Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Exceptional imperial intervention forces government to agree to talks with Kalistan in Gaduridos.
September 5736

With the “war hawk” Labour government sending the nation to a war that nobody wished for, coupled with Kalistan’s continued provocation towards the Luthorian Fleet, it seems that war between Luthori and Kalistan is right about to begin at any instant. The Luthorian Homeland and Prosperity Fleets have been placed at high-alert, forcing increased readiness to wage a conflict.

Prime Minister Harold Pockerfield has repeatedly stated that the government was aiming to “preserve the nation’s integrity and right to assert her defensive rights towards the Commonwealth of Mordusia” - although it more like seems that the imperial government has been stroking the flames of war higher and higher, by escalating the situation against Kalistan to force a conflict between the two powers.

Throughout the crisis, Luthorian and Kalistani diplomats have used backchannel diplomacy to convey both governments’ grievances and claims, although both Kaliburg and Fort William didn’t hold explicit diplomatic talks, a fact that was criticised in both Luthori and Kalistan. 

With war on the horizon, it seemed unlikely that any offer of peace would have resolved the matter peacefully, that was until the Gaduri government offered to host a conference to preserve peace in the Anantonese that the possibility of war might be avoided.

In Luthori, the government was divided, some members of the Cabinet were favourable to the organisation of diplomatic talks in Gaduridos with Kalistan to defuse the crisis in extremis, but some other members of the government, notably, Seleya Minister, Rosa Meaglia and the Foreign Secretary pushing for the refusal of holding talks, under the impression that war was inevitable and any further delay in the commencement of operations would only give time for Kalistan to prepare for the conflict.

Ultimately, it was an exceptional imperial intervention that concluded the deadlock. His Imperial Majesty Emperor Edward VII, after discussing of the situation with the Luthorian Prime Minister and the Mordusian Prime Minister, essentially summoned Prime Minister Wittfield to the Orange Palace to “sharply compel” him to agree to the organisation of talks between Kalistan and Luthori under Gaduridos’ mediation.

His Imperial Majesty has essentially forced the government to pursue peace, with the Prime Minister essentially acquiescing to his request, an imperial intervention was exceptionally rare, rejecting the advice offered by such an intervention is highly frowned upon.

His Imperial Majesty has been, according to the Orange Palace, “in direct contact with the Emperor of Kalistan” to reach a “satisfactory agreement that would avoid further escalation of the conflict”. The acceptance of the peace talks offer by the Emperor of Luthori is likely to see a positive Kalistani response. In his televised address at 8 pm (Fort William), the Emperor stated that his decision to force the government into accepting peace talks was because of his belief that “every way to preserve peace should be studied with meticulous observation [...]”

“We have a duty, as a government, to look towards any possibility to preserve peace, whatever the cost might be. [...] A war is the ultimate failure of mankind, and as monarch, I have advised my government to observe these peace talks as the last opportunity to save the lives of countless sons and daughters at sea, land and air.” said the 58-year-old monarch during his speech.

Luthorian diplomats are preparing themselves to leave for Gaduridos for the talks, with Imperial Household Minister, Sir Oswald Knightley, 18th Baronet likely being appointed as Imperial Plenipotentiary due to the Foreign Secretary’s own controversial role in the crisis, this move will likely solidify the large imperial oversight over the peace-making process.