The Gathering

[Alucard Tobor]

"If you have suggestions, by all means, state them." Rho stated plainly. "This is just as much a meeting to determine how such an organization might function as it is anything else. Though do bear in mind," the fainted ghost of a smile drifted across the man's face, "that the organization's binding power, such as it may be, can hardly be concentrated in any single nation; it would seem to rather defeat the point of a semi-neutral mediator, after all."

[Sabriel]

"A guiding council that can, with majority vote, veto any resolution from the general assembly. Give membership in this guiding council to the nations who defeated the resurgent fascism in Romania; China, Korea, Victoria, America, and democratic Romania. We've already shown that we can work together for a righteous cause. Why not simply extend these efforts?"

[Alucard Tobor]

Rho's smile widened slightly. "Well, an oversight council does sound appropriate... though I feel I should note, all those present here have had their nations invited to join the United Nations. As such, any such entity rather does require their approval - without members, we shan't have much of an international organization at all." he noted blandly, sweeping a hand across the chamber, eyes on the Victorian officer.

[Sabriel]

The Victorian's gaze turned across the rest of the room. His smile remained, though it became hard and cold, more threat than expression of friendship or happiness.

"Yes, any such organization would need members. And all these nations can feel safe knowing that they would be guided by those of us who have shown ourselves willing to put the lives of our people on the line to ensure world peace. They can see what we've done through the WHIP, what we've done in Romania, the end of conflicts across the world at Queen Catharine's insistence. And they can be reassured that this same dedication would go toward guiding and protecting this organization."

[Niobium2]

Tristan Tzara takes the opportunity to speak.

"Romania agrees with the proposal of a world organization to find diplomatic solutions to our many, many problems. However, to insist upon the disproportional representation of a handful of nations would... discourage the cooperation of other nations. It would surely dampen any utility or legitimacy such a guiding body might have."

[Markus Wilding]

Denmark, the two Frances, the Socialist Republic of Lviv, Pomerania, Ireland, West Turkey, the Socialist Republic of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Kirov, Celebes, the Socialist Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Honduras, Hungary, Kingdom of Tajikistan, Tannu Tuva, Liaoning Republic, Kingdom of Laos, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Zhejiang, Gabon, Sonora Federation, People's Republic of Belgium, Germany, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Soviet Socialist Republics of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Crimea, as well as Cascadia, reject the initial charter of the draft entirely, decrying it as pointless quibble that has no strength behind it.

The support for the Victorian proposal is somewhat moderate, with the Republic of Zhejiang, Vietnam, Tannu Tuva, West Turkey, and Laos rejecting it as well out of fears of "imperialist strongarm" tactics.

Indifference sets in among the smaller powers in play, split more or less evenly among those amenable to the initial Korean proposal, those in favor to the Victorian proposal, and those who hold no particular feelings for the intent of the meeting whatsoever.

[Markus Wilding]

The American diplomat sighed as he read over the proposal, as well as listened to his counterparts across the world speak. "Atlanta is not amenable to the Korean draft," he finally said as the Irish ambassador finished a rather long and very fire-and-brimstone sort of speech condemning the entire venture. "The American people are concerned regarding sovereignty, not just in relation to international matters, but also internally. Would this organization find it fit to pursue action against the Socialist Republics as we prosecuted former officials from lost states during our reunification campaigns? Because as it stands, illegal rebels do not hold legitimate rights under the Geneva Conventions. Broadly, we are in agreement with our Victorian allies regarding a guiding hand to show other countries the way which may not be able to utilize such methods themselves, but Atlanta would much prefer a veto power entrusted to one member of the council, which could be rotated yearly to prevent one member from dominating resolutions and preventing pointless disruptions."

[Sabriel]

The Colonel nodded to one of his aids, who fixed each objecting delegate with a stare before scribbling something on a notepad. The Colonel himself spared a slight glance for the Romanian delegation, "If you wish to give up your seat on the guiding council, we have no objection. It appears, however, that the majority favours Victoria's proposal. Even if," he nodded to the American delegate, "some wish to modify it somewhat. A veto may speed the process in the guiding council, but I feel it would be against the spirit of cooperation in which we would be meeting. One nation having the power to veto any resolution brought forward by the world, even when all others in the council are in agreement?"

He shook his head before continuing, "I think that a guiding council with the ability to overturn resolutions, by majority vote, should be a sufficient failsafe against mob justice. An individual veto does not serve to act as a guide, but as a method with which one might flip over the tables and refuse to allow anything to be done without their say so."

[Niobium2]

Tristin Tzara, embarrassed, turns to his aide, before returning to the conversation. "That is not what I intended Colonel. Romania amends its position in support of the Victorian proposition."

[Cataphrak]

Meanwhile, Mortimer Liao-Berenson had been somewhat distracted by a whispered conversation with his own aide.

"Really? That seems a bit strong, doesn't it?" he asked unsurely.

"That's the new government's position, sir," his aide replied with a rueful look of his own. "If it means China is recognised as a great power again, they won't countenance you objecting."

"Alright, alright, but-" Liao-Berenson sighed. "I can't exactly say that, now can I? We'll sound like the villain of a radio serial."

The aide shrugged. "Guangzhou said you had full discretion regarding how you want to dress it up."

"Oh, do I? At least I still have that power," the ambassador replied in a rare moment of sarcasm, before clearing his throat and looking up and the other assembled delegations.

"History teaches us all sorts of useful lessons, some on what to do, and some on what not to do. This idea of a universal diplomatic body is not a new one. It's been tried before, in the form of the League of Nations, and the failure of that organisation made it an example of what not to do. It was a failure that China felt keenly. When the Japanese invaded and killed millions, the League was so paralysed with inaction and infighting that it could send nothing more than a sternly worded reprimand. So too with the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, the German remilitarisation of the Rhineland, and its seizures of Austria and Czechoslovakia. The result? Half a billion dead, the world in pieces, civilisation on the brink of destruction by an evil that had been allowed to fester without restraint or meaningful opposition."

He looked to each of the delegates now, with an iron in his gaze which he did not truly feel. He was making this up as he went along, hoping that the noble sentiments he was expressing hid well enough the more grasping objectives of his superiors in the new Guomindang government.

"If we are to work together, then let us make sure that it is through an organisation which works, not one which will inevitably be bogged down with vetoes and subcommittees. China supports the Victorian proposal unreservedly."

Liao-Berenson resisted the urge to shake his head as he sat back. He would lodge a protest with the Executive Yuan of course, maybe even tender his resignation. But that didn't mean he could defy orders now, no matter how much he wanted to. He had taken this post to bring China into the future. That didn't mean he could refuse, just because that future wasn't what he wanted it to be.

What could he do but keep marching forward?