20 years (April-June, 1886)
Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of the Navy]
* The Russian navy (the arms).
The Russian Empire had begun to invest more in its navy for various reasons during the rule of Alexander III, among them obviously the fact that Russia now had to defend its colonial territories and protectorates.
The Russian navy was one of the 10 largest in the world, but the Russian Empire itself did not have its greatest strength in its navy. Mainly for geographical reasons, the Russian navy was divided into arms (руки, ruki) for its fleets: the Baltic Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet and the White Sea Fleet.
The only geographically "free" navy was the Pacific Fleet, while the Baltic Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet, and the White Sea Fleet had problems related to geography (foreign nations in control of vital points that " strangle ", the Russian fleets in certain positions).
With various questions, the Grand Meeting discussed what the strategy of the Russian Empire should be, which could not dedicate all its resources to the Pacific Fleet but it was where strategically there were more importance and opportunities to use the navy.
Tsar Alexander III decided on a mixed strategy, the Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet needed, for the moment, elements more focused on speed and maneuverability.
The White Sea Fleet would be a mixed fleet in every sense, with the important task of defending Murmansk and northern Russia, but still limited. The bulk of the Russian icebreakers would focus on this fleet, and as a reserve they would sometimes have to provide aid to the Baltic fleet.
The Pacific Fleet on the other hand was going to receive without a doubt the largest and heaviest ships in a general way, the Russian objective would not be to equal or exceed the English or Germans, but they had to defend their colonial positions. Which means being more powerful than the local regional powers (Japan for example).
In construction issues, the number and capacities of the shipyards increased successfully, although from time to time Russia would commission ships to Japan and Italy (with the United States and Mexico proposed as future partners in this regard) for the improvement of commercial and diplomatic ties.
*Ports.
The Russian Colonial Empire (Российская колониальная империя, Rossiyskaya Kolonial'naya Imperiya) now represented a number of ports available for commercial and military activities that were extremely useful to Russia.
In the event of Suez being blocked, Russia could have ports of call in Cameroon, Namibia and Madagascar, and from there to reach Russian Indonesia.
These ports were also important assets for certain defensive squadrons, although as such Russia did not have an Indian Fleet or an Indian Sea Fleet, but elements of the Pacific Fleet in nearby ports (Aceh, Africa, etc).
The Russian fleet was also currently guarding the waters of the Lanfang Republic, effectively a protectorate of Russia although not legally speaking.
It was clear that Russia would continue to invest in these commercial ports, although the military navy would not be the main focus for now.
Russia was not going to get into a major naval war just yet.
* Naval doctrine (submarines).
The submarines continue to advance in the Russian Empire, at the Grand Meeting the doctrine of "Volch'ya staya" (Волчья стая, Wolf Pack) was presented and accepted.
However at the moment the doctrine devised by Stepan Makarov and Emperor Alexander III was mainly experimental, and it was clear that it was not yet finished.
Russia would continue to invest in the development of technologies vital to doctrinal formation, necessary for the communication and coordination of submarine teams.
* Naval developments.
The maritime technology of the Russian Empire was mainly in charge of Stepan Makarov's Komitet, but it was clear that the Ministry of the Navy had to work in conjunction with other nearby ministries for strategic reasons.
Russia had to continue developing its torpedoes, communication technology (radio for example), submarines, ammunition and cannons among other weapons, as well as model ships, etc.
Among the projects presented was the Drednout (dreadnought), a mainly experimental and theoretical project at the moment, but whose pieces were already being investigated or in the experimentation phase.
In certain respects the technological development of the Russian navy was rather in the long-term aspect. The next great expansion of the Russian navy would not come until the 1890s.
At the moment Russia would have to concentrate on slowly preparing, preparing modules, training personnel for the construction of Drednout (without informing international spies) through teams but without building a full Drednout, etc.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of War]
*The army.
The Russian army numerically speaking had one of the greatest recruiting potentials in Europe. Under the Romeyko-Gurko and Skobelev administration, army administration was the order of the day.
Each soldier had a uniform, weapons, ammunition and rations, in addition to basic training for the performance of his duties, a training that de-facto, in peacetime, never stopped.
Military academies functioned successfully, war games did not stop, and there are still many veterans or trained people to command.
But much of the military planning lies in the logistics itself, the Russian Empire had vital assets for the mobilization, transport of resources and production of war material (military-industrial complex or heavy industry) necessary to fuel its war machine.
At least in Eurasia, where the professional and standing army was the norm, with diverse units according to certain characteristics. In the Kurdish regions there were volunteer Kurdish cavalry regiments for example.
In the colonies however, with the exception of certain marine regiments, the forces were generally made up of loyal native militias, armed and trained by Russia.
While these colonies continued to grow, the Russian imperial army as such expanded more slowly in those regions.
* Bloch report.
The Bloch Report was condensed (by various members of the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry, including Tsesarevich Nicholas) from 3000 pages to 60, something that every member of the military can sincerely appreciate. Said report from the ministry would explain how the future wars of the Russian Empire against industrialized nations in Europe would be.
This meant a reform in the thinking of how the Russian High Command understood the war, a vision promoted by Deputy Minister Mikhail Skobelev (and approved by Minister Iosif Romeyko-Gurko and Alexander III).
