Le Havre Conference 1702

[Galveston Bay]

As several nation are interested in a peaceful end to the Great Northern War and associated campaigns elsewhere, the French Crown invites those interested to attend a conference at Le Havre, France in the Fall of 1702

[Reddawn]

The Tsar sends Count Andrei Matveev to participate in the negotiations to end the war, and to stay as the Tsar’s ambassador to France.

He waits for the other attendees to arrive, or word that the conference lacks the commitment of the other combatants.

[Lefty]

Poland-Lithuania sends Stanisław Antoni Szczuka to represent it's claims, while Saxony sends Ambassador to France, Dietrich Möhring.

Upon arrival, Szczuka begins advocating for the Treaties of Reval and Travendal to be recognized by the other parties. He further begins floating the idea of a compromise between the parties in Sweden.

[Hussam B.]

Jean Baptist, Comte d'Arco, in the service of the Elector Max Emanuel is in attendance primarily as an advisor and observer. He is open to correspondence from all parties.

[Kilani]

A group of dignitaries from the Commonwealth is on hand for the discussions.

[Rodenka]

Danish dignitaries, lead by Iver Rosenkrantz, are also on hand for negotiations.

[Childeric]

A small Habsburg delegation is in attendance.

[TLS]

OOC: I'm not going to get in the way of you guys negotiating back and forth. Feel free to interact with the Swedes and Brandenburgers both through messages to me and here in the thread. I don't mind at all if you guys primarily hash things out thru PMs to which I am not a party, FB chat, the Chatzys, etc.

IC: Both of the competing Swedish courts send their representatives, as do the Brandenburgers.

[Childeric]

The Habsburg delegation makes it clear that a ceasefire and English extraction from the Empire are preconditions it holds for any further negotiation.

OOC: They are asking the English the leave the Empire or any other Habsburg Lands not necessarily continental Europe.

[Kilani]

Thanks largely in part to the slow communications, the English delegation extends their regrets that they have no power whatsoever to immediately compel the army in the field to shift its position. And since no armistice has been declared, they are also several days (at least) behind on where the army might currently be.

In addition, they iterate that they are present in Holstein, a Danish holding, at the invitation of their ally, the King of Denmark, and that they fail to see the point in dictating such a pre-condition save to put their army at a disadvantage should negotiations fall through.

[Childeric]

The Habsburg delegation declines to entertain any further discussion until the integrity of the Empire is recognized in action or imminent action.

[Kilani]

The English delegation is rather taken aback; Holstein is Danish territory, although a part of the Holy Roman Empire, and they do not see how having their troops on allied territory can serve as any sort of impediment to negotiations.

[Kilani]

Considering that the Austrians seem set on providing rather silly preconditions, the Commonwealth is still open to negotiating a peace with the Russian Empire (and potentially the Saxons, if they're also willing to negotiate without the Austrian pre-conditions).

[Rodenka]

The Danish delegation reacts with muted outrage that the Habsburgs would demand that the Dane's allies depart territory which is rightly considered part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. They also indicate a willingness to negotiate with the Poles, Russians, and Saxons even if the Austrians will refuse to come to the table over this issue.

[Galveston Bay]

Marshall Boufflers (promoted last year to command the land forces in Barbary War) is on hand representing the French Crown.   He suggests first that a truce and exchange of prisoners be agreed to, particularly as winter will be on hand soon and action will be limited in any event, at least in Europe.

As to English forces, France must admit at present uncertainty regarding where the various armies are located.  But at least the truce and prisoner exchange should be agreed to before more serious negotiations. He asks that the various parties indicate where those armies are?

OOC
Marshall Boufflers was the French negotiator in OTL 9 Years War Peace of Ryswick)

[Kilani]

The English are amenable to a truce and general prisoner exchange. Further, to the best of the delegations knowledge, the New Model Army is either in southern Denmark or Holstein.

[Rodenka]

The Danes are also willing to agree to a truce and exchange of prisoners.

[Lefty]

Chancellor Szczuka, as a proud Polish szlachta who is less concerned with a haughty emperor than the well-being of his native Poland, declares that he is less concerned with the technical details of the location of the English Army, instead suggesting that England agree to withdraw its military from the Empire as a term of the peace.

