IN PARLIAMENT
10 JULY 1750
It has become the opinion of HM Government that a new evaluation must be made on several aspects of British foreign policy. In regards to affairs with the Spanish government, the Prime Minister and Southern Secretary were in Barcelona last week to meet with the Spanish Premier and Vice-Premier regarding the current issues and grievances between our states. While this meeting was unable to solve the contested points and restore our ambitions of a mutual alliance, it offered new insight to all parties involved on both our standpoints, and our recent actions in relation to the June Crisis. We are now prepared to enter into a nonaligned and unbiased understanding with the Spanish. This would entail the perseverance of the Non-recruitment Pact which had already been established at the Syndicate’s rise to power in late May. It would also allow for the fixed trade agreements and pacts between Spanish and British merchants to continue, as it is not in the interests of either government to penalise our own vendors. However, any possibility of a military pact that would establish precedents for a common defence, would be impossible to reach in the current state of affairs, as the rift has already widened too much.
HOWEVER, this general peace would only become a possibility if both sides are willing to accept several stipulations in order to appeal to each other's stance. HM Government has made clear that our two most notable demands are that 1) The Spanish Premier and Swiss King are able to reach a common agreement and compromise their stances. Each side must tone down its aggressive stance, and realise that in order for the common good of the entire community, tense aggression cannot be tolerated. 2) That the Spanish leadership must take several strides forward to control and discipline the pointless harassment by some members of their guild towards British members. In return, the Spanish ask that the British do the same, therefore, coming into effect immediately, any member found to be responsible for verbally harassing a Syndicate member shall be subject to a demotion on the first offence, two-week kick from the guild on the second offence, and an indefinite ban from the guild on the third offence. We expect the Spanish government to take initiative to control their members as we have done for ours. This is not an infringement on the freedom of expression, but rather a necessary step towards peace.
In conclusion, I quote my friend and colleague, Lord Huntington in saying “you have to deal with what you have, and GB does not have that many options”. We must be steadfast and adaptive to change. Security and stability are the vital weaving of this Empire.
Drafted by Lord Grey. Passed in Parliament by vote of 20-0.