Plausibility Check: Scientologist Coup?

I am aware of the unlikeliness of this scenario, but here it goes.
So I was re-reading "A Fountainhead Filibustered" today when I thought "What if Hubbard and his 'Sea Organization[1]' invaded some small island nation, something like micronesia in the pacific. Then set up their own nation.
How could it be done what would the international fallout be could Hubbard maintain control? Thoughts are welcome.
 
What if it isn't an armed invasion, but instead L. Ron Hubbard converts the king of Tonga to Scientology and is invited, along with his followers, to establish themselves there. Tonga then becomes, over time, a Scientologistic theocratic dictatorship :eek:
 
O.O Scientologists with diplomatic immunity would certainly be interesting...

Not that much. Diplomatic immunity actually allows for an option to deal with them relatively easily. The hosting state is free to declare them persona non grata and demand their recall and replacement. Considering the theoretical Scientologist country would be a minor one, it can be done with no real reprecussions (unlike, say, tossing out Russia's ambassador).

Sure, they can't be punished for preaching, but neither can they today. Freedom of religion and speech and all that. There used to be a tradition that allowed embassies to maintain their own religious ceremonies (that could be attended by people of the faith), but that isn't really mentioned in any treaty covering diplomatic privileges ... and the privileges can't be used in any way that is counter to the laws of the hosting country.

That said, there's no rules about common citizens preaching elsewhere, so as long as this Scientologist country doesn't do something stupid with it'd diplomatic staff, things would be more-or-less OTL. Prosecuting them would be problematic, but monitoring the church would, actually, be made easier (and they would be monitored, after a successful coup) since everything has to cross national lines.
 
I think the most likely option would be a two pronged approach to financially suborn the government, judiciary and key people in officialdom of a small and not too well off island country, and then secondly once in place go on a major proselytizing campaign also using any and all pressure that can be brought to bear on the population. As long as they keep their heads down and don't do anything too offensive to outside governments they should be well ensconced by the time the world realises what's happening.
 
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