Very interesting , should have big implications long term .
Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)
- Thread starter Miss Construction
- Start date
Especially as ITTL significantly more of the European group are of British decent and thus less racist (less being a somewhat deceptive term lol).
Speaking of India, this recently came up in the Map Thread and I thought it might prove useful.
You might have to click through to the original post for the full list of princely states, as well as the full explanation.
well in the long term you could have Hong Kong Malaya or Singapore as dominions so the numbers are racking up
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Jan-March 1907: About face
~Jan-March 1907: About face
January 1907: During the Russo-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars, DRS in Denmark received orders for thousands of Madsen light machine guns. However with the end of the wars, orders have fallen significantly. Attempting to gain further sales, they have been aggressively marketing the Madsen, but with little success due to the feed issues with rimless ammunition. The M1906 model resolves this issue with a new feed interrupt and finally begins to find a market, with Brazil placing a large order and several other nations expressing interest.
January 1907: Shah Mozzafar an-Din of Persia dies several weeks after signing a new liberal constitution into law. His death triggers a power struggle between the Russians and British for control of the country, with the new Shah Mohammad Ali seeking to overturn the new constitution.
January 1907: Despite the Tsar's dismissal of the First Duma after less than two months last year, fresh elections are held in an attempt to form a second. Unlike the previous year, the radical and revolutionary parties do not boycott these elections. This results in the moderates being outnumbered by the radical left by more than two to one.
January 1907: The previous French government of Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau maintained a highly successful foreign policy, a key part of which was improving Anglo-French relations, with the eventual aim of an alliance. A critical part of this policy was the Anglo-French Colonial Agreement of 1901 which resulted in a halt to French expansion in Asia and the Middle East. Waldeck-Rousseau's policy bore fruit during the Tangier Crisis, when unwavering British support of France resulted in Germany's humiliating diplomatic defeat at the Algeciras Conference. Despite this outstanding success, the new government of Gabriel Hantaux, mistrustful of the British and under pressure from the boulangists, adopts a policy of resuming colonial expansion in Asia and the Middle East. While aware the recent Russian defeat in the Far East has left France without an ally the region, he is unconcerned, believing the Britain's seemingly close relationship with the US and Japan is fragile and will be broken easily. As a first step, the French begin pressuring the Siamese for further territorial concessions on the west bank of the Mekong River.
February 1907: With the Russian court deeply divided over the wisdom of any agreement with the British, and the new French Prime Minister Hantaux now cool on any potential alliance with Britain, the Anglo-Russian Conference aimed at reducing tensions between the two powers opens in St Petersburg. The primary topic for discussion is the ongoing crisis in Persia, with Britain and Russia both seeking to gain control over the new Persian regime. After several days of tense negotiation, the talks will break down with no resolution. The failure of the talks will result in the replacement of Vladimir Lamsdorf as Russian foreign Minister with Alexander Izvolsky, the leader of the pro-British faction within the Russian court. In an effort to resolve the conflict, further talks are scheduled to be held in London in June.
February 1907: Despite some attempts at land reform, ownership of the great bulk of agricultural land in Romania is concentrated in the hands of a small landholding elite. However the vast majority take no interest in their holding, preferring to lease their estate to third parties who then sublease individual plot to landless peasants who actually work the land. A combination of a rapidly growing population creating increased demand for agricultural land and falling world grain prices have led to continually rising rents for those peasants. A conflict between one of the third party lessors and his tenants sparks and full scale uprising throughout Moldova, as tensions boil over. With local authorities unable to restore order, the government of Gheorghe Cantacuzio orders a full general mobilisation to deal with the situation. Over the next six weeks, the army will devastate the region, with over 10,000 peasants being killed before the uprising is suppressed. The uprising will have a lasting impact as the army's brutality leads to the radicalisation of many Romanians, particularly in the educated middle class.
