Gaduridos

[Freelancer]

The Pontesian Imperial House and it's government would like to urge both side to seeks diplomatic solution to this disagreement as soon as possible. We believe that this simple misunderstanding should not be allow to escalated into a conflict and that Her Imperial Majesty would like to urge the Chief Factor of the Loyal Kingdom of Gaduridos and Fotheringhay and the Prime Minister of Mordusia to show restrain in dealing with this problem and hope that the situation will be resolve as soon as possible.

Signed,
John Dresden.
Representative of the Empress of the Pontesian Dynastic Empire and Queen of the Loyal Gaduridos and Fotheringhay

[conlib]

Detained Mordusian Ratings 'Set For Release'

Crowmarsh-Gifford, Fotheringhay. The 166 Mordusian non-commissioned sailors of HMS Grace, which was yesterday detained by The Imperial East Terra Company for transporting slaves, are said to be 'set for release' within the next 24 hours. Company Director for Defence, Horatio Delamere, stated that, 'our initial interrogations of the Ship's company suggest that none of the 166 ratings onboard had any active role with regards to the intrusion of HMS Grace into Gaduridosi Sovereign waters and nor could they have realistically undertaken any executive decisions regarding the treatment of the 2,500 slaves onboard.' The Directorate for Defence has since issued orders to the Mordusian ratings that they are to 'clean the inevitable marks left by the thousands of chained men and women who had no choice but to relieve themselves where they stood' during the week long packed voyage from Mordusia. The 13 Officers and Mordusian Justice Department Officials of HMS Grace are now awaiting interrogation by Company Intelligence Service agents. According to Delamere, the Officers are being treated 'as Gentlemen ought to be treated' though there is a view amongst many Imperial Company Officers that the treatment of the slaves onboard the Grace was so severe that the commissions held by the Mordusian Officers should be ignored.


HMS Grace awaits its fate in the Naval Base of Crowmarsh-Gifford. The 166 Mordusian ratings are said to be clearing the 'excrement smeared' walls of the slave chambers inside in preparation perhaps for the ship's release.

The Imperial East Terra Company has come under increasing international pressure to find a resolution to the present crisis. The Chief Factor has released no statement since his dismissal of the 12 hour ultamatum set by the Mordusian Prime Minister though the imminent release of the detained sailors will surely come as some relief to the Mordusian government and international observers. The gesture will surely not calm the Mordusian Justice Minister however. The Minister this morning stated that the Captain of HMS Grace was in fact her son, Captain Rosenburg. Defence Director Delamere has stated that, 'Captain Rosenburg will be interrogated in a manner befitting a gentleman of the Naval Service' but that 'as Captain, he must take responsbility for intruding upon Gaduridosi sovereignty and for the crimes that were committed against humanity on that ship.' The fate of the Officers and the 2,500 slaves is yet unknown though a statement will be made within the next 24 hours.

[conlib]

Mordusian Officers 'Utterly Incompetent' But 'Largely Innocent'

Crowmarsh-Gifford, Fotheringhay. After more than 72 hours in the custody of The Imperial East Terra Company, the 13 Mordusian Naval Officers and government employees that have become the focus of so much international attention recently, have been declared 'largely innocent' by the Company Court of Proprietors. On the charge of 'intrusion of Company sovereign waters', the Captain and Officer of the Watch were deemed 'innocent of any malicious or pre-meditated fault' but embarrassingly accused of being 'utterly incompetent' for making 'errors that a schoolboy should be caned for.' Regarding the charge of crimes against humanity and aiding slavery, the Officers were said to be undertaking orders from the legitimate representatives of the Imperial Sovereign of Mordusia and despite technically aiding slavery within the territorial waters of Gaduridos, the Officers were really only 'pawns in their government's game' and thus 'largely innocent'. Human rights groups within Gaduridos and Fotheringhay have condemned the ruling as a 'white wash'. Hugo Parez, a spokesman from the Gaduridosi Aborigines’ Rights Group, commented that the court's priority was to 'appease the commercial interests of the Chief Factor and get into bed with international opinion.'