The trench warfare was not inevitable or invincible, but the Russian army had to prepare to face it, and begin to think of methods of how to counter it.
Before this report, however, the main initial concern of the administration would be the control of millions of soldiers, the storage of ammunition, artillery and military equipment (weapons), transportation of rations and the morale or control of the soldiers at the front.
* Mechanized units.
One of the things that the Russian Carriage Works and the War Ministry under Tsar Alexander III started working on, was the Bronevik mechanized units or simply Medved. In the beginning, the work of these units would be the transport of troops and resources through supply lines or battlefields.
However, such developments would also motivate the initiation of investigations into the war potential of the "mechanized units", and their potential use to attack enemy positions with firepower.
At the moment the first transport and armor experiments in Yakutia were successful, but it would still be a few years before the first successful offensive mechanized unit could be developed.
* Technological developments.
The War Ministry was also a ministry aimed at scientific advancement, currently the Russian War Ministry in 1886 discussed the potential of radio communications, the operation of airplanes in war, mechanized units, and other possible necessary technological advances ( development of weapons, ammunition, etc).
The ministry for example had Sergei Ivanovich Mosin working on creating a rifle for 1889.
They had Alexander Stepanovich Popov and Heinrich Rudolf Hertz working on the development of radios for war purposes.
Fyodor Blinov's Russian Carriage Works in armor and military vehicles.
To Alexander Mozhaisky, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and associates in the development of aircraft for military purposes.
Among many other members of a military development "IIR" (more unofficial than official).
It was clear that sooner rather than later a new military "Reform" would come to establish and standardize all kinds of new technological advances within the Russian army, out of simple necessity.
The war was going to change and Russia had to adapt to survive potential future dangers, unfortunately it would only be the Russian General Staff who paid attention to the Bloch Report (English, French and Germans would ignore Bloch's texts on industrial warfare).
Due to advances in communications, General Iosif Romeyko-Gurko and Mikhail Skobelev established an encryption system for Russian messages by telegraph, which was intended to be integrated into radios for future military use.
Of course not all code can remain encrypted forever, but Russia was already looking into the kinds of technology that could help make the process much more secure for Russians, and more difficult for spies to break.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of Education, Culture and Technology]
* Literacy (survey).
It was clear that literacy in the Russian Empire had advanced by leaps and bounds after 20 years of Tsar Alexander III's rule, and more than a decade since the educational reform. During these years Russia had successfully motivated literacy, and built various institutions and projects that guaranteed this.
However, it was not clear how many inhabitants of Russia were "basic literate" as the government had called them, that is, people who could at least read and write.
So the Zemstvos and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Technology, were given the task of carrying out a census about the literacy of Russia for 1890.
Russia already had more than 100 million inhabitants, the second generations of migrants were already literate, the generations of the Russians themselves increased their literacy, etc.
This was good news at first, but there were still somewhat remote regions (mainly Siberian tribes) where there were probably not many literate populations, etc. So it was still necessary to know how many people were basic literates.
* Russian in high schools.
With the educational reform, Russia had not forced teaching in Russian in many of its areas or institutions where minorities were predominant, it was only done in universities (and in minority regions not all courses were forced in Russian, only there was one compulsory subject of "Russian language" under the pretext of motivating recent graduates to be able to get a job anywhere in Russia).
It was proposed that after the census, now that there was a class of Russian-trained university students, that compulsory Russian courses should be given in the last three years of secondary education.
It was clear that future teachers in the Russian Empire would know Russian, so teaching it at a young age should be easy and would be more successful for young people.
There were mixed opinions, so it was still up for discussion. There were people fearful of possible revolts, and others excited to continue being able to expand Russian culture and integration within the inhabitants of the empire.
The census results were yet to be seen.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Four Arrows of Africa]
* Sagallo-Ethiopia.
Coffee, hibiscus tea and some other Ethiopian products continued to flow to New Moscow, Sagallo. Russian migration continued to flow into the city, the economy of the colony grew (farms, commerce and some early industries) and a class of native Africans educated by Russia grew who would work loyally for the Russian-Ethiopian administration (the hostages sent to Russia) .
There were even successes in integrating more parts of the Gulf of Tadjoura into the colony.
But it was clear that Sagallo was still simply the door to something bigger, Sagallo needed a railroad and still many more advances.
In negotiations with Ethiopia, King Menelik of Shewa accepted and established with the help of Russian Cossacks and some investors, the city (with attractive hot springs it must be said) the city of Addis Ababa as planned by him and Tsar Alexander III.
With this, a primitive commercial route for Ethiopian merchants to New Moscow was formed, the only prohibited business to the colony was the slave trade.
With this it was clear that the plans of the Four Arrows could continue to form Russian-Ethiopian conglomerates so that Russia could raise money from Ethiopian resources, and help modernize Abyssinia with Russian weapons and technology.
Russia would obviously have at least 51% of the shares, but still the project was destined to eventually (because it would be a long-term project) to improve the quality of life of Ethiopians (literacy, development, better agriculture and livestock , etc).
For the moment it was a good first step to know that Ethiopia's trade ties with Russia were advancing.
