Frome Southeast to North Asia, from the Pacific to the Black and Baltic Sea! (July-September, 1893)

Pearls]

During the first weeks of July, Kōkichi Mikimoto, an entrepreneur from Japan, managed to produce the first cultured pearl, between commercial deals the Russians found out and soon took Mikimoto's own technique for their own pearl industries.

It helped that Mikimoto had a lot of initial trouble selling and advertising his business in Japan, giving the Russians plenty of room to develop and learn how to sell the idea.

Tsar Alexander III and his New Silk Road allowed Mikimoto to sell his pearls to new markets away from Japan, where they would have some more initial success (again increasing the sale of Asian products through Russia and its New Silk Road). The ties between the Japanese business and the Russian market grew, but that is not the only important thing.

The Russians, who already had some experience in taking foreign talent for their own benefits, created their own projects for the cultivation of oysters in the Black Sea.

The rapid creation of the Black Sea oyster farms (which allowed the conservation of native oysters while continuing to achieve economic results), allowed the Russians to study how to create pearls more spherical than Mikimoto's (after a few years) and sell more and more pearls from the Black Sea to Europe as a commodity, accompanied by other Russian products.

The pearls were not only sold separately, but would also be sold in luxury goods from jewelry stores such as Faberge, with strong ties to the Russian government and the New Silk Road initiative.

They were a success because there was a huge demand (and jewelry was pretty popular with the femenine sector of the economy), and until that time there was very little supply, so the Russians took advantage of this to sell their pearls in Europe or transport Japanese pearls to Europe.

The Russian economy continued to diversify, and during 1893 it began to offer more and more products, from Japanese-Russian pearls, to Thai food, Russian tea in greater quantities, etc.

In addition to the long list of cars, engines and other machinery, beverages (carbonated or alcoholic), tobacco, tea, agricultural products, silk, products from Africa, luxury products, among many others. By simple geographic spread and industrial might, Russia had much to offer.

For some powers this was worrying, especially for the United Kingdom, but the other powers had a lot to attend to, Germany was a good trading partner for Russia (and was fixated on other issues) and France was very fixated on Germany and wanted a good relationship with Russia, so the four great powers of Europe couldn't get to much in this stalemate.

*******

One aspect very well taken care of by the Russian administration due to the increase in oyster farms, was to make sure to establish laws and parameters for the preservation of the biodiversity of the Black Sea.

Not only oysters, but also other forms of life in the ecosystem.

Russia offered some meeting with other of its neighbors in the Black Sea regarding this, and Bulgaria and Romania accepted without much problem, but the Ottomans refused.

There was not much problem in establishing some parameters regarding the care of animals, but it is notable that it was one of the first semi-international treaties of its kind.

*******

[Diplomacy: Thailand and Europe]

In the waters of Thailand, on July 14, one of the first incidents, a consequence of current European policies, occurs during the Paknam incident, in Siam (near the Chao Phraya River, Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea ) a group of French ships bound for Hainan (a French colony) and a group of German ships came dangerously close to creating a conflict that could have escalated to an international war.

However, in the middle of the conflict, two of the German ships are fired upon by the Thai navy in retaliation for Franco-German violations of Thai territory.

Of course this results in the Thai ships destroyed by the German navy while France goes about its business (exploiting Asian natives in Hainan).

As a result, Germany is demanding Thai territory in response to the aggression, and France (with the United Kingdom as its backing) takes the opportunity to press against the Germans.

It seemed like another incident, but the British were not expecting the French to withdraw when the Thais offered them money, it was simple enough but the event damaged France and the UK's reputation with Thailand. Getting rid of Germany was not so easy for the Thais, as Siam had to cede the entire territory of "Laos" to Deutsch-Südostasien.

Laos comes from Pathet Lao (ປະ ເທດ ລາວ), or country of the Lao (people).

*******

With this precedent, Alexandrian Russia was not slow to approach Thailand, the kingdom of Siam (Rattanakosin) had lost numerous territories and vassal kingdoms to foreigners, surrounded by the British Raj and German Indochina.

Tsar Alexander III approached Thailand again offering closer ties, on the one hand economic and on the other hand, timidly begin a political rapprochement with Thailand (when the time was right) very similar to the Russian-Ethiopian rapprochement.

The Russian emperor simply saw the opportunity and took it to bring a new region to the growing Russian-sphere, or at least create a neutral or Russia-inclined state and trade partner in the region.