Hundreds of protestors gathered outside Crowmarsh-Gifford Naval Base to broadcast their displeasure with the court's ruling

Chief Factor, Sir Thomas Barnes, has made the following statement to journalists, 'It has become very clear that the Imperial East Terra Company was fully justified in seizing and detaining the Mordusian Naval Vessel. At no point has The Company exceeded its rights nor has it acted in a malicious or aggressive manner. The intrusion of the warship into our territorial waters was a serious breach of the Law of the Sea and so we shall not heed to any demands for an apology to the Mordusian government. My Cabinet and I fully accept the ruling of the Court of Proprietors regarding the Officers and ratings of HMS Grace. It is now our intention to make arrangements for the sea-readiness of HMS Grace and for that ship, with her full complement of officers and crew onboard, to be escorted from our waters as soon as possible.’ The Company Defence Directorate has told all Mordusian Naval vessels to remain at least 50 nautical miles away from Gaduridosi waters during the operation. Sir Thomas ended his conference declaring his belief that ‘the Mordusian people should celebrate that they shall have their dear sons returned to them but they should also not forget the 2,500 sons and daughters of Mordusia who their government disowned and damned to a life worse than death.’

HMS Grace being loaded with stores and fuel for its return journey to Mordusia tomorrow

Pedro Fernandez, Internal Affairs Director, later commented that the 2,500 slaves from Mordusia, currently under the care of the Imperial Company, will not be returning with HMS Grace to that country. Fernandez stated that, ‘when you strip a man of his individual rights and dignity, you remove his nationality and all claims he used to have to the protection or indeed discipline of his old country. Gaduridosi courts cannot thus treat these slaves as Mordusians but nor can they be shareholders in our Company. They are a people of no identity and yet we have a powerful moral and legal obligation to ensure that they do not return to a state of slavery. Wherever The Company finds slavery, we shall not hesitate to take any action necessary to stop it.’ Company representatives do not currently have any plans for the 2,500 slaves but are preparing various proposals to present to the Mordusian government in the coming days.

[conlib]

HMS Grace Leaves Company Waters After Four Day Saga

Crowmarsh-Gifford, Fotheringhay. The Naval Vessel at the heart of a four day diplomatic row between The Imperial East Terra Company and the Mordusian Government has finally left Gaduridosi territorial waters this morning. HMS Grace has been detained in Crowmarsh-Gifford Naval Base since it was seized by Company forces for infringing Gaduridosi sovereign waters and its crew accused of crimes against humanity for the transportation of some 2,500 slaves. Both charges of intrusion and conducting a trade in slaves were dropped late last night but only after a vicious diplomatic exchange had occurred and war threatened. Indeed Lodamun was rumoured to have been preparing to send a carrier group in order to support The Imperial Company against any threat of Mordusian aggression. The release of the Grace and her full complement of officers and ratings is expected to boost the popularity of the Mordusian Government which has been heavily criticised for its reaction to the seizure of the ship. In Gaduridos however, many questions are being asked about the ruling passed by the highest company court. Jeffro Garcia from the Gaduridosi Aborignes Rights Group has publicly accused the Chief Factor of 'smudging the ruling in favour of narrow commercial interests over the greater factor of crimes against humanity.' Senior Civil Servants within The Company have privately suggested that the related Royal Families of Pontesi and Mordusia placed immense pressure on The Company to prevent the row from creating disunity between the families. One senior Company Director even insinuated that the Chief Factor was disappointed with the level of support he recieved from his international allies, namely the Pontesian Government.


HMS Grace (left) being escorted by a Fotheringhay Class Frigate named after a large company shareholder - IETCS Barnes. Company Directors claim that the choice of escort ship was coincidental and not political.

The Chief Factor has however, recieved a great deal of support from much of the public and human rights organisations for his efforts to protect the 2,500 slaves found to be in chains within the hull of HMS Grace. The history of pre-Company Gaduridos is mired with government oppression, violence and indeed slavery. Thousands of natives gathered along the beaches surrounding Crowmarsh-Gifford to wish good riddance to the Grace. According to the organiser of the gathering, 'for once in Gaduridosi history, our government is the one who offers an arm of brotherhood to fellow man and beats off the bully boy. Look at them! They leave this island running!' Barnes' closest Cabinet ally, Winston Howe, commented to journalists that 'people are overjoyed that the Chief Factor has been so decisive and principled over the issue of the slaves. The Officers of HMS Grace were just pawns, the main issue here is that The Company is doing all that it can to protect these grossly mistreated people.' The Chief Factor was unavailable for comment but a spokesman stated that discussions with the Mordusian government regarding the slaves would be conducted in due course but that the Mordusian government should not 'expect The Company to reverse the principles which it has expressed so clearly over the past few days.'

