• The Sietch will be brought offline for HPG systems maintenance tomorrow (Thursday, 2 May 2024). Please remain calm and do not start any interstellar wars while ComStar is busy. May the Peace of Blake be with you. Precentor Dune
Chapter VIII: Polling Survey updates
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    Gallup Polling Survey (December 28th, 1977)
    Opinion of President Jerry Brown (D)
    Approve: 41%

    Disapprove: 57%

    Opinion of First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown (D):
    Approve: 70%

    Disapprove: 12%
    Undecided: 4%

    Opinion of Vice President Jimmy Carter (D):
    Approve: 43%

    Disapprove: 55%

    Opinion of Second Lady Rosalyn Carter (D):
    Approve: 61%

    Disapprove: 25%

    Opinion of US Secretary of State Walter Mondale:
    Approve: 37%

    Disapprove: 57%

    Opinion of US Secretary of Defense Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.,:
    Approve: 73%

    Disapprove: 16%

    1978 Midterms: Control of Congress
    DEMS: 57%
    GOPERS: 40%

    Hypothetical 1980 Presidential election matchups: Who would you vote for in the presidential election between President Jerry Brown & former CA Governor Ronald Reagan?:
    Reagan (R): 56%
    Brown (D-incumbent): 37%

    ******Hypothetical Matchup between President Brown vs former President (US Ambassador to Spain) Nelson Rockefeller:
    Rockefeller (R): 73%
    Brown (D-incumbent): 16%

    ******Hypothetical Matchup between President Brown vs former CIA Director George HW Bush:
    Bush (R): 35%
    Brown (D-incumbent): 17%
    Undecided: 26%
    Not Sure: 12%
     
    Chapter VIII: International Segments (Spring 1978: Part II)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    December 31st, 1977-January 3rd, 1978: President Brown meets with the Shah in Iran
    ShahanshahRoyalFamily1.jpg

    The Pahlavi's during happier times...

    President Brown's next international trip included Iran, when he arrived in Tehran on December 31st, where he & his wife, First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown were greeted by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi & his wife, Farah Pahlavi. Welcoming Honors were rendered with a 21 Cannon Salute & the playing of the respective national anthems of the United States & Iran, followed by the Honor Guard inspection of the Iranian Armed Forces.

    Upon arriving at the Royal Palace in Tehran, President Brown & the Shah held a joint press conference discussing specific issues relating to the diplomatic relations between both nations, nuclear power plants, future of oil prices in an unpredictable economy of the late 1970s, etc.,

    In the evening HRS of December 31st, the Pahlavi's hosted a State Dinner for the Brown's. Meanwhile, there has been ongoing protests in some parts of the country which is going to be factoring Brown's visit.
     
    Chapter VIII: International Segments (Spring 1978: Part III)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 1st, 1978: President Brown meets with King Hussein of Jordan in Tehran on sidelines face-to-face meetimg
    During a sidelines face-to-face bilateral meeting in Tehran, US President Jerry Brown met with King Hussein of Jordan. This was their first meeting between the Heads of State, where they discussed US-Jordanian diplomatic relations including ongoing efforts on resolving the Mideast Peace Plan, one of the major foreign policy agenda items for the Brown administration.
     
    Chapter VIII: International Segments (Spring 1978: Part IV)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 6th, 1978: Argentinian Air Force fighter jets & Naval ships circling around Chile; Intelligence reports circulating potential stage of invasion

    Intelligence reports are circulating that the Argentinian High Forces Command has deployed Naval warships & Air Force fighter jets circling around Chile, daring the international community to get involved.

    This comes three months following the Argentina-Chile Summit in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on October 5th, which Argentine President Isabel Peron & Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet both attended.

    United Nations had urged caution, while the United States has strongly urged both the Argentinian & Chilean governments to use diplomacy to resolving the ongoing dispute over the Picton, Lennox & Nueva Islands.
     
    Last edited:
    1977 Elections
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    BREAKING: Congressional Term Limits Initiative fails by double digits
    Despite President Brown's aggressive campaigning across the country, voters rejected the Congressional Term Limits with 73% of the vote rejecting the initiative in 51 States. The rejection was seen as a direct snub and rejection of the unpopular Brown administration's government reform efforts.