On the other hand, the idea was proposed that apart from Sagallo, Russia should expand towards the Somali lands to get a series of ports or fortresses before southeastern Ethiopia or Russian interests in the Horn of Africa are threatened.
The possibilities of this plan were reviewed and it was technically feasible, but the Russians did not know if they could carry this plan to a conclusion quickly when all the European powers had already in their objectives to expand their African colonies.
*Madagascar.
Russia was successfully winning the Malagasy oligarchy, it was also swelling its military and administrative ranks through a system of schools, Orthodox churches and special legations where they trained (and indoctrinated) Malagasy children and adolescents orphaned or literally left in the aforementioned institutions.
Malagasy children and adolescents were educated and trained by Russia for various purposes.
* Form a loyal population base, for religious, cultural or social reasons, towards Russian rule over Madagascar.
* Get an administration or military forces loyal to Russia (trained by and for the mother country) to guarantee the pacification and future settlements of Merina / Madagascar. A force that had no family or tribal loyalties.
In essence, orphaned or abandoned Malagasy children owed their lives to Russia and their control over certain ports or institutions on the island. Both types of children got food, shelter and education.
Russia also prevented the murder of many children who were to be killed for cultural reasons (twins for example) or pragmatic (families who could not feed or support their children).
With ports established and forces on the way, Russia also had to seek industries and economic potential for the island of Madagascar beyond commercial ports, such as mineral resources (gold), other extractive industries, etc.
Russia would also have to invest in local medical needs, by the time Tsar Alexander III had motivated the development of a kind of anti-mosquito nets, but there is still a lot of work to do.
In addition, Tsar Alexander III also wants to maintain a series of wildlife reserves unique to Madagascar, but that is already other projects.
*Cameroon.
Russia had won the coast of Cameroon, the most malaria-free areas, with this they had built roads, ports, fishing sites, places for boat repairs, churches, schools, houses and other necessary infrastructure.
Now there was only the biggest problem, the jungle-tropical areas infested with diseases and insects, but also still with economic potential (fruit industry, wood, etc). And the potential to meet the objectives of the Saint Petersburg Conference to achieve the territory of Cameroon.
The coastal native population integrated into the Russian religious and educational system would undoubtedly be vital to such expansion, and they themselves would possess a necessary counterweight to radical members of North West Slavic Africa (Cameroon).
At the moment things in the colony were peaceful, the Russians and Poles were arriving, they were doing Catholic or Orthodox pro-celitism, native religions and histories still survived (sometimes through the gathering of information from Orthodox priests) and the natives were integrating into through Russian training schools.
Under the Grand Meeting permission was given to the formation of private for-profit companies in the agricultural industries of Cameroon, although obviously with certain laws to protect the native Africans, the Slavic-Finnish commercial companies were setting their eyes on the colony, investing to profit from the local economic potential.
There wasn't much else to discuss other than local defense and control needs.
*Namibia.
The Grand Meeting discussed and accepted the formation of a city formation that would be very important for the development of Russian Namibia (South West Slavic Africa).
In addition to Walvis Bay, Russian settlers would form around various springs and vital points for the formation of the colony, the settlement of New Petrograd.
(OOC: New Petrograd = Windhoek).
This would be the second city or member of the administrative "duarquía" of the colony, important not only for the commerce and the development of infrastructure and administration of the colony, but also for the expansion of the same.
Through this duarchy Russia intended to establish a peace between the various nearby towns, the formation of vital points for the defense of resources (the desert also helped with this) and local population, economic development of the colony, etc.
With New Petrograd communication to the various northern and southern tribes seemed successful, with the formation of the first New Petrograd church and the school for Russian settlers and native Africans.
In short, the basic model by which the Russian Empire of Alexander III guided its colonies.
The biggest problem would be that in addition to a commercial port, Namibian resources would still be difficult to extract, and the desert geography did not help.
Fortunately, the lack of tropical pests meant that the Russians could now populate the region more, which in turn meant that the colony will currently have a rapid population growth (to be mainly desert).
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of Transport and Railways]
* The skeleton of Russia.
Russia's "skeleton" was essentially complete. The Trans-Siberian, its backbone, was finished, and these were connected to the ribs (the Transcaspian now connected to the Transiberian) and other parts of said skeleton (the Trans-Caucasian, the Russian Armenia-Kurdistan railways, the Warsaw-San railway). Petersburg and Moscow, the St. Petersburg-Helsinki railway, etc).
In essence Russia was connected from west to east, and to some extent north to south, communication with the Bering Telegraph also linked Alyáska with mainland Russia which was very important.
These connections were vital for Russia, at an economic and defense level, on the one hand the Trans-Siberian allowed trade from Vladivostok to Moscow, allowing products from the East to pass to Europe, the transport of Russian goods, etc.
On the other hand, said transport and communications system would allow a much faster and more efficient response of the Russian army in peripheral regions of the empire, better communication and administration of the supply lines, etc.
In short, the exponential growth of transport lines through railways was undoubtedly a success of the Alexandrian administration.
River trade had also grown, having connected the Volga River and the Don River, parts of the Moskva, built various elements of tributaries of the Volga It is obvious that Russia's river trade and transport increased exponentially.
And it would continue to increase now with the northern route being more efficient, and the White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal in process.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry]
* Economy.