[conlib]

Mordusian Slaves 'Free To Return To Mordusia'

Raleigh, New Wessex. The Chief Factor of The Imperial East Terra Company has announced that the 2,500 Mordusian slaves currently under the protection of The Company are free to return to Mordusia if they wish to do so. Sir Thomas spoke after the Mordusian Foreign Minister appealed to the International Monarchist League in an attempt to force the return of the slaves. The Chief Factor stated that, 'The Company shall not implement a policy that in any way forces the 2,500 men and women under our custody to be returned to a state of slavery. Likewise, we are not preventing these people from voluntarily returning to Mordusia - the choice is theirs to make and we shall facilitate whatever decisions they make.'

A debate within the Executive Cabinet has begun over what term should be used when referring to the 2,500 Mordusian slaves in Company custody. The debate comes after the Chief Factor admitted feeling 'uncomfortable' with the term as The Company does not recognise the status of 'slavery' within Gaduridosi territorial borders. The Directors are believed to prefer the term 'emigre' which has connotations of political self-exile, an apt term in light of the announcement today.


Emigres at dinner in one of the detention centres temporarily made available for their use. All 2,500 are now able to choose whether they return to Mordusia.

[conlib]

Mordusia Outlaws Slavery
Barnes: 'No barriers to the return of emigres to Mordusia'

Raleigh, New Wessex The Mordusian Government has conceded to the demands of The Imperial East Terra Company and outlawed slavery in all of its forms. The abolition of slavery is being celebrated as a foreign policy triumph by the executive cabinet and anti-slavery campaigners. Chief Factor Sir Thomas Barnes stated to journalists that, 'when the greed of the slaving nations has ceased to seek for profit in the damnation of the vulnerable, then one would wish to dream maybe that, as they reap the harvests that are still unsown, men will speak with a mythic reverence of the goodly Imperial East Terra Company who came from the white King, to give Terra freedom.'

The consequence of Mordusia's abolition of slavery is the immediate de-restriction of legal mechanisms that prevented the 2,500 Mordusian ex-slaves from being returned to that country. Internal Affairs Director, Pedro Fernandez, stated that 'the ex-slaves shall return to Mordusia once their government send suitable and adequate transportation.' Some concerns have been raised over the extent of freedom these ex-slaves will benefit from once they return to their homeland. Fernandez however commented that, 'the newly acquired legal status and recognition of these ex-slaves as human beings is the greatest freedom to be enjoyed by any individual - they remain convicted criminals of capital offences and so should be punished accordingly.'

Since the diplomatic row between Mordusia and The Company, Sir Thomas has codified an international league of anti-slavery nations which seeks to undermine the free trade of slaves. The league will oblige signatory states to increase random boardings of ships that are flagged with the nationality of a slaving country. The treay will also establish a Court of Prefecture for the purpose of putting slavers on trial for crimes against humanity.

For more details on the League of anti-slavery nations, view the document on our website: http://classic.particracy.net/viewtreat ... atyid=1650 .

[conlib]

SSBNs On Immediate Alert

Raleigh, New Wessex. After unconfirmed reports from Standing Maritime Group 1, the task force sent to observe the unstable island of Vorona over a decade ago, that a nuclear device has been detonated around that isle, the submarines tasked with carrying the Imperial Company's nuclear deterrent have been placed on immediate alert notice. The upgrading of the threat level means that the number of submarines at sea armed with tactical nuclear missiles will double from 2 to 4 and targets across Vorona will be confirmed by the Naval Directorate to Submarine Commanders. The remainder of the Home Fleet have recieved notice for deployment within 72 hours to enforce an executive order from the Chief Factor that no ship or vessel from Vorona should come within 100 nautical miles of Company territorial waters. The Chief Factor has stressed that all these measures are only precautions against any unprovoked aggression and should not be viewed as preparation for war.