    November 8th, 1977: Gubernatorial Election results in VA & NJ.
    *VA (Open)

    John N. Dalton (R): 699,302 (55.9%)✔
    Henry Howell (D): 541,319 (43.3%)
    GOP HOLD

    *NJ
    Brendan Byrne (D-inc.): 1,184,564 (55.7%)✔
    Raymond Bateman (R): 888,880 (41.8%)
    DEM HOLD
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter VIII: Major Breaking News out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 13th, 1978:
    BREAKING: UNITED STATES SENATOR HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (D-MN) SUCCUMBS PEACEFULLY AT WAVERLY RESIDENCE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY


    On the evening HRS of January 13th, several journalists arrived at the grounds of the Waverly residence of United States Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN), where a spokesperson for the Senator confirmed that Humphrey slipped into a coma & passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

    Humphrey previously served as the 39th Vice President of the United States under then-President
    Lyndon B. Johnson from January 20th, 1965 to January 20th, 1969; he was the unsuccessful Democratic Party presidential nominee in 1968, losing a close narrow election to former VP Richard Nixon in a three-way contest. Despite losing the Presidential election, Humphrey miraculously made a political comeback in 1970 when he won reelection to a 4th term in the United States Senate & was easily reelected in 1976.

    President
    Jerry Brown, Vice President Jimmy Carter, & US Secretary of State Walter Mondale gave their condolences to the Humphrey. The loss was deeply personal to Secretary Mondale, who had known Humphrey for years & was appointed to the latter's US Senate seat in 1964 before winning reelection in 1966 & 1972.
     
    Chapter VIII: International Segments (Spring 1978: Part V)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 12th, 1978: Second Argentina-Chile Summit held in Monaco
    A second Summit between Argentine President Isabel Peron & Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet was held in Monaco, hosted by Prince Rainier, III & Princess Grace at the Royal Palace.

    Bilateral discussions about the disputed islands occurred in private meetings between Argentinian & Chilean government officials including mediation by Monaguese government officials as well.

    Following a long-dragged-out negotiations, there was no diplomatic solutions in resolving the disputed islands crisis. Foreign policy analysts theorize the failed 2nd Summit could foreshadow a potential military conflict between Argentina & Chile soon.
     
    Chapter VIII: National Segments (Spring 1978)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 13th, 1978:
    FINCH IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ESCALATES

    While the nation was mourning the death of former Vice President Humphrey, over in the Magnolia State, unpopular MS Governor Cliff Finch (D) is facing the biggest problem of his political career. Having been impeached on December 16th, 1977 via 5 articles of impeachment including obstruction of justice, wire fraud, violating the MS Constitution, bribery, illegal financial activities, etc., the impeachment trial goes to the full MS State Senate.

    Finch has strongly called the impeachment trial as "nothing more than politically motivated partisanship" during a press conference inside the conference room of the MS State Capitol Building in downtown Jackson.

    Sources state a verdict could happen any moment or any day, which political obseverrs view as a potentially deadly blow to Finch's political career & future as Finch had originally planned on announcing his candidacy for the United States Senate in 1978 before the corruption scandals exploded.

    If Finch is convicted by the MS State Senate & removed from office, MS Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy (D) would ascend to the Governorship & take office as the Magnolia State's 58th Governor immediately, becoming the first female Governor in state history; Gandy would be eligible to seek a full 4-year term in 1979.
     
    Chapter VIII: The Happy Warrior laid to rest
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 16th, 1978: State Funeral of United States Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN)
    nq6tc7.jpg

    January 15th, 1978: Flag-draped casket of United States Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN) carried out of the Rotunda of the US Capitol.

    *January 14th-16th, 1978: In the late morning HRS of January 14th, the flag-draped casket of former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey was boarded into Air Force One & flown to Andrews AFB in Prince Georges County, MD. Upon arriving, the Honor Guard Personnel carried Senator Humphrey's casket out of the plane, where it was received full Arrival Honors including the 19 Cannon Salute as well as the Vice Presidential anthem "Hail Columbia". Among those in attendance at the festivities: US Secretary of State Walter Mondale including several of Humphrey's former Senate colleagues. Following the Arrival Honors, the procession via motorcade then drove all the way to the US Capitol East Front Grounds, where arrival honors were rendered including the 19 Cannon Salute.

