01-07-2022, 10:28 PM
The Government of Sanctaria met three times a week in cabinet - on a Wednesday in person, but also in incorporeal conference in calls on Mondays and Fridays. This meant government ministers were kept abreast of urgent matters, and the government could pivot quickly in case emergency arose. Typically, though, the calls on Mondays and Fridays were usually only for updates on matters already agreed, or for issues the government was able to forecast.
"Any other business", Chancellor Charlene Hendry said, in anticipation to end the call after 75 minutes. "Yes, the Hueyans have some conditions for the naval base", Foreign Secretary Brian Young replied, dashing the hopes of some ministers in getting off early. "They want Huenyan police to be involved in a cooperational capacity should an incident involve a Huenyan national.
"I'm fine with that", said Homeland Security Secretary Kathryn Stewart quickly. "Anything else?"
"Yes, they want to be given complete access to all cargo and personnel lists of ships docking in the base. They also want to stress that, other than our subs or carriers that may have nuclear weapons, no other weapons of mass destruction are permitted."
"I can agree to the WMD ban, but not a hope in hell will I agree with them getting our manifests. Absolutely not." Stewart scoffed angrily. "We'll give them the total number of personnel on-ship when it docks, and a commitment that the cargo list isn't carrying some sort of invasive species or other contraband, but that's it."
There was a pause on the call before Hendry started speaking. "In general, I would agree with Kathryn. I'm not in favour of giving the Huenyans, or any nation hosting a base where we are stationing crew, lists of identifying information of that crew, but also of our cargo in general. We can give a commitment that military and civilian personnel cannot leave the base without going through Huenyan border control, so they know who is entering their nation-at-large rather than just our base."
Young thought about this. "That might be possible, but I can understand the Huenyan concerns for their national security. While I'm not suggesting any Sanctarian would do anything untoward, naturally, if the positions were reversed we would certainly want to know who was entering our country."
"I don't want Huenyans boarding our vessels", Stewart interjected. "If sailors want to leave base and travel to the city, then the Huenyans can set up a passport control office in one of the buildings."
"So we'll have a permanent Huenyan passport office on-base? That doesn't seem efficient or something the Huenyans will probably agree to. They're not going to station someone on-base who might stamp a few hundred passports every couple of weeks", Young replied.
"Alright, we'll do this", Hendry said in an effort to close off the discussion. "Tell the Huenyans we'll agree to police cooperation in incidents involving a Huenyan national, and that we can commit to no WMDs, other than nuclear weapons, being present in Huenyan waters or in-base. Crew and cargo manifests, however, are non-negotiable. We will not hand those over. We will, however, allow members of the Huenyan police, or border authority, to guard entry and exit to the base, alongside some of our own men. That way the Huenyans know who is entering and leaving for their own security, and can check documents of those leaving if necessary, while we're also maintaining access too.
If they won't agree to that, ask them to delegate border authority at the base to members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces and we'll issue a list of people leaving, and entering, on a daily basis."
"I still don't think that's realistic, personally", Young said to the Chancellor, "but if it's agreeable with you, I'll present a version that should satisfy concerns express by yourself and Kathryn."
"I don't want the Huenyans on guard like Charlene suggested", Stewart jumped in. "I appreciate the suggestion, but the generals will jump down my throat for that. It's Sanctarian guards only".
"Ok, scrap that suggestion then Brian, just make sure that DHS and I get a copy of what you do suggest before it's sent", Hendry paused. "That's all for today then, speak to you all on Monday."
*click*
Brian Young rubbed his fingers through his hair. Ok, he thought to himself, let's just approach this like we have done with other naval bases.
---
"Any other business", Chancellor Charlene Hendry said, in anticipation to end the call after 75 minutes. "Yes, the Hueyans have some conditions for the naval base", Foreign Secretary Brian Young replied, dashing the hopes of some ministers in getting off early. "They want Huenyan police to be involved in a cooperational capacity should an incident involve a Huenyan national.
"I'm fine with that", said Homeland Security Secretary Kathryn Stewart quickly. "Anything else?"