February 1907: Since his election in 1900 Newfoundland Premier Robert Bond, in conjunction with Canadian Premier Wilfred Laurier, has continued his fruitless efforts to obtain a free trade treaty with the US. With clashes between US and Newfoundland fishermen becoming more frequent, his rival Edward Morris splits from the governing Liberal Party, forming the Peoples Party, taking ten other MPs with him and forcing a successful vote of no confidence. The Peoples party wins the resulting election, taking 20 seats as against the Liberals 16. Morris abandons Bond's pro US policy in favour of a pro Imperial position.
February 1907: The Second Imperial Russian Duma convenes in St Petersburg. With the newly elected Duma even more radical leaning than the first, It immediately comes into conflict with the conservative Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin. The radical leftist elements of the Duma, supported by the more moderates members attempt to both enact a program of land reform and attempt to restrain Stolypin's brutal hardline law and order policies enacted in the wake of the 1905 Revolution.
February 1907: The 1894 US-Japan Treaty of Commerce and Navigation which ended US extraterritoriality in Japan included a provision granting both nations citizens 'most favoured' status regarding migration. Many Japanese have taken advantage of the rights apparently granted to migrate to the US, with a substantial Japanese community now well established on the US West Coast. This has produced a major racist backlash, with calls for Japan's inclusion in the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to prevent further migration. The backlash has been particularly strong in California with the state introducing segregationist policies. With Japan rapidly becoming an important ally for the US, this blatant racism is now a major issue threatening the growing relationship. With both nations wishing to continue to see relations improve, a compromise is worked out. The US will issue a statement confirming Japanese rights under the 1894 treaty and work toward ending California's segregationist policies. In return the Japanese to informally halt migration to the US for five years to allow time for the US to end the Californian policies.
March 1907: Capitalising on a minor incident on the Siamese-Cambodian border, the French begin exerting pressure on the Siamese to make considerable territorial concessions, calling for the entire Burapha and Chanthuaburi Monthon's to be ceded to Cambodia, along with the Udon Monthon to Laos. This will cause considerable alarm in Britain, sparking the Isan Crisis.
March 1907: The Japanese naval program includes the two armoured cruisers intended to be ordered in 1905. Originally planned as improved versions of the Tsukuba class, the Ibuki's are Japan's first battlecruisers. Displacing 19,500 tons, armed with eight 12” guns in a superfiring pair of twin turrets fore and aft, armoured with a 7” belt and 2” deck, with their turbines giving them a speed of 26 knots, they will be comparable to the British Invincibles. The program also includes a new class of 5,000 ton light cruisers, with two to be orders this year and another pair next.
March 1907: Despite his strong republican sympathies, Portuguese Prime Minister José de Castro has been working with King Carlos in attempt to reform Portugal's economy and political system. The pair have drawn heavily from the Brazilian example but progress has been painfully slow due to the need to balance the various political factions. Nonetheless, de Castro has remained in power and his reforms, financed by large loans from Britain and Germany, are slowly beginning to bear fruit.
March 1907: In the aftermath of the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese War and the apparent weakness of it has revealed in their army, German Chief of Staff Helmuth von Molkte (the Younger) modifies the Schlieffen plan, reducing the forces in the east and restricting the enveloping attack on France to Belgium alone to reduce the risk of British intervention. This change will continue to dominate German planning, with only a token regular force in the east, with the bulk of the forces facing the Russians composed of reservists and landwehr formations. Once again, the German navy's calls to occupy Denmark are rejected.
March 1907: With the French having introduced a spitzer bullet their 8mm lebel round in 1898, the Germans adapting their 7.92mm to a spitzer round in 1904 and the US 0.30” following in 1906, the British introduce the 0.303” Mk VII spitzer round for general service. With a higher muzzle velocity giving a flatter trajectory, a new Mk III version of the SMLE is optimised for the new spitzer round. While the use of the 0.303” Mk VII cartridge is the major change in the Mk III, several other improvements are also introduced, most notably an improved fixed charger guide.
January 1907: During the Russo-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars, DRS in Denmark received orders for thousands of Madsen light machine guns. However with the end of the wars, orders have fallen significantly. Attempting to gain further sales, they have been aggressively marketing the Madsen, but with little success due to the feed issues with rimless ammunition. The M1906 model resolves this issue with a new feed interrupt and finally begins to find a market, with Brazil placing a large order and several other nations expressing interest.
