New Britain (My Latest Attempt at a TL)

1996

Romania and Hungary signed an alliance declaring that they would not accept the domination of any foriegn power. In this they recieved the backing of the Western Powers and the Commonwealth. Germany threatened that if they openly left EFTA then it would be taken as a declaration of war against Germany.

Tensions escalated in March when a British spyplane was shot down near Dortmund. The Foriegn Secretary, Gordon Brown announced that the event was a terrible accident, principally caused by the oxygen failing in the cockpit. The Germans stated it showed the true dangers of the British Imperialists. The pilot, who somehow survived, Brian Harris was taken to Berlin and given a showtrial. He was sent to prison in Litmanstadt. The British were furious, but nothing could be done.

In April, France announced a return to conscription. They also signed an agreement with the British that 50,000 British servicemen would be sent to France. More controversially, in a move which caused protests throughout France, British Nuclear bombs were to be allowed on British airbases in the country.

Germany boycotted the European football Championships, held in Spain. They were won by the USSR. Later on they also boycotted the Olympics in Johannesburg.

The Commonwealth Ready Force and Navy was revealed as being larger than the armed forces of Spain. Under normal circumstances the Government would have called for a reduction to the defence budget. This move was rejected on the grounds of the current external threat.

On September 1st, Blair secretly sent a delegation to Budapest. Britain was to help fund the Hungarian bomb and help train the Hungarian military. This move was made without the knowledge of the French and with the opposition of the Americans who felt it risked enflaming the situation should it be discovered.

Indonesia joined the Commonwealth on November 1st as a full Dominion. As a republic it became unique in that it was the only Commonwealth state where the King was not head of state. They did however accept that the King would be head of the Commonwealth.

December saw Germany mobilise its forces along the Hungarian border. This blatant sabre rattling was met in kind by the Western powers. On December 14th, the Germans pulled back from the brink, for now. The knowledge of the general public in any of the states about this was limited.

The French President, Lionel Jospin called for a new congress of europe amongst the conflicting parties. Both the British Prime Minister and the German Kaiser agreed. The President of the United States also quickly agreed. The meeting was to be held in Versailles between Febuary 2nd and 12th.
 
Well germany seems to be more of a threat than the soviet union in this.

However i have to ask what is happening in the Soviet union these days?

Are they still as aggressive and devious as in OTL or have they calmed down in this timeline?
 
Well germany seems to be more of a threat than the soviet union in this.

However i have to ask what is happening in the Soviet union these days?

Are they still as aggressive and devious as in OTL or have they calmed down in this timeline?
The Soviet Union has been seen by many as the lesser evil, hence the fact there is less emphasis on their threat in this timeline. As has been written, economically, the USSR and China have both started liberalizing much as China has in in otl, unfortunately in terms of individual freedoms, they are still very limited.

Germany has evolved from a Nazi state, to an absolute monarchy, to a limited democracy to a police state run by the military with the Kaiser as the figurehead. Soviet stability is one reason for the fact it is less of a threat.
Mistborn said:
I just wanted to say this idea is cool and keep up the goodd work!!!!!
:D Thanks.
DAv said:
Well it seems that complete disaster has been avoided, for now at least.
I think the conference being called by the French is mainly due to the fact they are the weakest of the powers and as such are most fearful of a war. The Hungarian dispute isn't over though.
 
I gotta say again Fletch, I check this as soon as I log in here. My only question is the state of the Carribean. By now you'd figure the part that isn't already in, would have aproached the Commonwealth about joining. It's a huge trading block when you look at it in one picture. Plus there has been a British presence there for centuries, and have been a big part keeping Britians coffers up.

How is the south pacific looking like too? With Australia and New Zeeland having stronger economies, there'd be a stronger pull to the CwP, and membership. Or would it be more of a tilt towards China?

Also, with the Cw being the biggest trading block... Halifax would be the main Atlantic port in the Americas wouldn't it? It's be like the size of at least Boston. So we'd have to have an NHL team by then wouldn't we?
 
I gotta say again Fletch, I check this as soon as I log in here. My only question is the state of the Carribean. By now you'd figure the part that isn't already in, would have aproached the Commonwealth about joining. It's a huge trading block when you look at it in one picture. Plus there has been a British presence there for centuries, and have been a big part keeping Britians coffers up.