    On the morning of January 15th, a special ceremony was held inside the Rotunda of the US Capitol. Among those in attendance: President
    Jerry Brown & First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown; Vice President Jimmy Carter & Second Lady Rosalynn Carter; US Secretary of State Walter Mondale; former Presidents Richard Nixon & Nelson Rockefeller; former Vice President Edward Brooke; former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; Former US First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, & Happy Rockefeller were also in attendance. Following the emotional special ceremony, the Senator's flag-draped casket was taken out of the US Capitol Rotunda, where it was driven back to Andrews AFB, where Departure Honors were rendered before the casket was placed aboard of Air Force One for the final trip back home to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

    An estimated crowd of 40,000 waited in the icy cold weather to passing by the legendary United States Senator's flag-draped casket inside the Rotunda of the MN State Capitol Building in downtown Saint Paul including during the early morning HRS of January 16th. 3,000 crowded into the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in the afternoon HRS for the State Funeral. Eulogies were delivered by President Brown, Vice President Carter, Secretary Mondale. Hundreds of people, thousands lined up the streets to say a final goodbye to their native son during a final procession, which arrived at the main gates of Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. During the private graveside ceremony, which included a final 19 Cannon Salute, short prayer & the playing of Taps, from the hillside of Lakewood Cemetery, where the Happy Warrior was finally laid to rest.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter VIII: National Segments (Spring 1978: Part II)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 23rd, 1978:
    BREAKING: MS GOVERNOR CLIFF FINCH (D) CONVICTED BY MS STATE SENATE IN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL; REMOVED FROM OFFICE.


    The full MS State Senate voted by a vote of 52-0 to convict embattled MS Governor Cliff Finch (D) on all six counts of obstruction of justice; bribery; mail fraud; wire fraud; ethics violations; multiple other violations.

    Finch wasn't in Jackson when the MS State Senate deliberated for the past week; instead he was secluded in Batesville & only returned to Jackson the day before by packing up his belongings & personal effects out of his Capitol office inside the MS State Capitol Building & also the MS Governor's Mansion.

    MS Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy (D) was sworn into office as the 58th Governor of MS, making history becoming the Magnolia State's first female chief executive.
     
    Special Report Update
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    Last edited:
    Chapter VIII: National & International Segments (Spring 1978: Part III)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    January 25, 1978: White House announcing Vice President Carter tapped to serve as Mideast Peace Czar.
    Jimmy_Carter.jpg


    White House Press Secretary Jody Powell confirmed during a daily White House press briefing that Vice President Jimmy Carter will be tapped to serve as the White House's main point-person overseeing the Mideast Peace Initiative between Egypt & Israel with likely visits to both countries following President Brown's State of the Union Address set for February 16th.

    Carter's foreign policy portfolio has been increasing lately: coordinating the administration's foreign policy agenda along with US Secretary of State Walter Mondale while visiting at least the following countries last year: Great Britain, France, Belgium, West Germany, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica, Barbados, Brazil, Japan.

    According to media reports, Carter will reportedly visit Chile & Argentina in an effort to pursuing diplomatic solutions in resolving the ongoing dispute between both countries over the Picton, Lennox & Nueva Islands.
     
    1978 State of the Union
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    February 16th, 1978: President Brown delivers 1st State of the Union Address before Joint Session of Congress
    16705280.jpg

    President Brown delivering his 1st State of the Union Address before Joint Session of Congress.


    President Jerry Brown delivered his 1st State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress, the 95th US Congress. Majority of the speech focused on domestic policy & the economic recovery: "Now we know what we all must do and that is increasing production of oil right here in the United States of America. We must be realistic in cutting down on waste. And we must use more of these fuels which are quite plentiful and more permanent. We must be fair to the people, who sent us here to getting the job done, and we must not be disrupting our national economy including the federal budget. I understand the specific circumstances in getting Congress to taking action. The main fact remains that on the energy legislation we have failed to living up to the expectations of the American people. Five years earlier following the oil embargo crisis, which dramatized the problem for all of us, yet we still don't have a national energy program. We cannot any longer tolerate this long dragged out stalemate. It undermines not only our economy, but also the national interest both here at home and abroad. We must succeed and I am confident we'll overcome these challenges and defeat this roadblock emerging victorious."

