The Horseman of the War is again, upon us (April-June, 1911)

Second Duma: On Autonomy-Federal Empire]

It is true that at all levels of the Russian government there were non-Russian members (there were Ukrainians, Armenians, Belarusians, Germans, Turkish-Muslims, Tatars, and many others of the more than 100 ethno-cultures of the Russian Empire), even in the more conservative-nationalist times of the State Duma.

But not all these minorities were the same in their ideological-political thinking, that is why we have to make differences when we talk about these minorities, their thinking and their role in the Russian Empire, and the Autonomists (and their proposals).

The Autonomists are the group (generally composed of non-Russian minorities) who propose measures of greater autonomy for different portions of the Russian Empire, generally along cultural-ethnic lines, similar to the Grand Duchy of Finland.

Decentralization measures of the Russian state, legislative-executive freedoms, the possibility of creating regional diets, etc.

Most of the Autonomists during the political history of the Russian Empire, have been Poles of the Congress of Poland, although the Autonomists have never been exclusively Poles.

* Roman Stanisław Dmowski of the National Democracy, initially proposed an accommodation with the Russian Empire to eventually achieve independence, by non-violent means.

Although there were several problems with such thoughts, he was the most popular after the various tragedies of the Polish independence movement.

And the ND generally considered itself an 'extremist' part of the Autonomists.

Those minorities that were not part of the Autonomists generally followed other parties or ideologies. Ideas of autonomy were not their main focus and instead focused on other socio-economic policies.

These minorities were socialists (the high number of Armenians, Jews, Georgians and other peoples within the RSDLP), liberals, social democrats, etc.

A very clear example would be the Finns themselves, who despite (generally) following liberal-progressive trends and enjoying the benefits of autonomy, did not hesitate for a moment to throw other minorities under the bus. The Finns were never an active or vital part of the Autonomists, and many times they were against it.

Already in the first months of the government of Premier Mikhail Skobelev, autonomy and federalization measures for the Russian Empire continued to be proposed, but for obvious reasons the VNS-Kadet coalition would always vote against them, effectively paralyzing or destroying many of the proposals.

The Zemstvo was acceptable (as it was under Stolypin's Premiership) and it is true that Skobelev's nationalism was a civic nationalism (based on citizenship, not ethnicity), but the proposals for federalization and autonomy crossed the line of the Premier (and many of his party, although for other reasons like racism).

We can say that those actively opposed to the autonomy proposals were the Centralists, generally on the right (with exceptions), who wanted to maintain a unitary and centralized system of government, traditional of the Russian Empire (Finland was an exception, protected by the power of veto of the emperor).

After the rejection during January-March, the debate between centralists and autonomists temporarily heated up again, cooling just as quickly with the defeat of the Autonomists once again.

Similar to the First Duma, the Second Duma did not focus much on resolving this debate between Centralists and Autonomists, although the matter was considered by many to be over, in the votes members from various parts of the political spectrum overthrew the autonomy-federal proposals.

Even the RSDLP had its centralists, such as Iosif Dzhugashvili.

*******

[Russian Empire: Grand Duchy of Finland]

An important event occurs on April 3, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim is promoted as General and Governor-General of the Grand Duchy of Finland, after years of calculated service under Tsar Alexander III and the local administration.

This marks an important period of transformation in Finland, we talk about it being the last years of the Alexandrian period and external threats (Germany and the Imperial Federation, together with Sweden and Norway in Scandinavia) posed a very important risk for Finland. Both separately and as part of the Russian Empire.

Mannerheim would maintain a pro-Russian administration and policy in favor of the Romanov monarchy and the (elected) government of the State Duma.

Finland, on the other hand, would win a local Governor-General, which would be very useful for internal affairs and discussions between the Finnish government with the rest of the Russian government (it is true that the Mannerheim family is of Germanic origin, but they have been for generations in the Grand Duchy and in political relevance).

Mannerheim carried out measures of militarization and militarism similar to those of the rest of Russia (under Premier Skobelev and Tsar Alexander III), especially necessary when Finland had a land border with Scandinavia allied to the Imperial Federation.

He re-organized the Finnish troops, put everything in order, and actively supervised experimentation in the armament, logistics and mechanization of the Finnish troops.

The borders continued to be highly fortified and numerous preparatory exercises were carried out, not only by land but also training in the Baltic Sea (with the aforementioned militarization of the Baltic islands).

