Our League of Nations

[CountofDooku]

The Great War has just ended, but it's aftermath can still be felt in the Russian Civil War and other places. The Paris/ Versailles Peace Conference now aims to create Peace for our Times, so that this devastating war truly was the War to End all Wars. To prevent future wars, a collective security shall be created with the League of Nations (La Société des Nations) and global disbarment should be proclaimed. Future international disputes should be settled trough negotiation and arbitration. The just treatment of native inhabitants and minorities should be guaranteed, human and drug traffic should be stopped together with arms trades. Global health should be increased, prisoners of war treated fair and humane. Disputes about security, territories, minorities and the future map of the world had to be settled. Wilson's Fourteen Points outlined a ground base;

I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.

II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.

III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance.

IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduces to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.

V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable government whose title is to be determined.

VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions Russia as will secure the best and freest cooperation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independence determination of her own development and national policy and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire. The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy.

VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another. Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired.

VIII. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted, in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all.

IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.

X. The people of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity to autonomous development.

XI. Romania, Serbia and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored; Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into.

XII. The Turkish portion of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous developement, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees.

XIII. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.

XIV. A general association of nations (the League of Nations) must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

 

[CountofDooku]

What will this TL be like? Well to make it simple you, the readers will have the opportunity to vote as the League of Nations on any matter in international affairs between nations (excluding civil wars, coups or agreements between nations that are not forced by either side), thereby changing the fate of whole countries and the outcome of TTL if you wish to do so. Any reader can do so by referring to a issue and then I will make a poll to vote on the mater (including the decisions and possibilities you mentioned for the current chase before). Every vote will be open for exactly a week and then the decision with the most votes will be chosen. As our first example, the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles:

The Fate of Germany and Austria-Hungary:

The French Plan:
For Germany:
Split Germany up into the following nation states: Prussia, Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria and Wuttenberg. Claim the Rhine Frontier for France and Belgium and establish a neutral zone beyond it between both states and the smaller new German States. Russia (if they win their civil war) would get eastern Prussia.
For Austria-Hungary:
Separate Austria from Hungary, grand independence to Bohemia. Everything in the south until Slovenia will become part of a greater Serbian State. Everything east of Hungary will fall to Romania, while Russia gets Galicia.

The Italian Plan:
Annex huge parts of the Austrian-Hungarian coastline (Dalmatia), as well as parts of Austria, Bosnia.

The British Plan:
Prevent Germany from loosing too much and secure the Balance of Power in Europe. Give into Romanian, Serbian and Italian demands against Austria-Hungary if necessary. Establish a Polish buffer state between Germany and Russia (after their civil war) in the future to prevent a new Great War.

The Imperial Russian Plan:
Annex Galicia from Austria-Hungary, East Prussia, West Prussia, Posen and Schlesia from Germany.

The American Plan:
Give into the Italian, Serbian and Romanian claims against the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Separate Austria from Hungary. Create a independent Czech and Slovenian Nation. Recreate the Polish State (including Polish minority regions in the German Empire) inside a Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to give them a connection to the Sea and establish a buffer state between Germany and Russia.

Vote here!

 

[r1ncewind]

This is a great idea, looks like an awesome quest! Really like your voting system as well.

Edit: 2 votes so far.

 

[CountofDooku]

The Fate of Bulgaria and Turkey:

The British and French Plan:
Originally Britain, France and also the Russians planned to split up the former Ottoman Empire into Mandates for themselves, as well as a intnational Manate Zone in Palestine/Jerusalem, despite promises they had made to their Arabian allies before. Bulgaria would lose some border and coastal regions to the Serbs, Romanians and Greeks. Turkey would loose most of it's western and southern coast to Greece, Italy and France.

The Arabian Plan:
According to the British promises, the Arabian dreamed of a unified Kingdom that would gain a hegemonic postilion between Turkey and Persia soon. Their main problem was that the Shammar (Rashids), Wahhabis (Sauds) and Hashemites all claimed leadership of the other Arabian Clans and such a nation state.

The Greek Plan:
The Greeks dreamed about recreating a nation state that expanded deeply into the Asian Greek settled regions and would be a major power in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Italian Plan:
The Italians planned to annex larger parts of the western and southern Turkish coast for their own growing Empire, just like they had annexed Libya from the Ottomans before.

The Armenian and Kurdish Plan:
With Russia going down in Chaos and Civil War, the original Entente Plan of Britain and France changed to now include the new independent Armenian and Kurdish Nation States in the region of the former Russian Mandate Territory. This plan was heavily supported by the Americans.