It was clear that Russia stopped being a feudal and agricultural economy, it was now a modern and industrialized economy (with its own characteristics of course). A producer not only of resources (agricultural products, meat products, dairy products, metals, gems, wood, coal, oil, spices, etc.) but a manufacturer of manufactured products (chemical products, tractors, motors, electrical material, industrial material, textile industry, etc.) that could import and have influence in Europe.
For example, while Edison companies were the main seller of light bulbs and related products to the electrical industry in the United States and France, Russian companies were the main sellers and suppliers in the rest of Europe (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and even UK).
In other aspects of the economy we can talk about how Russia captured its own markets, had partners with advantageous businesses and foreign investments in Russia.
Speaking of free trade and investment, Russia's main trading partner was "Europe", more specifically Russia's main investors were Germans and English (behind only by a nose). For simple convenience, Russia could export various products quickly and efficiently to Western markets, and transport products of Japanese, Korean or other Asian countries to Central Europe.
Speaking of partners, Russia has various partners with their own peculiarities, some closer or more captive than others.
* Japan: Japan essentially drinks from Russia. Russian iron, Russian food and Russian oil fed the Japanese industry and country, whose own exports traveled mainly to or through Russia.
* Korea: In essence Russia gives the shots in the Joseon dynasty, industry, agriculture and various economic aspects depend on Russia, and Korean products mainly pass through Russia.
* Bali, Aceh and Lanfang: In essence protectorates and captive markets of Russia, which are part of the "New Silk Road". Russia helps in industrialization and in return gets resources, favorable markets, rights, etc.
* Ethiopia: Russia's growing African trading partner, while Abyssinia can trade with whoever it wants, is obviously leaning towards Russia due to various trade treaties and growing ties between the two Orthodox states. Russia aims to expand Ethiopian industry and economy, but at the moment Ethiopia ships coffee, tea and some other raw materials, while Russia offers machinery, weapons, etc.
* Mexico, the United States and Brazil: These three countries are Russia's main trading partners in the Americas, with fruitful bilateral ties. Brazil is the main foreign seller of rubber to Russia, there are Russian businesses in Brazil and Mexico, etc. While there is a trade in various products (mainly raw materials) between the United States and Russia, some American capitalists also invest in Russia, mainly in the Far East.
Diplomatically, Russia is closer to Mexico and Brazil (in that order) than to the United States, but that aspect is not too important.
* Russian Carriage Works.
At the Grand Meeting of April, accompanied by Fyodor Blinov, Tsar Alexander III together with Blinov and delegates of the Russian Carriage Works (Российский вагоностроительный завод, Rossiyskiy Vagonostroitel'nyy Zavod) would present the "Romanov" car.
This was a personal use car developed at the RVZ to be cheap and easy to produce, efficient and durable.
The car was based on recent advances in Russian industrial production and engine technology, the assembly lines of RVZ factories could build one car per day, or even more.
The workers just had to be specializing in assembling the prefabricated parts of the vehicle on the assembly line.
With this the Russian state would gain a new leadership in the production of automobiles, and a sure sale abroad and within Russia itself.
The Romanov could become the vehicle of the common wage man, but without losing quality.
The project was approved without much inconvenience, abroad horse transport was still very dominant, and horses were a serious problem (their droppings were seriously a problem, and the bodies of dead horses were too) so the car could be sold as an alternative not only economical for individuals, but even more ... ecological, in a sense.
Romanov car).
* Assembly lines.
The success of the state RVZ and Nikola Tesla's SEiPK undoubtedly marked a before and after, the Russian state and private industries would launch to take much more advantage of the use of assembly lines for the production of finished products. It would make production cheaper and faster, therefore increasing profits.
This revolution in Russian industry however still needed some push, not all private industries were yet ready to make the leap.
So this is why the RVZ made some deals with companies necessary to make the parts for Romanov cars, and it just forced it into those conglomerates out of necessity and contracts.
The resulting explosion in the market when production started was simply the necessary push so that Russian industry will soon begin to harness the full potential of the assembly lines.
A model that unfortunately other European and American companies would take time to imitate, but that would be better for "Made in Russia" products.
* Special economic zones.
Despite the Russian economic success, it was still possible to do more, the project at the Grand Meeting was under discussion but it was somewhat intriguing. Tsar Alexander III proposed the creation of "Special Economic Zones" (Особые экономические зоны, Osobyye Ekonomicheskiye Zony), in underdeveloped areas of Russia or in some particular areas of cities and regions of Russia.
An OEZ or Special Economic Zone would be a property free of various taxes and with certain subsidies for the investment of native or foreign companies dedicated to research and development.
However, such OEZs would still have certain conditions, such as: 75% or more members of the workers and / or staff would have to be Russian.
This in theory, would guarantee that an OEZ would train skilled workers from local communities (Russian citizens, regardless of ethnicity, culture or religion).
In turn, because such companies would be engaged in research and development, it would mean that it would help prevent a brain drain from the Russian Empire and could in fact attract foreign trained personnel for the training of Russian personnel.
The main concerns were regarding the sovereignty and competition of an OZE with the companies of other less benefited regions in the Russian Empire.
* Containers?
The Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich for his part made a small contribution, presenting the idea of "containers" made of steel, which would be an advance for the development and transport of goods through maritime trade routes and railways of the Russian Empire.
Such containers could be easier to transport and safer for goods, with certain adjustments regarding cranes and means of transport.
The Grand Meeting discussed it, there were doubts about costs and investment in such an industry.
* New Silk Road.
The New Silk Road of the Russian Empire refers to the new East-West trade through the Russian Empire, produced due to the economic and infrastructure developments of the government of Tsar Alexander III.
European products (mainly machinery) went from Russia to Korea, Japan, and other parts of the world, while raw materials (spices, cocoa, coffee, beans, agricultural products) and some other products (silk, porcelain, handicrafts, etc.) from Asia or other regions they went to Europe through Russia.
This new way of understanding Russian trade towards Europe also meant that European and Asian markets (and to a lesser extent the American ones) received products "Made in Russia" or products through Russia, which was something beneficial and powerful in several senses.
Russian-Korean-Japanese silk, Russian-Chinese porcelain, products made in Russia, Central Asian cotton, Novaya Gvineya rubber, Indonesian spices, gold, silver, oil, etc.
This was obviously still an opportunity to export more products, for example the Grand Meeting decided to increase the marketing of the House of Fabergé Fabergé Eggs. At this time, 1886, directed by master jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé.
The brand would expand to be exported to Europe, propagandized to the noble and upper classes of the European monarchies, a demonstration of Russia's wealth and refinement that brought attention and capital to the Eurasian empire.
But obviously Russia was not going to stop only at jewelry, soon they were also planning to export Romanov cars and other products made in Russia.
This was the New Silk Road through the Eurasian continent, but Tsar Alexander III would raise the possibility of a "New Maritime Road" from the Russian ports.
From the Far East to Indonesia, from Indonesia to India and Africa, and from India (either via the Suez Canal or the Sagallo-Madagascar-Namibia-Cameroon route) to Europe. Surrounding the gigantic Eurasian mass to reach more markets.
It would even allow, in theory, trade to the Atlantic through Russian ports in West Africa.
It was primarily a dream of Tsar Alexander III, but a possible dream as Russian ports continue to develop into protectorates and colonies.
A world increasingly connected and willing to trade, and above all beneficial for Russia, but that was another matter.
*Tourism and sports.
Another important diversification of the Russian economy was the tourism-oriented services sector, which just exploded. Russia was a gigantic attraction for the native population and foreigners, which meant investments, the entry of money and the exploitation of tourist spots.
Not only that but also the possibility of selling merchandise, cultural products, etc. Matrioshkas, key chains, necklaces, traditional clothing, etc.
Russia had parks and nature reserves that people could enjoy, new amusement parks and roller coasters in Poland, the Tower of the Sun in Saint Petersburg, the Brotherhood Statues in Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian to travel from one point to another, the Orthodox churches largest in the world, the largest statue of Christ in the world (under construction, already visited by Catholic Christians), etc.
This caused visitors to flourish on the Black Sea beaches, more diners in European Russian restaurants, tourist trips through Siberia and much more.
The triennial Russian Soccer Leagues and sporting events also helped bring in a healthy source of visitors and income from foreign sports fans.
Goodwill towards Russia, and the success of various events, street safety, and vibrant economy (in addition to migration to Russia) simply guaranteed a successful tourism business sector that has grown steadily since 1880 (more than 10,000,000 visitors in 1880).
*Rubber.
Although Russia successfully discovered the creation of artificial rubber based on butadiene in research conducted by student Ivan Lavrentevich Kondakov and professor Aleksandr Mikhailovich Butlerov in 1885-1886, it would still take time before the Russian state could bring this discovery to the area. of industrial production (mainly for industrial purposes).
At best the transformation would come in the 1890s, and at worst in the 1900s-1910s.
At the moment this assumed that Russian industry would still depend on natural rubber, mostly imported or brought in from the Russian colonies.
It was not all bad, it meant that you had to invest more in the colonies so that they produced more rubber (increasing economic development) and trade with non-English third parties, which meant good relations and trade.
For example, Russia would continue to invest in the Novo Alexandria project in Brazil, which remained relatively successful in producing rubber for Russia and its growing industries.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Ministry of the Interior]
*Labor rights.
The Interior Ministry under Tsar Alexander III and Minister Mikhail Loris-Melikov presented a problem: Marxism would remain attractive to radicals, as long as there were no certain rights for workers.
Of course the Russian Empire could not be very radical with its reforms, but the creation of a Moscow Railway Workers Union (Московский союз железнодорожников, Moskovskiy soyuz zheleznodorozhnikov) was proposed.
A state union, as an experiment, for the workers of Moscow.
Of course this would mean listening to the demands of some workers, responding to this and investing in the development of the idea (keeping an eye on it, feeding it and from time to time choosing between the union and the owners of the industries ...).
Which could turn out good and bad at the same time, alienating workers for or against the government. Because of this, nothing was clear yet, but the government was clear that certain labor laws would be necessary sooner or later for Russia.
Be it safety laws, unions, strikes, etc.
* Universal health system.
Another issue would be a universal, public and free health system. It would be a public relations success with the population that could reduce radicalism, although it would also entail certain expenses and taxes.
