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Post by aimway921 on May 4, 2023 18:56:50 GMT -5
Ashinara would send two ambassadors to UKUG to Baile Glas - a representative of Ashinara's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roman Timchenko, and a representative of the Ministry of Education, Hnat Burenko. Timchenko was a young slim fox, dressed in what would be considered a modern formal suit, at least by Ashinaran standards - maybe a decade or so out of date by Gaelian standards. He was also almost a head taller than his colleague. Burenko, meanwhile, was dressed a bit more traditionally. While he did put on formal dress shoes in place of traditional red safyan boots, pleated dress trousers instead of the wide Ashinaran breeches, and Timchenko did manage to get him to wear a jacket, he was still wearing a traditional embroidered shirt underneath. Burenko was shorter and considerably older. Wearing a pince-nez style spectacles, the neatly combed hair on the top of his head was gray, contrasting the orange fur on the rest of his body - but even that became a more washed out shade with age.
Along with them came a number of young perspective students to sightsee Gaelia before, if the deal works out, staying here to study - although they would not be part of the meeting between the Ashinaran ambassadors and the Gaelian representatives.
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Post by Greywall on May 5, 2023 20:18:28 GMT -5
Meeting the group would be Minister of Foreign Affairs Anton McCaig and Minister of Education Angelia Earnhardt, McCaig would greet them saying "Welcome to Baile Glas, capital of the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia and her colonial Empire. If you are ready we can proceed inside to discuss the matter of your meeting, but before that Minister Earnhardt here was entertaining a small tour of the capital."
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Post by aimway921 on May 7, 2023 1:58:18 GMT -5
"A tour would be great, Mr. McCaig," Timchenko said. "After all, if our nations are to work closer together even more than they did in the past, it would be only beneficial for us to learn more of eachother's cultures. Your Ambassador, Ms. Walsh, already had a great opportunity to learn of Ashinaran culture by observing it directly - I believe almost no Ashinaran has yet had the honor of doing the same in UKUG."
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Post by Greywall on May 11, 2023 10:07:16 GMT -5
A double decker bus would then be pulled around to load the group in and begin touring the capital, they would take a leisure drive passing by the busy streets with ease as most Gaelics didn't drive personal cars but referred to use the tram systems or the internal rail network to get around. It was still early morning, and they would pass by a couple districts where the smell of pancakes, cooked ham, sausages and haggis filled the air with hashed potatoes and eggs mixed in.
The bus then drove by the Royal academy of H'leh Dulun where only the top 3% of the entire nation could attend, near it would be Gratham University likely where the Ashinara students would attend, the massive university stretched over 3 miles with a large football stadium towering over the far western side of the campus.
The bus took a turn East going through the wealthy district where large houses loomed over the old streets of the city, they entered the main shopping district where restaurant served coffee and breakfast, shops filled with fabrics, toasters, electronics, ceramics, toys and other items being sold. The bus then took a turn toward a hill and drove by the Emerald Palace which was perched on a Seacliff overlooking the Brentrock Channel. They finally pulled in back at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where McCaig informed them that food would be served inside so they could start their meeting.
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Post by aimway921 on May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
To say that the Ashinarans were in awe would be an understatement. While there was a similarity in the relative low number of personal cars, it was still night and day as the number of people that owned a personal car in the entire Ashinaran nation was probably less that 5% of the population. However, most Ashinarans had to get by on foot or on horse-drawn carts and carriages, as even trams were limited to the upper class areas of the capital - not even any other city.
The most inspiring part of the tour were, of course, the universities. Ashinara only had a grand total of 2 universities - one of them being reserved for the nobility, and the other being the brand new "Academy of Progress" that, with the general lack of dedicated educators, has yet to bear the fruits of the purpose as to why it was built. There was a number of technical schools in Ashinara that would teach students the skills they would need to work in most of Ashinara's industries - primarily farming and mining - but that's about it.
The final part of the tour displayed to them what Ashinara could become should this endeavor succeed - although all of them understood that this endeavor would merely be the first step in that long path. In Ashinara, pretty much all goods sold were hand made by craftsmen, most of whom learned their skills because it's what everyone in their family did, and very few factory-made goods.
The Palace was the only thing that Ashinara had similar in grandeur, as obviously no expense was spent to build the Royal residence in either nation.
When they got back to the Embassy, the students were excitedly discussing their excursion with each other, meanwhile the two ambassadors joined McCaig and Earnhardt for the meeting.
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Post by Greywall on May 12, 2023 11:30:09 GMT -5
McCaig would begin speaking to the ambassadors, "There's a total of 8 universities here on the islands of Alba and Eire, two are in Cricon and the Sepedian university in Zedonia is new but services that colony rather well. Now, how many students is Ashinara intending to send on a regular basis?"
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Post by aimway921 on May 12, 2023 15:30:16 GMT -5
"As much as we can afford to send," Timchenko said. "We have a very limited base of engineers, scientists and doctors, and Queen Yuzura deems it impossible for Ashinara to keep up with the rest of the world unless that issue is addressed immediately."