Vote here!

 

[CountofDooku]

Tomorrow:
Africa, Asia and Oceania. ;D

 

[twistedirregular]

Interesting TL so far - I do hope that any future Second Italo-Ethiopian War ITTL can result in Ethiopia remaining free of Italian occupation instead our TL where the League abandoned us to a five year Italian occupation in order to secure Italy as an ally against Germany. However, this may not even happen but I'm waiting for more!

 

[Evil Crusader]

I would hold a vote for every meaningful entity (for example: Germany, then Austria, then Crown of Hungary, then the former Brest-Litovsk Area) for better 'questability'. Also, be more specific in each Plan so that one knows what to vote (what does France get in the Italian Plan, for example?). If you need help in drafting reasonable but wanky Italian Plans, can help.

Otherwise, some plans will always be better, reducing overall fun.

 

[r1ncewind]

I would not have a vote for every little thing - it would ruin the flow of the story.

 

[CountofDooku]

Interesting TL so far - I do hope that any future Second Italo-Ethiopian War ITTL can result in Ethiopia remaining free of Italian occupation instead our TL where the League abandoned us to a five year Italian occupation in order to secure Italy as an ally against Germany. However, this may not even happen but I'm waiting for more!

That will entiely epend on the later vote (should) Italy attack Ethiopia TTL. BTW for fighing nearly alone and with such outdated equipment the Ethopians put on good resistance and fight.

I would hold a vote for every meaningful entity (for example: Germany, then Austria, then Crown of Hungary, then the former Brest-Litovsk Area) for better 'questability'. Also, be more specific in each Plan so that one knows what to vote (what does France get in the Italian Plan, for example?). If you need help in drafting reasonable but wanky Italian Plans, can help.

Otherwise, some plans will always be better, reducing overall fun.

I thought so too first, also the combination of the most voted ideas is possible (let's say up to 50% of all votes) to have a more diverse outcome and more ralistiv reflection of compromises and plans like it partly happened OTL. That said in later votes of the Lague the most voted decision will be done (even if it includes doing nothing in some chases, should the majority decide to do so).

A for the Italian Plan, Franc gets Elsaß-Lorraine, but other then that the Italians can't care less about the other territories in Europe to be honest.

I would not have a vote for every little thing - it would ruin the flow of the story.

True for too much voting, but there will be votes if ne nations sould be included even if that mans upsetting older members or other diplomatic chaos.

 

[CountofDooku]

The Fate of Africa:

Togoland Plans:

The British and French planned to divide Togoland among each other (with slight differences in the future border), the Italians didn't care at all for this region.

Kamerun Plans:

(all except orange)

French: The French planned to equally divide Kamerun between them an the British.

British: The British planned to expand Nigeria eastwards and include Mt. Alantika as well as the southern tip of lake Chad.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late for the Scramble for Africa) hoped to gain parts of Kamerun.
Kamerun Vote!

Kongo Plans:

(orange)

French: The French planned to take the German Congo, so they would connect their central African colonies and dominate the land trade from the west to the northern Belgian Congo.

British: The British had no plans for the German Congo region.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late for the Scramble for Africa) hoped to gain parts of the German Congo, including a connection to the Belgian Congo and the Central African trade there.
Kongo Vote!

South West Plans:

French: The French hoped to gain the resource rich part of northern South West Africa and get a connection to the inland trade to compete there with the British and Portuguese.

British: The British argued that the Union of South Africa was it's own independent state, part of the Great Dominions overseas and so South Africa claimed South West Africa as their very own Mandate.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late for the Scramble for Africa) hoped to gain parts of the resource rich part of northern South West Africa.
South West Vote!

East Africa Plans:

French: The French hoped to get the southern part of East Africa to have a eastern connection to the Belgian Congo and the Central African Trade. They also hoped to secure Madagascar more this way as a greater French East African Colonial Empire. Even the Belgians and Portuguese were planned to get a bit of East African land for the destruction the Germans had brought to their territory.

British: The British hoped to get all of East Africa so they could connect their colonies there from the Cap to Suez, while the Belgians and Portuguese were planned to get a bit of East African land for the destruction the Germans had brought to their territory.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late for the Scramble for Africa) hoped to gain parts of East Africa around the astern coast to create Italian South East Africa. At the same time they hoped to get British, Portuguese and Belgian support, by giving them parts of East Africa too (including a British connection fro the Cap to Suez).
East Africa Vote!