But not all of Mannerheim's work was military, especially during his period as Governor-General, relations between Russian high society and Finnish high society expanded even more (we spoke above all about the commercial, military and political authorities, and to a lesser extent the nobility, even though they no longer had much power).

Horse and car racing became extremely popular through active promotion of Mannerheim.

And there was also a promotion of various artistic aspects, similar to other developments that occurred under the Alexandrian period, music, literature and other types of arts. Despite having their particular characteristics, Finnish art and Russian art remained similar in some respects.

(OOC: A side effect of less struggle between Finland and Russia, lack of forced Russification, etc).

*******

[The Okhrana sports club]

April 18, 1910, a rather strange but remarkable event occurs for the sports history of the Russian Empire, the director of the Okhrana Felix Dzerzhinsky (known as Iron Felix) and associates (both the Okhrana and the KGB and the RSDLP) created the Moscow Proletarian Sports Society "Dynamo", or simply Dynamo, known as FC Dynamo Moscow.

That it did not take long to absorb the Shiryaevo Pole (Sokolniki Football Club or KFS, a young club founded in 1907) and some other nearby clubs in the city of Moscow.

This was not only an initiative of Dzerzhinsky, it was an initiative of military personnel and state security agents, Dynamo Moscow would be an organization that provides the opportunity to practice sports (soccer) to these employees.

It was strange, soon the Dynamo expanded generally to the inhabitants of Moscow, but for a long time Dynamo players were known as 'policemen'.

The aforementioned Felix Dzerzhinsky became president and effectively influenced the club, "A cool head, a warm heart, and clean hands" (Dzerzhinsky's words about the ideal secret service agent).

The phrase inspired the blue and white colors of the Dynamo.

Members of the KGB and Okhrana effectively became some of the most famous sponsors of the Dynamo, which already had great victories in 1913 defeating some of the already established clubs in the capital city of the Russian Empire.

The Dynamo would become the main sports association of the security services of the Russian state, the city of Moscow and the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party.

And it certainly served not only sporting and educational purposes, but to some extent as strange but effective propaganda.

Some say that the Dynamo is one of the most curious cases of militarism and authoritarianism in the society of Imperial Russia during the final years of the Alexandrian period, where the secret services 'infiltrated' the sports of the Russian Empire.

Despite the fact that the title of 'policemen' for the players was a mockery of the opponents, the truth is that the association generally received a lot of respect and support, with sponsors who were considered members of the high bureaucratic-political and social spheres.

How is soccer related to socialism (RSDLP)? Well, apart from the promotion of sport (something important for many members of society), propaganda and leisure, soccer is quite meritocratic.

Personalities from the lower socio-economic spheres became quite relevant through a career in professional soccer, factory workers and children of proletarians who obtained the ability to improve their living conditions through sports.

Early in the Dynamo history, their own regulations were established against commercial-business propaganda on the Dynamo's clothes and playing fields.

*******

*Perspective.

"Is this legal?" One of Felix's assistants asks with curiosity, although somewhat intimidated, there were gathered not only Felix Dzerzhinsky, but also directors such as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili.

"It is legal technically speaking, we have by law the possibility of creating a sports association for our employment. The point is that for obvious reasons, we never created one." Felix indicates.

"If they win, this could actually be useful." Director Dzhugashvili mentions.

The city of Moscow was going through a drought of victories, they had rarely won one of the national leagues in the last decades.

In this the Dynamo came along and became very popular, partly because of how it was able to absorb other small local teams and Moscow's reverence for the Okhrana and KGB, which had formed the association.

But the popularity would not have been sustained had it not been for how the Dynamo squad began to score win after win in the city.

In its early years there were some independent investigations into the Dynamo, but it turned out that the club was not a cover or money laundering, it was definitely a successful but curious sports association.

*******

[Science: Electric Telescope]

On May 9, important advances occur in 'electric telescopy', what we know today as television.

Boris Lvovich Rosing, creator of cathode ray tubes, together with his student Vladimir Kosmich Zworykin, present at the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University) the research developments in the North Caucasus (Kuban State Technological University).

Demonstrating the transmission of a scanned image, "four bands of light", in a cathode ray tube. The first demonstration of a proto-television so to speak.

Rosing had spent years working in an almost completely secret estate, but with his success in 1910 he had garnered funding and notable recognition.