[Kilani]

That point was never really in question; the Commonwealth has no intention of stationing a standing army in Germany once the war is over.

[Lefty]

Szczuka notes the Polish Army has no intention of remaining in German lands, and believes that this should be an acceptable position in order to continue negotiations.

He chooses to do so.

The first order of business, he believes, is the ratification of the Treaties of Brussels and Reval, and recognizing the political and territorial changes associated. Second, Szczuka suggests that the assembled come to an agreement on the Swedish matter.

[Kilani]

The Commonwealth delegation is amenable to recognizing the Treaty of Brussels at this point, although they do have concerns regarding some of the stipulations of some treaty They also indicate that the question of who is actually ruling Sweden must be resolved before anyone recognizes the Treaty of Reval of having any legitimacy.

[Reddawn]

Matveev echoes his Polish counterpart.

Esteemed delegates, this war is one of Sweden’s making, and it will be remembered by history as one of holy vengeance. Less than one hundred years ago, the Swedes attempted to foist on a reeling and prostrate Russia a Swedish duke as their puppeteer sovereign. In their weakness, Russia was humbled, and her lands stolen. But Russia remembers. Tsar Peter remembers. We have grown strong again, and are ready to take our place along the powers of Europe. By will of God and right of conquest we have retaken our lands, and we are bound by the Treaty of Reval, signed by the Palatinate faction.

Apparently another faction, the Holsteiner faction, backed by the Danes, seeks to rule Sweden. It is Russia’s position that the root cause of this strife was a dominant and unified Scandinavia, and that linking Sweden to the Danes will only lead to further conflict. Perhaps if Holstein-Gottorp remained independent, a Swedish sovereign with familial ties there would be less threatening. Denmark cannot keep both Holstein-Gottorp and have Charles Frederick on the throne.

Russia has made her territorial ambitions clear and realized them. The Tsar will only sign a general peace that ratifies Russian sovereignty over Ingria and Estonia. Polish territorial claims are supported as well.

[Kilani]

The Commonwealth delegation reiterates its position that any such treaty cannot be supported until the question of rulership in Sweden is resolved, since one half of the country denies the legitimacy of the government which signed said treaty.

They also iterate that unless the Habsburgs agree to the truce, they will not consider themselves bound by it and will assume that hostilities are still imminent.

[Lefty]

Szczuka takes his turn to propose a solution to the Swedish Issue:

“In order to solve the crisis, we should look at the factors that each party is concerned about. The Holstein Party obviously wants their candidate to be King. This would be a boon for them and their prestige. The Palatinate Faction wants more rights for their nobility, to prevent futile wars sending their sons to die on foreign battlefields. The Coalition wants an end to the Swedish dominium maris baltici. Denmark and England want safety and access to Swedish markets. We believe these desires can all be met through comprise.

“First, we propose that Sweden adopt a new constitution, granting greater rights to its nobility. Poland offers to send advisors on best methods that increase the liberty of its people.

“Second, we propose that the infant king of the Holsteiner Party be crowned. With his coronation at such a young age, he will be the first monarch to grow up in such a golden age of liberty and the legal norms will be internalized.

“Third, we propose that a union of Sweden and Denmark be legally prevented so as to remove the threat of hegemony.

“Fourth, this new unified government shall ratify the Treaty of Reval and recognize these territorial changes. The matter of Stettin and Bremen remains one that we believe is best addressed by other participants.

“With these four. factors, Poland believes we can establish a lasting peace that will satisfy all parties.”

[Kilani]

While the Commonwealth delegation finds merit in the proposal, the Commonwealth cannot consent to such a measure without consulting with its Swedish allies; should they not wish to legitimize the the Treaty of Reva, the Commonwealth would feel compelled to fight on as a matter of honor. At the moment, the Commonwealth is dedicated to supporting the Holsteiner claim and should they wish to approve of this offer the Commonwealth would be more than happy to back them on this measure. The Commonwealth delegation promises to consult with its allies and hopefully return a more final reply as soon as possible.

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