    During the speech, President Brown called for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Labor Act including pushing for a major infrastructure bill justifying the previous Economic Recovery Act of 1977 which passed last year, wasn't large enough. According to the President's plan, large significant sums of the proposal would be spent specifically on railway construction, ports, bridges, roads, & scientific biological research.

    President Brown highlighted the fight over Healthcare Reform, where he provided lengthy praise of CO's recently passed healthcare law. "My fellow governor and good friend, Governor Dick Lamm of Colorado has managed to accomplish something quite amazing in the Centennial State. Now it's quite important that we can follow Colorado's example on the federal level by sitting down, working together and I do mean, both parties need to find common ground on the issues were majority of Americans find strong agreement and do this for all of the American people. Wouldn't that be great?" he asked.

    Towards, the end of the speech, President Brown turned to foreign policy in the remaining 20 minutes of the 45-minute speech. Brown again defending his administration's controversial decision of backing Argentina's right to claim the disputed Falklands as Argentinian sovereignty & reported on Secretary Mondale's efforts of the Middle East Peace Process between ending the long decades war between Israel & Egypt. The President also pledged to work with both Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin & Egyptian President Anwar Al-Sadat in finding a permanent peaceful solution of finally ending the conflict between both Middle Eastern countries, with a likely Camp David Summit with Begin & Sadat this fall.

    Closing out the speech, President Brown said "I can once again report to the American people tonight, that the State of our Union is improving despite setbacks along the way. The worst days of the economic recession is over. But how fast are we're getting out is in our own hands. The hands of us, the elected representatives of the American people, who sent us here. Here in this sacred chamber. This is the time of seizing the moment and getting it done. Thank you very much!"

    The GOP Response from United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN): President Brown failed addressing international issues; weak on national defense.
    8680023.jpg

    United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) delivering the GOP Response.

    United States Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) was chosen to deliver the GOP Response to President Brown's State of the Union Address. This came following some controversy with SC Governor James Edwards (R), who wanted to deliver the speech & got under hot water in November, after telling The State newspaper in Columbia that he was already chosen for the role. However, after receiving strong backlash in some GOP circles from moderates & conservatives, Edwards backed down.

    Main theme from Senator Baker's theme was focused on foreign policy, aggressively criticizing the Brown administration's foreign policy agenda as "very naive and full of wishful thinking which invites weakness on the international stage." "With Argentina conniving with the Soviet Union in launching a violent bloody war in South America, where is President Brown as the Soviets used their violent attacks into overthrowing the Afghan government? Where is the President, when it comes to countering an explosive Middle East with enemies plotting to undermining the United States and their allies in the region? Where is the President, when it comes to preventing communist movements from spreading all over Latin America as he has no specific end-game strategy as Panama is undergoing total chaos?" Baker continued. "Where is the President, when it comes to national defense?" "The President's so-called budget is pathetically small and awfully inadequate with one of the smallest increase in defense spending since we got out of the Vietnam three years ago. While the Soviets and others are aggressively building up and waging war, the President of the United States is missing in action. Nowhere to be found! Instead, he's too busy punishing Americans, who create millions of jobs and have been successful here at home. The President continues to perpetrating a failed and weak-kneed ideology of a one-size fits all mentality under a so-called mantle of helping the poor and workers."

    Instead, Senator Baker proposed cutting more corporate taxes by at least a third & phasing-in second tax cuts for individuals including large spending cuts on number of domestic spending programs which he didn't mention by name.

    February 16th, 1978: Gallup Polling Survey
    President Jerry Brown Job Approval Rating:

    Approve: 41%
    Disapprove: 57%
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter VIII: Moonbeam visits Cuba
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    February 17th-24th, 1978: President Brown makes history: visits Cuba in controversial state visit, opening up of diplomatic relations with Cuba.
    Jerry_Brown_in_1978.jpg



    (Headlines of The Surprise Visit)
    *Brown shocks the world by using Detente Policy with Cuba.
    *Backlash from Cuban Americans, strongly disapprove of the President's controversial state visit to the island country.
    *Bipartisan criticism from Congress: Senator Goldwater blasts the President's Detente Policy with Cuba calling it "Caving to the demands of the Castro thugs".
    *President Jerry Brown & First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown meet with Cuban President Fidel Castro in red carpet welcoming honors ceremony.
    *Castro hosts grand State Dinner at the Palacio Nacional in Brown's honor.