January 1907: Shah Mozzafar an-Din of Persia dies several weeks after signing a new liberal constitution into law. His death triggers a power struggle between the Russians and British for control of the country, with the new Shah Mohammad Ali seeking to overturn the new constitution.
January 1907: Despite the Tsar's dismissal of the First Duma after less than two months last year, fresh elections are held in an attempt to form a second. Unlike the previous year, the radical and revolutionary parties do not boycott these elections. This results in the moderates being outnumbered by the radical left by more than two to one.
January 1907: The previous French government of Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau maintained a highly successful foreign policy, a key part of which was improving Anglo-French relations, with the eventual aim of an alliance. A critical part of this policy was the Anglo-French Colonial Agreement of 1901 which resulted in a halt to French expansion in Asia and the Middle East. Waldeck-Rousseau's policy bore fruit during the Tangier Crisis, when unwavering British support of France resulted in Germany's humiliating diplomatic defeat at the Algeciras Conference. Despite this outstanding success, the new government of Gabriel Hantaux, mistrustful of the British and under pressure from the boulangists, adopts a policy of resuming colonial expansion in Asia and the Middle East. While aware the recent Russian defeat in the Far East has left France without an ally the region, he is unconcerned, believing the Britain's seemingly close relationship with the US and Japan is fragile and will be broken easily. As a first step, the French begin pressuring the Siamese for further territorial concessions on the west bank of the Mekong River.
February 1907: With the Russian court deeply divided over the wisdom of any agreement with the British, and the new French Prime Minister Hantaux now cool on any potential alliance with Britain, the Anglo-Russian Conference aimed at reducing tensions between the two powers opens in St Petersburg. The primary topic for discussion is the ongoing crisis in Persia, with Britain and Russia both seeking to gain control over the new Persian regime. After several days of tense negotiation, the talks will break down with no resolution. The failure of the talks will result in the replacement of Vladimir Lamsdorf as Russian foreign Minister with Alexander Izvolsky, the leader of the pro-British faction within the Russian court. In an effort to resolve the conflict, further talks are scheduled to be held in London in June.
February 1907: Despite some attempts at land reform, ownership of the great bulk of agricultural land in Romania is concentrated in the hands of a small landholding elite. However the vast majority take no interest in their holding, preferring to lease their estate to third parties who then sublease individual plot to landless peasants who actually work the land. A combination of a rapidly growing population creating increased demand for agricultural land and falling world grain prices have led to continually rising rents for those peasants. A conflict between one of the third party lessors and his tenants sparks and full scale uprising throughout Moldova, as tensions boil over. With local authorities unable to restore order, the government of Gheorghe Cantacuzio orders a full general mobilisation to deal with the situation. Over the next six weeks, the army will devastate the region, with over 10,000 peasants being killed before the uprising is suppressed. The uprising will have a lasting impact as the army's brutality leads to the radicalisation of many Romanians, particularly in the educated middle class.
February 1907: Since his election in 1900 Newfoundland Premier Robert Bond, in conjunction with Canadian Premier Wilfred Laurier, has continued his fruitless efforts to obtain a free trade treaty with the US. With clashes between US and Newfoundland fishermen becoming more frequent, his rival Edward Morris splits from the governing Liberal Party, forming the Peoples Party, taking ten other MPs with him and forcing a successful vote of no confidence. The Peoples party wins the resulting election, taking 20 seats as against the Liberals 16. Morris abandons Bond's pro US policy in favour of a pro Imperial position.
February 1907: The Second Imperial Russian Duma convenes in St Petersburg. With the newly elected Duma even more radical leaning than the first, It immediately comes into conflict with the conservative Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin. The radical leftist elements of the Duma, supported by the more moderates members attempt to both enact a program of land reform and attempt to restrain Stolypin's brutal hardline law and order policies enacted in the wake of the 1905 Revolution.
