Grey Wolf
Donor
1854
News reaches London of the assassination of Abbas, ruler of Egypt, allegedly done to death by two of his slaves after harshly treating another over an incident about a horse (Abbas being a great breeder of horses).
Lord John Russell's government has its own problems in London. The weakness of the East India Company has been clear for some years, and the success in acquiring Sindh during the Sino-Sikh War (1842-1845) paradoxically served to illustrate the fact. It was only possible due to the Sikh state's focus being on the war in the East and its need to secure its Southern borders. It was a consolation prize perhaps, for Britain. The Sikh's strategic victory has strengthened them far more, and the conquest of Baltistan, added to rumoured Russian ties, has simply served to underline how weak certain aspects of British rule in India actually are. Russell's government is committed to doing something about it, but has run into opposition from entrenched interests. As these include mercantile and conservative elements of his own government, Russell's administration is on the verge of collapse.
As part of the same package of reform, the Hudson Bay Company will be dissolved and Ruperts Land brought under direct British rule. This is as much in response to British fears of US intentions as it is to any weakness in the HBC itself. With Upper and Lower Canada effectively neutral buffer states between Britain and the USA, and with the entirety of the Oregon Territory signed away, Ruperts Land appears vulnerable should a future US administration look Northwards once again. The administrations in Upper and Lower Canada are so close to US interests that, despite their position as British colonies, they are often referred to as US protectorates. Russell perceives his move as being to prevent the same thing happening to Ruperts Land in the future.
US-British relations remain tense. Mexican recognition of Texan independence has been secured by British and French pressure, but in its occurrence, US influence over Texas has been drastically undermined. The annexation party has been weakened by this political victory, and with British and French economic investment pouring into the Republic, the independence party is solidifying its appeal, especially among the merchant classes.
The Yucatan remains a US protectorate, and in response Britain has increased its presence and investment in its protectorates of British Honduras and Miskitia (the Eastern Nicaraguan coast). Diplomatic attempts to defuse the tensions have so far fallen on deaf ears. Russell's government has no interest in signing anything other than an advantageous treaty. His predecessor's abandonment of Oregon has set a precedent that Britain has no wish to see continue.
As Russell's government collapses, and the Radicals are returned in the ensuing general election, Russia taking advantage of the instability in Egypt after Abbas' death moves to press the Orthodox position in the so-called Monks Dispute in Jerusalem which has been bubbling under the surface for several years.
As, William Lovett takes office as Prime Minister he is thrust into the twin crises of the reforms of the EIC and HBC on the one hand, and a dangerous Franco-Russian spat developing in the Eastern Mediterranean on the other.
Grey Wolf
News reaches London of the assassination of Abbas, ruler of Egypt, allegedly done to death by two of his slaves after harshly treating another over an incident about a horse (Abbas being a great breeder of horses).
Lord John Russell's government has its own problems in London. The weakness of the East India Company has been clear for some years, and the success in acquiring Sindh during the Sino-Sikh War (1842-1845) paradoxically served to illustrate the fact. It was only possible due to the Sikh state's focus being on the war in the East and its need to secure its Southern borders. It was a consolation prize perhaps, for Britain. The Sikh's strategic victory has strengthened them far more, and the conquest of Baltistan, added to rumoured Russian ties, has simply served to underline how weak certain aspects of British rule in India actually are. Russell's government is committed to doing something about it, but has run into opposition from entrenched interests. As these include mercantile and conservative elements of his own government, Russell's administration is on the verge of collapse.
As part of the same package of reform, the Hudson Bay Company will be dissolved and Ruperts Land brought under direct British rule. This is as much in response to British fears of US intentions as it is to any weakness in the HBC itself. With Upper and Lower Canada effectively neutral buffer states between Britain and the USA, and with the entirety of the Oregon Territory signed away, Ruperts Land appears vulnerable should a future US administration look Northwards once again. The administrations in Upper and Lower Canada are so close to US interests that, despite their position as British colonies, they are often referred to as US protectorates. Russell perceives his move as being to prevent the same thing happening to Ruperts Land in the future.
US-British relations remain tense. Mexican recognition of Texan independence has been secured by British and French pressure, but in its occurrence, US influence over Texas has been drastically undermined. The annexation party has been weakened by this political victory, and with British and French economic investment pouring into the Republic, the independence party is solidifying its appeal, especially among the merchant classes.
The Yucatan remains a US protectorate, and in response Britain has increased its presence and investment in its protectorates of British Honduras and Miskitia (the Eastern Nicaraguan coast). Diplomatic attempts to defuse the tensions have so far fallen on deaf ears. Russell's government has no interest in signing anything other than an advantageous treaty. His predecessor's abandonment of Oregon has set a precedent that Britain has no wish to see continue.
As Russell's government collapses, and the Radicals are returned in the ensuing general election, Russia taking advantage of the instability in Egypt after Abbas' death moves to press the Orthodox position in the so-called Monks Dispute in Jerusalem which has been bubbling under the surface for several years.
As, William Lovett takes office as Prime Minister he is thrust into the twin crises of the reforms of the EIC and HBC on the one hand, and a dangerous Franco-Russian spat developing in the Eastern Mediterranean on the other.
Grey Wolf
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