The countries that almost were : Alyaska

Hi,

Still no update coming, but I'm should have much free time beginning in February, after I complete my engineering studies and before I find a job. So don't despair ... for those who still would like to see this TL resuming :biggrin::coldsweat:.

I write to discuss a major topic relevant to this TL, Russian debt and the initial financial viability of the White Russian state in Alaska.
Up so far, I had come up with several solutions to help funding the venture, including having Kolchak's gold ending up in Alaska instead of sinking in Lake Baikal (or so says the legend), and Vladimir Smirnov bootlegging and money laundering operations, though not so far as to justify maintaining a foothold in Kamchatka (I cited financial burden as a major factor in evacuating Petropavlosk and Kamchatka after the fall of Okhotsk to Red Army). I also thought of some general agreement by US, France and UK to either suspend or/and partially write off Russian debt to support the Russian government in Alaska.

Now, I've recently come across a thread of @David T about the article 116 of Versailles treaty: https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...le-116-and-soviet-russia-two-what-ifs.432631/ . Basically, it says Russian rights to reparations from Germany were reserved for later claiming. So, I wondered to what extent the White Russian government in Alaska, which would still widely be considered as the legitimate (and/or legal, official or else), could call up for this article in order to help funding itself.
At the very least, I could imagine these reparations could be in form of wartime military surplus from German army that Whites could use to good purpose against Reds without having to pay for it.

Any thought?
 
Well, considering German capacities at paying the reparations, and the potential dispute over Whites' claim to be the legal government of Russia (ie the one who can invoke article 116), giving away stockpile of weapons left from the war originally meant for scrapping could be a solution, but this depends on the schedule; if Whites demand too late, there could be no weapons left if they have been already scrapped as per Versailles treaty provisos.
Alternatively, it does potentially put money in Whites coffers.
Else, another possibility could be Whites officially claiming reparations and selling it under form of German debt to be redeemed by other Entente powers as a way of paying off Russia's debt, making it their problem to collect the money. However, I think that could only be a partial solution, not a miracle one.
 
Just to let you know, here's a nice infobox made by kyuzoaoi on DeviantArt long ago ad I forgot to mention there. Even if it's not an exact reflection of what would be current day TTL Alaska (due to the evolution of the planning), it's reflecting its spirit.
alaska_wikipedia_infobox_by_kyuzoaoi-dauqkmu.png
 
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