February 1907: The 1894 US-Japan Treaty of Commerce and Navigation which ended US extraterritoriality in Japan included a provision granting both nations citizens 'most favoured' status regarding migration. Many Japanese have taken advantage of the rights apparently granted to migrate to the US, with a substantial Japanese community now well established on the US West Coast. This has produced a major racist backlash, with calls for Japan's inclusion in the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to prevent further migration. The backlash has been particularly strong in California with the state introducing segregationist policies. With Japan rapidly becoming an important ally for the US, this blatant racism is now a major issue threatening the growing relationship. With both nations wishing to continue to see relations improve, a compromise is worked out. The US will issue a statement confirming Japanese rights under the 1894 treaty and work toward ending California's segregationist policies. In return the Japanese to informally halt migration to the US for five years to allow time for the US to end the Californian policies.
March 1907: Capitalising on a minor incident on the Siamese-Cambodian border, the French begin exerting pressure on the Siamese to make considerable territorial concessions, calling for the entire Burapha and Chanthuaburi Monthon's to be ceded to Cambodia, along with the Udon Monthon to Laos. This will cause considerable alarm in Britain, sparking the Isan Crisis.
March 1907: The Japanese naval program includes the two armoured cruisers intended to be ordered in 1905. Originally planned as improved versions of the Tsukuba class, the Ibuki's are Japan's first battlecruisers. Displacing 19,500 tons, armed with eight 12” guns in a superfiring pair of twin turrets fore and aft, armoured with a 7” belt and 2” deck, with their turbines giving them a speed of 26 knots, they will be comparable to the British Invincibles. The program also includes a new class of 5,000 ton light cruisers, with two to be orders this year and another pair next.
March 1907: Despite his strong republican sympathies, Portuguese Prime Minister José de Castro has been working with King Carlos in attempt to reform Portugal's economy and political system. The pair have drawn heavily from the Brazilian example but progress has been painfully slow due to the need to balance the various political factions. Nonetheless, de Castro has remained in power and his reforms, financed by large loans from Britain and Germany, are slowly beginning to bear fruit.
March 1907: In the aftermath of the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese War and the apparent weakness of it has revealed in their army, German Chief of Staff Helmuth von Molkte (the Younger) modifies the Schlieffen plan, reducing the forces in the east and restricting the enveloping attack on France to Belgium alone to reduce the risk of British intervention. This change will continue to dominate German planning, with only a token regular force in the east, with the bulk of the forces facing the Russians composed of reservists and landwehr formations. Once again, the German navy's calls to occupy Denmark are rejected.
March 1907: With the French having introduced a spitzer bullet their 8mm lebel round in 1898, the Germans adapting their 7.92mm to a spitzer round in 1904 and the US 0.30” following in 1906, the British introduce the 0.303” Mk VII spitzer round for general service. With a higher muzzle velocity giving a flatter trajectory, a new Mk III version of the SMLE is optimised for the new spitzer round. While the use of the 0.303” Mk VII cartridge is the major change in the Mk III, several other improvements are also introduced, most notably an improved fixed charger guide.
Loius Napoleon will be a major factor in France and his constant push to improve relations with the British is just part of it
Sadly little which can be done about him. I really have no idea what will happen in Russia sadly
Portugal is on a very different rack. Changes started when the British didn't humiliate them in Africa, and the other major change is the fall of the Third French Republic after the chaos of the Dryfuss Affair which has undermined support for republicanism in Portugal.
Another request for help. Are these translations correct?
Kuomintang (国民党 Nationalist Party) abbreviation KMT
Jinbutang (进步党 Progressive Party) abbreviation JBT
Minzhutang (民主党 Democratic Party) abbreviation MZT
Baoquantang (保存党 Preservation Party) abbreviation BQT
Kuomintang (国民党 Nationalist Party) abbreviation KMT
Jinbutang (进步党 Progressive Party) abbreviation JBT
Minzhutang (民主党 Democratic Party) abbreviation MZT
Baoquantang (保存党 Preservation Party) abbreviation BQT
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This is a mix of pre-1950s Wade-Giles romanisation and modern Pinyin romanisation.