At the moment Tsar Alexander III decided to approve the idea of a dental health system, just to test how it works and if it helps the population.
Although then the investments in said system had to be discussed.
* Bloch report (food and medicine).
The results of the Bloch Report would not only affect the Ministry of War, but also the Ministry of the Interior, Minister Loris-Melikov and Tsar Alexander III were concerned with the idea of the effects that a modern industrial war would have on the civilian population.
For these reasons, it was necessary for the Ministry of the Interior to prepare to store and distribute food and medicine to the public, in addition to forming a standard procedure to deal with plagues and famines at a general level for reasons of war.
The Bloch report and the work of the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry and partners, could save millions of Russian lives. Russia just had to have the resources and preparation to deal with the consequences of a modern war.
And precisely the Ministry of the Interior would be the ministry in charge of such matters.
* The German-Austrian Poles.
With the Prussian Deportations, Emperor Alexander III presented at the Grand Meeting to make the most of the situation after the successes of the integration of the Austrian Poles into the Russian Empire (learning Russian, working in the empire, etc.) .
Under Alexander III's Russian Empire, a Ukaze would be proclaimed that would promote Polish migration from Germany-Austria to Russia, populations in general much less nationalistic and rebellious than the Russian Poles.
Such migrants would receive subsidies and reasons to move to various parts of the Russian Empire, learn Russian, and work within the Russian Empire (be it private or state industry).
This meant that Russia began to compete and successfully receive more migration of Poles of Austro-German origin, to the annoyance of the more nationalistic Russian Poles who could do nothing, their brothers were much more willing to integrate into Russia and actively benefited from this.
This brought in an educated and loyal population of Poles who continued to be actively beneficial to the Russian Empire, less prone to radicalization, educated, etc.
Simply perfect for Russia.
*******
[Grand Meeting of April: Current projects.]
* White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal.
The White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal continued successfully, it had its problems and delays, but everything indicated that it should be ready by 1889 (unless another delay will take it to 1891 or later).
But for the moment the construction was going well and its success was guaranteed, this also produced the increase in Chinese migration (in addition to many other factors) that increased the Russian population and the economic participation of the Chinese in various Russian industries.
*Byzantine construction: Imperial Olympic Stadium (?)
With the success in sports, the construction of a large stadium in Moscow and other constructions for sporting events in the city of Moscow, beyond football, was proposed. This is due to the sports culture developed in Russia, and the possibility of continuing to develop generation after generation of athletes in the Russian Empire.
For this it received the name of "Imperial Olympic Stadium":
Also because of the Byzantine revival in Russian architecture, the more modern (but with Byzantine influence) recreation of a large racecourse was proposed for races and similar events.
Of course these projects, although approved, were not a priority, so their construction would be delayed due to more relevant projects from the Russian state.
[Grand Meeting of April: The population and propaganda]
* Imperial Newspaper.
Propaganda and soft power within Russia simply did not stop growing and gaining importance in the Russian Empire, which is why Emperor Alexander III decided that Russia could no longer depend on nationalist newspapers, liberal newspapers or regional newspapers that did not always align with the state.
For this reason the Imperial Newspaper (Императорская газета, Imperatorskaya gazeta) was created, a newspaper produced from Moscow and Saint Petersburg by the Russian state to provide news and cultural material to the citizens of the Empire and colonies, from north to south and from east to West.
The newspaper would provide a section on sports, science, important events within Russia and abroad.
But the most important thing for the Emperor Alexander III was not only this, but also the children and the peasantry, the newspaper would have a section of comic books (Lubok), children's stories and a mail box to the emperor.
The latter was about the people of the Russian Empire (mainly children, but also adolescents and adults if the letter was suitable) to send letters to Tsar Alexander III with comments, requests and other things, which the Tsar would respond.
Of course Tsar Alexander III did not have the time to personally review and select all the letters, but instead a team of Okhrana editors, journalists, publicists and agents would help (and make sure it was suitable content) who would review it and would send it the tsar.
* All-Russia Pioneer Organization or Young Pioneers.
The next soft power process proposed and implemented by Emperor Alexander III, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Technology as well as the Ministry of the Interior, would be the All-Russia Pioneer Organization (Всероссийская пионерская организация, Vserossiyskaya pionerskaya organizats more simply Young Pioneers.
The Young Pioneers would be an organization of explorers for children and adolescents from 9 to 15 years of age from all over the Russian Empire, with the intention of promoting healthy values, social cooperation, and practical skills at events, summer camps, etc.
The objective was the training of the children in necessary cases, not only of survival in the open air, but also personal defense (and in the extreme case of war).
The organization would also defend values and social cooperation within the tsarist state, which would support various government measures such as the fight against illiteracy, promote integration regardless of ethnicity or culture, etc.
Emperor Alexander III even posed the organization in such a way that it would promote gender equality by allowing women to be active and valuable instructors, girls and boys to work together without gender separation, etc.
Eventually the Young Pioneers would be a tradition from Russia, where it was a traditional element of the growth of a young Russian (although it was theoretically optional). This would mean that from 1886 onwards the Russian generations grew up under the motto Always Ready! (всегда готов!, vsegda gotov!) of the Young Pioneers.
