organs to travel to Rome as Envoys and determine how Portugal may aid you by the time you receive this letter.

Your compatriot,

Presidente da Segunda República Portuguesa, General Manuel Gomes da Costa

Commenting on the unauthorized release of the stolen letter from General Manuel Gomes da Costa’s belongings, Lisboa dissident Luciano Meneses expressed his firm dismay.

The Frente Nacional’s autocratic tendencies are the very things Mussolini aspires to bring to Italy...

He continued to lament,

...the late President greatly identifying with Benito Mussolini reveals how little they value true democracy.

Meneses drew criticism for what has been considered disrespectful remarks and may be considered a person of interest by the Police of Information for his slanderous remarks.

Though uncorroborated, the former Belem Palace aide responsible for the unauthorized release of the draft letter has reportedly been apprehended by the Police of Information for extensive inquiry.

SEARCH KEY(S): PORTUGAL, LUSOPHONE
EDITS: 8 times for multiple typos.

[Lendenburgh]

July 5, 1921

Deutsche Ostasiengesellschaft Established- New Rail line from Peking to Irkutsk announced
Following the dispatch of military advisors to the Republic of China earlier this year, Strasser and his ministry have established a company to increase German investments in the country. Most significantly, the company has secured access to ports in Shanghai for trade and shipbuilding. Over the next few years, the company is looking to develop bauxite and magnesium deposits in the Hebei and Liaoning regions. The transport of these materials will be across Chinese rail lines to the capital in Peking, from where the company will begin the construction of a new rail link with the Trans-Siberian, shaving 15 hours off the current Eastern route. The rail link will be constructed with labor and engineering support from Germany, China, the Soviet Union, and Ikh Tal.

The Foreign Ministry announced that it had reached a memorandum of cooperation with Ikh Tal, and had agreed to provide resources and engineering support for the construction of infrastructure in the country. Further, as payment for the entrance of the D.O.G. entering China, the German government will increase it's arms exports to the nation by 30%- mostly being purchased from recently constructed Pacifican arms factories in the North of the country.

Anglo-German Trans-Antarctic Expedition Announced
The last men to brave the desolate frontier of the Antarctic, the crew of the ill fated Endurance, departed 9 years ago before the Great War. However, over the course of this Southern Winter, the Endurance's captain Sir Ernest Shackleton along with a joint team of German and British Explorers will once again try to traverse the cruel continent. Unlike the privately funded journey of 1912, which took place on the last wooden ship to leave the yards at London, this expedition will be publicly outfitted with all necessary measures and a state of the art vessel. Departing for Cape Town later this month, they will continue on to the South Georgia Islands before finally making their way into the dense ice of the Southern Ocean, hopefully being able to reach the coast before Mid-Summer in November.

Undoubtedly, their geographic and topological discoveries will be just as groundbreaking as those found at Queen Maud's land by the Norwegian and British expeditionary of the beginning of the century. Scientists have even proposed the concept that the Earth may be a network of moving plates atop molten magma. As ridiculous as this idea sounds, it would explain the seeming appearance of the Continents as puzzle pieces on a map, and fossil records which strangely coincide across vast distances.

Continuing in it's push to develop the sciences, the new National Academy's biology department will also be dispatching a team of researchers to travel to the Sonoran Desert- one of the hottest places in the world- in Southern Pacifica. In collaboration with Pacifican researchers, they hope to expand upon the Theory of Evolution and study the unique adaptations of organisms in extreme climates. Hopefully, the combination of the results from the Antarctic and Sonoran expeditions will give a more complete picture of the most extreme climates on Earth, and how their ecosystems came to be.

The Siege of the Rhur
Three long months have passed with the Reichswehr cutting off all contact between the Rhur and the rest of Germany. Constant air patrols preventing supplies from crossing the Rhine, and the massive desertion of citizens from the region meant that the army's advance was slow but consistent. Pre-war population estimates put the region at around 5,000,000 people- the Ministry of the Interior has reported that over 1 million civilians have voluntarily surrendered and migrated out of the province. In addition to the constant stream of emigration that has existed since the establishment of the Soviet, the government now estimates that only ~3.3 million people remain in the region. As such, the food situation has become dire within the area controlled by the Soviet, worse than the height of the Great War. Deliberately advancing from town to town to liberate civilians, the Reichswehr has finally achieved a measure of success.