The breakthrough of 1911 was important in demonstrating the potential of this technology in future developments, in which the Russian state takes an interest.

Zworykin on the other hand would show promise as a student and inventor on his own, 'electric telescopy' was something completely unknown to him before studying under Boris Rosing (ignoring theoretical-experimental bases that existed, more or less, since the 1880s).

After this he would study about X-rays and radio for the Russian state (civil and military), but the most important thing would be how he could draw on Rosing's work.

What led to the development of the first television in the world, years later.

*******

[Kerensky, Tito and Dzhugashvili]

*Perspective.

After May 7.

Josip Broz Tito was 19 years old, approaching his 20th birthday by 1912.

The last years of his life had been spent working locally in St. Petersburg and later in Moscow as a pianist (talented but not very successful), waiter, metal worker, and locksmith.

The new Great War had interrupted Josip Broz's latest plan to move to the United States, every time he tried something got in the way.

"Hello Mr. Kerensky." The Croatian-Slovenian greets his old acquaintance and friend (for this point).

"Hello, hello. Hey, I heard you joined a union." Kerensky calmly mentions, to which Broz nods affirmatively. As they chatted, however, the attention was shifting to a third.

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili.

"How are you Dzhugashvili? What are you doing here?" Kerensky asks curiously, they were both politicians and increasingly known in the Second Duma.

"Good. I just frequent the same cafes as many other people. I could tell you some stories from my 'trips' to Vienna." Dzhugashvili responds calmly, nothing (too) secret.

"Am I not interrupting anything?" Broz asks from behind Kerensky.

"Of course not." Kerensky calmly indicates the Croatian-Slovenian.

Broz was in the middle of the Kerensky and Dzhugashvili seats soon after. "I heard a little about you." Broz indicates, speaking of the Georgian, little surprised.

"Good things, bad things, what things?" Dzhugashvili asks.

"I'm not sure." Broz admits.

"Some call you a revisionist." Kerensky mentions nonchalantly, a bit more explanatory.

"Yes, I have heard them. But I am becoming more successful than all those who call me a revisionist." Dzhugashvili asserts, he does not brag. "Engels already mentioned in his time that private property cannot be abolished in one stroke."

"What does that mean?". Broz asks with curiosity, more importantly, interest.

"How to explain it to you in a simple way ...". A dilemma that Dzhugashvili faced every day as a politician. "The creation of a communal society where there is no private property would require that the productive forces and the means of production are available in great quantity. We cannot multiply the already existing productive forces overnight in one stroke, so we must work hard and gradually to achieve it. Even if we need to work alongside capitalists to do so, in our case, in the absence of a proletarian revolution. " Dzhugashvili sighs after this.

A little talk undoubtedly had an effect on Broz, for four hours he was talking with Kerensky and Dzhugashvili, a bit about politics but also about normal things for a 19-year-old immigrant like Broz.

"In Russia I heard a lot from international and national socialists.

Those internationals I heard the most about were Vladimir Lenin, Francisco Largo Caballero and Jules Guesde.

If we talk about nationals, without any doubt it was Iosif V. Dzhugashvili, later known as Stalin, the one of who I heard most.

I heard a bit of Kamenev, Trotsky and Zinoviev.

The most terrifying thing about Dzhugashvili is that I had never met such a capable worker and politician before. He moved masses not only through ideology, but also through religion and nationalism. Some might call him a revisionist, but he never felt like one ... he never really parted with key Marxist teachings, he just adapted them to a more Russian setting."

-Josip Broz Tito in his memoirs.

*******

[International]

April 1, the Imperial Academy of Tsinghua opens in the Qing Dynasty, of which 468 students are enrolled.

April 3, various border problems occur between the United Mexican States and the United States, we talk so much about terrorist attacks by Mexican guerrillas, refugee movements from northern Mexico and problems of violence between Mexicans and American citizens (both white as African-Americans).

* [Downhill]

April 4, important events take place on the international stage.

On March 16, 1911, Bolivia had changed its position in the Great Latin American Wars, joining the Argentine side after being surrounded (Paraguay, Argentina, Acre, the Empire of Brazil of Dom Pedro III and the Peru Democrata) and the obvious predictions that very possibly, the Chilean bloc would be defeated.

This would have left only the Republic of the United States of Brazil and Chile to fight practically the rest of Latin America, a certain defeat.