    Following policy that the United States should have diplomatic relations with countries regardless of their ideologies, American emissaries began secret talks with the Cuban government in March 1977. That same month, President Brown lifted all of the restrictions on American tourism in the Caribbean island nation. In the following month, American & Cuban diplomats held their first formal discussions in 16 years, by reaching agreement on the rights of fishermen in the overlapping fishing zones of the US & Cuba.

    Six months later, on September 1st, 1977, the US & Cuba exchanged diplomatic representatives below the rank of Ambassador. As part of his plan to bringing about "generation of peace and stability in the world" , President Brown culminated a period of careful diplomatic preparation by flying to communist Cuba in February 1978 for a seven-day visit to opening up the way toward normalizing of full diplomatic relations, cultural exchanges, & trade with the Caribbean island nation.

    To make sure that all the drama of the first journey in history of an American President to Cuba would be brought into the homes of the American public, a special TV communications satellite was launched to hovering 23,000 miles over the Caribbean. An American advance party set up portable TV station in Cuba to beam instant coverage of the United States. An estimated 57 million Americans watched the pomp & ceremony of the historic State Visit, most getting their first look behind the Carribbean island.

    Upon his return to the US on February 24th, the President could state with strong conviction that the trip had an amazing success: "I can strongly say with confidence that we're entering a new era of relations between the United States and the Republic of Cuba. We entered into agreements to expand cultural, educational and journalistic contacts between the Cuban and the American people. We agreed to work to begin and broaden trade between our two countries. We have agreed that the communications that have now been reestablished between our Governments will be further strengthened and expanded. Most important, we have agreed on some rules of international conduct which will reduce the risk of confrontation and war in Latin America.

    We agreed that we are opposed to domination of the Western Hemisphere by any one power. We agreed that international disputes br settled without the use of the threat of force, and we agreed that we are prepared to apply this principle to our mutual relations...... We've agreed that we will not negotiate the fate of other nations behind their back and we did not do so in Havana. There were no secret deals of any kind whatsoever."
     
    Chapter VIII: International trips of President Brown
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    March 11th-14th, 1978: President Brown visits Argentina
    President Jerry Brown arrived on the afternoon HRS of March 11th at the Newberry International Airport, where he met with Argentine President Isabel Peron. The playing of the respective national anthems of the United States & Argentina were played; followed by an inspection of the Argentine Armed Forces Command.

    President Brown & President Peron held a bilateral meeting inside the Casa Rosada (Government Office), where they discussed improving diplomatic relations between Washington & Buenos Aires, which had been strained over the years.

    Later that night, there was a State Dinner held inside the Quinta da Olivos (Residence of the Argentine President).

    On March 12th, President Brown addressed a Joint Session of the Argentinean National Congress.

    March 28th-April 4th, 1978: President Brown visits Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria, Liberia

    From March 28th to March 29th, President Brown met with Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez; addressed the Venezuelan National Assembly & signed a maritime boundary agreement. Later from March 29th to March 31st, the next trip of President Brown included the Federative Republic of Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Ernesto Giesel; relations between Washington & Brasilia had been in a rough patch since Geisel dismantled the military alliance treaty last year because of the US State Department's report on human rights violations. Brown later addressed a Joint Session of the National Congress.

    President Brown made history becoming the first US President to visit Africa with historical trips to Nigeria (March 31st to April 3rd) & Liberia (April 3rd to April 4th), where he met with Nigerian President Olussegun Obansanjo & Liberian President William R. Tolbert, Jr., respectively.
     
    Upcoming Segments for Chapter VIII
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    @Ibanez @stevep @TheRomanSlayer @Zyobot @gral @Husky_Khan @Buba @The Whispering Monk @Cherico @Aaron Fox @The Unicorn @Bassoe

    Beginning sometime this weekend: I'll be working on the following segments:
    1.) The ruling that led to the Beagle Conflict between Argentina vs Chile.

    2.) The Bloodthirsty War between Argentina vs Chile.

    3.) International fallout.

    4.) Foreign Policy test for the Brown administration.

    5.) National Segments.

    6.) International Segments.

    7.) Mideast Peace Accords between Egypt & Israel.
     