As of today, the Soviet's government only controls the region directly surrounding Dusseldorf and Duisberg, and the government estimates that only around 20,000 fighters remain. A final ultimatum for complete surrender was accepted around 10 in the morning, and the Army expects to have the region under control and dissidents detained within the next week. The Direktorat has instituted an emergency migration plan to deal with the flow of refugees, modeling the effort after that in Silesia, and will concentrate the population in the newly industrializing North-West, and around Frankfurt-am-Main.

[Arela]

July 12, 1921

After eleven days of fighting the MAS insurgency came to an end as their leaders surrendered. However, a splinter-group, called the Communist Party of Andea (PCA), have called for continued resistance. They have launched a barrage of attacks, mostly targeting isolated police officers.

Nevertheless, order has been largely restored in Bolivia. The MAS is destroyed, with all of its leaders in exile or in hiding. Haya de la Torre, the main figure in the MAS rebellion, reportedly has taken a ship towards Europe.

Despite the victory, Herrera's opponents have lambasted him for being too weak and letting the rebellion happen in the first place. They claim Herrera's incompetence could have led to a full-scale civil war.

However, many also have a sense of relief in knowing that the radical anarchists have been defeated. Other countries, like in Germany and Russia haven't been so lucky, where the anarchists have suppressed freedom and democracy.

[Ikh Tal]

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July 29, 1921 - Price ₮2

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Khan Declares Esperanto National Language, Endorses International Adoption of the Language

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In a speech this morning the Khan declared Esperanto the second official national language alongside Mongolian and announced his intention to support its adoption across the globe. Starting next month the entire Ikh Tal Education System will be teaching Esperanto as a secondary language to all students. Ikh Tal diplomats are already lobbying the international community, in Paris and elsewhere, to support the adoption of the "International Language."
The Khan has been enthusiastic about Esperanto since his visit to Europe in 1913, during which he met L. L. Zamenhof at the 9th World Esperanto Congress in Bern. He corresponded with Zamenhof until his death in 1917, becoming fluent in Esperanto. In his speech, the Khan proclaimed his desire for a "Brotherhood of Nations," proclaiming that "Esperanto is the best way to bring about peace and understanding in this world. The ability to communicate with anyone across the globe, nationality be damned, would be one of the most unifying developments in human history."
With thousands of Chinese immigrants flooding into the country, many of them children, the budget of the Ministry of Education has been increased dramatically. Adults are being encouraged to take courses in the language as well, offered for free by the government. If Ikh Tal can successfully adopt Esperanto as a secondary language, it could spark the beginning of international adoption of the language.

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Weapons Shipment Discovered at Ikh Tal-Xinjiang Border

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Last night a group of Hui soldiers, led by Fan Yaonan, apprehended a cart of weapons crossing the border into Xinjiang from Ikh Tal. The cart drivers fled before they could be questioned, but it is highly likely that the weapons were being delivered to the Revolutionary Front of Xinjiang (RFX). This discovery, which comes alongside a ramp-up in RFX protests, could cause a rapid escalation of the situation.
Yaonan the second in command to Governor Yang Zengxin, was sent by the central government in 1917 and has an unfriendly relationship with Zengxin. He is calling for a purge of all communists and socialists in Xinjiang, and the complete eradication of the RFX. This has caused another increase in RFX activity, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating across the state. Governor Zengxin has stayed consistent with his message of appeasement, granting concessions to the RFX. Whether or not Zengxin has full control of the military is under debate, as Fan Yaonan has built up a cabal of military officers and administrative officials in opposition to the Governor.
The 2. Infantry Division "Khüchirkheg Daichid" has been stationed on the border with Xinjiang, under orders from the Khan. He, and other Ikh Tal officials, have denied any involvement in the weapons cart. However, the Khan has stated that if the situation in Xinjiang were to devolve into chaos, Ikh Tal is ready to intervene in the name of international peace and order and that they stand with the goals of the RFX. It appears that the situation in Xinjiang is coming close to a tipping point, but we have yet to see what the inciting incident will be.