For the previous translations I've helped with I've used Pinyin, which is inauthentic to the time period but I'm more familiar with it, and Traditional Chinese characters, which is authentic to the time period but I've just been looking up in the dictionary.
In Wade-Giles and Traditional Chinese:
- Kuomintang (國民黨 Nationalist Party) abbreviation KMT
- Chinputang (進步黨 Progressive Party) abbreviation CPT
- Minchutang (民主黨 Democratic Party) abbreviation MCT
- Paoshoutang (保守黨 Conservative Party) abbreviation PST
As always thank you so very much. Throughout the TL I've been using Pinyin Romanisation (or at least hopefully I have lol) for familiarity, since it's what most sources use now. So would this work
Guomindang (國民黨 Nationalist Party) GMD
Jinbudang (進步黨 Progressive Party) JBD
Minzhudang (民主黨 Democratic Party) MZD
Baoshoudang (保守黨 Conservative Party) BSD
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April-June 1907: A loud report
~April-June 1907: A loud report
April 1907: With the US cruiser force now very rapidly falling into obsolescence and no modern seagoing destroyers, the US Navy pushes for such vessels to be included in this years building program. But again congress baulks at the costs, with only two additional dreadnoughts authorised. However Washington class dreadnoughts are an improvement over the previous South Carolinas. With their displacement increased to 18,000 tons, they mount the same eight 12” guns, but feature improved protection, with an 10” armoured belt. Their size also allows them achieve a sustained speed of 20 knots despite the continued use of triple expansion engines.
April 1907: Former Viceroy Lord Wallington delivers his report into future administration of India. Much to most observers surprise, he is broadly supportive of the proposed Grey-Morley reforms, but also acknowledges their radical nature and the widespread opposition they have generated. He further notes that Indian nationalism has become a powerful force and ignoring Indian aspirations for responsible government would be foolish in the extreme, almost certainly eventually leading widespread civil disorder and potential rebellion. He finds the current system of Princely States and British administered Provinces is unwieldy and inefficient. He recommends the proposed division of India into fifteen administrative regions be retained, but existing structures should be kept in place to allow for a more gradual and orderly transition to responsible government. Regarding the Princely states he states the absolutist nature of many will likely lead to local unrest in the face of Indian nationalism and therefore all efforts should be made to encourage the Princely states to introduce more inclusive and representative administrations, highlighting the success of the progressive Princes who have already implemented such measures. In his finally comments he notes immediate implication of the full program of proposed reforms would destabilise the good government of India and result in substantial unrest. He instead recommends the gradually introduced over a period of ten to twenty years, beginning with the division of India into the proposed fifteen states.
May 1907: Since the Chinese Civil War, both the Zheng and Xianfa have continued to organise their armies into the 12,500 strong divisions of the Qing New Army, despite the war having highlighted numerous shortcomings. In an effort to rectify these issues, the Xianfa reorganise their army, with the previous two battalion tactical regiments abandoned in favour of individual battalions grouped into large administrative territorial recruited regiments, thirty of Infantry and seven of Cavalry, along with the nationally recruited Imperial Guard Infantry and Cavalry Regiments. Operationally, the army will consist of four regular and six reserve infantry divisions, with one regular and one reserve cavalry divisions. Each division is composed of nine battalions in three brigades supported by 36 field guns, 18 field howitzers and 4 heavy guns. However due to manpower and equipment shortages no unit will achieve this intended scale of equipment for many years. Each infantry division is 14,000 men strong, while the cavalry divisions muster 11,700 men, giving approximately 67,000 regulars and 96,000 reservists in combat formations, with another 63,000 regulars and 74,000 reservists in support units
May 1907: With the French now deploying troops to the Siamese border, the British have been growing increasingly concerned at the renewed French expansion in the region. Foreign Secretary Edward Grey travels to Paris for talks with French Prime Minister Gabriel Hantaux in his role as Foreign Minister is completely unwilling to compromise, determined to annex substantial portions of Siamese territory. With it clear the French will not back down, the British begin making plans to reinforce their forces in the region.