 

[CountofDooku]

The Fate of Asia and the Pacific:

Tsingtao/ Quingdao:

Chinese: The Chinese wished to regain their lost city Quingdao and control it fully once again.

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain Tsingtao to get a foothold on the Shantung Peninsula.

French: The French hoped to gain Tsingtao to compete with nearby British Weihaiwei in the Shantung and North Chinese trade.

British: While the British had nothing against the Chinese and Japanese claims, they also hoped to gain Tsingtao for themselves, to increase their influence and trade in China even more.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain Tsingtao for their own Chinese trade.
Vote here!

Mariana Islands:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Mariana Islands to push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific.

French: The French agreed to the plan their Japanese Allies had with the Mariana Islands.

British: The British agreed to the plan their Japanese Allies had with the Mariana Islands.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Mariana Islands for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!

Caroline Islands:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Caroline Islands to push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific.

French: The French hoped to gain the Caroline Islands for themselves, when dividing the former German Colony between themselves, the British and the Japanese.

British: The British agreed to the plan their Japanese Allies had with the Mariana Islands.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Caroline Islands for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!


Marshall Islands:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Marshall Islands to push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific.

French: The French suggested the Marshall Islands for the British, when dividing the former German Colony between themselves, the British and the Japanese.

British: The British agreed to the plan their Japanese Allies had with the Marshall Islands.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Marshall Islands for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!

Bismark Archipelago:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Bismark Archipelago Islands to push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific and gain important resource and colonial regions.

French: The French suggested the Bismark Archipelago for themselves, when dividing the former German Colony between themselves, the British and the Japanese.

British: The British British argued that the Dominion of Australia was it's own independent state, part of the Great Dominions overseas and so Australia claimed the Bismark Archipelago as their very own Mandate.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Bismark Archipelago for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!

Kaiser Wilhelms Land:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Kaiser Wilhelms Land to push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific and gain important resource and colonial regions.

French: The French suggested the Kaiser Wilhelms Land for themselves, when dividing the former German Colony between themselves, the British and the Japanese.

British: The British British argued that the Dominion of Australia was it's own independent state, part of the Great Dominions overseas and so Australia claimed the Kaiser Wilhelms Land as their very own Mandate.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Kaiser Wilhelms Land for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!

Salomon Islands:

Japan: The Japanese hoped to gain the Salomon Islands o push the outer defence line of their nation further east and south into the pacific.

French: The French suggested the Salomon Islands and for themselves, when dividing the former German Colony between themselves, the British and the Japanese.

British: The British British argued that the Dominion of Australia was it's own independent state, part of the Great Dominions overseas and so Australia claimed the Salomon Islands as their very own Mandate.

Italian: After their losses in the Great War the Italians (who had been late in the Colonial Game) hoped to gain the Salomon Islands for themselves (but preferred African holdings closer to their homeland).
Vote here!

 

[CountofDooku]

When all votes are cast over the next week a chapter will follow that shows us the end results of the Treaty of Versailles and how our new world looks then. From there things will evolve depending on that outcome and how it might have shaped and changed some internal and external global politics of the time.

 

[Analytical Engine]

How will we cast our votes?

EDIT: Never mind.

 

[r1ncewind]

Looks like china will get Tsingtao back

 

[CountofDooku]

How will we cast our votes?

EDIT: Never mind.

By clicking on vote-link and then click on what you believe is the right choice. ;D

 

[Analytical Engine]

By clicking on vote-link and then click on what you believe is the right choice. ;D

I have noticed. Also, I have voted.

Can you guess which options I picked, everyone?

 

[CountofDooku]

I have noticed. Also, I have voted.

Can you guess which options I picked, everyone?

Either AltHist one or what happened OTL ^^

 

[CountofDooku]

Looks like china will get Tsingtao back

Also looks like Italian South East Africa is quiet popular, hope that doesn't boost someones ambitions later on

But jokes aside, clearly the acceptance of a nations plan or it's denial will have great consequences how this nation views the League on the long run and even how it views it's own participation in the Entente (nobody likes feeling that he fought for nothing).

 

[traveller76]

This is quite fun. Subscribed.

 

[GTStinger]

Also looks like Italian South East Africa is quiet popular, hope that doesn't boost someones ambitions later on

Or it soaks up so much Italian resources that they don't go for Ethiopia. Or they do and lose. Perhaps with other countries supporting Ethiopia because they are upset with events in SE Africa.