[Orostan]

PEACE IN EASTERN EUROPE
August 20th, 1921

A peace agreement with Poland was concluded this morning, and ends the war between Poland and the USSR. Following a series of costly battles for both sides and unrest in the Volga region the USSR has agreed to a peace deal that generally favors Poland. Several border regions that include Minsk have been ceded to Poland in Belarus and the border has moved roughly fifty five kilometers east. The Poles have in exchange agreed to a non-aggression agreement that will be reviewed in 1931. The border in Ukraine will remain unchanged. Furthermore, Poland has agreed to take Soviet political prisoners off of our hands who are native to Belarus, Ukraine, or are Polish. In exchange for being allowed to leave the USSR they will give up their private property (land, factories, shops, etc.) and any claim to it in the future. Both sides have also included a number of clauses in the agreement to reduce tension at sea. Polish warships will not enter the Gulf of Finland under arms without alerting the Soviet government beforehand and the Soviet navy will agree to the same terms for the Baltic south of Gottland. There will be no construction of new minefields and a sharing of maps of existing minefields as well.

CHINESE COMMUNISTS AND LEFT-KMT OPPOSE WARLORDISM IN CHINA

Chinese Communists and the left wing of what remains of the KMT Chinese national liberation party founded by Sun Yat-sen have agreed on a coalition to "rid China of warlords and capitalist bandits". The warlords in the north of China that have formed into a coalition backed by parts of the right wing of the fractured KMT. Having smashed many of their rivals in the north and taken Nanjing the northern warlords are opposed by fragmented southern warlords in whose territory Communists and left-KMT groups have already taken up arms. Yunnan, Guangdong and a number of other provinces have their own soviets forming. With no land reform or action against exploitative landlords in the right-KMT/Northern Warlord territory those wishing to oppose warlordism are drawn to the left-KMT and the Communist Party of China.

[Nowa Polonie]

President Pilsudski Declares an End to Conflict



Speaking before the Sejm, President Pilsudski declared that hostilities between the Polish Republic and the Soviet Union had come to an end and that the demobilization of the army would begin to take place. Pilsudski's address notably touted Poland's success in achieving key war goals in Belarus, though there has been some controversy surrounding the failure to achieve gains in Ukraine.

In his first address since the signing of the Treaty of Riga, Poland's peace treaty with the Soviet Union, President Pilsudski declared that hostilities had ceased and that Poland would begin to implement its peace obligations. Notably, President Pilsudski announced that for the first time since its formation in the Summer of 1917, that the Army of the Republic of Poland would begin to demobilize and pursue a general policy of downsizing and further professionalization, decreasing from its current size of ~650,000 to a new peace-time size of 300,000 to be achieved by 1925. Notably, representatives from the Belarussian Rada of the Minsk Government in Belarus would be in attendance - the first such instance of any foreign presence in a Sejm meeting in its modern history, and one which was noticed by those in attendance, being the subject of a complaint directed to the President after the conclusion of his address by the Right Opposition, lead by Adam Dmowski, who attracted heckles from members of both the Polish Socialist Party and the Bloc of National Minorities, who both issued statements of support for the President's decision to pursue an end to hostilities, with Belarussian sections of the Bloc of National Minorities in particular congratulating the President for his 'honouring' of prior Polish declarations made to restore Belarussian national government from Minsk, though Ukrainian sections of the party were broadly silent, with some in particular seeming uncomfortable with the current peace, which has largely empowered the Belarussian section of the party at their own expense, and to the position of Ukrainians not only within Poland, but also at a broader global scale - many observers have already begun to speculate that a split in the party has now become a matter of when, and not if.