The group would include various arts and science activities in schools, but the most important was the uniform, the solemn promise and the Young Pioneers rules.
The uniform included a gold scarf with black lines, a badge for the organization (a double-headed eagle with Saint George slaying the dragon), a white shirt, and long or short pants / skirt.
Obviously these elections were not random, a white shirt and a gold-black scarf, and a double-headed eagle, similar to the state symbols (black-gold-white tricolor and the flag eagle).
The solemn promise:
I, (last name, first name), joining the ranks of the All-Russia Pioneer Organization, in the presence of my comrades solemnly promise: to passionately love and cherish my Motherland, to live as our great forebaders bade us to, as the Law teaches us to, as require the laws of the Pioneers of the Russian Empire.
Young Pioneers Rules.
1-Pioneer is a young builder of the Motherland, labors for the welfare of the Motherland and prepares to become its defender.
2-Pioneer is an active fighter for peace, a friend to Young Pioneers and children of all nations of Russia.
3-Pioneer upholds the organization honor, strengthens it by deeds and actions.
4-Pioneer is a reliable comrade, respects the elders, looks after younger people, always acts according to conscience.
5-Pioneer has a right to elect and be elected to Young Pioneer self-government institutions, to discuss the functioning of the Young Pioneer organization on Young Pioneer gatherings, meetings, gatherings of Councils of Young Pioneer detachments and Young Pioneer groups.
*******
[Russian celebrations].
Saint Petersburg, Moscow and the largest cities of the Russian Empire were celebrating, the imperial tricolor fluttered, the army marched through the cities, there were festivals, food, drink, etc. A huge party to celebrate 20 years of the rule of Tsar Alexander III, debts were forgiven, minor crimes were forgiven, some holidays were made and souvenirs were given away.
The Circus of Saint Petersburg gave functions in honor of the Tsar, the churches celebrated with canpanadas and the state honored its ruler.
Russia seemed like a gigantic celebration, and in reality Tsar Alexander III did not leave anyone indifferent, it was simply impossible. A person could love or hate the Tsar, there was no exact middle ground.
* The Peasantry: The Russian rural masses simply remained conservative, admiring Tsar Alexander III as a Little Father, a God-blessed ruler who had brought prosperity to Russia.
* Liberals and Westerns: Generally these Russian political groups hated or disliked Tsar Alexander III, they saw him as an autocrat and despot who prevented the advance of Russia towards the western and democratic values that Russia needed. The lack of political reforms carried out by Tsar Alexander III did not help either.
* Marxists and Populists: No introductions are necessary, they would try to blow up Tsar Alexander III many times as they need.
* Slavophiles, Nationalists and Russophiles: They generally offer positive views of Tsar Alexander III, as a strong and effective leader, victorious over the Ottoman Turks, with strong ties to the Slavic countries of the Balkans, a focus on Russian traditions and a return to certain parts of the ancient Slavs, etc.
* Minorities: Either they hate it (radical Russian Poles, the most conservative and radical Chechens, etc) or they love it (Kurds, most Armenians, etc). In the minority aspect, Russia did not leave indifferent, now teaching was not compulsory in Russian and the quality of life had increased, but there will always be minorities who want independence.
* Upper-middle class and bourgeoisie: Although the urban upper-middle class usually swings to the political left, the Russian middle class simply understood that they owed a lot to the economic reforms of Tsar Alexander III. It also helped that Tsar Alexander III had allies among the bourgeoisie and the newspapers to guide urban opinion in his favor.
* Orthodox Church: Although the priests felt certain problems because of Tsar Alexander III's respect for Judaism, Islam and pagan religions, they still respected and idolized him because of his authority over the church, his role as Little Father, the victory over the Ottomans and their role in expanding the Orthodox Church in Africa and the Pacific, as well as enhancing ties with Orthodox Ethiopia.
* The army: Cossacks and common soldiers, generals, etc. Most approve of Tsar Alexander III, thanks to military academies, loyal generals, victories, rations and equipment on time, wages on time, and lack of corporal punishment. Nationalism also plays a role.
In short, the government of Alexander III was made up of actions that gave positive and negative points of view for each group. For example the reforms regarding the Jews, the Pale of Settlement was not abolished but it became useless.
The administration was reformed to allow more participation but there was still no constitution.
So to speak, the only fully satisfied ones were the army, the navy and the Okhrana, and probably Tsar Alexander III did not need more to rule.
*******
[Purchase of Socotra].
April 6, German movements near the island of Socotra alarmed the British Empire, under Prime Minister Robert Cecil (who would only officially become the 30th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom until 1886 at the latest) and King Edward VII were concerned for a German annexation of the island.
But on the other hand Tsar Alexander III moved to the English, after the catastrophic failure in Greece, and offered a "hand" to the English. He was going to buy the island and thus neither state had to worry about the Germans.
The English were partly scandalized, but then Tsar Alexander III explained that his only intention was to create a nature reserve (and perhaps some tourism on the island).
Discussing this was a curious way to strengthen ties (while Greece strengthened ties with Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania and Russia of course ...) between the two great powers.