IETCS Vanquisher leaving Company Naval Base Raleigh to join fellow guided missile submarines Valiant, Venerable and Victor on patrols around Vorona.

[conlib]

Imperial Company and Lodamun Navies To 'Free The Waves'

Raleigh, New Wessex. The naval forces of Lodamun and The Imperial Company are to work closely together to ensure the seas of East Terra remain stable, open to trade and closed to slavery according to the new Director for Defence, Archibald Rosebery. The statement came at a reception for visiting Lodamunese Officers held at Imperial Company Naval Base Raleigh, New Wessex. The Officers were in Gaduridos after delivering the first four of twelve new high speed multi-role catamarans from the shipyards of Lodamun to the Company Naval Fleet.


Chief Factor Sir Thomas Barnes accepted the four catamarans into the Company Navy at Raleigh Naval Base: IETCS Alacritous, Swift, Rage and Impervious are the second fastest class of ship in the fleet, reaching speeds in excess of 45 knots.

Rosebery stated to reception that The Company and Lodamun, 'were bastions against tyranny, slavery and instability' and that a joint naval effort would be 'to the absolute benefit of East Terra'. Plans for a large NATO naval exercise are currently being discussed by Company executives and the government of Lodamun after a series of crises in the East Terra seas. According to Rear Admiral Suitermeister, 'the nuclear explosion in Vorona and the Mordusian slave ship crisis have taught the responsible and upstanding nations of East Terra that they must do all that they can to stabilise and maintain the security of the sea lanes - that demands a much closer degree of cooperation between allied navies.'


Chief Factor Sir Thomas Barnes (2nd from right) with Officers from the Lodamunese and Company Navies at the reception in Raleigh

[conlib]

BARNES ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE AT COMPANY'S 50 YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Raleigh, New Wessex. Commodore Sir Thomas Barnes today announced his departure as Chief Factor of The Imperial East Terra Company after exactly 50 years in the job. Barnes' length of service spans from the establishment of the Company Protectorate over the banana republic of Gaduridos in 2841. Throughout his years as Chief Factor, Barnes has won acclaim for his efforts towards more than quadrupling Gaduridos' GDP per capita and more recently, his international campaign to end slavery. Cabinet colleagues paid tribute to the elderly statesman in speeches made to mark the 50th anniversary of the Loyal Kingdom. Cutherbert Collingwood, who is favourite to be chosen by the Shareholders' Council to become the new Chief Factor, stated that Barnes 'is a figure of immense standing domestically and internationally and a man that has not been afraid to place humanitarian concerns over mere commercial profit.'

Barnes will probably be best remembered for the Mordusia Incident where he ordered the seizure of a large Mordusian Naval vessel and the arrest of her crew for crimes against humanity. The incident brought the two countries and their allies to near war. The resolution of the incident was deemed a foreign policy victory however, after Mordusia abolished slavery and Barnes established the Leage of Anti-Slavery Nations in order to bring an end to the free trade in slavery.


The Shareholders' Council has built a statue in Barnes' honour. He is portrayed as an explorer with a chart in his hand and an emancipator with a pair of broken shackles at his feet.

[Mr.Yankees]

Acting President Lincoln congratulates Sir Thomas Barnes for his service to Gaduridos and Terra

Port Andalay, Andalay (LCN)- In a press release this morning, Acting President Lincoln congratulated Chief Factor of The Imperial East Terra Company Sir Thomas Barnes for his fifty years of service to the people of Gaduridos and Terra.

"Sir Thomas Barnes is an inspiration to all of the current and future leaders of our world. During his time as Chief Factor of The Imperial East Terra Company, Mr. Barnes brought much needed happiness and prosperity to the people of Gaduridos. Lodamun and Gaduridos have always shared a special bond. That's why I feel the need to congratulate Sir Thomas Barnes for his service and dedication to the people of Gaduridos and Terra. Your legacy will not be forgotten."

Acting President Lincoln then extended an invitation to Sir Thomas Barnes:

"I think Sir Thomas Barnes deserves a vacation. I have extended an invitation to Mr. Barnes and his family to come to the best vacation spot in the world, Lodamun. We hope to see him here soon."

We have not received confirmation of whether Sir Thomas Barnes has accepted the invitation by President Lincoln.