Country Roads [China-SRA]

[Cataphrak]

Colonel Walker had gotten homesick the moment he'd got the call.

He'd been twenty three when he'd left the United States Air Corps to join Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group. In truth, he hadn't much of a choice. His squadron CO had somehow managed to find out about his Communist Party membership, and boy was he not pleased. He was given the choice of China, or a sit-down with the men at the HUAC.

If he'd known he'd been gone for sixteen years, he'd probably have let those reactionaries in the House of Representatives have their way with him.

Still, China had been good to him. Chennault was an unabashed reactionary. So was Jiang Jieshi, but the Chinese needed skilled pilots to kill fascists and they didn't ask questions. Neither did Sun Liren for that matter, though someone up top clearly knew what his inclinations were if they'd sent him back home, to a Georgia where the American worker was finally triumphant over the forces of capital.

He'd left a disgrace, and he'd come back an ambassador to a real honest-to-God American Proletarian State, with the thanks of a grateful nation and a figurative suitcase full of fascist scalps to show that he knew what he was talking about.

As he climbed the steps to the SRA's State Department Building to present his credentials, he took in the humid Georgia air and smiled. Country roads, it seemed, had indeed taken him home.

To the place where he belonged.

[Markus Wilding]

At first, his credentials were taken by an unassuming clerk, who took one look at him and then placed a phone call, prompting him to wait for several moments. Within ten minutes, Secretary of State Colin Sharp appeared, adjusting his glasses as he read over the information in front of him. "Mr... oh, my apologies, Colonel Walker, I understand you are the new ambassador to the Socialist Republics? Let us go to my office, I believe we have much to talk about."

Inside his office, there was a decent selection of hard drinks, as well as water should Colonel Walker be perhaps a bit more religious than Sharp anticipated. He took a seat behind his oak desk, gesturing to a simple brown leather chair, two of which sat opposite of him. Bookshelves lined the walls, primarily treatises on Marx and Lenin, interspersed with American and European history books, while his desk had a small flag of the Republics on it.

"Colonel Walker, I must say, it is quite a surprise to have a man of your caliber back here in America. We had considered most men of the Volunteer Group lost with the German Flu, not to mention the fighting. How have you been, sir?"

[Cataphrak]

"To be frank, sir? I'm real glad to be back, thank you kindly for askin' - especially considering what you gentlemen have done with the place," Walker replied, eyeing the volumes of Marxist-Leninist theory ranged behind the SRA man with evident satisfaction. An American cabinet secretary with a copy of The State and Revolution sat prominently on his bookshelf, who would have thunk it?

"In any case, I wouldn't be the only one," Walker continued. "Lots of American boys got trapped in China when the quarantine went up, not just us Fourteenth Air Force guys. There were a lot of fellas from the army ground forces, and a few from the navy, lots of civilians too, mostly missionaries and charity worker types. Quite a few of them would very much like to come home. The first item on my agenda is to arrange that - if that's possible, Mister Secretary."

[Markus Wilding]

"Right, yes, we've had this sort of arrangement with the Japanese as well. Former American servicemen who wish to come home are free to, but we cannot guarantee their safety should they wish to head to Lost States such as New York or Illinois. We hope to change this status in due time, but that much can be assured. They are free to register with the State Department or at the embassy in China should they wish to return."

[Cataphrak]

Walker nodded. "I think that would be acceptable to my government. I might just take you up on that offer myself once my hitch is up. Got family down near Macon. I hear some of them are still up and about."

He stood back up, the look of satisfaction only deepening as he extended his hand. "It has been a pleasure sir. I hope the relations between our respective countries continue to be so productive."

[Cataphrak]

1400 Hours, Eastern Standard Time, January 18th, 1959
From: Lt. Col. J. Walker, Ambassador (RoC-SRA)
To: C. Sharp, Secretary of State, SRA

I regret to inform you that my government has found your recent tariffs to be in violation of the PRICE agreement our governments signed last year. We will be lodging an official complaint tomorrow, for all the good that'll do.

Off the record, I'm not sure what convinced you fellas this was a good idea. The Chinese have had a hundred and fifty years of being dicked around by the Western Powers when it comes to treaties like this, and they had their bellyful decades ago. When news of this breaks, there's going to be hell to pay. Never mind that it ain't going to mean a goddamn thing to the bottom lines of all the capitalists still growing fat off the domestic trade, all the average worker on the street's gonna see is that the white man's gone and signed a treaty he had no intention of honouring, again, and that he's broken his word, again.

I strongly urge you to reconsider the measures you have taken. Barring that, I would advise, on the strongest terms, to get any SRA nationals out of Chinese ports as soon as possible, or there ain't going to be no power on God's green Earth that can guarantee their safety.

-J. Walker.

[Markus Wilding]

TO: Lt. Col. J Walker, Ambassador
FROM: Secretary of State Sharp's Office

Officially, the Socialist Republics maintains that our recent tariffs do not contradict the PRICE agreement. We also maintain that our policies regarding trade are ours to determine, and while we can certainly take the advisement of other nations under consideration, we must protect our economy and well-being first.

Currently, we believe that only the embassy staff remains in China. We hope that these implied threats of violence against American citizens will not extend to diplomatic staff, who should be protected. If this safety cannot be assured by the Chinese government, we will have no choice but to either deploy troops to ensure the SRA embassy is safe and secure, or immediately withdraw our embassy staff.

It should go without saying that if any American citizen is injured or attacked by rogue Chinese elements, then there will be consequences to pay.

- Colin Sharp, Secretary of State

[Cataphrak]

From: Ambassador J. Walker
To: SecState C. Sharp

I'm not trying to make any threats here, I'm trying to deliver a warning. I've received indications from my government that some kind of response is in the works that might calm things down, but sweet Jesus, if there's anything the average Chinese on the street hate, it's the idea of Western Powers forcing their country into an unequal treaty they have no intent of honouring at gunpoint - which is exactly what the PRICE agreement looks like now.

My government's already informed your embassy in Guangzhou to expect some strongly worded petitions. They don't expect things to get out of hand, there was still a lot of goodwill over the way we helped them with the Japanese in the 40s, but just know that I don't think SRA's diplomatic stock's gonna be worth much in China for the next twenty or thirty years.

-J. Walker

[Markus Wilding]

TO: Lt. Col. J Walker, Ambassador
FROM: Secretary of State Sharp's Office

Sir,

I shall make an appointment at once to speak with President van Baarle in order to find a solution to this conflict which has arisen between our countries. It is my sincere regret that the protection of the American people has been so grossly misinterpreted by our Chinese comrades, and I personally assure you that all solutions will be explored

- Colin Sharp, Secretary of Sate

[Markus Wilding]

The following note was given to the Chinese ambassador in Atlanta;

News of concerning developments in eastern China concerning RoC strongman tactics in regards to national sovereignty. President van Baarle displeased over RoC violations of sovereignty in Zhejiang despite repeated requests from Zhejiang for noninterference. Request clarification from your government in regards to Chinese intentions in Republic of Zhejiang.