May 1907: The first elections for the Xianfa Provincial Assemblies are held. The elections are contested by three major parties, the republican Guomindang or GMD ( 國民黨Nationalist Party) of Sun Yet-sen and Huang Xing, the centrist Jinbudang or JBD (進步黨 Progressive Party) of Tan Sitong and Kang Youwei and the newly emerging conservative Baoshoudang or BSD (保守黨 Conservative Party) of former generals Ma Fuxiang and Liu Yongfu. The Guomindang dominate in Sichuan and Henan, while the Baoshoudang gain control of Yunnan, Guizhou and Zhejiang with the governing Jinbudang taking the remaining five provinces, giving them control of the upper house.
May 1907: Since the formation of the British Army's specialist Machine Gun Regiment in 1901, the new corps has been experimenting in an effort to find the full potential of the weapon in an effort to find a new doctrine for their employment. Particular attention has been paid to the recent conflicts in the Far East. Particular attention is paid to the use of the Madsen light machine gun, with it appearing to fit well with the fire and movement doctrine developed after the Boer War. However both Chinese experience and British trials have shown persistent issues with rimless ammunition. Regardless, Far East experience shows clearly a significant increase in the number of machine guns is warranted, with the significantly lower cost of the Madsen is particularly attractive in that regard. Aware the Rexel Arms Company has been working resolving the issues from last years trials, twenty examples of their improved Madsen are purchased for further trials.
June 1907: Since convening in February, the Second Russian Duma has attempted to enact a radical program of land redistribution and other reforms far beyond what the Tsarist regime is willing to tolerate. Consequently Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin, supported by Tsar Nicholas II, has been looking for an excuse to dismiss the Duma. Ongoing revolutionary agitation in the Army, often incited by the radical Rossiyskaya Sotsial-Demokraticheskaya Rabochaya Partiya (RSDRP) or Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, is taken to provide the justification with Stolypin demanding the arrest of a number of radical representatives. While the 1905 Constitution grants members of Duma immunity from arrest unless stripped of it by the chamber, Stolypin refuse to wait for any investigation, instead simply requesting the Tsar dissolve the Duma, returning to absolute rule. These events will become known as the June 1906 Coup and further radicalise the reformers in Russia.
June 1907: The publication of the Wallington Report on India has generated massive controversy, not only in Britain and India, but throughout the entire Empire for its use of the term 'responsible government,' a term normally associated with the self governing Dominions. It is widely felt throughout the Empire the report advocates full Indian self government on the same level as the white dominions, a prospect many utterly reject due to racism. Therefore Government of India Bill introduced to implement the reports recommendations takes care to avoid the use of the term, replacing it with 'better government,' a fact which incites considerable anger within India. The bill itself largely leaves the current governmental structure of parts of India under direct British control intact. The existing provinces of Baluchistan and Pashtunistan are united into the new Northwestern Province and the small Province of Coorg is incorporated into Madras, while the existing Ajmer-Merwar Province is renamed Rajaputana and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands become a separate Crown Colony. The major change is regarding the Princely States. While arrangements for the five largest, Baroda, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Mysore, remain unaltered, the remaining states are placed under one of the ten British controlled provinces. Each of the provinces will have a Chamber of Princes which may debate any laws passed by the Provincial Assembly and recommend changes, though they can not prevent the law being passed. This chamber may also recommend the law apply to the Princely States by majority vote, though each individual Prince is under no obligation to accept the recommendation. The Bill also includes a provision for Princes to surrender their independence, voluntarily incorporating their state into the province in return for a guarantee of the rank, privileges and position in the Chamber of Princes along with a government stipend. Finally there is provision for the new system to be reviewed in five years to recommend if any further changes to the administration of India are warranted. Naturally, the bill immediately ignites fierce debate, with opinion polarised between its supporters and opponents.