"We also would like to discuss the possibility of inviting Gaelian educators to Ashinara to teach Ashinaran youths directly," Burenko added. "Likely at a lower level than college - after all, we barely have students that qualify for college in the first place, outside the nobility, at least. That is also something that our Queen deems necessary to address."
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Post by Greywall on May 12, 2023 15:34:22 GMT -5
McCaig and Earnhardt pondered privately on the numbers of what it would cost to ship students and then teachers to Ashinara.
"300 to 400 pounds per student annually, they'll be given housing, food and permits to use our public transportation system. As for teachers, they'll need a salary of at least 7,000 pounds a year on the college level, on the lower level 2,000 pounds a year. This can be arranged between the Ministries and get a proper exchange going."
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Post by aimway921 on May 12, 2023 15:54:49 GMT -5
Immediately as McCaig gave his answer, both Timchenko and Burenko immediately looked down to their opened manilla folders, rifling through pages, clawed finders following lines of printed text and the occasional handwritten mark.
"We'd like to start with at least 100 students," Burenko finally broke the silence. "With two college level professors, one for Medicine and one for Science, along with 10 educators of lower levels, of them being 5 for Mathematics, 3 for Sciences and 2 for Engineering."
Timchenko cradled his hands on the table as Burenko finished.
"This is looking at adding 74,000 Pounds to Ashinara's National Debt unless we pay upfront." He said, not really making it clear of he was addressing Burenko, McCaig, both or just thinking out loud.
"As you may have guessed already, Ashinara is currently scared on Gaelian currency," he now clearly addressed McCaig, but was interrupted by Burenko, who spoke to Timchenko in Ashinaran: "We have 7 million."
Timchenko's ear twitched towards Burenko.
"The Eirie fund?" He asked. "Isn't that exclusively for the disaster relief?"
"The Gaelian cash has been put into the Royal coffers, while the equivalent sum in Hryvnias has been taken out to go to the disaster relief. Did you expect them to buy supplies from Ashinaran producers on a foreign currency? You're the one in Foreign Affairs, I'm surprised I in Education know more about this than you."
The two foxes started at each other for a moment, it being clear that the younger one has accepted his elder's point.
"We can pay for this initial batch upfront in Gaelian currency, it just needs to be shipped from Kyograd," Timchenko said, turning back to McCaig.
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Post by Greywall on May 17, 2023 11:25:22 GMT -5
McCaig and Earnhardt listened to the foxes go back and forth before shrugging at each other and saying, "that'll be fine, is their anything else?"
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Post by aimway921 on May 18, 2023 0:53:12 GMT -5
"I believe that would be all for now," Timchenko said, smiling, as he stood up and offered a handshake to McCaig. "I'll pen a letter to Kyograd immediately with the good news, and requesting the payment to be shipped. When can we expect Gaelian educators to ship out to Ashinara, and when should we send our students to you?"
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Post by aimway921 on Jun 11, 2023 16:46:02 GMT -5
  UKUG-Ashinara Trade Accords 1930 Preamble: The United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia and the Ashinara Hetmanate hereby come to terms and agree to the following Article 1: Both nations recognize the others sovereignty and will not undermine it or its territories. Article 2: Both nations agree to fixed trade and will not raise tariffs without amendment from both parties. Article 3: Both nations will assist in the logistical operation of the trade network. Article 4: If either part wishes to cancel, they must post a 72 hour cancellation notice. Ulster-Gaelia will trade Consumer goods, Construction materials, Heavy equipment, Wood, railroad equipment, Coal and Maintenace equipment. Ashinara will trade rubber, food, silver, rare minerals and textiles. Signed for UKUG, King Rufus McDonald Taoiseach Richard O'Donnell Signed for Ashinara Hetmanate Duke Tagomych After evaluating the economic situation, how it changed over the last several years, the Ashinaran embassy sent a proposal for a change in the specifics of the trade:
UKUG-Ashinara Trade Accords 1930: Amendment of 1934
This Amendment changes only the specifics of the resources being traded between the Hetmanate of Ashinara and United Kingdom of Ulster Gaelia.
UKUG shall sell the following to Ashinara:
Construction Materials: 12,000 units per season
Consumer Goods: 53,000 units per season
Coal: 42,000 units per season
In return, Ashinara shall sell the following to UKUG:
Rare Minerals: 2,000
Rubber: 75,000
Tropical Fruits: 100,000
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Post by aimway921 on Sept 17, 2023 20:26:05 GMT -5
The UKUG Embassy would receive a request from the Ashinaran Royal Army Head of Staff, Sonya Petliura, requesting the purchase of production licenses and tooling for Vickers machine guns and ZI. 6 light machine guns, along with an invitation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the price.
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Post by Greywall on Oct 4, 2023 10:16:18 GMT -5
With the outbreak of the war, UKUG communications became hard to come by. The UKUG embassy would but cut off with the blockade and likely reliant on the ashinarians now for survival.
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Post by aimway921 on Oct 6, 2023 17:32:52 GMT -5
The UKUG Embassy staff would be extended financial support for the duration of the war. Property tax obligations on the land the Embassy was built on would be suspended, along with any rent for the embassy staff's housing. A food service canteen would be offered to be set up in the Embassy, paid for by the Queen.
The same offers shall be extended to all the foreign Embassies in Ashinara.
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