How is the south pacific looking like too? With Australia and New Zeeland having stronger economies, there'd be a stronger pull to the CwP, and membership. Or would it be more of a tilt towards China?

Also, with the Cw being the biggest trading block... Halifax would be the main Atlantic port in the Americas wouldn't it? It's be like the size of at least Boston. So we'd have to have an NHL team by then wouldn't we?
The US has occupied Cuba since the 50s or 60s in this timeline(cant remember, sure I mentioned it though and am too lazy to check up)with the consent of the US appointed government. As for the rest of the non-commonwealth Carribean, it looks to the US more than the Commonwealth. The US is still, after all a superpower in ttl.

Canada is stronger than in otl, due to the Commonwealth but not so strong or large that it would rival America in any sense. The growth of the Commonwealth is principally due to the huge growth of the Indian economy, which I think I've hinted at a few times and also the African economy is in a far better state.

The Commonwealths power is based on an arc of states between Africa, India and Australia and NZ. Even Indonesia is now an associate member. China is the principal opponent to the Commonwealth in the region, and counterbalance to the Commonwealth.

As the Commonwealth is mainly a power in the southern hemisphere, and in the east, Britain and Canada are more isolated than most Commonwealth states(and is one of the reason I have included an anti-Commonwealth sentiment amongst some British political parties, the same would be the case in Canada.) Both have benifited enormously though.
 
1997

The Versailles meeting led to an agreement between the powers. The fact that Hungary was not present at the meeting was not a fact which was dwelled upon greatly. The deal reached allowed the Hungarians a form of Independence, but within EFTA(A sticking point for Germany)and associate membership of the EC at the same time.

No foreign military would be allowed into the country, and the nations military would be limited. Hungary would not be allowed nuclear weapons. Hungarian non-compliance would result in a German invasion. Hungary, in no position to resist, agreed.

March saw Rupert Murdoch open in a blaze of publicity his latest newspaper, which it was intended would be a Commonwealth wide paper, the Globe. Sales were reportedly brisk.

The Conservatives were humiliated in the Devolved elections in May, finishing third behind the Liberals, and only 50,000 votes above the Christian Democrats, who got their first First Minister in Northern Ireland. The Labour Party gained its first First Minister in the South East region.

1997 Devolved Elections said:
London=Labour win, Yorkshire & the Humber=Labour Win, West Midlands=Labour Win, East Midlands=Labour Win, East Anglia=Liberal/Labour coalition Win, Northumbria & Durham=Labour Win, North West England=Labour Win, South East England=Labour/Liberal coalition win, South West England=Liberal Win, Scotland=Labour Win, Wales=Labour Win, Northern Ireland P/Share Christian Democrat FM

A foot and mouth hit British farming hard during 1997, the Government were critisised for their handling of the affair, but Commonwealth subsidies helped many farmers, who were otherwise facing bankruptcy financially afloat.

In Scottish football, Rangers equalled Celtics world record of nine league titles in a row. The title was secured on the last day of the season, when Ally McCoist, in his last game for the club scored in the last minute at Tannadice against Dundee United to secure a 1-0 win. Also in the sporting world, Australia defeated India in the final of the first Cricket World Cup.

On July 1st the Commonwealth got smaller when Hong Kong was handed back to China. Under agreement for a while, Hong Kong would still be allowed its political freedoms and associate membership of the Commonwealth. It would however be under Chinese control from now on.

On August 1st, the first Secretary of the Commonwealth Assembly, Atal Behari Vajpayee signed a treaty of alliance and friendship between the Commonwealth and Japan in Tokyo.

September saw another shift in British politics when the British National Party and the Christian Democrats agreed to unite for future elections under a progressive alliance coalition. BNP and Christian Democrat candidates would not stand against each other.

Malawi joined together with North and South Rhodesia in November to create the Kingdom of Central Africa. Although it was pointed out they were nearer South Africa, the name was kept.

December saw the National Lottery created in the UK.
 