    Chapter VIII: National & International Segments (Spring 1978: Part IV)
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    April 6th, 1978: President Brown signs mandatory retirement age legislation into law.
    President Jerry Brown signed into law legislation, which gives most employees of state & city governments including those in private industries the option of retiring at age 70 rather than 65, which is currently the mandatory age. This provision would take effect on January 1st, 1979.

    The law also stipulated certain classes of workers in strenuous occupations, such as fire fighters & police officers, could be made to retire before hitting 70.

    April 7th, 1978: Brown defers neutron bomb production
    President Brown announced he was deferring production of the controversial neutron bomb until circumstances warranted an "ultimate decision". Brown explained that US production of these enhanced radiation weapons would depend on the degree of restraint exercised by the Soviet Union.

    April 17th, 1978: New York Stock Exchange sets record.
    The New York Stock Exchange set a new volume record when 63.5 million shares exchanged hands in hectic Monday trading. On the previous business day, a Friday, volume reached 52,280,000 shares, which far surpassed the previous all-time high of 44,510,000 shares traded on February 20th, 1976. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at 775.21 on Friday & closed at 810.12 on Monday for a gain of 34.91 points.

    April 18th, 1978: President Brown hosts Panamanian President William Alvarez at the White House.
    In his third visit to the United States, Panamanian President William Alvarez was greeted by US President Jerry Brown & US First Lady Linda Ronstadt Brown. It was a historic moment for both countries since the US-backed revolution that toppled Panamanian military strongman Omar Torrijos in the Fall of 1977.

    Alvarez & Brown discussed the progress of US-Panama diplomatic relations including progress of the stalled negotiations of the Panama Canal Treaty, which both Heads of State pledged to restart as soon as possible.

    April 20th, 1978: Republic of Korea jet downed by USSR
    A Republic of Korea Boeing 707 carrying 110 people on a flight from Paris to Seoul, Republic of Korea, strayed off course & into Soviet territory on its way to a refueling stop in Anchorage, AK. Two people had been killed & 13 injured by the time the plane crash landed on or near a frozen lake about 450 km (281 mi) from Murmansk. Survivors, strongly contradicting an official Soviet version of events, said the Korean Airlines aircraft was fired upon by a Soviet interceptor jet & had to dive before landing.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter VIII: Stages of Civil War in South America
  • 49ersfootball

    Well-known member
    May 13th, 1978: Relations between Argentina & Chile deteriorate further; Civil War appears all but imminent

    The long dispute over the Beagle Channel between Argentina & Chile continued to sour diplomatic relations between the two neighboring South American nations. On January 25th, a ruling from the International Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of Chile, which granted them the three disputed islands in the Beagle Channel: Picton, Lennox & Nueva. In reaction to the ruling by the ICOA, the Argentinean government rejected the ruling. Soon afterwards, a 180-day negotiations period was established on February 3rd, which was originally scheduled to end on November 3rd & although the fourth round of negotiation talks began on May 7th in Santiago, little progress was made. On May 13th, the situation had reached an epic crisis proportions with armed forces of both South American nations put on extreme high alert.

    Another key question was about the control of the Antartic & Cape Horn, & also over potential supplies of fish, krill, materials & petroleum. To make things intriguing, Bolivia suddenly broke off diplomatic relations with Chile on March 17th over the problem of accessing to the Pacific Ocean.

    In the meantime, Argentina had been having ongoing diplomatic disputes with Great Britain over the Falklands (which US President Jerry Brown controversially backed Argentina's right of the Falklands) exacerbated by the continuing occupation of uninhabited Southern Thule Island in Britain's South Sandwich Islands by Argentinean scientists.

    During a televised address from the Casa Rosada (Government Office) in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentine President Isabel Peron discussed the ongoing crisis over the Beagle Channel Crisis including justifying using any possible military options in reclaiming the rights of the Picton, Lennox & Nueva Islands by any means necessary: "The Picton, Lennox and Nueva Islands all belong to the Argentine Republic and as President, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the islands in question belong to the indefinite sovereignty of Argentina! To those, who accuse us of being ignorant of this so-called court ruling, there will be consequences for those including many in the Chilean government, who want to stir things up by meddling in Argentinean international affairs. You will face severe consequences that you've never seen before. This is NOT a bluff whatsoever!"
     
    Top