Affairs of an Empire

Affairs of an Empire (456 words)



The following is an excerpt from an article detailing government activity for the previous year. It appeared in the weekly newspaper The London Journal on the 28th of August, 1875:

... also extend our gratitude to the Foreign Secretary for his expert management of affairs with other nations.... This telegraph conversation between Secretary Bolden and the Albanian Secretary of the State serves as an example of Mr. Fletcher’s mastery of foreign affairs:

ALBANIAN SECRETARY of STATE: Our Prime Minister enquires if grain Imports may be increased slightly. (#004 ALB 3 Jan 1875)

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: (to #004 ALB) The Matter shall be Discussed in Parliament; supply Amounts and Types of grain. (#018 UK 12 Jan 1875)

ALB SEC of ST: (to #018 UK) Minister specifically requested Argentinean Wheat, Amount to be Decided upon, ask to check Availability of grain. (#027 ALB 25 Jan 1875)

BRIT FOR SEC: (to #027 ALB) Parliament requests Permission to ship grain from Egypt; limited Amount of grain Available, supply Amount needed. (#048 UK 22 Feb 1875)

A SEC of ST: (to #048 UK) Minister Approves Egypt request, says 35 Kilograms sufficient. (#106 ALB 17 March 1875)

B F S: (to #106 ALB) Parliament enquires as to Purpose of grain, noting specified Quantity. (#176 UK 2 Apr 1875)

A S S: (to #176 UK) It is to be food for Prime Minister’s favourite parrot, revised Quantity to 30 Kilograms in light of new diet. (#212 ALB 16 Apr 1875)

B F S: (to #212 ALB) A-Suggest rethink Use of Initials, B-Please explain Situation with grain and parrot; filing error in Office resulted in Loss of Albanian telegrams for this Year; deepest Apologies. (#282 UK 3 May 1875)

A SEC of ST: (to #282 UK) Gratitude in regards to Use of Initials; as to Situation with parrot, our Prime Minister requests 30 Kilograms of Argentinean Wheat for Use as food for the Minister’s Favourite parrot, request by Britain for grain to be Exported from Egypt. (#301 ALB 7 May 1875)

B F S: (to #301 ALB) Motion has been sent to Parliament, pending Debate and Approval. (#319 UK 13 May 1875)

B F S: (to #301 ALB, #319 UK) Motion has met with Agreement from Parliament, grain to be Shipped to Albania by end of Month. (#358 UK 12 June 1875)

B F S: (to #301 ALB, #319 UK, #358 UK) Belay last Telegram Number 319, grain to be Shipped in middle of July; delay in Communication with Colony of Egypt. (#389 UK 25 June 1875)

A SEC of ST: (to #389 UK) Shipment will NOT, repeat, NOT be necessary; Minister’s parrot suffered indigestion and Passed Away two Nights ago. (#402 ALB 29 June 1875)

Likewise, our Home Secretary has handled domestic affairs....