But then the secret protocols between the Imperial Federation and Chile were activated, which involved British intervention in the war on the side of its ally.

Chile had received several loans from the Imperial Federation, which also had business interests in other areas, such as Peru.

This was what motivated a British intervention for a more favorable or neutral result for the Chilean side, however this had unexpected consequences.

The Anglo-German rapprochement was a shock, the most important and immediate:

* Gran Colombia, until then a German ally, was on the Argentine side in the regional conflict, the British intervention meant a rupture between Gran Colombia and the German Empire (which harms German-British interests in the region).

* With the British intervention in Latin America, the United States responded more aggressively (they were already involved in conflicts due to European interference) and in fact many of the hostilities between Germany and the United States happened again because of this.

On April 4, a tripartite delegation made up of German, American and British delegates, met to try to resolve this situation.

But they failed, and again the diplomatic situation was going downhill among the great powers.

********

April 5, one of the largest union rallies in the United States takes place on Fifth Avenue in New York City, when 120,000 employees and 630,000 citizens take the day off to march in the rain.

In opposition to some of the current government policies and commemoration of victims of various work accidents that have been taking place in the United States.

April 6, an ordinance is enacted in Baltimore (city of the United States) that prohibits African-Americans from moving or establishing businesses in white neighborhoods.

April 8, Dutch-German physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes describes superconductivity for the first time.

* [The Great War]

Finally on April 9, the international situation that was going downhill reached its climax after the April 4 negotiations resulted in a catastrophic failure.

The day was considered a fire in international affairs, the Imperial Federation and the German Empire had united as one side in opposition to the United States, marking the beginning of a new Great War (around 10 years after the Fashoda War). .

The interesting thing was the sides, which were now quite different from the sides of the Fashoda War.

* Berlin-London Axis: The Imperial Federation, together with its colonial empire, the German Empire, the German colonial empire, Sweden, Norway, the Second Mexican Empire (Cuba), Chile, the Republic of the United States of Brazil and various groups anti-American.

* The Washington side: United States of America, the territories of Panama and Hispaniola, Argentina, Paraguay, the Empire of Brazil (Dom Pedro III), Bolivia, Peru, Gran Colombia, the United Mexican States and other anti-British groups / anti-Germans.

The first countries to join were Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador with their pro-American regimes.

Greece and the United Boer States would also join soon after on the British-German side.

Revolutionary Mexico was in an uncomfortable place, as it was going against the United States and Germany.

This new great war involved an interesting division, between the Western Hemisphere or the New World (mostly in the Washington bloc) and the Eastern Hemisphere or the Old World, where the London-Berlin axis was.

The war would finally come seriously to the Americas like never before ...

*******

April 10, the mobilization of troops of the Imperial Federation begins, Canadian-imperial troops move towards the border with the United States.

It also begins a mobilization of the imperial navy, which now supports the German navy in the oceans, and also adds the mobilization of the air force of both empires against the USA.

Paul Langevin proposes for the first time the paradox of the twins (a thought experiment, in which the existence of two twins is proposed, one that remains on Earth and the other that travels at high speed by a rocket, resulting in that of the Earth, ages a little more than the rocket's twin).

This paradox is a thought experiment related to special relativity.

April 12, 50th anniversary of the American Civil War.

April 14, border conflicts begin between Canada (member of the Imperial Federation) and the United States, resulting in numerous deaths on both sides.

In this large-scale conflict, it takes the mobilization of hundreds of thousands or millions of people (soldiers and personnel of various kinds) to make progress, something that the less experienced must learn with a hard lesson.

April 17, the Anglo-German attack on the US Navy begins, with initial successes for the Imperial Federation and the German Empire.

April 18-20, in the Mexican situation the situation is getting complicated, at least 2000 Americans die in the government's support for its puppet, the United Mexican States.

"Fortunately" in the conflicts the guerrilla-revolutionaries of the Mexican Revolutionary Council do not gain any ground, indeed the war in the arid north of Mexico has stalled.

This is a possible powder keg for the new Great War.

April 19, dancers Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina appear in the first performance of Le Specter de la Rose, choreographed by Michel Fokine.

Le Specter de la Rose is represented by the export of Russian ballet in the Balkans, Socialist Italy and the People's Republic of France, among others.