So has Britain withdrawn the team sent to Hungary with nuclear info?
Yes. In short the British have backed down, although by getting the Germans to allow the Hungarians asoc.membership of the EC, it could be portrayed as a victory.
 
As the Commonwealth is mainly a power in the southern hemisphere, and in the east, Britain and Canada are more isolated than most Commonwealth states(and is one of the reason I have included an anti-Commonwealth sentiment amongst some British political parties, the same would be the case in Canada.) Both have benifited enormously though.

Okay, so I don't claim to be a Canada expert/ANALyst. However, I would assume that the Grits (Liberal Party) and maybe even the NDP (as part of a pro-republican stance which would include the dissolution of the Senate) and the Bloc (since it wouldn't be compatible with a "free Québec" ideal) would have that sentiment. I don't think, however, that the Tories would have that sentiment. With the Red Tories (similar to the UK's One Nation Tories and semi-TResque Republicans), I could see a pro-Commonwealth stance alongside a somewhat mild pro-American stance, but balanced carefully (especially if the Liberals ITTL are still the natural governing party). With the Blue Tories, I'm not so sure, perhaps a total pro-Commonwealth stance with no anti-Commonwealth stance whatsoever.
 
It's a little different, at one point the Liberals were driving Canada into the USs arms, and the Torys to the Empire, now it's kind of the reverse just India and China instead of Britain. By now, I'd see the biggest anti-Cw, in mainly Onraio, because the US has always had a greater economic influence there. Elsewhere though, Canada would be a (if not the) breadbasket for the Commonwealth, as well as a raw/finished goods centre. Alot of jobs, so nobody can complain much. Quebec would want a seat, it would be a coin toss, heavy sided they wouldn't. Even distance wise to the rest, 99% of Canada would be behind a stronger Cw.
After all, we did join the empire in two world wars, and plenty of colonial wars, with gusto.

This seems off topic, but is there a Cw sports league? Like Rugby, or did footie take off in Canada faster?....or maybe a Hockey league, if they have hockey in the desert, they could have it in Africa.
 
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1998

New Years day saw the Commonwealth lose an associate member as Ireland became the latest nation to join the EC. They were forced to totally renounce their Commonwealth affiliation in doing so, as otherwise they would be denied membership. The Irish Finance Minister explained the decision as Ireland standing up and proud as another Independent European nation, expanding its trade and looking forward to the future.

January also saw the BNP and the Christian Democrats jointly advocate Britain leaving the Commonwealth and joining the EC. The Government, the Liberals and the rump Conservative Party openly called the scheme lunacy.

Atal Behari Vajpayee was in the news again in Febuary as he ordered the Commonwealth Ready Force into action, to quell a Communist insurgency which had grown in Indonesia. He did so with the support of the Indonesian member in the Commonwealth Assembly. The Mirror caught the mood of a section of the public with the headline "Britain bypassed". Despite the headline, the Government backed the move.

President Clinton visited Britain in April, and made a powerful speech to the Commonwealth Assembly arguing that the global economy was getting smaller, and a new partnership was required between the Commonwealth and the United States. Relations were seen to be visibly improving for the first time since the Syrian debacle.

Also in April, Blair put off any though of a May election, stating that it was his intention to see out a full term, and denying that he was planning an election in 1998.

It was a very European year for British football, with British clubs agreeing to join the European club tournaments from the following season. To prepare them for the challenge ahead, the European Cup winners, Athletico Madrid, visited Britain winning four out of six tour matches.

The World Cup was held in France. England reached the semi-finals before losing to Spain who went on to win the tournament.

The Chancellor, Max Stevens retired in October, to be replaced by Gordon Brown, the man tipped to succeed Blair.

The International Moon base was fully completed in November. UNITY stood triumphant. The road to the stars lay open. Indeed all this combined with a tropical summer and the economy growing for its fastest level in 25 years in the year, an air of confidence filtered through the nation. A feel good factor was at its height.
 
I for one must approve of a Timeline where the spanish national team has won the World Cup. Twice.

I then suggest that the timeline be moved to the ASB forum where it belongs. :p
 
Interesting to see the Commonwealth moving away from Britain. And the BNP advocating joining the EU... :confused: :p
 
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