June 1907: The second round of Anglo-Russian talks open in London. Though new Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky is anxious to reduce the tensions between the two powers to allow Russia to reform, the deteriorating situation in Siam with the French casts a pall over the discussions, with many in the British government now questioning the value of increased cooperation with the European Great Powers. Eventually a deal worked out to reduce tensions in Persia. The country is divided into a Russian zone of influence covering roughly the northern third, with a similarly sized British zone around the border with India and Afghanistan, with the remaining third as a buffer zone. Despite this success and Izvolsky's desire to improve relations, the ongoing situation in Siam results in the British being unwilling to consider further cooperation at this point.
April 1907: With the US cruiser force now very rapidly falling into obsolescence and no modern seagoing destroyers, the US Navy pushes for such vessels to be included in this years building program. But again congress baulks at the costs, with only two additional dreadnoughts authorised. However Washington class dreadnoughts are an improvement over the previous South Carolinas. With their displacement increased to 18,000 tons, they mount the same eight 12” guns, but feature improved protection, with an 10” armoured belt. Their size also allows them achieve a sustained speed of 20 knots despite the continued use of triple expansion engines.
April 1907: Former Viceroy Lord Wallington delivers his report into future administration of India. Much to most observers surprise, he is broadly supportive of the proposed Grey-Morley reforms, but also acknowledges their radical nature and the widespread opposition they have generated. He further notes that Indian nationalism has become a powerful force and ignoring Indian aspirations for responsible government would be foolish in the extreme, almost certainly eventually leading widespread civil disorder and potential rebellion. He finds the current system of Princely States and British administered Provinces is unwieldy and inefficient. He recommends the proposed division of India into fifteen administrative regions be retained, but existing structures should be kept in place to allow for a more gradual and orderly transition to responsible government. Regarding the Princely states he states the absolutist nature of many will likely lead to local unrest in the face of Indian nationalism and therefore all efforts should be made to encourage the Princely states to introduce more inclusive and representative administrations, highlighting the success of the progressive Princes who have already implemented such measures. In his finally comments he notes immediate implication of the full program of proposed reforms would destabilise the good government of India and result in substantial unrest. He instead recommends the gradually introduced over a period of ten to twenty years, beginning with the division of India into the proposed fifteen states.
May 1907: Since the Chinese Civil War, both the Zheng and Xianfa have continued to organise their armies into the 12,500 strong divisions of the Qing New Army, despite the war having highlighted numerous shortcomings. In an effort to rectify these issues, the Xianfa reorganise their army, with the previous two battalion tactical regiments abandoned in favour of individual battalions grouped into large administrative territorial recruited regiments, thirty of Infantry and seven of Cavalry, along with the nationally recruited Imperial Guard Infantry and Cavalry Regiments. Operationally, the army will consist of four regular and six reserve infantry divisions, with one regular and one reserve cavalry divisions. Each division is composed of nine battalions in three brigades supported by 36 field guns, 18 field howitzers and 4 heavy guns. However due to manpower and equipment shortages no unit will achieve this intended scale of equipment for many years. Each infantry division is 14,000 men strong, while the cavalry divisions muster 11,700 men, giving approximately 67,000 regulars and 96,000 reservists in combat formations, with another 63,000 regulars and 74,000 reservists in support units
May 1907: With the French now deploying troops to the Siamese border, the British have been growing increasingly concerned at the renewed French expansion in the region. Foreign Secretary Edward Grey travels to Paris for talks with French Prime Minister Gabriel Hantaux in his role as Foreign Minister is completely unwilling to compromise, determined to annex substantial portions of Siamese territory. With it clear the French will not back down, the British begin making plans to reinforce their forces in the region.
May 1907: The first elections for the Xianfa Provincial Assemblies are held. The elections are contested by three major parties, the republican Guomindang or GMD ( 國民黨Nationalist Party) of Sun Yet-sen and Huang Xing, the centrist Jinbudang or JBD (進步黨 Progressive Party) of Tan Sitong and Kang Youwei and the newly emerging conservative Baoshoudang or BSD (保守黨 Conservative Party) of former generals Ma Fuxiang and Liu Yongfu. The Guomindang dominate in Sichuan and Henan, while the Baoshoudang gain control of Yunnan, Guizhou and Zhejiang with the governing Jinbudang taking the remaining five provinces, giving them control of the upper house.