April 21, the US armed forces prepare their first counter-invasion plan for Canada due to the Anglo-German war against the United States.

April 24, Anglo-German attacks begin against the American territory of Hispaniola.

The Imperial German Navy and the Royal Navy are leaning on a great new naval advantage, and the position of the ally Cuba, to put the island under siege.

Which again brings immense problems to the natives of the island.

April 25, briefly in Mexico a truce is formed between the United Mexican States of Victoriano Huerta (American puppet) and the Mexican Revolutionary Council.

The truce is broken on May 6, when Huerta attacks the guerrilla-revolutionaries from behind, although in reality this ends worse for the United Mexican States.

* [Early Revolution]

April 27, the Second Guangzhou Uprising occurs, led by the revolutionary Huang Xing and originally occurred in five Guangzhou villages, also known as Canton.

The revolution had been planned for weeks before but there were delays and it was finally carried out on April 27, against the initial forces of the viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.

Originally the Qing reinforcements were expected to be capable of destroying the Guangzhou uprising, but the Qing dynasty turned out to be reeling even in this situation. The new reinforcements, who were not part of the old army, joined Huang Xing, overthrowing the local government.

This is due in part to the great losses that the Qing dynasty in territory (Mongolia, Inner Manchuria, Taiwan, Hainan, Yunnan, Tibet and Xinjiang, along with some other concession-territories) and the Great Depression.

The house of cards that was China was finally collapsing in the face of these external pressures.

Although 72 people lost (86 actually, but 72 were identified) who would become revolutionary martyrs, the revolution that began with the April 27 uprising survives.

What's more, on May 1, thousands began to join Huang Xing and Sun Yat-sen's Tongmenghui cause, leading to uprisings emerging from Guangzhou (Canton) and other areas of south-central China, including the uprising. from Hubei.

The armies of Canton and Hubei would join the effort of the Tongmenghui in overthrowing the Qing dynasty of Manchu origin, initiating what would become known as the 1911 Revolution or Xinhai Revolution.

Riots similar to those in Guangzhou and Hubei would occur spontaneously throughout the territory of the Qing dynasty.

Currently British-German bankers were in talks with both the Qing dynasty and the revolutionaries.

Just for going out on top with their interests.

*******

April 30, violinist Jascha Heifetz has his debut in St. Petersburg at the age of 10, with 25,000 spectators watching the debut.

May 6, Victoriano Huerta and his allies violate the small truce established with the Mexican Revolutionary Council, which currently leads to a defeat of Huerta's forces and the re-establishment of hostilities.

Which means that Huerta again asks for help from the United States, almost immediately.

May 8, the economy of the Qing dynasty is in collapse, which is a shock in the region of East Asia and surroundings (especially in the British opium exports to the country in a growing civil war).

The big ones begin in various parts of Latin America, the navy of the Imperial Federation defends the Malvinas and Chile successfully against the Argentine navy.

The balance in the Caribbean is also beginning to tilt towards the Anglo-German axis.

However, the situation of the Republic of the United States of Brazil and German Suriname is not very favorable, being surrounded by enemy powers, we speak of a difficult stand against opportunities.

However, the navy and air force of the European powers is a real headache, being capable of bombing and overthrowing numerous Latin American positions (at a huge economic and technological disadvantage).

May 15, in pursuit of the needs of the Great War, the government of William J. Bryan of the United States, allows the existence of several monopolies of vital industries, such as the Standard Oil Company (oil monopoly), in exchange of a service for the American military industry.

However, this is not enough, and it is obvious that the United States begins to seek a deal with the Russian Empire to obtain the raw materials necessary for the war against the German Empire and the Imperial Federation (whose colonies, for now, would be able to sustain prolonged conflict).

May 16, more than 3000 Chinese and Japanese volunteers join the army of the Mexican Revolutionary Council during the Mexican Revolution.

This Asian population would be relatively notable for their efforts in commerce, agriculture, and labor in the post-revolutionary era.

May 20, in Malaysia, the Imperial Federation reaches an agreement with the revolutionaries of Sun Yat-sen.

In the event of the revolutionary victory over the Qing dynasty, the Imperial Federation will give a loan of between 30 and 50 million pounds to the new Chinese government (actually the loan that the Imperial Federation had already agreed to give to the Qing ...) .

May 26, the composer, conductor and pianist Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky completes the ballet Petrushka (18 days before its world premiere).

