Diplomacy 1908: The Shape of Things to Come; The Treaty of Savoy

Dear readers,

1908 approaches, a year in which the shape of the conflict in Europe takes on new forms all over the map.

The main feature of 1908 will be the war that is beginning between Germany and England, for these two countries now hold the West between the two of them. The game in the West will come down to which of these two comes out on top in the Atlantic theatre.

Who will control the Atlantic at the end of this game? Nothing less than the entire West of the map is at stake.

Here, France will play an extremely important role: removing France from the picture will harm the chances of victory for either England or Germany in the long term. Expect both countries to be courting France with their best offers in the coming few days.

The fate of Italy is also in the air: can Italy find a way to rebuild her strength and reclaim the Mediterranean, or will Italy be the next casualty of this war?

In the latest issue of de Oorlog, a proposed treaty for the future of France and Italy was put forward by an anonymous source.

Here it is once again:

The Treaty of Savoy

The undersigned nations agree to allow the formation of a combined French-Italian state named The Kingdom of Savoy.

The Kingdom of Savoy (international code "S") comprises Naples, Rome, Tunis, Marseilles, Spain, and Portugal (forming a natural defensive border around the Western Mediterranean), and pledges its existence as a peace-keeping force from the Straits of Gibraltar as well as the Ionian Sea. The Kingdom of Savoy forms a natural buffer between England and Austria, minimizing conflict in the Mediterranean.

Signatories are welcomed to respond to this letter.

There are already three supporters to the Treaty, and the international council is beginning to put pressure on the remaining nations to become signatories.

The Treaty would reinstate France and Italy's position, and produce a viable political entity in the Mediterranean.

The benefits to the various major powers are as follows:

Italy and France agree to give up any claim to Paris and Brest (French and German, respectively) and Venice (Austrian), as permanent gains for their invaders. 

In exchange, they are to be returned Portugal, Tunis, and Rome, allowing them to build the naval force necessary for control of the Mediterranean.

Austria gains a beneficial relationship with the new Kingdom of Savoy, as a counterbalance to the Western threat (in Austria's case, England).  Savoy will guard Austria's exposed Southern flank, allowing Austria to use her full force on the mainland.

Becoming a signatory also places Austria in a better diplomatic position: no longer an invader or genocidal force, but a nation willing to negotiate for peace and to make concessions in order to maintain their international reputation.

Finally, Austria gains Venice as a permanent Austrian possession, accepted by the international community.

Germany and Russia benefit in the Kingdom's existence in that they no longer need to worry about the control of the Mediterranean falling into the hands of England or Austria, which allows them to remain equal sparring partners with those two nations (who would otherwise control the naval theatre at their expense).

Germany gains Paris as a permanent German possession, accepted by the international community.

England gains a peaceful relationship with France (and support against Germany). The Kingdom of Savoy acts as a safeguard against Austrian control of the Mediterranean, allowing England to make a power play for the West of Europe while Savoy maintains her security.

England also gains Brest as a permanent French possession, accepted by the international community.

In short, the Kingdom of Savoy, if allowed to come into existence, creates a nice, equal playing field which all the remaining major powers can use to their advantage as they move into the endgame.

It also gives a chance of survival and regrowth to the French President and the King of Italy, allowing them to recover from their early game mistakes and find a second chance to play a meaningful role in the developing game.