The deal was good and it came at the best time, where the Thai authorities were fearful of the Germans wanting to conquer more territory, or the British wanting more territory.

Above all, Russians had a better image in Thailand than other Europeans, Russian restaurants grew up in southern Thailand, Russians had a legacy in the region of not being equal to other Europeans, and Siamese-Russian trade ties grew.

With a new treaty, Russian products (especially with regard to machinery, infrastructure and technology, as well as more secret weapons) began to flow to Thailand, while Thai products joined the list of products on the New Silk Road trade routes .

Tea and Thai food began to arrive in the Russian territories and colonies-protectorates, in addition to some raw materials from time to time.

The most important thing was the continuous diplomatic approach, and the influences of Russian companies and merchants in the Thai markets.

Governments also continued and increased gastrodiplomacy, which was also a good thing.

*******

[Navy]

Tsar Alexander III on September 7, visiting some of the ports of the Gulf of Finland accompanied by Minister Stepan Makarov and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov, the review forced the Rusalka ship to be in port during a storm.

Since his entry into the navy, the grand duke was slowly rising, largely on his own merit, although the truth is that being a grand duke still helped (fortunately for Alexander Mikhailovich, he was talented).

"Everything seems to be in order, we are approaching our goals, they should be ready in a few years in this decade or the next." Makarov explains.

"Very well, now is the time to worry about the expenses and expansions of the navy. We should start discussing this soon." Tsar Alexander III proclaims.

"... If you want, I can work on this." Grand Duke Alexander proposes taking the initiative promptly, so Tsar Alexander III accepts.

The Grand Duke would be tasked with examining the Pacific Fleet separately as evidence, and after the examination would have to spend his time working out a plan (one that was to be accepted by Makarov and the Tsar if it was to be implemented) for the expansion of the marina.

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich would then work during 1893 and 1894 on the expansions of the Russian navy, both in modernization and number and logistics and budget issues.

The point was not only to keep the Russian navy as one of the most powerful in the world, but also to allow a fight against regional rivals, the most worrying for the Grand Duke was Japan (a trading partner, but the Grand Duke doubted this was a permanent or long-term situation).

(OOC: OTL the Russian navy ship Rusalka sank in a storm, killing just over 100 people, 117 more specifically).

*******

[30 years of reign]

Tsar Alexander III had met with his son, Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich, and with the Minister of Transport and Railways plus Finance, Trade and Industry, Sergei Witte.

"You see, my government is close to turning 30 years old." Tsar Alexander III exclaims. "In the absence of a minister of the interior, for the moment you two, as some of my closest administrators, can begin to compose the plans for the Third Grand Meeting of April?"

"If that's what you want, my czar." Minister Sergei Witte accepts, while Tsesarevich silently nods.

"Thank you very much, Witte, you can leave the room for a moment." The tsar asks (really order) kindly, which the minister promptly complies. "Nicholas, in addition to this, I have some news."

"What's up old man?" Nicholas asks curiously.

"Well, it is about your future marriage, once you get married you will retire from the administration of Inner Manchuria, I will introduce you to the administration of Moscow, I don't know if as governor of the province, or part of the mayor's office but we will see that in the future. The point is that you should be closer to Europe, just that. " Tsar Alexander III explains.

"Thank God, I was getting tired of having to use the Trans-Siberian so much for any European event, I even know the families of some officials of the Trans-Siberian old man." The Tsesarevich exclaims while on the other hand the tsar leaves his office with his son to meet again with Witte.

*******

[International]

* [United States: The first of his name.]

On July 1 something quite strange but remarkable happens, the president of the United States, Grover Cleveland has died. On July 1, a secret operation was carried out on the president for health reasons (a mouth cancer), but everything went extremely wrong and the excessive use of cocaine during an incision in the palate, added to other bad practices and unfortunate events. , caused the death of the president through cardiac arrest and respiratory problems.

This death has extremely damaging effects at the political level, President Cleveland was leading a campaign against the silver purchase laws and trying to solve the economic crises in the United States.

All this went down the drain, now Vice President Adlai Ewing Stevenson I becomes President of the United States (25th).

At the time of the news, Stevenson was on his yacht in New York, and he didn't even know about President Cleveland's surgery.

This event has important political consequences, it is a blow against the reform attempts due to the use of the spoil system (more Democrats in the mail services and other similar partisanships) by Stevenson, and his new cabinet (the Stevenson Cabinet) is It is made up of men in favor of free silver against the reforms regarding the purchase of silver.