May 1907: Since the formation of the British Army's specialist Machine Gun Regiment in 1901, the new corps has been experimenting in an effort to find the full potential of the weapon in an effort to find a new doctrine for their employment. Particular attention has been paid to the recent conflicts in the Far East. Particular attention is paid to the use of the Madsen light machine gun, with it appearing to fit well with the fire and movement doctrine developed after the Boer War. However both Chinese experience and British trials have shown persistent issues with rimless ammunition. Regardless, Far East experience shows clearly a significant increase in the number of machine guns is warranted, with the significantly lower cost of the Madsen is particularly attractive in that regard. Aware the Rexel Arms Company has been working resolving the issues from last years trials, twenty examples of their improved Madsen are purchased for further trials.
June 1907: Since convening in February, the Second Russian Duma has attempted to enact a radical program of land redistribution and other reforms far beyond what the Tsarist regime is willing to tolerate. Consequently Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin, supported by Tsar Nicholas II, has been looking for an excuse to dismiss the Duma. Ongoing revolutionary agitation in the Army, often incited by the radical Rossiyskaya Sotsial-Demokraticheskaya Rabochaya Partiya (RSDRP) or Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, is taken to provide the justification with Stolypin demanding the arrest of a number of radical representatives. While the 1905 Constitution grants members of Duma immunity from arrest unless stripped of it by the chamber, Stolypin refuse to wait for any investigation, instead simply requesting the Tsar dissolve the Duma, returning to absolute rule. These events will become known as the June 1906 Coup and further radicalise the reformers in Russia.
June 1907: The publication of the Wallington Report on India has generated massive controversy, not only in Britain and India, but throughout the entire Empire for its use of the term 'responsible government,' a term normally associated with the self governing Dominions. It is widely felt throughout the Empire the report advocates full Indian self government on the same level as the white dominions, a prospect many utterly reject due to racism. Therefore Government of India Bill introduced to implement the reports recommendations takes care to avoid the use of the term, replacing it with 'better government,' a fact which incites considerable anger within India. The bill itself largely leaves the current governmental structure of parts of India under direct British control intact. The existing provinces of Baluchistan and Pashtunistan are united into the new Northwestern Province and the small Province of Coorg is incorporated into Madras, while the existing Ajmer-Merwar Province is renamed Rajaputana and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands become a separate Crown Colony. The major change is regarding the Princely States. While arrangements for the five largest, Baroda, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Mysore, remain unaltered, the remaining states are placed under one of the ten British controlled provinces. Each of the provinces will have a Chamber of Princes which may debate any laws passed by the Provincial Assembly and recommend changes, though they can not prevent the law being passed. This chamber may also recommend the law apply to the Princely States by majority vote, though each individual Prince is under no obligation to accept the recommendation. The Bill also includes a provision for Princes to surrender their independence, voluntarily incorporating their state into the province in return for a guarantee of the rank, privileges and position in the Chamber of Princes along with a government stipend. Finally there is provision for the new system to be reviewed in five years to recommend if any further changes to the administration of India are warranted. Naturally, the bill immediately ignites fierce debate, with opinion polarised between its supporters and opponents.
June 1907: The second round of Anglo-Russian talks open in London. Though new Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky is anxious to reduce the tensions between the two powers to allow Russia to reform, the deteriorating situation in Siam with the French casts a pall over the discussions, with many in the British government now questioning the value of increased cooperation with the European Great Powers. Eventually a deal worked out to reduce tensions in Persia. The country is divided into a Russian zone of influence covering roughly the northern third, with a similarly sized British zone around the border with India and Afghanistan, with the remaining third as a buffer zone. Despite this success and Izvolsky's desire to improve relations, the ongoing situation in Siam results in the British being unwilling to consider further cooperation at this point.
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The Isan Crisis is unique to this TL and will be little short of a disaster for the French. May not seem it at first, but they've just killed any possibility of an alliance with the British.