Robert Cecil accepted and the natives of the island sold the sovereignty to Emperor Alexander III, who established a natural reserve for the local fauna and planned the construction of some tourist places such as a hotel or similar.
* English perspective.
"Do you know what Tsar Alexander III thinks?" Robert Cecil, accompanied by King Edward VII met with the Foreign Minister, Stafford Northcote 1st Earl of Iddesleigh, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
"Can you be more specific?" Northcote asks.
"We do not understand what the Russian czar thinks, how he acts or how his head works. Our entire foreign policy dedicated to containing Russia has failed since that man is in command, he has an innate talent to annoy us and get away with it." Prime Minister Robert Cecil exclaims.
"... No, I don't know how." Northcote responds more or less immediately.
The king simply frowns as he scratches his nose a little. "You are supposed to be our foreign secretary."
"Yes, it doesn't mean that I understand how the Russian Tsar works." Northcote claims. "He gets Socotra and instead of making a naval base he fulfills his promise to make an ecological reserve. Do you know how rare it is for a monarch to fulfill a foreign policy promise?"
"Until he breaks it. We don't know if it's really all a cover or something." Robert Cecil mentions. "That man is either a genius or a fool."
*******
[International]
April 4, former Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone proposes the First Irish Home Rule Bill in parliament, however said law is not approved.
Which obviously continues the eternal conflict between the Irish who want Home Rule or independence, and the unionists (supported by King Edward VII himself).
April 24, Father Augustine Tolton becomes the first Catholic priest in the United States to publicly identify himself as African American.
May 1, a general strike occurs in the United States. On May 4 this escalated to the Haymarket massacre in Chicago, in the use of dynamite in a peaceful demonstration, the unknown perpetrator posing as a police officer killed civilians and police alike.
This leads to the eight hour workday being earned.
May 4, Emile Berliner begins to work on the creation of the gramophone.
May 15, France and Portugal regulate their colonial borders in Guinea.
May 17, the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that corporations have the right to segregate by race, also ruled that companies have the same rights as living persons (or legal entities) in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad.
June 3, 13 Catholics (including the convert Charles Lwaga) and 9 Anglicans are burned by Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. In the future these people will be known as the Uganda Martyrs.
June 10, the Pink and White Terraces are destroyed and 150 people are killed by the explosion of Mount Tarawera volcano in New Zealand.
June 12, in the German Empire King Ludwig of Bavaria is arrested as part of his deposition ... a day later he appears drowned, supposedly by accident ...
June 13, the government of Emperor Napoleon IV is surprised by an attack on his life due to a bomb by Marxist terrorists. This leads to finally declaring martial law and Emperor Napoleon IV of extraordinary powers to his minister of war, General Georges Ernest Jean-Marie Boulanger.
Boulanger immediately ordered the army to bring order to Paris.
Kaiser Rudolf I receives the news with extreme pessimism.
*******
[Coca Cola]
May 28th.
Tsar Alexander III was on a 'surprise' business visit to the United States, accompanied by Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich, now a member of the Finance Ministry at age 17.
The problem is that the Tsesarevich had no idea that he was going to buy his father this time.
"It's weird getting up in Saint Petersburg and seeing the Eiffel Tower, or Tower of the Sun ... whatever that means.
It is also rare to see a United States and a world so different in general, it is just as if everything is so similar, but there are still things out of place or apparent nonsense that I don't know how to explain. "
Tsesarevich Nicholas was writing when his father finally returned, so he promptly closed his notebook. "Father, hello." The Tsesarevich salutes.
"Hi, hey I want you to try something. I just bought a company and a carbonated drink formula, I think it could be a hit in Russia." Tsar Alexander III asks.
The Tsesarevich immediately noticed that his father was carrying a box with John Pemberton's name on it. "Did you buy Coca-Cola?"
"... Do you know what Coca-Cola is?" Tsar Alexander III asks.
"... How did you first find out?" The Tsesarevich Nicholas promptly asks, he could say that he read it in a newspaper, the czar could not give that excuse because he came on business, it made no sense for him to come first and find out later about the existence of Coca-Cola. In fact, there was no advertisement for Coca-Cola at all.
"...". Tsar Alexander III was silent for a few moments.
*******
"Ok, so we're both ... minds from the future in bodies from the past, or whatever." Nicholas exclaims.
Alexander III drinks a Coca-Cola drink. "Yes."
"Does this change anything?" Nicholas quickly asks something nervous.
"Listen, we will discuss all of this further at another time. I promise." Tsar Alexander III exclaims. "For now let's focus on running the Russian Empire, and have a Coke." Tsar Alexander III exclaims by giving Tsesarevich some Coca-Cola.
"...Okay." The Tsesarevich accepts. "... We have to change the formula a bit."
"Definitely." Tsar Alexander III exclaims.
*******
[Russian Soccer League: Quarter finals]
Quarter finals of the 5th Russian Soccer League.
*Erivan vs Saint Petersburg: The Saint Petersburg team defeats Erivan's team 1-0.
*Novo Arkhangelsk vs Moscow: Novo Arkhangelsk's team defeats Moscow's team 3-2.
*Kiev vs Saratov: Saratov's team defeats Kiev's team 2-1.
*Vladivostok vs Grozny: Vladivostok's team defeats Grozny's team 1 to 0.