"Yes, they want to be given complete access to all cargo and personnel lists of ships docking in the base. They also want to stress that, other than our subs or carriers that may have nuclear weapons, no other weapons of mass destruction are permitted."
"I can agree to the WMD ban, but not a hope in hell will I agree with them getting our manifests. Absolutely not." Stewart scoffed angrily. "We'll give them the total number of personnel on-ship when it docks, and a commitment that the cargo list isn't carrying some sort of invasive species or other contraband, but that's it."
There was a pause on the call before Hendry started speaking. "In general, I would agree with Kathryn. I'm not in favour of giving the Huenyans, or any nation hosting a base where we are stationing crew, lists of identifying information of that crew, but also of our cargo in general. We can give a commitment that military and civilian personnel cannot leave the base without going through Huenyan border control, so they know who is entering their nation-at-large rather than just our base."
Young thought about this. "That might be possible, but I can understand the Huenyan concerns for their national security. While I'm not suggesting any Sanctarian would do anything untoward, naturally, if the positions were reversed we would certainly want to know who was entering our country."
"I don't want Huenyans boarding our vessels", Stewart interjected. "If sailors want to leave base and travel to the city, then the Huenyans can set up a passport control office in one of the buildings."
"So we'll have a permanent Huenyan passport office on-base? That doesn't seem efficient or something the Huenyans will probably agree to. They're not going to station someone on-base who might stamp a few hundred passports every couple of weeks", Young replied.
"Alright, we'll do this", Hendry said in an effort to close off the discussion. "Tell the Huenyans we'll agree to police cooperation in incidents involving a Huenyan national, and that we can commit to no WMDs, other than nuclear weapons, being present in Huenyan waters or in-base. Crew and cargo manifests, however, are non-negotiable. We will not hand those over. We will, however, allow members of the Huenyan police, or border authority, to guard entry and exit to the base, alongside some of our own men. That way the Huenyans know who is entering and leaving for their own security, and can check documents of those leaving if necessary, while we're also maintaining access too.
If they won't agree to that, ask them to delegate border authority at the base to members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces and we'll issue a list of people leaving, and entering, on a daily basis."
"I still don't think that's realistic, personally", Young said to the Chancellor, "but if it's agreeable with you, I'll present a version that should satisfy concerns express by yourself and Kathryn."
"I don't want the Huenyans on guard like Charlene suggested", Stewart jumped in. "I appreciate the suggestion, but the generals will jump down my throat for that. It's Sanctarian guards only".
"Ok, scrap that suggestion then Brian, just make sure that DHS and I get a copy of what you do suggest before it's sent", Hendry paused. "That's all for today then, speak to you all on Monday."
*click*
Brian Young rubbed his fingers through his hair. Ok, he thought to himself, let's just approach this like we have done with other naval bases.
---
Quote:Department of Foreign AffairsBruton HouseSanctusDivine Federation of Sanctaria
Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli
Huenyan Federal Legislature
Chuaztlapoc
Federation of Huenya
07 January 2022
Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli,
Thank you kindly for your last letter dated 06 January 2022.
We can confirm that we will agree to your request that, in incidents involving Huenyan nations, the Huenyan police authorities will be retained in a cooperative capacity to observe treatment and due process of their citizens, which they remain guaranteed under Sanctarian law. We can also commit that no weapons of mass destruction, other than nuclear weapons as already advised, will be transported through or stored at the naval base. The SDF force does not, as a rule and principle of international law, utilise any other kind of weapon of mass destruction.
Unfortunately, we would find it difficult due to national security and operational concerns to give your nation complete disclosure and access to review crew and cargo manifests of our vessels. In an effort to be cooperative, we can supply your immigrations and customs authority a list of any crew member, military or otherwise, and any cargo that intends or is intended to leave the base. Supplementary to this list, we can include the travel documentation of those same crew members that intend to leave the base for your own record-keeping. We can also give a commitment that any cargo leaving the base will be available for inspection by your authorities should they wish to do so after reviewing that modified manifest. The Sanctarian Defence Forces do not routinely transport cargo that would deemed to be contraband or an invasive species through naval bases located on host nations.
I hope this is agreeable to your government,
With continued warm regards,
Brian Young
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Divine Federation of Sanctaria