Despite these early scenes following the President's speech, the Sejm would broadly stand behind the President in his decision to pursue a peace agreement - the only party in opposition that vocally supported the war was the Bloc of National Minorities, with both the Left and Right Opposition opposing it (though opposition from the Left was generally motivated by a desire for further pursuit of pacifist policies, and further demilitarisation of politics - while the Right opposition saw the war as opposed to the self-interests of ethnic Poles), and while parts of the peace treaty have already began to court controversy, a desire for peace has made it particularly difficult for the critics and opponents of the President to criticize Poland's government, which has ridden a general trend of increasing support for the government, particularly among sections of the national minorities. It came with little surprise then, and to the further pleasure of sections of the Sejm when Pilsudski announced that elections would take place in the Spring of 1922 for both seats in the Sejm, and for the office of the President for the first time since the Republic's formation. President Pilsudski further underlined that constitutional reform would take place prior to elections to remove many of the extra-parliamentary powers available to the President, and to further empower the Sejm at the expense in the pursuit of a more free, representative democracy. Apocryphal reports made after the conclusion of that Sejm's meeting noted that Right Opposition leader Adam Dmowski was 'seething' at the President, and his policy of empowering national minorities, decentralising powers away from ethnic Poles, and weakening the office of the presidency.

The public response to the peace has been largely jubilant, and many have welcomed what is broadly percieved to be an 'honourable peace', and the long-awaited return of the long-absent soldiers of the Polish Army to civilian society has been welcomed by many groups. Across the country, popular demonstrations have marked the declaration of peace, and the late Summer of 1921 in Poland will be remembered as one scored by the military music of parade as returning soldiers demonstrate to civilian crowds as they begin to finally return home after nearly half a decade of near-constant conflict.



The war's costs and scars will long remain - Poland now shoulders the task of repairing further damage to the East, and of the burden of repairing the wartorn country of Belarus. The struggle to develop the East of the country has gotten that much more difficult for the government, as a refugee crisis that developed throughout the war will continue as many within the Soviet Union take the opportunity of both the confusion following the end of hostilities, and the general armistace stipulated in the peace agreement, to leave the country and travel to Poland, either to settle there or to transit further. Many estimate that emigration to and through Poland will see levels in the hundreds of thousands in both instances respectively. For now though, public satisfaction has muted the potential for these to become a political weeping sore for the government, and the public outlook remains hopeful for the future - many look towards the future hopefully, for some for the first time in a very long while.

The Fate of Belarus



The Belarussian Rada, formerly in exile, has at last returned to the national capital of Minsk. As a government where the military dress cap appears as often as the professional politician's tophat, it's a partnership with the government of Poland has come to it rather naturally, and the two have made strange bedfellows. Despite this, its position is precarious - and most agree that its continued sovereignty is doomed in the face of little international recognition, and little domestic recognition of its authority within Belarus.

'The youngest Republic in Europe' is a title now claimed by the Belarussian People's Republic, newly borne from the Treaty of Riga. Despite this, it is unlikely that it shall remain so for long - throughout the war, local economies in Belarus increasingly became tied to the Polish economic sphere, as did local political leaders. The Minsk government is largely unrecognized abroad, and its position domestically is a little better. With its authority stretching over the approximately fifty mile strip secured by Poland at the peace treaty, it has little strategic depth, and very low prospects of ever securing authority over parts of Poland where Belarussians are in the majority - at least in its current form.

Many within the Minsk Government are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the only path that remains to the Belarussian is to acquiesce to the Promethean ambitions of Poland's President Pilsudski and to pursue Belarussian national ambitions within, rather than parallel to, Poland. For now, the immediate demands of the post-war environment demand the full attention of its provisional local bureaucracy, and it is unlikely that it will even have the time or political capital to pursue further political ties to Poland, but many believe that should President Pilsudski secure his position in Poland's 1922 elections, that an agreement between the governments of Poland and Belarus to fully unify will become all but inevitable.