The first is somewhat contradictory with other information from Stevenson, since in the Senate he was praised as a worthy and non-partisan leader, but there are also many reminders about his explicit orders (mostly oral rather than written) about promotions of Democrats to offices in the United States Department of the Postal and Treasury.

Economically speaking, the death of Cleveland caused another panic on Wall Street.

*******

July 11, the liberal general, José Santos Zelaya leads a revolt in Nicaragua and defeats the interim government of Salvador Machado Agüero, with the support of Anastasio Ortiz who was the Commander of Arms of the city of León.

On July 16, the conservatives appoint Joaquín Zavala Solís, former president, as president of the new governing board, again not recognized by the liberals, so Anastasio Ortiz, Francisco Baca, Pedro Balladares and other relevant liberal participants form their own board. , chaired by Zelaya.

On July 25 the liberals defeat the conservatives, and on the 31st the liberal junta is allowed to take power, ending decades of conservative governments in Nicaragua. On September 15, Zelaya assumes as president of the country, a progressive government but not without personal ambitions.

July 25, the Corinth Canal in Greece is completed.

August 15, the British continue to expand through Nigeria, the French through parts of Africa, the Germans colonize Tanzania and Uganda, and the Russians expand through Cameroon.

A hurricane passes through the islands of Savannah (Georgia), Charleston (South Carolina) and the Sea Islands, killing between 1000 and 2000 people on August 27.

*******

* [UK and Ireland: Green and Pleasant.]

September 1, Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone promotes the Government of Ireland Bill 1893, intended to grant more self-government to Ireland.

Currently the law passes in the House of Commons, but is vetoed by the House of Lords. During this project Gladstone deliberately developed the law in secret, excluding the Irish MPs themselves from the development of the law. The lack of preparations led to the alienation of members of the government and parties, and also led to an error, according to the law Ireland should contribute with 360,000 pounds sterling to the treasury of the United Kingdom (a gigantic sum for the time).

Gladstone's preparation had its mistakes, but the Commons accepted the law by 347 votes to 304, the problem was the Lords, who rejected the law by a total of 419 votes to 41.

The House of Lords is dominated by conservatives or other anti-Home Rule, with such a house, and with a divided leadership, the reform movement suffers serious downfalls.

The Irish Parliamentary Party and the Home Rule movement in Ireland are losing their dominant position within Irish nationalism.

Politically speaking the traditional English liberal and conservative parties practically lost their hold on Irish politics, but now Irish voters were looking for something more and the IPP (Irish Parliamentary Party).

The more radical socialism and nationalisms, which denied reform in exchange for total independence (even by violent means) were becoming more popular.

In particular the precursor bases of Irish socialist republicanism are formed, an Irish republicanism (which has its own characteristics) with strong bases of the class struggle, of the Irish people against imperialism (mainly English imperialism).

Although there were problems regarding socialism in Ireland, the population was extremely Catholic, some Irish socialists (even indóle Marxist) did not reject the Catholic Church and others did.

Social Christianity was also gaining some strength among left currents, but they did not have a very clear plan regarding the independence of Ireland.

*******

September 11, Chicago opens the World Parliament of Religions at the 1893 World's Fair, Swami Vivekananda (Hindu monk of Bengali origin) gives the keynote address with a very good reception.

Swami Vivekananda will also give another discourse on September 19.

On September 19, New Zealand becomes the first country to give women the right to vote.

September 21, finally the Empire of Brazil declares bankruptcy due to economic problems, the republicans are militarily stagnant and some of their best ports destroyed by attacks from the imperial navy, they also have to repress the population which costs resources.

Only the federalists are in relatively good shape, but their good condition is being the smallest and economically poorest faction in the Brazilian civil war. With the less professional army and no navy.

Under these conditions, the Brazilian civil war ends with a triple stalemate and a kind of commitment to peace for the next 6 years.

"Brazil, as a nation, will not remain divided indefinitely, the question is, under what creed and flag will it unite?"

-Words of Tsar Alexander III, also author of the phrase "Peace and prosperity for Brazil."

(OOC: I will post a map in some moments).

September 27, the World Parliament of Religions closes, more than 8,000 people from around the world, believers of diverse religions, gathered to celebrate, discuss and explore how religious traditions can work together on global issues.

Developing what is called the steps of a "global ethic".