Update
Kaiser Wilhem II celebrates his 55th Birthday
France calls for an international conference in Paris
Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway & Denmark sign the Stockholm Agreement
Germany transfers Northern Schleswig to Denmark.
Prime Minister H. H. Asquith loses no confidence vote
German national arrested in Verdun
Spain became a military dictatorship in a bloodless coup.
The Paris Conference ends with no results.
Norwegian “spies” caught in Britain!
Athens and London clash over meeting of the Balkan nations
Conferences and a War of Words
1914 opened with a bright hope for the easing of tensions from the past decade. Kaiser Wilhelm’s birthday was marked by a large outpouring of international birthday wishes. It was to be in Stockholm though that this hope was to be dashed. What was planned to simply be a meeting between Denmark and Sweden was made into something more when Norway elected to address the meeting as a “summit”. This sparked a rush of great powers attempting to gain entry in the hopes of getting a strong footing with the Nordic nations. To a great deal of protests from the French ambassador to Sweden, delegates from Germany and the Netherlands were the only two outside nations permitted to join in the proceedings. The document signed at that meeting on the 12th January has sparked a massive shift in the balance of power in Europe. The Stockholm Agreement, also known as the Scandivania Pack, has created a massive military block between the Nordic nations, the Dutch, and most alarmingly the Germans. Already vast amounts of arms and materials have begun to move between the five nations. This new block has place Russia and France is a very tight spot. Though protests were made through abassadors, many feel that Sweden's choice to permit entry to only Germany was an act of malace against France. The Swedish Embassy in Paris has found itself under seige. Protests pelt any going in an out of the building and the Police have done little to stop them. Only the embassy gaurds stand between the violent protestors and the embassy itself.
One part of the agreement though that has sparked vastly different reactions was the return of Northern Schleswig to Denmark. In Copenhagen, the news was met with wild celebrations. All across Denmark people took to the streets of their local communities and celebrated. In Northern Schleswig itself, Danish forces were welcomed by jubilant crowds. In Germany however, the mood has been different. Many more radical newspapers published headlines speaking of a betrayal to Bismark and those that united Germany. Though none dare to directly critique the Kaiser, many outspoken members of the Reichstag have gone after Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg. Though the situation is stable and discontent kept mostly to more radical channels, such a move should not be repeated again by German.
Other events unrest has occurred in two nations this month. In Westminster, Prime Minister Asquith has found himself out of office following the failing of the woman’s rights bill to pass through the House of Lords. Clashes occurred between the suffragette movements and those opposed to the vote. With massive strikes threatened nationwide, the Liberal Party put to motion a vote of no confidence. Asquith lost with only 2 votes in his favour. Now, David Lloyd Geroge has stepped up as Prime Minister on the 17th. In Spain, a bloodless Coup has placed all power of state into the hands of Miguel Primo de Rivera. With the blessing of the King, Spain has now become a military dictatorship.
Not long following the conference in Stockholm, delegates began to rush to Paris. With Stckholm fresh on their mind, French delegates went after the Austro-Hungraian representatives with a vengeance. Postering between Serbia and Austria-Hungary had kicked off again prior to the conference and France capatised it. Austria-Hungary was swift to counter France’s accusations to their postering the medaling in the Balkans, but soon the disagreement became too much. Austria-Hungary outraged at Britain’s attempts to get involved in what they felt was their sphere of influence and France’s refusal to recognise their rights to defend themselves against possible Serbian backed insulation, left the conference in a storm. Aside from this, nothing of note was achieved at the conference and delegates left feeling deflated and their time wasted.
Also of note this month, the naval arms race has begun to seep into other nations beyond the Major powers. Naval dockyards across Europe have begun massive efforts to begin to build up the navies of their respective nations. Could this lead to war of the seas at a level never seen before? Only time will tell. London and Athens have also found themselves at odds. Both nations wish to host a meeting of Balkan nations, with Athens arguing that as a Balkan nation they should host whilst London argues that as a Major power it should be them. Febuary will see if this issue is resolved.
What we do in the Shadows
In Verdun, a small incident occurred when French police arrested a German holiday maker at a cafe. They had been tipped off to a man matching his description who had been regularly visiting the area around the local forts as well as other border forts. The man, who’s name has not been disclosed, was released from holding on the 25th January following two days of questioning. Police found that though his actions had indeed drawn suspicion to him, the bird watching books and notes as well as the man’s story, led them to release him on the German side of the border much lighter of his bird watching materials. It would seem that tensions are high in the border regions and police on both sides of the wire have stepped up to a higher level.
Norway though has faced a massive scandal this month. Royal Military Police (RMP) have announced that they have arrested two Norwigen men for attempting to draw state secrets from British Officers over drinks. The two men, posing as officers of the Norwigan Army, had managed to gain access to the gentlemen’s clubs frequented by members of Horse Guards. RMP Officers were alerted to the two men when General Sir James Birch became aware of them spiking the drink of a fellow officer before asking a number of highly sensitive questions. Officers of the RMP present at the time jumped the two men. Now being held for questioning one broke and confessed to being sent to find out information for a party within Norway whilst the other maintained that they were acting independently. As of the end of the month, both men are still being held in custody.