May 31, a successful British invasion of Nicaragua begins during the Great War, accompanied by the bombardment of several ports and the destruction of the American ships present in the country.

June 1, in the midst of the 1911 Revolution (of the Tongmenghui against the Qing dynasty), 23-year-old Chiang Kai-shek, an artillery officer in the revolutionary forces, began to become publicly notable.

This after a public speech, where Chiang Kai-shek gives his support to a socialist government for the new China (that he is going to rule, or so he thinks ...).

June 4, in the Federative Socialist Republic of Italy celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Italian unification are held.

Although the FSRI is socialist, the unification was precisely an important step towards the eventual revolution, so they celebrate it (with their views somewhat different from those of the Kingdom of Italy).

More than 1 million people celebrate in Rome and Milan respectively.

June 7, an important victory for the Mexican Revolutionary Council over the American forces and Mexican collaborators in the defense of the north.

On the same day in Mexico City, the Mexican Revolutionary Council begins discussions for its next constitution.

With this, William J. Bryan seeks a diplomatic meeting to seek an end to the conflict, in the process, to prevent Mexicans from joining the Anglo-German side.

The problem would be that many of the Mexican guerrilla-revolutionaries would refuse to talk, due to the still occupied northern territories and problems with the Americans. While the Americans did not want to abandon these territories and lose the collaborators, fearing the Anglo-German influence in Mexico, an attack on the south and the Mexican revolutionaries.

June 8, Victoriano Huerta initiates his plans to avoid the loss of the United Mexican States, proclaiming a constitution and his own elections in the Baja California peninsula.

The military-diplomatic-political conflict between two Mexicos began, with international troops involved in the process, in the midst of the new Great War and the Great Depression.

June 11, the dispute between the Mexican Revolutionary Council and the 'government' of Victoriano Huerta intensifies, causing the failure of the peace talks between the USA and the guerrilla-revolutionary Mexico.

On the same day an American fleet is trapped by the Royal Navy and the German Imperial Navy in the Atlantic, causing the death or capture of ships and personnel.

June 12, begins the successful passage (for the future ratification) of the Seventeenth Amendment, which allows the direct election of Senators in the United States.

June 20, the first trolleybus service of the Home Islands, Imperial Federation, is inaugurated.

June 21, for the first time the Russian ballet is exported to the Imperial Federation, arriving in London, despite the fact that relations between the British and the Russians are not the best.

June 28, at 9:00 am near the city of El-Nakhla outside of Alexandria, in Egypt (Second French Empire) a 10 kilogram (22 pound) meteorite falls, known as the Nakhla meteorite, which breaks into 40 pieces.

Later it would be determined that the Nakhla meteorite would possibly come from Mars.

Decades later it was suggested that the Nakhla meteorite, as well as an Antarctic meteorite (examined in 1996), showed signs of microbial alteration. Supposed evidence that life once existed on Mars, according to some.

* The meteorite is said to have killed a dog when it fell, but there is no evidence or indication of this.

*******

[Russia]

*Perspective.

Emperor Alexander III read the newspaper, accompanied by the council of ministers, Premier Skobelev and Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov.

"... Another rather futile war. Neither side could achieve a 'total' victory without outrageously high costs." Tsar Alexander III indicates. "Good for business, bad for the rest."

"While true, it is a good opportunity for us in general. Germany and the Imperial Federation are drifting their attention towards the Americas." Premier Skobelev exclaims. "Too perfect time for an attack against Germany and the Imperial Federation on the European continent."

"The potential of the Russian Empire for war can only be fully demonstrated in a defensive war. If we are the attacker the results could be...worse for us, in the diplomatic and internal plane." The interior minister, Pyotr Stolypin, maintains, with a much more neutral or more important, patient stence. "Does anyone argue that Wilhelm III or Albert Victor are idiotic enough to attack Russia in the middle of a war like this?"

"To be honest, yes." Governor-General Mannerheim of Finland responds, accompanied by Tsesarevich Nicholas. "Wilhelm III simply lacks the education and experience to have a serious foreign policy, it is inevitable that he will make a mistake when dealing with us." Mannerheim exclaims.

"... Mannerheim, prepare to remilitarize the Åland Islands when ordered by the central government. We will actively prepare in the next six months for the possibility of a defensive war." Tsar Alexander III orders.