~April-June 1907: A loud report
April 1907: With the US cruiser force now very rapidly falling into obsolescence and no modern seagoing destroyers, the US Navy pushes for such vessels to be included in this years building program. But again congress baulks at the costs, with only two additional dreadnoughts authorised. However Washington class dreadnoughts are an improvement over the previous South Carolinas. With their displacement increased to 18,000 tons, they mount the same eight 12” guns, but feature improved protection, with an 10” armoured belt. Their size also allows them achieve a sustained speed of 20 knots despite the continued use of triple expansion engines.
April 1907: Former Viceroy Lord Wallington delivers his report into future administration of India. Much to most observers surprise, he is broadly supportive of the proposed Grey-Morley reforms, but also acknowledges their radical nature and the widespread opposition they have generated. He further notes that Indian nationalism has become a powerful force and ignoring Indian aspirations for responsible government would be foolish in the extreme, almost certainly eventually leading widespread civil disorder and potential rebellion. He finds the current system of Princely States and British administered Provinces is unwieldy and inefficient. He recommends the proposed division of India into fifteen administrative regions be retained, but existing structures should be kept in place to allow for a more gradual and orderly transition to responsible government. Regarding the Princely states he states the absolutist nature of many will likely lead to local unrest in the face of Indian nationalism and therefore all efforts should be made to encourage the Princely states to introduce more inclusive and representative administrations, highlighting the success of the progressive Princes who have already implemented such measures. In his finally comments he notes immediate implication of the full program of proposed reforms would destabilise the good government of India and result in substantial unrest. He instead recommends the gradually introduced over a period of ten to twenty years, beginning with the division of India into the proposed fifteen states.
May 1907: Since the Chinese Civil War, both the Zheng and Xianfa have continued to organise their armies into the 12,500 strong divisions of the Qing New Army, despite the war having highlighted numerous shortcomings. In an effort to rectify these issues, the Xianfa reorganise their army, with the previous two battalion tactical regiments abandoned in favour of individual battalions grouped into large administrative territorial recruited regiments, thirty of Infantry and seven of Cavalry, along with the nationally recruited Imperial Guard Infantry and Cavalry Regiments. Operationally, the army will consist of four regular and six reserve infantry divisions, with one regular and one reserve cavalry divisions. Each division is composed of nine battalions in three brigades supported by 36 field guns, 18 field howitzers and 4 heavy guns. However due to manpower and equipment shortages no unit will achieve this intended scale of equipment for many years. Each infantry division is 14,000 men strong, while the cavalry divisions muster 11,700 men, giving approximately 67,000 regulars and 96,000 reservists in combat formations, with another 63,000 regulars and 74,000 reservists in support units
May 1907: With the French now deploying troops to the Siamese border, the British have been growing increasingly concerned at the renewed French expansion in the region. Foreign Secretary Edward Grey travels to Paris for talks with French Prime Minister Gabriel Hantaux in his role as Foreign Minister is completely unwilling to compromise, determined to annex substantial portions of Siamese territory. With it clear the French will not back down, the British begin making plans to reinforce their forces in the region.
May 1907: The first elections for the Xianfa Provincial Assemblies are held. The elections are contested by three major parties, the republican Guomindang or GMD ( 國民黨Nationalist Party) of Sun Yet-sen and Huang Xing, the centrist Jinbudang or JBD (進步黨 Progressive Party) of Tan Sitong and Kang Youwei and the newly emerging conservative Baoshoudang or BSD (保守黨 Conservative Party) of former generals Ma Fuxiang and Liu Yongfu. The Guomindang dominate in Sichuan and Henan, while the Baoshoudang gain control of Yunnan, Guizhou and Zhejiang with the governing Jinbudang taking the remaining five provinces, giving them control of the upper house.
May 1907: Since the formation of the British Army's specialist Machine Gun Regiment in 1901, the new corps has been experimenting in an effort to find the full potential of the weapon in an effort to find a new doctrine for their employment. Particular attention has been paid to the recent conflicts in the Far East. Particular attention is paid to the use of the Madsen light machine gun, with it appearing to fit well with the fire and movement doctrine developed after the Boer War. However both Chinese experience and British trials have shown persistent issues with rimless ammunition. Regardless, Far East experience shows clearly a significant increase in the number of machine guns is warranted, with the significantly lower cost of the Madsen is particularly attractive in that regard. Aware the Rexel Arms Company has been working resolving the issues from last years trials, twenty examples of their improved Madsen are purchased for further trials.
June 1907: Since convening in February, the Second Russian Duma has attempted to enact a radical program of land redistribution and other reforms far beyond what the Tsarist regime is willing to tolerate. Consequently Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin, supported by Tsar Nicholas II, has been looking for an excuse to dismiss the Duma. Ongoing revolutionary agitation in the Army, often incited by the radical Rossiyskaya Sotsial-Demokraticheskaya Rabochaya Partiya (RSDRP) or Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, is taken to provide the justification with Stolypin demanding the arrest of a number of radical representatives. While the 1905 Constitution grants members of Duma immunity from arrest unless stripped of it by the chamber, Stolypin refuse to wait for any investigation, instead simply requesting the Tsar dissolve the Duma, returning to absolute rule. These events will become known as the June 1906 Coup and further radicalise the reformers in Russia.
June 1907: The publication of the Wallington Report on India has generated massive controversy, not only in Britain and India, but throughout the entire Empire for its use of the term 'responsible government,' a term normally associated with the self governing Dominions. It is widely felt throughout the Empire the report advocates full Indian self government on the same level as the white dominions, a prospect many utterly reject due to racism. Therefore Government of India Bill introduced to implement the reports recommendations takes care to avoid the use of the term, replacing it with 'better government,' a fact which incites considerable anger within India. The bill itself largely leaves the current governmental structure of parts of India under direct British control intact. The existing provinces of Baluchistan and Pashtunistan are united into the new Northwestern Province and the small Province of Coorg is incorporated into Madras, while the existing Ajmer-Merwar Province is renamed Rajaputana and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands become a separate Crown Colony. The major change is regarding the Princely States. While arrangements for the five largest, Baroda, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Mysore, remain unaltered, the remaining states are placed under one of the ten British controlled provinces. Each of the provinces will have a Chamber of Princes which may debate any laws passed by the Provincial Assembly and recommend changes, though they can not prevent the law being passed. This chamber may also recommend the law apply to the Princely States by majority vote, though each individual Prince is under no obligation to accept the recommendation. The Bill also includes a provision for Princes to surrender their independence, voluntarily incorporating their state into the province in return for a guarantee of the rank, privileges and position in the Chamber of Princes along with a government stipend. Finally there is provision for the new system to be reviewed in five years to recommend if any further changes to the administration of India are warranted. Naturally, the bill immediately ignites fierce debate, with opinion polarised between its supporters and opponents.
June 1907: The second round of Anglo-Russian talks open in London. Though new Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky is anxious to reduce the tensions between the two powers to allow Russia to reform, the deteriorating situation in Siam with the French casts a pall over the discussions, with many in the British government now questioning the value of increased cooperation with the European Great Powers. Eventually a deal worked out to reduce tensions in Persia. The country is divided into a Russian zone of influence covering roughly the northern third, with a similarly sized British zone around the border with India and Afghanistan, with the remaining third as a buffer zone. Despite this success and Izvolsky's desire to improve relations, the ongoing situation in Siam results in the British being unwilling to consider further cooperation at this point.